Assessing the ripple effects of natural disasters on healthcare systems: a narrative review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Natural disasters are on the rise, driven by shifts in climatic patterns largely attributed to human-induced climate change. This relentless march of climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of these disasters, heightening the vulnerability of communities and causing significant harm to both lives and socio-economic systems. Healthcare services are particularly strained during extreme weather events, with impacts felt not only on infrastructure but also on patient care. RECENT FINDINGS: This narrative review explored the overarching impact of natural disasters on healthcare infrastructure. We delved into how these disasters impact diverse health conditions, the healthcare systems of low and middle-income countries (LMICs), the psychological toll on both clinicians and survivors, and the ramifications for end-of-life care. SUMMARY: Natural disasters significantly impact healthcare, especially in LMICs due to their limited resources. Patients with cancer or chronic diseases struggle to access care following a natural disaster. Those in need for palliative care experience delay due to shortages in medical resources. Psychological consequences like posttraumatic stress disorder on disaster survivors and healthcare providers highlight the need for mental health support. Addressing challenges requires proactive disaster preparedness policies and urgent public policy initiatives are needed for optimal disaster response.

Smoking characteristics and years since quitting smoking of US adults diagnosed with lung and bladder cancer: A national health and nutrition examination survey analysis.

PURPOSE: Smoking is a recognized risk factor for bladder BC and lung cancer LC. We investigated the enduring risk of BC after smoking cessation using U.S. national survey data. Our analysis focused on comparing characteristics of LC and BC patients, emphasizing smoking status and the latency period from smoking cessation to cancer diagnosis in former smokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from the National Health and Examination Survey (2003-2016), identifying adults with LC or BC history. Smoking status (never, active, former) and the interval between quitting smoking and cancer diagnosis for former smokers were assessed. We reported descriptive statistics using frequencies and percentages for categorical variables and median with interquartile ranges (IQR) for continuous variables. RESULTS: Among LC patients, 8.9% never smoked, 18.9% active smokers, and 72.2% former smokers. Former smokers had a median interval of 8 years (IQR 2-12) between quitting and LC diagnosis, with 88.3% quitting within 0-19 years before diagnosis. For BC patients, 26.8% never smoked, 22.4% were active smokers, and 50.8% former smokers. Former smokers had a median interval of 21 years (IQR 14-33) between quitting and BC diagnosis, with 49.3% quitting within 0-19 years before diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: BC patients exhibit a prolonged latency period between smoking cessation and cancer diagnosis compared to LC patients. Despite smoking status evaluation in microhematuria, current risk stratification models for urothelial cancer do not incorporate it. Our findings emphasize the significance of long-term post-smoking cessation surveillance and advocate for integrating smoking history into future risk stratification guidelines.

Clinically significant prostate cancer detection rate in biopsy-naïve patients with mpMRI and microultrasound topographically discordant lesions: A single-center retrospective analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has improved the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), and microultrasound (micro-US) shows promise in enhancing detection rates. We compared mpMRI-guided targeted biopsy (MTBx) and micro-US-guided targeted biopsy (micro-US-TBx) in biopsy-naïve patients with discordant lesions at micro-US and mpMRI to detect csPCa (grade group ≥2) and clinically insignificant PCa (ciPCa; grade group 1) and assessed the role of nontargeted systematic biopsy (SBx). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed 178 biopsy-naive men with suspected PCa and discordant lesions at mpMRI and micro-US. All patients underwent mpMRI followed by micro-US, the latter being performed immediately before the biopsy. Imaging findings were interpreted blindly, followed by targeted and SBx. Median age was 63 years (IQR, 57-70), median prostate-specific antigen level was 7 ng/mL (IQR, 5-9 ng/mL), and median prostate volume was 49 cm^3 (IQR, 35-64 cm^3). Overall, 86/178 (48%) patients were diagnosed with PCa, 51/178 (29%) with csPCa. RESULTS: Micro-USTBx detected csPCa in 36/178 men (20%; 95% CI: 26-46), and MTBx detected csPCa in 28/178 men (16%; 95% CI: 36-50), resulting in a -8% difference (95% CI: -10, 4; P = 0.022) and a relative detection rate of 0.043. Micro-USTBx detected ciPCa in 9/178 men (5%; 95% CI: 3, 15), while MTBx detected ciPCa in 12/178 men (7%; 95% CI: 5, 20), resulting in a -3% difference (95% CI: -2 to 4; P = 0.2) and a relative detection rate of 0.1. SBx detected ciPCa in 29 (16%) men. mpMRI plus micro-US detected csPCa in 51/178 men, with no additional cases with the addition of SBx. Similarly, MTBx plus micro-USTBx plus SBx detected ciPCa in 35/178 men (20%; 95% CI: 18, 37) compared to 9 (5%) in the micro-US pathway (P = 0.002) and 14/178 (8%; 95% CI: 6, 26) in the mpMRI plus micro-US pathway (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, a combined micro-US/mpMRI approach could characterize primary disease in biopsy-naïve patients with discordant lesions, potentially avoiding SBx. Further studies are needed to validate our findings and assess micro-US's role in reducing unnecessary biopsies.

