Risk factors for asthma-related hospital and intensive care admissions in children, adolescents and adults: a cohort study using primary and secondary care data.

BACKGROUND: Asthma remains a common cause of hospital admissions across the life course. We estimated the contribution of key risk factors to asthma-related hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions in children, adolescents and adults. METHODS: This was a UK-based cohort study using linked primary care (Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum) and secondary care (Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care) data. Patients were eligible if they were aged 5 years and older and had been diagnosed with asthma. This included 90 989 children aged 5-11 years, 114 927 adolescents aged 12-17 years and 1 179 410 adults aged 18 years or older. The primary outcome was asthma-related hospital admissions from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019. The secondary outcome was asthma-related ICU admissions. Incidence rate ratios adjusted for demographic and clinical risk factors were estimated using negative binomial models. Population attributable fraction (PAF) was estimated for modifiable risk factors. RESULTS: Younger age groups, females and those from ethnic minority and lower socioeconomic backgrounds had an increased risk of asthma-related hospital admissions. Increasing medication burden, including excessive use of short-acting bronchodilators, was also strongly associated with the primary outcome. Similar risk factors were observed for asthma-related ICU admissions. The key potentially modifiable or treatable risk factors were smoking in adolescents and adults (PAF 6.8%, 95% CI 0.9% to 12.3% and 4.3%, 95% CI 3.0% to 5.7%, respectively), and obesity (PAF 23.3%, 95% CI 20.5% to 26.1%), depression (11.1%, 95% CI 9.1% to 13.1%), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (2.3%, 95% CI 1.2% to 3.4%), anxiety (2.0%, 95% CI 0.5% to 3.6%) and chronic rhinosinusitis (0.8%, 95% CI 0.3% to 1.3%) in adults. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant sociodemographic inequalities in the rates of asthma-related hospital and ICU admissions. Treating age-specific modifiable risk factors should be considered an integral part of asthma management, which could potentially reduce the rate of avoidable hospital admissions.

Epidemiology and classification for canine and feline mammary gland tumors: a histopathological survey of 437 mammary gland tumor biopsies performed in a secondary care hospital in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 2012 to 2019.

Background: Metastatic disease resulting from mammary gland tumors (MGTs) is a known cause of death among dogs and cats. Keys to successful prevention and management strategies involve the accurate recording of diagnostic data. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the epidemiology and classification of canine mammary gland tumors (CMTs) and feline mammary gland tumors (FMTs), as well as the factors including sex, age, and breed related to the occurrence of these tumors. Accordingly, 1,736 tumor biopsy cases were reported from 2012 to 2019 at Chiang Mai University Small Animal Hospital, Thailand, with 1,639 canine tumor biopsy cases and 97 feline tumor biopsy cases. Results: The proportion of CMTs was reported at 24.5% (401/1,639) for all canine tumor biopsy cases. Benign and malignant tumors were reported at 14.5% (58/401) and 85.5% (343/401) for all CMT cases, respectively. The mean age of dogs affected by benign CMTs was 9.0 ± 3.0 years, which was significantly lower than for malignant CMTs at 9.9 ± 2.8 years (P = 0.0239). According to histopathological classification, benign mixed tumors and simple carcinoma types were highest among benign and malignant CMT cases, respectively. Moreover, female dogs were at significantly higher risk of developing mammary gland tumors (OR = 45.8, 95% CI [3.9-86.0], P < 0.0001) than male dogs, as well as older dogs (>8 years) (OR = 1.7, 95% CI [1.2-2.2], P = 0.0001) compared to young ones (≤8 years). The proportion of FMTs was 37.1% (36/97) for all feline tumor biopsy cases. Benign and malignant tumors for all FMTs were reported at 16.7% (6/36) and 83.3% (30/36), respectively. According to histopathological classifications, adenoma and simple carcinoma were present in the highest proportion among benign and malignant FMTs, respectively. Female cats were at a significantly higher risk of developing mammary gland tumors than male cats (OR = 25.7, 95% CI [3.9-272.8], P < 0.0001). Conclusions and clinical importance: There was a high proportion of MGT cases compared with other tumor cases reported in a secondary care hospital in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 2012 to 2019, and malignant tumor biopsies have been more frequently observed than benign tumor biopsies in both CMT and FMT cases. The resulting data originating from this study can be an aid for veterinary oncologists in better educating clients and planning treatment and prevention strategies and it can be used as a basis for further experimental studies in the oncology section.

The patient with a painful knee.

Knee pain encompasses a wide array of differential diagnoses and can often pose a diagnostic challenge, as it can have traumatic or non-traumatic causes. A good clinical history, assessment and anatomical knowledge gives a strong foundation to narrow down the diagnosis, and understanding the correct imaging modality and findings further informs correct and timely management. This article reviews various disease processes including fractures, inflammatory, infective and neoplastic causes, and discusses the assessment and various imaging modalities to aid diagnosis in both primary and secondary care.

Barriers and facilitators to integrated cancer care between primary and secondary care: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: This scoping review identifies and characterises reported barriers and facilitators to providing integrated cancer care reported in the international literature, and develops recommendations for clinical practice. METHODS: This scoping review included literature published between 2009 and 2022 and describes the delivery of integrated cancer care between primary and secondary care sectors. Searches were conducted of an online database Ovid Medline and grey literature. RESULTS: The review included thirty-two papers. Barriers and facilitators to integrated cancer care were identified in three core areas: (1) at an individual user level around patient-healthcare professional interactions, (2) at an organisational level, and (3) at a healthcare system level. The review findings identified a need for further training for primary care professionals on cancer care, clarity in the delineation of primary care and oncologist roles (i.e. who does what), effective communication and engagement between primary and secondary care, and the provision of protocols and guidelines for follow-up care in cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Information sharing and communication between primary and secondary care must improve to meet the increasing demand for support for people living with and beyond cancer. Delivering integrated pathways between primary and secondary care will yield improvements in patient outcomes and health economic costs.

