Patterns of comorbidities in patients with atrial fibrillation and impact on management and long-term prognosis: an analysis from the Prospective Global GLORIA-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: Clinical complexity, as the interaction between ageing, frailty, multimorbidity and polypharmacy, is an increasing concern in patients with AF. There remains uncertainty regarding how combinations of comorbidities influence management and prognosis of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to identify phenotypes of AF patients according to comorbidities and to assess associations between comorbidity patterns, drug use and risk of major outcomes. METHODS: From the prospective GLORIA-AF Registry, we performed a latent class analysis based on 18 diseases, encompassing cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory and other conditions; we then analysed the association between phenotypes of patients and (i) treatments received and (ii) the risk of major outcomes. Primary outcome was the composite of all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Secondary exploratory outcomes were also analysed. RESULTS: 32,560 AF patients (mean age 70.0 ± 10.5 years, 45.4% females) were included. We identified 6 phenotypes: (i) low complexity (39.2% of patients); (ii) cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (28.2%); (iii) atherosclerotic (10.2%); (iv) thromboembolic (8.1%); (v) cardiometabolic (7.6%) and (vi) high complexity (6.6%). Higher use of oral anticoagulants was found in more complex groups, with highest magnitude observed for the cardiometabolic and high complexity phenotypes (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval CI): 1.76 [1.49-2.09] and 1.57 [1.35-1.81], respectively); similar results were observed for beta-blockers and verapamil or diltiazem. We found higher risk of the primary outcome in all phenotypes, except the CV risk factor one, with highest risk observed for the cardiometabolic and high complexity groups (hazard ratio and 95%CI: 1.37 [1.13-1.67] and 1.47 [1.24-1.75], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidities influence management and long-term prognosis of patients with AF. Patients with complex phenotypes may require comprehensive and holistic approaches to improve their prognosis.

The effect of metabolism-related lifestyle and clinical risk factors on digestive system cancers in East Asian populations: a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis.

Metabolic factors play a critical role in the development of digestive system cancers (DSCs), and East Asia has the highest incidence of malignant tumors in the digestive system. We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to explore the associations between 19 metabolism-related lifestyle and clinical risk factors and DSCs, including esophageal, gastric, colorectal, hepatocellular, biliary tract, and pancreatic cancer. The causal association was explored for all combinations of each risk factor and each DSC. We gathered information on the instrumental variables (IVs) from various sources and retrieved outcome information from Biobank Japan (BBJ). The data were all from studies of east Asian populations. Finally, 17,572 DSCs cases and 195,745 controls were included. Our analysis found that genetically predicted alcohol drinking was a strong indicator of gastric cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93-0.98) and hepatocellular carcinoma (OR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.05-1.18), whereas coffee consumption had a potential protective effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (OR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.53-0.90). Triglyceride was potentially associated with a decreased risk of biliary tract cancer (OR = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.34-0.81), and uric acid was associated with pancreatic cancer risk (OR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.37-0.96). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was associated with esophageal and gastric cancer. Additionally, there was no evidence for a causal association between other risk factors, including body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, educational levels, lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, glycine, creatinine, gout, and Graves' disease, and DSCs. The leave-one-out analysis revealed that the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs671 from the ALDH2 gene has a disproportionately high contribution to the causal association between alcohol drinking and gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as the association between coffee consumption and hepatocellular carcinoma. The present study revealed multiple metabolism-related lifestyle and clinical risk factors and a valuable SNP rs671 for DSCs, highlighting the significance of metabolic factors in both the prevention and treatment of DSCs.

Challenges Addressing Lung Cancer Screening for Patients With Multimorbidity in Primary Care: A Qualitative Study.

