Radiological Explorations of Patients with Upper or Febrile Urinary Tract Infection.

Recent European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines and a clinical prediction rule developed by Van Nieuwkoop et al. suggest simple criteria for performing radiological imaging for patients with a febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). We analysed the records of patients with a UTI from four hospitals in Switzerland. Of 107 UTI patients, 58% underwent imaging and 69% (95%CI: 59-77%) and 64% (95%CI: 54-73%) of them were adequately managed according to Van Nieuwkoop's clinical rule and EAU guidelines, respectively. However, only 47% (95%CI: 33-61%) and 57% (95%CI: 44-69%) of the imaging performed would have been recommended according to their respective rules. Clinically significant imaging findings were associated with a history of urolithiasis (OR = 11.8; 95%CI: 3.0-46.5), gross haematuria (OR = 5.9; 95%CI: 1.6-22.1) and known urogenital anomalies (OR = 5.7; 95%CI: 1.8-18.2). Moreover, six of 16 (38%) patients with a clinically relevant abnormality displayed none of the criteria requiring imaging according to Van Nieuwkoop's rule or EAU guidelines. Thus, adherence to imaging guidelines was suboptimal, especially when imaging was not recommended. However, additional factors associated with clinically significant findings suggest the need for a new, efficient clinical prediction rule.

The Early HOSPITAL Score to Predict 30-Day Readmission Soon After Hospitalization: a Prospective Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: The simplified HOSPITAL score is an easy-to-use prediction model to identify patients at high risk of 30-day readmission before hospital discharge. An earlier stratification of this risk would allow more preparation time for transitional care interventions. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the simplified HOSPITAL score would perform similarly by using hemoglobin and sodium level at the time of admission instead of discharge. DESIGN: Prospective national multicentric cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 934 consecutively discharged medical inpatients from internal general services. MAIN MEASURES: We measured the composite of the first unplanned readmission or death within 30 days after discharge of index admission and compared the performance of the simplified score with lab at discharge (simplified HOSPITAL score) and lab at admission (early HOSPITAL score) according to their discriminatory power (Area Under the Receiver Operating characteristic Curve (AUROC)) and the Net Reclassification Improvement (NRI). KEY RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 3239 patients were screened and 934 included. In total, 122 (13.2%) of them had a 30-day unplanned readmission or death. The simplified and the early versions of the HOSPITAL score both showed very good accuracy (Brier score 0.11, 95%CI 0.10-0.13). Their AUROC were 0.66 (95%CI 0.60-0.71), and 0.66 (95%CI 0.61-0.71), respectively, without a statistical difference (p value 0.79). Compared with the model at discharge, the model with lab at admission showed improvement in classification based on the continuous NRI (0.28; 95%CI 0.08 to 0.48; p value 0.004). CONCLUSION: The early HOSPITAL score performs, at least similarly, in identifying patients at high risk for 30-day unplanned readmission and allows a readmission risk stratification early during the hospital stay. Therefore, this new version offers a timely preparation of transition care interventions to the patients who may benefit the most.

Factors associated with one-year mortality after hospital discharge: A multicenter prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: 1) To identify predictors of one-year mortality in hospitalized medical patients using factors available during their hospital stay. 2) To evaluate whether healthcare system use within 30 days of hospital discharge is associated with one-year mortality. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: This prospective, observational study included adult patients from four mid-sized hospital general internal medicine units. During index hospitalization, we retrieved patient characteristics, including demographic and socioeconomic indicators, diagnoses, and early simplified HOSPITAL scores from electronic health records and patient interviews. Data on healthcare system use was collected using telephone interviews 30 days after discharge. Survival status at one year was collected by telephone and from health records. We used a univariable analysis including variables available from the hospitalization and 30-day post-discharge periods. We then performed multivariable analyses with one model using index hospitalization data and one using 30-day post-discharge data. RESULTS: Of 934 patients, 123 (13.2%; 95% CI 11.0-15.4%) were readmitted or died within 30 days. Of 814 patients whose primary outcome was available, 108 died (13.3%) within one year. Using factors obtained during hospitalization, the early simplified HOSPITAL score (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.31-1.71; P < 0.001) and not living at home (OR 4.0; 95% CI 1.8-8.3; P < 0.001) were predictors of one-year mortality. Using 30-day post-discharge predictors, hospital readmission was significantly associated with one-year mortality (OR 4.81; 95% CI 2.77-8.33; P < 0.001). SIGNIFICANCE: Factors predicting one-year mortality were a high early simplified HOSPITAL score, not living at home, and a 30-day unplanned readmission.

