Finding My Way: results of a multicentre RCT evaluating a web-based self-guided psychosocial intervention for newly diagnosed cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: This multicentre randomised controlled trial examined the efficacy of Finding My Way (FMW), a 6-week/6-module online self-guided psychotherapeutic intervention for newly diagnosed curatively treated cancer survivors, in reducing cancer-related distress and improving quality of life compared to an online attention control. METHODS: Participants were randomised on a 1:1 ratio using a gender-stratified block design to intervention (n = 94) or attention control (n = 97), and were blinded to condition. Assessments were completed at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) post-intervention. Mixed model repeated measures analyses examined differences between groups for cancer-specific distress (primary outcome) and general distress, quality of life (QoL), coping, and health service utilisation (secondary outcomes). RESULTS: While both groups reported reduced cancer-specific and general distress over time, between-group differences were not significant. Intervention participants reported lower total health service utilisation and supportive care utilisation post-intervention than controls (total HS use: between-group mean difference = - 1.07 (- 1.85 to - 0.28); supportive care use: between-group mean difference = - 0.64 (- 1.21 to - 0.06)) and significantly higher emotional functioning at 3 months (between-group mean difference = 7.04 (0.15 to 13.9)). At 6 months, the supportive care utilisation finding reversed (between-group mean difference = 0.78 points (0.19 to 1.37). Across remaining QoL and coping outcomes, no significant group differences emerged. CONCLUSIONS: While both groups experienced reductions in distress, between-group differences were not significant. This contrasts with the significantly improved emotional functioning observed in FMW participants at 3 months and the short-term reductions in health service utilisation. Long-term increases in supportive care service utilisation suggest FMW only met needs while being actively used. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN12613000001796;  http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ACTRN12613000001796.aspx.

Association between patient activation and patient-assessed quality of care in type 2 diabetes: results of a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Previous research using cross-sectional data has shown a positive relationship between patient activation and quality of care. The quantitative relationships in the same patients over time, however, remain undefined. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between changes in activation over time and patient-assessed quality of chronic illness care. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: The study used data reported annually from 2008 (N = 3761) to 2010 (N = 3040), using self-report survey questionnaires, completed by patients with type 2 diabetes in a population-based cohort in Queensland, Australia. MAIN MEASURES: Principal measures were the 13-item Patient Activation Measure (PAM), and the 20-item Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) instrument. METHODS: Nonparametric anova was used to determine the association between patient activation and patient-assessed quality of care in low and high patient activation groups at baseline (2008), and in 2009 and 2010, when patients had changed group membership. The Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used to compare the PACIC scores between baseline and each follow-up survey for the same patient activation level. RESULTS: Patient activation was positively associated with the median PACIC score within each survey year and within each of the groups defined at baseline (high- and low-activation groups; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patient activation and the PACIC change in the same direction and should be considered together in the interpretation of patient care assessment. This can be carried out by interpreting PACIC scores within strata of PAM.

Influence of patient-assessed quality of chronic illness care and patient activation on health-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the modulating effect of patient activation on this association. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: A population-based prospective cohort study of people with Type 2 diabetes in Queensland, Australia, using data from self-report questionnaires, collected annually from 2008 (n = 3761) to 2010 (n = 3040). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Predictors were the 20-item PACIC (dichotomized at the score of 3), and the 13-item Patient Activation Measure (PAM), dichotomized into activation Levels 1 and 2 versus Levels 3 and 4. Analyses were restricted to participants whose PACIC and PAM categories did not change over 2 years of follow-up. Outcome variables were EQ-5D index and EQ VAS dichotomized at the uppermost quartile, and EQ-5D index also dichotomized at the median. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: An inverse probability weighted Poisson regression with a log-link function and a binary response variable for each outcome was used to obtain risk ratios (RRs), and the interaction between PACIC and PAM was statistically modelled, taking into consideration patient characteristics and the respective baseline outcome variable. RESULTS: The positive association between the PACIC and EQ VAS was seen only in participants with low activation (adjusted RR: 3.91; 95% CI: 1.40-10.95; P = 0.009), and not in those with high activation, indicating the non-synergistic interaction effect of the PACIC and PAM. This association was not found with EQ-5D index. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic care received consistently over time can positively affect health status, and benefit patients with low activation.

