PS2-33: Non-physician Providers, Cancer Screening and Health Behavior Counseling

Background Patients who receive a physician's recommendation for cancer screening and behavioral modification are most likely to comply with these recommendations. However, physicians face time constraints that make it nearly impossible to provide all recommended preventive services. Furthermore, the 2010 Affordable Care Act will expand health insurance coverage to 42 million Americans by 2014. This will increase demand for primary care. Non-physician providers may help meet this new demand for primary care and ensure compliance with preventive services recommendations. Methods Data from the 2005 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression to assess the association between provider type seen in past 12 months and compliance with U.S. Preventive Services Task Force cancer screening recommendations and receipt of behavior counseling among age-eligible adults (n=23,201). Models for each screening test were adjusted for age, level of education, and insurance status and stratified by gender. Results About 15% of NHIS participants (N=4,652) saw a non-physician provider (nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife or physician assistant) and a primary care physician. In adjusted analyses, age-eligible women were more likely to be compliant with Pap screening (OR: 5.0; 95% CI: 4.2 - 5.9), mammography (OR: 6.6; 95% CI: 5.2 - 8.4) and colorectal screening recommendations (OR: 7.8; 95% CI: 5.3 - 11.4) if they saw a non-physician provider and primary care physician compared to not seeing any provider. Similarly, men were more likely to be compliant with colorectal screening recommendations (OR: 9.6; 95% CI: 6.9 - 13.5) if they saw a non-physician provider and primary care physician. Women and men were more likely to report a provider asking about smoking status if they saw a non-physician provider and primary care physician than those who saw other types of healthcare providers ((OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 2.0 - 2.4) and (OR: 3.0; 95% CI: 2.4 - 3.7), respectively). Conclusions Seeing a non-physician provider and a primary care physician is related to an increased likelihood of compliance with cancer screening recommendations and receipt of health behavior counseling. Opportunities exist for non-physician providers to increase cancer screening and receipt of behavioral counseling during this era of healthcare reform.     

Microalbuminuria screening for patients having type 2 diabetes mellitus: who wants to participate?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: "Difficult-to-recruit" patients are sometimes less compliant with their care, are more reluctant to seek medical attention and less likely to survive than their "easy-to-recruit" counterparts. They also tend to be excluded from clinical trials. The aim of this paper was to evaluate whether such differences extend to patients' willingness to be screened for diabetic nephropathy in a family practice setting. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: A Canadian university family practice unit. PATIENTS: Two hundred and forty-seven patients with type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes mellitus as identified by computer searches of patient records of approximately 12,000 patients in the family practice unit. INTERVENTION: A cross-sectional secondary preventive screening program obtained urine samples from all patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, regardless of patients' willingness to participate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The prevalence of micro- and macroalbuminuria. RESULTS: Of the 247 patients identified, 186 (75%) easy-to-recruit enrollees agreed to participate in screening and 61 (25%) difficult-to-recruit non-enrollees initially declined to be screened. The non-enrollees were subsequently evaluated by their own family physicians as part of routine clinical care and the results were captured for analysis. Overall rates of albuminuria were similar in the easy- and difficult-to-recruit groups (31% versus 38%, p = 0.151). The main predictors of albuminuria were female sex (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1, p = 0.021), duration of diabetes in years (OR = 1.05, p = 0.023), current use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (OR = 2.26, p = 0.008) and number of diabetic complications (OR = 1.45, p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: There is little difference in the prevalence of albuminuria related to patients' willingness to participate in a screening program. Therefore, there are no disproportionate gains for family practice researchers who aggressively seek difficult-to-recruit patients in this set ting. In contrast, primary care doctors should make every effort to ensure optimal care to diabetic patients regardless of a patient's initial hesitancy.     

