A retrospective big data study using healthcare insurance claims to investigate the role of comorbidities in receiving low vision services.

Introduction: The aim was to examine the association between physical and mental comorbidity with receiving low vision services (LVS). Methods: A retrospective study based on Dutch claims data of health insurers was performed. We retrieved data (2015-2018) of patients (≥18 years) with eye diseases causing severe vision loss who received LVS at Dutch rehabilitation organizations in 2018 (target group) and patients who did not receive LVS, but who received ophthalmic medical specialist care for glaucoma, macular, diabetic retinal and/or retinal diseases in 2018 (reference group). For examining the association between the patients' comorbidities and receiving LVS, multivariable logistic regression was used. The relative quality of five different models was assessed with the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). Results: The study population consisted of 574,262 patients, of which 8,766 in the target group and 565,496 in the reference group. Physical comorbidity was found in 83% and 14% had mental comorbidity. After adjustment for all assumed confounders, both physical and mental comorbidity remained significantly associated with receiving LVS. In the adjusted model, which also included both comorbidity variables, the best relative quality was found to describe the association between mental and physical comorbidity and receiving LVS. Conclusions: Mental comorbidity seemed to be independently associated with receiving LVS, implying that the odds for receiving a LVS referral are higher in patients who are vulnerable to mental comorbidity. Physical comorbidity was independently associated, however, the association with receiving LVS might not be that meaningful in terms of policy implications. Providing mental healthcare interventions for people with VI seems warranted.

The learning curve of transoral condylectomy; a retrospective analysis of 100 consecutive cases of unilateral condylar hyperplasia.

In this study, 100 consecutive scheduled transoral condylectomies for unilateral condylar hyperplasia were included. The safety and surgical performances were assessed, using the operating time, conversion rate and complication rate. The conversion rate learning curve was evaluated with a learning curve cumulative summation (LC-CUSUM). The total conversion rate was 8.0%. The LC-CUSUM for conversion signaled at the 53th procedure, indicating sufficient evidence had accumulated that the surgeon had achieved competence. For procedures 54-100, the conversion rate was 4.0%. The operating time for the transoral condylectomy was 41.5 ± 15.3 min; when a conversion was necessary, the operating time was 101.4 ± 28.3 min (p < 0.05). The estimated operating time in the post-learning phase was 37 min, this was reached after approximately 47 procedures. There was 1 major complication of a permanent inferior alveolar nerve hypoesthesia. The complication rate was not significantly decreased after the learning curve. Within the limitations of the study, it seems that transoral condylectomy for UCH is a safe procedure with several advantages over the traditional preauricular approach. Surgeons starting this procedure should be aware of the potential complications and of the learning curve of approximately 53 procedures.

Prediction of pathological response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer: the PRE-PREVENCYS trial.

BACKGROUND: The recommended treatment for patients with non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and radical cystectomy (RC). Following NAC, 20-40% of patients experience a complete pathological response (pCR) in the RC specimen and these patients have excellent long-term overall survival. Subject to debate is, however, whether patients with a pCR to NAC benefit from RC, which is a major surgical procedure with substantial morbidity, and if these patients might be candidates for close surveillance instead. However, currently it is not possible to accurately identify patients with a pCR to NAC in whom RC might be withheld. The objective of this study is to assess whether pathological response in the RC specimen after NAC can be predicted based on clinical, radiological, and histological variables and on a wide set of molecular biomarkers assessed in tissue, blood and urine. METHODS: This is a multicentre, prospective cohort study, including patients with cT2a-T4a N0-N1 M0 urothelial cell MIBC who are scheduled to undergo cisplatin-based NAC followed by RC. Prior to start of therapy, a 2-Deoxy-2-[18F] fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is performed. Response to NAC is evaluated by CT-scan. Blood and urine, including cytology, are prospectively collected for biomarker analyses before and after NAC. Immediately before RC, participants undergo cystoscopy with bimanual examination and a re-staging transurethral resection (TUR) of all visible cancerous lesions or with biopsies from scar tissue. Subsequently, RC is performed in all patients. Tissue from the diagnostic TUR, the re-staging TUR, and the RC specimen is examined for the presence of urothelial cancer carcinoma and DNA and RNA is isolated for molecular analysis. The primary endpoint is the pathological stage (ypTN) in the RC and ePLND specimen and its association with clinical response. DISCUSSION: If the PRE-PREVENCYS trial shows that the absence of residual disease after NAC in patients with MIBC is accurately predicted, a randomized controlled trial is scheduled comparing the overall survival of NAC plus RC versus NAC followed by close surveillance for patients with a clinically complete response (PREVENCYS trial). TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register: NL8678; Registered 20 May 2020 https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8678.