PURPOSE: Many individuals who are eligible for lung cancer screening have comorbid conditions complicating their shared decision-making conversations with physicians. The goal of our study was to better understand how primary care physicians (PCPs) factor comorbidities into their evaluation of the risks and benefits of lung cancer screening and into their shared decision-making conversations with patients. METHODS: We conducted semistructured interviews by videoconference with 15 PCPs to assess the extent of shared decision-making practices and explore their understanding of the intersection of comorbidities and lung cancer screening, and how that understanding informed their clinical approach to this population. RESULTS: We identified 3 themes. The first theme was whether to discuss or not to discuss lung cancer screening. PCPs described taking additional steps for individuals with complex comorbidities to decide whether to initiate this discussion and used subjective clinical judgment to decide whether the conversation would be productive and beneficial. PCPs made mental assessments that factored in the patient's health, life expectancy, quality of life, and access to support systems. The second theme was that shared decision making is not a simple discussion. When PCPs did initiate discussions about lung cancer screening, although some believed they could provide objective information, others struggled with personal biases. The third theme was that ultimately, the decision to be screened was up to the patient. Patients had the final say, even if their decision was discordant with the PCP's advice. CONCLUSIONS: Shared decision-making conversations about lung cancer screening differed substantially from the standard for patients with complex comorbidities. Future research should include efforts to characterize the risks and benefits of LCS in patients with comorbidities to inform guidelines and clinical application.

Enhancing current guidance for psoriatic arthritis and its comorbidities: recommendations from an expert consensus panel.

OBJECTIVES: Existing guidelines for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) cover many aspects of management. Some gaps remain relating to routine practice application. An expert group aimed to enhance current guidance and develop recommendations for clinical practice that are complementary to existing guidelines. METHODS: A steering committee comprising experienced, research-active clinicians in rheumatology, dermatology and primary care agreed on themes and relevant questions. A targeted literature review of PubMed and Embase following a PICO framework was conducted. At a second meeting, recommendations were drafted and subsequently an extended faculty comprising rheumatologists, dermatologists, primary care clinicians, specialist nurses, allied health professionals, non-clinical academic participants and members of the Brit-PACT patient group, was recruited. Consensus was achieved via an online voting platform when 75% of respondents agreed in the range of 7-9 on a 9-point scale. RESULTS: The guidance comprised 34 statements covering four PsA themes. Diagnosis focused on strategies to identify PsA early and refer appropriately, assessment of diagnostic indicators, use of screening tools and use of imaging. Disease assessment centred on holistic consideration of disease activity, physical functioning and impact from a patient perspective, and on how to implement shared decision-making. For comorbidities, recommendations included specific guidance for high-impact conditions such as depression and obesity. Management statements (which excluded extant guidance on pharmacological therapies) covered multidisciplinary team working, implementation of lifestyle modifications and treat-to-target strategies. Minimising corticosteroid use was recommended where feasible. CONCLUSION: The consensus group have made evidence-based best practice recommendations for the management of PsA to enhance the existing guidelines.

A real-world study of dupilumab in patients with atopic dermatitis including patients with malignancy and other medical comorbidities.

Background: Dupilumab is a monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (MtS-AD). Various clinical trials have established the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab for the treatment MtS-AD; however, the real-world experiences of patients treated with dupilumab with malignancy and other comorbidities are lacking. Objective: To assess the real-life effectiveness and safety of dupilumab in the treatment of MtS-AD within Canadian adult patient population, including those with other significant comorbidities such as malignancy. Methods: In this retrospective study, records of adult patients diagnosed with MtS-AD, with a Physician Global Assessment (PGA) score of 3 or 4, and treated with dupilumab for 52 weeks were reviewed and collected. Results: A total of 155 adult patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) treated with dupilumab were included in the study. Asthma was the most common comorbidity. One hundred twenty-three (80%) patients received either phototherapy and/or at least 1 systemic agent (methotrexate and cyclosporine) before initiation of dupilumab. PGA score of 0 or 1 was achieved by 64% of patients at week 52. Adverse effects including injection site reactions, ocular surface disease, facial and neck redness, and arthropathy occurred in 6%, 10%, 8%, and 6% of patients, respectively. Three patients continued receiving dupilumab throughout pregnancy, all maintaining PGA score of 0 or 1 with no impact on pregnancy, delivery, or the newborn. Twelve patients with prior or active malignancy were included, with no reported negative impact on malignancy. Conclusion: Dupilumab is an effective and safe option for patients with AD in real life, including patients with malignancy and other medical comorbidities.

