Asthma outcomes are poor among older adults with low health literacy

Objective: To examine the association of health literacy (HL) with asthma outcomes among older asthmatics. Methods: The study included adults ages ≥60 with moderate to severe asthma in New York City and Chicago. We assessed asthma control with the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and the percent predicted forced expiratory volume at 1?s (FEV₁) by spirometry, hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits in the past 6 months, and quality of life. HL was assessed with the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA). Multivariate logistic regression models controlled for age, sex, race, income, general health and years with asthma. Results: Among 433 individuals, 36% had low HL, 55% were over age 65, 38% were Hispanic and 22% were black. Poor asthma control was reported by 40% and 32% had FEV₁ <70% of predicted; 9% had a hospital stay, 23% had an ED and 38% had poor quality of life. In multivariable analysis, individuals with low HL were more likely to have FEV₁ <70% predicted (odds ratio [OR] 2.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39–3.94, p?=?0.001), hospitalizations (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.17–5.49, p?=?0.02) and ED visits for asthma (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.05–3.10, p?=?0.03). There were no differences in self-reported asthma control and quality of life. Conclusions: Low HL is associated with poor asthma control by objective measure, and greater likelihood of ED visits and hospitalization. HL is a modifiable target for interventions to improve asthma outcomes in the elderly.     

3D-SPACE序列结合3D-TOF MR血管成像在颅内动脉瘤支架辅助弹簧圈栓塞术后随访中的应用

目的探讨三维T1加权序列可变反转角度快速自旋回波序列(3D T1-SPACE)结合三维时间飞跃法MR血管成像(3D-TOF MRA)在颅内动脉瘤支架辅助弹簧圈栓塞术后患者随访中的应用价值。方法前瞻性收集2017年12月至2018年10月河南省人民医院收治的25例因颅内动脉瘤接受支架辅助弹簧圈栓塞术的患者,均为宽颈动脉瘤。术后6~10个月所有患者均行3D-TOF MRA、3D T1-SPACE序列MR扫描和DSA检查。分别使用3D-TOF MRA和DSA以Raymond分级法评价瘤腔栓塞情况,使用3D-TOF MRA和3D T1-SPACE序列以4分法评价载瘤动脉支架内管腔显示情况。采用配对设计的Wilcoxon秩和检验比较动脉瘤栓塞程度分级和支架内管腔显示情况。以DSA为金标准,计算3D-TOF MRA评估动脉瘤残留的特异度及准确率。结果术后6~10个月随访,对于动脉瘤闭塞情况,DSA造影显示Raymond 1级23例,2级1例,3级1例;3D-TOF MRA 1级21例,2级3例,3级1例;差异无统计学意义(Z=-0.557,P=0.577),其中有4例患者两种评估方法结果不一致。对于载瘤动脉支架内管腔情况的显示,3D-TOF MRA评分3分14例,2分8例,1分3例;3D T1-SPACE序列25例均为4分,3D T1-SPACE优于3D-TOF MRA(Z=-4.484,P<0.001)。以DSA为金标准,3D-TOF MRA结合原图像评估动脉瘤栓塞情况的特异度为86.9%(20/23),准确率为84.0%(21/25)。结论3.0 T MR 3D T1-SPACE序列可清晰显示支架内管腔,能准确判断支架内血管的通畅情况,3D-TOF MRA可充分评估动脉瘤瘤腔有无残留。将上述两种MRI血管成像技术相结合,可用于动脉瘤支架辅助栓塞术后的随访。     

The cardiovascular outcomes,heart failure and kidney disease trials tell that the time to use Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 inhibitors is now

Sodium glucose contrasporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) were initially introduced as a novel class of modestly effective antiglycemics. Over the last 5 years, multiple members of this class have been examined for their cardiovascular safety, effects on heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in diverse populations with or without diabetes type 2. The plethora of studies and outcomes examined make it difficult for the practitioner to track the entirety of the evidence. SGLT2i improve cardiorenal outcomes and have a beneficial risk benefit ratio across populations with cardiovascular disease, HFrEF and kidney disease. In this quantitative review, we synthesize the data from the large outcomes trials about the benefits and risks of SGLT2i. SGLT2i reduce all cause, cardiovascular mortality, heart failure hospitalizations, need for dialysis and acute kidney injury as a class effect across a broad range of populations with diabetes Type 2 at risk for cardiovascular disease, patients with HFrEF or CKD with or without diabetes. While certain adverse events for example, diabetic ketoacidosis and genital mycotic infections are reproducibly increased by SGLT2i, the absolute increase in the risk of these complications is smaller than the absolute risk reductions conferred by SGLT2i. Other complications such as amputations, fractures and urinary tract infections are increased to a lesser degree, or not at all (e.g., hypoglycemia). Overall, SGLT2is appear to have a favorable safety profile and thus should be used by cardiologists, nephrologists, endocrinologists, primary care physicians when managing the cardiorenal risk of their patients.     

