Implementation of neurological group-based telerehabilitation within existing healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed methods evaluation.

BACKGROUND: There is a need to evaluate if and how telerehabilitation approaches might co-exist within healthcare in the long-term. Our aim was to implement and evaluate a multidisciplinary group-based telerehabilitation approach for people engaging in neurological rehabilitation. METHODS: NeuroRehabilitation OnLine (NROL) was adapted and implemented within an existing healthcare system as a programme of repeating six-week blocks. A robust evaluation was undertaken simultaneously using a convergent parallel design underpinned by implementation frameworks. This included service data, and patient and staff interviews. Implementation success was conceptualised using the outcomes of appropriateness, acceptability and sustainability. RESULTS: Eight NROL blocks delivered 265 sessions with 1347 patient contacts, and NROL continues as part of standard practice. The approach was appropriate for varied demographics and had positive patient opinions and outcomes for many. Staff perceived NROL provided a compatible means to increase therapy and help meet targets, despite needing to mitigate some challenges when fitting the approach within the existing system. NROL was considered acceptable due to good attendance (68%), low drop-out (12%), and a good safety record (one non-injury fall). It was accepted as a new way of working across rehabilitation disciplines as an 'extra layer of therapy'. NROL had perceived advantages in terms of patient and staff resource (e.g. saving time, energy and travel). NROL provided staffing efficiencies (ratio 0.6) compared to one-to-one delivery. Technology difficulties and reluctance were surmountable with dedicated technology assistance. Leadership commitment was considered key to enable the efforts needed for implementation and sustained use. CONCLUSION: Pragmatic implementation of group-based telerehabilitation was possible as an adjunct to neurological rehabilitation within an existing healthcare system. The compelling advantages reported of having NROL as part of rehabilitation supports the continued use of this telerehabilitation approach. This project provides an exemplar of how evaluation can be run concurrently with implementation, applying a data driven rather than anecdotal approach to implementation.

The prevalence of mental health conditions in healthcare workers during and after a pandemic: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: This review aims to explore the prevalence and incidence rates of mental health conditions in healthcare workers during and after a pandemic outbreak and which factors influence rates. BACKGROUND: Pandemics place considerable burden on care services, impacting on workers' health and their ability to deliver services. We systematically reviewed the prevalence and incidence of mental health conditions in care workers during pandemics. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Searches of MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and PsychINFO for cohort, cross-sectional and case-control studies were undertaken on the 31 March 2020 (from inception to 31 March 2020). REVIEW METHODS: Only prevalence or incidence rates for mental health conditions from validated tools were included. Study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were carried out by two reviewers. Meta-analyses and subgroup analyses were produced for pandemic period (pre- and post), age, country income, country, clinical setting for major depression disorder (MDD), anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). RESULTS: No studies of incidence were found. Prevalence estimates showed that the most common mental health condition was PTSD (21.7%) followed by anxiety disorder (16.1%), MDD (13.4%) and acute stress disorder (7.4%) (low risk of bias). For symptoms of these conditions there was substantial variation in the prevalence estimates for depression (95% confidence interval [CI]:31.8%; 60.5%), anxiety (95% CI:34.2%; 57.7%) and PTSD symptoms (95% CI,21.4%; 65.4%) (moderate risk of bias). Age, level of exposure and type of care professional were identified as important moderating factors. CONCLUSION: Mental disorders affect healthcare workers during and after infectious disease pandemics, with higher proportions experiencing symptoms. IMPACT: This review provides prevalence estimates of mental health conditions during and after a pandemic which could be used to inform service staffing impact and formulation of preventative strategies, by identifying clinical populations who may be at high risk of developing mental health symptoms and conditions.