Effects of a Multimodal Transitional Care Intervention in Patients at High Risk of Readmission: The TARGET-READ Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Hospital readmissions are frequent, costly, and sometimes preventable. Although these issues have been well publicized and incentives to reduce them introduced, the best interventions for reducing readmissions remain unclear. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of a multimodal transitional care intervention targeting patients at high risk of hospital readmission on the composite outcome of 30-day unplanned readmission or death. Design, Setting, and Participants: A single-blinded, multicenter randomized clinical trial was conducted from April 2018 to January 2020, with a 30-day follow-up in 4 medium-to-large-sized teaching hospitals in Switzerland. Participants were consecutive patients discharged from general internal medicine wards and at higher risk of unplanned readmission based on their simplified HOSPITAL score (≥4 points). Data were analyzed between April and September 2022. Interventions: The intervention group underwent systematic medication reconciliation, a 15-minute patient education session with teach-back, a planned first follow-up visit with their primary care physician, and postdischarge follow-up telephone calls from the study team at 3 and 14 days. The control group received usual care from their hospitalist, plus a 1-page standard study information sheet. Main Outcomes and Measures: Thirty-day postdischarge unplanned readmission or death. Results: A total of 1386 patients were included with a mean (SD) age of 72 (14) years; 712 (51%) were male. The composite outcome of 30-day unplanned readmission or death was 21% (95% CI, 18% to 24%) in the intervention group and 19% (95% CI, 17% to 22%) in the control group. The intention-to-treat analysis risk difference was 1.7% (95% CI, -2.5% to 5.9%; P = .44). There was no evidence of any intervention effects on time to unplanned readmission or death, postdischarge health care use, patient satisfaction with the quality of their care transition, or readmission costs. Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, use of a standardized multimodal care transition intervention targeting higher-risk patients did not significantly decrease the risks of 30-day postdischarge unplanned readmission or death; it demonstrated the difficulties in preventing hospital readmissions, even when multimodal interventions specifically target higher-risk patients. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03496896.

Effectiveness of Transition Care Intervention Targeted to High-Risk Patients to Reduce Readmissions: Study Protocol for the TARGET-READ Multicenter Randomized-Controlled Trial.

Hospital readmissions within 30 days represent a burden for the patients and the entire health care system. Improving the care around hospital discharge period could decrease the risk of avoidable readmissions. We describe the methods of a trial that aims to evaluate the effect of a structured multimodal transitional care intervention targeted to higher-risk medical patients on 30-day unplanned readmissions and death. The TARGET-READ study is an investigator-initiated, pragmatic single-blinded randomized multicenter controlled trial with two parallel groups. We include all adult patients at risk of hospital readmission based on a simplified HOSPITAL score of ≥4 who are discharged home or nursing home after a hospital stay of one day or more in the department of medicine of the four participating hospitals. The patients randomized to the intervention group will receive a pre-discharge intervention by a study nurse with patient education, medication reconciliation, and follow-up appointment with their referring physician. They will receive short follow-up phone calls at 3 and 14 days after discharge to ensure medication adherence and follow-up by the ambulatory care physician. A blind study nurse will collect outcomes at 1 month by phone call interview. The control group will receive usual care. The TARGET-READ study aims to increase the knowledge about the efficacy of a bundled intervention aimed at reducing 30-day hospital readmission or death in higher-risk medical patients.

Urinary incontinence in systemic sclerosis: a prospective multicentre cohort study.