Atendimento odontológico de pacientes com necessidades especiais na atenção secundária em um estado do nordeste do Brasil / Dental care of special needs patients in secondary care in a northeastern state of Brazil / Atención odontológica a pacientes con necesidades especiales en la atención secundaria en un estado del nordeste de Brasil

O objetivo desse estudo foi descrever a produção dos atendimentos oferecidos aos pacientes com necessidades especiais nos Centros de Especialidades Odontológicas (CEO) da Paraíba (Brasil) e sua relação com o cumprimento das metas de produtividade, entre o período de 2019 e 2022. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo e ecológico em que foram coletados dados secundários do Sistema de Informações Ambulatoriais do SUS (SIA/SUS), através da captação da produção ambulatorial individualizada (BPA-I), por meio da ferramenta TabWin, dos 98 CEO operantes na Paraíba. Realizou-se análise descritiva e analítica, por meio dos testes Qui-Quadrado de Pearson e Exato de Fisher entre a variável dependente "alcance da meta" e a variável independente "adesão à Rede de Cuidados à Pessoa com Deficiência (RCPD)". Em todos os anos, a porcentagem de CEO cumpridores da meta (15,3% em 2019; 1% em 2020; 12,2% em 2021; e 11,2% em 2022) foi substancialmente menor que os números expressados por aqueles que não alcançaram a produção mínima. Os resultados também apontaram maior realização de procedimentos restauradores (29,6% em 2019; 28,6% em 2020; 32,7% em 2021; e 37,8% em 2022) em detrimento aos periodontais, cirúrgicos e preventivos. No que concerne a estar aderido à RCPD, no ano de 2022, 90,9% dos CEO que alcançaram a meta estavam aderidos à Rede (p<0,05). Concluiu-se que uma baixa frequência de CEO alcançou o cumprimento da meta de produtividade da especialidade de Odontologia para Pacientes com Necessidades Especiais nos CEO. No entanto, a adesão à RCPD manifestou-se como elemento influenciador para aqueles que cumpriram suas metas mensais e anuais.

The objective of this study was to describe the production of care provided to special needs patients in the Dental Specialties Centers (CEO) of Paraíba (Brazil) and its relationship with the achievement of productivity goals, between the period 2019 and 2022. This is a descriptive and ecological study in which secondary data were collected from the SUS Outpatient Information System (SIA/SUS), by capturing the individualized outpatient production (BPA-I), through the TabWin tool, of the 98 operating CEOs in Paraíba. We carried out descriptive and analytical analysis, using Pearson's Chi-square and Fisher's Exact tests between the dependent variable "goal attainment" and the independent variable "adherence to the Care Network for People with Disabilities (RCPD)". In all years, the percentage of CEOs meeting the goal (15.3% in 2019; 1% in 2020; 12.2% in 2021; and 11.2% in 2022) was substantially lower than the numbers expressed by those who did not meet the minimum output. The results also indicated greater performance of restorative procedures (29.6% in 2019; 28.6% in 2020; 32.7% in 2021; and 37.8% in 2022) to the detriment of periodontal, surgical, and preventive procedures. Regarding being adhered to the RCPD, in the year 2022, 90.9% of the CEOs who reached the goal were adhered to the Network (p<0.05). It was concluded that a low frequency of CEOs achieved compliance with the productivity target of the specialty of Dentistry for Special Needs Patients in CEOs. However, adherence to the RCPD manifested itself as an influential element for those who met their monthly and annual goals.

El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la producción de la atención prestada a pacientes con necesidades especiales en los Centros de Especialidades Odontológicas (CEO) de Paraíba (Brasil) y su relación con el alcance de las metas de productividad, entre el período de 2019 y 2022. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo y ecológico en el que se recogieron datos secundarios del Sistema de Información Ambulatoria del SUS (SIA/SUS), mediante la captura de la producción ambulatoria individualizada (BPA-I), a través de la herramienta TabWin, de los 98 CEOs en funcionamiento en Paraíba. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos y analíticos, utilizando las pruebas Chi-cuadrado de Pearson y Exacta de Fisher entre la variable dependiente "cumplimiento de metas" y la variable independiente "adhesión a la Red de Atención a Personas con Discapacidad (RCPD)". En todos los años, el porcentaje de directores generales que cumplieron el objetivo (15,3% en 2019; 1% en 2020; 12,2% en 2021; y 11,2% en 2022) fue sustancialmente inferior a las cifras expresadas por los que no alcanzaron el rendimiento mínimo. Los resultados también indicaron una mayor realización de procedimientos restauradores (29,6% en 2019; 28,6% en 2020; 32,7% en 2021; y 37,8% en 2022) en detrimento de los procedimientos periodontales, quirúrgicos y preventivos. Respecto a estar adherido a la RCPD, en el año 2022, el 90,9% de los CEOs que alcanzaron el objetivo estaban adheridos a la Red (p<0,05). Se concluyó que una baja frecuencia de CEOs alcanzó el cumplimiento de la meta de productividad de la especialidad de Odontología para Pacientes con Necesidades Especiales en CEOs. Sin embargo, la adhesión al RCPD se manifestó como un elemento influyente para aquellos que cumplieron sus objetivos mensuales y anuales.

