Conectar
by Dominique Guillaume, Dur-e-Nayab Waheed, Meike Schleiff, Kirthini Kasi Muralidharan, Alex Vorsters, Rupali J. Limaye
Achieving WHO cervical cancer elimination goals will necessitate efforts to increase HPV vaccine access and coverage in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). Although LMICs account for the majority of cervical cancer cases globally, scale-up of HPV vaccine programs and progress toward coverage targets in LMICs has been largely insufficient. Understanding the barriers and facilitators that stakeholders face in the introduction and scale-up of HPV vaccination programs will be pivotal in ensuring that LMICs are equipped to optimize the implementation of HPV vaccination programs. This qualitative study interviewed 13 global stakeholders categorized as either academic partners or global immunization partners to ascertain perspectives regarding factors affecting the introduction and scale-up of HPV vaccination programs in LMICs. Global stakeholders were selected as their perspectives have not been as readily highlighted within the literature despite their key role in HPV vaccination programming. The results of this investigation identified upstream (e.g., financial considerations, vaccine prioritization, global supply, capacity and delivery, and vaccine accessibility, equity, and ethics) and downstream (e.g., vaccine acceptability and hesitancy, communications, advocacy, and social mobilization) determinants that impact program introduction and scale-up and confirmed that strong political commitment and governance are significant in garnering support for HPV vaccines. As LMICs introduce HPV vaccines into their national immunization programs and develop plans for scaling up vaccination efforts, strategic approaches to communications and advocacy will also be needed to successfully meet coverage targets.by James Belsey, Andrew Reid, Eloise Paine, James Faulkner
BackgroundThe application of cold and pressure to the knee is a common part of post-operative rehabilitation. Skin temperature should be reduced to within 10–15 °C to optimise the therapeutic benefits of cryocompression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of five different cryocompression devices to reduce skin temperature to within this therapeutic range.
Materials and methods32 healthy adult participants (mean (SD): age 26.3 (7.9) years; BMI 24.8 (2.7) kg/m2; 20 males) were recruited for this randomised crossover study. Skin temperature was measured 20 mm distal to the patella using a k-type thermocouple every five minutes during a 30-minute treatment with one of five different cryocompression devices (Physiolab S1, GameReady, Cryo/Cuff, VPulse, and a Gel Wrap). Changes in skin temperature over time were compared to baseline within and between conditions. A subjective rating of comfort was also recorded for each device.
ResultsThe Physiolab S1 and GameReady devices caused significantly lower skin temperatures compared to the VPulse, Gel Wrap, and Cryo/Cuff after 30 minutes (p Conclusions
Only the Physiolab S1 and GameReady devices reduced skin temperature of the knee to within the target range of 10–15 °C. The Physiolab S1 was reportedly more comfortable than the GameReady. Clinicians should be aware of the performance differences of different cryocompression devices to understand which is most likely to provide an effective dose of cold therapy to a joint.
by Daiane Rubinato Fernandes, Bruna Nogueira dos Santos, Carolina Scoqui Guimarães, Elaine Barros Ferreira, Amanda Salles Margatho, Paula Elaine Diniz dos Reis, Didier Pittet, Renata Cristina de Campos Pereira Silveira
AimTo gather available scientific evidence on technologies used to teach hand hygiene to professional populations and lays involved in health care in the hospital setting. This systematic review was designed as proposed by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis, included studies reporting primary, original, quantitative research findings with no date limit and written in English, Spanish or Portuguese. The search was performed in the following electronic databases: Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Excerpta Medica dataBASE, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde, US National Library of Medicine, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and ProQuest. The eligibility criteria were applied independently by two reviewers to select the studies, first by reading the titles and abstracts on the Rayyan platform and then by full text reading of the eligible studies. After a descriptive analysis, the studies were subjected to critical evaluation of their methodological quality using JBI tools.
ResultsSeven studies were included, addressing various methods for teaching hand hygiene using different technological resources, such as audiovisual electronic devices, videos, virtual reality, and gamification using tablets and smartphones, in different populations.
