Factors associated with impaired quality of life in French patients with chronic idiopathic constipation: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic idiopathic constipation can impact the health-related quality of life (QoL). We aimed to evaluate QoL in French patients with different clinical types of chronic constipation. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 338 general practitioners included 1710 consecutive adult patients who fulfilled the Rome III criteria for constipation and agreed to complete Patient-Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life and Symptom questionnaires. Sociodemographic and medical data were collected. Multivariate analyses enabled identification of factors associated with poor QoL using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: Overall, 1673 patients were eligible for analyses; 32% had infrequent evacuation (IE) of feces, 24% had difficult evacuation (DE) of feces, and 44% had both (IE+DE). The mean global Patient-Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life score was 1.9 (95% CI: 1.9-2.0), with a significantly worse QoL for IE+DE patients (mean 2.0; 95% CI: 2.0-2.1); 23% of patients reported a poor QoL, that is, a more than 2.4 (29% in IE+DE group, P<0.0001). Poor QoL was significantly associated with psychosocial parameters, associated digestive symptoms, but the main factors were the use of rectal treatment (OR 2.5; 95% CI: 1.9-3.3), one or less defecation/week (OR 3.5; 95% CI: 2.2-5.7), and weak/null perceived treatment efficiency (OR 4.3; 95% CI: 2.8-6.5). CONCLUSION: Chronic constipation is associated with a significant decrease in QoL, especially in patients suffering from both infrequent and DE of feces and feeling unsatisfied by their treatments.

Evaluation of the Adherence to Continuous Glucose Monitoring in the Management of Type 1 Diabetes Patients on Sensor-Augmented Pump Therapy: The SENLOCOR Study.

BACKGROUND: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and sensor-augmented pump (SAP) therapy improve glucose control provided good adherence. In France, not only diabetologists, nurses, and dieticians but also nurses employed by homecare providers (HCPNs) are together involved in the initiation and/or follow-up of continuous subcutaneous insulin injection (CSII) and SAP training. The SENLOCOR Study is an observational study designed to assess SAP adherence over 6 months (primary objective). Secondary objectives included the impact of SAP on metabolic control and patients' satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CGM initiation (M0) was performed within 3 months after CSII. CGM adherence, defined by sensor wear >70% of the time, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, and satisfaction questionnaires were collected at inclusion and at 3 (M3) and 6 (M6) months. RESULTS: The analysis population was 234 patients, including 27 children. Of the physicians, 88.0% were involved in SAP education for the whole cohort (median time, 45 min), whereas HCPNs were involved in CGM training for 190 patients (81.2%) (median time: at M0, 156 min; at M3, 20 min). Good adherence was obtained in 86.1% (M0-M3) and 68.9% (M3-M6) of the patients. The HbA1c level decreased from 8.16 ± 1.35% (M0) to 7.67 ± 1.01% (M6) in 189 patients (change, -0.48%; 95% confidence interval, -0.64, -0.33). The percentage of patients who experienced severe hypoglycemia decreased from 20.7% (M0) to 13.6% (M3) and 13.3% (M6). Satisfaction scores were high. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type 1 diabetes, a 6-month training on SAP involving a multidisciplinary team, and especially HCPNs, improved metabolic control with a high level of adherence and satisfaction.

Potential impact of the human papillomavirus vaccine on the incidence proportion of genital warts in French women (EFFICAE study): a multicentric prospective observational study.

UNLABELLED: Background The objective was to evaluate the effect of a HPV vaccination program on the incidence proportion of a proxy, genital warts (GW), in women in France. METHODS: The number of primary GW cases was prospectively recorded over two 4-month periods before (T0: Dec 2008 to March 2009) and after (T1: Dec 2011 to March 2012) a HPV vaccination program. A total of 160 gynaecologists participated in T0 and 189 in T1. Primary genital herpes (HSV) infection was used as a control. RESULTS: During T0, 39190 15- to 26 year-old women were seen, of whom 176 were diagnosed with GW (incidence proportion: 0.45%) and 155 with primary HSV infection (incidence proportion: 0.39%). During T1, 45628 females were seen [229 with GW (incidence proportion: 0.50%) and 202 with HSV (incidence proportion: 0.44%)]. In the 15-20 years age category, the incidence proportion of primary GW decreased from 0.41% to 0.30% (P=0.128) between T0 and T1, and the proportion of women newly diagnosed with primary genital herpes diseases slightly increased from 0.34% to 0.38% (P=0.620). In the 15-18 years age group, this decrease became significant (0.34% to 0.18%; P=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: A trend for a non-significant decreased incidence proportion of GW was observed in young women below 20 years who are more frequently vaccinated. This may be the result of HPV vaccination and suggests that a substantial increase in vaccine coverage could lead to a more pronounced decreased incidence proportion of GW in the future.

Distribution of left ventricular ejection fraction and heart rate values in a cohort of stable coronary patients: the INDYCE registry.

BACKGROUND: The distribution of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) - a key factor in coronary artery disease (CAD) patient management and prognostication - is poorly documented. OBJECTIVE: To determine LVEF and heart rate (HR) values, and describe the management of stable CAD patients in France. METHODS: The INDYCE survey was a prospective, multicentre registry of consecutive stable CAD outpatients attending a cardiology consultation. The survey focused on LVEF values measured using the echocardiographic Simpson biplane method. Drug therapy, resting HR, blood pressure and symptoms were also recorded. RESULTS: Overall, 3119 patients (68.4 +/- 11.0 years; 80% men) were enrolled. LVEF was 56.1+/-11.8% on average, and was poor (<40%) and moderately impaired (40-50%) in 9.6% (n=298) and 19.8% (n=619) of cases, respectively. Symptomatic angina pectoris was present in 19.2% of cases and only 40.6% of patients were asymptomatic (no angina and NYHA class < or = I) despite relatively aggressive management (79.0% of patients had undergone coronary angioplasty and/or bypass graft). Interestingly, 14.1% of patients with LVEF less than 40% were asymptomatic. In multivariable analysis, LVEF less than 40% was associated most strongly with symptomatic status (odds ratio 3.82; 95% CI 2.59-5.63; P<0.0001), together with female sex, age greater than 75 years, diabetes, HR greater or equal to 70 bpm, sedentariness, obesity and disease duration. CONCLUSION: Only 9.6% of stable CAD patients had severe left ventricular dysfunction; among them, 14.1% were strictly asymptomatic. This could justify regular LVEF measurement in CAD patients. Three potentially reversible factors (HR>or=70 bpm, being overweight and sedentariness) were linked independently to the presence of symptoms.