Estatinas en la prevención primaria, secundaria y terciaria del ictus isquémico / Statins in the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Prevention of Ischemic Stroke

Introducción: El ictus isquémico representa la tercera causa de mortalidad en el mundo y la primera causa de discapacidad. Objetivos: Describir los efectos beneficiosos de la prescripción de las estatinas en la prevención primaria, secundaria y terciaria del ictus isquémico. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica sobre la prescripción de estatinas en la prevención primaria, secundaria y terciaria del ictus isquémico. Se revisaron más de 400 artículos publicados en PubMed, Cochrane y Medline. Conclusiones: El empleo de estatinas disminuye la mortalidad en la prevención primaria y secundaria, se utiliza precozmente en la fase aguda (prevención terciaria), disminuye el área infartada, existe una mejoría clínica y disminuyen los reactantes de la fase aguda como la proteína C reactiva(AU)

Introduction: Ischemic stroke represents the third cause of mortality worldwide and the first cause of disability. Objective: To describe the beneficial effects of the prescription of statins in the primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of ischemic stroke. Methods: A bibliographic review on the prescription of statins in the primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of ischemic stroke was carried out. More than 400 articles published in MEDLINE/PubMed and Cochrane were reviewed. Only 50 articles met the selection criteria, which were published from May 2021 to June 2022. Conclusions: The use of statins decreases mortality in primary and secondary prevention. If they are used early in the acute phase (tertiary prevention), the infarcted area decreases, there is clinical improvement and acute phase reactants such as C-reactive protein decrease(AU)

What are the perceptions and concerns of people living with diabetes and National Health Service staff around the potential implementation of AI-assisted screening for diabetic eye disease? Development and validation of a survey for use in a secondary care screening setting.

INTRODUCTION: The English National Health Service (NHS) Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) performs around 2.3 million eye screening appointments annually, generating approximately 13 million retinal images that are graded by humans for the presence or severity of diabetic retinopathy. Previous research has shown that automated retinal image analysis systems, including artificial intelligence (AI), can identify images with no disease from those with diabetic retinopathy as safely and effectively as human graders, and could significantly reduce the workload for human graders. Some algorithms can also determine the level of severity of the retinopathy with similar performance to humans. There is a need to examine perceptions and concerns surrounding AI-assisted eye-screening among people living with diabetes and NHS staff, if AI was to be introduced into the DESP, to identify factors that may influence acceptance of this technology. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: People living with diabetes and staff from the North East London (NEL) NHS DESP were invited to participate in two respective focus groups to codesign two online surveys exploring their perceptions and concerns around the potential introduction of AI-assisted screening.Focus group participants were representative of the local population in terms of ages and ethnicity. Participants' feedback was taken into consideration to update surveys which were circulated for further feedback. Surveys will be piloted at the NEL DESP and followed by semistructured interviews to assess accessibility, usability and to validate the surveys.Validated surveys will be distributed by other NHS DESP sites, and also via patient groups on social media, relevant charities and the British Association of Retinal Screeners. Post-survey evaluative interviews will be undertaken among those who consent to participate in further research. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained by the NHS Research Ethics Committee (IRAS ID: 316631). Survey results will be shared and discussed with focus groups to facilitate preparation of findings for publication and to inform codesign of outreach activities to address concerns and perceptions identified.

Investigating the distribution of primary and secondary care referrals for public-funded bariatric surgery at Counties Manukau Health (CMH).

AIMS: This study investigated variations in referral rates for bariatric surgery from primary and secondary care providers across the Counties Manukau district health board (CMDHB), with the aim of identifying "hot spots" for referrals so that intervention to help achieve equitable access to bariatric surgery can be implemented. METHODS: Referral data was gathered from hospital referral records from January 2017 to January 2019 (n=1,440). Referral rate per geographical location within the CMDHB catchment was calculated using 2018 census figures. RESULTS: Of the 1,195 referrals included, 1040 (87%) referrals were from primary care. The referrals came from 328 general practitioners (GPs) across 158 practices. There was considerable regional variation in referral rates per 1000 people, from a peak of 71.5/1000 to a low of 0.2/1000. Eighty-six percent of secondary care referrals were received from the public system and the remainder from private practice. The most common referral specialty was diabetes, followed by general surgery and orthopaedics. Out of these referrals, 434 (36%) proceeded to bariatric surgery. Pakeha (50%) were more likely to proceed to surgery than Maori (31%) and Pasifika (22%), despite similar referral numbers. CONCLUSION: There is significant variation in referrals for bariatric surgery across CMDHB. Systematic discussion of bariatric surgery with every patient who is likely to benefit is not occurring, given relatively low referral volumes.

