Sex differences in the association between (sexual) abuse and lower urinary tract symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: To study the possible association between (sexual) abuse and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men and women. To study the differences in this association between men and women, and between the timing of the abuse. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A Dutch observational population-based cross-sectional study was used, based on self-administered questionnaires. Respondents were included if they had answered all questions about abuse and LUTS. Logistic regression was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Included were 558 men and 790 women, of whom 29% and 37%, respectively, reported a history of one of more types of abuse. Abuse was significantly associated with LUTS in both men (odds ratio [OR] 1.7; 1.2-2.5) and women (OR 1.4; 1.1-2.1). This association, testing by two-way interaction, was significantly stronger in men. No association was found between childhood abuse or adulthood abuse and LUTS, in men or women. The association of sexual abuse with LUTS was significant in both men (2.7; 1.4-5.2) and in women (1.5; 1.1-2.2), and this association (testing by two-way interaction) was significantly much stronger in men. CONCLUSION: In men more than in women, a history of any type of abuse is associated with LUTS, regardless of whether the abuse occurred during childhood or adulthood. In both sexes, a history of sexual abuse is also associated with experiencing LUTS, with a much stronger association in men than in women. Patients, in particular male patients, presenting with LUTS should therefore be asked about sexual abuse in the past.

The burden of persistent symptom diagnoses in primary care patients: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: The burden of symptoms is a subjective experience of distress. Little is known on the burden of feeling unwell in patients with persistent symptom diagnoses. The aim of this study was to assess the burden in primary care patients with persistent symptom diagnoses compared to other primary care patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in which an online survey was sent to random samples of 889 patients with persistent symptom diagnoses (>1 year) and 443 other primary care patients after a transactional identification in a Dutch primary care data registry. Validated questionnaires were used to assess the severity of symptoms (PHQ-15), Symptom Intensity and Symptom Interference questionnaires, depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), quality of life (SF-12 and EQ-5D-5L)) and social functioning (SPF-ILs). RESULTS: Overall, 243 patients completed the survey: 178 (73.3%) patients in the persistent symptom diagnoses group and 65 (26.7%) patients in the control group. In the persistent group, 65 (36.5%) patients did not have persistent symptom(s) anymore according to the survey response. Patients who still had persistent symptom diagnoses (n = 113, 63.5%) reported significantly more severe somatic symptoms (mean difference = 3.6, [95% CI: 0.24, 4.41]), depression (mean difference = 3.0 [95% CI: 1.24, 3.61]) and anxiety (mean difference = 2.3 [95% CI: 0.28, 3.10]) and significantly lower physical functioning (mean difference = - 6.8 [95% CI: -8.96, -3.92]). CONCLUSION: Patients with persistent symptom diagnoses suffer from high levels of symptoms burden. The burden in patient with persistent symptoms should not be underestimated as awareness of this burden may enhance person-centered care.

The Dutch version of the Oral Health Assessment Tool: Translation and inter-rater reliability among community nurses.

OBJECTIVES: Translating the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) into Dutch and assessing the inter-rater reliability among community nurses. METHODS: The original version of the OHAT was translated following the five stages of the 'Guidelines for the Process of Cross-Cultural Adaptation'. After a forward and backward translation, consensus on the pre-final version was obtained in an expert panel discussion. This version was pre-tested on its comprehensibility among 31 nurses and hereafter finalized. Then, inter-rater reliability of the OHAT-NL was determined by two trained nurses during oral assessments of 37 care-dependent community-dwelling older people. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Cohen's kappa statistic for individual items were estimated. RESULTS: Feedback from nurses in the pre-test did lead to minor changes of the OHAT-NL. Inter-rater reliability was good (ICC 0.79; 95% CI 0.63-0.89) on the total score. Agreement on item level ranged from fair to very good, the kappa ranged from 0.36-0.89. CONCLUSIONS: OHAT is now available in Dutch having good inter-rater reliability among trained community nurses. Future research can further validate the OHAT-NL and develop intervention according to total OHAT-NL scores.

Genomic characterization of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus carriage in patients on home parenteral nutrition and their caregivers.

In this prospective study, patients on home parenteral nutrition were twice as likely to be colonized with Staphylococcus aureus if their caregivers were also carriers. Among S. aureus-positive patients and their caregivers, molecular analysis showed 68% genetically related strains. Despite decolonization, genetically related strains reappeared in 70% of patients.