Investigate the natural history of urinary incontinence (UI) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and assess its impact on quality of life (QoL). A longitudinal, international observational study followed 189 patients with SSc for a median duration of 5 years (IQR: 4.8-5.3). Presence, subtype and severity of UI, hospital admission and QoL were assessed using serial self-administered questionnaires. Mortality data came from national death registries. Multilevel mixed-effect logistic regressions explored factors associated with UI. Cox models adjusted the effects of UI on hospitalization and death for age, sex and subtype of SSc. Mean annual rates of new-onset UI and remission were 16.3% (95%CI 8.3%-24.2%) and 20.8% (95%CI 12.6-29.1), respectively. Among UI patients, 57.9% (95%CI 51.8-64.0) changed from one UI subtype to another. Between annual questionnaires, the severity of UI was the same in 51.1% (95%CI 40.8-61.4), milder or resolved in 35.2% (95%CI 25.3-44.9), and worse in 13.8% (95%CI 6.7-20.9). Anti-centromere antibodies, digestive symptoms, sex, age, neurological or urological comorbidities, diuretics and puffy fingers were all associated with UI. The two strongest predictors of UI and UI subtypes were a recent UI episode and the subtype of previous leakage episodes. UI at inclusion was not associated with hospital admission (adjusted HR: 1.86; 95%CI 0.88-3.93), time to death (aHR: 0.84; 95%CI 0.41-1.73) or change in QoL over time. Self-reported UI among SSc patients is highly dynamic: it waxes and wanes, changing from one subtype to another over time.

Urinary culture sensitivity after a single empirical antibiotic dose for upper or febrile urinary tract infection: A prospective multicentre observational study.

OBJECTIVES: Urinary culture sensitivity after antibiotics administration is unknown. This study aimed to describe the diagnostic sensitivity of urine cultures from patients' first, second, and third micturition samples after a single dose of empirical antibiotics given for upper and/or febrile urinary tract infections, as well as searched for factors influencing diagnostic sensitivity over time. METHODS: We collected consecutive urine samples from adult patients with an upper or febrile urinary tract infection diagnosed at four secondary hospital emergency rooms. One sample was collected before a first dose of empirical antibiotic treatment and up to three samples were collected from consecutive postadministration micturition. The main outcome was the number of positive cultures growing uropathogens with ≥103 colony forming units (CFUs) for men and ≥104 for women. Identical analyses were performed for any identified CFU and ≥105 CFU cut-off points. Time between antibiotic administration and first negative urinary culture was noted, which could have been at the time of any of the three postantibiotic urine samples. We used a Cox regression analysis for age- and sex-adjusted analyses. RESULTS: A total of 86 of 87 patients' preantibiotic cultures (99%) were positive compared with 26 of 75 (35%; p < 0.001), 15 of 50 (30%; p < 0.001), and 1 of 15 (7%; p < 0.001) of the first, second, and third postantibiotic samples, respectively, and missing 14 of 21 (67%), 13 of 17 (76%), and 7 of 7 (100%) of uropathogens with antibiotic resistance, respectively. The times needed for 25%, 50%, and 75% of cultures to be negative were 1.5, 2.9, and 9 hours, respectively, after antibiotic administration. Older age, male sex, non-Escherichia coli pathogens, urinary tract disease, comorbidity burdens, and urinary catheters prolonged time to negative culture, but were not significantly associated after adjustment. Uropathogens were found at ≥105 CFU in 15 of 75 (20%), 7 of 50 (14%), and 0 of 15 (0%) of the three postantibiotic micturition samples, respectively, and in any identified CFU in 48 of 75 (64%), 23 of 50 (46%), and 1 of 15 (7%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Urinary culture sensitivity decreases rapidly after administering antibiotics.

Associations between post-discharge medical consultations and 30-day unplanned hospital readmission: A prospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The period following hospital discharge is one of significant vulnerability. Little is known about the relationship between post-discharge healthcare use and the risk of readmission. OBJECTIVES: To explore associations between medical consultations and other healthcare use parameters and the risk of 30-day unplanned hospital readmission. METHODS: Between July 2017 and March 2018, we monitored all adult internal medicine patients for 30 days after their discharge from four mid-sized hospitals. Using follow-up telephone calls, we assessed their post-discharge healthcare use: consultations with general practitioners (GPs) and specialist physicians, emergency room (ER) visits, and home visits by nurses. The binary outcome was defined as any unplanned hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge, and this was analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 934 patients discharged, 111 (12%) experienced at least one unplanned hospital readmission within 30 days. Attending at least one GP consultation decreased the odds of readmission by half (adjusted OR: 0.5; 95%CI: 0.3-0.7), whereas attending at least one specialist consultation doubled those odds (aOR: 2.0; 95%CI: 1.2-3.3). GP consultations also reduced the odds of the combined risk of an ER visit or unplanned hospital readmission (aOR: 0.5; 95%CI: 0.3-0.7). ER visits were also associated with a higher readmission risk after adjusting for confounding factors (aOR: 10.0; 95%CI: 6.0-16.8). CONCLUSION: GP consultations were associated with fewer ER visits and unplanned hospital readmissions.