ConclusionUsing technologies to teach hand hygiene considerably helps patients, visitors, and relatives in learning the procedures and efficiently improves hand hygiene compliance rates among healthcare professionals, creating evidence-based repetitive learning opportunities for patients and caregivers.
by Ausilah Alfraihat, Amer F. Samdani, Sriram Balasubramanian
Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering (AVBT) is a growing alternative treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), offering an option besides spinal fusion. While AVBT aims to correct spinal deformity through growth correction, its outcomes have been mixed. To improve surgical outcomes, this study aimed to develop a machine learning-based tool to predict short- and midterm spinal curve correction in AIS patients who underwent AVBT surgery, using the most predictive clinical, radiographic, and surgical parameters. After institutional review board approval and based on inclusion criteria, 91 AIS patients who underwent AVBT surgery were selected from the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia. For all patients, longitudinal standing (PA or AP, and lateral) and side bending spinal Radiographs were retrospectively obtained at six visits: preop and first standing, one year, two years, five years postop, and at the most recent follow-up. Demographic, radiographic, and surgical features associated with curve correction were collected. The sequential backward feature selection method was used to eliminate correlated features and to provide a rank-ordered list of the most predictive features of the AVBT correction. A Gradient Boosting Regressor (GBR) model was trained and tested using the selected features to predict the final correction of the curve in AIS patients. Eleven most predictive features were identified. The GBR model predicted the final Cobb angle with an average error of 6.3 ± 5.6 degrees. The model also provided a prediction interval, where 84% of the actual values were within the 90% prediction interval. A list of the most predictive features for AVBT curve correction was provided. The GBR model, trained on these features, predicted the final curve magnitude with a clinically acceptable margin of error. This model can be used as a clinical tool to plan AVBT surgical parameters and improve outcomes.by Yasin Hamarat, Laimonas Bartusis, Vilma Putnynaite, Rolandas Zakelis, Mantas Deimantavicius, Vilma Zigmantaite, Ramunė Grigaleviciute, Audrius Kucinskas, Evaldas Kalvaitis, Arminas Ragauskas
Intracranial pressure measurement is frequently used for diagnosis in neurocritical care but cannot always accurately predict neurological deterioration. Intracranial compliance plays a significant role in maintaining cerebral blood flow, cerebral perfusion pressure, and intracranial pressure. This study’s objective was to investigate the feasibility of transferring external pressure into the eye orbit in a large-animal model while maintaining a clinically acceptable pressure gradient between intraorbital and external pressures. The experimental system comprised a specifically designed pressure applicator that can be placed and tightly fastened onto the eye. A pressure chamber made from thin, elastic, non-allergenic film was attached to the lower part of the applicator and placed in contact with the eyelid and surrounding tissues of piglets’ eyeballs. External pressure was increased from 0 to 20 mmHg with steps of 1 mmHg, from 20 to 30 mmHg with steps of 2 mmHg, and from 30 to 50 mmHg with steps of 5 mmHg. An invasive pressure sensor was used to measure intraorbital pressure directly. An equation was derived from measured intraorbital and external pressures (intraorbital pressure = 0.82 × external pressure + 3.12) and demonstrated that external pressure can be linearly transferred to orbit tissues with a bias (systematic error) of 3.12 mmHg. This is close to the initial intraorbital pressure within the range of pressures tested. We determined the relationship between intraorbital compliance and externally applied pressure. Our findings indicate that intraorbital compliance can be controlled across a wide range of 1.55 to 0.15 ml/mmHg. We observed that external pressure transfer into the orbit can be achieved while maintaining a clinically acceptable pressure gradient between intraorbital and external pressures.by Ursula Just, Helmut Burtscher, Sylvia Jeratsch, Meike Fischer, Carol Stocking, Jens Preussner, Mario Looso, Ralf Schwanbeck, Stefan Günther, Ralf Huss, Lynne Mullen, Thomas Braun
Brain metastasis leads to increased mortality and is a major site of relapse for several cancers, yet the molecular mechanisms of brain metastasis are not well understood. In this study, we established and characterized a new leukemic cell line, FIA10, that metastasizes into the central nervous system (CNS) following injection into the tail vein of syngeneic mice. Mice injected with FIA10 cells developed neurological symptoms such as loss of balance, tremor, ataxic gait and seizures, leading to death within 3 months. Histopathology coupled with PCR analysis clearly showed infiltration of leukemic FIA10 cells into the brain parenchyma of diseased mice, with little involvement of bone marrow, peripheral blood and other organs. To define pathways that contribute to CNS metastasis, global transcriptome and proteome analysis was performed on FIA10 cells and compared with that of the parental stem cell line FDCP-Mix and the related FIA18 cells, which give rise to myeloid leukemia without CNS involvement. 188 expressed genes (RNA level) and 189 proteins were upregulated (log2 ratio FIA10/FIA18 ≥ 1) and 120 mRNAs and 177 proteins were downregulated (log2 ratio FIA10/FIA18 ≤ 1) in FIA10 cells compared with FIA18 cells. Major upregulated pathways in FIA10 cells revealed by biofunctional analyses involved immune response components, adhesion molecules and enzymes implicated in extracellular matrix remodeling, opening and crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), molecules supporting migration within the brain parenchyma, alterations in metabolism necessary for growth within the brain microenvironment, and regulators for these functions. Downregulated RNA and protein included several tumor suppressors and DNA repair enzymes. In line with the function of FIA10 cells to specifically infiltrate the brain, FIA10 cells have acquired a phenotype that permits crossing the BBB and adapting to the brain microenvironment thereby escaping immune surveillance. These data and our model system FIA10 will be valuable resources to study the occurrence of brain metastases and may help in the development of potential therapies against brain invasion.Sierra Leone is among the top countries with the highest maternal mortality rates. Although progress has been made in reducing maternal mortality, challenges remain, including limited access to skilled care and regional disparities in accessing quality care. This paper presents the first comprehensive analysis of the burden of different causes of maternal deaths reported in the Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) system at the district level from 2016 to 2019.