First step in implementation of opportunistic salpingectomy for prevention of ovarian cancer: Current care and its determinants.

INTRODUCTION: Opportunistic salpingectomy (OS) refers to additional removal of the fallopian tubes during abdominal surgery performed for another medical indication, as prevention for ovarian cancer. As OS has been inconsistently implemented, its clinical practice varies worldwide. To reduce this variation, insight is required into current clinical practice and its determinants. Therefore, the study aim was to determine the implementation of counseling and performance of OS between 2015 and 2018, and its patient, surgical, physician, and hospital characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study using electronic medical records from six different Dutch hospitals: two academic, two large teaching, and two non-teaching hospitals. Patients were considered eligible for OS if they underwent elective non-obstetric abdominal surgery for a gynecological indication from January 2015 through December 2018. Primary outcomes were uptake of counseling and performance of OS. Multilevel multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify characteristics associated with OS. RESULTS: A total of 3214 patients underwent elective non-obstetric abdominal surgery for a gynecological indication and were eligible for OS. Counseling on OS increased significantly from 2.9% in 2015 to 29.4% in 2018. In this period, 440 patients were counseled on OS, of which 95.9% chose OS. Performance of OS increased significantly from 6.9% in 2015 to 44.5% in 2018. Counseling for and performance of OS were more likely in patients who had surgery by laparoscopic approach, were counseled by a gynecological resident, or had more than three contact moments before surgery. Additionally, OS was less likely in patients who had vaginal surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although the uptake of OS increased from 2015 to 2018, the majority of patients who were eligible for OS were not counseled and did not undergo OS. Its clinical practice varies on patient, surgery, and physician characteristics. Therefore, an implementation strategy tailored to associated determinants is recommended.

Patient characteristics and factors contributing to recurrence of bacterial vaginosis presented in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common problem in primary care. BV symptoms often have a negative impact on patients' quality of life and may predispose to gynaecological problems. Some patients experience recurring episodes of BV. This study's objective is to identify possible factors that may be associated with BV recurrence and describe the characteristics of these patients and interventions performed by general practitioners. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we used data from a primary care registration network in the Netherlands in the period 2015-2020. We analysed differences between patients with recurrent BV and patients with a single episode of BV in terms of characteristics and interventions performed by general practitioners. RESULTS: We found that patients with recently prescribed antibiotics, and a medical history of sexually transmitted infections and/or Candidiasis significantly more often presented with recurrent BV. Patients with recurrent BV had more remote consultations and less in-person consultations than single-episode patients. The reason for encounter was more often a request for medication. Regarding GPs' diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, microbiological tests were more frequently performed in recurrent BV patients. Moreover, most patients in both groups were prescribed oral metronidazole most frequently. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings might help GPs to better recognise patients at risk of recurrence. GPs could re-evaluate their approach to the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent BV, opting for in-person consultation and using standardised diagnostic criteria and microbiological testing in patients with recurrent complaints. Antibiotic use for other conditions in these patients may lead to new BV episodes.

Patient factors associated with conveyance decision-making by Emergency Medical Services professionals in patients with a syncope: a cross-sectional factorial survey design.

BACKGROUND: The clinical decision-making of non-conveyance is perceived as complex and difficult by emergency medical services (EMS) professionals. Patients with a transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) based on syncope constitute a significant part of the non-conveyance population. Risk stratification is the basis of the clinical decision-making process by EMS professionals. This risk stratification is based on various patient factors. This study aimed to explore patient factors significantly associated with conveyance decision-making by EMS professionals in patients with a TLOC based on syncope. METHODS: A cross-sectional vignette study with a factorial survey design was conducted. Patient factors were derived from the "National Protocol Ambulance Care", and all possible combinations of these factors and underlying categories were combined, resulting in 256 unique vignettes (2*4*4*4*2 = 256). Patient factors presented either low-risk or high-risk factors for adverse events. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, in which participants received a random sample of 15 vignettes. For each vignette, the respondent indicated whether the patient would need to be conveyed to the emergency department or not. A multilevel logistic regression analysis with stepwise backward elimination was performed to analyse factors significantly associated with conveyance decision-making. In the logistic model, we modelled the probability of non-conveyance. RESULTS: 110 respondents were included, with 1646 vignettes being assessed. Mean age 45.5 (SD 9.3), male gender 63.6%, and years of experience 13.2 (SD 8.9). Multilevel analysis showed two patient factors contributing significantly to conveyance decision-making: 'red flags' and 'prehospital electrocardiogram (ECG)'. Of these patient factors, three underlying categories were significantly associated with non-conveyance: 'sudden cardiac death < 40 years of age in family history' (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.22-0.50; p < 0.001), 'cardiovascular abnormalities, pulmonary embolism or pulmonary hypertension in the medical history' (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43-0.91; p = 0.01), and 'abnormal prehospital ECG' (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.41-0.72; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Sudden cardiac death < 40 years of age in family history, medical history, and abnormal ECG are significantly negatively associated with non-conveyance decision-making by EMS professionals in patients with a TLOC based on syncope. Low-risk factors do not play a significant role in conveyance decision-making.

