Under-Detection of Lyme Disease in Canada.

Lyme disease arises from infection with pathogenic Borrelia species. In Canada, current case definition for confirmed Lyme disease requires serological confirmation by both a positive first tier ELISA and confirmatory second tier immunoblot (western blot). For surveillance and research initiatives, this requirement is intentionally conservative to exclude false positive results. Consequently, this approach is prone to false negative results that lead to underestimation of the number of people with Lyme disease. The province of New Brunswick (NB), Canada, can be used to quantify under-detection of the disease as three independent data sets are available to generate an estimate of the true human disease prevalence and incidence. First, detailed human disease incidence is available for the US states and counties bordering Canada, which can be compared with Canadian disease incidence. Second, published national serology results and well-described sensitivity and specificity values for these tests are available and deductive reasoning can be used to query for discrepancies. Third, high-density tick and canine surveillance data are available for the province, which can be used to predict expected human Lyme prevalence. Comparison of cross-border disease incidence suggests a minimum of 10.2 to 28-fold under-detection of Lyme disease (3.6% to 9.8% cases detected). Analysis of serological testing predicts the surveillance criteria generate 10.4-fold under-diagnosis (9.6% cases detected) in New Brunswick for 2014 due to serology alone. Calculation of expected human Lyme disease cases based on tick and canine infections in New Brunswick indicates a minimum of 12.1 to 58.2-fold underestimation (1.7% to 8.3% cases detected). All of these considerations apply generally across the country and strongly suggest that public health information is significantly under-detecting and under-reporting human Lyme cases across Canada. Causes of the discrepancies between reported cases and predicted actual cases may include undetected genetic diversity of Borrelia in Canada leading to failed serological detection of infection, failure to consider and initiate serological testing of patients, and failure to report clinically diagnosed acute cases. As these surveillance criteria are used to inform clinical and public health decisions, this under-detection will impact diagnosis and treatment of Canadian Lyme disease patients.

Is population-wide diuretic use directly associated with the incidence of end-stage renal disease in the United States? A hypothesis.

BACKGROUND: We introduce the hypothesis that population-wide use of diuretics might be associated with acceleration of the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS: Based on the technique of data fusion, pooled-data trends in disease incidence and antihypertensive medication use were examined to determine whether changes in drug use patterns are predictive of disease emergence in the United States. National databases for all-cause cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and stroke mortality from the National Vital Statistics Registry, renal failure data obtained from the United States Renal Data Service, and drug information obtained from IMS Health (Fairfield, CT) were examined. RESULTS: A statistically significant inverse relationship was observed between all-cause CVD mortality rates and ESRD incidence rates for the period 1980 to 1998 (r = -0.98948; P < .0001). A statistically significant direct time-lagged relationship was found between both annual changes in diuretic distribution and total diuretic expenditure to annual changes in the ESRD growth rate (r = 0.754, P = .03, r(2) = 0.568, 95% CI for slope = 0.08975 to 1.3010). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing annual diuretic distribution in the US is directly associated with accelerated time-lagged growth rates of ESRD incidence. One potential explanation is that diuretic therapy could promote ESRD expression. A large-scale, randomized, controlled trial to investigate acceleration of ESRD by diuretics would be justifiable. The data invites the hypothesis that reliance on nondiuretic antihypertensive therapies such as calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers might attenuate the epidemic rise of ESRD that is prevalent in the United States.

Addressing the global cardiovascular risk of hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and the metabolic syndrome in the southeastern United States, part II: treatment recommendations for management of the global cardiovascular risk of hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and the metabolic syndrome.

An aggressive global approach to screening and to the management of the metabolic syndrome is recommended to slow the growth of the syndrome throughout the United States. Prevention should begin in childhood with healthy nutrition, daily physical activity, and annual measurement of weight, height, and blood pressure beginning at 3 years of age. Such screenings will identify cardiovascular risk factors early, allow the health care provider to define global cardiovascular risk with the COSEHC Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Tool, and allow treatment of each risk factor. Lifelong lifestyle modifications and pharmacologic therapy will be required in most patients. Antihypertensive therapy for these patients should begin with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker unless a compelling indication for another drug is present. Metformin should be considered the first drug for glucose control in the patient with type 2 diabetes. A statin should be used initially for hyperlipidemia unless contraindicated. Combinations of antihypertensive, antiglycemic, and lipid-lowering agents will often be required.

Addressing the global cardiovascular risk of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance in the southeastern United States.

An expanded occurrence of the metabolic syndrome in the U.S. population, especially in the Southeastern United States, has raised awareness of a need to revise our approach to the management of global cardiovascular risk factors while underscoring a need for more aggressive interventions and prevention measures. In defining the components of the metabolic syndrome and the interrelationship among obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance, a basic framework for the medical management of this syndrome has been defined. In Part I of the consensus report prepared by the Workgroup on Medical Guidelines of the Consortium for Southeastern Hypertension Control (COSEHC), we analyze the components of the metabolic syndrome, discuss its pathophysiology, and recommend an approach to the quantitative analysis of the risk factors contributing to excess cardiovascular death in the region.

CHF: circulatory homeostasis gone awry.

The role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is integral to salt and water retention, particularly by the kidneys. Over time, positive sodium balance leads first to intra- and then to extravascular volume expansion, with subsequent symptomatic heart failure. This report examines the role of the RAAS in regulating a less well recognized component essential to circulatory homeostasis--central blood volume. The regulation of central blood volume draws on integrative cardiorenal physiology and a key role played by the RAAS in its regulation. In presenting insights into the role of the RAAS in regulating central blood volume, this review also addresses other sodium-retaining states with a predisposition to edema formation, such as cirrhosis and nephrosis.

Is population-wide diuretic use directly associated with the incidence of end-stage renal disease in the United States?

In the quest for "evidence-based" medicine, an accepted hierarchy of evidence has been proposed. This hierarchy places in vitro studies and animal data at the base, and puts systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials at the pinnacle. However, when clinical medicine faces questions that have not yet been studied by the "gold standard" methods, how is one to proceed? Often, the best evidence at hand falls short of randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses. Using this framework, a review of the evidence supporting the hypothesis that population-wide diuretic use is directly associated with end-stage renal disease in the United States is presented. Publications pertaining to diuretic use in recent clinical trials are also discussed.