Prevalence and associated factors of inappropriate hospital admissions and days of children in a secondary hospital in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: Although the appropriateness of hospital utilization of adults and the elderly in China was audited by several studies, the appropriateness of hospital use by children in Shanghai remains to be determined. This study aims to assess the level of inappropriate hospital admissions and hospital days, to detect factors associated with inappropriateness, and to elucidate reasons for inappropriateness. METHODS: A retrospective review of the records of 291 admissions and 1449 hospital days of children inpatients from a secondary hospital in Shanghai was performed by two reviewers using the Chinese version Pediatric Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (C-PAEP). Demographics, socio-economic characteristics, and other admission- or hospital stay-related information were collected and analyzed to determine factors associated with inappropriateness utilizing multivariate regression models. RESULTS: 38.5% (n = 112) of admissions and 9.5% (n = 137) of hospital days were categorized as inappropriate, according to the C-PAEP. Children who were non-Shanghai residents (p < 0.001), admitted through the emergency sector (p = 0.030), and/or received services in a surgical ward (p < 0.001) had a higher risk of being admitted inappropriately. Payment method (p = 0.006), service type (p < 0.001), comorbidity (p = 0.016), length of stay (p = 0.007), and appropriateness of admission (p < 0.001) were found to be associated with prevalence of inappropriate hospital days. Approximately three-fourths of the inappropriate admissions were premature admissions (75.9%, n = 85). The most frequent reasons for inappropriate hospital days were awaiting test results (34.3%, n = 47), awaiting surgery (19.7%, n = 27), awaiting test execution (10.9%, n = 15), and family unprepared for home care (10.9%, n = 15). CONCLUSIONS: Although the extent of inappropriate hospital days was moderate compared with that found by previous investigations, the prevalence of inappropriateness of admission was considerable. To enhance the appropriateness of hospital care for children, interventions could be implemented according to the associated factors and identified causes.

Meu Deus, lá vem ele de novo! O cuidado à saúde aos "hiperutilizadores" na Atenção Básica / ¡Ay, Dios mío, él otra vez! El cuidado de la salud a los "hiperutilizadores" en la Atención Básica / Oh my God, they are here again! Providing health assistance for high users in Primary Care

Este artigo visa analisar aspectos no cuidado aos "hiperutilizadores" na Atenção Básica por meio da percepção dos profissionais e dos usuários. Foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa de caráter exploratório, do tipo estudo de caso, em que "hiperutilizadores" e profissionais foram entrevistados. A maneira como os profissionais definem quem é um usuário "hiperutilizador" é mais complexa do que o número total de consultas realizadas, passando pela identificação das necessidades em saúde que motivam a busca por cuidados. Os usuários com necessidades que extrapolam o alcance do modelo biomédico muitas vezes não têm as suas necessidades corretamente identificadas ou consideradas legítimas, e são considerados "hiperutilizadores" independentemente do número de consultas. O estudo serviu como um analisador da Atenção Básica à Saúde (ABS). Mantém-se um modelo ainda centrado na racionalidade biomédica, com pouca abertura para a "vida como ela é" e para o conhecimento e o "agir-leigo". (AU)

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar aspectos en el cuidado a los "hiperutilizadores" en la atención básica, a partir de la percepción de los profesionales y de los usuarios. Se realizó una investigación cualitativa, de carácter exploratorio, del tipo estudio de caso, en la que fueron entrevistados "hiperutilizadores" y profesionales. La manera en que los profesionales definen quién es un usuario "hiperutilizador" es más compleja que el número total de consultas realizadas y pasa por la identificación de las necesidades de salud que motivan la búsqueda de cuidados. Los usuarios con necesidades que extrapolan el alcance del modelo biomédico, muchas veces no tienen sus necesidades correctamente identificadas o consideradas legítimas y son considerados "hiperutilizadores", independientemente del número de consultas. El estudio sirvió como un analizador de la ABS. Se mantiene un modelo que todavía está centrado en la racionalidad biomédica, con poca apertura para la "vida tal como es" y para el conocimiento y el "actuar-lego". (AU)