SGLT2 Inhibitor and Urinary Tract Infection in Men at Risk for Voiding Dysfunction: A VigiBase Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the risk of UTIs and complex UTIs associated with SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2) inhibitors in men, emphasizing older men at higher risk for voiding dysfunction. METHODS: Utilizing a pharmacovigilance case-noncase design, we analyzed VigiBase reports from 1967 to 2022 among male patients. VigiBase is a comprehensive global database for drug safety. Disproportionality analysis, which compares the frequency of reported adverse events for specific drugs against other drugs, was conducted using reporting odds ratio (ROR) and empirical Bayes estimator (EBE). Age was stratified at 65 years as a threshold for increased susceptibility to male voiding dysfunctions. Sensitivity analyses were performed to compare SGLT2 inhibitor with other diabetes medications and years 2013 to 2022. RESULTS: There were 484 UTIs (ROR 6.75 [95% CI: 6.17-7.39]; EBE 6.78) and 165 complex UTIs (ROR 8.09 [95% CI: 6.94-9.43]; EBE 8.60). In men under 65, there were 178 UTIs (ROR 6.82 [95% CI: 5.88-7.91]; EBE 6.99) and 65 complex UTIs (ROR 7.30 [95% CI: 5.71-9.32]; EBE 7.90). In men 65 and over, we found 153 UTIs (ROR 5.11 [95% CI: 4.35-5.99]; EBE 5.44) and 59 complex UTIs (ROR 8.79 [95% CI: 6.79-11.37]; EBE 9.60). Sensitivity analyses consistently showed significant signals. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests an elevated risk for both UTIs and complex UTIs in men taking SGLT2 inhibitors, with a more pronounced risk for complex UTI in older men who may have benign prostatic hyperplasia-related voiding dysfunction. These findings highlight the need for a balanced approach in prescribing SGLT2 inhibitors, particularly in populations potentially more susceptible to UTIs.

Identifying Barriers to Timely Follow-up After Elevated PSA Screening: A Retrospective Analysis of a Large Healthcare System.

OBJECTIVE: To examine elevated PSA follow-up within our system and identify areas for improvement in the timely diagnosis of prostate cancer. METHODS: We queried the Mass General Brigham's Enterprise Data Warehouse from 2018-2021, identifying patients with elevated PSA and documented time to follow-up. Timely follow-up was defined as having a urologist appointment, prostate biopsy, or prostate magnetic resonance imaging within 6 months from diagnosis. We stratified the location of elevated PSA diagnosis to academic medical centers versus community sites. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors impacting follow-up. RESULTS: We included 28,346 patients, with 50.30%, 15.02%, and 34.69% receiving timely, untimely, and no follow-up during the study period, respectively. In multivariable analysis, patients seen at academic medical centers were more likely to receive follow-up care (OR=1.39, 95%CI 1.30-1.48). In a sensitivity analysis including 2 of our largest community hospitals as part of academic medical facilities, those following up at our main sites showed even higher odds of timely follow-up (OR=1.61, 95%CI 1.51-1.73). CONCLUSION: Our study observed variations in follow-up rate between our academic medical centers and community sites. This finding highlights the need for efforts to improve consistency and timeliness of prostate cancer follow-up care across all facilities. By addressing interfacility disparities, we can facilitate the delivery of timely care to all patients.

Trends and Safety of Same-Day Discharge for Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy: a Comparison between the Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods from the National Cancer Database.

