THYROID NODULE GROWTH AS A PREDICTOR OF MALIGNANCY.

Objective: To assess which measure of thyroid nodule growth on serial neck ultrasound, if any, is associated with malignancy. Methods: Retrospective exploratory chart review of malignant thyroid nodules assessed at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (2006-2016) and benign thyroid nodules (2016), at least 1 cm in diameter and with 2 ultrasounds completed at least 30 days apart. Groups were compared using independent samples Student's t test, chi-square test, or Mann-Whitney U test as appropriate, as well as multivariable logistic and linear regression modelling to adjust for age and baseline volume. Results: One hundred and seventy-eight nodules were included in the study. When growth was defined as >20% increase in 2 dimensions (minimum 2 mm), malignant nodules (MNs) underwent significantly more growth than benign nodules (BNs) (16.8% BN versus 29.8% MN [P = .026]; odds ratio = 2.49; 95% confidence interval = 1.12 to 5.56). There was no significant difference between the groups when growth was defined as >2 mm/year or ≥50% volume growth. Nodules shrank >2 mm/year in each group and the difference was not statistically significant (24.2% BN versus 20.7% MN [P = .449]). The median doubling time for the nodules that grew was 1022.1 days in the BN group and 463.2 days in the MN group (P = .036). The median doubling time for all nodules was 456.5 days in the BN group and 244.2 days in the MN group (P = .015). Conclusion: Thyroid nodule growth defined as >20% increase in 2 dimensions (minimum 2 mm) is associated with risk of malignancy. Nodule shrinkage did not distinguish between BNs and MNs. Abbreviations: BN = benign nodule; CI = confidence interval; FNA = fine needle aspiration; KHSC = Kingston Health Science Centre; MN = malignant nodule; OR = odds ratio; ROC = receiver operating characteristic.

A qualitative study: professionals' experiences of advance care planning in dementia and palliative care, 'a good idea in theory but ...'.

BACKGROUND: Advance care planning comprises discussions about an individual's wishes for future care while they have capacity. AIM: To explore professionals' experiences on the implementation of advance care planning in two areas of clinical care, dementia and palliative care. DESIGN: Qualitative study, focus groups and individual interviews. SETTING: North East of England. SAMPLE: Ninety-five participants from one Primary Care Trust, two acute National Health Service Hospital Trusts, one Ambulance Trust, one Local Authority and voluntary organisations and the legal sector. RESULTS: Fourteen focus groups and 18 interviews were held with 95 participants. While professionals agreed that advance care planning was a good idea in theory, implementation in practice presented them with significant challenges. The majority expressed uncertainty over the general value of advance care planning, whether current service provision could meet patient wishes, their individual roles and responsibilities and which aspects of advance care planning were legally binding; the array of different advance care planning forms and documentation available added to the confusion. In dementia care, the timing of when to initiate advance care planning discussions was an added challenge. CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified the professional, organisational and legal factors that influence advance care planning implementation; professional training should target these specific areas. There is an urgent need for standardisation of advance care planning documentation. Greater clarity is also required on the roles and responsibilities of different professional groups. More complex aspects of advance care planning may be better carried out by those with specialist skills and experience than by generalists caring for a wide range of patient groups with different disease trajectories.

An Evaluation of Virtual Care for Gestational Diabetes Using the Quadruple Aim Framework: Assessment of Patient and Provider Experience, Cost, and Clinical Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim in this study was to evaluate the impact of virtual care for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This multiple methods program evaluation used the Quadruple Aim Framework. The impact on patient experience, cost, and provider satisfaction was assessed using surveys and interviews. Chi-square and Poisson statistics were used to compare clinical outcomes before (April 2019 to February 2020) and after (May 2020 to March 2021) the shift to virtual care. RESULTS: Patient experience surveys were completed by 85 women. Most of them rated their virtual care experience as good or excellent (93%), with a preference for continued virtual visits in the future (84%). Most respondents felt virtual care saved them money (93%) and time (98%). Six health-care providers at the Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinic were interviewed and all believed the switch to virtual care was largely positive. Overall, interview transcripts revealed that health-care providers were happy with the transition, although nurses initially perceived an increased workload. There were no significant differences in rates of cesarean section procedures, macrosomia, neonatal intensive care unit admissions or the proportion of appointments at which insulin was initiated between in-person and virtual care patient outcomes. There was a decreased proportion of missed appointments after the switch to virtual care (6.15% vs 1.21%, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: There has been high patient and provider satisfaction with virtual GDM care, with no difference in clinical outcomes and fewer missed appointments. Virtual GDM care should remain an option in the future.