Joint influence of Patient-Assessed Chronic Illness Care and patient activation on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) with glycaemic control and the modulating effect of patient activation on this association. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A population-based prospective cohort study of people with type 2 diabetes in Queensland, Australia, using data from self-report questionnaires, collected annually from 2008 (N = 3761) to 2010 (N = 3040). MAIN MEASURES: Predictors were the 20-item PACIC (dichotomized at the score of 3), and the 13-item Patient Activation Measure (PAM), dichotomized into activation levels 1 and 2 versus levels 3 and 4. Analyses were restricted to participants whose PACIC and PAM categories did not change over 2 years of follow-up. Outcome variable was self-reported HbA1c of ≤ 7% (53 mmol/mol) versus >7%. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: An inverse probability-weighted Poisson regression with a log-link function and a binary response outcome variable (HbA1c) was used to obtain risk ratios (RRs), and the interaction between PACIC and PAM was statistically modelled, taking into consideration patient characteristics and baseline glycaemic status. RESULTS: The effect of the PACIC was not seen in the activated participants (adjusted RR: 1.1; 95% CI: 0.96-1.2; P = 0.20) but was strongly observed in participants with low activation (adjusted RR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.6-3.1; P < 0.001). Similarly, there was a positive association between patient activation and glycaemic control when the PACIC was low (adjusted RR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.3-2.0; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Better patient-assessed chronic care received consistently over time facilitates achievement of better glycaemic control in patients with low activation.

Mental health issues decrease diabetes-specific quality of life independent of glycaemic control and complications: findings from Australia's living with diabetes cohort study.

BACKGROUND: While factors associated with health-related quality of life for people with chronic diseases including diabetes are well researched, far fewer studies have investigated measures of disease-specific quality of life. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of complications and comorbidities on diabetes-specific quality of life in a large population-based cohort of type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: The Living with Diabetes Study recruited participants from the National Diabetes Services Scheme in Australia. Data were collected via a mailed self-report questionnaire. Diabetes-specific quality of life was measured using the Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL) questionnaire. The analyses are for 3609 patients with type 2 diabetes. Regression models with adjustment for control variables investigated the association of complications and comorbidities with diabetes-specific quality of life. Next, the most parsimonious model for diabetes-specific quality of life after controlling for important covariates was examined. RESULTS: The expected associations with better diabetes-specific quality of life were evident, such as increased income, not on insulin, better glycaemic control and older age. However, being single and having been diagnosed with cancer were also associated with better ADDQoL. Additionally, poorer diabetes-specific quality of life was strongly sensitive to the presence of diabetes complications and mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. These relationships persisted after adjustment for gender, age, duration of diabetes, treatment regimen, sampling region and other treatment and socio-demographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: A greater appreciation of the complexities of diabetes-specific quality of life can help tailor disease management and self-care messages given to patients. Attention to mental health issues may be as important as focusing on glycaemic control and complications. Therefore clinicians' ability to identify and mange mental health issues and/or refer patients is critical to improving patients' diabetes-specific quality of life.

Patterns and Determinants of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioner Use among Adults with Diabetes in Queensland, Australia.

There is evidence that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common among people with diabetes. The role of CAM in the treatment or management of diabetes is an emerging health issue given the potential side effects and benefits associated with the use of this kind of medicine. This paper examined patterns and determinants of CAM practitioner use in Queensland, Australia, using a large population-based sample of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The study found that within a 12-month period, 7.7% of people with diabetes used the services of CAM practitioners alongside or as a complement to conventional health care service. Younger age, female gender, a higher education, having private health insurance, and engagement in preventive health behaviours are significant predictors of individuals who are more likely to visit a CAM practitioner. There was no significant difference in CAM practitioner use between people with type 1, type 2 insulin requiring, or type 2 noninsulin requiring diabetes. The findings highlight the need for further research on the role of CAM in the prevention and management of diabetes.