This article aims to analyze aspects involved in the health assistance provided for "high users" in primary care, based on the perception of professionals and users. A qualitative and exploratory case study was carried out in which "high users" and professionals were interviewed. The way in which primary care professionals define who is a "high user" is more complex than the total number of medical consultations and involves identifying the health needs that motivate users to seek assistance. Users whose needs are beyond the scope of the biomedical model often do not have their needs correctly identified or considered legitimate and are viewed as "high users" regardless of the number of appointments. The study served as an analyzer of primary care. A model still centered on the biomedical rationality is maintained, with little opening to "life as it is" and to "lay-action" and knowledge. (AU)

Socioeconomic Determinants of the Use of Molecular Testing in Stage IV Colorectal Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies extends life for patients with advanced colorectal cancers (CRCs) whose tumors exhibit wild-type KRAS, but KRAS testing may be underused. We studied the role of socioeconomic factors in the application of KRAS testing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified subjects with stage IV colorectal adenocarcinoma diagnosed 2010-2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. We used multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate associations between clinical/demographic factors and the rate of KRAS testing. We used multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models to assess survival. RESULTS: We identified 37,676 patients with stage IV CRC, 31.1% of whom were tested for KRAS mutations, of those who had documented KRAS testing, 44% were KRAS mutant. Patients were more likely to be tested if they were younger (odds ratio [OR]=5.10 for age 20 to 29 vs. 80+, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.99-6.54, P<0.01), diagnosed more recently (OR=1.92 for 2015 vs. 2010, 95% CI: 1.77-2.08, P<0.01), or lived in an area of high median household income (OR=1.24 for median household income of >$69,311 vs. <$49,265, 95% CI: 1.14-1.35, P<0.01). Patients were less likely to be tested if they had Medicaid (OR=0.83, 95% CI: 0.77-0.88, P<0.01) or were unmarried (OR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.75-0.82, P<0.0001). The risk of death was decreased in patients who received KRAS testing (hazard ratio=0.77, 95% CI: 0.75-0.80, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We found a low rate of KRAS testing in CRC patients with those living in low-income areas less likely to be tested, even after controlling for Medicaid insurance. Our study suggests that socioeconomic disparities persist despite Medicaid insurance.

Real-world use and outcomes of hypomethylating agent therapy in higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes: why are we not achieving the promise of clinical trials?

Myelodysplastic syndromes are hematological malignancies characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and a high risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia. Hypomethylating agents (HMAs), azacitidine and decitabine, are standard of care therapy for higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes. However, outcomes reported for real-world studies fall short of those achieved in clinical trials. We conducted a targeted literature review exploring real-world utilization, persistence and outcomes with intravenous and subcutaneous HMA therapies to better understand barriers to achieving optimal outcomes in clinical practice. The potential benefits of oral HMA therapy were also explored. Underutilization and poor persistence with HMA therapy are associated with suboptimal outcomes, highlighting the need for approaches to improve utilization and persistence, so that patients achieve the optimum benefit from HMA therapy.

Lay abstract Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are bone marrow disorders affecting the production of blood cells. In some patients, MDS can progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive blood cancer with poor prognosis. Patients with higher-risk MDS are often treated with a type of chemotherapy called hypomethylating agents (HMAs). Studies conducted in real-world clinical practice have shown HMAs to be less effective than has been found in clinical trials. We reviewed available studies exploring real-world utilization, persistence and outcomes with current HMA therapies to better understand any barriers to patients achieving the best outcomes. Two important factors were found to be the underuse of HMAs and poor persistence with HMA therapy, highlighting the need for approaches to improve HMA utilization and persistence.

Women's Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Cervical Cancer and Its Screening in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in the world. Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) is a common screening test for cervical cancer in Bangladesh. This study will assess the knowledge, attitude and practice towards cervical cancer and screening among women residing in Dhaka district. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 956 women aged 30 years and above in Dhaka. The women's score on knowledge, attitude and practice were categorized as sufficient or insufficient. We calculated frequencies and used binary logistic regression to describe and assess the association between scores and socio-demographic characteristics of respondents. Results: Most (87%) respondent knew about cervical cancer and 13% knew that HPV is a risk factor for cervical cancer. Women who had sufficient knowledge were more likely to test VIA than those who had insufficient knowledge (39%, OR: 2.5; CI: 1.6, 2.8). Most (92%) would advise other women to have a VIA test. However, only 26% had a VIA test and 2% were vaccinated in private health care facilities for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Women who had sufficient attitude were equally likely to test VIA than those who had insufficient attitude. The VIA was underutilized because of low privacy during examination, unaware that VIA screened for cervical cancer, belief that they must pay for the test, and nurses performed examination. Conclusion: Women were knowledgeable about cervical cancer and likely to have a VIA test. However, the VIA test in underutilized and HPV vaccine coverage was low.