Comparison of humans versus mobile phone-powered artificial intelligence for the diagnosis and management of pigmented skin cancer in secondary care: a multicentre, prospective, diagnostic, clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of skin cancer requires medical expertise, which is scarce. Mobile phone-powered artificial intelligence (AI) could aid diagnosis, but it is unclear how this technology performs in a clinical scenario. Our primary aim was to test in the clinic whether there was equivalence between AI algorithms and clinicians for the diagnosis and management of pigmented skin lesions. METHODS: In this multicentre, prospective, diagnostic, clinical trial, we included specialist and novice clinicians and patients from two tertiary referral centres in Australia and Austria. Specialists had a specialist medical qualification related to diagnosing and managing pigmented skin lesions, whereas novices were dermatology junior doctors or registrars in trainee positions who had experience in examining and managing these lesions. Eligible patients were aged 18-99 years and had a modified Fitzpatrick I-III skin type; those in the diagnostic trial were undergoing routine excision or biopsy of one or more suspicious pigmented skin lesions bigger than 3 mm in the longest diameter, and those in the management trial had baseline total-body photographs taken within 1-4 years. We used two mobile phone-powered AI instruments incorporating a simple optical attachment: a new 7-class AI algorithm and the International Skin Imaging Collaboration (ISIC) AI algorithm, which was previously tested in a large online reader study. The reference standard for excised lesions in the diagnostic trial was histopathological examination; in the management trial, the reference standard was a descending hierarchy based on histopathological examination, comparison of baseline total-body photographs, digital monitoring, and telediagnosis. The main outcome of this study was to compare the accuracy of expert and novice diagnostic and management decisions with the two AI instruments. Possible decisions in the management trial were dismissal, biopsy, or 3-month monitoring. Decisions to monitor were considered equivalent to dismissal (scenario A) or biopsy of malignant lesions (scenario B). The trial was registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12620000695909 (Universal trial number U1111-1251-8995). FINDINGS: The diagnostic study included 172 suspicious pigmented lesions (84 malignant) from 124 patients and the management study included 5696 pigmented lesions (18 malignant) from the whole body of 66 high-risk patients. The diagnoses of the 7-class AI algorithm were equivalent to the specialists' diagnoses (absolute accuracy difference 1·2% [95% CI -6·9 to 9·2]) and significantly superior to the novices' ones (21·5% [13·1 to 30·0]). The diagnoses of the ISIC AI algorithm were significantly inferior to the specialists' diagnoses (-11·6% [-20·3 to -3·0]) but significantly superior to the novices' ones (8·7% [-0·5 to 18·0]). The best 7-class management AI was significantly inferior to specialists' management (absolute accuracy difference in correct management decision -0·5% [95% CI -0·7 to -0·2] in scenario A and -0·4% [-0·8 to -0·05] in scenario B). Compared with the novices' management, the 7-class management AI was significantly inferior (-0·4% [-0·6 to -0·2]) in scenario A but significantly superior (0·4% [0·0 to 0·9]) in scenario B. INTERPRETATION: The mobile phone-powered AI technology is simple, practical, and accurate for the diagnosis of suspicious pigmented skin cancer in patients presenting to a specialist setting, although its usage for management decisions requires more careful execution. An AI algorithm that was superior in experimental studies was significantly inferior to specialists in a real-world scenario, suggesting that caution is needed when extrapolating results of experimental studies to clinical practice. FUNDING: MetaOptima Technology.

Access to publicly funded weight management services in England using routine data from primary and secondary care (2007-2020): An observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Adults living with overweight/obesity are eligible for publicly funded weight management (WM) programmes according to national guidance. People with the most severe and complex obesity are eligible for bariatric surgery. Primary care plays a key role in identifying overweight/obesity and referring to WM interventions. This study aimed to (1) describe the primary care population in England who (a) are referred for WM interventions and (b) undergo bariatric surgery and (2) determine the patient and GP practice characteristics associated with both. METHODS AND FINDINGS: An observational cohort study was undertaken using routinely collected primary care data in England from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink linked with Hospital Episode Statistics. During the study period (January 2007 to June 2020), 1,811,587 adults met the inclusion criteria of a recording of overweight/obesity in primary care, of which 54.62% were female and 20.10% aged 45 to 54. Only 56,783 (3.13%) were referred to WM, and 3,701 (1.09% of those with severe and complex obesity) underwent bariatric surgery. Multivariable Poisson regression examined the associations of demographic, clinical, and regional characteristics on the likelihood of WM referral and bariatric surgery. Higher body mass index (BMI) and practice region had the strongest associations with both outcomes. People with BMI ≥40 kg/m2 were more than 6 times as likely to be referred for WM (10.05% of individuals) than BMI 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m2 (1.34%) (rate ratio (RR) 6.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) [5.99,6.40], p < 0.001). They were more than 5 times as likely to undergo bariatric surgery (3.98%) than BMI 35.0 to 40.0 kg/m2 with a comorbidity (0.53%) (RR 5.52, 95% CI [5.07,6.02], p < 0.001). Patients from practices in the West Midlands were the most likely to have a WM referral (5.40%) (RR 2.17, 95% CI [2.10,2.24], p < 0.001, compared with the North West, 2.89%), and practices from the East of England least likely (1.04%) (RR 0.43, 95% CI [0.41,0.46], p < 0.001, compared with North West). Patients from practices in London were the most likely to undergo bariatric surgery (2.15%), and practices in the North West the least likely (0.68%) (RR 3.29, 95% CI [2.88,3.76], p < 0.001, London compared with North West). Longer duration since diagnosis with severe and complex obesity (e.g., 1.67% of individuals diagnosed in 2007 versus 0.34% in 2015, RR 0.20, 95% CI [0.12,0.32], p < 0.001), and increasing comorbidities (e.g., 2.26% of individuals with 6+ comorbidities versus 1.39% with none (RR 8.79, 95% CI [7.16,10.79], p < 0.001) were also strongly associated with bariatric surgery. The main limitation is the reliance on overweight/obesity being recorded within primary care records to identify the study population. CONCLUSIONS: Between 2007 and 2020, a very small percentage of the primary care population eligible for WM referral or bariatric surgery according to national guidance received either. Higher BMI and GP practice region had the strongest associations with both. Regional inequalities may reflect differences in commissioning and provision of WM services across the country. Multi-stakeholder qualitative research is ongoing to understand the barriers to accessing WM services and potential solutions. Together with population-wide prevention strategies, improved access to WM interventions is needed to reduce obesity levels.