Effects of social isolation,loneliness and frailty on health outcomes and their possible mediators and moderators in community-dwelling older adults: A scoping review

Background/ObjectivesOver the past decade, the quantity and quality of social relationships in later life have become one of the main challenges facing an aging society. Our aims were to map and synthesize the literature addressing the effects of loneliness, three aspects of social isolation, including social networks, social support, and social participation, and frailty on health outcomes and their mediators and moderators among older adults.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review and searched for articles published in English and French from 2001 up to 2019 in the following databases: Medline, Embase, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, Web of Science and PsycINFO.ResultsOur database search initially resulted in 4001 articles of which 1832 were excluded; 26 were eligible. Most of the included studies revealed associations between social isolation, loneliness and frailty. The majority of studies found evidence of associations between frailty and their adverse outcomes; however, only few studies found a relationship between social isolation and health outcomes. In spite of the established link between frailty and adverse outcomes, no study looked at how social isolation and loneliness can alter adverse outcomes of frailty. No study investigated the role of frailty or social isolation and loneliness as a mediator on the pathway related to health.ConclusionsEvidence is limited in examining the role of frailty or social isolation and loneliness as a moderator and mediator. Longitudinal research combining both social isolation and loneliness are warranted to explore whether social isolation or loneliness has more deleterious effects on frailty and health outcomes.     

Heterogeneity of clinical management of low-grade gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. An audit of 198 patients in Spain

IntroductionCure of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) leads to long-term clinical remission in the initial stages. As it is a rare disease, its management in clinical practice remains largely unknown and heterogeneity of care remains a concern.The aim was to audit the management and evolution of a large series of low-grade gastric MALT lymphomas from thirteen Spanish hospitals.Materials and methodsMulticentre retrospective study including data on the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with gastric low-grade MALT lymphoma from January 1998 to December 2013. Clinical, biological and pathological data were analyzed and survival curves were drawn.ResultsOne-hundred and ninety-eight patients were included. Helicobacter pylori was present in 132 (69%) patients and 103 (82%) in tumors confined to the stomach (stage EI) and was eradicated in 92% of patients. Chemotherapy was given in 90 (45%) patients and 43 (33%) with stage EI. Marked heterogeneity in the use of diagnostic methods and chemotherapy was observed. Five-year overall survival was 86% (89% in EI). Survival was similar in EI patients receiving aggressive treatment and in those receiving only antibiotics (p = 0.577).DiscussionGastric MALT lymphoma has an excellent prognosis. We observed, however, a marked heterogeneity in the use of diagnostic methods or chemotherapy in early-stage patients.     

心脏永久性起搏器植入患者门诊随访依从性分析

目的：分析心脏永久性起搏器植入患者门诊随访依从性的现状、影响因素及探讨提高随访依从性的方法。方法：回顾性分析2006-01至2013-01在我院住院植入心脏永久性起搏器的患者817例,对术后1年内的门诊随访情况进行依从性评判,并分析其影响因素。实际随访790例（96.70%）,1年内未进行门诊随访者入电话随访组（n=350例）,至少进行过1次门诊随访者入门诊随访组（n=440例）。结果：研究对象中,失访26例,失访率3.18%;非起搏器相关死亡1例,实际随访790例,实际随访率96.7%,其中门诊随访者440例（55.70％）,电话随访者350例（44.30％）。两组在文化程度、医疗费用、居住地、对心律失常的了解、固定陪护人员方面的差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。高中以上文化程度、医疗费用可报销、本地居住、对心律失常知识了解、有固定陪护人员的患者门诊随访率高。1年内总体并发症发生率1.8%,均未造成严重后果。随访时进行优化参数设置者占59.5%。结论：心脏永久性起搏器植入患者门诊随访率较低。影响因素较多,包括文化程度、医保制度、居住地、对心律失常的认知程度、有无陪护人员。     

低剂量CT在继发性肺结核治疗后随访中的应用价值

目的 探讨在肺结核长期随访CT检查中应用低剂量扫描的价值.方法 搜集广州市胸科医院继发性肺结核患者治疗后于2012年1月至2013年6月例行随访检查的患者140例,采用随机数字表的方法,选择其中70例行低剂量CT扫描(低剂量组),70例行常规剂量CT扫描(常规剂量组).对两组的CT图像质量进行评分(分别针对组织器官边缘、组织间密度差别、图像伪影、图像噪声共计4项标准进行评分,每项标准满分为1分,每例患者满分为4分).并记录两组的辐射剂量容积CT剂量指数(CTDIvol)、剂量长度乘积(DLP).然后分别在不对比前片和对比前片的2种情况下书写CT诊断报告,分析比较2次诊断报告的变动情况,并进行评分(影像描述和诊断结论均未发生变动得4分;影像描述部分有变动,而诊断结论无变动得3分;影像描述和诊断结论均发生变动,但主要诊断结论无变动,则得2分;影像描述和诊断结论均发生变动,且有部分主要诊断结论发生变动,则得1分;主要诊断结论完全不一样,则得0分).通过t检验,比较两组在图像质量评分、诊断报告变动评分、辐射剂量方面差异是否有统计学意义,以P＜0.05为差异有统计学意义.结果 低剂量组和常规剂量组的图像质量评分分别是(3.268±0.463)分、(3.507±0.448)分;诊断报告变动评分分别是(2.929±0.983)分、(3.186±0.952)分;辐射剂量的CTDIvol分别是(10.417±1.190) mGy、(19.214±1.956) mGy,DLP分别是(94.514±13.844) mGy×cm、(177.129±17.048)mGy× cm.两组的图像质量评分和辐射剂量的CTDIvol、DLP方面差异均有统计学意义(t=3.106,P=0.002;t=32.149,P＜0.001;t=31.474,P＜0.001);在诊断报告变动评分方面差异无统计学意义(t=1.572,P=0.118).结论 低剂量CT能显著降低辐射剂量,且对于诊断报告无显著影响;低剂量CT应该成为肺结核治疗后随访检查中CT检查的常规应用模式.