Predictors and reasons for inappropriate hospitalization days for surgical patients in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, China: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate hospitalization day (IHD) is recognized as an important indication of the excessive demand for health-care services, especially for surgical patients. We aim to examine the degree of IHDs, predictors associated with higher incidences of IHDs, and reasons for each IHD in different periods of hospitalization. METHODS: A total of 4586 hospital days from 408 cases were evaluated by a cross-sectional and retrospective audit program carried out in a tertiary hospital with 5613 beds and 9623 faculty in Wuhan, China. This study used the revised Chinese version of the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (C-AEP) to assess IHDs, and the Delay Tool to ascertain each reason for IHDs. A binary logistic regression model was performed to examine the predictors of higher incidences of IHDs. RESULTS: The average frequency of IHDs was 23.24 %, and a total of 322 cases (78.92 %) were reported to have experienced at least one IHD. The multivariate analysis showed that patients at the age of 60-69 with respect to under 50, and with overlength of stay were predictors of higher incidences of preoperative IHDs, while admission from outpatient, multiple diagnosis, higher surgical incision level, and overlength of stay were predictors of higher incidence of postoperative IHDs. The most frequent reasons related to health providers for IHDs were doctor's conservative views of patient management and delays in inspection, prescription, appointment, or result report. Patient factors gave rise to nearly a quarter of postoperative IHDs. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study indicate that measures including paying more attention to the construction of MDT for diagnosis and treatment in general surgery, reducing laboratory turnaround time, dispelling distrust among health-care providers and patients, setting stricter discharge standards and, providing integrated out-of-hospital services could be adopted accordingly to improve the inappropriateness of hospital stays.

A Population-Based Analysis of Outpatient Thyroidectomy: Safe and Under-Utilized.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Performance of thyroidectomy on an outpatient basis has gained popularity although many jurisdictions have not shifted their practice despite a strong safety profile. We sought to assess the uptake and safety of outpatient thyroidectomy in Ontario. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: This was a population-based retrospecive cohort of adult patients undergoing hemithyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy between 1993 and 2017 in Ontario, Canada. Outpatient surgery was defined as discharge home on the same day of surgery. Outcomes of interest include 30-day all cause death, hematoma, emergency department use, and readmission. To adjust for confounding, propensity scores were calculated. Logistic regression models with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were then used to estimate the exposure-outcome relationship. RESULTS: The final cohort consisted of 81,199 patients: 8,442 underwent same day surgery and 72,757 were admitted. The proportion of patients undergoing outpatient thyroidectomy increased overtime (2.3% in 1993-1994 to 17.8% in 2016-2017). Factors associated with higher odds of outpatient thyroidectomy included: younger age, less material deprivation, less comorbidities, and higher surgeon volume. The absolute number of deaths (≤5) and hematomas (64, 0.8%) in the outpatient cohort was low. After IPTW adjustment, patients with outpatient management had lower odds of neck hematoma (OR 0.73[95CI% 0.58-0.93)], but higher odds of emergency department use (OR 1.67[95%CI 1.56-1.79]). CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient thyroidectomy is not associated with an increased mortality risk. Less than one in five patients undergo outpatient thyroidectomy in Ontario, despite a well-established safety profile. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 131:2625-2633, 2021.

Patterns of cost-related medication underuse among Canadian adults with cancer: a cross-sectional study using survey data.

