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1.
JCO Oncol Pract ; : OP2300567, 2024 Mar 08.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38457754

RESUMEN

PURPOSE: The symptoms with which a patient with cancer presents and the route taken to diagnosis (emergency v nonemergency) may affect the speed with which the diagnosis of cancer is made, thereby affecting outcomes. We examined time to diagnosis by symptom for cancers diagnosed through emergency and nonemergency routes (NERs). METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with 10 solid cancers at Hospital Clínic of Barcelona between March 2013 and June 2023. Cancers were diagnosed through emergency presentation and admission (inpatient emergency route [IER]), emergency presentation and outpatient referral (outpatient emergency route [OER]), and primary care presentation and outpatient referral (NER). We assessed the effect of diagnostic routes on intervals to diagnosis for 19 cancer symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 5,174 and 1,607 patients were diagnosed with cancer through emergency routes and NERs, respectively. Over 85% of patients presenting with alarm (localizing) symptoms such as hematuria through emergency routes were diagnosed with the expected cancer, whereas those with nonlocalizing symptoms such as abdominal pain had a more heterogeneous cancer-site composition. Median intervals were shorter for alarm than nonlocalizing symptoms and tended to be shorter in IERs than OERs. However, for most symptoms, intervals in both routes were invariably shorter than in the NER. For example, diagnostic intervals for hematuria and abdominal pain were 3 and 5 days shorter in IERs than OERs, but they were 5-8 and 17-22 days shorter than in the NER, respectively. CONCLUSION: For patients with alarm symptoms, intervals were shorter than for those with nonlocalizing symptoms and, for most symptoms, intervals were shorter when patients were evaluated by emergency routes rather than NERs.

2.
Cancer Epidemiol ; 86: 102445, 2023 10.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37651939

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Time intervals and number of prior consultations in primary care (PC) are recognised metrics of diagnostic timeliness of cancer and are interrelated. However, whether and how the two measures correlate with each other in the emergency diagnostic pathway is unknown. We investigated the association between the number of prereferral consultations and the length of intervals from PC presentation to cancer diagnosis following emergency referral to hospital. METHODS: Patients were eligible if they first consulted in PC and were diagnosed with cancer following emergency or nonemergency referral to hospital. We analysed for differences in PC and diagnostic intervals and number of consultations between emergency and nonemergency presenters and determined their associations by cancer type. Differences in presenting symptoms and stage at diagnosis between populations and according to number of consultations were also examined. RESULTS: There were 796 emergency and 865 nonemergency presenters with comparable sociodemographic and comorbidity data. Correlation analysis in emergency presenters revealed a strong positive association between number of consultations and intervals for seven of 13 different cancers, including cancers characterised by high proportions of > 3 consultations and long intervals (pancreatic, lung, and colorectal cancer) and vice versa for others (e.g., endometrial, cervical, or oesophageal cancer). Additionally, emergency presenters with > 3 consultations were more likely than those with 1-2 to report nonspecific symptoms (60 vs. 40%, respectively) and to be diagnosed at a later stage. CONCLUSION: System level interventions are needed to reduce unnecessary delays in the emergency diagnostic pathway, particularly in cancer patients with multiple prereferral consultations. The findings also suggest opportunities to reduce the proportion of emergency diagnoses by targeting symptomatic individuals pre-presentation.


Asunto(s)
Detección Precoz del Cáncer , Neoplasias Esofágicas , Humanos , Diagnóstico Tardío , Derivación y Consulta , Atención Primaria de Salud
3.
JMIR Med Inform ; 11: e45850, 2023 Jul 13.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37477131

RESUMEN

Background: Inappropriate medication in older patients with multimorbidity results in a greater risk of adverse drug events. Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) are intended to improve medication appropriateness. One approach to improving CDSSs is to use ontologies instead of relational databases. Previously, we developed OntoPharma-an ontology-based CDSS for reducing medication prescribing errors. Objective: The primary aim was to model a domain for improving medication appropriateness in older patients (chronic patient domain). The secondary aim was to implement the version of OntoPharma containing the chronic patient domain in a hospital setting. Methods: A 4-step process was proposed. The first step was defining the domain scope. The chronic patient domain focused on improving medication appropriateness in older patients. A group of experts selected the following three use cases: medication regimen complexity, anticholinergic and sedative drug burden, and the presence of triggers for identifying possible adverse events. The second step was domain model representation. The implementation was conducted by medical informatics specialists and clinical pharmacists using Protégé-OWL (Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research). The third step was OntoPharma-driven alert module adaptation. We reused the existing framework based on SPARQL to query ontologies. The fourth step was implementing the version of OntoPharma containing the chronic patient domain in a hospital setting. Alerts generated from July to September 2022 were analyzed. Results: We proposed 6 new classes and 5 new properties, introducing the necessary changes in the ontologies previously created. An alert is shown if the Medication Regimen Complexity Index is ≥40, if the Drug Burden Index is ≥1, or if there is a trigger based on an abnormal laboratory value. A total of 364 alerts were generated for 107 patients; 154 (42.3%) alerts were accepted. Conclusions: We proposed an ontology-based approach to provide support for improving medication appropriateness in older patients with multimorbidity in a scalable, sustainable, and reusable way. The chronic patient domain was built based on our previous research, reusing the existing framework. OntoPharma has been implemented in clinical practice and generates alerts, considering the following use cases: medication regimen complexity, anticholinergic and sedative drug burden, and the presence of triggers for identifying possible adverse events.

