Implications of the Facing Dementia Survey for health care professionals across Europe

Approximately 600 general practitioners, primary care physicians and specialists in six European nations (France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and UK) who treat patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) were interviewed during the Facing Dementia Survey. Compared with generalists, specialists displayed the most optimism regarding the effects of age, believing that health and memory do not inevitably deteriorate as one grows older. Most physician respondents agreed that the diagnosis of AD is too often delayed. A primary reason cited for this delay was the difficulty experienced by both physicians and the general public in identifying early signs of AD. Many physicians believed treatments are available that can slow the disease course. The vast majority surveyed in each nation believed that early treatment of AD can delay disease progression [mean, 87%; range, 68% (United Kingdom) to 96% (Poland)]. More than half of physicians who initiate treatment in France (66%), Germany (59%), Italy (82%), Poland (82%) and Spain (69%) said they institute treatment for AD immediately after diagnosis. The exception was the United Kingdom, where 48% initiated treatment immediately, whereas more than half waited at least a month to start therapy. To a large extent, physicians saw the governments of their countries as a hindrance rather than a help in caring for persons with AD.     

End-of-Life Communication: A Retrospective Survey of Representative General Practitioner Networks in Four Countries

ContextEffective communication is central to high-quality end-of-life care.ObjectivesThis study examined the prevalence of general practitioner (GP)-patient discussion of end-of-life topics (according to the GP) in Italy, Spain, Belgium, and The Netherlands and associated patient and care characteristics.MethodsThis cross-sectional, retrospective survey was conducted with representative GP networks. Using a standardized form, GPs recorded the health and care characteristics in the last three months of life, and the discussion of 10 end-of-life topics, of all patients who died under their care. The mean number of topics discussed, the prevalence of discussion of each topic, and patient and care characteristics associated with discussions were estimated per country.ResultsIn total, 4396 nonsudden deaths were included. On average, more topics were discussed in The Netherlands (mean = 6.37), followed by Belgium (4.45), Spain (3.32), and Italy (3.19). The topics most frequently discussed in all countries were “physical complaints” and the “primary diagnosis,” whereas “spiritual and existential issues” were the least frequently discussed. Discussions were most prevalent in The Netherlands, followed by Belgium. The GPs from all countries tended to discuss fewer topics with older patients, noncancer patients, patients with dementia, patients for whom palliative care was not an important treatment aim, and patients for whom their GP had not provided palliative care.ConclusionThe prevalence of end-of-life discussions varied across the four countries. In all countries, training priorities should include the identification and discussion of spiritual and social problems and early end-of-life discussions with older patients, those with cognitive decline if possible, and those with non-malignant diseases.     

Information in the ICU: are we being honest with our patients? The results of a European questionnaire

Background: We were interested in determining the current practices and views of European intensive care doctors regarding communication with patients and informed consent for interventions. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to the 1272 western European doctor members of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. All questionnaires were anonymous. Five hundred four completed questionnaires from 16 western European countries were analyzed. Results: Of the respondents, 25 % said they would always give complete information to a patient, although 35 % felt they should. Thirty-two percent would give complete details of an iatrogenic incident, but 70 % felt they should. There were significant differences in these attitudes between doctors from different countries, with doctors from the Netherlands more likely to give complete information, and doctors from Greece, Spain and Italy less likely. Fifty percent of the respondents required written consent for surgery, but for insertion of an arterial catheter oral consent was more widely accepted. The Netherlands and Scandinavia generally accepted oral requests for procedures, while Germany and the United Kingdom preferred written requests. Doctors of all countries were generally happy with their current practice concerning informed consent. Seventy-five percent would accept the right of a patient to refuse treatment, but 19 % would carry out the procedure against the patient's wishes. Conclusions: Doctors are often not completely honest with their patients regarding their diagnosis or prognosis, or in the event of an iatrogenic incident. However, most doctors will respect a patient's right to refuse treatment. Informed consent practices vary substantially and are largely determined by locally accepted policy and accepted by doctors working in those areas. Received: 13 October 1997 Accepted: 26 May 1998     

