Frailty detection among primary care older patients through the Primary Care Frailty Index (PC-FI).

The prompt identification of frailty in primary care is the first step to offer personalized care to older individuals. We aimed to detect and quantify frailty among primary care older patients, by developing and validating a primary care frailty index (PC-FI) based on routinely collected health records and providing sex-specific frailty charts. The PC-FI was developed using data from 308,280 primary care patients ≥ 60 years old part of the Health Search Database (HSD) in Italy (baseline 2013-2019) and validated in the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K; baseline 2001-2004), a well-characterized population-based cohort including 3363 individuals ≥ 60 years old. Potential health deficits part of the PC-FI were identified through ICD-9, ATC, and exemption codes and selected through an optimization algorithm (i.e., genetic algorithm), using all-cause mortality as the main outcome for the PC-FI development. The PC-FI association at 1, 3 and 5 years, and discriminative ability for mortality and hospitalization were tested in Cox models. The convergent validity with frailty-related measures was verified in SNAC-K. The following cut-offs were used to define absent, mild, moderate and severe frailty: < 0.07, 0.07-0.14, 0.14-0.21, and ≥ 0.21. Mean age of HSD and SNAC-K participants was 71.0 years (55.4% females). The PC-FI included 25 health deficits and showed an independent association with mortality (hazard ratio range 2.03-2.27; p < 0.05) and hospitalization (hazard ratio range 1.25-1.64; p < 0.05) and a fair-to-good discriminative ability (c-statistics range 0.74-0.84 for mortality and 0.59-0.69 for hospitalization). In HSD 34.2%, 10.9% and 3.8% were deemed mildly, moderately, and severely frail, respectively. In the SNAC-K cohort, the associations between PC-FI and mortality and hospitalization were stronger than in the HSD and PC-FI scores were associated with physical frailty (odds ratio 4.25 for each 0.1 increase; p < 0.05; area under the curve 0.84), poor physical performance, disability, injurious falls, and dementia. Almost 15% of primary care patients ≥ 60 years old are affected by moderate or severe frailty in Italy. We propose a reliable, automated, and easily implementable frailty index that can be used to screen the primary care population for frailty.

To clarify the safety profile of paracetamol for home-care patients with COVID-19: a real-world cohort study, with nested case-control analysis, in primary care.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the prescribing patterns of paracetamol in COVID-19 with those for similar respiratory conditions and investigated the association between paracetamol use and COVID-19-related hospitalization/death. METHODS: Using a primary care data source, we conducted a cohort study to calculate the incidence rate of paracetamol use in COVID-19 and for similar respiratory conditions in 2020 and 2019 (i.e. pre-pandemic phase), respectively. In the study cohort, we nested a case-control analyses to investigate the association between paracetamol use and COVID-19-related hospitalizations/deaths. RESULTS: Overall, 1554 (33.4 per 1000) and 2566 patients (78.3 per 1000) were newly prescribed with paracetamol to treat COVID-19 or other respiratory conditions, respectively. Those aged 35-44 showed the highest prevalence rate (44.7 or 99.0 per 1000), while the oldest category reported the lowest value (17.8 or 39.8 per 1000). There was no association for early (OR = 1.15; 95% CI: 0.92-1.43) or mid-term (OR = 1.29; 95% CI: 0.61-2.73) users of paracetamol vs. non-users. Instead, the late users of paracetamol showed a statistically significant increased risk of hospitalization/death (OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.4-2.2). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide reassuring evidence on the use and safety profile of paracetamol to treat early symptoms of COVID-19 as in other respiratory infections.

How to Treat COVID-19 Patients at Home in the Italian Context: An Expert Opinion.

The impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, continues to be widespread, with more than 100 million cases diagnosed in more than 220 countries since the virus was first identified in January 2020. Although patients with mild to moderate forms of COVID-19 could be efficiently managed at home, thus reducing the pressure on the healthcare system and minimizing socio-psychological impact on patients, no trial has been proposed, conducted, or even published on COVID-19 home therapy to date. These expert opinions provide indications on the therapeutical at home management of COVID-19 patients, based on the evidence from the literature and on current guidelines.