4.
Future Oncol ; 19(12): 829-843, 2023 Apr.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37170913

RESUMEN

Aim: Evidence on time-based metrics for cancers diagnosed through emergency presentation is lacking. We examined the duration of intervals from first symptoms to cancer diagnosis in the emergency versus primary care (PC) presentation route. Methods: Retrospective study of outpatients diagnosed with 15 solid cancers over 5 years. The outcome was the length of prediagnostic intervals by diagnostic route. Results: Median intervals in emergency presenters (n = 3167) were shorter than in PC presenters (n = 2215). However, intervals in emergency presenters with three or more prior PC consultations were similar to PC but remarkably longer than in those with one or two and no consultations. Conclusion: As we provide new interval measures for the emergency diagnostic pathway, results highlight the contribution of prior consultations to interval lengths.


Asunto(s)
Diagnóstico Tardío , Neoplasias , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Neoplasias/diagnóstico , Neoplasias/terapia , Derivación y Consulta , Factores de Tiempo
5.
Int J Cancer ; 152(3): 384-395, 2023 02 01.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36053784

RESUMEN

Despite extensive research on cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence on the impact on prediagnostic time intervals is lacking. To better understand how COVID-19 changed the pathway to diagnosis of cancer, we examined the length of intervals from symptom onset to diagnosis for 13 common cancer types with known clinical stage over 1-year nonpandemic period (March 2019 to March 2020; N = 844) and three biannual COVID periods (March 2020 to September 2021; N = 1172). We analyzed the patient interval (from first symptoms to presentation to a physician), the primary care/emergency department interval (from presentation with relevant symptoms to a primary care or emergency department physician to referral to a hospital-based diagnosis center) and the hospital interval (from referral to diagnosis). Compared to nonpandemic data, there were significant changes across COVID periods. The pandemic mostly impacted patient intervals for cancers diagnosed over the first 6 months after onset in March 2020. Overall median patient intervals were longest in the early COVID period (39 [IQR 22-64] days) and shortest in the nonpandemic period (20 [IQR 13-30] days; Kruskal-Wallis test [χ2 ], P < .0001). Differences in clinical stage between periods were relevant, with cancers from the mid-period (September 2020 to March 2021) showing the most advanced stage. A shift to later stage was plausibly a result of delayed intervals in the early COVID period. Since intervals are eventually relevant to prognosis, our results provide a baseline against which the impact of improvement strategies to minimize the negative outcomes of COVID-19-associated cancer delays can be assessed and implemented.


Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , Neoplasias , Humanos , Pandemias , COVID-19/epidemiología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Vías Clínicas , Derivación y Consulta , Neoplasias/diagnóstico , Neoplasias/epidemiología
6.
Clin Drug Investig ; 42(11): 949-964, 2022 Nov.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36173596

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Unprotected and fragile elderly people in nursing homes experienced the highest mortality rates during the initial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to study the role of two oral anti-inflammatory drugs, colchicine and prednisone, in elderly patients with COVID-19 in geriatric centers. METHODS: A phase II/III, randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial was performed in a geriatric population comparing the efficacy and safety of an oral combination of prednisone (60 mg/day for 3 days) and colchicine (at loading doses of 1-1.5 mg/day for 3 days, followed by 0.5 mg/day for 11 days) with the standard treatment, based on intravenous dexamethasone. Primary endpoints assessed the efficacy in reducing death or the modified endpoint death/therapeutic failure to the study drugs over a 28-day period, while secondary endpoints included safety, laboratory changes, and additional therapies used. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients (35 female/19 male) were enrolled, 25 (46.3%) of whom were allocated to the experimental arm and 29 (53.7%) to the control arm. At day 28, no differences in deaths were observed. The combination of mortality or therapeutic failure occurred in 12 (45.13%) patients receiving dexamethasone and 6 (28.13%) patients receiving colchicine/prednisone, resulting in a reduction of risk difference (RD) of - 17% (p = 0.17), with an average reduction of 39% (risk ratio [RR] 0.61) in patients receiving colchicine/prednisone (p = 0.25). Control patients received higher amounts of additional glucocorticoids (p = 0.0095) over a longer time frame (p = 0.0003). Colchicine/prednisone significantly reduced ferritin levels at day 14, as well as D-dimer and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels at day 28. Adverse events were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The combination colchicine/prednisone compared with intravenous dexamethasone has shown a remarkable trend to increase disease survival over a 28-day period in elderly patients requiring oxygen therapy in geriatric centers, without safety issues. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT04492358.