Illness perceptions of stroke survivors: Predictors and changes over time - A 1 year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the illness perceptions (IP) of stroke patients in the first year post stroke; to identify patient clusters with comparable IP trajectories and determine their associations with health. METHODS: This prospective study included consecutive stroke patients after medical rehabilitation. Three and 12 months post stroke they completed the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) and questionnaires on physical and mental health. All eight IP and their changes over time were described. Clusters of patients with comparable IP trajectories were constructed by k-means clustering, with subsequent comparison of patient characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between IP clusters and 12-month mental health. RESULTS: Hundred-and-eighty-four patients were included (men n = 107 [58.2%]; mean age 61.1 [SD 12.7] years). At 3 months, the scores of the IP coherence (mean 3.0, SD 2.3) and treatment control (mean 3.2, SD 2.5) were lowest (best), and consequences (mean 6.1, SD 2.8) and anticipated timeline (mean 6.0, SD 2.7) were highest (worst). At 12 months, the timeline and treatment control scores had significantly worsened. Three clusters of the trajectories of IP were identified, and designated as 'favourable', 'average', and 'unfavourable'. The unfavourable cluster was significantly associated with worse physical and mental health at 3 months (unadjusted) and depressive symptoms at 12 months. CONCLUSION: Stroke patients' IP partly changed between 3 and 12 months post stroke. Patients with an unfavourable IP trajectory had a higher chance of depressive symptoms at 12 months. Illness perceptions could be considered as an additional target of treatment.

Elastic compression stockings one year after DVT diagnosis: Who might discontinue?

BACKGROUND: Elastic compression stockings (ECS) are uncomfortable to wear but may prevent post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). The ability to predict PTS may help clinical decision making regarding the optimal duration of ECS after deep vein thrombosis (DVT). AIMS: Predefined endpoint analysis of the Octavia study that randomized patients who compliantly used ECS up to one year after DVT to continue or discontinue ECS treatment. Primary aim was to identify predictors of PTS. METHODS: Patient characteristics were collected and ultrasonography was performed to assess reflux, residual thrombosis and persistent thrombus load 12 months after DVT. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors related to PTS. RESULTS: Thrombus score ≥ 3, BMI ≥ 26, duration of symptoms before DVT diagnosis ≥ 8 days and a Villalta score of 2-4 points were statistically significant predictors of PTS. The predictive value for PTS for the assessed variables was not different between the 2 treatment groups. In the stop ECS group, 3.2% (95%CI 0.08-18) of patients without any predictors for PTS were diagnosed with mild PTS during follow-up, and none with severe PTS, for a sensitivity of 98% (95% CI 89-100), a specificity of 14% (95% CI 10-20), a positive predictive value of 20% (95% CI 19-22), and a negative predictive value of 97% (95% CI 81-100). CONCLUSION: We identified 4 predictors of PTS occurring in the 2nd year after DVT. Our findings may be used to decide on whether to continue ECS treatment for an additional year, after one year of compliant ECS use, keeping in mind that patients with none of the predictors will have the lowest PTS incidence.