Pharmacological management of fragile X syndrome: a systematic review and narrative summary of the current evidence.

INTRODUCTION: Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited cause of Intellectual Disability. There is a broad phenotype that includes deficits in cognition and behavioral changes, alongside physical characteristics. Phenotype depends upon the level of mutation in the FMR1 (fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1) gene. The molecular understanding of the impact of the FMR1 gene mutation provides an opportunity to target treatment not only at symptoms but also on a molecular level. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to provide an up-to-date narrative summary of the current evidence for pharmacological treatment in FXS. The review was restricted to randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trials. RESULTS: The outcomes from these studies are discussed and the level of evidence assessed against validated criteria. The initial search identified 2377 articles, of which 16 were included in the final analysis. CONCLUSION: Based on this review to date there is limited data to support any specific pharmacological treatments, although the data for cannabinoids are encouraging in those with FXS and in future developments in gene therapy may provide the answer to the search for precision medicine. Treatment must be person-centered and consider the combination of medical, genetic, cognitive, and emotional challenges.

Comorbid psychiatric conditions with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in a tertiary referral clinic.

Patients with chronic pain have a higher prevalence of mood disorders with depression and anxiety contributing to higher pain intensity, emotional allodynia, and neuro-anatomical changes. We sought to quantify the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities (PCs) in a tertiary referral clinic for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Medical records of all patients attending clinics run by three tertiary temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgeons for the period January to April 2022 inclusive were audited for the prevalence of concomitant psychiatric conditions. A total of 166 patients were identified with a female to male ratio of 5:1 and mean (SD) age of 45.1 (15.2) years. A total of 124 (89.9%) patients were tertiary referrals and 72 (43.4%) patients had concomitant psychiatric diagnoses, with 58 (34.9%) being on some form of psychotropic medication (PM) (patients on anticonvulsants for neuropathic pain were not included). A majority of 136 (81.9%) patients had some form of intervention (including Dysport® and minimally invasive surgery) which appeared more common in patients with co-existing psychiatric issues (p < 0.05). A higher proportion of mental health issues exist among TMD patients in a tertiary referral clinic than would be expected in the general population. We suggest a holistic approach to patients with multidisciplinary care taking into account this prevalence to ensure decision-making that contextualises the patient and not simply the pathology.

Differences in integrated assessment and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) for people with HIV across the WHO European region.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the extent of integration of non-communicable disease (NCD) assessment and management in HIV clinics across Europe. METHODS: A structured electronic questionnaire with 41 multiple-choice and rating-scale questions assessing NCD assessment and management was sent to 88 HIV clinics across the WHO European Region during March-May 2023. One response per clinic was collected. RESULTS: In all, 51 clinics from 34 countries with >100 000 people with HIV under regular follow-up responded. Thirty-seven clinics (72.6%) reported shared NCD care responsibility with the general practitioner. Systematic assessment for NCDs and integration of NCD management were common overall [median agreement 80%, interquartile range (IQR): 55-95%; and 70%, IQR: 50-88%, respectively] but were lowest in central eastern and eastern Europe. Chronic kidney disease (median agreement 96%, IQR: 85-100%) and metabolic disorders (90%, IQR: 75-100%) were regularly assessed, while mental health (72%, IQR: 63-85%) and pulmonary diseases (52%, IQR: 40-75%) were less systematically assessed. Some essential diagnostic tests such as glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) for diabetes (n = 38/51, 74.5%), proteinuria for kidney disease (n = 30/51, 58.8%) and spirometry for lung disease (n = 11/51, 21.6%) were only employed by a proportion of clinics. The most frequent barriers for integrating NCD care were the lack of healthcare workers (n = 17/51, 33.3%) and lack of time during outpatient visits (n = 12/51, 23.5%). CONCLUSION: Most HIV clinics in Europe systematically assess and manage NCDs. People with HIV appear to be screened more frequently than the general population at the same age. There are, however, larger gaps among eastern European clinics in general and for clinics in all regions related to mental health, pulmonary diseases and the employment of some essential diagnostic tests.