The effectiveness of psychological support interventions for those exposed to mass infectious disease outbreaks: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Mass outbreaks such as pandemics are associated with mental health problems requiring effective psychological interventions. Although several forms of psychological interventions may be advocated or used, some may lack strong evidence of efficacy and some may not have been evaluated in mass infectious disease outbreaks. This paper reports a systematic review of published studies (PROSPERO CRD:42020182094. Registered: 24.04.2020) examining the types and effectiveness of psychological support interventions for the general population and healthcare workers exposed to mass infectious disease outbreaks. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted. Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT) were identified through searches of electronic databases: Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO (EBSCO) and the Cochrane Library Database from inception to 06.05.2021 using an agreed search strategy. Studies were included if they assessed the effectiveness of interventions providing psychological support to the general population and / or healthcare workers exposed to mass infectious disease outbreaks. Studies were excluded if they focused on man-made or natural disasters or if they included armed forces, police, fire-fighters or coastguards. RESULTS: Twenty-two RCTs were included after screening. Various psychological interventions have been used: therapist-guided therapy (n = 1); online counselling (n = 1); 'Emotional Freedom Techniques' (n = 1); mobile phone apps (n = 2); brief crisis intervention (n = 1); psychological-behavioural intervention (n = 1); Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (n = 3); progressive muscle relaxation (n = 2); emotional-based directed drawing (n = 1); psycho-educational debriefing (n = 1); guided imagery (n = 1); Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (n = 1); expressive writing (n = 2); tailored intervention for patients with a chronic medical conditions (n = 1); community health workers (n = 1); self-guided psychological intervention (n = 1), and a digital behaviour change intervention (n = 1). Meta-analyses showed that psychological interventions had a statistically significant benefit in managing depression (Standardised Mean Difference [SMD]: -0.40; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: - 0.76 to - 0.03), and anxiety (SMD: -0.72; 95% CI: - 1.03 to - 0.40). The effect on stress was equivocal (SMD: 0.16; 95% CI: - 0.19 to 0.51). The heterogeneity of studies, studies' high risk of bias, and the lack of available evidence means uncertainty remains. CONCLUSIONS: Further RCTs and intervention studies involving representative study populations are needed to inform the development of targeted and tailored psychological interventions for those exposed to mass infectious disease outbreaks.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Mental Practice for the Upper Limb After Stroke: Imagined or Real Benefit?

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review sought to determine the effectiveness of mental practice (MP) on the activity limitations of the upper limb in individuals after stroke, as well as when, in whom, and how MP should be delivered. DATA SOURCES: Ten electronic databases were searched from November 2009 to May 2020. Search terms included: Arm, Practice, Stroke rehabilitation, Imagination, Paresis, Recovery of function, and Stroke. Studies from a Cochrane review of MP (up to November 2009) were automatically included. The review was registered with the PROSPERO database of systematic reviews (reference no.: CRD42019126044). STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials of adults after stroke using MP for the upper limb were included if they compared MP to usual care, conventional therapy, or no treatment and reported activity limitations of the upper limb as outcomes. Independent screening was conducted by 2 reviewers. DATA EXTRACTION: One reviewer extracted data using a tool based on the Template for Intervention Description and Replication. Data extraction was independently verified by a second reviewer. Quality was assessed using the PEDro tool. DATA SYNTHESIS: Fifteen studies (n=486) were included and 12 (n=328) underwent meta-analysis. MP demonstrated significant benefit on upper limb activities compared with usual treatment (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.88). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that MP was most effective in the first 3 months after stroke (SMD, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.53-1.50) and in individuals with the most severe upper limb deficits (weighted mean difference, 7.33; 95% CI, 0.94-13.72). CONCLUSIONS: This review demonstrates that MP is effective in reducing activity limitations of the upper limb after stroke, particularly in the first 3 months after stroke and in individuals with the most severe upper limb dysfunction. There was no clear pattern of the ideal dosage of MP.

Predicting Acute Kidney Injury following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

PURPOSE: Acute kidney injury occurs in up to a quarter of patients following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and has been associated with increased short and long-term mortality rates. A variety of patient characteristics predictive of post-TAVR acute kidney injury (AKI) have been identified, however discrepancies among studies exist almost uniformly. We investigated the hypothesis that the change in glomerular filtration rate (ΔGFR) in response to contrast administered during pre-TAVR coronary angiography is predictive of ΔGFR post-TAVR. METHODS: The study comprised 195 patients who underwent TAVR at a single center between August 2008 and June 2015 and were prospectively included in the CAPITAL TAVR registry. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to estimate the effect of independent variables on the change in renal function post-TAVR. RESULTS: There was no relationship identified between the ΔGFR post-angiogram and the ΔGFR post-TAVR (r=0.043, P=0.582). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that a significant amount of the change in renal function post-TAVR can be explained by the patient's baseline creatinine (beta coefficient, -0.310, P.

Rat Bite Fever Resembling Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rat bite fever is rare in Western countries. It can be very difficult to diagnose as blood cultures are typically negative and a history of rodent exposure is often missed. Unless a high index of suspicion is maintained, the associated polyarthritis can be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis. We report a case of culture-positive rat bite fever in a 46-year-old female presenting with fever and polyarthritis. The clinical presentation mimicked rheumatoid arthritis. Infection was complicated by discitis, a rare manifestation. We discuss the diagnosis and management of this rare zoonotic infection. We also review nine reported cases of rat bite fever, all of which had an initial presumptive diagnosis of a rheumatological disorder. Rat bite fever is a potentially curable infection but can have a lethal course if left untreated.