The MDSR data are accessed from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, and the secondary data analysis was done to determine the causes of maternal death in Sierra Leone. The proportions of each leading cause of maternal deaths were estimated by districts. A subgroup analysis of the selected causes of death was also performed.
Overall, obstetric haemorrhage was the leading cause of maternal death (39.4%), followed by hypertensive disorders (15.8%) and pregnancy-related infections (10.1%). Within obstetric haemorrhage, postpartum haemorrhage was the leading cause in each district. The burden of death due to obstetric haemorrhage slightly increased over the study period, while hypertensive disorders showed a slightly decreasing trend. Disparities were found among districts for all causes of maternal death, but no clear geographical pattern emerged. Non-obstetric complications were reported in 11.5% of cases.
The MDSR database provides an opportunity for shared learning and can be used to improve the quality of maternal health services. To improve the accuracy and availability of data, under-reporting must be addressed, and frontline community staff must be trained to accurately capture and report death events.
Rapid population ageing is a demographic trend being experienced and documented worldwide. While increased health screening and assessment may help mitigate the burden of illness in older people, issues such as misdiagnosis may affect access to interventions. This study aims to elicit the values and preferences of evidence-informed older people living in the community on early screening for common health conditions (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia and frailty). The study will proceed in three Phases: (1) generating recommendations of older people through a series of Citizens’ Juries; (2) obtaining feedback from a diverse range of stakeholder groups on the jury findings; and (3) co-designing a set of Knowledge Translation resources to facilitate implementation into research, policy and practice. Conditions were chosen to reflect common health conditions characterised by increasing prevalence with age, but which have been underexamined through a Citizens’ Jury methodology.
This study will be conducted in three Phases—(1) Citizens’ Juries, (2) Policy Roundtables and (3) Production of Knowledge Translation resources. First, older people aged 50+ (n=80), including those from traditionally hard-to-reach and diverse groups, will be purposively recruited to four Citizen Juries. Second, representatives from a range of key stakeholder groups, including consumers and carers, health and aged care policymakers, general practitioners, practice nurses, geriatricians, allied health practitioners, pharmaceutical companies, private health insurers and community and aged care providers (n=40) will be purposively recruited for two Policy Roundtables. Finally, two researchers and six purposively recruited consumers will co-design Knowledge Translation resources. Thematic analysis will be performed on documentation and transcripts.
Ethical approval has been obtained through the Torrens University Human Research Ethics Committee. Participants will give written informed consent. Findings will be disseminated through development of a policy brief and lay summary, peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and seminars.
Preserved allogeneic donor skin still represents one of the gold standard therapies in temporary wound coverage in severely burned patients or chronic wounds. Allogeneic skin grafts are currently commercially available as cryo- or glycerol-preserved allografts through skin tissue banks all over the world. Most of the skin tissue banks rely on human cadaveric skin donations. Due to the chronic shortage of human allogeneic transplants, such as skin, and increasing costs in the procurement of allografts from other skin tissue banks, Hannover Medical School has been building up its own skin tissue bank based on allogeneic skin grafts from living donors who underwent surgical treatment (i.e., body-contouring procedures, such as abdominioplasties). This article presents procedures and protocols for the procurement and processing of allogeneic skin grafts according to national legislation and European regulations and guidelines. Beside protocols, initial microbiological data regarding the sterility of the harvested grafts are presented. The results currently form the basis for further investigations as well as clinical applications. In summary, a microbiological testing and acceptance procedure is presented that ensures adequate patient safety and skin viability.