Economic crisis and nursing in Spain

zabalegui a. & cabrera e. (2010) Journal of Nursing Management 18 , 505–508
Economic crisis and nursing in Spain Aim The purpose of the present study is to describe the economic context in Spain and its impact on the health care sector and in nursing schools. Background The global economic crisis is affecting nursing in Spain. This study analyses and compares indicators related to health care and nursing schools among European countries. Some new strategies to cope with the challenges arising from the health care crisis are suggested. Key issues Health care costs are increasing as a result of the ageing of the Spanish population, immigration, chronicity of health problems and new medical technology. Nursing education has changed in 2010 from a 3-year diploma programme to a 4-year University degree in Nursing. This change requires new resources involving staff, facilities and equipment, all of which are lacking because of the economic crisis in Spain. Conclusions The worldwide economic crisis has affected Spain more than it has other European Union (EU) countries. This global crisis has an impact on the health care sector as well on nursing schools. Implications for nursing management It is essential for nursing management to develop creative approaches to maintain cost effective patient care. New programmes and technology must be carefully evaluated in terms of cost effectiveness before being implemented. All health care professionals should be well informed and have a solid understanding of this situation.     

Implications of the Facing Dementia Survey for policy makers and third-party organisations across Europe

The Facing Dementia Survey included qualitative interviews conducted with 60 persons who influence health care policies in six European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom). Respondents generally reinforced the perception of other survey participants that governments do not adequately fund research into the causes and cure of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia. (AD is the most common cause of dementia, and throughout this discussion, issues raised in reference to AD apply also to dementia in general.) Access to care services and treatment remains highly restricted in some countries and may vary even within countries. Yet, AD presents an enormous but unappreciated social and economic burden for a growing segment of society. AD is associated with unique challenges to health care systems, because diagnosis is difficult and the disease has an enormous impact on the affected persons and their caregivers alike. Moreover, there is a lack of trained professionals to diagnose and manage the disease, a lack of human and financial resources to provide care and services for people with AD as well as their families and a lack of infrastructure to deliver needed services. These difficulties are compounded by inadequate education of both the general public and physicians. Pressure to change current governmental policy towards neurodegenerative diseases may come from the increasing prevalence of AD as the population ages and from broader awareness of the total societal costs of long-term care.     

Efficacy of almotriptan in early intervention for treatment of acute migraine in a primary care setting: the START*study

Aims: The benefits of taking almotriptan early for acute migraine when pain is mild have clearly been demonstrated in the neurology setting. The aim of this study was to determine whether similar benefits with early intervention of almotriptan can be achieved in everyday general practice, where most migraineurs are managed. Methods: In this European, prospective, observational study, patients were asked to treat up to three migraine attacks over a 2‐month period with almotriptan 12.5 mg administered within 1 h of pain onset and when pain was mild (early + mild intervention group). Results: A total of 501 patients were enrolled in primary care centres across Spain, France and Italy. The intention‐to‐treat analysis involved 454 patients who reported 1174 migraine attacks, with early intervention being used in 138 of these attacks. A greater proportion of patients who took almotriptan early + mild for their first migraine attack (n = 42) were pain free at 2 h compared with those in the non‐early + mild intervention group (n = 410) (62% vs. 35%; p < 0.001). Similar results were obtained for all migraine attacks comparison [65% (n = 138) vs. 38% (n = 1036); p < 0.001]. Other secondary end‐points were also significantly in favour of early + mild treatment, including sustained pain free (SPF), SPF with no adverse events (SNAE), and time lost because of migraine (all p < 0.001). Almotriptan was well tolerated with no serious adverse events reported. Conclusions: In the primary care setting, early intervention with almotriptan for treatment of migraine provides significant clinical benefits compared with delaying treatment and/or waiting until pain intensity has progressed beyond mild.     