Prevalence of abnormal ankle-brachial index among individuals with low or intermediate Framingham Risk Scores.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of an abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) among subjects not considered to be at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) based on the Framingham Risk Score (FRS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the Population-Based Examinations to Determine Ankle-brachiaL index (PEDAL) Study (2007-2009), a cross-sectional study at 23 U.S. sites, in conjunction with Legs for Life, a national ABI screening program, were analyzed. This study includes data from 822 participants (average age 64.3 years ± 11.6, 69.7% women, 89.7% non-Hispanic white) without known CVD or diabetes, who were screened for peripheral artery disease (PAD) with an ABI and for whom all FRS variables were available. Participants' 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk was estimated from the FRS, and three risk categories were defined: low (< 10%), intermediate (10%-19%), and high (≥ 20%). ABI < 0.90 or > 1.4 in either leg was considered abnormal. RESULTS: The prevalence of abnormal ABI was 14.2% (95%confidence interval [CI] 11.9%-16.8%). According to the FRS, 463 (56.3%) participants were at low risk, 212 (25.8%) were at intermediate risk, and 147 (17.9%) were at high risk. Among participants with a low FRS (n = 463; without CVD or diabetes or both) and an intermediate FRS (n = 212; without CVD or diabetes or both), 12.3% and 12.2% had an abnormal ABI. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of abnormal ABI, a CHD equivalent, is high among individuals not identified as high risk by conventional Framingham-based risk assessment.

Bone mineral density in children with myelomeningocele.

The aim of the present study was to document bone mineral density (BMD) in children with myelomeningocele and to identify variables that contribute to reduced BMD. The study included 24 children with myelomeningocele (nine males, 15 females; age range 4-18y), who had varied levels of neurological impairment (thoracic/high-lumbar, n=6; mid-lumbar, n=9; sacral, n=9) and ambulatory status (non-ambulators, n=12; part-time ambulators n=2; full-time ambulators, n=10). BMD measurements of the femoral neck and whole body using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry assessments of dietary calcium intake, and serum markers of bone metabolism were obtained. BMD is presented as standardized scores (z-scores) which are age- and sex-matched to normally developing children. The mean femoral-neck z-score was -2.41. Femoral-neck z-scores differed significantly according to ambulatory status, with lower z-scores in children who were wheelchair-dependent (p=0.03). The mean z-score at the femoral neck demonstrated a trend toward lower z-scores in children with higher levels of lesions. Almost all children met their recommended daily intake of calcium. Markers of bone metabolism were normal in all patients. This study demonstrates that reduced BMD is a major complication in children with myelomeningocele. There is a significant relationship with low BMD in children who are wheelchair-dependent, a trend in those with higher neurological levels, and no relationship between fractures and reduced BMD.

Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele and outcomes of traumatic spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphisms are associated with outcomes after spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study, from rehabilitation admission to discharge. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 89 persons with cervical SCI (C3-C8) treated from 1995 through 2003. Median age was 30 years (range 14-70); 67 were male (75%) and 83 were white (93%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor and sensory scores, ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS), time from injury to rehabilitation admission, and length of stay (LOS) in rehabilitation. RESULTS: Subjects with an APOE epsilon4 allele (n = 15; 17%) had significantly less motor recovery during rehabilitation than did individuals without an epsilon4 allele (median 3.0 vs 5.5; P < 0.05) and a longer rehabilitation LOS (median 106 vs 89 days; P = 0.04), but better sensory-pinprick recovery (median 5.0 vs 2.0; P= 0.03). There were no significant differences by APOE epsilon4 allele status in sensory-light touch recovery, likelihood of improving AIS Grade, or time from injury to rehabilitation admission. CONCLUSIONS: APOE epsilon4 allele was associated with differences in neurological recovery and longer rehabilitation LOS. Genetic factors may be among the determinants of outcome after SCI and warrant further study.