The "ARIANNA" Project: An Observational Study on a Model of Early Identification of Patients with Palliative Care Needs through the Integration between Primary Care and Italian Home Palliative Care Units.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to illustrate the characteristics of patients with palliative care (PC) needs, early identified by general practitioners (GPs), and to analyze their care process in home PC services. BACKGROUND: Early identification and service integration are key components to providing quality palliative care (PC) services ensuring the best possible service for patients and their families. However, in Italy, PC is often provided only in the last phase of life and for oncological patients, with a fragmented service. METHODS: Multicenter prospective observational study, lasting in total 18 months, implemented in a sample of Italian Home Palliative Care Units (HPCUs), enrolling and monitoring patients with limited life expectancy, early identified by 94 GPs. The study began on March 1, 2014 and ended on August 31, 2015. RESULTS: Nine hundred thirty-seven patients, out of a total pool of 139,071, were identified by GPs as having a low life expectancy and PC needs. Of these, 556 (59.3%) were nononcological patients. The GPs sent 433 patients to the HPCUs for multidimensional assessment, and 328 (75.8%) were placed in the care of both settings (basic or specialist). For all patients included in the study, both oncological and nononcological patients, there was a high rate of death at home, around 70%. DISCUSSION: This study highlights how a model based on early identification, multidimensional evaluation, and integration of services can promote adequate PC, also for noncancer patients, with a population-based approach.

Regular use of acetaminophen or acetaminophen-codeine combinations and prescription of rescue therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a population-based study in primary care.

OBJECTIVE: There are contrasting positions concerning the benefit-risk ratio of acetaminophen use for osteoarthritis (OA)-related pain. To clarify the effectiveness of acetaminophen or acetaminophen-codeine combinations according to their regimen of use, we evaluated whether being a regular user (adherent) of these medications decreased the occurrence of rescue therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). METHODS: Using the Health Search IMS Health Longitudinal Patient Database, we formed a cohort of patients aged ≥18 years and newly treated with acetaminophen or acetaminophen-codeine combinations for OA between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2013. These patients were followed up for one year in which they were categorized as regular or irregular users of these medications according to a variable medication possession ratio (VMPR) ≥ 50% or lower. We operationally defined the rescue therapy as the use of any NSAIDs prescribed for OA-related pain. RESULTS: Overall, 40,029 patients (69.5% females; mean age: 68 ± 13.57) treated with acetaminophen or acetaminophen-codeine combinations formed the cohort. After the first year of treatment, regular users showed a statistically significantly lower risk of being prescribed with rescue therapy with NSAIDs (OR = 0.89; 95% CI 0.84-0.96). CONCLUSION: These findings show that regular use of acetaminophen or acetaminophen-codeine combinations may reduce the need for NSAIDs to treat OA-related pain.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of cerebrovascular events in patients with osteoarthritis: a nested case-control study.

Recent studies show that the risk of cardiovascular adverse events for certain traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is similar to that of rofecoxib. While these results are focused on ischemic cardiomyopathy, there is little evidence concerning the risk of ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack and hemorrhagic stroke. Additionally, there is no information on nimesulide and ketoprofen, the most frequently prescribed NSAIDs in Italy, along with diclofenac. This study aims to determine whether the use of NSAIDs is associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular events in Italy. We performed a case-control analysis nested in a cohort of patients with osteoarthritis between 2002 and 2011 who were newly treated with NSAIDs. The patients were followed until December 31, 2012. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of cerebrovascular events (index date) associated with current (until 30 days before the index date), recent (31-365 days) and past (>365 days) use of NSAIDs. Within a cohort of 29,722 patients, 1566 cases (1546 matched with controls) were identified (incidence rate = 11.0/1000 person-years). The overall rate of cerebrovascular event was not elevated with current NSAIDs overall when compared with past use. Among individual NSAIDs, diclofenac and ketoprofen were the molecules significantly associated with an increased rate of cerebrovascular events (OR = 1.53; 95% CI 1.04-2.24; OR = 1.62; 95% CI 1.02-2.58, respectively). The most frequent event was hemorrhagic stroke following the use of ketoprofen (OR = 2.09; 95% CI 1.05-4.15). Diclofenac and ketoprofen seemed to increase the risk of cerebrovascular events. These findings might influence the choice of NSAIDs according to patient characteristics.

Non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cardiovascular risk.