Resource use and costs of type 2 diabetes in Sweden - estimates from population-based register data

Aims: To examine medical resource use of Swedish patients with type 2 diabetes during 2000–2004 and to estimate annual costs of care. Methods: Retrospective population‐based cohort study of patients with type 2 diabetes identified in computerised medical records at 26 primary care centres in Uppsala county, Sweden. Annual quantities of medical resources were determined for prevalent cases during 2000–2004 using register data from outpatient primary care, outpatient hospital care, the National Inpatient Register and a national register for treatment of uraemia. Average costs of care of patients with type 2 diabetes were estimated based on year 2004 resource quantities of 8230 prevalent study cases. Results: Annual quantities of medical resource use were stable in outpatient primary care and outpatient hospital care, with patients making an average of two General Practitioner visits and 3.5 outpatient hospital visits each year. Higher rates of hospitalisation [12% in 2000 (n = 6711) compared with 16% in 2004 (n = 8230)] led to an increase in the mean (SD) number of inpatient days from 2.3 (11.8) to 2.7 (11.9) (p = 0.040) between 2000 and 2004. Mean (SD) total costs of care in 2004 were EUR 3602 (EUR 9537). Inpatient care was the major contributor to costs, accounting for 57% of total costs while drug costs accounted for an average 7%. Conclusions: Swedish type 2 diabetic patients in this large sample from Uppsala county required steady annual amounts of outpatient care and increasing amounts of inpatient care during 2000–2004. The associated costs in 2004 were substantial, with inpatient care identified as the most important component.     

Which patients should receive aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease? An economic evaluation

Low-dose aspirin is a standard care for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Its use in primary prevention is less widely accepted, however, despite recent meta-analyses and US and European guidelines supporting its use in individuals at increased CVD risk. The aim of this study was to define which patients should receive aspirin for primary prevention of CVD using data from four European countries. Based on the clinical data from two meta-analyses, a state-transition model was developed to compare the costs and effects of no treatment and low-dose aspirin as primary prevention for CVD over 10 years. The model was applied to patients at different 10-year risks (2-5%) of fatal CVD according to the SCORE equation. Direct costs from the perspective of the healthcare payer were used (base year 2003). Country-specific discounting was applied. Treating patients with a 10-year risk of fatal CVD of 2% or higher with low-dose aspirin resulted in lower total costs and more quality-adjusted life-years gained in the UK, Germany and Spain. In Italy, savings started at a 10-year fatal CVD risk of 3%. This difference was due to the higher cost of gastrointestinal bleeding in Italy. Monte Carlo analysis showed that aspirin was dominant in more than 90% of patients at a 10-year risk of 4% and 5% in the four countries. In conclusion, low-dose aspirin treatment becomes cost-saving at a very low 10-year risk of fatal CVD. The cost of gastrointestinal bleeding defines the level at which low-dose aspirin becomes cost-saving.     

Cost of healthcare for patients with migraine in five European countries: results from the International Burden of Migraine Study (IBMS)

Migraine is a disabling neurological disease that affects 14.7 % of Europeans. Studies evaluating the economic impact of migraine are complex to conduct adequately and with time become outdated as healthcare systems evolve. This study sought to quantify and compare direct medical costs of chronic migraine (CM) and episodic migraine (EM) in five European countries. Cross-sectional data collected via a web-based survey were screened for migraine and classified as CM (≥15 headache days/month) or EM (<15 headache days/month), and included sociodemographics, resource use data and medication use. Unit cost data, gathered using publicly available sources, were analyzed for each type of service, stratified by migraine status. Univariate and multivariate log-normal regression models were used to examine the relationship between various factors and their impact on total healthcare costs. This economic analysis included data from respondents with migraine in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. CM participants had higher level of disability and more prevalent psychiatric disorders compared to EM. CM participants had more provider visits, emergency department/hospital visits, and diagnostic tests; the medical costs were three times higher for CM than EM. Per patient annual costs were highest in the UK and Spain and lower in France and Germany. CM was associated with higher medical resource use and total costs compared to EM in all study countries, suggesting that treatments that reduce headache frequency could decrease the clinical and economic burden of migraine in Europe. Comparing patterns of care and outcomes among countries may facilitate the development of more cost-effective care, and bring greater recognition to patients affected by migraine.     

How the probability of presentation to a primary care clinician correlates with cancer survival rates: a European survey using vignettes

Objective: European cancer survival rates vary widely. System factors, including whether or not primary care physicians (PCPs) are gatekeepers, may account for some of these differences. This study explores where patients who may have cancer are likely to present for medical care in different European countries, and how probability of presentation to a primary care clinician correlates with cancer survival rates.