Asunto(s)
Tratamiento Farmacológico de COVID-19 , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Anciano , Prednisona/efectos adversos , Colchicina/efectos adversos , SARS-CoV-2 , Dexametasona/uso terapéutico , Resultado del Tratamiento
7.
Diagnostics (Basel) ; 11(11)2021 Nov 12.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34829441

RESUMEN

Although COVID-19 has had dire consequences on diagnosis of cancer, little data assessing its impact on the whole range of diagnostic activity relevant to cancer are available. We examined trends in the provision of full diagnostic tests for consecutive patients with suspected cancer referred to an academic hospital-based Quick Diagnosis Unit from January 2019 to December 2020. As weekly volumes declined, waiting times for endoscopic, imaging and biopsy/cytology procedures increased steeply during the COVID-impacted period (26 February-28 April 2020). The average weekly increase compared with the same period in 2019 was substantial for invasive procedures requiring admission (200.70%), CT scans (171.20%), GI endoscopy (161.50%), PET/CT scans (152.50%), ultrasonography (148.40%), and ambulatory biopsy/cytology procedures (111.20%). Volumes and waiting times to other procedures showed similar trends. There was a remarkable downward trend in cancer diagnosis during the COVID-impacted period, with a 54.07% reduction compared with the same weeks in 2019. Despite a modest recovery in the following months, the decline in weekly activity and cancer rates persisted until 30 December. Providing insight into how COVID-19 changed the full spectrum of diagnostic activity for suspected cancer informs resilience-building interventions to guarantee access to fast and efficient diagnostics ahead of new threats.

8.
Am J Emerg Med ; 48: 1-11, 2021 10.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33836386

RESUMEN

PURPOSE: Patients evaluated in the emergency department (ED) who have concerning symptoms suggestive of a cancer diagnosis are mostly referred to the quick diagnosis unit of our tertiary hospital. This study analyzed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the volume, disease patterns, and accessibility to essential investigations of patients with suspected cancer referred by the ED to this unit. METHODS: Trends in referrals were analyzed from January 1 to July 8, 2020 and the corresponding dates of 2019. Only non-Covid-19 conditions were evaluated. Three time-based cohorts were defined: prepandemic (January 1-February 19), pandemic (February 19-April 22), and postpandemic (April 22-July 8). Along with descriptive statistics, linear regression was used to test for time trends with weekly referrals as the dependent variable. RESULTS: There were 384, 193, and 450 patients referred during the prepandemic, pandemic, and postpandemic periods, respectively. Following an increasing rate, referrals decreased to unprecedented levels in the pandemic period (average weekly slope: -2.1 cases), then increasing again until near normalization. Waiting times to most diagnostic procedures including radiology, endoscopic, nuclear medicine, and biopsy/cytology during the pandemic period were significantly delayed and time-to-diagnosis was considerably longer (19.72 ± 10.37 days vs. 8.33 ± 3.94 days in prepandemic and 13.49 ± 6.45 days in postpandemic period; P < 0.001 in both). Compared to other cohorts, pandemic cohort patients were more likely to have unintentional weight loss and fever of unknown origin as referral indications while anemia and lymphadenopathy were less common. Patients from the pandemic cohort had a significantly lower rate of malignancies and higher of benign gastrointestinal disorders (40.93% vs. 19.53% and 20.89% in prepandemic and postpandemic periods, respectively; P < 0.001 in both), most notably irritable bowel disease, and of mental and behavioral disorders (15.54% vs. 3.39% and 6.00% in prepandemic and postpandemic periods, respectively; P < 0.001 in both). CONCLUSIONS: As our hospital switched its traditional care to one focused on Covid-19 patients, recognized indicators of healthcare quality of quick diagnosis units were severely disrupted. The clinical patterns of presentation and diagnosis of the pandemic period suggested that mass media-generated mental and behavioral responses with distressing symptoms played a significant role in most of these patients.