BACKGROUND: Cost-related medication underuse (CRMU) has been reported within the general population in Canada. In this study, we assessed patterns of CRMU among Canadian adults with cancer. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study using survey data. We accessed data sets from the 2015/16 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and reviewed the records of adults (≥ 18 yr) with a history of cancer who were prescribed medication in the previous 12 months. We collected information about sociodemographic features, health behaviours and CRMU, and conducted a multivariable logistic regression analysis for factors associated with CRMU. RESULTS: A total of 8581 participants were eligible for the current study. In the weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis, the following factors were associated with CRMU: younger age (odds ratio [OR] 2.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.79-3.63), female sex (male sex v. female sex OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.44-0.88), Indigenous racial background (Indigenous v. White OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.49- 3.77), unmarried status (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.09-2.30), poor self-perceived health (excellent v. poor self-perceived health OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.17-0.77), lower annual income (< $20 000 v. income ≥ $80 000 OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.75-5.41) and lack of insurance for prescription medications (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.77-3.50). INTERPRETATION: The toll of CRMU among adults seems to be unequally carried by women, racial minorities, and younger (< 65 yr) and uninsured patients with cancer. Discussion about a national pharmacare program for people without private insurance is needed.

Impact of lockdown on emergency general surgery during first 2020 COVID-19 outbreak.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and analyze the impact of lockdown strategy due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on emergency general surgery (EGS) in the Milan area at the beginning of pandemic outbreak. METHODS: A survey was distributed to 14 different hospitals of the Milan area to analyze the variation of EGS procedures. Each hospital reported the number of EGS procedures in the same time frame comparing 2019 and 2020. The survey revealed that the number of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in 2020 was reduced by 19% when compared with 2019. The decrease was statistically significant only for abdominal wall surgery. Interestingly, in 2020, there was an increase of three procedures: surgical intervention for acute mesenteric ischemia (p = 0.002), drainage of perianal abscesses (p = 0.000285), and cholecystostomy for acute cholecystitis (p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: During the first COVID-19 pandemic wave in the metropolitan area of Milan, the number of patients operated for emergency diseases decreased by around 19%. We believe that this decrease is related either to the fear of the population to ask for emergency department (ED) consultation and to a shift towards a more non-operative management in the surgeons 'decision making' process. The increase of acute mesenteric ischaemia and perianal abscess might be related to the modification of dietary habits and reduction of physical activity related to the lockdown.

Breast cancer in Zimbabwe: patterns of care and correlates of adherence in a national referral hospital radiotherapy center cohort from 2014 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Zimbabwe. Patients face socioeconomic barriers to accessing oncology care, including radiotherapy. We sought to understand patterns of care and adherence for women with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with radiotherapy access. METHODS: A retrospective cohort was created for women with breast cancer evaluated at the Parirenyatwa Hospital Radiotherapy and Oncology Center (RTC) from 2014 to 2018. Clinical data were collected to define patterns of care. Non-adherence was modeled as a binary outcome with different criteria for patients with localized versus metastatic disease. RESULTS: In total, 351 women presented with breast cancer with median age 51 at diagnosis (IQR: 43-61). Receptor status was missing for 71% (248). 199 (57%) had non-metastatic disease, and 152 (43%) had metastases. Of women with localized disease, 34% received post-mastectomy radiation. Of women with metastatic disease, 9.7% received radiotherapy. Metastatic disease and missing HIV status were associated with increased odds of study-defined non-adherence (aOR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.05, 3.28; aOR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.11, 4.05), while availability of ER/PR status was associated with lower odds of non-adherence (aOR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy is likely underutilized for women with breast cancer, even in a setting with public sector availability. Exploring patient-level factors that influence adherence to care may provide clinicians with better tools to support adherence and improve survival. Greater investment is needed in multidisciplinary, multimodality care for breast cancer in SSA.