Caracterización sociodemográfica y epidemiológica de niños y adolescentes con intento de suicidio en el municipio de Santiago de Cuba / Sociodemographic and epidemiologic characterization of children and adolescents with suicide attempt in Santiago de Cuba municipality i: en

Introducción: El intento de suicidio en las poblaciones infantojuveniles resulta un problema de salud grave en Cuba y el mundo. Objetivo: Caracterizar sociodemográfica y epidemiológicamente a pacientes en edades entre 6 y 18 años con intento de suicidio. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal de 145 niños y adolescentes, ingresados en el Hospital Docente Infantil Sur Dr. Antonio María Béguez César de Santiago de Cuba por intento de suicidio, durante el 2018. Las historias clínicas individuales de cada paciente constituyeron la fuente de información y se seleccionaron variables demográficas y epidemiológicas. Resultados: Las féminas mostraron el mayor riesgo de intento de suicidio (27,9 por cada 10 000); asimismo, predominaron el grupo de edades de 15 a 18 años (64,8 %) y la ingestión de psicofármacos (84,1 %) como método para tratar de quitarse la vida, por ser fácilmente accesible. Los conflictos familiares (60,6 %) y la falta de apoyo familiar (46,2 %) se destacaron entre los principales factores asociados al comportamiento suicida. Conclusiones: Los niños y adolescentes de esta serie procedían de familias con conflictos y violencia doméstica, lo cual, junto a la falta de apoyo familiar, identificada en su medio, pudiera haber influido en la tentativa de suicidio.

Introduction: The suicide attempt in children and young populations is a serious health problem in Cuba and the world. Objective: To characterize sociodemographic and epidemiologically the patients aged 6 and 18 with suicide attempt. Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study of 145 children and adolescents was carried out, who were admitted to Dr. Antonio María Beguez César Southern Children Teaching Hospital in Santiago de Cuba due to suicide attempt, during 2018. Each patient's individual medical records constituted the source of information and demographic and epidemiologic variables were selected. Results: The females showed the highest risk of suicide attempt (27.9 for each 10 000); likewise, the 15 to 18 age group (64.8%) and the psychoactive drug ingestion (84.1%) as a method to try to kill oneself, because it was easily accessible, prevailed. Family conflicts (60.6%) and the lack of family support (46.2%) were notable among the main factors associated with suicidal behavior. Conclusions: Children and adolescents in this series came from families with conflicts and domestic violence, which, along with the lack of the family support, identified in their environment, could have influenced the suicide attempt.

Validation of the recording of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in routinely collected electronic healthcare records in England.

BACKGROUND: Routinely-collected healthcare data provide a valuable resource for epidemiological research. Validation studies have shown that for most conditions, simple lists of clinical codes can reliably be used for case finding in primary care, however, studies exploring the robustness of this approach are lacking for diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) which are largely managed in secondary care. METHOD: Using the UK's Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum dataset, which comprises patient-level primary care records linked to national hospital admissions and cause-of-death data, we compared the positive predictive value (PPV) of eight diagnostic algorithms. Algorithms were developed based on the literature and IPF diagnostic guidelines using combinations of clinical codes in primary and secondary care (SNOMED-CT or ICD-10) with/without additional information. The positive predictive value (PPV) was estimated for each algorithm using the death record as the gold standard. Utilization of the reviewed codes across the study period was observed to evaluate any change in coding practices over time. RESULT: A total of 17,559 individuals had a least one record indicative of IPF in one or more of our three linked datasets between 2008 and 2018. The PPV of case-finding algorithms based on clinical codes alone ranged from 64.4% (95%CI:63.3-65.3) for a "broad" codeset to 74.9% (95%CI:72.8-76.9) for a "narrow" codeset comprising highly-specific codes. Adding confirmatory evidence, such as a CT scan, increased the PPV of our narrow code-based algorithm to 79.2% (95%CI:76.4-81.8) but reduced the sensitivity to under 10%. Adding evidence of hospitalisation to the standalone code-based algorithms also improved PPV, (PPV = 78.4 vs. 64.4%; sensitivity = 53.5% vs. 38.1%). IPF coding practices changed over time, with the increased use of specific IPF codes. CONCLUSION: High diagnostic validity was achieved by using a restricted set of IPF codes. While adding confirmatory evidence increased diagnostic accuracy, the benefits of this approach need to be weighed against the inevitable loss of sample size and convenience. We would recommend use of an algorithm based on a broader IPF code set coupled with evidence of hospitalisation.

Cardiovascular risk management in gout patients: do patients benefit from screening in secondary care?

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in gout patients in secondary care and to evaluate the effect of CVD risk screening on the 10-year CVD risk after 1 year. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed in patients with gout from Reade Amsterdam. Data on gout and CVD history, traditional risk factors, medication, and lifestyle were collected at baseline and 1 year. The 10-year CVD risk was calculated with the use of the NL-SCORE. A paired sample t-test and McNemar test was performed to test for differences between baseline and the 1-year visit. RESULTS: A very high prevalence of traditional CV risk factors was seen in our secondary care gout patients. Nineteen percent without previous CVD were categorised in the high-risk group according the NL-SCORE. The prevalence of CVD increased from 16% to 21% after 1-year follow-up. A decrease was seen in total- and LDL-cholesterol after 1 year. No decrease in mean BMI, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure or NL-SCORE was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The current need for CVD risk screening of gout patients in secondary care was illustrated by the high prevalence of traditional risk factors in this cohort. Recommendations to patients and the general practitioner (GP) alone did not result in overall improvement of traditional CVD risk factors nor the 10-year CVD risk. Our results indicate that a more prominent role of the rheumatologist is necessary to optimise the process of initiation and management of CVD risk in gout patients.

Impact of PSA testing on secondary care costs in England and Wales: estimates from the Cluster randomised triAl of PSA testing for Prostate cancer (CAP).

BACKGROUND: Screening men for prostate cancer using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing remains controversial. We aimed to estimate the likely budgetary impact on secondary care in England and Wales to inform screening decision makers. METHODS: The Cluster randomised triAl of PSA testing for Prostate cancer study (CAP) compared a single invitation to men aged 50-69 for a PSA test with usual care (no screening). Routinely collected hospital care data were obtained for all men in CAP, and NHS reference costs were mapped to each event via Healthcare Resource Group (HRG) codes. Secondary-care costs per man per year were calculated, and cost differences (and population-level estimates) between arms were derived annually for the first five years following randomisation. RESULTS: In the first year post-randomisation, secondary-care costs averaged across all men (irrespective of a prostate cancer diagnosis) in the intervention arm (n = 189279) were £44.80 (95% confidence interval: £18.30-£71.30) higher than for men in the control arm (n = 219357). Extrapolated to a population level, the introduction of a single PSA screening invitation could lead to additional secondary care costs of £314 million. CONCLUSIONS: Introducing a single PSA screening test for men aged 50-69 across England and Wales could lead to very high initial secondary-care costs.