Design: Seventy-eight PCPs in a range of European countries assessed four vignettes representing patients who might have cancer, and consensus groups agreed how likely those patients were to present to different clinicians in their own countries. These data were compared with national cancer survival rates.

Setting: A total of 14 countries.

Subjects: Consensus groups of PCPs.

Main outcome measures: Probability of initial presentation to a PCP for four clinical vignettes.

Results: There was no significant correlation between overall national 1-year relative cancer survival rates and the probability of initial presentation to a PCP (r =??0.16, 95% CI??0.39 to 0.08). Within that there was large variation depending on the type of cancer, with a significantly poorer lung cancer survival in countries where patients were more likely to initially consult a PCP (lung r?=??0.57, 95% CI??0.83 to??0.12; ovary: r?=??0.13, 95% CI??0.57 to 0.38; breast r?=?0.14, 95% CI??0.36 to 0.58; bowel: r?=?0.20, 95% CI??0.31 to 0.62).

Conclusions: There were wide variations in the degree of gatekeeping between countries, with no simple binary model as to whether or not a country has a “PCP-as-gatekeeper” system. While there was case-by-case variation, there was no overall evidence of a link between a higher probability of initial consultation with a PCP and poorer cancer survival.

• KEY POINTS

• European cancer survival rates vary widely, and health system factors may account for some of these differences.

• The data from 14 European countries show a wide variation in the probability of initial presentation to a PCP.

• The degree to which PCPs act as gatekeepers varies considerably from country to country.

• There is no overall evidence of a link between a higher probability of initial presentation to a PCP and poorer cancer survival.

     

Pneumococcal Infection — Low Awareness as a Potential Barrier to Vaccination: Results of a European Survey

Introduction

Elderly people and adults with chronic disease or compromised immune status are at increased risk of pneumococcal infection, with pneumonia being the most common serious presentation and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Most European countries have recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination but vaccination rates have remained low. In the present article, the authors present the results of a European survey that investigated the current level of awareness of pneumococcal infection among primary care physicians and specialists, and attitudes to vaccination in these physicians and members of the general public aged >50 years.

Methods

Primary care physicians (n = 1,300) and specialists (n = 926) from 13 Western European countries participated in online/face-to-face interviews, and a further 6,534 individuals aged >50 years from a population sample reflecting local socio-demographic structure participated in telephone/face-to-face interviews.

Results

Pneumonia was the most well-known of the pneumococcal infections amongst primary care physicians and specialists. However, there was a relatively low awareness of the term invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), with only 50% of primary care physicians and 71% of specialists reporting knowledge of the term IPD. Key factors influencing a physician’s decision to prescribe pneumococcal vaccination were the patient’s health condition, recommendations from health authorities, and the tolerability of the vaccine. Perceptions regarding vaccination were good amongst the members of the general public; individuals did not fear vaccines or their side effects. The main drivers for vaccination were recommendations from a healthcare professional and, to a lesser extent, that vaccination provides reassurance against contracting a disease.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the low awareness of the term IPD in comparison with individual pneumococcal conditions. Given the importance of physician recommendations in encouraging patients to be vaccinated, primary care physicians need to be vigilant of patients at risk of pneumococcal infections in order to increase vaccination rates.     

Application of the ambulatory care groups in the primary care of a European national health care system: does it work?

BACKGROUND: Ambulatory Care Groups (ACGs), a US case-mix system that uses the patient as the unit of analysis, is particularly appropriate for health care systems in which physicians serve a defined list of patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which the categorization of patients according to ACGs would account for the utilization of primary care services in a national health care system within the European Union. METHODS: Of all subjects continuously assigned to 9 physicians from public primary health care centers in Bizkaia, Basque Country (Spain) over a 12-month period, those visited at least once (n = 9,093) were included. According to the subject's age, sex, and ICD-9-CM diagnoses assigned during a year of patient-provider encounters, patients were classified by means of the ACGs system. RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that age and sex did not explain more than 7.1% of the variance in annual visits made by adults and 25.7% by children to primary care physicians. However, the r2 adjusted to the ACGs model was 50% and 48%, respectively, and even higher, that is 58% and 64% for another component of the system, the Ambulatory Diagnostic Groups (ADGs). CONCLUSIONS: Those results support the inadequacy of using the patient's age and sex alone to estimate physicians' workload in the primary health setting and the need to consider morbidity categories. The ACGs case-mix system is a useful tool for incorporating patients' morbidity in the explanation of the use of primary health care services in a European national health system.     

