Determination of a cutoff value for medication regimen complexity index to predict polypharmacy in HIV+ older patient / Determinación del valor umbral del índice de complejidad de la farmacoterapia para predecir polifarmacia en pacientes VIH+

INTRODUCTION: HIV+ patients have increased their life expectancy with a parallel increase in age-associated co-morbidities and pharmacotherapeutic complexity. The aim of this study was to determine an optimal cutoff value for Medication regimen complexity index (MRCI) to predict polypharmacy in HIV+ older patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A transversal observational single cohort study was conducted at a tertiary Hospital in Spain, between January 1st up to December 31st, 2014. Patients included were HIV patients over 50 years of age on active antiretroviral treatment. Prevalence of polypharmacy and it pattern were analyzed. The pharmacotherapy complexity value was calculated through the MRCI. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) for the MRCI value medications to determine the best cutoff value for identifying outcomes including polypharmacy. Sensitivity and specificity were also calculated. RESULTS: A total of 223 patients were included. A 56.1% of patients had polypharmacy, being extreme polypharmacy in 9.4% of cases. Regarding the pattern of polypharmacy, 78.0% had a cardio-metabolic pattern, 12.0% depressive-psychogeriatric, 8.0% mixed and 2.0% mechanical-thyroidal. The ROC curve demonstrated that a value of medication complexity index of 11.25 point was the best cutoff for predict polypharmacy (AUC=0.931; sensitivity= 77.6%; specificity=91.8%). CONCLUSIONS: A cut-off value of 11.25 for MRCI is proposed to determine if a patient reaches the criterion of polypharmacy. In conclusion, the concept of polypharmacy should include not only the number of prescribed drugs but also the complexity of them

INTRODUCCIÓN: La esperanza de vida de los pacientes VIH+ se ha incrementado. De forma paralela han aumentado las comorbilidades asociadas a la edad y la complejidad farmacoterapéutica. El objetivo del estudio es estimar el valor umbral del índice de complejidad de la farmacoterapia (MRCI) para la determinación del criterio de polifarmacia en pacientes VIH+ mayores de 50 años. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional, trasversal, unicéntrico. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes VIH+ mayores de 50 años, en tratamiento antirretroviral activo entre el 1 enero y 31 diciembre-2015. Se determinó la presencia de polifarmacia y los patrones asociados. La complejidad del tratamiento se calculó con la herramienta MRCI (Universidad de Colorado). Se analizó el índice de complejidad total como marcador cuantitativo de polifarmacia mediante la realización de una curva ROC y el cálculo de su área bajo la curva. Se calculó la sensibilidad y la especificidad de la misma. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 223 pacientes. El 56,1% presentó polifarmacia, siendo extrema en el 9,4% de los casos. En relación con el patrón de polifarmacia, el 78,0% presentaron un patrón cardio-metabólico, el 12,0% psico geriátrico-depresivo, el 8,0% mixto y el 2,0% mecánico tiroideo . Se determinó un valor de área bajo la curva ROC de 0,931 con límites entre (0,901-0,962) y p< 0,001. El valor 11,25 de índice de complejidad total de la farmacoterapia proporcionó un valor de especificidad del 92% y una sensibilidad del 78%. CONCLUSIÓN: El valor de 11,25 de índice de complejidad es un buen indicador para conocer los pacientes con polifarmacia. El concepto de polifarmacia no solo debe incluir el número de fármacos que toma el paciente sino incluir también la complejidad del tratamiento

Hipertensión portal de causa no cirrótica por didanosina: una causa infrecuente de hemorragia digestiva / Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension associated with didanosine: An unusual cause of gastrointestinal bleeding

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[Delayed diagnosis of HIV infection in the Spanish VACH cohort [1997-2002]]. / Diagnóstico tardío de la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en la Cohorte VACH (1997-2002).

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of delayed diagnosis of HIV infection and associated factors. METHODS: A cross sectional study of patients included in the Spanish VACH cohort who had been diagnosed with HIV infection between 1997 and 2002 was performed. Delayed diagnosis was defined as patients diagnosed with HIV infection and AIDS simultaneously or within the first month after the first positive serologic test, or those with a first CD4+ cell count below 200/ml. The epidemiological characteristics of these patients were compared with those of the remaining patients RESULTS: Of 2,820 new cases of HIV infection, delayed diagnosis was found in 506 (18%). These patients differed from the remaining patients in their lower mean age and higher HIV viral load, as well as in their distribution by sex (higher proportion of males), occupational status, history of incarceration in prison, and HIV-risk transmission group. The median survival during follow-up was significantly lower among AIDS patients with a delayed diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed diagnosis remains a cause for concern in our environment, due to its magnitude and its association with mortality. Some epidemiological characteristics provide clues to guide future programs directed at increasing information and improving prevention.