Who is tested for diabetic kidney disease and who initiates treatment? The Translating Research Into Action For Diabetes (TRIAD) Study

OBJECTIVE: We examined factors associated with screening for albuminuria and initiation of ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) treatment in diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted surveys and medical record reviews for 5,378 patients participating in a study of diabetes care in managed care at baseline (2000-2001) and follow-up (2002-2003). Factors associated with testing for albuminuria were examined in cross-sectional analysis at baseline. Factors associated with initiating ACE inhibitor/ARB therapy were determined prospectively. RESULTS: At baseline, 52% of patients not receiving ACE inhibitor/ARB therapy and without known diabetic kidney disease (DKD) were screened for albuminuria. Patients > or =65 years of age, those with higher HbA(1c), those with cardiovascular disease (CVD), and those without hyperlipidemia were less likely to be screened. Of the patients with positive screening tests, 47% began ACE inhibitor/ARB therapy. Initiation of therapy was associated with positive screening test results, BMI > or =25 kg/m(2), treatment with insulin or oral antidiabetic agents, peripheral neuropathy, systolic blood pressure > or =140 mmHg, and CVD. Of the patients receiving ACE inhibitor/ARB therapy or with known DKD, 63% were tested for albuminuria. CONCLUSIONS: Screening for albuminuria was inadequate, especially in older patients or those with competing medical concerns. The value of screening could be increased if more patients with positive screening tests initiated ACE inhibitor/ARB therapy. The efficiency of screening could be improved by limiting screening to diabetic patients not receiving ACE inhibitor/ARB therapy and without known DKD.     

False-negative and False-positive Errors in Abdominal Pain Evaluation Failure to Diagnose Acute Appendicitis and Unnecessary Surgery

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that physician errors (failure to diagnose appendicitis at initial evaluation) correlate with adverse outcome. The authors also postulated that physician errors would correlate with delays in surgery, delays in surgery would correlate with adverse outcomes, and physician errors would occur on patients with atypical presentations. METHODS: This was a retrospective two-arm observational cohort study at 12 acute care hospitals: 1) consecutive patients who had an appendectomy for appendicitis and 2) consecutive emergency department abdominal pain patients. Outcome measures were adverse events (perforation, abscess) and physician diagnostic performance (false-positive decisions, false-negative decisions). RESULTS: The appendectomy arm of the study included 1, 026 patients with 110 (10.5%) false-positive decisions (range by hospital 4.7% to 19.5%). Of the 916 patients with appendicitis, 170 (18.6%) false-negative decisions were made (range by hospital 10.6% to 27.8%). Patients who had false-negative decisions had increased risks of perforation (r = 0.59, p = 0.058) and of abscess formation (r = 0.81, p = 0.002). For admitted patients, when the inhospital delay before surgery was >20 hours, the risk of perforation was increased [2.9 odds ratio (OR) 95% CI = 1.8 to 4.8]. The amount of delay from initial physician evaluation until surgery varied with physician diagnostic performance: 7.0 hours (95% CI = 6.7 to 7.4) if the initial physician made the diagnosis, 72.4 hours (95% CI = 51.2 to 93.7) if the initial office physician missed the diagnosis, and 63.1 hours (95% CI = 47.9 to 78.4) if the initial emergency physician missed the diagnosis. Patients whose diagnosis was initially missed by the physician had fewer signs and symptoms of appendicitis than patients whose diagnosis was made initially [appendicitis score 2.0 (95% CI = 1.6 to 2.3) vs 6.5 (95% CI = 6.4 to 6.7)]. Older patients (>41 years old) had more false-negative decisions and a higher risk of perforation or abscess (3.5 OR 95% CI = 2.4 to 5.1). False-positive decisions were made for patients who had signs and symptoms similar to those of appendicitis patients [appendicitis score 5.7 (95% CI = 5.2 to 6.1) vs 6.5 (95% CI = 6.4 to 6.7)]. Female patients had an increased risk of false-positive surgery (2.3 OR 95% CI = 1.5 to 3.4). The abdominal pain arm of the study included 1,118 consecutive patients submitted by eight hospitals, with 44 patients having appendicitis. Hospitals with observation units compared with hospitals without observation units had a higher "rule out appendicitis" evaluation rate [33.7% (95% CI = 27 to 38) vs 24.7% (95% CI = 23 to 27)] and a similar hospital admission rate (27.6% vs 24.7%, p = NS). There was a lower miss-diagnosis rate (15.1% vs 19.4%, p = NS power 0.02), lower perforation rate (19.0% vs 20.6%, p = NS power 0.05), and lower abscess rate (5.6% vs 6.9%, p = NS power 0.06), but these did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Errors in physician diagnostic decisions correlated with patient clinical findings, i.e., the missed diagnoses were on appendicitis patients with few clinical findings and unnecessary surgeries were on non-appendicitis patients with clinical findings similar to those of patients with appendicitis. Adverse events (perforation, abscess formation) correlated with physician false-negative decisions.     