Diets low in vegetables are a main contributor to the health burden experienced by young adults in rural communities. Digital health interventions provide an accessible delivery model that can be personalised to meet the diverse preferences of young adults. A personalisable digital vegetable intake intervention (Veg4Me) was codesigned to meet the needs of young adults living in rural communities. This study will determine the feasibility of delivering a personalised Veg4Me programme and compare preliminary effects with a non-personalised Veg4Me (control).
A 12-week assessor-blinded, two-arm, parallel randomised controlled trial will be undertaken from August 2023 until April 2024. A total of 150 eligible and consenting young adults (18–35 years; eat
All procedures involving human subjects were approved by Deakin University’s Human Ethics Advisory Group—Health (HEAG-H 06_2023) on 6 March 2023. Dissemination events will be held in the City of Greater Bendigo and the Colac Otway Shire. Summaries of the results will be disseminated to participants via email. Results will be disseminated to the scientific community through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12623000179639p, prospectively registered on 21 February 2023, according to the World Health Organizational Trial Registration Data Set. Universal Trial Number U1111-1284-9027.
Homelessness among families with children under 5 residing in temporary accommodation is a growing global concern, especially in high-income countries (HICs). Despite significant impacts on health and development, these ‘invisible’ children often fall through the gaps in policy and services. The study’s primary objective is to map the content and delivery methods of culturally sensitive interventions for children under 5 experiencing homelessness in HICs.
A scoping review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist.
Databases include PubMed, Medline, SCOPUS, The Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were searched up to 24 March 2022.
This scoping review includes studies that describe, measure or evaluate intervention strategies aimed at improving child health programmes, specifically those yielding positive outcomes in key areas like feeding, nutrition, care practices and parenting.
Articles were selected and evaluated by two independent reviewers, with a dispute resolution system involving a third reviewer for contested selections. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using various tools including the Risk of Bias (RoB) tool, Cochrane RoB V.2.0, the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-randomized Studies (RoBANS) and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE), each selected according to the type of article.
The database search yielded 951 results. After deduplication, abstract screening and full review, 13 articles met the inclusion criteria. Two predominant categories of intervention delivery methods were identified in this research: group-based interventions (educational sessions) and individual-based interventions (home visits).
This review highlights effective interventions for promoting the health and well-being of children under 5 experiencing homelessness, including educational sessions and home visits. Research has supported the importance of home visiting to be instrumental in breaking down language, cultural and health literacy barriers.
by SeolHwa Moon, Eunmi Oh, Daum Chung, Gwi-Ryung Son Hong
BackgroundIncreases in dependence among older adults cause increases in care needs and social care burden. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) are often used to assess the independence of older adults residing in communities. Various factors affect IADL limitations, but few studies confirm gender differences in IADL limitations in older adults. This study explored the changes in incidence of IADL limitations across 14 years and identified the factors associated with IADL limitations according to gender among older adults in Korea.
MethodThis study uses secondary data analysis with 2006–2020 data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), a longitudinal cohort study. Among the total 10,254 participants, 1,230 adults aged 65 years and over who met the criteria were included in the final analysis. For each IADL item, a limitation was defined when the response was partial or complete dependence. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the factors (in 2006) associated with IADL limitations in 2020.
ResultsThe mean age of the participants at baseline was 69.64 years (SD 3.93), and 61.0% of participants were female. Total scores for IADL limitations increased gradually across 14 years in all participants, and observed changes were statistically significant. The top three ranked items of IADL limitations differed according to gender in 2020: the top limitations in men were preparing meals, laundry, and using public transportation, and the top limitations in women were using public transportation, going out, and handling money. Factors associated with total IADL limitations were grip strength in men and age, dementia, fear of fall, and grip strength in women. Factors associated with the top three ranked items of IADL limitations differed according to gender.
ConclusionThe incidence of IADL limitations gradually increased in all participants over a 14-year period. In older adults in Korea, gender differences were confirmed in the factors associated with IADL limitations, as well as in the main limited activities. To minimize IADL limitations in community-residing older adults, it is necessary to plan tailored interventions.