Dengue grave en fémina con infección previa por SARS-CoV-2 / Serious dengue in a woman with previous infection due to SARS-CoV-2 i: en

Se presenta el caso clínico de una paciente de 30 años de edad, con antecedentes de asma bronquial, úlcera gastroduodenal y virus C de la hepatitis, quien fue ingresada en el Hospital Universitario Clínico-Quirúrgico Dr. Ambrosio Grillo Portuondo de la provincia de Santiago de Cuba en 2 ocasiones: primero por presentar infección del virus SARS-CoV-2 y luego, el virus del dengue, con formas graves de la enfermedad en ambos momentos, por lo que se deduce que el daño vascular producido por el SARS-CoV-2 puede ser un factor de riesgo para que se desarrolle un dengue con signos de alarma.

The case report of a 30 years patient with history of bronchial asthma, gastroduodenal ulcer and hepatitis C virus is presented. She was admitted to Dr. Ambrosio Grillo Portuondo Clinical-Surgical University Hospital in Santiago de Cuba in 2 occasions: first for presenting SARS-CoV-2 infection and then, dengue virus, with serious forms of the disease in both moments, reason why it is deduced that the vascular damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 can be a risk factor so that dengue with warning signs is developed.

Prognosis Related to Reperfusion Therapy Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome in Secondary Care: Long-Term Survival Analysis in the ERICO Study. / Prognóstico Relacionado à Terapia de Reperfusão Pós-Síndrome Coronariana Aguda na Atenção Secundária: Análise de Sobrevida em Longo Prazo na Estratégia ERICO.

BACKGROUND: Relationship between reperfusion therapy post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and mortality in secondary care is not well-known. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of three therapeutic strategies: (1) exclusive medical therapy, (2) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and (3) coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on long-term survival of participants in the Strategy of Registry of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ERICO) study. METHODS: Survival analyses for all-cause, cardiovascular (CVD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) mortality were performed according to three therapeutic strategies (exclusive medical therapy, PCI or CABG). Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) with respective 95% confidence interval (95%CI) from 180 days to four years of follow-up after ACS. Models are presented as crude, age-sex adjusted and further adjusted for previous CAD, ACS subtype, smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, left ventricular ejection fraction and according to the number of obstructed (≥ 50%) major coronary arteries. RESULTS: Among 800 participants, the lowest crude survival rates were detected among individuals who underwent CABG (all-cause and CVD). CABG was correlated to CAD (HR: 2.19 [95% CI: 1.05-4.55]). However, this risk lost significance in the full model. PCI was associated to lower probability of fatal events during four-year follow-up: all-cause [multivariate HR: 0.42 (95% CI: 0.26-0.70)], CVD [HR: 0.39 (95% CI: 0.20-0.73)] and CAD [multivariate HR: 0.24 (95% CI: 0.09-0.63)] compared to those submitted to exclusive medical therapy. CONCLUSION: In the ERICO study, PCI after ACS was associated to better prognosis, particularly CAD survival.

FUNDAMENTO: A relação entre terapia de reperfusão após a síndrome coronariana aguda (SCA) e mortalidade na atenção secundária não é bem conhecida. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o impacto de três estratégias terapêuticas: (1) terapia medicamentosa exclusiva, (2) Angioplastia Transluminal percutânea coronaria (ATPC) e (3) revascularização do miocárdio (RM) na sobrevida em longo prazo de participantes da Estratégia de Registro de Insuficiência Coronariana Aguda (ERICO). MÉTODOS: Análises de sobrevida para mortalidade por todas as causas, mortalidade por doença cardiovascular (DCV) e mortalidade por doença arterial coronariana (DAC) foram realizadas de acordo com três estratégias terapêuticas (tratamento clínico exclusivo, ATPC ou RM). Modelos de regressão de Cox foram usados para estimar o hazard ratio (HR) com intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%) de 180 dias a quatro anos de acompanhamento após a SCA. Os modelos são apresentados como modelo sem ajuste ou ajustado quanto à idade, sexo e DAC prévia, tipo de SCA, tabagismo, hipertensão, dislipidemia, fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo e de acordo com o número de artérias coronárias principais obstruídas (≥50%). RESULTADOS: Entre os 800 participantes, as piores taxas de sobrevida (mortalidade por todas as causas e DCV) foram detectadas entre os indivíduos que se submeteram a RM. Houve correlação entre RM e DAC [HR: 2,19 (IC95% 1,05-4,55)], mas o risco perdeu significância no modelo multivariado. A ATPC foi associada a uma menor probabilidade de eventos fatais durante os quatro anos de acompanhamento: mortalidade por todas as causas [HR, análise multivariada: 0,42 (IC95% 0,26-0,70)], por DCV [HR: 0,39 (95% CI: 0,20-0,73)] e DAC [HR, análise multivariada: 0,24 (IC95% 0,09-0,63)] em comparação aos submetidos ao tratamento clínico exclusivo. CONCLUSÃO: No ERICO, a ATPC após a SCA foi associada a um melhor prognóstico, principalmente sobrevida por DAC.