Variability in the Management of Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Europe: An Observational Study

Introduction

Despite recent advances in endoscopic and pharmacological management, nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) is still associated with considerable mortality and morbidity that vary between countries. The European Survey of Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding (ENERGiB) reported clinical outcomes across Europe (Belgium, Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey) and evaluated management strategies in a “real-world” European setting. This article presents the differences in clinical management strategies among countries participating in ENERGiB.

Methods

Adult patients consecutively presenting with overt NVUGIB at 123 participating hospitals over a 2-month period were included. Data relevant to the initial NVUGIB episode and for up to 30 days afterwards were collected retrospectively from patient medical records.

Results

The number of evaluable patients was 2,660; patient demographics and clinical characteristics were similar across countries. There was wide between-country variability in the area and speciality of the NVUGIB management team and unit transfer rates after the initial hospital assessment. The mean time from admission to endoscopy was <1 day only in Italy and Spain. Wide variation in the use of preendoscopy (35.0–88.7%) and relatively consistent (86.5–96.0%) postendoscopic pharmacological therapy rates were observed. There was substantial by-country variability in the rate of therapeutic procedures performed during endoscopy (24.9–47.6%). NVUGIB-related healthcare resource consumption was high and variable (days hospitalized, mean 5.4–8.7 days; number of endoscopies during hospitalization, mean 1.1–1.7).

Conclusions

ENERGiB demonstrates that there are substantial differences in the management of patients with acute NVUGIB episodes across Europe, and that in many cases the guideline recommendations for the management of NVUGIB are not being followed.     

Lack of correlation between the incidence of bloodborne AIDS and overall AIDS incidence in Western Europe

BACKGROUND: The incidence of bloodborne AIDS and the total incidence of AIDS in various areas of the United States are strongly correlated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To determine whether the same held true for Western Europe, data for 1985 through 1993 from the World Health Organization's European Non-Aggregate AIDS Data Set and for 1985 through 1992 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's AIDS Public information Data Set were compared. Incidence rates per million population were adjusted for reporting delays in each country and age- standardized (world standard population). RESULTS: In Western Europe, there were no significant correlations between the annual incidence of transfusion-associated (TA)-AIDS (correlation coefficient, r = 0.38) and that of hemophilia-associated AIDS (r = 0.24) and the corresponding incidence of all AIDS cases. Whereas similar age-specific incidence rates for hemophilia-associated AIDS emerged in all countries examined, those for TA-AIDS varied and increased greatly with age in France and the United States. Male-to-female ratios of TA-AIDS ranged between 0.5 in the United Kingdom and > or = 1.5 in Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. CONCLUSION: Lack of significant correlation between the incidence of bloodborne AIDS and that of all AIDS in Western Europe points to important, but little-quantified sources of variation by country in the safety of blood and blood derivatives. Higher rates of TA-AIDS in the elderly and in males in some countries suggest international differences in transfusion practices by age and sex.     

The prevalence of celiac disease in Europe: Results of a centralized,international mass screening project

Abstract

Introduction. Although the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) has been extensively investigated in recent years, an accurate estimate of CD frequency in the European population is still lacking. The aims of this study were: 1) to establish accurately the prevalence of CD in a large sample of the European population (Finland, Germany, Italy, and UK), including both children and adults; and 2) to investigate whether the prevalence of CD significantly varies between different areas of the European continent.

Materials and methods. Samples were drawn from the four populations. All 29,212 participants were tested for CD by tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody test. Positive and border-line findings were further tested for serum endomysial antibodies (EMA). All serological determinations were centrally performed. Small-bowel biopsies were recommended to autoantibody-positive individuals. Previously diagnosed cases were identified.