Complex, chronic or hard-to-heal wounds are a prevalent health problem worldwide, with significant physical, psychological and social consequences. This study aims to identify factors associated with the healing process of these wounds and develop a mobile application for wound care that incorporates these factors. A prospective multicentre cohort study was conducted in nine health units in Portugal, involving data collection through a mobile application by nurses from April to October 2022. The study followed 46 patients with 57 wounds for up to 5 weeks, conducting six evaluations. Healing time was the main outcome measure, analysed using the Mann–Whitney test and three Cox regression models to calculate risk ratios. The study sample comprised various wound types, with pressure ulcers being the most common (61.4%), followed by venous leg ulcers (17.5%) and diabetic foot ulcers (8.8%). Factors that were found to impair the wound healing process included chronic kidney disease (U = 13.50; p = 0.046), obesity (U = 18.0; p = 0.021), non-adherence to treatment (U = 1.0; p = 0.029) and interference of the wound with daily routines (U = 11.0; p = 0.028). Risk factors for delayed healing over time were identified as bone involvement (RR 3.91; p < 0.001), presence of odour (RR 3.36; p = 0.007), presence of neuropathy (RR 2.49; p = 0.002), use of anti-inflammatory drugs (RR 2.45; p = 0.011), stalled wound (RR 2.26; p = 0.022), greater width (RR 2.03; p = 0.002), greater depth (RR 1.72; p = 0.036) and a high score on the healing scale (RR 1.21; p = 0.001). Integrating the identified risk factors for delayed healing into the assessment of patients and incorporating them into a mobile application can enhance decision-making in wound care.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and mortality of burn patients. A comprehensive, systematic search was conducted in different international electronic databases, such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and Persian electronic databases such as Iranmedex, and Scientific Information Database (SID) using keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings such as “Body mass index”, “Burns” and “Mortality” from the earliest to the April 1, 2023. The quality of the studies included in this systematic review was evaluated using the appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies (AXIS tool). Finally, six articles were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. A total of 16 154 burn patients participated in six studies. Their mean age was 46.32 (SD = 1.99). Of the participants, 71.7% were males. The mean length of hospitalization was 18.80 (SD = 8.08) days, and the average TBSA in burn patients was 38.32 (SD = 2.79) %. Also, the average BMI in burn patients was 27.10 (SD = 1.75). Results found mortality in patients with abnormal BMI (overweight to morbidity BMI) was 0.19 more than normal BMI (ES: 1.19, 95%CI: 0.76–1.87, Z = 0.75, I 2: 71.8%, p = 0.45). Results of linear dose–response showed each 5 kg/m2 increase in BMI was associated with a 5% increase in mortality that was marginally significant (ES: 1.05, 95%CI: 1.00–1.11, Z = 1.99, I 2: 22.2%, p = 0.047). There was a non-linear relationship between levels of BMI and mortality (Prob > χ 2 = 0.02). There was an increase in mortality from percentile 10 to 50, although it was not significant (Correlational coefficient: 0.01, p = 0.85). Also, there was an increase in mortality rate from percentile 50 to 90 that was statistically significant (correlational coefficient: 0.06, p = 0.047). Finally, the results of the study indicated BMI can increase the chance of mortality by 0.19, although it was not significant. As a result, more studies are needed to better judge the relationship between BMI and mortality in burn victims.
Accurate, patient-centred evaluation of physical function in patients with cancer can provide important information on the functional impacts experienced by patients both from the disease and its treatment. Increasingly, digital health technology is facilitating and providing new ways to measure symptoms and function. There is a need to characterise the longitudinal measurement characteristics of physical function assessments, including clinician-reported outcome, patient-reported ported outcome (PRO), performance outcome tests and wearable data, to inform regulatory and clinical decision-making in cancer clinical trials and oncology practice.
In this prospective study, we are enrolling 200 English-speaking and/or Spanish-speaking patients with breast cancer or lymphoma seen at Mayo Clinic or Yale University who will receive intravenous cytotoxic chemotherapy. Physical function assessments will be obtained longitudinally using multiple assessment modalities. Participants will be followed for 9 months using a patient-centred health data aggregating platform that consolidates study questionnaires, electronic health record data, and activity and sleep data from a wearable sensor. Data analysis will focus on understanding variability, sensitivity and meaningful changes across the included physical function assessments and evaluating their relationship to key clinical outcomes. Additionally, the feasibility of multimodal physical function data collection in real-world patients with breast cancer or lymphoma will be assessed, as will patient impressions of the usability and acceptability of the wearable sensor, data aggregation platform and PROs.
This study has received approval from IRBs at Mayo Clinic, Yale University and the US Food and Drug Administration. Results will be made available to participants, funders, the research community and the public.