A systematic review of the effectiveness of advance care planning interventions for people with cognitive impairment and dementia.

BACKGROUND: advance care planning (ACP) allows a patient to state their preferences for care, so that if in future they cannot make decisions their wishes are known. Our aim was to review systematically the effectiveness of ACP interventions in people with cognitive impairment and dementia. METHODS: systematic searches of key electronic databases, supplemented by hand searches of reference lists and consultation with experts. Two independent reviewers undertook screening, data extraction and quality assessment. RESULTS: four studies were included; three allocated providers randomly to intervention or control arm. All took place in nursing homes. Three studies reported formal processes of capacity assessment, only up to 36% of participants were judged to have capacity. Three studies reported positive findings in terms of documentation of patient preferences for care. Two studies reported significant reductions in hospitalisation rates; a third found increased use of hospice services in the intervention group. A meta-analysis could not be carried out due to heterogeneity of outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: there is limited evidence for the effectiveness of ACP in people with cognitive impairment/dementia in terms of ACP documentation and health-care use. In terms of capacity to discuss ACP, nursing home settings may be too late for people with dementia.

Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Adults Presenting With Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor-Associated Diabetic Ketoacidosis at a Canadian Academic Tertiary Care Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examined the prevalence and clinical characteristics of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i)-associated diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA). METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients admitted for DKA over 4 years. Patients with SGLT2i-associated DKA were invited for pancreatic autoantibody testing. A subset of patients were invited for an interview to identify clinical characteristics suggestive of undiagnosed latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). RESULTS: Of 647 DKA admissions, 6.6% were associated with SGLT2i use. Time from SGLT2i initiation and DKA ranged from 2 weeks to 3.25 years; 69.8% had euglycemic DKA. Pancreatic autoantibody testing on 20 patients identified 5 originally diagnosed with type 2 as having LADA. Four were interviewed and had a LADA clinical risk score predictive of this diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: A larger study is needed to qualify the role of the LADA clinical risk score with confirmatory pancreatic autoantibody testing before SGLT2i initiation to reduce DKA risk.

Patient preferences for future care--how can Advance Care Planning become embedded into dementia care: a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: People living with a long term condition may wish to be able to plan ahead, so that if in future they cannot make decisions, their wishes about their care will be known; this process is termed Advance Care Planning (ACP). In dementia, guidance stipulates that ACP discussions should take place whilst the person still has capacity to make decisions. However there is a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of ACP in influencing patient choice and resource use. The aims of this study are to determine the effectiveness of ACP in dementia care, identify the factors which facilitate the process in practice and provide a better understanding of the views and experiences of key stakeholders in order to inform clinical practice. METHODS/DESIGN: The four phase project comprises a systematic review (Phase 1) and a series of qualitative studies (Phases 2 and 3), with data collection via focus groups and individual interviews with relevant stakeholders including people with dementia and their carers, health and social care professionals and representatives from voluntary organisations and the legal profession. The conduct of the systematic review will follow current best practice guidance. In phases 2 and 3, focus groups will be employed to seek the perspectives of the professionals; individual interviews will be carried out with people with dementia and their carers. Data from Phases 1, 2 and 3 will be synthesised in a series of team workshops to develop draft guidance and educational tools for implementing ACP in practice (Phase 4). DISCUSSION: In the UK, there is little published research on the effectiveness of ACP, despite its introduction into policy. This study was designed to explore in greater depth how ACP can best be carried out in routine practice. It affords the opportunity to develop both a theoretical and practical understanding of an area which both patients and professionals may find emotionally challenging. Importantly the study will also develop practical tools, which are grounded in practice, for all relevant stakeholders to enable the facilitation of timely and sensitive ACP discussions.

