Volunteer programs, empowerment, and life satisfaction in Jordan: mapping local knowledge and systems change to inform public policy and science diplomacy.

Introduction: Volunteering in the community is thought to provide unique benefits to people who experience limited engagement in society. In the global South, volunteer programs are often framed as empowering women and benefiting the poor, without empirical evidence or systematic investigation of what this means from a local perspective. For this reason, it is critical to represent stakeholder knowledge, understand how change happens systemically, and reduce cultural bias in scientific inquiry and public policy. As such, efforts to respect diverse narratives and problem-solving approaches are key to science diplomacy - they help us understand cultural relevance, program efficacy, and for whom a program is considered transformative. Methods and results: This study shows how Syrian refugee and Jordanian women, living in resource-poor families, articulated (i) concepts of empowerment and life satisfaction and (ii) the benefits of engaging in community-based volunteering programs. Through engaging in a participatory methodology known as Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping, women generated visual representations of these constructs and cause-and-effect reasoning. They identified several dimensions of empowerment (e.g., cultural, financial, and psychological empowerment) and several meanings of life satisfaction (e.g. adaptation, acceptance, and contentment). They also mapped connections between variables, identifying those that might catalyze change. We were specifically interested in evaluating understandings of We Love Reading, a program that trains volunteers to become changemakers in their local community. In simulations, we modelled how employment, education, money, and volunteering would drive system change, with notable results on cultural empowerment. Discussion: Through visual maps and scenarios of change, the study demonstrates a participatory approach to localizing knowledge and evaluating programs. This is key to improving scientific enquiry and public policy.

Triiodothyronine (T3), inflammation and mortality risk in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Objectives: To study the relationship between serum-free T3 (FT3), C-reactive protein (CRP) and all-cause mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Design: Prospective multicentre longitudinal cohort study. Methods: Between December 2014 and December 2016, thyroid function and CRP were analysed in AMI (both ST-elevation (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation) patients from the Thyroxine in Acute Myocardial Infarction study. The relationship of FT3 and CRP at baseline with all-cause mortality up to June 2020 was assessed. Mediation analysis was performed to evaluate if CRP mediated the relationship between FT3 and mortality. Results: In 1919 AMI patients (29.2% women, mean (s.d.) age: 64.2 (12.1) years and 48.7% STEMI) followed over a median (interquartile range) period of 51 (46-58) months, there were 277 (14.4%) deaths. Overall, lower serum FT3 and higher CRP levels were associated with higher risk of mortality. When divided the patients into tertiles based on the levels of FT3 and CRP; the group with the lowest FT3 and highest CRP levels had a 2.5-fold increase in mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) of 2.48 (1.82-3.16)) compared to the group with the highest FT3 and lowest CRP values. CRP mediated 9.8% (95% CI: 6.1-15.0%) of the relationship between FT3 and mortality. Conclusions: In AMI patients, lower serum FT3 levels on admission are associated with a higher mortality risk, which is partly mediated by inflammation. Adequately designed trials to explore the potential benefits of T3 in AMI patients are required.

Furosemide in end-stage heart failure: community subcutaneous infusions.

BACKGROUND: In chronic heart failure many patients have recurrent hospital admissions and it is the leading cause of admission in people aged over 65 years. In those with end-stage heart failure, there is limited evidence that furosemide can be given subcutaneously to relieve symptoms and avoid hospital admission. METHOD: We initiated a community-based continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSCI) furosemide service for the treatment of advanced heart failure. We aimed to increase patient choice, offer an alternative to hospital admission and, in patients at the end of their life, allow them to die at their preferred place of care with symptom alleviation. We retrospectively reviewed case notes. RESULTS: 36 consecutive episodes of CSCI of treatment were recorded in 28 patients. 15 patients (54%) survived beyond the initial treatment course with 13 patients (87%) avoiding acute hospital admission. There was a reduction in mean hospital admission rates from 2.87 to 0.73 (p<0.001) in the 6-month periods either side of the first episode of CSCI furosemide. A median reduction of 4 kg weight loss was recorded. 13 patients died during the initial treatment course. 12 (92%) died at home and 1 died at the hospital palliative care unit. All had symptoms controlled. CONCLUSION: Subcutaneous furosemide can be successfully delivered in the community. In addition to palliation in the final days of life, community subcutaneous furosemide can be an effective treatment leading to weight loss and improved symptoms with survival for several months.

Symptomatic second-degree atrioventricular block in a recreational athlete.

This case study provides an example of bradycardia associated with an increase in exercise training in a recreational athlete. Although recognised among high-level endurance athletes, this case demonstrates the potential negative effects of exercise on the heart in a patient participating in the levels of exercise recommended by Public Health England. It adds weight to the ongoing discussion of the incomplete understanding of the level of exercise needed to induce pathological changes in cardiac physiology. We discuss the investigations that led us to our diagnosis, highlighting the importance of a detailed exercise history in patients who present with palpitations and provide a potential explanation of how this phenomenon may have occurred. Currently, bradycardia induced by exercise has been managed through pacemaker insertion or complete cessation of exercise. This report demonstrates effective treatment through a period of exercise cessation and slow reintroduction of exercise training.