Asunto(s)
COVID-19/prevención & control , Servicio de Urgencia en Hospital/tendencias , Accesibilidad a los Servicios de Salud/tendencias , Neoplasias/diagnóstico , Unidades de Diagnóstico Rápido/tendencias , Derivación y Consulta/tendencias , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Diagnóstico Tardío/tendencias , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Servicio de Urgencia en Hospital/organización & administración , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Modelos Lineales , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Variaciones Dependientes del Observador , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Estudios Retrospectivos , España , Centros de Atención Terciaria , Adulto Joven
9.
J Comp Eff Res ; 10(5): 381-392, 2021 04.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33709770

RESUMEN

Aim: To compare by micro-costing the costs incurred by quick diagnosis units of tertiary and second-level hospitals. Patients & methods: We included 407 patients from a tertiary and secondary hospital unit. A bottom-up approach was applied. Results: Cost per patient was €577.5 ± 219.6 in the tertiary versus €394.7 ± 92.58 in the secondary unit (p = 0.0559). Mean number of visits and ratio of successive/first visits were significantly higher in the former (3.098 and 2.07 vs 2.123 and 1.12, respectively). Personnel and indirect costs including their percent contribution to overall costs accounted for the main differences. Conclusion: A greater volume of appointments, number of staff and staff time and a greater complexity of patients from the tertiary hospital unit justified the differences in cost outcomes.


Asunto(s)
Unidades de Diagnóstico Rápido , Costos y Análisis de Costo , Humanos , Centros de Atención Terciaria
10.
Medicine (Baltimore) ; 100(8): e24750, 2021 Feb 26.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33663089

RESUMEN

ABSTRACT: To investigate the clinical characteristics and outcome of octogenarians with covid-19.This is a observational, retrospective, descriptive study.Consecutive patients aged >80 years who were admitted for covid-19 pneumonia during a 6 weeks period (March 20-April 30, 2020).Illness severity on admission was classified according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria: mild, moderate, severe, and critical. Data collected included demographics, presenting symptoms, radiological and laboratory findings, comorbidities, functional status, treatment, and clinical outcome.There were 159 patients (52.2% women) with a median age of 85.99 (IQR: 80-98). The median Barthel index was 90 (40-100) and Charlson index was 5 (5-6). Most common presenting symptoms were fever, dyspnea, and cough. Patients had mild (8.2%), moderate (52.2%), or severe (39.6%) illness according to WHO criteria. A bilateral pulmonary involvement was seen in 86% of patients. Laboratory analysis revealed increased serum concentrations of inflammatory parameters (C-reactive protein, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase, and D-dimer) with an abnormal lymphocyte count [0.88 × 109/L (0.5)]. Treatments included corticosteroids in 37%, and biological therapies in 17.6%. Fifty three (33.3%) patients died during hospitalization, with a median time from admission to death of 3 (IQR 1-6) days. Mortality was higher in men (55%). Deceased patients had a significantly higher frequency of dyspnea, increased inflammatory parameters, and illness severity compared to survivors.One-third of octogenarians with covid-19 died during hospitalization and most had bilateral lung involvement. A further knowledge of the characteristics and outcome of this population may assist clinicians in the decision-making process in these patients.


Asunto(s)
COVID-19/fisiopatología , Corticoesteroides , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Productos Biológicos/uso terapéutico , COVID-19/mortalidad , Femenino , Mortalidad Hospitalaria , Humanos , Mediadores de Inflamación/metabolismo , Recuento de Linfocitos , Masculino , Estudios Retrospectivos , SARS-CoV-2 , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Factores Sexuales
11.
Eur J Clin Invest ; 51(7): e13523, 2021 Jul.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33594702

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Due to insufficient scientific evidence, panels of tumour markers (TMs) are currently not recommended for use in suspected cancer. However, recent well-designed studies have revealed a potential clinical value in lung cancer. We analysed the diagnostic accuracy of a panel of 11 circulating TMs with clinically controlled thresholds in the differentiation of cancer from nonmalignant diseases. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 4776 consecutive patients presenting with focal or nonspecific symptoms suggestive of cancer who underwent testing for 11 serum TMs before diagnosis was known. The study abided by 2015 STARD guidelines. Tumour markers included, among others, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, squamous cell carcinoma-associated antigen, prostate-specific antigen (males), neuron-specific enolase, progastrin-releasing peptide and carbohydrate antigen 125. Thresholds were adjusted for the presence of kidney failure, liver disease, effusions and dermatological disorders. Results showing ≥1 TMs with concentrations above threshold were considered positive. RESULTS: Benign diseases were diagnosed in 3281 (68.7%) patients and cancer in 1495 (31.3%), with epithelial cancers in 1214 (77% at stage IV). When applying criteria for controlled thresholds, overall specificity was 98%. Overall sensitivity of the panel in epithelial cancers was 72.2%, positive predictive value 93% and negative predictive value 90.5%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.920 (95% confidence interval, 0.902-0.924). CONCLUSIONS: By using clinically controlled cut-offs, the combined panel demonstrated an excellent ability to discriminate epithelial cancers from nonmalignant diseases. However, its use in clinical practice would need formal validation through a multicentre controlled trial assessing a panel-guided strategy vs. standard diagnosis.


