ABSTRACT
Introduction The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) increases during pregnancy and the puerperium such that VTE is a leading cause of maternal mortality. Methods We describe the clinical characteristics, diagnostic strategies, treatment patterns, and outcomes of women with pregnancy-associated VTE (PA-VTE) enrolled in the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD (GARFIELD)-VTE. Women of childbearing age (<45 years) were stratified into those with PA-VTE ( n = 183), which included pregnant patients and those within the puerperium, and those with nonpregnancy associated VTE (NPA-VTE; n = 1,187). Patients with PA-VTE were not stratified based upon the stage of pregnancy or puerperium. Results Women with PA-VTE were younger (30.5 vs. 34.8 years), less likely to have pulmonary embolism (PE) (19.7 vs. 32.3%) and more likely to have left-sided deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (73.9 vs. 54.8%) compared with those with NPA-VTE. The most common risk factors in PA-VTE patients were hospitalization (10.4%), previous surgery (10.4%), and family history of VTE (9.3%). DVT was typically diagnosed by compression ultrasonography (98.7%) and PE by chest computed tomography (75.0%). PA-VTE patients more often received parenteral (43.2 vs. 15.1%) or vitamin K antagonists (VKA) (9.3 vs. 7.6%) therapy alone. NPA-VTE patients more often received a DOAC alone (30.2 vs. 13.7%). The risk (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) of all-cause mortality (0.59 [0.18-1.98]), recurrent VTE (0.82 [0.34-1.94]), and major bleeding (1.13 [0.33-3.90]) were comparable between PA-VTE and NPA-VTE patients. Uterine bleeding was the most common complication in both groups. Conclusion VKAs or DOACs are widely used for treatment of PA-VTE despite limited evidence for their use in this population. Rates of clinical outcomes were comparable between groups.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of age at referral on treatment options in craniosynostosis and to identify risk factors for referral delays in this population. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients with an abnormal head shape diagnosis treated at a single academic medical center between January 1, 2004 and January 1, 2014. Newly diagnosed patients with craniosynostosis were identified and referral patterns were examined. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors associated with the range of ages at initial referral. RESULTS: A total of 477 patients were evaluated at our institution, 197 of whom were subsequently diagnosed with craniosynostosis. The median age at initial appointment was 5.6 months (mean 8.2 months). Only 28% of children were referred within 3 months of birth. Patients referred within 3 months of birth were less likely to have had preappointment imaging than those patients referred slightly later (OR 2.53, CI 1.07-5.98, P = .035). Several variables were associated with referral after 12 months of age including multiple suture involvement (OR 4.21, CI 1.06-16.68, P = .041), minority race (OR 4.96, CI 1.91-12.9, P ≤ .0001), and referral by a nonpediatrician (OR 6.9, CI 1.73-27.49, P = .006). CONCLUSIONS: Obtaining imaging before referral to a specialist for abnormal head shape was associated with a delay in evaluation and potentially increases radiation exposure and limits treatment options in patients with craniosynostosis. In addition, children from minority groups, children referred from someone other than a pediatrician's office, and those with multiple suture craniosynostosis are at increased risk of delayed referral. Further studies into the cause of these delays are warranted.