The Impact of Previous Comorbidities on New Comorbidities and Medications after a Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Lithuanian Cohort.

This cross-sectional study investigates new comorbidities and new medications after a mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data were collected after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection by online survey in a Lithuanian cohort. Sociodemographic data, SARS-CoV-2-related symptoms, previous and new comorbidities, and medications were analysed. The results of 895 participants (mean age: 44 years) show that 91% were women, 58% had higher education, and 84% were working. Among those, 473 (52.8%) answered being "healthy" before infection; 823 (92%) indicated being positive on diagnostic tests; and 841 (94%) were non-hospitalized. Asymptomatic infection was reported by 17 participants (1.9%). Participants reporting any comorbidity before a SARS-CoV-2 infection reported more frequently having remaining symptoms compared to those who were "healthy", particularly in relation to neurological symptoms. Thirteen percent of participants reported new comorbidities, and thirty-five percent started new medication. Among new medications, an intake of vitamins/supplements (21%) and anti-inflammatory drugs (4%) was more often reported by "unhealthy" participants. Regression analysis revealed that new cardiovascular and pulmonary diagnoses predicted each other. Participants reporting prior neurological disorders tended to have an increased risk of intaking new vitamins/supplements and anti-inflammatory drugs after infection. The results indicate a significantly increased consumption of medication, particularly unprescribed substances, after SARS-CoV-2, indicating a need of more research in this area.

Cardiovascular Events According to Inhaler Therapy and Comorbidities in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: COPD coexists with many concurrent comorbidities. Cardiovascular complications are deemed to be major causes of death in COPD. Although inhaler therapy is the main therapeutic intervention in COPD, cardiovascular events accompanying inhaler therapy require further investigation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate new development of cardiovascular events according to each inhaler therapy and comorbidities. Methods: This study analyzed COPD patients (age ≥ 40 years, N = 199,772) from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database in Korea. The development of cardiovascular events, from the index date to December 31, 2020, was investigated. The cohort was eventually divided into three arms: the LAMA/LABA group (N = 28,322), the ICS/LABA group (N = 11,812), and the triple group (LAMA/ICS/LABA therapy, N = 6174). Results: Multivariable Cox analyses demonstrated that, compared to ICS/LABA therapy, triple therapy was independently associated with the development of ischemic heart disease (HR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.04-1.43), heart failure (HR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.14-1.84), arrhythmia (HR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.41-2.09), and atrial fibrillation/flutter (HR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.64-3.25), whereas the LAMA/LABA therapy did not show a significant association. Furthermore, emergency room visit during covariate assessment window was independently associated with the development of ischemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, and atrial fibrillation/flutter (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our data suggest that cardiovascular risk should be considered in COPD patients receiving triple therapy, despite the confounding bias resulting from disparities in each group.

Prevalence, T2 Biomarkers, and Cost of Severe Asthma in the Era of Biologics: The BRAVO-1 Study

Background: The last decade has seen new classifications of the pathophysiology of asthma that have changed the treatment options available. Objectives: To update data on the prevalence of T2 asthma, comorbidities, biomarker characterization, and costs of severe asthma in patients aged ≥12 years, taking into account new classifications and treatment options. Methods: Retrospective, observational, nationwide study using a top-down approach. Data were obtained from BIG-PAC®, an electronic medical record database of 1.7 million patients in Spain. The study population comprised patients aged ≥12 years who had received medical care during the period 2016-2017 and been diagnosed with asthma at least 1 year prior to the index date. Patients were followed for 1 year. Results: The prevalence of asthma was 5.5%. Asthma was severe in 3031 of these patients (7.7%), 81.2% of whom presented T2 asthma. Among patients with severe asthma, 64.1% had uncontrolled disease, 31.2% were oral corticosteroid–dependent (37% in the uncontrolled severe asthma group), and only 3.8% were receiving biologics. The most common T2 comorbidities were allergic rhinitis (66.1%), atopic dermatitis (29.1%), and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (14.6%). Mortality rates in the total population and uncontrolled severe asthma groups were 4.2% and 5.5%, respectively. The total annual costs per patient with severe asthma were €5890 (uncontrolled) and €2841 (controlled). Conclusions: In the era of biologics, most severe asthma patients present T2 asthma. Despite the availability of new treatments, rates of oral corticosteroid–dependent patients with uncontrolled severe asthma remain high, although biologics continue to be underused. The costs of uncontrolled severe asthma are twice as high as those of controlled severe asthma. (AU)

