Cardiovascular disease in women with breast cancer - a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing concern about cardiovascular disease (CVD) after breast cancer (BC). The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of different types of CVD in women diagnosed with BC compared to cancer-free controls as well as the incidence of CVD after BC diagnosis. METHODS: We performed a cohort study based on data from national registries covering the entire Danish population. We followed 16,505 cancer-naïve BC patients diagnosed from 2003 to 2007 5 years before and up to 10 years after BC diagnosis compared to 165,042 cancer-free controls. RESULTS: We found that 15.6% of BC patients were registered with at least one CVD diagnosis in hospital records before BC diagnosis. Overall, BC patients and controls were similar with regard to CVD comorbidity before BC diagnosis. After BC diagnosis, the incidence of all CVD diagnoses combined was significantly higher in BC patients than controls up to approximately 6 years after the index date (BC diagnosis). After 10 years, 28% of both BC patients and controls (without any CVD diagnosis up to 5 years before the index date) had at least one CVD diagnosis according to hospital records. However, the incidence of heart failure, thrombophlebitis/thrombosis and pulmonary heart disease including pulmonary embolism remained higher in BC patients than controls during the entire 10-year follow-up period. After 10 years, 2.7% of BC patients compared to 2.5% of controls were diagnosed with heart failure, 2.7% of BC patients compared to 1.5% of controls were diagnosed with thrombophlebitis/thrombosis, and 1.5% of BC patients compared to 1.0% of controls were diagnosed with pulmonary heart disease according to hospital records. Furthermore, we found that the risk of heart failure and thrombophlebitis/thrombosis was higher after chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Focus on CVD in BC patients is important to ensure optimum treatment with regard to BC as well as possible CVD. Strategies to minimise and manage the increased risk of heart failure, thrombophlebitis/thrombosis and pulmonary heart disease including pulmonary embolism in BC patients are especially important.

Lung cancer patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangement lose affiliation with labor market at diagnosis.

Aim: The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the labor market affiliation of ALK+ NSCLC patients in long-term treatment as well as overall survival and incidence/prevalence. Materials & methods: Nationwide retrospective study of all patients with ALK+ NSCLC in Denmark diagnosed between 2012 and 2018. Results: During the study period ALK+ NSCLC patients had a median overall survival of 44.0 months and a 7.8-fold increase in disease prevalence. Six months prior to diagnosis, 81% of ALK+ NSCLC patients ≤60 years of age were employed. At the end of the 18-month follow-up period, 36% were employed. Conclusion: ALK+ NSCLC patients have prolonged survival following diagnosis, but a large fraction of patients lose affiliation with the labor market.

The purpose of this study was to examine the employment status and survival of patients with ALK+ NSCLC who are undergoing long-term treatment. The researchers conducted a study analyzing data from all such patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2018 in Denmark. The results showed that ALK+ NSCLC patients had a median overall survival of 44.0 months and a that the number of patients increased almost eightfold during the study period. Prior to diagnosis, 81% of ALK+ NSCLC patients who were 60 years of age or younger were employed. However, at the end of the 18-month follow-up period, only 36% of these patients were still employed. In conclusion, ALK+ NSCLC patients tend to have prolonged survival after diagnosis. However, a considerable proportion of these patients lose their affiliation with the labor market, indicating the impact of the disease on employment status.

ALK+ NSCLC patients have prolonged survival following diagnosis, but a large fraction of patients lose affiliation with the labor market following diagnosis. #alkpositive #lcsm.

Does changed referral options affect the use of MRI for patients with low back pain? Evidence from a natural experiment using nationwide data.

OBJECTIVES: This study reports lumbar MRI referral patterns in the Region of Southern Denmark (RSD) and investigates the hypothesis that we will see an increase in imaging rates (MRI rates) following new referral options to lumbar MRI in the RSD in comparison with the other regions in Denmark from 2010 to 2013. DESIGN: A difference-in-difference (DD) analysis, using general practitioners (GPs) in other regions as control, was used to test if the new referral options had an effect on the MRI rates. SETTING: In 2010, RSD introduced organisational changes affecting the referral options for lumbar MRI. First, the possibility for direct referral to lumbar MRI was introduced GPs, and second, the region gathered all local spine departments into one specialist hospital called the Spine Centre. PARTICIPANTS: We retrieved all lumbar MRIs performed on patients aged 18+ performed on Danish hospitals from 2008 to 2013 using the registries from Statistics Denmark. We use sociodemographic information from all Danish citizens aged 18+ aggregated to GP level. Primary and secondary outcome measures: lumbar MRI scans per 1000 capita enlisted with a GP (MRI rates) were calculated based on GPs patient list. Four referral types were made to describe changes in referral patterns. RESULTS: In total 183 389 patients received 240 760 lumbar MRIs in the period. The use of the direct referral option by GPs in the RSD increased by 115% in the period from 2010 to 2013 and accounted for 34% of all referrals (n=6545) in 2013. MRI rates were significantly higher in RSD following the organisational changes (DD 1.389(0.925-1.852) lumbar MRI per 1.000 enlisted with a GP). CONCLUSIONS: Introduction of organisational changes in RSD as direct referral to lumbar MRI from GPs and chiropractors as well as establishing a Spine Centre increase the lumbar MRI rate in comparison with other regions in Denmark.