Effect of Levothyroxine on Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients With Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Thyroid hormones play a key role in modulating myocardial contractility. Subclinical hypothyroidism in patients with acute myocardial infarction is associated with poor prognosis. Objective: To evaluate the effect of levothyroxine treatment on left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction and subclinical hypothyroidism. Design, Setting, and Participants: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial conducted in 6 hospitals in the United Kingdom. Patients with acute myocardial infarction including ST-segment elevation and non-ST-segment elevation were recruited between February 2015 and December 2016, with the last participant being followed up in December 2017. Interventions: Levothyroxine treatment (n = 46) commencing at 25 µg titrated to aim for serum thyrotropin levels between 0.4 and 2.5 mU/L or identical placebo (n = 49), both provided in capsule form, once daily for 52 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome measure was left ventricular ejection fraction at 52 weeks, assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, adjusted for age, sex, type of acute myocardial infarction, affected coronary artery territory, and baseline left ventricular ejection fraction. Secondary measures were left ventricular volumes, infarct size (assessed in a subgroup [n = 60]), adverse events, and patient-reported outcome measures of health status, health-related quality of life, and depression. Results: Among the 95 participants randomized, the mean (SD) age was 63.5 (9.5) years, 72 (76.6%) were men, and 65 (69.1%) had ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The median serum thyrotropin level was 5.7 mU/L (interquartile range, 4.8-7.3 mU/L) and the mean (SD) free thyroxine level was 1.14 (0.16) ng/dL. The primary outcome measurements at 52 weeks were available in 85 patients (89.5%). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction at baseline and at 52 weeks was 51.3% and 53.8%, respectively, in the levothyroxine group compared with 54.0% and 56.1%, respectively, in the placebo group (adjusted difference in groups, 0.76% [95% CI, -0.93% to 2.46%]; P = .37). None of the 6 secondary outcomes showed a significant difference between the levothyroxine and placebo treatment groups. There were 15 (33.3%) and 18 (36.7%) cardiovascular adverse events in the levothyroxine and placebo groups, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: In this preliminary study involving patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and acute myocardial infarction, treatment with levothyroxine, compared with placebo, did not significantly improve left ventricular ejection fraction after 52 weeks. These findings do not support treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Trial Registration: isrctn.org Identifier: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN52505169.

Implementation and Evaluation of a Standardized Non-Vitamin K Oral Anticoagulant (NOAC) Patient Safety Alert Card Across the Northern Region of England.

Many patients are prescribed anticoagulants. Newer non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants, NOACs, were launched in 2008 and are increasingly commonly used. However, they may still be unfamiliar to patients and health care professionals. It is mandated by the National Patient Safety Agency and European Society of Cardiology to provide written safety information for patients receiving anticoagulants. We developed a standard patient alert card with the support of the North of England Strategic Clinical network (NESCN) to clearly provide key safety information for patients and health care professionals. This is the only card in the United Kingdom that is used over such a wide geographical area. We recognized that this would avoid duplication of work devising a similar card across all the sites in primary and secondary care. Given that staff and patients commonly move about the region it would also lead to better ease of recognition. The NESCN card was developed with input from all the key stakeholders, including cardiology, stroke, hematology, acute medicine, primary care, and patient groups. It was launched in 2015 across the Northern region, which includes over 3 million people. It was distributed to general practitioners (GPs), primary and secondary care pharmacists. Electronic and face-to-face education was carried out alongside to pharmacists, GPs, and hospital physicians. We gathered patient and clinical staff feedback regarding the card and found the alert card was widely embedded within practice across the region and patient feedback was good. The evaluation shows a simple and inexpensive intervention delivered with no formal funding can address this patient safety concern. We have engaged with Clinical Commissioning Groups and secondary care trusts in the region to ensure the legacy of the project. In response to requests from other regions and organizations, the card has been widely shared and implemented across many areas of the United Kingdom.

Shared decision-making for ICDs: a regional collaborative initiative.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS England have shown a commitment to embedding shared decision-making (SDM) in clinical practice and developing decision aids based on clinical guidelines. Healthcare policy makers are keen to enhance the engagement of patients in SDM in the belief that it improves the benefits accrued from healthcare interventions. This may be important for interventions such as implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation, where cost-effectiveness is under scrutiny. NHS England invited the ICD implanters in the north of England to participate in a regional commissioning quality incentive (CQUIN) project to improve decision- making around a primary prevention ICD implant. A collaborative project included the development of a specific SDM tool, the first of its kind in the UK, followed by training and education of the clinical teams. The project illustrates that this approach is practical and deliverable and could be applied and used in other regions, and considered in additional clinical areas.