Familial idiopathic small-bowel and colonic varices in three siblings.

Idiopathic small-bowel and colonic varices are a rare source of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract. To date there are only eight published case series of familial idiopathic small-bowel and colonic varices. We present a case series detailing three affected siblings who presented with significant lower gastrointestinal bleeding and had multiple varices on endoscopy and imaging. Though not confirmed, consanguinity in the parents suggests an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. We summarize the literature to date and describe our institution's experience of endoscopy, diagnostic imaging, and treatment in these patients.

NeuroRehabilitation OnLine: Description of a regional multidisciplinary group telerehabilitation innovation for stroke and neurological conditions using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist.

Background: Providing recommended amounts of rehabilitation for stroke and neurological patients is challenging. Telerehabilitation is viable for delivering rehabilitation and an acceptable adjunct to in-person therapy. NeuroRehabilitation OnLine (NROL) was developed as a pilot and subsequently operationalised as a regional innovation embedded across four National Health Service (NHS) Trusts. Objective: To describe the NROL innovation to assist future implementation and replication efforts. Methods: The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist, with guidance from the TIDieR-Telehealth extension, was used to describe NROL. The description was developed collaboratively by clinical academics, therapists, managers and researchers. Updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research domains were used to describe the context in which the innovation was delivered. Results: NROL delivers online group-based real-time neurorehabilitation with technology assistance. It incorporates multidisciplinary targeted therapy and peer support to complement existing therapy. Procedures, materials and structure are detailed to demonstrate how NROL is embedded within a healthcare system. NROL uses existing NHS therapy workforce alongside dedicated NROL roles, including an essential technology support role. Selection of NROL groups is dependent on patient needs. The NROL innovation is tailored over time in response to feedback. NROL described here is successfully integrated within a regional stroke and neurorehabilitation network, aligns with local and national strategies and capitalises on an existing clinical-academic partnership. Conclusion: This comprehensive description of a regional NROL innovation, and clarification of core components, should facilitate other healthcare settings to adapt and implement NROL for their context. Continuous evaluation alongside implementation will ensure maximal impact for neurorehabilitation.

A detailed anatomical assessment of the lateral tongue extrinsic musculature, and proximity to the tongue mucosal surface. Does this confirm the current TNM T4a muscular subclassification?

PURPOSE: The current T4a subclassification of the TNM staging system for oral malignancies has been criticised as based almost exclusively on anatomical data. The aim of this study was to provide anatomical confirmation of the muscular constraints of T4a classification of oral tongue tumours. METHODS: A detailed anatomical study describing and measuring the adjacency of the named extrinsic tongue muscles to the lateral tongue surface was completed on the Visible Human Female (VHF). The distance of styloglossus and hyoglossus to the over lying mucosa were determined. RESULTS: The appearance, position, orientation and anatomical relationships of the lateral tongue extrinsic muscles, with comparison to their classical descriptions are described. The right VHF styloglossus was 1.3 mm (0.33-1.48) and left 2.91 mm (0.66-7.68) from the mucosal surface in the axial plane. The right VHF hyoglossus was 2.93 mm (1.48-4.96) and left 4.33 (1.68-8.71) from the mucosal surface in the axial line. CONCLUSIONS: In the lateral tongue, styloglossus and hyoglossus are very superficial. The inclusion criteria of hyoglossus and styloglossus in the T4a staging does not appear justified based upon their anatomical position.