Voluntary physician switching by human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals: a national study of patient, physician, and organizational factors

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess which patient, physician, and organizational factors are related to voluntary physician switching among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. DESIGN: We analyzed the results from a 3-wave survey of patients conducted by the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS), a longitudinal study of a nationally representative sample of noninstitutionalized HIV-infected individuals receiving care in the contiguous United States. Physicians providing care and care site directors were surveyed once. Relationships of interpersonal aspects of care, access and continuity, technical quality of care, and physician and site characteristics to voluntary switching were analyzed using multilevel logistic regression models that nested repeated observations within patients, patients within clinicians, and clinicians within region. RESULTS: Approximately 15% of patients voluntarily changed their usual clinicians during the 2-year study period. In a multivariate model, lower voluntary switching was predicted by patient trust (odds ratio [OR]=0.74; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=0.61-0.90), physician antiretroviral knowledge (OR=0.26; 95% CI 0.13-0.53), moderate (rather than low or high) HIV patient volume at a care site (OR=0.09; 95% CI=0.03-0.31), and Ryan White Care Act funding (OR=0.27, 95% CI=0.14-0.52). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic illnesses may use several markers of specialization and technical quality to make decisions about their care. These results challenge the notion that patients cannot assess the quality of care they receive.     

Associations of serum uric acid level with diabetic retinopathy and albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

ObjectivesTo analyze the associations of serum uric acid (SUA) level with diabetic microvascular complications, including diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic nephropathy (DN), in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).MethodsThree hundred eighty-nine inpatients with type 2 DM were included in this retrospective analysis. Nonmydriatic fundus cameras were used to identify DR. Urinary albumin creatinine ratio was used to identify DN. Patients were divided into four groups according to SUA quartiles.ResultsThe prevalences of DR and albuminuria increased with increasing SUA level. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, following adjustment for other risk factors, higher levels of SUA (Q3 and Q4) were associated with greater risk for DR, compared with the lower level (Q1) (odds ratio [OR]: 3.056, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.506–6.198; OR: 3.417, 95% CI: 1.635–7.139, respectively). Moreover, higher levels of SUA (Q2, Q3, and Q4) were associated with greater risk for albuminuria (OR: 2.418, 95% CI: 1.059–5.522; OR: 7.233, 95% CI: 3.145–16.635; and OR: 8.911, 95% CI: 3.755–21.147, respectively).ConclusionsSUA level was independently associated with DR and albuminuria in patients with type 2 DM. Elevated SUA level might be predictive for the occurrence of DR and DN.     

Intensive care unit physician staffing is associated with decreased length of stay, hospital cost, and complications after esophageal resection

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether having daily rounds by an intensive care unit (ICU) physician is associated with clinical and economic outcomes after esophageal resection. DESIGN: ICU information was obtained from a prospective survey and linked to retrospective patient data from the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission. The main outcome variables were in-hospital mortality rate, length of stay, hospital cost, and complications after esophageal resection. SETTING: Nonfederal acute care hospitals in Maryland that performed esophageal resection (n = 35 hospitals) during the study period, 1994-1998. PATIENTS: Adult patients who underwent esophageal resection in Maryland (n = 366 patients) from 1994 to 1998. INTERVENTIONS: Presence vs. absence of daily rounds by an ICU physician. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: After adjusting for patient case-mix and other hospital characteristics, lack of daily rounds by an ICU physician was independently associated with a 73% increase in hospital length of stay (7 days; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1-15; p =.012) and a 61% increase in total hospital cost ($8,839; 95% CI, $ 1,674-$19,192; p =.013), but there was no association with in-hospital mortality rate. In addition, the following postoperative complications were independently associated with lack of daily rounds by an ICU physician: pulmonary insufficiency (odds ratio [OR], 4.0; CI, 1.4-11.0), renal failure (OR, 6.3; CI, 1.4-28.7), aspiration (OR, 1.7; CI, 1.0-2.8), and reintubation (OR, 2.8; CI, 1.5-5.2). CONCLUSIONS: Having daily rounds by an ICU physician is associated with shorter lengths of stay, lower hospital cost, and decreased frequency of postoperative complications after esophageal resection. Healthcare providers and policymakers should use this information to help improve quality of care and reduce costs for patients undergoing high-risk surgical procedures.     