Asunto(s)
Biomarcadores de Tumor/sangre , Neoplasias/sangre , Dolor Abdominal/fisiopatología , Anciano , Antígenos de Neoplasias/sangre , Antígeno Ca-125/sangre , Antígeno CA-19-9/sangre , Antígeno Carcinoembrionario/sangre , Carcinoma/sangre , Carcinoma/diagnóstico , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Disnea/fisiopatología , Femenino , Neoplasias Hematológicas/sangre , Neoplasias Hematológicas/diagnóstico , Humanos , Queratina-19/sangre , Linfadenopatía/fisiopatología , Linfoma/sangre , Linfoma/diagnóstico , Masculino , Melanoma/sangre , Melanoma/diagnóstico , Persona de Mediana Edad , Mucina-1/sangre , Neoplasias/diagnóstico , Neoplasias/fisiopatología , Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso/fisiopatología , Dolor/fisiopatología , Fragmentos de Péptidos/sangre , Fosfopiruvato Hidratasa/sangre , Antígeno Prostático Específico/sangre , Proteínas Recombinantes/sangre , Sarcoma/sangre , Sarcoma/diagnóstico , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Serpinas/sangre , Pérdida de Peso , alfa-Fetoproteínas/metabolismo
12.
Diagnostics (Basel) ; 10(8)2020 Aug 13.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32823623

RESUMEN

Although quick diagnosis units (QDU) have become a cost-effective alternative to inpatient admission for diagnosis of potentially serious diseases, the rate of return hospitalizations among evaluated patients is unknown. This study examined the temporal trends in admissions of QDU patients through 15 years. Adult patients referred to QDU from 2004 to 2019 who were hospitalized between the first and last visit in the unit were eligible. Decisions about admissions were mainly based on the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol and required independent validation by experienced clinicians using a customized tool. The final analysis included 825 patients. Patient characteristics and major reasons for admission were compared each year and linear trends were analyzed. Admission rates decreased from 7.2% in 2004-2005 to 4.3% in 2018-2019 (p < 0.0001). While a significant increasing trend was observed in the rate of admissions due to cancer-related complications (from 39.5% in 2004-2005 to 61.7% in 2018-2019; p < 0.0001), those due to anemia-related complications and scheduled invasive procedures experienced a significant downward trend. A likely explanation for these declining trends was the relocation of the unit to a new daycare center in 2013-2014 with recovery rooms and armchairs for IV treatments. The facts of this study could help in the provision of anticipatory guidance for the optimal management of patients at risk of clinical complications.

13.
Drugs Aging ; 34(6): 453-466, 2017 06.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28432600

RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies of antihypertensive treatment of older patients have focused on blood pressure control, cardiovascular risk or adherence, whereas data on inappropriate antihypertensive prescriptions to older patients are scarce. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess inappropriate antihypertensive prescriptions to older patients. METHODS: An observational, prospective multicentric study was conducted to assess potentially inappropriate prescription of antihypertensive drugs, in patients aged 75 years and older with arterial hypertension (HTN), in the month prior to hospital admission, using four instruments: Beers, Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions (STOPP), Screening Tool to Alert Doctors to the Right Treatment (START) and Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders 3 (ACOVE-3). Primary care and hospital electronic records were reviewed for HTN diagnoses, antihypertensive treatment and blood pressure readings. RESULTS: Of 672 patients, 532 (median age 85 years, 56% female) had HTN. 21.6% received antihypertensive monotherapy, 4.7% received no hypertensive treatment, and the remainder received a combination of antihypertensive therapies. The most frequently prescribed antihypertensive drugs were diuretics (53.5%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) (41%), calcium antagonists (32.2%), angiotensin receptor blockers (29.7%) and beta-blockers (29.7%). Potentially inappropriate prescription was observed in 51.3% of patients (27.8% overprescription and 35% underprescription). The most frequent inappropriately prescribed drugs were calcium antagonists (overprescribed), ACEIs and beta-blockers (underprescribed). ACEI and beta-blocker underprescriptions were independently associated with heart failure admissions [beta-blockers odds ratio (OR) 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39-0.71, p < 0.001; ACEIs OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.36-0.70, p < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: Potentially inappropriate prescription was detected in more than half of patients receiving antihypertensive treatment. Underprescription was more frequent than overprescription. ACEIs and beta-blockers were frequently underprescribed and were associated with heart failure admissions.