Suporte Familiar, Traço/Estado Depressivo e Motivos para Viver em Usuários da Atenção Primária/Secundária / Family Support, Depressive Traits/Conditions and Reasons For Living in Primary/Secondary Care Users / Lo Apoyo Familiar, Rasgos/Condiciones Depresivos y Razones Para Vivir en Usuarios de la Atención Primaria/Secundaria

A depressão pode ser desenvolvida, agravada e/ou prevenida em função de alguns fatores como suporte familiar e motivos para viver, além da possibilidade de ser concebida como traço e estado depressivo. O objetivo principal desta pesquisa foi testar um modelo teórico preditivo (path analysis) do suporte familiar sobre traço/estado depressivo e sobre os motivos para viver, em uma amostra de 123 participantes, composta por dois grupos: pacientes do CAPS-AD e da ESF e, posteriormente, verificar as diferenças desses aspectos na amostra estudada. Foram aplicados uma ficha sociodemográfica, a Escala Baptista de Depressão - Adulto (EBADEP-A), Inventário de Percepção de Suporte Familiar (IPSF), Escala de Traço e Estado Depressivo (ETED) e Escala Brasileira de Motivos para Viver (BEMVIVER). O resultado da path analysis indicou que os motivos para viver são explicados pelo estado e traço depressivo e pelo suporte familiar. Os pacientes do CAPS-AD, tinham maiores níveis de sintomatologia depressiva e estado depressivo do que o grupo do ESF. Pacientes do ESF apresentaram médias maiores de suporte familiar e motivos para viver. Conclui-se que investir em estratégias que potencializem os motivos para viver e o suporte familiar podem reduzir os riscos de sintomatologia depressiva.

Depression can be developed, worsened and/or prevented depending on some factors such as: family support and reasons for living, in addition to the possibility of being conceived with a depressive trait and state. The main objective of this research was to test a predictive theoretical model (path analysis) of family support on the depressive trait/state and reasons for living, in a sample of 123 participants, composed of two groups: patients from the Psychosocial Care Center- Alcohol and Drugs (CAPS-AD) and the Family Health Strategy (ESF) and verify the differences of these aspects in the studied sample. A sociodemographic form, the Baptista Depression Scale -Adult (EBADEP-A), the Perceived Family Support Inventory (IPSF), Trait and Depressive State Scale (DTS) and the Brazilian Scale of Reasons to Live (BEMVIVER) were applied. The result of the path analysis indicated that the reasons for living are explained by the depressive state and trait and family support. CAPS-AD patients had higher levels of depressive symptoms and depressive state than the ESF group. ESF patients presented higher means of family support and reasons to live. It is concluded that investing in strategies that enhance the reasons to live and family support can reduce the risks of depressive symptoms.

La Depresión puede desarrollarse, agravarse y prevenirse dependiendo de factores como: apoyo familiar y razones para vivir, además puede de ser concebido con un rasgo y estado depresivo. El objetivo de esta investigación fue probar un modelo teórico predictivo del apoyo familiar sobre el rasgo/estado depresivo y las razones de vivir y verificar las diferencias de esos aspectos en la muestra estudiada, de 123 participantes compuesta por dos grupos: pacientes del Centro de Atención Psicosocial - Alcohol y Drogas (CAPS-AD) y la Estrategia de Salud de la Familia (ESF). Se aplicó un formulario sociodemográfico, Escala de Depresión de Baptista - Adulto (EBADEP-A), Inventario de Apoyo Familiar Percibido (IPSF), Escala de Rasgo y Estado Depresivo (DTS), Escala Brasileña de Razones para Vivir (BEMVIVER). El resultado del análisis indicó que las razones para vivir a ser explicadas por el estado y rasgo depresivo y por el apoyo familiar. Los pacientes CAPS-AD tenían niveles más altos de síntomas y estado depresivo que el grupo ESF. Los pacientes ESF presentaron mayores medios de apoyo familiar y razones para vivir. Se concluye que invertir en estrategias que potencien estas razones y apoyo familiar puede en la reducción de los riesgos de síntomas depresivos.

Diferencias según sexo en pacientes ingresados en cuidados intensivos / Differences according to sex in patients admitted to intensive care units i: en

Introducción: Hoy día existen disparidades en cuanto al sexo en pacientes con enfermedades graves, lo cual no ha podido ser explicado en los estudios clínico-epidemiológicos realizados hasta el momento. Objetivo: Identificar las diferencias según sexo en pacientes ingresados en cuidados intensivos. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional y prospectivo de 187 pacientes ingresados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital General Provincial Carlos Manuel de Céspedes de la provincia de Granma, que incluyó los meses de noviembre y diciembre de 2018-2020. Entre las variables analizadas figuraron: edad, sexo, origen, diagnóstico al ingreso, estado al egreso, estadía hospitalaria, síndrome de respuesta inflamatoria sistémica, estadio de la sepsis, factores de riesgo, infecciones adquiridas en la comunidad y tratamiento requerido. Resultados: En la investigación la mayoría de los pacientes correspondieron al sexo femenino (60,9 %) y la edad media fue de 31,6 y 49,6 años en mujeres y hombres, respectivamente (p=0,000). Asimismo, existieron diferencias significativas en cuanto al origen (p=0,012) y los diagnósticos iniciales (p=0,018); mientras que el promedio del APACHE II resultó ser de 7,2 en mujeres y de 11,6 en hombres (p=0,000) y la escala para la evaluación de fallo orgánico secuencial tuvo una media de 0,7 y 2,0, en ese mismo orden (p=0,000). Conclusiones: Los pacientes del sexo masculino presentaron edad promedio, diagnóstico, origen, gravedad y disfunción de órganos significativamente diferentes a los del femenino. Si bien no se apreciaron disparidades en cuanto a factores de riesgo e infecciones asociadas a la comunidad, la frecuencia de hombres que requieren tratamiento fue significativamente más alta.