Relational practice in health, education, criminal justice, and social care: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Establishing and maintaining relationships and ways of connecting and being with others is an important component of health and wellbeing. Harnessing the relational within caring, supportive, educational, or carceral settings as a systems response has been referred to as relational practice. Practitioners, people with lived experience, academics and policy makers, do not yet share a well-defined common understanding of relational practice. Consequently, there is potential for interdisciplinary and interagency miscommunication, as well as the risk of policy and practice being increasingly disconnected. Comprehensive reviews are needed to support the development of a coherent shared understanding of relational practice. METHOD: This study uses a scoping review design providing a scope and synthesis of extant literature relating to relational practice focussing on organisational and systemic practice. The review aimed to map how relational practice is used, defined and understood across health, criminal justice, education and social work, noting any impacts and benefits reported. Searches were conducted on 8 bibliographic databases on 27 October 2021. English language articles were included that involve/discuss practice and/or intervention/s that prioritise interpersonal relationships in service provision, in both external (organisational contexts) and internal (how this is received by workers and service users) aspects. RESULTS: A total of 8010 relevant articles were identified, of which 158 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the synthesis. Most were opinion-based or theoretical argument papers (n = 61, 38.60%), with 6 (3.80%) critical or narrative reviews. A further 27 (17.09%) were categorised as case studies, focussing on explaining relational practice being used in an organisation or a specific intervention and its components, rather than conducting an evaluation or examination of the effectiveness of the service, with only 11 including any empirical data. Of the included empirical studies, 45 were qualitative, 6 were quantitative, and 9 mixed methods studies. There were differences in the use of terminology and definitions of relational practice within and across sectors. CONCLUSION: Although there may be implicit knowledge of what relational practice is the research field lacks coherent and comprehensive models. Despite definitional ambiguities, a number of benefits are attributed to relational practices. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021295958.

Exploring the factors influencing the use of electrically assisted bikes (e-bikes) by stroke survivors: a mixed methods multiple case study.

PURPOSE: E-bikes have the potential to overcome some of the barriers that stroke survivors face with regards to physical activity. This study aims to explore the factors that affect e-bike usage by stroke survivors. METHODS: A mixed methods multiple case studies design, using semi-structured interviews and GPS data. Subject to GP approval, participants loaned an e-bike or e-trike for up to three months. Interviews were undertaken pre and post intervention. The COM-B behaviour change model acted as a framework for analysis. GPS data relating to journey duration and distance travelled was collected fortnightly. RESULTS: Six participants were recruited; only three loaned an e-bike/e-trike (with adaptations as required). Storage, being unable to get GP approval, and safety were withdrawal reasons. Level of impairment was a factor influencing the type of e-bike used, level of support required and the motivation of the participants. CONCLUSION: Stroke survivors can use e-bikes although barriers exist. Electrical assistance was a positive factor in enabling some of the participants to cycle outdoors. Due to the small sample size and the number of participants who were able to loan an e-bike, further research is required to determine whether e-bikes are a feasible and effective intervention to increase physical activity for stroke survivors.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe assistance provided by the e-bike/e-trike could provide stroke survivors the opportunity to cycle outdoors.E-bikes/e-trikes could facilitate participation of activities of everyday living such as shopping, hobbies and increase levels of physical activity.Rehabilitation could focus on physical impairment, its effects on self-confidence, and knowledge surrounding the e-bike to overcome barriers to cycling.Social support, the belief that e-bike was an enjoyable mode of physical activity that was good for their health were reported by the participants as important factors for using the e-bike/e-trike.

Performance of Plasma Adenosine as a Biomarker for Predicting Cardiovascular Risk.

Adenosine boasts promising preclinical and clinical data supporting a vital role in modulating vascular homeostasis. Its widespread use as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent have been limited by its short half-life and complex biology, though adenosine-modulators have shown promise in improving vascular healing. Moreover, circulating adenosine has shown promise in predicting cardiovascular (CV) events. We sought to delineate whether circulating plasma adenosine levels predict CV events in patients undergoing invasive assessment for coronary artery disease. Patients undergoing invasive angiography had clinical data prospectively recorded in the Cardiovascular and Percutaneous ClInical TriALs (CAPITAL) revascularization registry and blood samples collected in the CAPITAL Biobank from which adenosine levels were quantified. Tertile-based analysis was used to assess prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; composite of death, myocardial infarction, unplanned revascularization, and cerebrovascular accident). Secondary analyses included MACE subgroups, clinical subgroups and adenosine levels. There were 1,815 patients undergoing angiography who had blood collected with adenosine quantified in 1,323. Of those quantified, 51.0% were revascularized and 7.3% experienced MACE in 12 months of follow-up. Tertile-based analysis failed to demonstrate any stratification of MACE rates (log rank, P = 0.83), when comparing low-to-middle (hazard ratio (HR) 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-1.78, P = 0.70) or low-to-high adenosine tertiles (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.56-1.57, P = 0.84). In adjusted analysis, adenosine similarly failed to predict MACE. Finally, adenosine did not predict outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome nor in those revascularized or treated medically. Plasma adenosine levels do not predict subsequent CV outcomes or aid in patient risk stratification.