Muscle strengthening training (MST) and behavioural graded activity (BGA) show comparable effects on knee osteoarthritic (KOA) pain, but the mechanisms of action remain unclear. Both exercise-induced anti-inflammation and central sensitisation are promising pathways for pain relief in response to exercise therapy in patients with KOA: MST has the potential to decrease inflammation and BGA has the potential to decrease central sensitisation. Hence, this study aims to examine inflammation and central sensitisation as mediators for the effect of MST and/or BGA on pain in patients with KOA.
The Knee OsteoArthritis PAIN trial started on 10 January 2020 (anticipated end: April 2024). The three-arm clinical trial aims to recruit 90 KOA patients who will be randomly allocated to 12 weeks of (1) MST, (2) BGA or (3) care as usual. Assessments will be performed at baseline, 13 and 52 weeks after finishing the intervention. Outcomes, including pain (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score), were chosen in line with the OARSI recommendations for clinical trials of rehabilitation interventions for OA and the IMMPACT/OMERACT recommendations for the assessment of physical function in chronic pain clinical trials. Inflammation as well as features of central sensitisation (including conditioned pain modulation, offset analgesia, temporal summation of pain and event-related potentials following electrical stimulation), will be considered as treatment mediators. A multiple mediators model will be estimated with a path-analysis using structural equation models. In July 2023, all 90 KOA patients have been included and 42 participants already finished the study.
This study obtained ethics approval (B.U.N. 143201941843). Unravelling the mechanisms of action of exercise therapy in KOA will not only be extremely valuable for researchers, but also for exercise immunology and pain scientists and clinicians.
To investigate the association between older patients’ willingness to have one or more medications deprescribed and: (1) change in medications, (2) change in the appropriateness of medications and (3) implementation of prescribing recommendations generated by the electronic decision support system tested in the ‘Optimising PharmacoTherapy In the Multimorbid Elderly in Primary CAre’ (OPTICA) trial.
A longitudinal sub-study of the OPTICA trial, a cluster randomised controlled trial.
Swiss primary care settings.
Participants were aged ≥65 years, with ≥3 chronic conditions and ≥5 regular medications recruited from 43 general practitioner (GP) practices.
Patients’ willingness to have medications deprescribed was assessed using three questions from the ‘revised Patient Attitudes Towards Deprescribing’ (rPATD) questionnaire and its concerns about stopping score.
Medication-related outcomes were collected at 1 year follow-up. Aim 1 outcome: change in the number of long-term medications between baseline and 12 month follow-up. Aim 2 outcome: change in medication appropriateness (Medication Appropriateness Index). Aim 3 outcome: binary variable on whether any prescribing recommendation generated during the OPTICA medication review was implemented. We used multilevel linear regression analyses (aim 1 and aim 2) and multilevel logistic regression analyses (aim 3). Models were adjusted for sociodemographic variables and the clustering effect at GP level.
298 patients completed the rPATD, 45% were women and 78 years was the median age. A statistically significant association was found between the concerns about stopping score and the change in the number of medications over time (per 1-unit increase in the score the average number of medications use was 0.65 higher; 95% CI: 0.08 to 1.22). Other than that we did not find evidence for statistically significant associations between patients’ agreement with deprescribing and medication-related outcomes.
We did not find evidence for an association between most measures of patient agreement with deprescribing and medication-related outcomes over 1 year.
by Alexandre Perret, Marion Le Marechal, Raphaele Germi, Daniele Maubon, Cécile Garnaud, Johan Noble, Aude Boignard, Loïc Falque, Mathieu Meunier, Théophile Gerster, Olivier Epaulard
ObjectivesCytomegalovirus (CMV) is frequently detected in lung and/or blood samples of patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP), although this co-detection is not precisely understood. We aimed to determine whether PJP was more severe in case of CMV detection.
MethodsWe retrospectively included all patients with a diagnosis of PJP between 2009 and 2020 in our centre and with a measure of CMV viral load in blood and/or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). PJP severity was assessed by the requirement for intensive care unit (ICU) admission.
ResultsThe median age of the 249 patients was 63 [IQR: 53–73] years. The main conditions were haematological malignancies (44.2%), solid organ transplantations (16.5%), and solid organ cancers (8.8%). Overall, 36.5% patients were admitted to ICU. CMV was detected in BAL in 57/227 patients; the 37 patients with viral load ≥3 log copies/mL were more frequently admitted to ICU (78.4% vs 28.4%, p Conclusions
PJP is more severe in the case of concomitant CMV detection. This may reflect either the deleterious role of CMV itself, which may require antiviral therapy, or the fact that patients with CMV reactivation are even more immunocompromised.
FreshRSS 