General practitioners' evaluations of optimal timing to initiate advance care planning for patients with cancer, organ failure, or multimorbidity: A health records survey study.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate timing to initiate advance care planning is difficult, especially for individuals with non-malignant disease in community settings. AIM: To identify the optimal moment for, and reasons to initiate advance care planning in different illness trajectories. DESIGN AND METHODS: A health records survey study; health records were presented to 83 GPs with request to indicate and substantiate what they considered optimal advance care planning timing within the 2 years before death. We used quantitative and qualitative analyses. SETTING AND PATIENTS: We selected and anonymized 90 health records of patients who died with cancer, organ failure or multimorbidity, from a regional primary care registration database in the Netherlands. RESULTS: The median optimal advance care planning timing according to the GPs was 228 days before death (interquartile range 392). This moment was closer to death for cancer (87.5 days before death, IQR 302) than for organ failure (266 days before death, IQR 401) and multimorbidity (290 days before death, IQR 389) (p < 0.001). The most frequently mentioned reason for cancer was "receiving a diagnosis" (21.5%), for organ failure it was "after a period of illness" (14.7%), and for multimorbidity it was "age" and "patients" expressed wishes or reflections' (both 12.0%). CONCLUSION: The optimal advance care planning timing and reasons to initiate advance care planning indicated by GPs differ between patients with cancer and other illnesses, and they also differ between GPs. This suggests that "the" optimal timing for ACP should be seen as a "window of opportunity" for the different disease trajectories.

Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography-guided versus endoscopic ultrasound-guided technique for pancreatic duct cannulation in patients with pancreaticojejunostomy stenosis: a systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Stenosis of the pancreaticojejunostomy is a well-known long-term complication of pancreaticoduodenectomy. Traditionally, the endoscopic approach consisted of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP). Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided intervention has emerged as an alternative, but the success rate and adverse event rate of both treatment modalities are poorly known. We aimed to compare the outcome data of both interventions. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search using the Pubmed/Medline and Embase databases in order to summarize the available data regarding efficacy and complications of ERP- and EUS-guided pancreatic duct (PD) drainage and compare these outcome data using uniform outcome measures in a multilevel logistic model. RESULTS : 13 studies were included, involving 77 patients who underwent ERP-guided drainage, 145 who underwent EUS-guided drainage, and 12 patients who underwent both modalities. An EUS-guided approach was significantly superior to an ERP-guided approach with regard to pancreatic duct opacification (87 % vs. 30 %; P < 0.001), cannulation success (79 % vs. 26 %; P < 0.001), and stent placement (72 % vs. 20 %; P < 0.001). An EUS-guided approach also appeared superior with regard to clinical outcomes such a pain resolution. The adverse event rate between the two treatment modalities could not be compared due to insufficient data. All included studies were found to be of low quality. CONCLUSION: Based on limited available data, EUS-guided PD intervention appears superior to ERP-guided PD intervention.

The COVID-19 Pandemic in Nijmegen, the Netherlands: Changes in Presented Health Problems and Demand for Primary Care.

We studied the changes in presented health problems and demand for primary care since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Netherlands. We analyzed prominent symptom features of COVID-19, and COVID-19 itself as the reason for encounter. Also, we analyzed the number and type of encounters for common important health problems. Respiratory tract symptoms related to COVID-19 were presented more often in 2020 than in 2019. We observed a dramatic increase of telephone/e-mail/Internet consultations in the months after the outbreak. Contacts for other health problems such as prevention and acute and chronic conditions plummeted substantially (P <0.001); mental health problems stabilized.