Asunto(s)
Antihipertensivos/administración & dosificación , Prescripciones de Medicamentos/normas , Efectos Colaterales y Reacciones Adversas Relacionados con Medicamentos/epidemiología , Hipertensión/tratamiento farmacológico , Prescripción Inadecuada/estadística & datos numéricos , Pautas de la Práctica en Medicina/normas , Antagonistas Adrenérgicos beta/administración & dosificación , Antagonistas Adrenérgicos beta/efectos adversos , Antagonistas Adrenérgicos beta/uso terapéutico , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Antagonistas de Receptores de Angiotensina/administración & dosificación , Antagonistas de Receptores de Angiotensina/efectos adversos , Antagonistas de Receptores de Angiotensina/uso terapéutico , Inhibidores de la Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina/administración & dosificación , Inhibidores de la Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina/efectos adversos , Inhibidores de la Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina/uso terapéutico , Antihipertensivos/efectos adversos , Antihipertensivos/uso terapéutico , Presión Sanguínea/efectos de los fármacos , Bloqueadores de los Canales de Calcio/administración & dosificación , Bloqueadores de los Canales de Calcio/efectos adversos , Bloqueadores de los Canales de Calcio/uso terapéutico , Diuréticos/administración & dosificación , Diuréticos/efectos adversos , Diuréticos/uso terapéutico , Prescripciones de Medicamentos/estadística & datos numéricos , Efectos Colaterales y Reacciones Adversas Relacionados con Medicamentos/etiología , Registros Electrónicos de Salud , Femenino , Servicios de Salud para Ancianos , Hospitalización/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Hipertensión/epidemiología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pautas de la Práctica en Medicina/estadística & datos numéricos , Atención Primaria de Salud/métodos , Atención Primaria de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios Prospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , España
14.
Gac Sanit ; 31(4): 327-331, 2017.
Artículo en Español | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27486035

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: To analyse potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) in elderly polypathological patients (PP). METHOD: Multicentre observational, prospective study of 672 patients aged 75 years and older hospitalised in Internal Medicine between April 2011 and March 2012. The Beers, STOPP-START and ACOVE criteria were used to detect potentially inappropriate prescribing and the results of PP and non-PP patients were compared. RESULTS: Of the 672 patients included, 419 (62%) were polypathological, of which 89.3% met PIP criteria versus 79.4% of non-polypathological patients (p <0.01). 40.3% of polypathological patients met at least one Beers criteria, 62.8% at least one STOPP criteria, 62.3% at least one START criteria and 65.6% at least one ACOVE criteria. The rate of potentially inappropriate prescribing was higher in polypathological patients regardless of the tool used. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high rate of potentially inappropriate prescribing in polypathological patients, strategies to improve prescribing adequacy must be developed.


Asunto(s)
Prescripción Inadecuada/estadística & datos numéricos , Multimorbilidad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Estudios Prospectivos
15.
Rev Esp Geriatr Gerontol ; 51(5): 260-4, 2016.
Artículo en Español | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27068239

RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: The main aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of sarcopenia, according to the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People, in men and women living in Spanish nursing homes. METHODS: Multi-centre study was conducted on ambulatory persons over 69 years old living in nursing homes. Body composition was assessed using bioimpedance analysis, grip strength with a Jamar dynamometer, and gait speed using the 4 metre walk test. Sarcopenia was assessed using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria (gait speed<0.8m/s; grip strength<30kg in men or 20kg in women, and muscle mass index <8.31kg/m(2) in men or<6.68kg/m(2) in women). RESULTS: The study included 276 subjects with a median age 87.2 years, and with 69% women. Sarcopenia was demonstrated in 37% (15% men, 46% women), 37% had low muscle mass, 86% low gait speed, and 95% low grip strength. Prevalence of sarcopenia increased with advancing age. Both weakness and low gait speed was observed in 90% of individuals with sarcopenia, with 39% of the total having low gait speed, and 38% with weakness. CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia is a frequent condition in older persons living in nursing homes, especially among women. Most of the cases are severe, with both low muscle strength and physical performance. Although muscle function is altered in 9 out 10 participants, most of them have preserved muscle mass.


Asunto(s)
Casas de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Sarcopenia/epidemiología , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Femenino , Evaluación Geriátrica , Fuerza de la Mano , Humanos , Masculino , Prevalencia , España/epidemiología
16.
Eur J Clin Pharmacol ; 72(6): 755-64, 2016 Jun.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26944419

