Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Patients With Cancer-Associated Isolated Distal Deep Vein Thrombosis.

PURPOSE: Patients with isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) have lower rates of adverse outcomes (death, venous thromboembolism [VTE] recurrence or major bleeding) than those with proximal DVT. It is uncertain if such findings are also observed in patients with cancer. METHODS: Using data from the international Registro Informatizado de la Enfermedad TromboEmbolica venosa registry, we compared the risks of adverse outcomes at 90 days (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]; 95% CI) and 1 year (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR; 95% CI]) in 886 patients with cancer-associated distal DVT versus 5,196 patients with cancer-associated proximal DVT and 5,974 patients with non-cancer-associated distal DVT. RESULTS: More than 90% of patients in each group were treated with anticoagulants for at least 90 days. At 90 days, the adjusted risks of death, VTE recurrence, or major bleeding were lower in patients with non-cancer-associated distal DVT than in patients with cancer-associated distal DVT (reference): aOR = 0.16 (0.11-0.22), aOR = 0.34 (0.22-0.54), and aOR = 0.47 (0.27-0.80), respectively. The results were similar at 1-year follow-up: aHR = 0.12 (0.09-0.15), aHR = 0.39 (0.28-0.55), and aHR = 0.51 (0.32-0.82), respectively. Risks of death, VTE recurrence, and major bleeding were not statistically different between patients with cancer-associated proximal versus distal DVT, both at 90 days: aOR = 1.11 (0.91-1.36), aOR = 1.10 (0.76-1.62), and aOR = 1.18 (0.76-1.83), respectively, and 1 year: aHR = 1.01 (0.89-1.15), aHR = 1.02 (0.76-1.35), and aHR = 1.10 (0.76-1.61), respectively. However, more patients with cancer-associated proximal DVT, compared with cancer-associated distal DVT, developed fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) during follow-up: The risk difference was 0.40% (95% CI, 0.23 to 0.58). CONCLUSION: Cancer-associated distal DVT has serious and relatively comparable outcomes compared with cancer-associated proximal DVT. The lower risk of fatal PE from cancer-associated distal DVT needs further investigation.

Current practices and perceived barriers to tobacco-treatment delivery among healthcare professionals from 15 European countries. The EPACTT Plus project.

INTRODUCTION: The latest evidence-based Guidelines for Treating Tobacco Dependence highlight the significant role of healthcare professionals in supporting smokers interested to quit. This study aimed to identify the current practices of healthcare professionals in Europe and perceived barriers in delivering tobacco treatment to their patients who smoke. METHODS: In the context of EPACTT-Plus, collaborating institutions from 15 countries (Albania, Armenia, Belgium, Italy, France, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Romania, North Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine) worked for the development of an accredited eLearning course on Tobacco Treatment Delivery available at http://elearning-ensp.eu/. In total, 444 healthcare professionals from the wider European region successfully completed the course from December 2018 to July 2019. Cross-sectional data were collected online on healthcare professionals' current practices and perceived barriers in introducing tobacco-dependence treatment into their daily clinical life. RESULTS: At registration, 41.2% of the participants reported having asked their patients if they smoked. Advise to quit smoking was offered by 47.1% of the participants, while 29.5% reported offering assistance to their patients who smoked in order to quit. From the total number of participants, 39.9% regarded the lack of patient compliance as a significant barrier. Other key barriers were lack of: interest from the patients (37.4%), healthcare professionals training (33.1%), community resources to refer patients (31.5%), and adequate time during their everyday clinical life (29.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The identification of current practices and significant barriers is important to build evidence-based guidelines and training programs (online and/or live) that will improve the performance of healthcare professionals in offering tobacco-dependence treatment for their patients who smoke.

Impact of the ENSP eLearning platform on improving knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy for treating tobacco dependence: An assessment across 15 European countries.

INTRODUCTION: In 2018, the European Network for Smoking Cessation and Prevention (ENSP) released an update to its Tobacco Treatment Guidelines for healthcare professionals, which was the scientific base for the development of an accredited eLearning curriculum to train healthcare professionals, available in 14 languages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ENSP eLearning curriculum in increasing healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy (perceived behavioral control) and intentions in delivering tobacco treatment interventions in their daily clinical routines. METHODS: We conducted a quasi-experimental pre-post design study with 444 healthcare professionals, invited by 20 collaborating institutions from 15 countries (Albania, Armenia, Belgium, Italy, France, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Romania, North Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine), which completed the eLearning course between December 2018 and July 2019. RESULTS: Healthcare professionals' self-reported knowledge improved after the completion of each module of the eLearning program. Increases in healthcare professionals' self-efficacy in delivering tobacco treatment interventions (p<0.001) were also documented. Significant improvements were documented in intentions to address tobacco use as a priority, document tobacco use, offer support, provide brief counselling, give written material, discuss available medication, prescribe medication, schedule dedicated appointment to develop a quit plan, and be persistent in addressing tobacco use with the patients (all p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An evidence-based digital intervention can be effective in improving knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and intentions on future delivery of tobacco-treatment interventions.