NSAIDs are largely used for the treatment of a huge variety of clinical conditions in order to relieve symptoms related to inflammation.The use of NSAIDs is associated with a potential increased risk of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular complications.The cardiovascular risk related to NSAIDs administration is often underestimated and it is frequently believed to be less important than the gastrointestinal risk. Adverse effects of NSAIDs are specifically related to their underlying mechanisms of action.The most plausible mechanism underlying the cardiovascular risk of NSAIDs has been identified in the profound inhibition of COX-2-dependent PGI2 in the presence of incomplete and intermittent inhibition of platelet COX-1. Nevertheless, the cardiovascular risk related to the use of NSAIDs is not only due to the COX-2 selectivity. An important determinant of the clinical effects of NSAIDs depends on the pharmacokinetic features of the different drugs such as half-life, and type of formulations, which can influence the extent and duration of patient exposure to COXisozyme inhibition. The aim of this review is to analyse the mechanisms behind the cardiovascular risk of different NSAIDs.

Survey of Italian general practitioners: knowledge, opinions, and activities of palliative care.

CONTEXT: General practitioners (GPs) play a key role in the end-of-life care of patients; however, currently in Italy, there are no national population-based studies available of the knowledge and activities of GPs in palliative care. OBJECTIVES: This survey aimed to investigate the knowledge, opinions, and activities of Italian GPs regarding palliative care. METHODS: A telephone survey of 1690 GPs was performed. Information was gathered through an ad hoc questionnaire. RESULTS: Valid interviews were obtained for 88% of the sampled GPs (n=1489). Regarding knowledge, 25% of GPs recognized a correct definition of palliative care, 41% the objectives of palliative care, 66% that palliative care should be provided by a multiprofessional team including GPs, and 60% that in-home care for patients at the end of life requires an individual plan care. Furthermore, 92% of them reported that "there is no maximum daily morphine dose for the management of pain." Regarding opinions, most of the GPs strongly agreed that for patients at the end of life, the GPs' duties included availability during working hours to break bad news to patients and families and to collaborate with the multiprofessional team in establishing an individual care plan. Finally, regarding activities, most GPs reported that, in their daily practice with patients at the end of life, they discontinue the drugs that are not beneficial to symptom management and seek advice from palliative care physicians when symptom management is ineffective. CONCLUSION: This survey reveals the uncertainty of GPs regarding many theoretical issues but a strong willingness to integrate with the multiprofessional palliative care team. To further enhance the skills of GPs and facilitate the collaboration with palliative care services, it might be useful to realize ad hoc training schemes tailored to the different organizational procedures of in-home palliative care services.

[Pain in Italy. Background examination. Operative proposals]. / Dolore in Italia. Analisi della situazione. Proposte operative.

The aim of this document is to protect public health through the diffusion on the national territory of appropriate pain treatment guidelines and the definition of a practical, diagnostic and therapeutic tool, which contributes to the diffusion of Law no. 38/2010, particularly through information and health professionals training. The lack of systematic pain evaluation and of an appropriate diagnostic-therapeutic approach are the main issues that make patients treatment remains very poor and inadequate. The 41% of patients with chronic pain states they have not received adequate pain control. The pain incidence in the Italian population is 21.7%, which corresponds to approximately 13 million inhabitants. Consequently, becomes significant identifying the tools and methods to help health professionals to recognize the pain nature, providing a global intervention, which includes the evaluation of patient and of the pathology's clinical characteristics, in order to guarantee an adequate therapeutic choice and a minimization of risks associated with therapy. International guidelines for pain management recommend pain evaluation according to its characteristics, in order to recognize the pain nature (nociceptive pain - inflammatory pain and structural mechanical pain -, neuropathic pain) and an adequate therapy, taking into account pain intensity (analgesics or their associations for management of non-inflammatory pain; for management of inflammatory pain, NSAIDs which may be associated with a central analgesic; drugs with action on ion channels and on neurotransmitters reuptake for management of neuropathic pain). The inadequate management of "pain's suffering patient" underlined the need for health professionals to dispose of a practical and effective tool, a "methods-guide". This tool wishes to become a valuable support for pain examination, from first diagnostic approach to appropriate prescription's dispensing. Authors hope to guide health professionals in the right direction to achieve the cultural change awaited from the application of Law no. 38/2010.