RESUMEN

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the characteristics of older patients treated with psychotropic medicines and the associated factors and to assess their inappropriate use. METHODS: An observational, prospective study was carried out in 672 elderly patients admitted to seven hospitals for a year. A comparison of sociodemographic characteristics, geriatric variables, multimorbidity and the number of prescribed medicines taken in the preceding month before hospitalization between patients treated with psychotropics and those not treated was performed. To assess factors associated with psychotropics, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Inappropriate use was assessed using the Beers and the STOPP criteria. RESULTS: A total of 57.5 % patients (median [Q1-Q3] age 81.7 [78.2-86.1], 65.7 % female) were treated with psychotropics (44.2 % anxiolytics, 22.6 % antidepressants and 10.8 % antipsychotics). Independent factors associated with the use of psychotropics were female gender (OR = 2.3; CI 95 %,1.6-3.5), some degree of disability on admission (slight [OR = 2.2; 1.2-4.2], moderate [OR = 3.2, 1.6-6.6], severe [OR = 3.4; 1.4-8] and very severe [OR = 5.1; 2.0-12.8]) and polypharmacy (5-9 medicines [OR = 3.0; 1.3-6.9] and ≥10 medicines [OR = 6.0; 2.7-13.6]). The associated factors varied depending on the different types of psychotropics. In patients treated with psychotropics, the percentage of those with at least one Beers (61.6 %) or at least one STOPP (71.4 %) criteria was significantly higher in comparison with those not treated with psychotropics (30.7 and 47.7 %, respectively, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Psychotropics are widely used in the elderly population and often their use is inappropriate. Female gender, a poor functional status and polypharmacy, are the characteristics linked to their use. Interventional strategies should be focused on patients with these characteristics.


Asunto(s)
Utilización de Medicamentos/estadística & datos numéricos , Prescripción Inadecuada/estadística & datos numéricos , Psicotrópicos/uso terapéutico , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Femenino , Hospitalización , Humanos , Masculino , Polifarmacia , Factores Sexuales , España
17.
J Emerg Med ; 50(3): 394-402.e1, 2016 Mar.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26443641

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Although patients with anemia are frequently seen in emergency departments (EDs), studies on patients presenting there with symptomatic chronic anemia--usually iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) caused by occult gastrointestinal bleeding--are lacking. Awareness of predictors of hospitalization could direct the ED triage to the appropriate diagnostic setting. OBJECTIVE: Based on initial observations that some patients with IDA were hospitalized after ED referral and initial evaluation at a quick diagnosis unit (QDU), a new cost-effective alternative to hospitalization for diagnostic workup, this study aimed to determine the patient factors associated with hospitalization after the first QDU visit. METHODS: An 8-year prospective cohort study of patients with IDA referred from the ED to the QDU of a third-level university hospital was conducted. Patients with a baseline hemoglobin level of <9 g/dL in the ED, proven iron deficiency, and no overt bleeding were included. The primary outcome was hospitalization after the initial QDU assessment. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-four (7.7%) of 3692 patients were hospitalized. Inter-rater agreement of appropriateness of admissions was 90.6% (κ = 0.82). Overall, 90% of study patients presented to the ED with symptomatic anemia, and 87% were transfused there. On multivariate analysis, age ≥ 65 years, living alone, a post-transfusion hemoglobin level of <9 g/dL, higher age-adjusted overall comorbidity, heart failure, and poor physical health-related quality of life at first QDU visit independently predicted hospitalization. CONCLUSION: While these predictors do not necessarily reflect the need for hospitalization, they are easily evaluated during the initial ED visit and can guide the triage of similar IDA patients to the suitable setting for timely investigation.


Asunto(s)
Anemia Ferropénica/diagnóstico , Servicio de Urgencia en Hospital/estadística & datos numéricos , Hospitalización/estadística & datos numéricos , Factores de Edad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Comorbilidad , Femenino , Estado de Salud , Hemoglobinas/análisis , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Análisis Multivariante , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Estudios Prospectivos , Calidad de Vida , Características de la Residencia , Factores de Riesgo
18.
Age Ageing ; 44(5): 807-9, 2015 Sep.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26220989

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVES: the aim of this study is to know the prevalence of sarcopenia in geriatric outpatient clinics using the EGWSOP (European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People) diagnostic criteria that include muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance. METHODS: subjects over 69 years old, able to walk without help and who attended five geriatric outpatient clinics were recruited. Body composition was assessed using bioimpedance analysis (BIA), grip strength using a JAMAR dynamometer and physical performance by the 4 m gait speed. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the EGWSOP criteria (gait speed <0.8 m/s; grip strength <30 kg in men or <20 kg in women, and muscle mass index (MMI) <8.31 kg/m(2) in men or <6.68 kg/m(2) in women). RESULTS: two hundred and ninety-eight subjects were included (median age 83.2 years, 63.1% women). 19.1% had sarcopenia (12.7% men, 22.9% women); 20.1% had low muscle mass; 68.8% had low gait speed and 81.2% low grip strength. Only 21.9% of the subjects with low grip strength and 19.5% of those with low gait speed had sarcopenia. No correlations between muscle mass and either muscle strength or gait speed were detected. CONCLUSIONS: sarcopenia is present in one out of five subjects attending geriatric outpatient clinics.