Sample Timing, Diagnosis of Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction and Mortality in Acute Myocardial Infarction: ThyrAMI1 Study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the impact of blood sample timing on the diagnosis of subclinical thyroid dysfunction (SCTD) and mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). PATIENTS, DESIGN, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients with AMI had thyroid function evaluated on admission between December 2014 and December 2016 and those with abnormal serum thyrotropin (TSH) had repeat thyroid function assessed at least a week later. The association between sample timing and SCTD was evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Secondary outcomes were confirmation of SCTD on repeat testing and all-cause mortality up to June 2018. RESULTS: Of the 1806 patients [29.2% women, mean (± standard deviation) age of 64.2 (±12.1) years] analyzed, the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) was 17.2% (n = 311) and subclinical hyperthyroidism (SHyper) was 1.2% (n = 22) using a uniform TSH reference interval. The risk of being diagnosed with SCTD varied by sample timing in fully-adjusted models. The risk of SCH was highest between 00.01 and 06.00 hours and lowest between 12.01 and 18.00 hours, P for trend <.001, and risk of SHyper was highest between 12.01 hours and 18.00 hours and lowest between 00.01 hours and 06.00 hours. Furthermore, time of the initial sample was associated with the risk of remaining in a SCH state subsequently. Mortality in SCH patients was not elevated when a uniform TSH reference interval was utilized. However, when time period-specific TSH reference ranges were utilized, the mortality risk was significantly higher in SCH patients with HR (95% CI) of 2.26 (1.01-5.19), P = .04. CONCLUSIONS: Sample timing impacts on the diagnosis and prognosis of SCH in AMI patients. If sample timing is not accounted for, SCH is systemically misclassified, and its measurable influence on mortality is lost.

PROCESS AND SYSTEMS: A cohort study to evaluate the impact of service centralisation for emergency admissions with acute heart failure.

The aim of our study was to describe the impact of emergency care centralisation on unscheduled admissions with a primary discharge diagnosis of acute heart failure (HF). We carried out a retrospective cohort study of HF admissions 1 year before and 1 year after centralisation of three accident and emergency departments into one within a single large NHS trust. Outcomes included mortality, length of stay, readmissions, specialist inpatient input and follow-up, and prescription rates of stabilising medication. Baseline characteristics were similar for 211 patients before and for 307 following reconfiguration. Median length of stay decreased from 8 to 6 days (p=0.020) without an increase in readmissions (4.7% versus 4.2%, p=0.813). The proportion with specialist follow-up increased (60% to 72%, p=0.036). There was a trend towards decreased mortality (32.2% versus 27.7% at 90 days; p=0.266). Contact with the cardiology team was associated with decreased mortality. In conclusion, centralisation of specialist emergency care was associated with greater service efficiency and a trend towards reduced mortality.

A study of the 16-Segment Regional Wall Motion Scoring Index and biplane Simpson's rule for the calculation of left ventricular ejection fraction: a comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

AIMS: Accurate calculation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is important for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic reasons. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the reference standard for LVEF calculation, followed by real time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE). Limited availability of CMR and RT3DE leaves Simpson's rule as the two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) standard by which LVEF is calculated. We investigated the accuracy of the 16-Segment Regional Wall Motion Score Index (RWMSI) as an alternative method for calculating LVEF by 2DE and compared this to Simpson's rule and CMR. METHODS AND RESULTS: The 2D echocardiograms of 110 patients were studied (LVEF range: 7-74%); 57 of these underwent CMR. A RWMS was applied, based on the consensus opinion of two experienced cardiologists, to each of 16 American Heart Association myocardial segments (RWMSI: hyperkinesis = 3; normal regional contraction = 2; mild hypokinesis = 1.25; severe hypokinesis = 0.75; akinesis = 0; dyskinesis =-1). LVEF was calculated by: LVEF(%) =Σ(16segRWMS)/16×30. LVEF was calculated by Simpson's rule and CMR using standard methods. Results were correlated against CMR. Intertechnique agreement was examined. A P value of<0.05 was considered significant. RWMSI-LVEF correlated strongly with Biplane Simpson's rule (P< 0.001, r = 0.915). RWMSI-LVEF had a strong correlation to CMR (P < 0.001, r = 0.916); Simpson's rule-LVEF had a moderate correlation to CMR (P< 0.001, r = 0.647). In patients with LV dysfunction (EF < 55%), on linear regression analysis, RWMSI-LVEF had a better correlation with CMR than Simpson's rule. Further more Simpson's rule overestimated LVEF compared to CMR (mean difference: -6.12 ± 16.44, P = 0.002) whereas RWMSI did not (mean difference: 2.58 ± 14.80, P = NS). CONCLUSION: RWMSI-LVEF correlates strongly with CMR with good intertechnique agreement. In centers where CMR and RT3DE are not readily available, the use by experienced individuals, of the RWMSI for calculating LVEF may be a more simple, accurate, and reliable alternative to Simpson's rule.