The usefulness of uroflowmetry and ultrasound bladder scanning as diagnostic tools in primary care for new male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms; a cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Uroflowmetry and ultrasound scanning of the post-void residual volume are diagnostic instruments in specialist urological care of men referred with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We hypothesized that implementing uroflowmetry and post-void ultrasound bladder scanning in primary care for men with LUTS will reduce the number of referrals to urologists. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect on referrals to urologists for new male patients over 50 years of age with LUTS when performing uroflowmetry and post-void ultrasound bladder scanning in primary care. METHODS: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted among Dutch general practitioners (GPs). The GPs enrolled male patients with the first-time presentation of LUTS, these were randomized to primary-care treatment with or without uroflowmetry and post-void bladder scanning. Primary outcome: percentage of patients referred to urologists within 3 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes: changes in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the IPSS-Quality of Life, patient satisfaction and urologic medication usage after 12 months. RESULTS: Four GPs were randomly assigned to the intervention group (132 patients) and seven to the control group (212 patients). The percentage of patients referred to urologists did not differ significantly between the intervention group vs the control group: within 3 months 19.7% versus 10.4% (OR 1.9, 95% CI 0.8 to 5.0), and within 12 months 28.8% versus 21.2% (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.9 to 2.5). CONCLUSIONS: Performing uroflowmetry and ultrasound bladder scanning in primary care as additional diagnostic tools do not reduce the number of referrals to urologists. We do not recommend using these diagnostic tools in general practice in the diagnostic work-up of these patients.

The prevalence and determinants of inappropriate sexual behaviour in people with acquired brain injury in nursing homes.

AIMS: Establishing the prevalence of inappropriate sexual behaviour, concurrent challenging behaviours and the determinants of inappropriate sexual behaviour among patients with acquired brain injury ≤65 years of age in Dutch nursing homes. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational study in acquired brain injury special care units spreads throughout the country. METHODS: Nursing homes were recruited through the national expertise network for patients with severe acquired brain injury, regional brain injury teams and by searching the Internet. Patient characteristics were collected through digital questionnaires. Inappropriate sexual behaviour was assessed with the St. Andrews Sexual Behaviour Assessment, concurrent challenging behaviours with the NeuroPsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home Version and the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, cognition with the Mini-Mental State Examination and activities of daily living with the Disability Rating Scale. Psychotropic drug use was retrieved from the electronic prescription system. Associations between determinants and inappropriate sexual behaviour were examined using multilevel multivariate linear regression model analyses. Data collection started in June 2017 and ended in April 2019. RESULTS: Of the 118 included patients, 38.1% had one or more inappropriate sexual behaviours. Verbal comments (30.1%) and non-contact behaviour (24.8%) were the most prevalent types of inappropriate sexual behaviour. Less severe behaviours were more common than more severe behaviours. The most frequent concurrent challenging behaviours were agitation, aggression and hyperactivity. Physical aggression was associated with more inappropriate sexual behaviour. Being married and pain were associated with less inappropriate sexual behaviour. CONCLUSION: Inappropriate sexual behaviour is prevalent in patients with acquired brain injury ≤65 years of age residing in nursing homes. IMPACT: Inappropriate sexual behaviour may have impact not only on the patients themselves but also on nursing staff. Insight into the magnitude, severity, course and concurrent challenging behaviours, sexuality and quality of life could give direction to the kind of interventions and education that is needed. The ultimate goal is to develop appropriate care for this vulnerable group of patients, specifically psychosocial interventions and appropriate use of psychotropic drugs.