Results. The overall CD prevalence (previously diagnosed plus anti-tTG and EMA positives) was 1.0% (95% CI 0.9–1.1). In subjects aged 30–64 years CD prevalence was 2.4% in Finland (2.0–2.8), 0.3% in Germany (0.1–0.4), and 0.7% in Italy (0.4–1.0). Sixty-eight percent of antibody-positive individuals showed small-bowel mucosal changes typical for CD (Marsh II/III lesion).

Conclusions. CD is common in Europe. CD prevalence shows large unexplained differences in adult age across different European countries.     

Measuring case-mix and outcome for older people in acute hospital care across Europe: the development and potential of the ACMEplus instrument

AIM: To identify case-mix variables measured shortly after admission to be included in a patient classification system (ACMEplus) that best explains hospital outcome for older people in different health care systems. DESIGN: Observational prospective cohort study collecting patient factors (sociodemographics, functional, mental, clinical, administrative and perceived health) at different time assessments. METHODS: Multicentre study involving eight hospitals in six European countries (United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Finland, Greece and Poland). It included consecutive patients aged 65 years or older admitted to hospital for acute medical problems. Main outcome measures: discharge status, hospital readmission, mortality and length of stay. RESULTS: Of the 1667 included patients (mean age = 78.1 years; male gender = 43.5%) two-third had at least one 'Geriatric Giant' (immobility, confusion, incontinence or falls) on admission or shortly after. The most frequently affected system was cardiovascular (29.2%) and 31% of patients declared poor or very poor health. Mean length of stay was 17.9 days, 79% of patients were discharged to their usual residence; in-hospital and 1-month follow up mortality were 7.4% and 11.6%, respectively. Physical function explained the highest variation (between 8% and 21%), followed by cognitive status and number of Geriatric Giants, for almost all outcomes except readmission. CONCLUSION: Factors other than diagnosis (physical function, cognition and presenting problems) are important in predicting key outcomes of acute hospital care for older people and are consistent across countries. Their inclusion in a standardized system of measurement may be a way of improving quality and equity of medical care in older people.     

Mortality due to pulmonary embolism,myocardial infarction,and stroke among incident dialysis patients

See also Zoccali C, Mallamaci F. Pulmonary embolism in chronic kidney disease: a lethal, overlooked and research orphan disease. This issue, pp 2481–3. Summary. Background: It is has been suggested that dialysis patients have lower mortality rates for pulmonary embolism than the general population, because of platelet dysfunction and bleeding tendency. However, there is limited information whether dialysis is indeed associated with a decreased mortality risk from pulmonary embolism. Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate whether mortality rate ratios for pulmonary embolism were lower than for myocardial infarction and stroke in dialysis patients compared with the general population. Methods: Cardiovascular causes of death for 130 439 incident dialysis patients registered in the ERA‐EDTA Registry were compared with the cardiovascular causes of death for the European general population. Results: The age‐ and sex‐standardized mortality rate (SMR) from pulmonary embolism was 12.2 (95% CI 10.2–14.6) times higher in dialysis patients than in the general population. The SMRs in dialysis patients compared with the general population were 11.0 (95% CI 10.6–11.4) for myocardial infarction, 8.4 (95% CI 8.0–8.8) for stroke, and 8.3 (95% CI 8.0–8.5) for other cardiovascular diseases. In dialysis patients, primary kidney disease due to diabetes was associated with an increased mortality risk due to pulmonary embolism (HR 1.9; 95% CI 1.0–3.8), myocardial infarction (HR 4.1; 95% CI 3.4–4.9), stroke (HR 3.5; 95% CI 2.8–4.4), and other cardiovascular causes of death (HR 3.4; 95% CI 2.9–3.9) compared with patients with polycystic kidney disease. Conclusions: Dialysis patients were found to have an unexpected highly increased mortality rate for pulmonary embolism and increased mortality rates for myocardial infarction and stroke.     