Introduction: Nowadays disparities as for sex in patients with serious diseases can be found, which has not been explained in the clinical-epidemiological studies carried out until the moment. Objective: To identify the differences according to sex in patients admitted to intensive care units. Methods: An observational and prospective study of 187 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Units of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Provincial General Hospital was carried out in Granma that included the months of November and December, 2018-2020. Among the analyzed variables we can mention: age, sex, origin, diagnosis at admission, state when discharged from the unit, hospital stay, syndrome of systemic inflammatory response, stage of the sepsis, risk factors, community acquired infections and required treatment. Results: In the investigation most of the patients corresponded to female sex (60.9 %) and the mean age was 31.6 and 49.6 years in women and men, respectively (p=0.000). Also, significant differences existed as for the origin (p=0.012) and the initial diagnoses (p=0.018); while the average of the APACHE II was 7.2 in women and 11.6 in men (p=0.000) and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score had a mean of 0.7 and 2.0, in that same order (p=0.000). Conclusions: The patients of male sex presented average age, diagnosis, origin, seriousness and dysfunction of organs significantly different to those of female sex. Although disparities were not appreciated as for risk factors and infections associated with the community, the frequency of men that require treatment was significantly higher.

Neuroblastoma intracraneal en una niña / Intracranial neuroblastoma in a girl I: en

Se describe el caso clínico de una niña de 13 meses de edad, quien fue asistida en el Servicio de Neurocirugía del Hospital Infantil Sur Dr. Antonio María Béguez César de Santiago de Cuba, y posteriormente en el Servicio de Oncología de la institución, remitida del área de salud por presentar proptosis, exoftalmos del ojo derecho y aumento del perímetro craneal. Luego de realizados el examen clínico y los estudios complementarios pertinentes, incluidos resonancia magnética simple y contrastada de cráneo, estudio histopatológico, así como aspiración y biopsia bilateral de médula ósea, se confirmó que se trataba de un neuroblastoma parameníngeo con infiltración medular (estadio IV), sin evidencia de tumor primario. La evolución luego de la quimioterapia fue satisfactoria.

The case report of a 13 months girl is described who was assisted in the Neurosurgery Service of Antonio María Béguez Cesar Southern Children Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, and later on in the Oncology Service of the institution, referred from the health area due to proptosis, exophthalmos of the right eye and increase of the cranial perimeter. After the clinical exam and the pertinent complementary studies, including simple and contrasted magnetic resonance of skull, histopatologic study, as well as aspiration and bilateral biopsy of bone marrow, the presence of a parameningeal neuroblastoma with medullary infiltration (stage IV), without evidence of primary tumor was confirmed. The evolution after the chemotherapeutic treatment was satisfactory.

Ventilación mecánica no invasiva en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica agudizada en cuidados intensivos: diez años de experiencia / Non invasive mechanic ventilation in patients with acute chronic obstructive lung disease in intensive cares: ten years of experience:en

Introducción: La ventilación no invasiva es un tratamiento efectivo en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar agudizada. Objetivo: Describir las características demográficas, clínicas, ventilatorias y hemogasométricas en pacientes tratados con ventilación no invasiva. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, longitudinal y prospectivo de 234 pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica agudizada, ventilados de forma no invasiva en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital Provincial Clínico-Quirúrgico Docente Saturnino Lora de Santiago de Cuba de enero de 2011 a septiembre de 2021. Resultados: En la serie predominaron el sexo masculino, la neumonía extrahospitalaria y la insuficiencia cardíaca crónica; mientras que la edad media fue de 71 años y la ventilación no invasiva fracasó en 53,8 % de los afectados. Asimismo, la frecuencia respiratoria disminuyó de 34,3 a 23,5 respiraciones por minuto en la segunda hora y se observó, además, un incremento del pH, así como de la relación presión arterial de O2/fracción inspirada de O2 y saturación de oxígeno a la pulsioximetría/fracción inspiratoria de O2. La presión arterial de CO2 tuvo valores promedio de 61,8 mmHg al inicio y de 60,7 mmHg en la segunda hora. Conclusiones: Los valores basales de las variables clínicas, hemogasométricas y ventilatorias mejoraron luego del tratamiento con ventilación no invasiva. Entre los parámetros asociados al fracaso del tratamiento figuraron: frecuencia cardiaca, frecuencia respiratoria, presión arterial de CO2, escala de coma de Glasgow, pH y presencia de fugas; igualmente, la estadía prolongada, la ventilación por más de 48 horas y la mortalidad estuvieron relacionadas con dicho fracaso.

Introduction: The non invasive ventilation is an effective treatment in patients with acute lung disease. Objective: To describe the demographic, clinical, ventilatory and hemogasometric characteristics in patients treated with non invasive ventilation. Methods: An observational, descriptive, longitudinal and prospective study of 234 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease, non-invasive ventilated in the Intensive Cares Unit of Saturnino Lora Teaching Clinical-Surgical Provincial Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, was carried out, from January, 2011 to September, 2021. Results: In the series there was a prevalence of male sex, non hospital acquired pneumonia and chronic heart failure; while the mean age was 71 years and non invasive ventilation failed in 53.8 % of those affected. Also, the respiratory rate decreased from 34.3 to 23.5 breaths per minute in the second hour and an increase in pH was also observed, as well as in the relationship arterial pressure of O2/inspired fraction of O2 and oxygen saturation to the pulsioximetry/inspiratory fraction of O2. The arterial pressure of CO2 had average values of 61.8 mmHg to the beginning and of 60.7 mmHg in the second hour. Conclusions: The basal values of clinical, hemogasometric and ventilatory variables improved after treatment with non invasive ventilation. Among the parameters associated with the treatment failure there were heart frequency, respiratory frequency, arterial pressure of CO2, coma Glasgow scale, pH and leaks; equally, the long stay, the ventilation for more than 48 hours and mortality were related to this failure.