Risks and benefits of urinary catheterisation during inpatient diuretic therapy for acute heart failure: a retrospective, non-inferiority, cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with acute congestive heart failure (HF) regularly undergo urinary catheterisation (UC) at hospital admission. We hypothesised that UC has no clinical benefits with regard to weight loss during inpatient diuretic therapy for acute congestive HF and increases the risk of urinary tract infection (UTI). DESIGN: Retrospective, non-inferiority study. SETTING: Geneva University Hospitals' Department of Medicine, a tertiary centre. PARTICIPANTS: In a cohort of HF patients, those catheterised within 24 hours of diuretic therapy (n=113) were compared with non-catheterised patients (n=346). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was weight loss 48 hours after starting diuretic therapy. Secondary endpoints were time needed to reach target weight, discontinuation of intravenous diuretics and resolution of respiratory failure. Complications included the time to a first UTI, first hospital readmission and death. RESULTS: A total of 48-hour weight loss was not statistically different between groups and the adjusted difference was below the non-inferiority boundary of 1 kg (0.43 kg (95% CI: -0.03 to 0.88) in favour of UC, p<0.01 for non-inferiority). UC was not associated with time to reaching target weight (adjusted HR 1.0; 95% CI: 0.7 to 1.5), discontinuation of intravenous diuretics (aHR 0.9; 95% CI: 0.7 to 1.2) or resolution of respiratory failure (aHR 1.1; 95% CI: 0.5 to 2.4). UC increased the risk of UTI (aHR 2.5; 95% CI: 1.5 to 4.2) but was not associated with hospital readmission (aHR 1.1; 95% CI: 0.8 to 1.4) or 1-year mortality (aHR 1.4; 95% CI: 1.0 to 2.1). CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study, with no obvious hourly diuresis-based diuretic adjustment strategy, weight loss without UC was not inferior to weight loss after UC within 24 hours of initiating diuretic treatment. UC had no impact on clinical improvement and increased the risk of UTI. This evidence, therefore, argues against the systematic use of UC during a diuretic therapy for HF.

Development of the AL-O-A Score for Delirium Screening in Acute Internal Medicine: a Monocentric Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Delirium occurs frequently in acute internal medicine wards and may worsen the patient's prognosis; it deserves a fast, systematic screening tool. OBJECTIVE: Develop a delirium screening score for inpatients admitted to acute internal medicine wards. DESIGN: A monocentric prospective study between November 2019 and January 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and seventeen adult inpatients. MAIN MEASURES: Within 48 h of hospital admission, physicians administered an index test to participants which explored potential predictors associated with the fluctuation of mental state, inattention, disorganised thinking and altered level of consciousness. On the same day, patients underwent a neuropsychological evaluation (reference standard) to assess for delirium. The score was constructed using a backward stepwise logistic regression strategy. Areas under the receiver operating curves (AUC) and calibration curves were drawn to calculate the score's performance. The score was tested on subgroups determined by age, sex and cognitive status. RESULTS: The AL-O-A score ("abnormal or fluctuating ALertness, temporospatial Orientation and off-target Answers") showed excellent apparent (AUC 0.95 (95% CI 0.91-0.99)) and optimism-corrected discrimination (AUC 0.92 (95% CI 0.89-0.96)). It performed equally well in subgroups with and without cognitive impairment (AUC 0.93 (95% CI 0.88-0.99) vs 0.92 (95% CI 0.80-0.99)); in men and women (AUC 0.96 (95% CI 0.94-0.99) vs 0.95 (95% CI 0.89-0.99)); and in patients younger and older than 75 years old (AUC 0.98 (95% CI 0.95-0.99) vs 0.93 (95% CI 0.87-0.99)). CONCLUSIONS: A simple, 1-min screening test (AL-O-A score), even administered by an untrained professional, can identify delirium in internal medicine patients.