A randomized controlled pilot study of the effectiveness of occupational therapy for children with sensory modulation disorder.

OBJECTIVE: A pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the effectiveness of occupational therapy using a sensory integration approach (OT-SI) was conducted with children who had sensory modulation disorders (SMDs). This study evaluated the effectiveness of three treatment groups. In addition, sample size estimates for a large scale, multisite RCT were calculated. METHOD: Twenty-four children with SMD were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions; OT-SI, Activity Protocol, and No Treatment. Pretest and posttest measures of behavior, sensory and adaptive functioning, and physiology were administered. RESULTS: The OT-SI group, compared to the other two groups, made significant gains on goal attainment scaling and on the Attention subtest and the Cognitive/Social composite of the Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised. Compared to the control groups, OT-SI improvement trends on the Short Sensory Profile, Child Behavior Checklist, and electrodermal reactivity were in the hypothesized direction. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that OT-SI may be effective in ameliorating difficulties of children with SMD.

Effect of intensive blood pressure control with valsartan on urinary albumin excretion in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is the most common cause of renal failure in the United States, and data regarding the effects of aggressive blood pressure (BP) therapy in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes are inadequate. METHODS: A total of 129 type 2 diabetic patients with a BP of <140/80 to 90 mm Hg without overt albuminuria were randomized to either intensive BP control (diastolic BP goal 75 mm Hg) using an angiotensin II receptor blocker, valsartan, versus moderate BP control (diastolic BP 80 to 90 mm Hg with placebo initially) to evaluate the effect on the change in urinary albumin excretion (UAE) from baseline. RESULTS: The mean entrance BP was 126 +/- 8.8/84 +/- 2.4 mm Hg. The mean follow-up period was 1.9 +/- 1.0 years. During the follow-up period, the mean BP was 118 +/- 10.9/75 +/- 5.7 for the intensive v 124 10.9/80 6.5 mm Hg for the moderate BP groups (P < .001). No difference was observed in change in creatinine clearance or serum creatinine from baseline between the two groups. An analysis of covariance model for change in log (UAE + 1), adjusting for age, HBA(1c), duration of diabetes, baseline log (UAE + 1), sex, and ethnicity resulted in a significant treatment difference at 2 years (P = .007) with intensive BP control reducing log (UAE+1) compared with moderate BP control. CONCLUSION: Intensive BP control with valsartan to <120/80 mm Hg in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes and normo- or microalbuminuria significantly decreased the progression of UAE and in some cases caused regression of UAE.

A Decision Aid for Women Considering Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy for Operable Invasive Breast Cancer: Development and Protocol of a Phase II Evaluation Study (ANZ1301 DOMINO).

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant systemic therapy is offered to selected women with large and/or highly proliferative operable breast cancers. This option adds further complexity to an already complex breast cancer treatment decision tree. Patient decision aids are an established method of increasing patient involvement and knowledge while decreasing decisional conflict. There is currently no decision aid available for women considering neoadjuvant systemic therapy. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop a decision aid for women diagnosed with operable breast cancer and considered suitable for neoadjuvant systemic therapy, and the protocol for a multicenter pre-post study evaluating the acceptability and feasibility of the decision aid. METHODS: The decision aid was developed through literature review, expert advisory panel, adherence to the International Patient Decision Aid Standards, and iterative review. The protocol for evaluation of the decision aid consists of the following: eligible women will undertake a series of questionnaires prior to and after using the decision aid. The primary endpoint is decision aid acceptability to patients and investigators and the feasibility of use. Secondary endpoints include change in decisional conflict, participant knowledge, and information involvement preference. Feasibility is defined as the proportion of eligible participants who use the decision aid to help inform their treatment decision. RESULTS: This study has recruited 29 out of a planned 50 participants at four Australian sites. A 12-month recruitment period is expected with a further 12-months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The decision aid has the potential to allow patients with operable breast cancer, who have been offered neoadjuvant systemic therapy, decreased decisional conflict, and greater involvement in the decision. If this study finds that an online decision aid is feasible and acceptable, it will be made widely available for routine clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12614001267640; http://www.anzctr.org.au/TrialSearch.aspx?searchTxt=ACTRN12614001267640&isBasic=True (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6gh7BPZdG).

Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) in Type 2 Diabetes: A Longitudinal Study.

The Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) was designed to measure care congruent with several elements of the chronic care model (CCM), including self-management support and delivery system design. However, support for the a priori 5-subscale structure of the PACIC in previous research has been conflicting. Thus, we aim to investigate psychometric characteristics of the PACIC including the content and stability of its construct over time. A population-based prospective cohort study of patients with type 2 diabetes was conducted in Queensland, Australia, from 2008 (N = 3,761) to 2010 (N = 3,040). Participants completed annually the 20-item PACIC as well as measures of providers' adherence to guideline-recommended self-management support activities. We used exploratory factor analysis to determine its factor structure and examined internal consistency as well as agreement between the PACIC at baseline with repeated measurements at follow-up after 1 and 2 years. We also determined a criterion-related validity using multinomial logistic regression to explore PACIC's association with providers' self-management support. A one-factor structure was deemed optimal according to our findings. High internal consistency and moderate agreement within the scales over time were observed. Higher PACIC scores predicted better providers' self-management support. In conclusion, the PACIC is a reliable, valid, and reproducible instrument for assessment of diabetes care, and we recommend its promotion and use as a single scale rather than subscales as originally proposed.

Intensive blood pressure control reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with peripheral arterial disease and type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and diabetes are both associated with a high risk of ischemic events, but the role of intensive blood pressure control in PAD has not been established. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Appropriate Blood Pressure Control in Diabetes study followed 950 subjects with type 2 diabetes for 5 years; 480 of the subjects were normotensive (baseline diastolic blood pressure of 80 to 89 mm Hg). Patients randomized to placebo (moderate blood pressure control) had a mean blood pressure of 137+/-0.7/81+/-0.3 mm Hg over the last 4 years of treatment. In contrast, patients randomized to intensive treatment with enalapril or nisoldipine had a mean 4-year blood pressure of 128+/-0.8/75+/-0.3 mm Hg (P<0.0001 compared with moderate control). PAD, which is defined as an ankle-brachial index <0.90 at the baseline visit, was diagnosed in 53 patients. In patients with PAD, there were 3 cardiovascular events (13.6%) on intensive treatment compared with 12 events (38.7%) on moderate treatment (P=0.046). After adjustment for multiple cardiovascular risk factors, an inverse relationship between ankle-brachial index and cardiovascular events was observed with moderate treatment (P=0.009), but not with intensive treatment (P=0.91). Thus, with intensive blood pressure control, the risk of an event was not increased, even at the lowest ankle-brachial index values, and was the same as in a patient without PAD. CONCLUSIONS: In PAD patients with diabetes, intensive blood pressure lowering to a mean of 128/75 mm Hg resulted in a marked reduction in cardiovascular events.

Evidence of pulmonary vascular disease after heart transplantation for Fontan circulation failure.

