[UPDATED ISRAELI GUIDELINES FOR THE TREATMENT OF DYSLIPIDEMIA 2020].

INTRODUCTION: Despite the impressive decline in mortality from atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), these diseases still account for a large proportion of the overall morbidity and mortality worldwide. A vast amount of research has demonstrated the key role played by circulating lipoproteins, and especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL), in the etiology of atherosclerosis, and numerous studies have proven the efficacy of interventions that lower the atherogenic lipoproteins in reducing morbidity and mortality from ASCVD. While previous guidelines placed an emphasis on the use HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) for the treatment of dyslipidemia, recent studies have shown that other LDL cholesterol lowering drugs, including ezetimibe and the PCSK9 inhibitors, can provide additional benefit when used in combination with (and in certain cases instead of) statins. These studies have also shown that blood LDL cholesterol levels lower than previously recommended targets provide additional benefit, without evidence of a threshold beyond which the benefit ceases and without excess adverse effects. The updated guidelines were formulated by a committee that consisted of representatives from the Israeli Society for the Research, Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerosis, the Israel Society of Internal Medicine, the Israeli Heart Association, the Israeli Neurology Association and the Israel Association of Family Medicine. They provide recommendations for revised risk stratification of patients, novel target goals, and the use of evidence-based treatment and follow-up strategies with reference to specific patient sub-groups.

Atypical Femoral Fractures: Radiological Evaluation and Bisphosphonate Exposure.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that prolonged bisphosphonate (BP) treatment predisposes to atypical fractures (AF), but the etiology has yet to be determined. Addressing causality begins with case identification, which requires radiological adjudication. However, many trials based their case findings on coded diagnoses. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the feasibility of case findings by the coding system and the reproducibility of radiological evaluations in two hospitals in Israel, and to compare BP exposure of AF patients to a control group with typical (intertrochanteric of femoral neck) fractures. METHODS: Diagnostic databases from 2007 to 2010 were reviewed and admission X-rays of patients were examined in two steps by two radiologists. Fractures were classified as atypical or not atypical according to published criteria. A 2:1 control group was created. Ambulatory drug acquisition was reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 198 patients who fulfilled the search criteria, 38 were classified by initial radiological opinion as AF. Subsequent radiological opinion judged 16 as not atypical. Of the AF patients, 80% were exposed to BP. Of those, 81% continued to receive BP treatment for 2.4 years after AF. Only one AF patient was discharged with suspected AF diagnosis. In the control group, 27% were exposed to BP prior to fracture (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Thorough radiological revision is mandatory for proper classification of AF, and even when performed there is significant inconsistency in interpretation. Conclusions drawn from trials based solely on coded diagnoses lead to significant bias. BP exposure was significantly higher in the AF group. Caregiver unawareness of AF leads to improper management.

ACTION-IO as a platform to understand differences in perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors of people with obesity and physicians across countries - the Israeli experience.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a highly prevalent, complex, and chronic relapsing disease with a considerable unmet medical need. We aimed to identify perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers to effective obesity treatment among people with obesity (PwO) and physicians in Israel. METHODS: The ACTION-IO study was an online survey conducted in 11 countries, including Israel. Findings from the Israeli cohort are reported here. Israeli respondents were PwO (body mass index of ≥30 kg/m2 based on self-reported height and weight) and physicians primarily in direct patient care. RESULTS: In total, 750 PwO and 169 physicians completed the survey in Israel. Although most PwO (70%) and physicians (95%) perceived obesity as a chronic disease, the majority of PwO assumed full responsibility for their own weight loss (88%) compared with only 19% of physicians who placed the responsibility for weight loss on their patients with obesity. Many PwO (62%) and physicians (73%) agreed that a complete change in lifestyle would be required for PwO to lose weight and felt that treatment of obesity should be a team effort between different healthcare professionals (HCPs; 80 and 90%, respectively). Dietitians were considered by 82% of physicians to be the most effective professionals in helping PwO achieve their weight loss goals. Many PwO (69%) liked that their HCP initiated weight management discussions and 68% of those who had not previously discussed their weight would like their HCP to initiate the conversation. However, among PwO who had discussed their weight with an HCP, 59% considered the discussions to be a little helpful or not at all helpful. The beliefs that patients have little interest in or motivation for losing weight were identified by physicians as the main reasons (71 and 70%, respectively) for not initiating weight management discussions. CONCLUSIONS: In line with the ACTION-IO international study, our Israeli dataset reveals a need to improve awareness, primarily among physicians, on the physiologic basis and clinical management of obesity, including how to approach weight and weight management discussions during patient consultations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03584191 . Data first posted on ClinicalTrials.gov : 12 July 2018 - 'Retrospectively registered'.

[Surgical treatment of morbid obesity].

WHO has listed obesity as a disease condition in its International Classification of Disease since 1979 and has assigned obesity a specific ICD-9, clinical modification code of #278.00, and morbid obesity, code #278.01. About 95% of those conservatively treated for morbid obesity will remain at the same weight or even gain weight during 5 years of follow-up. In 1991 an NIH Consensus Conference Panel convened and recommended that morbidly obese patients be offered an operative treatment for their disease. The weight loss mechanism of the bariatric operations is not clear, but the presumed effects are gastric restriction of food intake, malabsorption of the nutrients achieved by intestinal bypass, and secretion of different neuropeptides, that cause depression of the appetite and change in the metabolic rate. Restrictive operations are considered simpler and safer in terms of surgical performance and short term risks, but their efficacy is inferior to the malabsorptive ones. The latter are larger in regard to surgical extent, may cause more metabolic derangements, but produce more solid and long-lasting weight loss. The operation should be tailored to the candidate taking into consideration sex, age, health-related conditions, medications that are being taken, eating habits, and risks and benefits of every specific procedure. It is advisable that a bariatric surgery candidate undergo a thorough preoperative evaluation by a multidisciplinary team including a surgeon, a dietician, a psychology specialist, an internist or an endocrinologist, and other subspecialties as needed. A bariatric patient should maintain a life-long follow-up.