Active Smoking is Associated with Lower Dialysis Adequacy in Prevalent Dialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis adequacy measured by single pool Kt/V (spKt/V) lower than 1.2 or urea reduction rate (URR) lower than 65% is associated with a significant increase in patient mortality rate. Patients' adherence to the medical treatment is crucial to achieve recommended targets for spKt/V. Smoking is a recognized factor of non-adherence. AIM: In this study we sought to assess the association of active smoking and dialysis adequacy. METHODS: A total of 134 prevalent dialysis patients from one dialysis center were included in an observational cross-sectional study. Clinical, laboratory and dialysis data were obtained from medical charts in previous 6 months. The number of missed, on purpose interrupted or prematurely terminated dialysis sessions was obtained. Dialysis adequacy was calculated as spKt/V and URR. Patients were questioned about current active smoking status. T-test and Chi-Square test were used for comparative analysis of dialysis adequacy with regard to smoking status. RESULTS: The majority of patients declared a non-smoking status (100 (75%)) and 34 (25%) were active smokers. Male gender, younger age and shorter dialysis vintage were significantly more often present in the active smokers ((9 (26%) vs 25 (73%), p = 0.028; 57.26 ± 12.59 vs 50.15 ± 14.10, p = 0.012; 118.59 ± 76.25 vs 88.82 ± 57.63, p = 0.030)), respectively. spKt/V and URR were significantly lower and Kt/V target was less frequently achieved in smokers ((1.46 ± 0.19 vs. 1.30 ± 0.021, p = 0.019; 67.14 ± 5.86 vs. 63.64 ± 8.30, p = 0.002; 14 (14%) vs. 11 (32%), p = 0.023), respectively. Shorter dialysis sessions, larger ultra filtrations and higher percentage of missed/interrupted dialysis session on patients' demand were observed in smokers (4.15 ± 0.30 vs. 4.05 ± 0.17, p = 0.019; 3.10 ± 0.78 vs. 3.54 ± 0.92, p = 0.017; 25 (0.3%) vs. 48 (1.8%), p = 0.031), respectively. CONCLUSION: Active smokers, especially younger men, achieve lower than the recommended levels for dialysis adequacy. Non-adherence to treatment prescription in smokers is a problem to be solved. Novel studies are recommended in patients on dialysis, to further elucidate the association of dialysis adequacy with the active smoking status.

Vitamin K Antagonists After 6 Months of Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin in Cancer Patients with Venous Thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is the treatment of choice in cancer patients with venous thromboembolism. However, data on continuing LMWH treatment beyond 6 months remain scanty. METHODS: We used the RIETE (Registro Informatizado Enfermedad TromboEmbólica) registry to compare the rate of venous thromboembolism recurrences and major bleeding appearing beyond the first 6 months of anticoagulant therapy in cancer patients with venous thromboembolism, according to therapy with LMWH or vitamin K antagonists (VKA). We performed a propensity score-matched cohort study. RESULTS: After propensity matching, 482 cancer patients continued to receive LMWH and 482 switched to VKA. During the course of anticoagulant therapy (mean 275.5 days), 57 patients developed venous thrombosis recurrences (recurrent pulmonary embolism 26, recurrent deep vein thrombosis 29, both 2), 28 had major bleeding, 38 had nonmajor bleeding, and 129 died. No patient died of recurrent venous thrombosis, and 5 patients died of bleeding (2 were on LMWH, 3 on VKA). Patients who continued with LMWH had a similar rate of deep vein thrombosis recurrences (relative risk [RR] 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68-2.93), pulmonary embolism recurrences (RR 0.73; 95% CI, 0.34-1.58), major bleeding (RR 0.96; 95% CI, 0.51-1.79), or nonmajor bleeding (RR 1.15; 95% CI, 0.55-2.40), compared with those who switched to VKA, but a higher mortality rate (RR 1.58; 95% CI, 1.13-2.20). CONCLUSIONS: In cancer patients with venous thromboembolism who completed 6 months of LMWH therapy, switching to VKA was associated with a similar risk of venous thrombosis recurrences or bleeding when compared with patients who continued LMWH.

Current Practice of Airway Stenting in the Adult Population in Europe: A Survey of the European Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP).

BACKGROUND: Airway stenting (AS) commenced in Europe circa 1987 with the first placement of a dedicated silicone airway stent. Subsequently, over the last 3 decades, AS was spread throughout Europe, using different insertion techniques and different types of stents. OBJECTIVES: This study is an international survey conducted by the European Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP) focusing on AS practice within 26 European countries. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all EABIP National Delegates in February 2015. National delegates were responsible for obtaining precise and objective data regarding the current AS practice in their country. The deadline for data collection was February 2016. RESULTS: France, Germany, and the UK are the 3 leading countries in terms of number of centres performing AS. These 3 nations represent the highest ranked nations within Europe in terms of gross national income. Overall, pulmonologists perform AS exclusively in 5 countries and predominately in 12. AS is performed almost exclusively in public hospitals. AS performed under general anaesthesia is the rule for the majority of institutions, and local anaesthesia is an alternative in 9 countries. Rigid bronchoscopy techniques are predominant in 20 countries. Amongst commercially available stents, both Dumon and Ultraflex are by far the most commonly deployed. Finally, 11 countries reported that AS is an economically viable activity, while 10 claimed that it is not. CONCLUSION: This EABIP survey demonstrates that there is significant heterogeneity in AS practice within Europe. Therapeutic bronchoscopy training and economic issues/reimbursement for procedures are likely to be the primary reasons explaining these findings.