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the use of same-day discharge (SDD) for robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) between the "Pre-pandemic" and "Pandemic" periods and investigate SDD impact on mortality and readmissions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined data from the National Cancer Database on men receiving RALP in the "Pre-pandemic" (2018-2019) and "Pandemic" (2020) periods. We analyzed the differences in patient and hospital characteristics between SDD and non-SDD patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the likelihood of SDD during "Pandemic" versus "Pre-pandemic" periods. Inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) was utilized to assess the impact of SDD on 30-day mortality, 90-day mortality, and 30-day readmissions, adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics. RESULTS: Out of 111,117 men, 8,997 (8%) received SDD. Patients with more comorbidities, non-private insurance, and high-risk prostate cancer reported lower SDD rates (p<0.001). Higher SDD rates were observed at academic facilities and those in the top RALP volume quartile (p<0.001). Patients who underwent RALP during the "Pandemic" period had increased odds of SDD compared to those receiving RALP in the "Pre-pandemic" period (aOR 1.37; 95%CI 1.31-1.45; p<0.001). When comparing SDD and non-SDD patient outcomes, after IPTW adjustment, there was no difference in the odds of 30-day mortality (aOR 0.98; 95%CI 0.47-2.01; p=0.95), 90-day mortality (aOR 1.09; 95%CI 0.60-1.97; p=0.76), or 30-day readmissions (aOR 0.90; 95%CI 0.76-1.06, p=0.21). CONCLUSION: SDD for RALP increased steadily after pandemic. Identifying factors and necessary resources to standardize SDD for RALP will be crucial for its widespread adoption in the coming years.

Real-World Safety of Prostate Cancer Focal Therapy: MAUDE Database Analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the real-world safety profile of medical devices used in focal prostate cancer treatment utilizing the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database. Methods: The MAUDE database was searched for reports on high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), cryoablation, laser ablation, and irreversible electroporation (IRE) devices used in prostate cancer treatment from 1993 to 2023. Adverse events were identified and categorized. Results: We identified 175 reports for HIFU, 1362 for cryoablation, 615 for laser ablation, and 135 for IRE devices, with 28, 284, 126, and 2 respective reports, directly related to prostate cancer treatment. The aggregated data revealed the majority of complications were minor, with 82.5% (n = 363 out of 440 total complications) classified as Clavien-Dindo grade 1 or 2. Common minor complications included erectile dysfunction and urinary retention. Severe complications such as rectal fistulas were noted in HIFU and IRE treatments, along with singular mortality due to pulmonary embolism in cryoablation. Conclusions: Our analyses from MAUDE reveal that devices used in focal therapy for prostate cancer are predominantly associated with minor complications, underscoring their overall real-world safety profile. However, the occurrence of severe adverse events emphasizes the critical importance of rigorous patient selection and meticulous procedural planning. These findings provide valuable insights into the safety profile of focal therapy devices and contribute to the growing body of evidence on their use in prostate cancer treatment.

Investigating the pattern of prostate specific antigen screening among E-cigarette smokers within the behavioral risk factor surveillance system.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: E-cigarettes use has recently increased, even among older individuals quitting smoking. Though past studies suggest tobacco smokers may avoid cancer screening, the relationship between e-cigarette uses and preventive health behaviors like prostate specific antigen screening is uncertain. We assessed the relationship between self-reported e-cigarette smoking and prostate specific antigen screening utilization among US adults with a history of e-cigarette use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included men aged 50-69 years, who provided responses regarding PSA screening receipt and smoking status, from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2020 and 2022 surveys. Primary outcome was PSA screening receipt. Multivariable regression model was performed to investigate the association between smoking status (never-smokers, current or former e-cigarette smokers, current or former tobacco smokers) and PSA screening. RESULTS: We included a weighted population of 8.1 million men aged 50-69. 2.3 million (28.3%) received PSA screening. 3.9 million (48.2%) were never-smokers. 1.3 million (16.6%) were from e-cigarettes smokers group, and 2.9 million (35.2%) were from tobacco smokers group. E-cigarettes smokers were less likely to receive PSA screening within last 2 years (0.76 [0.66-0.88]) than never-smokers. No significant difference in PSA screening was detected between never-smokers and tobacco smokers (0.91 [0.82-1.02]). E-cigarette smokers were less likely to receive PSA screening within the selected time frame (0.84 [0.72-0.97]) than tobacco smokers. When examining potential mediation by primary care visits, e-cigarette smokers were less likely to have had a check-up visit in past 2 years than tobacco smokers (0.77 [0.65-0.92]). CONCLUSIONS: E-cigarette smokers were less likely to undergo PSA screening than never-smokers and tobacco smokers, possibly due to reduced use of primary care services.