Molecular Biomarker and Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Expression Testing in Patients With Advanced Stage Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Across North Carolina Community Hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Precision medicine in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) requires molecular biomarker testing in patients with nonsquamous and select patients with squamous histologies, and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) testing in both. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are rates of molecular and PD-L1 biomarker testing in patients with advanced NSCLC in community practices, and do rates vary by sociodemographic factors? What is the prevalence of molecular biomarker mutations and PD-L1 expression levels? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: From 389 stage IV NSCLC pathology reports obtained through the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center's Rapid Case Ascertainment Program from 38 community hospitals across North Carolina, we abstracted demographics, histology, molecular biomarker testing and results, and PD-L1 testing and expression. We geocoded patient and hospital addresses to determine travel time, distance to care, and census block level contextual variables. We compared molecular biomarker and PD-L1 testing rates, the prevalence of molecular biomarkers, and PD-L1 expression levels by race and sex, using χ2 tests. We determined predictors of testing, using multivariable logistic regression and report adjusted ORs and 95%CI. RESULTS: Among patients with nonsquamous NSCLC, 64.4% were tested for molecular biomarkers, and among all NSCLC patients 53.2% were tested for PD-L1 expression. Differences in biomarker testing rates by sociodemographic factors were not statistically significant in univariate or adjusted analyses. Adjusted analyses showed that patients living in areas with higher household internet access were more likely to undergo PD-L1 testing (adjusted OR = 1.66, 95% CI, 1.02-2.71). Sociodemographic differences in molecular biomarker prevalence and PD-L1 expression levels were not statistically significant, except for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) mutations, which occurred in 16.7% of males vs 0% in females, P = .05. INTERPRETATION: Biomarker testing remains underused in NSCLC. Future work should include larger populations and evaluate hospital-specific testing protocols to identify and address barriers to guideline-recommended testing.

Survival and Lung Transplant Outcomes for Individuals With Advanced Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease Living in the United States and Canada: An Analysis of National Registries.

BACKGROUND: Understanding how health outcomes differ for patients with advanced cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease living in the United States compared with Canada has health policy implications. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are rates of lung transplant (LTx) and rates of death without LTx in the United States and Canada among individuals with FEV1 < 40% predicted? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a retrospective population-based cohort study, 2005 to 2016, using the US CF Foundation, United Network for Organ Sharing, and Canadian CF registries. Individuals with CF and at least two FEV1 measurements < 40% predicted within a 5-year period, age ≥ 6 years, without prior LTx were included. Multivariable competing risk regression for time to death without LTx (LTx as a competing risk) and time to LTx (death as a competing risk) was performed. RESULTS: There were 5,899 patients (53% male) and 905 patients (54% male) with CF with FEV1 < 40% predicted living in the United States and Canada, respectively. Multivariable competing risk regression models identified an increased risk of death without LTx (hazard ratio [HR], 1.79; 95% CI, 1.52-2.1) and decreased LTx (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.58-0.74) among individuals in the United States compared with Canada. More pronounced differences were seen in the patients in the United States with Medicaid/Medicare insurance compared with Canadians (multivariable HR for death without LTx, 2.24 [95% CI, 1.89-2.64]; multivariable HR for LTx, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.47-0.61]). Patients of nonwhite race were also disadvantaged (multivariable HR for death without LTx, 1.56 [95% CI, 1.32-1.84]; multivariable HR for LTx, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.36-0.62]). INTERPRETATION: There are lower rates of LTx and an increased risk of death without LTx for US patients with CF with FEV1 < 40% predicted compared with Canadian patients. Findings are more striking among US patients with CF with Medicaid/Medicare health insurance, and nonwhite patients in both countries, raising concerns about underuse of LTx among vulnerable populations.

Management and Outcome of Patients Admitted With Tricuspid Regurgitation in France.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence shows a major outcome impact and undertreatment of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), but large and comprehensive contemporary reports of management and outcome at the nationwide level are lacking. METHODS: We gathered all consecutive patients admitted with a diagnosis of likely functional TR in 2014-2015 in France from the Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information national database and collected rate of surgery, in-hospital mortality, 1-year mortality, or heart failure (HF) readmission rates. RESULTS: In 2014-2015, 17,676 consecutive patients (75 ± 14 years of age, 51% female) were admitted with a TR diagnosis. Charlson index was ≥ 2 in 56% of the population and 46% presented with HF. TR was associated with prior cardiac surgery, ischemic/dilated cardiomyopathy, or mitral regurgitation in 73% of patients. Only 10% of TR patients overall and 67% of those undergoing mitral valve surgery received a tricuspid valve intervention. Among the 13,654 (77%) conservatively managed patients, in-hospital mortality, 1-year mortality, and 1-year mortality or HF readmission rates were 5.1%, 17.8%, and 41%, respectively, overall, and 5.3%,17.2%, and 37%, respectively, among those with no underlying medical conditions (8-fold higher than predicted for age and gender). CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide cohort of patients admitted with TR included elderly patients with frequent comorbidities/underlying cardiac diseases. In patients conservatively managed, mortality and morbidity were considerably high over a short time span. Despite this poor prognosis, only 10% of patients underwent a tricuspid valve intervention. These nationwide data showing a considerable risk and potential underuse of treatment highlight the critical need to develop strategies to improve the management and outcomes of TR patients.