Introducción: En la última década se han concadenado una serie de clasificaciones de la fisiopatología del asma que han cambiado las opciones de tratamientos disponibles. Objetivos: Actualizar los datos de prevalencia del asma T2, comorbilidades, caracterización de biomarcadores y costes del asma grave en pacientes ≥12 años en esta nueva situación. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo, observacional y de ámbito nacional con un enfoque descendente. Los datos se obtuvieron de BIG-PAC®, una base de datos de historias clínicas electrónicas de 1,7 millones de pacientes en España. Se incluyeron pacientes ≥12 años que habían recibido atención médica durante el periodo 2016-2017 y que habían sido diagnosticados de asma al menos un año antes de la fecha índice y fueron seguidos durante un año. Resultados: La prevalencia del asma fue del 5,5%. De estos pacientes, 3.031 presentaban asma grave (7,7%), de los cuales el 81,2% presentaba asma T2. Entre los pacientes con asma grave, el 64,1% no estaban controlados, el 31,2% eran dependientes de corticosteroides orales (37% en el grupo de asma grave no controlada) y solo el 3,8% estaban en tratamiento con biológicos. Las comorbilidades T2 más frecuentes fueron la rinitis alérgica (66,1%), la dermatitis atópica (29,1%) y la rinosinusitis crónica con poliposis nasal (14,6%). Las tasas de mortalidad en los grupos de asma grave total y no controlada fueron del 4,2% y del 5,5%, respectivamente. Los costes totales anuales por paciente con asma grave fueron de 5.890 euros (no controlado) y 2.841 euros (controlado). Conclusiones: En la era de los biológicos, la mayoría de los pacientes con asma grave presentan asma T2. A pesar de la disponibilidad de nuevos tratamientos, las tasas de pacientes con asma grave no controlados y dependientes de corticosteroides orales siguen siendo altas, y los biológicos siguen estando infrautilizados. Los costes del asma grave no controlada duplican los del asma grave controlada. (AU)

Exploring the prevalence of antidepressant medication discontinuation among pregnant veterans.

US female veterans have higher rates of mental health (MH) disorders compared to US civilian females and, consequently, are at risk for poor MH outcomes during pregnancy. This study evaluated the MH burden and identified the prevalence of antidepressant prescription and discontinuation among pregnant veterans (PGVets). The electronic health records (EHR) of PGVets using the US Veterans Administration's (VA) maternity care benefits over a two-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria for this study were a current MH diagnosis of depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at the onset of pregnancy (n=351). Outcomes examined included antidepressant use prior to pregnancy, the use and discontinuation of antidepressants during pregnancy, and risk factors for discontinuation. PGVets had a high MH burden, as indicated by multiple comorbid diagnoses of unipolar depression, anxiety, and PTSD in 67% of the sample. At the onset of pregnancy, 163 (46%) were treated with an antidepressant. Only 56 (34%) continued using antidepressants through the pregnancy. Self-discontinuation (34%) and VA provider discontinuation (31%) of antidepressants were found. Among PGVets with documented past suicidal behaviors, 90% discontinued their active antidepressants. PGVets with indicators for more severe MH diagnoses were most likely to discontinue. The MH burden of PGVets and high rates of antidepressant discontinuation have implications for engaging this population in a higher level of perinatal monitoring and intervention. The findings suggest that VA providers and veterans would benefit from risks and benefits education regarding antidepressant use during pregnancy as well as the provision of alternative therapies.