The Dutch Individualised Care Scale for patients and nurses - a psychometric validation study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Translating and psychometrically assessing the Individualised Care Scale (ICS) for patients and nurses for the Flemish and Dutch healthcare context. BACKGROUND: Individualised care interventions have positive effects on health outcomes. However, there are no valid and reliable instruments for evaluating individualised care for the Flemish and Dutch healthcare context. DESIGN: Psychometric validation study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: In Flemish hospitals, data were collected between February and June 2016, and in Dutch hospitals, data were collected between December 2014 and May 2015. Nurses with direct patient contact and a working experience of minimum 6 months on the wards could participate. Patient inclusion criteria were being an adult, being mentally competent, having an expected hospital stay of minimum 1 day, and being able to speak and read the Dutch language. In total, 845 patients and 569 nurses were included. METHODS: The ICS was translated into Dutch using a forward-backward translation process. Minimal linguistic adaptations to the Dutch ICS were made to use the scale as a Flemish equivalent. Omega, Cronbach's Alpha, mean inter-item correlations and standardised subscale correlations established the reliability and confirmatory factor analysis the construct validity of the ICS. RESULTS: Internal consistency using Omega (Cronbach's Alpha) ranged from 0.83 to 0.96 (0.82-0.95) for the ICS-Nurse and from 0.88 to 0.96 (0.87-0.96) for the ICS-Patient. Fit indices of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good model fit, except for the root mean square error of approximation, which indicated only moderate model fit. CONCLUSION: The Dutch version of the ICS showed acceptable psychometric performance, supporting its use for the Dutch and Flemish healthcare context. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Knowledge of nurses' and patients' perceptions on individualised care will aid to target areas in the Dutch and Flemish healthcare context in which work needs to be undertaken to provide individualised nursing care.

Sex differences in incidence of respiratory symptoms and management by general practitioners.

BACKGROUND: Differences between women and men play an important role in lung physiology and epidemiology of respiratory diseases, but also in the health care processes. OBJECTIVE: To analyse sex differences in patients encountering their general practitioner (GP) with respiratory symptoms with regard to incidence, GP's management and final diagnoses. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study, using data of the Dutch Practice Based Research Network. All patients who encountered their GP from 01-07-2013 until 30-06-2018 with a new episode of care starting with a reason for encounter in the respiratory category (R) of the ICPC-2 classification were included (n = 16 773). Multi-level logistic regression was used to analyse influence of patients' sex on management of GPs with adjustment for possible confounders. RESULTS: We found a significant higher incidence of respiratory symptoms in women than in men: 230/1000 patient years [95% confidence interval (CI) 227-232] and 186/1000 patient years (95% CI 183-189), respectively. When presenting with cough, GPs are more likely to perform physical examination [odds ratio (OR) 1.22; 95% CI 1.11-1.35] and diagnostic radiology (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.08-1.44), but less likely to prescribe medication (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.82-0.95) in men. When visiting the GP with dyspnoea, men more often undergo diagnostic imaging (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.05-1.66) and are more often referred to a specialist (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.13-1.62). CONCLUSIONS: Women encounter their GP more frequently with respiratory symptoms than men and GPs perform more diagnostic investigations in men. We suggest more research in general practice focussing on sex differences and possible confounders.

Work-relatedness of the presented health problem and sickness absence.

BACKGROUND: Perception by workers of their health problems as work-related is possibly associated with sickness absence (SA). The aim of this study was to to study the relationship between perceived work-relatedness of health problems and SA among workers who visit their GP, taking the influence of other potential determinants into account and to study the influence of these determinants on SA. Design and setting prospective cohort study in 32 Dutch GP practices. METHODS: A secondary analysis of RCT data among workers, aged 18-63 years, who visited their GP. We measured self-reported SA days in 12 months and high SA (>20 days in 12 months) and compared workers who perceived work-relatedness (WR+) with workers who did not (WR-). With multivariable linear and logistic regression models, we analyzed the influence of age, gender, experienced health, chronic illness, prior SA, number of GP consultations and perceived work ability. RESULTS: We analyzed data of 209 workers, 31% perceived work-relatedness. Geometric mean of SA days was 1.6 (95% CI: 0.9-3.0) for WR+- workers and 1.2 (95% CI: 0.8-1.8) for WR- workers (P = 0.42). Incidence of high SA was 21.5 and 13.3%, respectively (odds ratio 1.79; 95% CI: 0.84-3.84). SA was positively associated with chronic illness, prior SA, low perceived work ability and age over 50. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived work-relatedness was not associated with SA. SA was associated with chronic illness, prior SA, low perceived work ability and age over 50.

Differences in housing transitions and changes in health and self-determination between formerly homeless individuals.