A Propensity Score-matched Comparison of Micro-ultrasound-guided Transrectal and Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Transrectal Ultrasound Fusion-guided Transperineal Prostate Biopsies for Detection of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer.

Background and objective: High-resolution micro-ultrasound (microUS) is an advanced imaging tool. Our objective was to determine whether systematic microUS use for transrectal biopsy (TRBx) improves the detection rate for clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in comparison to transperineal biopsy (TPBx) performed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/conventional transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) fusion software. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data for men who underwent prostate biopsies, including those on active surveillance (AS). TRBx was performed under microUS guidance, while MRI/TRUS fusion was consistently used to guide TPBx. Patients were matched according to propensity score matching (PSM). The primary endpoint was comparison of the csPCa detection rate with the two approaches. Secondary endpoints included predictors of csPCa (International Society of Urological Pathology grade group ≥2, assessed via multivariable logistic regression) and complication rates. Key findings and limitations: Overall, 1423 patients were enrolled. After applying PSM we identified an analytical cohort of 1094 men, 582 in the TRBx group and 512 in the TPBx group. There was no significant difference in the csPCa detection rate between the TRBx (45%) and TPBx (51%) groups (p = 0.07). Complications occurred in nine of 1094 patients (1%). On adjusted multivariable analysis, TPBx had a similar csPCa detection rate to TRBx (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.26;p = 0.09). Predictors of csPCa detection were a positive family history (aOR 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-2.35; p = 0.002); age (aOR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.06; p < 0.001); positive digital rectal examination (aOR 2.35, 95% CI 1.70-3.25; p < 0.001); prostate-specific antigen density ≥0.15 ng/ml/cm3 (aOR 3.23, 95% CI 2.47-4.23; p < 0.001); and a Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System score ≥3 (aOR 2.46; 95% CI 1.83-3.32; p < 0.001). Limitations include the retrospective nature of the study, the risk of underestimating the complication rate, and the heterogeneity of biopsy indications. Conclusions and clinical implications: TRBx using microUS alone showed a comparable csPCa detection rate to TPBx guided by MRI/TRUS fusion software. Given the better visualization and real-time detection of suspicious zones with microUS, the potential for improvement in the csPCa detection rate with greater integration of microUS in the TPBx setting warrants further investigation. Patient summary: We compared the ability of two different prostate biopsy approaches to detect clinically significant prostate cancer. We found that transrectal biopsy guided by micro-ultrasound had similar detection rates to transperineal biopsy guided by a combination of magnetic resonance imaging and conventional ultrasound. More research is needed to confirm the potential of micro-ultrasound for transperineal biopsy.

Smoking characteristics and years since quitting smoking of US adults diagnosed with lung and bladder cancer: A national health and nutrition examination survey analysis

ABSTRACT Purpose: Smoking is a recognized risk factor for bladder BC and lung cancer LC. We investigated the enduring risk of BC after smoking cessation using U.S. national survey data. Our analysis focused on comparing characteristics of LC and BC patients, emphasizing smoking status and the latency period from smoking cessation to cancer diagnosis in former smokers. Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from the National Health and Examination Survey (2003-2016), identifying adults with LC or BC history. Smoking status (never, active, former) and the interval between quitting smoking and cancer diagnosis for former smokers were assessed. We reported descriptive statistics using frequencies and percentages for categorical variables and median with interquartile ranges (IQR) for continuous variables. Results: Among LC patients, 8.9% never smoked, 18.9% active smokers, and 72.2% former smokers. Former smokers had a median interval of 8 years (IQR 2-12) between quitting and LC diagnosis, with 88.3% quitting within 0-19 years before diagnosis. For BC patients, 26.8% never smoked, 22.4% were active smokers, and 50.8% former smokers. Former smokers had a median interval of 21 years (IQR 14-33) between quitting and BC diagnosis, with 49.3% quitting within 0-19 years before diagnosis. Conclusions: BC patients exhibit a prolonged latency period between smoking cessation and cancer diagnosis compared to LC patients. Despite smoking status evaluation in microhematuria, current risk stratification models for urothelial cancer do not incorporate it. Our findings emphasize the significance of long-term post-smoking cessation surveillance and advocate for integrating smoking history into future risk stratification guidelines.