Diagnóstico tardío de la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en la Cohorte VACH (1997-2002) / Delayed diagnosis of HIV infection in the Spanish VACH cohort [1997-2002]

Objetivo: Estudiar la prevalencia del diagnóstico tardío (DT) de la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y sus factores asociados. Métodos: Estudio transversal sobre los pacientes incluidos en la cohorte VACH cuya infección por el VIH hubiese sido diagnosticada entre 1997 y 2002. Consideramos DT los casos diagnosticados de sida concomitantemente o dentro del primer mes desde la primera serología positiva, o con recuento de CD4+ < 200/ml. Comparamos sus características epidemiológicas con las de los demás pacientes. Resultados: De 2.820 nuevos casos de infección por el VIH, 506 (18%) tuvieron DT. Éstos difirieron del resto en su menor edad media, mayor carga viral y en su distribución por sexos (mayor proporción de hombres), situación laboral, antecedentes penitenciarios y grupo de riesgo. La mediana de supervivencia durante el seguimiento fue menor en el grupo de DT. Conclusiones: El DT continúa siendo un problema preocupante por su magnitud y asociación con la mortalidad. Algunas características epidemiológicas proporcionan indicios para orientar futuros programas de información y prevención

Objective: To study the prevalence of delayed diagnosis of HIV infection and associated factors. Methods: A cross sectional study of patients included in the Spanish VACH cohort who had been diagnosed with HIV infection between 1997 and 2002 was performed. Delayed diagnosis was defined as patients diagnosed with HIV infection and AIDS simultaneously or within the first month after the first positive serologic test, or those with a first CD4+ cell count below 200/ml. The epidemiological characteristics of these patients were compared with those of the remaining patients Results: Of 2,820 new cases of HIV infection, delayed diagnosis was found in 506 (18%). These patients differed from the remaining patients in their lower mean age and higher HIV viral load, as well as in their distribution by sex (higher proportion of males), occupational status, history of incarceration in prison, and HIV-risk transmission group. The median survival during follow-up was significantly lower among AIDS patients with a delayed diagnosis. Conclusions: Delayed diagnosis remains a cause for concern in our environment, due to its magnitude and its association with mortality. Some epidemiological characteristics provide clues to guide future programs directed at increasing information and improving prevention

[Treatment of invasive fungal infections. 2005. Andalusian Infectious Disease Society]. / Tratamiento de las infecciones fúngicas invasoras.

Invasive fungal infections have increased progressively in the last decades, producing elevated morbidity and mortality. In recent years, there have been numerous advances in the treatment of these diseases, with the introduction of new drugs in clinical practice and the information derived from several types of studies. This has improved the prognosis of some invasive fungal infections and increased the therapeutic options in various clinical situations. This new knowledge must be assessed to determine its application in clinical practice, taking into account available scientific evidence and clinical experience. With this aim, the Andalusian Society of Infectious Diseases has developed this consensus document containing recommendations for the treatment of the invasive fungal infections.

Tratamiento de las infecciones fúngicas invasoras / Treatment of invasive fungal infections

Las infecciones fúngicas invasoras (IFI) son un grupo de enfermedades en aumento progresivo en las dos últimas décadas, con morbilidad y mortalidad elevadas. En los últimos años han aparecido avances en el tratamiento de estas enfermedades, como consecuencia de la aparición de nuevos medicamentos y de nuevos conocimientos derivados de diferentes tipos de estudios, los cuales mejoran el pronóstico de algunas de las IFI y aumentan las opciones terapéuticas en diversos tipos de situaciones clínicas. Estos conocimientos necesitan valorarse para su aplicación a la práctica clínica, en base a la evidencia científica disponible y a la experiencia clínica. Por ello, la Sociedad Andaluza de Enfermedades Infecciosas ha desarrollado este documento de consenso sobre las recomendaciones para el tratamiento de las IFI (AU)

Invasive fungal infections have increased progressively in the last decades, producing elevated morbidity and mortality. In recent years, there have been numerous advances in the treatment of these diseases, with the introduction of new drugs in clinical practice and the information derived from several types of studies. This has improved the prognosis of some invasive fungal infections and increased the therapeutic options in various clinical situations. This new knowledge must be assessed to determine its application in clinical practice, taking into account available scientific evidence and clinical experience. With this aim, the Andalusian Society of Infectious Diseases has developed this consensus document containing recommendations for the treatment of the invasive fungal infections (AU)