BACKGROUND: To reduce homelessness, it is important to gain a better understanding of the differences between homeless people who remain in institutions and those who gain and can sustain independent housing. This longitudinal study explores differences in housing transitions and differences in changes in health and self-determination between formerly homeless people still living in institutions 2.5 years later and those now living in independent housing in the Netherlands. METHODS: This study mapped the housing transitions of 263 participants from when they entered the social relief system (SRS) to 2.5 years later when they were in independent housing or institutions. These individuals were compared at the 2.5-year mark in terms of gender, age and retrospectively in terms of duration of homelessness. They were also compared with regard to changes in psychological distress, perceived health, substance use and self-determination. RESULTS: Two and a half years after entering the SRS, 81% of participants were independently housed and 19% still lived in institutions. People in institutions had a longer lifetime duration of homelessness, were more often men, and their number of days of alcohol use had decreased significantly more, whereas independently housed people had shown a significant increase in their sense of autonomy and relatedness. CONCLUSION: Formerly homeless people living in independent housing and in institutions show few health-related differences 2.5 years after entering the SRS, but changes in autonomy and relatedness are distinctly more prevalent, after the same period of time, in those who are independently housed.

Older persons are frailer after an emergency care visit to the out-of-hours general practitioner cooperative in the Netherlands: a cross-sectional descriptive TOPICS-MDS study.

BACKGROUND: In the Netherlands, community-dwelling older people with primary care emergency problems contact the General Practitioner Cooperative (GPC) after hours. However, frailty remains an often unobserved hazard with adverse health outcomes. The aim of this study was to provide insight into differences between older persons with or without GPC emergency care visits (reference group) regarding frailty and healthcare use. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was based on data from the public data repository of The Older Persons and Informal Caregivers Survey Minimum Dataset (TOPICS-MDS). Frailty in older persons (65+ years, n = 32,149) was measured by comorbidity, functional and psychosocial aspects, quality of life and a frailty index. Furthermore, home care use and hospital admissions of older persons were identified. We performed multilevel logistic and linear regression analyses. A random intercept model was utilised to test differences between groups, and adjustment factors (confounders) were used in the multilevel analysis. RESULTS: Compared to the reference group, older persons with GPC contact were frailer in the domain of comorbidity (mean difference 0.52; 95% CI 0.47-0.57, p < 0.0001) and functional limitations (mean difference 0.53; 95% CI 0.46-0.60, p < 0.0001), and they reported less emotional wellbeing (mean difference - 4.10; 95% CI -4.59- -3.60, p < 0.0001) and experienced a lower quality of life (mean difference - 0.057; 95% CI -0.064- -0.050, p < 0.0001). Moreover, older persons more often reported limited social functioning (OR = 1.50; 95% CI 1.39-1.62, p < 0.0001) and limited perceived health (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.39-1.62, p < 0.0001). Finally, older persons with GPC contact more often used home care (OR = 1.37; 95% CI 1.28-1.47, p < 0.0001) or were more often admitted to the hospital (OR = 2.88; 95% CI 2.71-3.06, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Older persons with out-of-hours GPC contact for an emergency care visit were significantly frailer in all domains and more likely to use home care or to be admitted to the hospital compared to the reference group. Potentially frail older persons seemed to require adequate identification of frailty and support (e.g., advanced care planning) both before and after a contact with the out-of-hours GPC.

Cardiovascular risk screening of patients with serious mental illness or use of antipsychotics in family practice.