Glu298Asp and NOS4ab polymorphisms in diabetic nephropathy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The risk of diabetic nephropathy (DN) increases with increase in intraglomerular pressure, which may partly be regulated by nitric oxide (NO). NO-production can be affected by polymorphisms in the endothelial NO-synthase gene (NOS3), hyperglycaemia and smoking. We therefore studied association between DN and two polymorphisms in NOS3, Glu298Asp and NOS4ab, in Caucasian type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1510 Finnish and Swedish T1D patients were included in a cross-sectional case-control study. Incipient DN was defined as an albumin excretion rate (AER) of 20-200 microg/min (n = 336). Overt DN = AER>200 microg/min or renal replacement therapy (n = 619). All patients with DN were considered as cases. The controls were T1D patients with diabetes duration 20 years, AER<20 microg/min and without antihypertensive treatment (n = 555). The genetic markers studied were a 27 bp repeat (NOS4ab) and Glu298Asp (rs1799983). RESULTS: Age at onset of diabetes, male sex, duration of diabetes, HbA1c, blood pressure and smoking were assessed as possible confounders in the logistic regression analysis, which showed that homozygosity for the Glu-allele of the Glu298Asp-polymorphism was independently associated with increased risk of DN (OR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.12-1.91). The variables smoking (OR = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.63-2.78), male sex (OR = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.23-2.10), HbA1c (OR per % increase above upper limit of the normal reference range = 1.02; 95% CI = 1.02-1.03), systolic (OR = 1.05; 95% CI = 1.04-1.06) and diastolic blood pressure (OR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.02-1.05) also significantly and independently increased the risk of DN when taking age at diabetes onset and diabetes duration into account. The NOS4 a-allele was not associated with DN. CONCLUSIONS: The Glu/Glu-genotype of the NOS3 Glu298Asp polymorphism may increase the risk of developing DN independently of other known risk factors.     

Is naturopathy as effective as conventional therapy for treatment of menopausal symptoms?

BACKGROUND: Although the use of alternative medicine in the United States is increasing, no published studies have documented the effectiveness of naturopathy for treatment of menopausal symptoms compared to women receiving conventional therapy in the clinical setting. OBJECTIVE: To compare naturopathic therapy with conventional medical therapy for treatment of selected menopausal symptoms. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study, using abstracted data from medical charts. SETTING: One natural medicine and six conventional medical clinics at Community Health Centers of King County, Washington, from November 1, 1996, through July 31, 1998. PATIENTS: Women aged 40 years of age or more with a diagnosis of menopausal symptoms documented by a naturopathic or conventional physician. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Improvement in selected menopausal symptoms. RESULTS: In univariate analyses, patients treated with naturopathy for menopausal symptoms reported higher monthly incomes ($1848.00 versus $853.60), were less likely to be smokers (11.4% versus 41.9%), exercised more frequently, and reported higher frequencies of decreased energy (41.8% versus 24.4%), insomnia (57.0% versus 33.1%), and hot flashes (69.6% versus 55.6%) at baseline than those who received conventional treatment. In multivariate analyses, patients treated with naturopathy were approximately seven times more likely than conventionally treated patients to report improvement for insomnia (odds ratio [OR], 6.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71, 26.63) and decreased energy (OR, 6.55; 95% CI, 0.96, 44.74). Naturopathy patients reported improvement for anxiety (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.63, 2.56), hot flashes (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 0.68, 2.88), menstrual changes (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.43, 2.24), and vaginal dryness (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.21, 3.96) about as frequently as patients who were treated conventionally. CONCLUSIONS: Naturopathy appears to be an effective alternative for relief of specific menopausal symptoms compared to conventional therapy.     