Unprovoked internal jugular vein thrombosis: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Managing thrombosis in rare sites is challenging. Existing studies and guidelines provide detailed explanations on how to overcome lower-limb thromboses and pulmonary embolisms, but few studies have examined thrombosis in rare sites. Lack of data makes clinical practice heterogeneous. Recommendations for diagnosing, treating, and following-up internal jugular vein thrombosis are not clearly defined and mostly based on adapted guidelines for lower-limb thrombosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old Caucasian woman came to the Emergency Department with chest, neck, and left arm pain. Computed tomography imagery showed a left internal jugular vein thrombosis. An extensive workup revealed a heterozygous factor V Leiden gene. Therapy was initiated with intravenous unfractionated heparin, then switched to oral acenocoumarol, which resolved the symptoms. Based on this case presentation and a literature review, we summarize the causes, treatment options, and prognosis of unprovoked internal jugular vein thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Managing internal jugular vein thrombosis lacks scientific data from large randomized clinical trials, partly because such thromboses are rare. Our literature review suggested that clinical treatments for internal jugular vein thrombosis often followed recommendations for treating lower-limb thrombosis. Future specific studies are required to guide clinicians on the modalities of diagnosis, screening for thrombophilia or oncologic disease, treatment duration, and follow-up.

Acute cytokine release syndrome after a first dose of pembrolizumab as second-line treatment for metastatic, programmed death-ligand 1-positive, non-small-cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The use of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) checkpoint inhibitor therapy is expanding, although its adverse effects are not completely known. We report on a rare case of acute cytokine release syndrome related to pembrolizumab use in a patient with lung cancer. CASE REPORT: A 79-year-old man with metastatic, PD-L1-positive, non-small-cell lung cancer developed a febrile condition associated with a systemic inflammatory response syndrome and suffered haemodynamic compromise four hours after the first intravenous administration of pembrolizumab. A thorough medical workup found no alternative cause and a grade 2 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was diagnosed.Management and outcome: Aggressive fluid resuscitation and supportive therapy led to restitutio ad integrum. DISCUSSION: Acute CRS after the administration of a PD-L1 inhibitor is infrequent but could be a fatal condition. Supportive treatment and, if necessary, corticosteroids should be considered.

Urinary incontinence and cardiovascular disease: a narrative review.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Urinary incontinence (UI) has recently been associated with increased mortality. This observation deserves consideration, since UI is a frequent condition. Shared risk with cardiovascular disease and UI could offer part of the explanation. METHODS: In this narrative review, we explore the association between UI and some cardiovascular risk factors: obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, tobacco smoking, alcohol, and caffeine intake. We also review the benefit of cardiovascular risk management on bladder health. RESULTS: Bladder function is affected by many cardiovascular risk factors. They can be protective or detrimental. Obesity, diabetes, and, to a lesser extent, high blood pressure and cigarette smoking have been associated with UI in different settings, precede new onset UI in longitudinal studies, have a dose effect, and have a biologic mechanism linked with UI. Thus, UI could be considered a possible consequence of metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, prevention programs aimed at decreasing weight, quitting smoking, healthy diet, and increasing physical activity have resulted in a decreased incidence, prevalence, and severity of UI. CONCLUSIONS: Knowing the association among UI, cardiovascular risk factors, and mortality should encourage UI screening in the population as well as cardiovascular risk factor screening among patients with UI. The secondary benefit for UI could be an important motivator for increasing adherence to cardiovascular prevention programs.

Systemic sclerosis and urinary symptoms: a complex pathophysiology.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have long been overlooked in systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, they are out of proportion of what would be expected based on age, sex, and presence of usual risk factors. Thus, there must be specific scleroderma-related mechanisms to result in LUTS. Fibrosis, nervous involvement (notably, dysautonomia), early signs of menopauses, and functional restriction play certainly a role, but available evidence shows inconsistent results. Thus, these factors are not sufficient to explain all aspect of LUTS in SSc. In vitro experiments point out a promising alternative mechanism, already observed in other rheumatologic diseases: an antibody-mediated etiology. However, more research is needed to better understand the pathophysiology of LUTS in SSc and develop specific treatment.