BACKGROUND: Patients with serious mental illness (SMI) and patients on antipsychotics (AP) have an elevated risk for cardiovascular diseases. In the Netherlands, the mental healthcare for these patients is increasingly taken care of by family practitioners (FP) as a result of a shift from secondary to primary care. Therefore, it is essential to increase our knowledge regarding the characteristics of this patient group and the (somatic) care provided by their FPs. The aim was to examine the rate of cardiovascular risk screening in patients with SMI or the use of AP in family practice. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 151.238 patients listed in 24 family practices in the Netherlands. From electronic medical records we extracted data concerning diagnoses, measurement values of CVR factors, medication and frequency of visits over a 2 year period. Primary outcome was the rate of patients who were screened for CVR factors. We compared three groups: patients with SMI/AP without diabetes or CVD (SMI/AP-only), patients with SMI/AP and diabetes mellitus (SMI/AP + DM), patients with SMI/AP and a history of cardiovascular disease (SMI/AP + CVD). We explored factors associated with adequate screening using multilevel logistic regression. RESULTS: We identified 1705 patients with SMI/AP, 834 with a SMI diagnosis, 1150 using AP. The screening rate for CVR in the SMI/AP-only group (n = 1383) was adequate in 8.5%. Screening was higher in the SMI/AP - +DM (n = 206, 68.4% adequate, OR 24.6 (95%CI, 17.3-35.1) and SMI/AP + CVD (n = 116, 26.7% adequate, OR 4.2 (95%CI, 2.7-6.6). A high frequency of visits, age, the use of AP and a diagnosis of COPD were associated with a higher screening rate. In addition we also examined differences between patients with SMI and patients using AP without SMI. CONCLUSION: CVR screening in patients with SMI/AP is performed poorly in Dutch family practices. Acceptable screening rates were found only among SMI/AP patients with diabetes mellitus as comorbidity. The finding of a large group of AP users without a SMI diagnosis may indicate that FPs often prescribe AP off-label, lack information about the diagnosis, or use the wrong code.

Is the plasma aldosterone-to-renin ratio associated with blood pressure response to treatment in general practice?

BACKGROUND: Individualized antihypertensive treatment based on specific biomarkers such as renin may lead to more effective blood pressure control in patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension. Recent studies suggested that the plasma aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR) may also be a candidate predictor for this purpose. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the ARR is associated with the blood pressure response to antihypertensive treatment in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study in primary care, we determined the ARR in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension prior to starting treatment. Treatment was categorized in five groups: no medication, use of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, use of calcium channel blocker, use of diuretic, or use of beta blocker. We examined the relation between the ARR and blood pressure response within 1 year of treatment, taking into account the type of antihypertensive treatment and adjusting for gender, age, baseline blood pressure, and comorbidity. RESULTS: Out of 304 patients, we used 947 measurements (727 no medication, 220 medication) for analysis. There was no association between the ARR and the response in blood pressure, and this applied to each treatment group. Target blood pressure, defined as systolic blood pressure <140 mmHg, was reached in 31% of patients. There was no association between the ARR and reaching target blood pressure (OR 1.002, 95% CI 0.983-1.022). CONCLUSION: The ARR is not associated with the response in blood pressure within 1 year of antihypertensive treatment in primary care.

The association between patients' expectations and experiences of task-, affect- and therapy-oriented communication and their anxiety in medically unexplained symptoms consultations.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) differ from patients with medically explained symptoms (MES) regarding their expectations and experiences on task-oriented communication (ie, communication in which the primary focus is on exchanging medical content), affect-oriented communication (ie, communication in which the primary focus is on the emotional aspects of the interaction) and therapy-oriented communication (ie, communication in which the primary focus is on therapeutic aspects) of the consultation and the extent to which GPs meet their expectations. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore (a) differences in patients' expectations and experiences in consultations with MUS patients and patients with MES and (b) the influence of patients' experiences in these consultations on their post-visit anxiety level. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: Eleven Dutch general practices. MEASUREMENTS: Patients completed the QUOTE-COMM (Quality Of communication Through the patients' Eyes) questionnaire before and after the consultation to assess their expectations and experiences and these were related to changes in patients' state anxiety (abbreviated State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; STAI). RESULTS: Expectations did not differ between patients with MUS and MES. Patients presenting with either MUS or MES rated their experiences for task-related and affect-oriented communication of their GP higher than their expectations. GPs met patients' expectations less often on task-oriented communication in MUS patients compared to MES patients (70.2% vs 80.9%; P = Ë‚0.001). Affect-oriented communication seems to be most important in reducing the anxiety level of MUS patients (ß -0.63, 95% Cl = -1.07 to -0.19). DISCUSSION: Although the expectations of MUS patients are less often met compared to those of MES patients, GPs often communicate according to patients' expectations. Experiencing affect-oriented communication is associated with a stronger reduction in anxiety in patients with MUS than in those with MES. CONCLUSION: GPs communicate according to patients' expectations. However, GPs met patients' expectations on task-oriented communication less often in patients with MUS compared to patients with MES. Experiencing affect-oriented communication had a stronger association with the post-consultation anxiety for patients with MUS than MES.