广东省妊娠合并梅毒母婴传播影响因素分析

目的 分析广东省梅毒感染孕产妇的特征及其母婴传播影响因素,为广东省消除母婴传播政策制定提供依据。方法 以2014年1月1日至2021年2月1日广东省发生胎传梅毒的感染孕产妇为病例组,另以同地区、同分娩年度为匹配条件,筛选出未发生胎传梅毒的梅毒感染孕妇为对照组。对相关危险因素进行单因素和多因素条件logistic回归分析。结果 多因素条件logistic回归分析显示,同≤20岁年龄组的孕产妇相比,21～25岁（OR=0.537,95%CI:0.341～0.845）、26～30岁（OR=0.43,95%CI:0.272～0.679）、31～35岁（OR=0.322,95%CI:0.202～0.512）和≥36岁者（OR=0.321,95%CI:0.194～0.532）发生母婴传播的风险均较低;既往未发现患梅毒的孕产妇发生母婴传播的风险较高（OR=1.837,95%CI:1.352～2.495）;同在孕期就已经诊断患病的孕产妇相比,产时和产后诊断患梅毒的孕产妇发生梅毒母婴传播的风险均较高（OR=2.026,95%CI:1.472～2.790）、（OR=1.951,95%CI:1.333～2....     

Ethnicity and peripheral arterial disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether race/ethnicity is an independent risk factor for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From September 2000 through August 2001, we screened patients (age > or = 55 years) for PAD within 4 primary care clinics located in the Houston, Tex, area. Variables that were bivariately associated with PAD (P< or = .05) were selected for entry into a multivariate logistic regression model to determine the independent risk factors for PAD. RESULTS: Among 403 patients (136 white, 136 African American, and 131 Latino patients, 81 of whom were Spanish speaking), the prevalence of PAD was 22.8% among African American patients, 13.7% among Latino patients, and 13.2% among white patients (P = .06). Within the multivariate model, adjusting for age, smoking status (odds ratio [OR], 2.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-5.25), diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.58-5.63), hypertension (OR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.12-5.95), and education, African American and Latino patients were not more likely than white patients to have a diagnosis of PAD (OR 1.89, 95% CI 0.89-3.99 and OR 1.54, 95% CI 0.59-4.06, respectively). CONCLUSION: After adjusting for atherosclerotic risk factors and level of education, ethnicity was not an independent risk factor for PAD. When determining ethnic variation in outcomes among patients with PAD, efforts are needed to better understand the role of the primary care setting to reduce the burden of social inequality on health.     

Risk factors for treatment failure in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia receiving appropriate antibiotic therapy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate modifiable risk factors and predictors for treatment failure (TF) in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) receiving appropriate antibiotic therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational cohort study performed in an intensive care unit (ICU) of a University hospital. Eighty-nine patients with VAP were enrolled in the study consecutively. Treatment failure was defined as lack of clinical and microbiological response to therapy within 2 weeks. Potential risk factors for TF, related with patients, microorganisms, and ICU therapies, were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean age was 72 +/- 13 years. Fifty-three of the patients had TF. Patients with TF were older, had more comorbidities, higher admission and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Score (APACHE II)-VAP scores, lower daily carbohydrate intake, and lymphocyte number below 1000/mm(3) than the treatment success group. Transfusions, bacteremia, infection with multidrug-resistant microorganisms, initial bacterial load (CFU/mL), and steroid therapy were similar across the groups. Comorbidity (odds ratio [OR], 4.4; 95% CI, 1.2-16.8; P = .030), VAP-APACHE II scores above 16 (OR, 6.4; 95% CI, 2.1-18.6; P = .001), daily carbohydrate intake below 190 g/d (OR, 3; 95% CI,1.1-8.6; P = .038), lymphocyte number below 1000/mm3 (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.3-12.9; P = .014) were independent predictors for TF. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with comorbidities, who are severely ill and lymphocytopenic at the time of VAP diagnosis, are at high risk for TF.     

Association of physician and hospital volume with use of aspirin and reperfusion therapy in acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: The association between volume of patients treated and quality of care has important implications for patient referral policies and approaches to quality improvement. Most studies have focused on hospital volume alone and health outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this work was to examine the association of hospital and physician volume with use of aspirin and reperfusion therapy in the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in eligible patients. METHODS: We reviewed charts of 2,215 patients treated at 35 Minnesota hospitals for AMI between October 1, 1992, and July 31, 1993, comparing use of aspirin and reperfusion therapy in eligible patients across different physician and hospital volume categories through multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Aspirin use did not vary significantly with physician volume. Use of reperfusion therapy was reduced among the lowest-volume physicians only (adjusted OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.15-0.94). Compared with the highest volume hospitals (treating >200 patients), aspirin use among lower-volume hospitals was lower. This was statistically significant only in the hospitals treating <30 patients (adjusted OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.30-0.97). These same hospitals had increased odds of using thrombolytics (adjusted OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.40-6.53). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in use of aspirin and reperfusion therapy occur at the extremes of hospital and physician volume. These observed differences are in the anticipated direction, except for the increased use of thrombolytics at very-low-volume hospitals. This may be a "desperation reaction" with a perceived lack of other alternatives, such as cardiac catheterization labs and cardiologists.     

Dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin system in diabetic nephropathy: a randomized double-blind crossover study.

OBJECTIVE: Many patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) have levels of albuminuria > 1 g/day and blood pressure >135/85 mmHg, despite antihypertensive combination therapy, including recommended doses of ACE inhibitors, e.g., lisinopril/enalapril at 20 mg daily. We tested the concept that such patients might benefit from dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a randomized double-blind crossover study of 2 months treatment with candesartan cilexetil 8 mg once daily and placebo in addition to previous antihypertensive treatment. We included 18 type 2 diabetic patients with DN fulfilling the above-mentioned criteria. All received recommended doses of ACE inhibitor and, in addition, 15 patients received diuretics, 11 received a calcium channel antagonist, and 3 received a beta-blocker. At the end of each treatment period, we measured the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), 24-h blood pressure, albuminuria, and IgGuria. RESULTS: The addition of candesartan to usual antihypertensive therapy induced a mean (95% CI) reduction in albuminuria of 25% (2-58), P = 0.036 (geometric mean [95% CI] from 1,764 mg/24 h [1,225-2,540] to 1,334 mg/24 h [890-1,998]). It also produced a mean reduction of 35% (9-53) in the fractional clearance of albumin (P = 0.016), a reduction of 32% (1-54) in fractional clearance of IgG (P = 0.046), a reduction in 24-h systolic blood pressure of 10 mmHg (2-18) (P = 0.019) (mean +/- +/- SE) from 148 +/- 3 to 138 +/- 5 mmHg, and a mean reduction in GFR of 5 ml. min(-1). 1.73 m(-2) (0.1-9) (P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Dual blockade of the RAS reduces albuminuria and blood pressure in type 2 diabetic patients with DN responding insufficiently to previous antihypertensive therapy, including ACE inhibitors in recommended doses.     

Predictors of transfusion for spinal surgery in Maryland, 1997 to 2000

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify preoperative patient, hospital, and surgeon characteristics associated with transfusion for spinal surgery. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Discharge data were obtained from 39 Maryland hospitals for adult patients (n = 3988) who had a primary procedure code for spinal surgery between July 1997 through June 2000, and with these codes, surgeons and hospitals were characterized by annual patient volume. Outcome variables included any allogeneic transfusion, any transfusion, RBCs, autologous blood, FFP, or platelet transfusion. Logistic regression was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Characteristics independently associated with an increased risk of receiving any allogeneic transfusion (n = 786) included age >54 (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3-2.1), age >66 (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.0-3.5), female sex (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.0), diabetes with chronic complications (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3-4.9), and metastatic tumor (OR, 4.9; 95% CI, 2.3-10.5), emergency room admission (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.4-3.8), and greater hospital volume (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.8-8.6). Characteristics independently associated with increased autologous transfusions (n = 574) included white race (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.4), female sex (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8), and greater surgeon volume (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.4-9.1). DISCUSSION: This information can be used to provide informed risk-benefit discussions with patients regarding the risk for blood transfusion as well as to target high-risk patients and institutions for interventions to reduce the risk of exposure to blood components.     

Optimal dose of candesartan for renoprotection in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy: a double-blind randomized cross-over study

