Gender difference in association between diabetes mellitus and all-cause mortality in atrial fibrillation patients

ObjectiveThere may be gender difference in correlation of diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular events. We attempt to investigate whether there is gender-heterogeneity in one-year outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with DM or not.MethodsPatients who were diagnosed with AF admitted to the emergency departments in the Chinese AF Multicenter Registry study were enrolled. Basic demographics information, initial Blood Pressure and heart rate, medical histories, and treatments of each patient were collected. Follow-up was carried out with a mean duration of one year. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and systemic embolism.ResultsA total of 2016 patients were selected from September 2008 and April 2011. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in male AF patients with DM than those without (21.8 % & 13.6 %, P = 0.014). Cox regression analysis showed that there was an interaction between gender and DM for one-year all-cause mortality (P = 0.049). DM was significantly associated with one-year all-cause mortality regardless of univariate analysis (HR = 1.436, 95%CI:1.079–1.911, P = 0.013) or multivariate analysis (HR = 1.418, 95%CI: 1.059–1.899, P = 0.019). For male patients with AF, DM was significantly associated with one-year all-cause mortality (P = 0.048), but not for female patients with AF (P = 0.362).ConclusionDM was independently associated with one-year all-cause mortality in the entire cohort of AF patients. This association was found mainly in male patients with AF, but not in female patients. DM management programs may need to reflect gender difference.     

Cardiovascular risk assessment tools: A scoping review

ObjectivesThe objective of this review was to describe cardiovascular risk (CVR) assessment methods and to identify evidence-based practice recommendations when dealing with population at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.Review methods and data sourcesA literature review following the Arksey and O'Malley scoping review methodology was conducted. By using appropriate key terms, literature searches were conducted in PubMed, SciELO, Cochrane Library, Dialnet, ENFISPO, Medigraphic, ScienceDirect, Cuiden, and Lilacs databases. A complementary search on websites related to the area of interest was conducted. Articles published in English or Spanish in peer-review journals between 2010 and 2017. Critical appraisal for methodological quality was conducted. Data was extracted using ad-hoc tables and qualitatively synthesized.ResultsAfter eliminating duplicates, 55 325 records remained, and 1432 records were selected for screening. Out of these, 88 full-text articles were selected for eligibility criteria, and finally, 67 studies were selected for this review, and 25 studies were selected for evidence synthesis. In total, 23 CVR assessment tools have been identified, pioneered by the Framingham study. Qualitative findings were grouped into four thematic areas: assessment tools and scores, CVR indicators, comparative models, and evidence-based recommendations.ConclusionsIt is necessary to adapt the instruments to the epidemiological reality of the population. The most appropriate way to estimate CVR is to choose the assessment tool that best suits individual conditions, accompanied by a comprehensive assessment of the patient. More research is required to determine a single, adequate, and reliable tool.     

Replacing HMG/FSH by low-dose HCG to complete corifollitropin alfa stimulation reduces cost per clinical pregnancy: a randomized pragmatic trial

Research questionThe cost of IVF treatment remains high, among other factors because of the medication needed for ovarian stimulation. This study investigated the effect of using low-dose human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) for the second phase of follicular maturation after corifollitropin alfa induction, to replace the more expensive, either recombinant or human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG), on the cost of ovarian stimulation.DesignOne hundred and five patients were randomly divided into two groups: patients in the HCG group (n = 50) received low-dose HCG from Day 7 until the diameter of at least three follicles reached 17 mm or more, while patients in the FSH group (n = 55) received conventional ovarian stimulation with highly purified HMG injections.ResultsThe clinical pregnancy rate in the HCG group was 38% higher than in the FSH group (number needed to treat, NNT = 13). The cost per pregnancy needed for ovarian stimulation was reduced from €4902 in the FSH group to €2684 in the HCG group. Hence, the cost of ovarian stimulation medication to obtain 10 pregnancies using the conventional FSH protocol is sufficient to attain 18 pregnancies when applying the low-dose HCG protocol.ConclusionThis study provides evidence that using HCG instead of HMG/FSH for ovarian stimulation results in a significant reduction in the cost of IVF with, at least, an equivalent pregnancy rate.     

基层医疗卫生服务整合的国际经验及对我国的启示

目的:总结典型国家基层卫生服务提供中实现医防整合的经验,为我国基层医疗卫生服务整合提供借鉴。方法:本研究方法为文献研究。结果:在个人层面,英国、泰国、古巴培养全科医生作为"守门人"并将其作为提供医防整合服务的主体;在机构层面,各国基层机构组成服务网络,内部强调跨学科合作;在体系层面,通过横向合作和有序的首诊与转诊协调服务;国家立法保障和健康保险筹资等引导支持基层医疗卫生服务整合。结论:培养和配置高质量的医防一体的全科医生、促进机构跨学科融合、通过立法和筹资体系予以保障是各国提供基层整合型服务的核心,值得我国基层医防服务整合借鉴。     

Cost-effectiveness of breast cancer screening programme for women in rural China

In low and middle-income countries mammographic breast cancer screening is prohibitively expensive and a cheaper alternative option is to use ultrasound as the primary screening test. In 2009, China launched a breast cancer screening programme for rural women aged 35–64 years with clinical breast examination coupled with ultrasound as the primary tool. Our study aimed to analyse the cost-effectiveness of breast screening compared to no screening among Chinese rural women. We developed a Markov model to estimate the lifetime costs and effects for rural women aged 35 years from a societal perspective. Asymptomatic women in the intervention arm were screened every 3 years before age 64 years. Breast cancer in the non-screening arm can only be diagnosed on presentation of symptoms. Parameter uncertainty was explored using one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Compared to no screening, breast cancer screening cost $186.7 more and led to a loss of 0.20 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Breast screening was more expensive and did harm to health among rural women with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $-916/QALY. The sensitivity analysis identified utility loss from false positives as the factor that most influenced the results, but this did not affect the conclusions. In a rural setting with such low breast cancer incidence, screening for asymptomatic disease is not cost-effective with current screening tools. Priority should be given to ensure that symptomatic women have proper access to diagnosis and treatment at an early stage as this will lead to mortality reductions without the usual screening harms.