Comparative Clinical Effects and Risk Factors Associated With Vitamin D in Foot and Ankle Fracture and Arthrodesis Healing.

Vitamin D deficiency in relation to bone metabolism and healing has been controversial and not well studied. However, hypovitaminosis has been widely identified within the orthopedic patient population. The current best evidence suggests a lack of data on this important topic. The ability to assess patients for optimum bone healing and metabolism is still in question due to lack of a suitable reliable biomarker and multiple other unknown variables affecting bone metabolism. To compound this effect, popular dermatological precautions in the last 20 to 30 years of avoiding sunlight also have the effect of further reducing serum vitamin D production in the skin. As a proof of concept, we performed a preliminary comparative observational retrospective review of orthopedic patients undergoing fracture and arthrodesis osseous healing to determine how serum vitamin D levels are associated with bone healing along with their confounding comorbidities. Based on our review, the current accepted vitamin D levels (≥20 ng/mL) are low and insufficient for fractures and for arthrodesis osseous healing due to observed high rates (>35%) of delayed unions, and an increased (>90%) in the number of multiple confounding comorbidities affecting bone healing process that are often not mentioned or captured in this type of study in previous literature. Obesity and diabetes are significant contributory risks factors, and the preliminary findings suggest that the current accepted adequate levels may not be enough for osseous healing. These low vitamin D levels appear to affect bone healing and prolong treatment, with worsening trends with diabetes and obesity comorbidities.

Choosing Systemic Agents for Psoriasis.

Treatment options for moderate-to-severe psoriasis depend on drug efficacy and safety, patient preferences, comorbidities, and cost-no drug dominates across all dimensions. Interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors may be preferred for fast-acting treatment, while the 3-month schedule of risankizumab, ustekinumab, or tildrakizumab may be attractive for patients who prioritize fewer injections. Phototherapy is suitable for patients who wish to avoid systemic agents or when cost is a concern. For patients with poor adherence, infliximab or tildrakizumab may be well suited as they require in-office administration. Dermatologists can educate patients on available therapies to find a regimen best suited to their needs.

Dementia and comorbidities in primary care: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: People with dementia (PwD) are known to have more chronic conditions compared to those without dementia, which can impact the clinical presentation of dementia, complicate clinical management and reduce overall quality of life. While primary care providers (PCPs) are integral to dementia care, it is currently unclear how PCPs adapt dementia care practices to account for comorbidities. This scoping review maps recent literature that describes the role for PCPs in the prevention, detection/diagnosis and management of dementia in the context of comorbidities, identifies critical knowledge gaps and proposes potential avenues for future research. METHODS: We searched for peer-reviewed literature published between 2017-2022 in MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus using key terms related to dementia, primary care, and comorbidity. The literature was screened for relevance by title-abstract screening and subsequent full-text screening. The prioritized papers were categorized as either 'Risk Assessment and Prevention', 'Screening, Detection, and Diagnosis' or 'Management' and were further labelled as either 'Tools and Technologies', 'Recommendations for Clinical Practice' or 'Programs and Initiatives'. RESULTS: We identified 1,058 unique records in our search and respectively excluded 800 and 230 publications during title-abstract and full-text screening. Twenty-eight articles were included in our review, where ~ 50% describe the development and testing of tools and technologies that use pre-existing conditions to assess dementia risk. Only one publication provides official dementia screening guidelines for PCPs in people with pre-existing conditions. About 30% of the articles discuss managing the care of PwD, where most were anchored around models of multidisciplinary care and mitigating potentially inappropriate prescribing. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first scoping review that examines the role for PCPs in the prevention, detection/diagnosis and management of dementia in the context of comorbidities. Given our findings, we recommend that future studies: 1) further validate tools for risk assessment, timely detection and diagnosis that incorporate other health conditions; 2) provide additional guidance into how comorbidities could impact dementia care (including prescribing medication) in primary care settings; 3) incorporate comorbidities into primary care quality indicators for dementia; and 4) explore how to best incorporate dementia and comorbidities into models/frameworks of holistic, person-centred care.