Asunto(s)
Instituciones de Atención Ambulatoria , Geriatría , Sarcopenia/epidemiología , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Composición Corporal , Impedancia Eléctrica , Prueba de Esfuerzo , Femenino , Marcha , Evaluación Geriátrica , Fuerza de la Mano , Humanos , Masculino , Dinamómetro de Fuerza Muscular , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Prevalencia , Sarcopenia/diagnóstico , Sarcopenia/fisiopatología , España/epidemiología , Caminata
19.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract ; 109(2): 233-7, 2015 Aug.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26070216

RESUMEN

AIMS: To identify the differential characteristics of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complicated by end-organ damage who experience a fall-related hip fracture. METHODS: We analyzed the socio-demographic data and index fall clinical characteristics of a group of patients with nephropathy, neuropathy or retinopathy related to T2DM consecutively admitted to six hospitals in Barcelona, Spain because of a fall-related hip fracture. RESULTS: Out of 1225 patients admitted because of a fall-related hip fracture, 107 (8.7%) had clinical evidence of end-organ damage related to T2DM. Among this cohort the mean number of falls during the year prior to the index admission was 2.6±3.2; and 29 of them (27.1%) had already experienced three or more falls. Most falls leading to the index admission took place at the patients' home, from a standing position, and during daylight time. An intrinsic cause of falling was identified in all but one of these patients. Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that, compared to patients without this diagnosis, patients with complicated T2DM were younger (odds ratio 0.762), had less prevalence of dementia (odds ratio 0.078), but had experienced a higher number of falls in the previous year (odds 1.183). CONCLUSIONS: A significant amount of patients with clinical evidence of end-organ damage due to T2DM who experience a fall-related hip fracture have a history of recurrent falling in the previous year. These patients should be identified and offered preventive actions aimed at reducing their risk of falling.


Asunto(s)
Accidentes por Caídas/estadística & datos numéricos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/complicaciones , Fracturas de Cadera/epidemiología , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Femenino , Fracturas de Cadera/etiología , Humanos , Masculino , Oportunidad Relativa , Prevalencia , Factores de Riesgo , España/epidemiología
20.
BMC Geriatr ; 15: 42, 2015 Apr 09.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25887546

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Scientific evidence on treatments of chronic diseases in patients 85 years old or older is very limited, as is available information on inappropriate prescription (IP) and its associated factors. The study aimed to describe medicine prescription, potentially inappropriate medicines (PIM) and potentially prescribing omissions (PPO) and their associated factors on this population. METHODS: In the context of an observational, prospective and multicentric study carried out in elderly patients admitted to seven Spanish hospitals for a year, a sub-analysis of those aged 85 years and over was performed. To assess PIMs, the Beers and STOPP criteria were used, and to assess PPOs, the START and the ACOVE-3 criteria were used. To assess factors associated with IP, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Patients were selected randomly every week on consecutive days from the hospitalization lists. RESULTS: A total of 336 patients were included in the sub-analysis with a median (Q1-Q3) age of 88 (86-90) years. The median medicines taken during the month prior to admission was 10 (7-13). Forty-seven point two per cent of patients had at least one Beers-listed PIM, 63.3% at least one STOPP-listed PIM, 53.6% at least one START-listed PPO, and 59.4% at least one ACOVE-3-listed PPO. Use of benzodiazepines in patients who are prone to falls (18.3%) and omission of calcium and vitamin D supplements in patients with osteoporosis (13.3%) were the most common PIM and PPO, respectively. The main factor associated with the Beers-listed and the STOPP-listed PIM was consumption of 10 or more medicines (OR = 5.7, 95% CI 1.8-17.9 and OR = 13.4, 95% CI 4.0-44.0, respectively). The main factors associated with the START-listed PPO was a non-community dwelling origin (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.0-5.0), and multimorbidity (OR1.8, 95% CI 1.0-3.1). CONCLUSIONS: Prescribed medicines and PIM and PPO prevalence were high among patients 85 years and over. Benzodiazepine use in those who are prone to falls and omission of calcium and vitamin D in those with osteoporosis were the most frequent PIM and PPO, respectively. Factors associated with PIM and PPO differed with polypharmacy being the most important factor associated with PIM.


Asunto(s)
Benzodiazepinas/uso terapéutico , Compuestos de Calcio/uso terapéutico , Enfermedad Crónica , Prescripciones de Medicamentos/estadística & datos numéricos , Prescripción Inadecuada , Polifarmacia , Vitamina D/uso terapéutico , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Conservadores de la Densidad Ósea/uso terapéutico , Enfermedad Crónica/epidemiología , Enfermedad Crónica/terapia , Femenino , Hospitales/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Prescripción Inadecuada/efectos adversos , Prescripción Inadecuada/prevención & control , Prescripción Inadecuada/estadística & datos numéricos , Masculino , Pautas de la Práctica en Medicina/estadística & datos numéricos , Prevalencia , Estudios Prospectivos , España/epidemiología
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