Undertreatment of primary hyperparathyroidism in a privately insured US population: Decreasing utilization of parathyroidectomy despite expanding surgical guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperparathyroidism is associated with substantial morbidity, including osteoporosis, nephrolithiasis, and chronic kidney disease. Parathyroidectomy can prevent these sequelae but is poorly utilized in many practice settings. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the national Optum de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database. We identified patients aged ≥35 with a first observed primary hyperparathyroidism diagnosis from 2004 to 2016. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine patient/provider characteristics associated with parathyroidectomy. RESULTS: Of 26,522 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, 10,101 (38.1%) underwent parathyroidectomy. Of the 14,896 patients with any operative indication, 5,791 (38.9%) underwent parathyroidectomy. Over time, there was a decreasing trend in the rate of parathyroidectomy overall (2004: 54.4% to 2016: 32.4%, P < .001) and among groups with and without an operative indication. On multivariable analysis, increasing age and comorbidities were strongly, inversely associated with parathyroidectomy (age 75-84, odds ratio 0.50 [95% confidence interval 0.45-0.55]; age ≥85, odds ratio 0.21 [95% confidence interval 0.17-0.26] vs age 35-49; Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥2 vs 0 odds ratio 0.62 [95% confidence interval 0.58-0.66]). CONCLUSION: The majority of US privately insured patients with primary hyperparathyroidism are not treated with parathyroidectomy. Having an operative indication only modestly increases the likelihood of parathyroidectomy. Further research is needed to address barriers to treatment and the gap between guidelines and clinical care in primary hyperparathyroidism.

Treatment of post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction: there is insufficient utilisation of care in German cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: Treatment of post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence (UI) and erectile dysfunction (ED) increases quality of life (QoL). Aim of our study was to evaluate the utilisation of care among patients with post-prostatectomy UI and ED in Germany. METHODS: The HAROW study documented treatment of patients with localised prostate cancer (≤ T2c) in Germany. 1260 patients underwent radical prostatectomy (RP). Patients answered validated questionnaires after a median follow-up of 6.3 years. Response rate was 76.8%. RESULTS: Median age at RP was 65 (IQR 60-69) years. 14% (134/936) used more than one pad per day for UI. 25% (26/104, 30 missing) of UI patients underwent surgery to improve continence. Of patients without surgery, 41% (31/75) reported a moderate-to-severe issue concerning their incontinence with worse mental health and QoL. 81% (755/936) patients were unable to have an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Of all ED patients, 40% (319/793) used ED treatment regularly or tried it at least once. 49% (243/499) of patients with interest in sex never tried ED treatment. In multivariate analysis, patients not using ED treatments were older (≥ 70 years OR 4.1), and more often had preoperative ED (OR 2.3) and less interest in sex (OR 2.2). Nevertheless, 30% (73/240) of these patients had moderate-to-severe issues with their ED reporting worse mental health and QoL. CONCLUSION: Almost half of the patients without post-prostatectomy UI and ED treatment reported moderate-to-severe issues with a significant decrease in QoL. This indicates an insufficient utilisation of care in Germany.

Underutilization of Operative Capacity at the District Hospital Level in a Resource-Limited Setting.