Epidemiology, clinical presentation and treatment outcomes in patients with COVID-19 in an ambulatory setting: a cross sectional study during the massive SARS-CoV-2 wave in India.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has profoundly affected developing countries like India. This retrospective cross-sectional analysis investigated epidemiological, clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, and outcomes for hospitalized COVID-19 patients during the Massive SARS-CoV-2 Wave in India. Among 233 patients, the median age was 47.33 years, mostly male. Hospital stays averaged 8.4 days. Common symptoms include fever (88.41%), dry cough (56.2%), myalgia (44.20%), and shortness of breath (22.8%). The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (52%) and hypertension (47.2%). Elevated biomarkers include D-dimer (24.4%), CRP (32.1%), ferritin (26.60%), and others. Prescription analysis revealed that antibiotics (42.6%), Antivirals (37%), anthelmintics (20.30%), vitamins and nutritional supplements (20.71%) and glucocorticoids (12.8%) were the most commonly prescribed. Oxygen therapy was needed by 19.31% of patients in the moderate and severe categories within 24 hours of admission. The mortality rate was 8.58%. The surge led to increased hospitalizations and mortality, particularly among young adults. Diabetes and hypertension were correlated with mortality. Irregular use of drugs lacking evidence, like antibiotics and anthelmintics, vitamins and nutritional supplements, was observed in COVID-19 management. This study underscores the impact of the pandemic in India and highlights the need for evidence-based treatments.

[Advantages, development opportunities, and practice paths of traditional Chinese medicine in prevention and treatment of elderly comorbidities].

This article focused on the significant public health issue of comorbidities in the elderly population and highlighted the important role of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in the prevention and treatment of comorbidities in the elderly. It suggested that TCM should fully utilize its advantages in holistic perspective, syndrome differentiation and treatment, and preventive medicine in the process of preventing and treating comorbidities in the elderly. At the same time, in response to the significant shift in the disease spectrum of the elderly, the increasingly innovative concepts in diagnosis and treatment, the growing demand for proactive health by the el-derly population, and the current emphasis on patient-centered evaluation standards, it is necessary to further conduct basic theoretical and experimental research on comorbidities in the elderly using TCM, emphasize clinical research on comorbidities in the elderly, explore appropriate efficacy evaluation systems, improve TCM prevention and treatment strategies and comprehensive intervention programs for comorbidities in the elderly, and leverage the unique role of TCM in the rehabilitation of elderly comorbidity patients. By analyzing the potential of TCM in the field of comorbidities in the elderly, this article is expected to provide new insights for future clinical practice and scientific research.

Bariatric surgery and calcifediol treatment, Gordian knot of severe-obesity-related comorbidities treatment.

Background: Obesity (OB) is a chronic metabolic disease with important associated comorbidities and mortality. Vitamin D supplementation is frequently administered after bariatric surgery (BS), so as to reduce OB-related complications, maybe including chronic inflammation. Aim: This study aimed to explore relations between vitamin D metabolites and components of the inflammasome machinery in OB before and after BS and their relations with the improvement of metabolic comorbidities. Patients and methods: Epidemiological/clinical/anthropometric/biochemical evaluation was performed in patients with OB at baseline and 6 months after BS. Evaluation of i) vitamin-D metabolites in plasma and ii) components of the inflammasome machinery and inflammatory-associated factors [NOD-like-receptors (NLRs), inflammasome-activation-components, cytokines and inflammation/apoptosis-related components, and cell-cycle and DNA-damage regulators] in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was performed at baseline and 6 months after BS. Clinical and molecular correlations/associations were analyzed. Results: Significant correlations between vitamin D metabolites and inflammasome-machinery components were observed at baseline, and these correlations were significantly reduced 6 months after BS in parallel to a decrease in inflammation markers, fat mass, and body weight. Treatment with calcifediol remarkably increased 25OHD levels, despite 24,25(OH)2D3 remained stable after BS. Several inflammasome-machinery components were associated with improvement in metabolic comorbidities, especially hypertension and dyslipidemia. Conclusion: The beneficial effects of vitamin D on OB-related comorbidities after BS patients are associated with significant changes in the molecular expression of key inflammasome-machinery components. The expression profile of these inflammasome components can be dynamically modulated in PBMCs after BS and vitamin D supplementation, suggesting that this profile could likely serve as a sensor and early predictor of the reversal of OB-related complications after BS.