OBJECTIVES: Elevated pulmonary vascular resistance may contribute to late Fontan circulation failure but is difficult to assess in such patients. Our aims were to assess outcomes of patients with failed Fontan circulation after heart transplantation and to determine whether elevated pulmonary vascular resistance might have contributed to the failure. METHODS: Fifteen patients (14 Fontan circulations, 1 Kawashima circulation) underwent transplantation. The most common indication was ventricular dysfunction (mean ventricular end-diastolic pressure 12.5 mm Hg). Patients with early failures (n = 4) required transplantation less than 1 year after the Fontan operation. Those with late failures (n = 11) underwent transplantation at least 1 year after the Fontan operation. Mean age at transplantation was 11.6 years. Mean Fontan-transplantation interval was 7.4 years. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure, transpulmonary gradient, and pulmonary vascular resistance before and after transplantation were assessed. Paired t tests of variable differences were used to compare variables. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was 7%. There were 2 late events (1 death, 1 retransplantation) related to compliance or rejection issues. Graft survivals were 93%, 82%, and 82% at 3, 5, and 7 years, respectively. Posttransplantation pulmonary vascular resistance was elevated (>2.0 Wood units . m 2 ) in 11 of 14 survivors past initial hospitalization (mean 3.3 +/- 1.7 Wood units . m 2 ). Only patients with early Fontan failures (3 of 4) had normal posttransplantation pulmonary vascular resistance. In paired comparisons, posttransplantation transpulmonary gradient was increased by a mean of 6.8 mm Hg ( P < .0001) relative to pretransplantation value. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes after heart transplantation for failed Fontan circulation were good. Mild-to-moderate pulmonary vascular disease was evident after heart transplantation for late failure. Elevated pulmonary vascular resistance is a likely contributor to Fontan circulation failure.

A high ankle-brachial index is associated with increased cardiovascular disease morbidity and lower quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to determine if an ankle-brachial index (ABI) >or=1.40 is associated with reduced quality of life (QoL). BACKGROUND: Ankle-brachial index values >or=1.40 have been associated with some cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and increased mortality, but the relationship to other disease morbidity such as reduced QoL has not been previously evaluated. METHODS: The PARTNERS (PAD Awareness, Risk and Treatment: New Resources for Survival) program was a national cross-sectional study of 7,155 patients age >50 years recruited from 350 primary care sites. All sites performed the ABI using a Doppler device and a standardized technique. RESULTS: A total of 296 subjects had an ABI >or=1.40 in at least 1 leg, and 4,420 had an ABI between 0.90 and 1.40. Diabetes, male gender, and waist circumference were positively associated with a high ABI, and smoking and dyslipidemia were inversely associated with a high ABI. After adjustment for age, gender, and the traditional CVD risk factors, and accounting for multiple comparisons, the high ABI group had significantly higher odds for foot ulcers (p < 0.005) and borderline associations with heart failure, stroke, and neuropathy. After the same adjustments and adjusting for patients with other CVD, the high ABI group scored 2.0 points lower on the physical component scale on the Medical Outcomes Study Standard Form-36 and 5.5 points lower on the Walking Impairment Questionnaire walking distance domain (p < 0.05 for both). CONCLUSION: Individuals with a high ABI have higher odds for foot ulcers and neuropathy, as well as lower scores on some physical functioning QoL domains.

The impact of peripheral arterial disease on health-related quality of life in the Peripheral Arterial Disease Awareness, Risk, and Treatment: New Resources for Survival (PARTNERS) Program.

This study tested the hypothesis that patients with PAD have impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) to a degree similar to that of patients with other types of cardiovascular disease (other-CVD), and also evaluated the clinical features of PAD associated with impaired HRQoL. This was a cross-sectional study in 350 primary care practice sites nationwide with 6,499 participants. The reference group had no clinical or hemodynamic evidence of PAD or other-CVD; the PAD group had an ankle-brachial index < 0.90 or a prior history of PAD; the other-CVD group had a clinical history of cardiac or cerebral vascular disease (but no PAD), and the combined PAD-other-CVD group included both diagnoses. Individuals were assessed using four HRQoL questionnaires including the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ), Medical Outcomes Study SF-36 (SF-36), Cantril Ladder of Life and the PAD Quality of Life questionnaire. PAD patients had lower WIQ distance scores than the other-CVD group. Both the PAD and other-CVD groups had significantly lower SF-36 Physical Function scores compared with the reference group. The WIQ revealed that PAD patients were more limited by calf pain, whereas other-CVD patients were more limited by chest pain, shortness of breath and palpitations. In conclusion, in this nationwide study, one of the first to directly compare the HRQoL burden of CVD with that of PAD, the evaluation of PAD in office practice revealed a HRQoL burden as great in magnitude as in patients with other forms of CVD.