Change in staff perspectives on indwelling urinary catheter use after implementation of an intervention bundle in seven Swiss acute care hospitals: results of a before/after survey study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in staff perspectives towards indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) use after implementation of a 1-year quality improvement project. DESIGN: Repeated cross-sectional survey at baseline (October 2016) and 12-month follow-up (October 2017). SETTING: Seven acute care hospitals in Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS: The survey was targeted at all nursing and medical staff members working at the participating hospitals at the time of survey distribution. A total of 1579 staff members participated in the baseline survey (T0) (49% response rate) and 1527 participated in the follow-up survey (T1) (47% response rate). INTERVENTION: A multimodal intervention bundle, consisting of an evidence-based indication list, daily re-evaluation of ongoing catheter need and staff training, was implemented over the course of 9 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Staff knowledge (15 items), perception of current practices and culture (scale 1-7), self-reported responsibilities (multiple-response question) and determinants of behaviour (scale 1-7) before and after implementation of the intervention bundle. RESULTS: The mean number of correctly answered knowledge questions increased significantly between the two survey periods (T0: 10.4, T1: 11.0; p<0.001). Self-reported responsibilities with regard to IUC management by nurses and physicians changed only slightly over time. Perception of current practices and culture in regard to safe urinary catheter use increased significantly (T0: 5.3, T1: 5.5; p<0.001). Significant changes were also observed for determinants of behaviour (T0: 5.3, T1: 5.6; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: We found small but significant changes in staff perceptions after implementation of an evidence-based intervention bundle. Efforts now need to be targeted at sustaining and reinforcing these changes, so that restrictive use of IUCs becomes an integral part of the hospital culture.

[Epidemiology and strategy to prevent urinary catheters related complications]. / Epidémiologie et stratégies de prévention des complications liées au sondage urinaire.

Indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) is encountered in every four admitted in-patients. The risk of bacteriuria increases by 3­7 % every day and is almost universal at 30 days. Of these, 10 % will develop symptomatic infection, bacteremia, septic choc or death. Traumatic complications of IUC are seldom studied, but are at least as frequent as the infectious complications of IUC, with similar impact on LOS or morbidity. Prevention should focus on finding alternatives to IUC (for example, use of condom for men, assess the non-hourly diuresis), a strict compliance on known indication for IUC and hygiene, as well as to ask every day the possibility to withdraw the catheter.

Une sonde urinaire (SU) est posée à un quart des patients hospitalisés. La bactériurie est inéluctable, augmentant de 3 à 7 % par jour et affectant virtuellement tous les patients à un mois. De ces patients, 10 % vont devenir symptomatiques, avec à l'extrémité du spectre, la bactériémie, le choc septique et le décès. Les complications non infectieuses des SU sont moins étudiées mais tout aussi fréquentes, avec un impact similaire sur la durée de séjour et la morbidité. La prévention des complications des SU passe par la recherche d'autres possibilités (par exemple, étuis péniens, contrôle de la diurèse non horaire), un respect strict des indications aux SU et des règles d'hygiène lors de la manipulation du système, ainsi que par un souci quotidien d'effectuer le retrait des SU dont l'indication n'est plus justifiée.

Pulmonary Vein Thrombosis Associated with Metastatic Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review.

Pulmonary vein thrombosis (PVT) mainly occurs following lung transplantation but cases associated with thoracic malignancy have also been described. We describe here the first case of PVT in an asymptomatic patient with metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma.