The effectiveness of a stratified care model for non-specific low back pain in Danish primary care compared to current practice: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies indicate that stratified care for low back pain results in better clinical outcome and reduced costs in healthcare compared to current practice. Stratified care may be associated with clinical benefits for patients with low back pain at a lower cost, but evidence is sparse. Hence this study aims to evaluate the clinical effects and cost-effectiveness of stratified care in patients with non-specific low back pain compared to current practice. METHODS/DESIGN: The study is a two-armed randomised controlled trial in primary care in the Regions of Southern and Central Denmark (2.5 million citizens). Patients with non-specific low back will be recruited by paticpating GPs. Patients are randomised to either (1) stratified care or (2) current practice at participating physiotherapy clinics. In the stratified care arm, the intervention is based on the patient's STarT Back Tool classification and trained accordingly, whereas physiotherapists in the current pratice arm are blinded to the STarT score. Primary outcomes in the trial will be group differences in time off work, improvement in LBP disability measured by the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and patient-reported global change. Secondary measures will be pain intensity, patient satisfaction, data on patient healthcare resource utilisation and quality-adjusted life year based on the EQ-5D-5L. DISCUSSION: Stratified care that effectively targets treatment to relevant sub-groups of patients has potentially great impact on the treatment pathways of low back pain. Thus, if effective, this could result in better patient outcomes and at the same time reduce the costs for treatment of low back pain. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02612467 . Registered on 16 November 2015.

Rehabilitation of Discharged Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-Are New Strategies Needed?

BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation after hospital stay implies several benefits for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); still few patients are referred and participate in rehabilitation programs. We conducted a case study to investigate the effects of interventions targeting the referral, uptake, and completion for a program of early rehabilitation in the primary health-care sector. METHODS: We undertook targeted initiatives to make patients participate in an individualized rehabilitation program with gradual increased intensity. After discharge, primary care COPD nurses and physiotherapists guided patients through progressing exercises in small groups online. Patients proceeded to class-based exercises, patient education and/or leisure activities, or continued telerehabilitation. We evaluated the effects of the intervention by assessing referral rates, completion, and readmission. RESULTS: Sixteen (23% of discharged patients) patients were referred to rehabilitation. In comparison, only 1 (0.8%) in 131 patients from Vejle hospital was referred to Vejle hospital. Twelve patients completed rehabilitation, all having severe COPD. All started the program within 2 weeks and proceeded to the online-guided exercises within 4 weeks. Study data showed that after 30 days, 1 (6.3%) of the 16 patients in the rehabilitation program had been readmitted compared to 8 (14.8%) of 55 patients who were not referred. After 90 days, 2 (12.5%) and 11 (20.0%) patients were readmitted, respectively. The readmission rate showed a nonsignificant decline in patients participating in rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: This case study showed that the referral rate of patients with COPD to early municipal rehabilitation is extremely low without a targeted effort and still insufficient in spite of a focused intervention. We showed that completion of a municipal rehabilitation program shortly after discharge is possible even for patients with severe COPD. The findings from our pilot study can guide further investigations into the effect of implementation strategies for handovers between health-care sectors to secure early-onset rehabilitation of patients with COPD.

[Chronic obstructive lung disease management programmes do not benefit the coordination of care pathways].

Chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) is a challenging condition for both primary and secondary health-care providers. Disease management programmes (DMP's) have been expected to lead to evident improvements in the continuum of care for COLD. The utility of a COLD management programme was evaluated in a study based on interviews among general practitioners and COLD specialists. Clinicians preferred short practical guidelines to the DMP. The DMP was found useless as a tool to improve the coordination of care pathways. Complimentary interventions to improve clinical cooperation across sectors are recommended.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia at a Danish ICU with ventilator bundle.

BACKGROUND: More than 100,000 patients each year in Denmark experience nosocomial infections, erroneous medication, or pressure ulcers while hospitalized. The Danish Safer Hospital Program includes 12 bundles for improving patient safety through the introduction and maintenance of evidence-based routine treatment or standard procedures. OBJECTIVE: To determine cost-effectiveness of implementing the Ventilator bundle (VB), thereby reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), when treating a ventilated patient, compared to standard procedure. SETTING AND PATIENTS: A hypothetical population of intensive care patients in a Danish ICU, ventilated for >48 h. METHODS: Cost-effectiveness analysis of the implementation of VB. The outcomes were prevention of VAP and prevention of death. Model inputs were evidence based from literature along with data from Kolding Hospital. A hypothetical population of intensive care patients in a Danish ICU, ventilated for >48 h was used. RESULTS: The cost per VAP episode prevented was ∼€4451, and cost per death prevented was ∼€31,792. The incremental cost-effectiveness scatter plot showed that VB was more effective in 99.9%, and 42.6% have lower cost and better outcome for prevention of VAP. The incremental cost-effectiveness scatter plot showed that VB was more effective in 85.9%, and 31.6% have lower cost and better outcome for death prevented. LIMITATIONS: The study was a retrospective cost analysis where incidence rates were based on best evidence, even if it did not cover all elements in the VB. The perspective of this study was seen from a third-party payer, e.g., the hospital, thus societal costs and direct medical costs post-hospitalization for patients with VAP were not considered. CONCLUSION: We found that implementation of VB is potentially cost-effective when considering prevention of one case of VAP or death, based on a Danish ICU as a case study.