Ultrasound measurement of mandibular arterial blood supply: techniques for defining ischemia in the pathogenesis of alveolar ridge atrophy and tooth loss in the elderly?

PURPOSE: To adapt ultrasound methods used to measure blood flow in the extremities to quantify mandible blood flow in order to determine the role of ischemia in the pathogenesis of mandible atrophy and tooth loss in the elderly. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Doppler and duplex ultrasound techniques as used in measurement of arterial pulse in the extremities were adapted for recording the intraoral pulse profile at 7 sites in 57 patients of varying ages. RESULTS: After omitting the large number (26 patients) with signals of indeterminate strength, the mental artery pulse was strong in 11 of 12 (92%) in those younger than 65 versus 9 of 19 (47% in those older than 65 years; P = .02). The equivalent figures for the sublingual artery were 15 of 15 strong for those younger than 65 and 11 of 17 (65%) for those older than 65 years ( P = .02). The varying depth of soft tissue overlying the inferior alveolar artery made its signal difficult to evaluate, but there was no statistically significant age-related difference in the inferior alveolar artery signals. In 4 elderly patients (2 with established carotid artery disease), Doppler and duplex scanning showed reversal of mental artery flow, indicating collateral flow to the mandible. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound Doppler techniques used for measuring peripheral arterial flow can be adapted to quantify mandible alveolar ridge perfusion. This provides means to evaluate the role of arterial obstruction in mandible alveolar ridge atrophy and tooth loss in the elderly. The mental artery is the best site for this purpose. Preliminary data suggest an age-related reduction in mental artery flow.

Functional outcome in a contemporary series of major lower extremity amputations.

PURPOSE: We undertook this study to document the functional natural history of patients undergoing major amputation in an academic vascular surgery and rehabilitation medicine practice. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of consecutive patients undergoing major lower extremity amputation and rehabilitation in a university and Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. Main outcome variables included operative mortality, follow-up, survival, median time to incision healing, secondary operative procedures for wound management, and conversion from below-knee amputation (BKA) to above-knee amputation (AKA). For surviving patients, quality of life was determined by degree of ambulation, eg, outdoors, indoors only, or no ambulation; use of a prosthesis; and independence, eg, community housing or nursing facility. RESULTS: From August 1997 through March 2002, 154 patients (130 men; median age, 62 years) underwent 172 major amputations, 78 AKA and 94 BKA, because of either critical limb ischemia (87%) or diabetic neuropathy (13%). Thirty-day operative mortality was 10%. Mean follow-up was 14 months. Healing at 100 and 200 days, as determined with the Kaplan-Meier method, was 55% and 83%, respectively, for BKA, and 76% and 85%, respectively, for AKA. Twenty-three BKA and 16 AKA required additional operative revision, and 18 BKA ultimately were converted to AKA. Survival was 78% at 1 year and 55% at 3 years. Function in surviving patients at 10 and 17 months, respectively, was as follows: 21% and 29% of patients ambulated outdoors, 28% and 25% ambulated indoors only, and 51% and 46% of patients were nonambulatory; 32% and 42% of patients used prosthetic limbs; and 17% and 8% of patients who lived in the community before amputation required care in a nursing facility. CONCLUSIONS: We were surprised to find that vascular patients in a contemporary setting who require major lower extremity amputation and rehabilitation often remain independent despite infrequent prosthesis use and outdoor ambulation. Although any hope for postoperative ambulation in this population requires salvaging the knee joint, because of the morbidity incurred in both wound healing and rehabilitation efforts, aggressive effort should be reserved for selected patients at good risk. Ability to predict ambulation after BKA in the vascular population is poor.