Physician prediction of 1-year mortality in the cardiac catheterization laboratory: comparison to a validated risk score.

BACKGROUND: Physician perception of procedural risk and clinical outcome can affect revascularization decision making. Public reporting of percutaneous coronary intervention outcomes accentuates the need for accuracy in risk prediction in order to avoid a treatment paradox of undertreating the highest risk patients. Our study compares a validated risk score to physician prediction (PP) of 1-year mortality based on clinical impression at the time of invasive angiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a cohort study between August 2015 and May 2018 to determine the discriminative accuracy of interventional cardiologists on one-year mortality of the treated patient. PP of one-year mortality was compared to the New York State Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Reporting System (NYPCIRS) score in predicting mortality. Three thousand seven hundred ninety-two patients were followed with a median follow-up period of 14.4 months (interquartile range 12.4-18.1 months) and 165 patients (4.4%) died within one-year. PP of mortality was associated with one-year mortality with a hazard ratio of 8.78 (95% confidence interval 5.24-14.71, P < 0.0001). Clinical presentation in the form of cardiogenic shock, return of spontaneous circulation, and liver and renal dysfunction were associated with PP. Diagnostic accuracy and specificity were improved in PP compared to NYPCIRS. The combination of PP to NYPCIRS improved the overall c-statistic and diagnostic yield. CONCLUSION: PP appears to be especially specific and accurate for prediction of mortality compared to NYPCIRS though it lacks sensitivity. Furthermore, the combination of PP with NYPCIRS improved the c-statistic and diagnostic yield. Overall, the utility of PP with an objective risk score improves the diagnostic accuracy of mortality prediction.

Transradial Versus Transfemoral Access for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

[Figure: see text].

Modifiable Risk Factors and Residual Risk Following Coronary Revascularization: Insights From a Regionalized Dedicated Follow-Up Clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To ensure compliance with optimal secondary prevention strategies and document the residual risk of patients following revascularization, we established a postrevascularization clinic for risk-factor optimization at 1 year, with outcomes recorded in a web-based registry. Although coronary revascularization can reduce ischemia, medical treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the cornerstone of ongoing risk reduction. While standardized referral pathways and protocols for revascularization are prevalent and well studied, post-revascularization care is often less formalized. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The University of Ottawa Heart Institute is a tertiary-care center providing coronary revascularization services. From 2015 to 2019, data were prospectively recorded in the CAPITAL revascularization registry, and patient-level procedural, clinical, and outcome data are collected in the year following revascularization. Major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) was defined as death, myocardial infarction, unplanned revascularization, or cerebrovascular accident. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to evaluate time-to-event data for clinical outcomes by risk-factor management, and comparisons were performed using log-rank tests and reported by hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A cohort of 4147 patients completed 1-year follow-up after revascularization procedure that included 3462 undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), 589 undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), and 96 undergoing both PCI and CABG. In the year following revascularization (median follow-up 13.3 months-interquartile range [IQR]: 11.9-16.5) 11% of patients experienced MACE, with female patients being disproportionately at risk. Moreover, 47.7% of patients had ≥2 risk factors (diabetes, dyslipidemia, overweight, active smoker) at the time of follow-up, with 45.0% of patients with diabetes failing to achieve target hemoglobin (Hb) A1c, 54.8% of smokers continuing to smoke, and 27.1% of patients failing to achieve guideline-directed lipid targets. CONCLUSION: Patients who have undergone revascularization procedures remain at elevated risk for MACE, and inadequately controlled risk factors are prevalent in follow-up. This highlights the need for aggressive secondary prevention strategies and implementation of programs to optimize postrevascularization care.

A Technique to Minimize Aerosolization During Percutaneous Tracheostomy in COVID-19 Patients.

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused respiratory failure in many patients. With no effective treatment or vaccine, prolonged mechanical ventilation is common in survivors. Timing and performance of tracheostomy, for both patient and surgical team safety, remains a question. Here within, we report our experience with percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy with modification to minimize aerosolization. METHODS: A modified percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy technique is described. The technique was performed on 10 patients in the surgical intensive care unit. RESULTS: Ten patients underwent percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy. There were 7 males, and the average age for the group was 60.8 years. The average number of ventilator days before the operation was 26.3. All procedures were successful, and no patient had any procedure-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: The procedure described was successful in our patient population. We believe that this approach is safe for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 and limits aerosolization during the operation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.