The World Survey of Cardiac Pacing and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators: calendar year 1997--Europe

The registry of the European Working Group on Cardiac Pacing (EWGCP) is based on the European Pacemaker Identification Card originally designed in July 1978. National registration centers collect the local data and send aggregated annual data to the EWGCP. For 1997, data were obtained from 2,887 hospitals in 20 European countries representing a population of 568 million. Across all participating countries, the median value for all implanted pacemakers was 378 per million population. For initial pacemaker implants, the median value was 290 per million population. Single chamber atrial pacing was important in Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovak Republic, Spain, and Sweden for the treatment of sick sinus syndrome. Dual chamber pacing accounted for < 50% of initial implants in only 5 of 14 countries for atrioventricular block, and in only 3 of 15 countries for sick sinus syndrome. In 7 of 15 countries, unipolar ventricular leads were used in > or = 50% of cases. In 6 of 14 countries, there was > 15% use of unipolar atrial leads. Nine of 13 countries frequently used atrial active-fixation leads. For the 1997 survey, ICD data were obtained from 16 countries. The total number of ICDs per million population was a median value of 14. Initial ICD implants per million population was 11. Only 3 of 16 countries implanted a total of 30 or more ICDs per million population. Pacing and ICD practices were dependent on the availability of medical and technical resources and influenced by economic constraints inherent in health care administration and insurance coverage patterns.     

The epidemic of violence in America

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) share age and obesity as risk factors, but may also be linked by pathogenic mechanisms involving metabolic abnormalities and systemic inflammation. This study compared the prevalence of OA and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in subjects with OA versus the general population without OA to determine whether having OA predicts increased cardiovascular risk. Methods: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III data were used as a representative sample of the general US population. Subjects included adults aged ≥ 18 years with records of history, physical, radiographic, and laboratory data adequate to assess for diagnoses of MetS and OA. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between MetS and population-weighted variables. Results: The general population sample included 7714 subjects (weighted value representing 174.9 million population), of whom 975 subjects had OA (weighted value 17.5 million) and 6739 did not (weighted value 157.4 million). Metabolic syndrome was prevalent in 59% of the OA population and 23% of the population without OA. Each of the 5 cardiovascular risk factors that comprise MetS was more prevalent in the OA population versus the population without OA: hypertension (75% vs 38%), abdominal obesity (63% vs 38%), hyperglycemia (30% vs 13%), elevated triglycerides (47% vs 32%), and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (44% vs 38%). Metabolic syndrome was more prevalent in subjects with OA regardless of sex or race. The association between OA and MetS was greater in younger subjects and diminished with increasing age. Having OA at age 43.8 years (mean age of the general population) was associated with a 5.26-fold (SE = 1.58, P < 0.001) increased risk of MetS. This association remained strong when obesity was controlled for in additional regression models. Conclusions: Osteoarthritis is associated with an increased prevalence of MetS, particularly in younger individuals. Global cardiovascular risk should be assessed in individuals aged ≤ 65 years with OA, and should be considered when prescribing analgesics for OA patients.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae in eight European countries from 2001 to 2003

Susceptibility testing results for Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates (n = 2,279) from eight European countries, examined in the PneumoWorld Study from 2001 to 2003, are presented. Overall, 24.6% of S. pneumoniae isolates were nonsusceptible to penicillin G and 28.0% were resistant to macrolides. The prevalence of resistance varied widely between European countries, with the highest rates of penicillin G and macrolide resistance reported from Spain and France. Serotype 14 was the leading serotype among penicillin G- and macrolide-resistant S. pneumoniae isolates. One strain (PW 158) showed a combination of an efflux type of resistance with a 23S rRNA mutation (A2061G, pneumococcal numbering; A2059G, Escherichia coli numbering). Six strains which showed negative results for mef(A) and erm(B) in repeated PCR assays had mutations in 23S rRNA or alterations in the L4 ribosomal protein (two strains). Fluoroquinolone resistance rates (levofloxacin MIC > or = 4 microg/ml) were low (Austria, 0%; Belgium, 0.7%; France, 0.9%; Germany, 0.4%; Italy, 1.3%; Portugal, 1.2%; Spain, 1.0%; and Switzerland, 0%). Analysis of quinolone resistance-determining regions showed eight strains with a Ser81 alteration in gyrA; 13 of 18 strains showed a Ser79 alteration in parC. The clonal profile, as analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), showed that the 18 fluoroquinolone-resistant strains were genetically heterogeneous. Seven of the 18 strains belonged to new sequence types not hitherto described in the MLST database. Europe-wide surveillance for monitoring of the further spread of these antibiotic-resistant S. pneumoniae clones is warranted.