Metastatic papillary thyroid cancer presenting with a recurrent necrotic cystic cervical lymph node

Summary: We report a case of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma presenting with a recurrent right-sided cervical lymph node necrotic cyst. A 55-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of a right-sided upper neck mass following an upper respiratory tract infection. Past medical history includes a right-sided nephrectomy secondary to a benign renal tumor and hypertension. She was evaluated by Otolaryngology, and fine-needle aspiration was performed. The mass recurred 2 months following aspiration. Ultrasound of the neck showed a 2.2 × 1.4 × 1.9 cm right cervical lymph node with a small fatty hilum but a thickened cortex. Neck computed tomography (CT) scan showed a well-defined 2.3 cm mass in the right upper neck corresponding to a necrotic cervical lymph node at level IIA. It also revealed a 7 mm calcified left thyroid nodule. Cytology revealed a moderate collection of murky fluid with mildly atypical cells presumed to be reactive given the clinical history of infection. The cyst had re-grown 2 months following aspiration. Excisional biopsy was performed and revealed metastatic classic papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Subsequently, a total thyroidectomy and right neck dissection was performed. Pathology confirmed metastatic unifocal classic PTC of the right thyroid lobe and two lymph node metastases out of a total of 17 resected lymph nodes. The patient underwent radioactive iodine ablation. Subsequent I-131 radioiodine whole-body scan showed no evidence of metastases. In conclusion, metastatic PTC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a recurrent solitary cystic cervical lymph node. Learning Points: Metastatic PTC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a recurrent solitary cystic cervical lymph node. A dedicated thyroid ultrasound is the preferred modality for identifying thyroid lesion over computed tomography. There is a risk of non-diagnostic cytology following FNA for cystic neck lesions, largely predicted by the cyst content of the nodule.

Evaluation of a Diabetic Ketoacidosis Order Set in Adults With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes at a Tertiary Academic Medical Centre: A Retrospective Chart Audit.

OBJECTIVE: To assess safety and efficacy compared to a historical cohort. Clinical practice guidelines recommend that patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) be treated with a standardized protocol. We created a multifaceted order set to promote best-practice management of DKA. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of admissions to internal medicine for DKA in adults during a 4.5-year period; 2.25 years before and after order-set initiation. Groups were compared using independent samples t tests and Pearson chi-square or Fisher exact test (categorical data). The Mann-Whitney U test was used for continuous data not normally distributed. RESULTS: The order-set cohort consisted of 47 admissions, 72.3% with type 1 and 27.7% with type 2 diabetes. The historical cohort consisted of 59 admissions, 69.5% with type 1 and 30.5% with type 2 diabetes. There were no significant differences in initial laboratory values between patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in both cohorts. The median length of hospital stay approached significance in the order-set cohort: 3.53 days (2.5 to 5.1); in the historical cohort, the median length of stay was 4.6 days (2.44 to 8.99) (p=0.102). CONCLUSION: A standardized DKA order set was as effective and safe in type 1 and type 2 diabetes as individual physician management in an academic care setting. Further study is needed to assess its value in community hospital settings with less expertise and fewer diabetes specialty services.

Nicotine metabolite ratio and smoking outcomes using nicotine replacement therapy and varenicline among smokers with and without psychiatric illness.

INTRODUCTION: It has been suggested that the effectiveness of nicotine replacement smoking cessation pharmacotherapy may be enhanced by assessing rates of nicotine metabolism using the nicotine metabolite ratio - which reflects differences in the activity of the CYP2A6 hepatic enzyme - and titrating doses appropriately. To date, supporting evidence is equivocal, with little information regarding the assessment and effectiveness of the nicotine metabolite ratio among smokers with psychiatric conditions. METHODS: The nicotine metabolite ratio of 499 smokers from the FLEX trial was determined using urine samples obtained at baseline. They were randomized to receive either: standard transdermal nicotine (nicotine replacement therapy); extended nicotine replacement therapy + adjunct nicotine agent; or varenicline. Primary cessation outcomes were seven-day point prevalence at 5, 10, 22, and 52 weeks post-target quit date, comparing across treatment and psychiatric status. Our principal analysis employed logistic regression (outcome: abstinence), using slow metabolizers as the reference category. RESULTS: No differences were observed by nicotine metabolite ratio classification (slow, moderate, fast) with respect to any demographic or smoking-related variables. Nicotine metabolite ratio class did not predict smoking cessation in either the overall sample, or by treatment condition at any time-point (week 52 moderate metabolizers: odds ratio 1.34, 95% confidence interval (0.68-2.63), p=0.394; fast metabolizers: odds ratio 1.04 (0.56-1.91), p=0. 906). CONCLUSION: Our results did not find any associations between nicotine metabolite ratio and cessation outcomes among smokers using nicotine replacement therapy or varenicline with and without lifetime psychiatric conditions.