Urinary Incontinence and Indwelling Urinary Catheters as Predictors of Death after New-Onset Stroke: A Report of the South London Stroke Register.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between indwelling urinary catheters (IUCs), urinary incontinence (UI), and death in the poststroke period and to determine when, after the neurological event, UI has the best ability to predict 1-year mortality. METHODS: In a prospective observational study, 4477 patients were followed up for 1 year after a first-ever stroke. The impact of UI or urinary catheters on time to death was adjusted in a Cox model for age, sex, Glasgow Coma Scale, prestroke and poststroke Barthel Index, swallow test, motor deficit, diabetes, and year of inclusion. The predictive values of UI assessed at the maximal deficit or 7 days after a stroke were compared using receiver-operating curves. RESULTS: UI at the maximal neurological deficit and urinary catheters within the first week after the stroke were present in 43.9% and 31.2% patients, respectively. They were both associated with 1-year mortality in unadjusted and adjusted analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46-2.19, and HR, 1.84, 95% CI 1.54-2.19). Patients with UI and urinary catheters had twice the mortality rate of incontinent patients without urinary catheters (HR, 10.24; 95% CI, 8.72-12.03 versus HR, 4.70; 95% CI, 3.88-5.70; P < .001). UI assessed after 1 week performed better at predicting 1-year mortality than UI assessed at the maximal neurological deficit. CONCLUSION: IUCs in the poststroke period is associated with death, especially among incontinent patients. UI assessed at 1 week after the neurological event has the best predictive ability.

Prevalence and Disease-Specific Risk Factors for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Systemic Sclerosis: An International Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in systemic sclerosis (SSc), to find specific risk factors, and to assess their impact on quality of life (QoL). METHODS: In a multicenter study, 334 patients completed a self-administered questionnaire on LUTS and QoL. LUTS were classified into 3 main categories: storage, voiding, and post-micturition symptoms. Digestive symptoms burden was captured by a visual analog scale, divided into 5 equal categories. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to test association between risk factors and LUTS categories. Linear regression adjusted the association between LUTS and QoL. RESULTS: LUTS were recorded in 311 SSc patients (96.0%) and classified as severe in 120 (38.0%). The storage category of LUTS was the most prevalent (91.9%), followed by voiding (72.2%) and then by post-micturition symptoms (49.8%). Risk factors identified in the multivariable models were higher than the median Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index (HAQ DI; odds ratio [OR] 4.2 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.4-12.9]) in the storage category; higher than the median HAQ DI (OR 2.4 [95% CI 1.2-4.9]) for digestive symptoms burden (OR 1.9 [95% CI 1.3-2.7]) and synovitis (OR 4.8 [95% CI 1.0-22.6) in the voiding category; and higher for digestive symptoms burden (OR 1.2 [95% CI 1.0-1.5]) in the post-micturition category of symptoms. These factors also increased the odds of having further severe symptoms. QoL was affected by the 3 categories of LUTS and decreased progressively with increasing frequency of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Self-reported LUTS are among the most frequent symptoms in SSc and are associated with digestive symptoms. SSc patients with LUTS have lower QoL.

The limited cutaneous form of systemic sclerosis is associated with urinary incontinence: an international multicentre study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the association between urinary incontinence (UI) and the main clinical and serological subsets of SSc, to assess risk factors for UI and its impact on quality of life (QoL). Methods: UI and QoL were assessed through self-administered questionnaires in 334 patients with SSc from five European tertiary centres. Logistic regressions were performed to test the association between clinical forms, serological status and UI and to adjust for confounders. Further independent predefined SSc risk factors for UI were tested through a multivariable logistic model. Results: The prevalence of UI was 63% (95% CI: 60, 68%). lcSSc and ACAs were both significantly associated with UI even after adjusting for age, sex, disability, diabetes, BMI, caffeine consumption, dyspnoea, faecal incontinence, abnormal bowel movement, presence of overlapping rheumatological disease and pulmonary hypertension [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2, 4.7]. ACA and lcSSc doubled the risk of frequent and heavy urinary leaks. Factors independently associated with UI were as follows: lcSSc (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.2), ACA (OR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.4, 5.8), female sex (OR = 10.8; 95% CI: 2.8, 41.3), worsening of dyspnoea (OR = 6.8; 95% CI: 1.2, 36.7), higher HAQ-DI (OR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.5, 6.7), BMI (OR = 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0, 1.1) and active finger ulceration (OR = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1, 0.7). Patients suffering from UI had decreased QoL. Conclusion: Self-reported UI is frequent in SSc and disproportionally affects the limited cutaneous form of the disease and patients positive for ACA. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01971294.