Barriers and facilitators to deprescribing in primary care: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Managing polypharmacy is a challenge for healthcare systems globally. It is also a health inequality concern as it can expose some of the most vulnerable in society to unnecessary medications and adverse drug-related events. Care for most patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy occurs in primary care. Safe deprescribing interventions can reduce exposure to inappropriate polypharmacy. However, these are not fully accepted or routinely implemented. AIM: To identify barriers and facilitators to safe deprescribing interventions for adults with multimorbidity and polypharmacy in primary care. DESIGN & SETTING: A systematic review of studies published from 2000, examining safe deprescribing interventions for adults with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. METHOD: A search of electronic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINHAL), Cochrane, and Health Management Information Consortium (HMIC) from inception to 26 Feb 2019, using an agreed search strategy. This was supplemented by handsearching of relevant journals, and screening of reference lists and citations of included studies. RESULTS: In total, 40 studies from 14 countries were identified. Cultural and organisational barriers included: a culture of diagnosing and prescribing; evidence-based guidance focused on single diseases; a lack of evidence-based guidance for the care of older people with multimorbidities; and a lack of shared communication, decision-making systems, tools, and resources. Interpersonal and individual-level barriers included: professional etiquette; fragmented care; prescribers' and patients' uncertainties; and gaps in tailored support. Facilitators included: prudent prescribing; greater availability and acceptability of non-pharmacological alternatives; resources; improved communication, collaboration, knowledge, and understanding; patient-centred care; and shared decision-making. CONCLUSION: A whole systems, patient-centred approach to safe deprescribing interventions is required, involving key decision-makers, healthcare professionals, patients, and carers.

Barriers and facilitators to primary health care for people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism: an integrative review.

BACKGROUND: Globally, people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism experience health inequalities. Death occurs at a younger age and the prevalence of long-term morbidities is higher than in the general population. Despite this, their primary healthcare access rates are lower than the general population, their health needs are often unmet, and their views and experiences are frequently overlooked in research, policy, and practice. AIM: To investigate the barriers and facilitators reported by individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, or both, and/or their carers, to accessing and utilising primary health care for their physical and mental health needs. DESIGN & SETTING: An integrative review was undertaken, which used systematic review methodology. METHOD: Electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), and Cochrane were searched for relevant studies (all languages) using a search strategy. Two researchers independently screened the results and assessed the quality of the studies. RESULTS: Sixty-three international studies were identified. Six main themes relating to barriers and facilitators emerged from an analysis of these studies. The main themes were: training; knowledge and awareness; communication; fear and embarrassment; involvement in healthcare decision-making; and time. All the themes were underpinned by the need for greater care, dignity, respect, collaborative relationships, and reasonable adjustments. Opposing barriers and facilitators were identified within each of the main themes. CONCLUSION: Adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism experience several barriers to accessing and utilising primary health care. The findings highlight the reasonable adjustments and facilitators that can be implemented to ensure that these individuals are not excluded from primary health care.

Evaluation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 as a biomarker of unplanned revascularization and major adverse cardiac events in coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The stented coronary artery remains at high-risk of complications, particularly in the form of stent thrombosis and in-stent restenosis. Improving our ability to identify patients at high-risk for these complications may provide opportunities for intervention. PAI-1 has been implicated in the pathophysiology of stent complications in preclinical studies, suggesting it may be a clinically valuable biomarker to predict adverse events following percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: Plasma PAI-1 levels were measured in 910 subjects immediately after coronary angiography between 2015 and 2019. The primary outcome was the incidence of unplanned revascularization (UR) at 12 months. The secondary outcome was the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). RESULTS: UR and MACE occurred in 49 and 103 patients in 12 months. Reduced plasma PAI-1 levels were associated with UR (4386.1 pg/mL [IQR, 2778.7-6664.6], n = 49, vs. 5247.6 pg/mL [IQR, 3414.1-7836.1], n = 861; p = 0.04). Tertile PAI-1 levels were predictive of UR after adjustment for known clinical risk factors associated with adverse outcomes. In post-hoc landmark analysis, UR was enhanced with low plasma PAI-1 levels for late complications (beyond 30 days). Finally, an updated systematic review and meta-analysis did not reveal an association between plasma PAI-1 and MACE. CONCLUSION: PAI-1 levels are not independently associated with UR nor MACE in patients undergoing angiography but associated with UR following adjustment with known clinical factors. In our landmark analysis, low PAI-1 levels were associated with UR for late stent complications. As such, future studies should focus on the mediatory role of PAI-1 in the pathogenesis of stent complications.