Perfil de pacientes adultos hospitalizados por COVID-19 antes y después de la introducción de las vacunas contra SARS-CoV-2 / Profile of adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 before and after the introduction of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2

INTRODUCCIÓN: La introducción progresiva de vacunas contra SARS-CoV-2 a partir de 2021, priorizando grupos de mayor edad, podría implicar un cambio en el perfil de pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19 en el tiempo. OBJETIVO: Comparar las características y evolución de pacientes adultos hospitalizados por COVID-19 en un período anterior en 2020 (PER1) y otro posterior al inicio de la vacunación masiva contra SARS-CoV-2 (PER2). PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Se registró edad, género, comorbilidades, complicaciones y evolución de los pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19 en una clínica privada, en Santiago, Chile. Se calculó el puntaje de gravedad y riesgo nutricional. RESULTADOS: En PER2, los pacientes fueron de menor edad, pero con comorbilidades similares al PER1, excepto por mayor malnutrición por exceso. Los pacientes del PER2 no vacunados requirieron más ventilación mecánica (38,9 vs. 14,3%, p = 0,03) y evolucionaron más gravemente (puntaje 6) que aquellos adecuadamente inmunizados (puntaje 5, p = 0,048). Las variables que más predijeron mortalidad fueron edad > 60 años (OR 28.995) y presencia de riesgo nutricional (OR 5.246). DISCUSIÓN: El cambio en el perfil y evolución de los pacientes hospitalizados con COVID-19 está asociado con la secuencia de priorización de vacunas contra SARS-CoV-2, cuyo efecto redujo las hospitalizaciones y gravedad de COVID-19 en adultos mayores.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the early prioritization of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for older adults may have affected the characteristics of hospitalized COVID-19 patients over time. AIM: To compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of adult patients admitted for COVID-19 before (PER1) and after (PER2) the initiation of mass vaccination for SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: Data on age, gender, comorbidities, complications, and outcomes of adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in a private clinic of Santiago, Chile, were collected. Scores for COVID-19 severity and nutritional risk were calculated. RESULTS: In PER2, patients were younger but had similar comorbidities, except for a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity compared to PER1. Unvaccinated COVID-19 patients in PER2 required more invasive ventilatory support (38.9% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.03) and had a higher severity score (six) than vaccinated patients (five, p = 0.048). The variables that best predicted mortality were age > 60 years (OR 28,995) and the presence of nutritional risk (OR 5,246). DISCUSSION: Changes in the profile and outcomes of hospitalized patients during the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with the prioritization of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and their protective effect in reducing hospitalizations and disease severity in older adults.

Expert Consensus on the Long-Term Effectiveness of Medical Nutrition Therapy and Its Impact on the Outcomes of Adults with Phenylketonuria.

Many adults with phenylketonuria (PKU) rely on medical nutrition therapy (MNT; low phenylalanine (Phe) diet with protein substitutes/medical foods) to maintain blood Phe concentrations within recommended ranges and prevent PKU-associated comorbidities. Despite disease detection through newborn screening and introduction of MNT as early as birth, adherence to MNT often deteriorates from childhood onwards, complicating the assessment of its effectiveness in the long term. Via a modified Delphi process, consensus (≥70% agreement) was sought on 19 statements among an international, multidisciplinary 13-member expert panel. After three iterative voting rounds, the panel achieved consensus on 17 statements related to the limitations of the long-term effectiveness of MNT (7), the burden of long-term reliance on MNT (4), and its potential long-term detrimental health effects (6). According to the expert panel, the effectiveness of MNT is limited in the long term, is associated with a high treatment burden, and demonstrates that adults with PKU are often unable to achieve metabolic control through dietary management alone, creating an unmet need in the adult PKU population.