INTRODUCTION: Improving surgical care in a resource-limited setting requires the optimization of operative capacity, especially at the district hospital level. METHODS: We conducted an analysis of the acute care surgery registry at Salima District Hospital in Malawi from June 2018 to November 2019. We examined patient characteristics, interventions, and outcomes. Modified Poisson regression modeling was used to identify risk factors for transfer to a tertiary center and mortality of patients transferred to the tertiary center. RESULTS: Eight hundred eighty-eight patients were analyzed. The most common diagnosis was skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) at 35.9%. 27.5% of patients were transferred to Salima District Hospital, primarily from health centers, with a third for a diagnosis of SSTI. Debridement of SSTI comprised 59% of performed procedures (n = 241). Of the patients that required exploratory laparotomy, only 11 laparotomies were performed, with 59 patients transferred to a tertiary hospital. The need for laparotomy conferred an adjusted risk ratio (RR) of 10.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.1, 14.3) for transfer to the central hospital. At the central hospital, for patients who needed urgent abdominal exploration, surgery had a 0.16 RR of mortality (95% CI 0.05, 0.50) while time to evaluation greater than 48 h at the central hospital had a 2.81 RR of death (95% CI 1.19, 6.66). CONCLUSIONS: Despite available capacity, laparotomy was rarely performed at this district hospital, and delays in care led to a higher mortality. Optimization of the district and health center surgical ecosystems is imperative to improve surgical access in Malawi and improve patient outcomes.

Utilization Rates of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Vascular Procedures Among Patients Undergoing Lower Extremity Amputations in a Rural Community Hospital: A Clinicopathological Correlation.

BACKGROUND: Significant geographical variations exist in amputation rates and utilization of diagnostic and therapeutic vascular procedures before lower extremity amputations in the United States. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rates of diagnostic and therapeutic vascular procedures in the year prior to amputation in a contemporary population and correlate with pathological findings of the amputation specimens. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of non-traumatic amputations from 2011 to 2017 at a rural community hospital. We reviewed the proportion of patients undergoing diagnostic (ankle brachial index with duplex ultrasound, computerized tomography angiogram and invasive angiogram) and therapeutic (endovascular and surgical revascularization) vascular procedures in the year prior to amputation. Prevalence of tissue viability and osteomyelitis were evaluated in all amputated specimens and atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) was evaluated in major amputations. We also analyzed primary amputation rates among different subgroups. RESULTS: 698 patients were included with 248 (36%) major amputations and 450 (64%) minor amputations. Any diagnostic procedure was performed in 59% of the major amputations and 49% of the minor amputations (P = 0.01). Any therapeutic revascularization procedure was performed in 34% of the major amputations and 28% of the minor amputations (P = 0.08). The pathology of major amputation specimens revealed severe ASVD in 57% and mild-moderate ASVD in 27% of specimens. Tissue viability was significantly higher in major amputations (90% vs 30%, P = 0.04) and osteomyelitis was significantly higher in minor amputations (50% vs 14%, P = 0.03). Primary amputations were performed in 66% of major amputations, 72% of minor amputations, 81% with mild to moderate ASVD and 54% with severe ASVD. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic and therapeutic vascular procedures appear under-utilized for patients undergoing lower extremity amputations at a rural community hospital. ASVD rates and tissue viability imply that revascularization could be of significant benefit to avoid major amputation.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on fecal immunochemical test screening uptake and compliance to diagnostic colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: During this COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan is one of the few countries where fecal immunochemical test and endoscopic activity for colorectal cancer screening keeps ongoing. We aimed to investigate how screening uptake and colonoscopy rate were affected in one of the biggest screening hubs in Northern Taiwan. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study tracing and analyzing the screening uptake and the trend of compliance to diagnostic colonoscopy in fecal immunochemical test-positive subjects in the National Taiwan University Hospital screening hub since the outbreak of COVID-19 and compared it with that of the corresponding periods in the past 3 years. Cancellation and rescheduling rates of colonoscopy and related reasons were also explored. RESULTS: Screening uptake during December 2019 to April 2020 was 88.8%, which was significantly lower than that in the corresponding period of the past 3 years (91.2-92.7%, P for trend < 0.0001). Colonoscopy rate in this period was 66.1%, which was also significantly lower than that in the past 3 years (70.2-77.5%, P for trend = 0.017). Rescheduling or cancellation rate was up to 10.9%, which was significantly higher than that in the past 3 years (P for trend = 0.023), and half of them was due to the fear of being infected. CONCLUSION: Fecal immunochemical test screening was significantly affected by COVID-19 pandemic. In order to resume the practice in COVID-19 era, screening organizers should consider various approaches to secure timely diagnosis of colorectal cancer.