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the optimal dose of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist candesartan cilexetil for renoprotection as reflected by short-term changes in albuminuria in hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 23 hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy were enrolled in this double-blind randomized cross-over trial with four treatment periods, each lasting 2 months. Each patient received placebo and candesartan: 8, 16, and 32 mg daily in random order. Antihypertensive medication was discontinued before enrollment, except for long-acting furosemide, which all patients received throughout the study in median (range) doses of 40 (30-160) mg daily. End points were albuminuria (turbidimetry), 24-h blood pressure (BP) (Takeda-TM2420), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (51Cr-labeled EDTA plasma clearance technique). RESULTS: Values obtained during placebo treatment: albuminuria [geometric mean (95% CI)] 700 (486-1,007) mg/24-h, 24-h BP (mean +/- SE) 147 +/- 4/78 +/- 2 mmHg, and GFR 84 +/- 6 ml/min/1.73 m2. All three doses of candesartan significantly reduced albuminuria and 24-h BP compared with placebo. Mean (95% CI) reductions in albuminuria were 33% (21-43), 59% (52-65), and 52% (44-59) with increasing doses of candesartan. Albuminuria was reduced significantly more by the two highest doses than by the lowest dose (P < 0.01); 24-h systolic BP was reduced by 9 (2-16), 9 (2-16), and 13 (6-20) mmHg and 24-h diastolic BP was reduced by 5 (2-8), 4 (1-7), and 6 (3-9) mmHg with increasing doses of candesartan. There were no significant differences in the reductions in BP between the three doses. GFR was decreased by approximately 6 ml/min/1.73 m2 by all three doses of candesartan (P < 0.05 versus placebo). CONCLUSIONS: The optimal dose of candesartan is 16 mg daily for renoprotection, as reflected by short-term reduction in albuminuria, in hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy.     

Interventions that increase or decrease the likelihood of a meaningful improvement in physical health in patients with sciatica

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to determine whether physical therapy interventions predicted meaningful short-term improvement in physical health for patients diagnosed with sciatica. SUBJECTS: We examined data from 1,804 patients (age: mean=52.1 years, SD=15.6 years; 65.7% female, 34.3% male) who had been diagnosed with sciatica and who had completed an episode of outpatient physical therapy. METHODS: Principal components factor analysis was used to define intervention categories from specific treatments applied during the plan of care. A nested-model logistic regression analysis identified intervention categories that predicted meaningful improvement in physical health. Meaningful improvement was defined as a change of 14 or more points on the Physical Component Scale-12 (PCS-12) summary score. RESULTS: Twenty-six percent (n=473) of patients had a meaningful improvement in physical health. Improvement was more likely in patients receiving joint mobility interventions (odds ratio [OR]=2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.5-4.4) or general exercise (OR=1.5, 95% CI=1.2-2.0). Patients who received spasm reduction interventions were less likely to improve (OR=0.77, 95% CI=0.60-0.98). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Physical therapists should emphasize the use of joint mobility interventions and exercise when treating patients with sciatica, whereas interventions for spasm reduction should be avoided.     

Impact of adequate empirical antibiotic therapy on the outcome of patients admitted to the intensive care unit with sepsis

OBJECTIVES: Our primary goal was to evaluate the impact on in-hospital mortality rate of adequate empirical antibiotic therapy, after controlling for confounding variables, in a cohort of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with sepsis. The impact of adequate empirical antibiotic therapy on early (<3 days), 28-day, and 60-day mortality rates also was assessed. We determined the risk factors for inadequate empirical antibiotic therapy.DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING: ICU of a tertiary hospital. PATIENTS: All the patients meeting criteria for sepsis at admission to the ICU. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Four hundred and six patients were included. Microbiological documentation of sepsis was obtained in 67% of the patients. At ICU admission, sepsis was present in 105 patients (25.9%), severe sepsis in 116 (28.6%), and septic shock in 185 (45.6%). By multivariate analysis, predictors of in-hospital mortality were Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score at ICU admission (odds ratio [OR], 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-1.40), the increase in SOFA score over the first 3 days in the ICU (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.19-1.65), respiratory failure within the first 24 hrs in the ICU (OR, 3.12; 95% CI, 1.54-6.33), and inadequate empirical antimicrobial therapy in patients with "nonsurgical sepsis" (OR, 8.14; 95% CI, 1.98-33.5), whereas adequate empirical antimicrobial therapy in "surgical sepsis" (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.18-0.77) and urologic sepsis (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.05-0.41) was a protective factor. Regarding early mortality (<3 days), factors associated with fatality were immunosuppression (OR, 4.57; 95% CI, 1.69-13.87), chronic cardiac failure (OR, 9.83; 95% CI, 1.98-48.69) renal failure within the first 24 hrs in the unit (OR, 8.63; 95% CI, 3.31-22.46), and respiratory failure within the first 24 hrs in the ICU (OR, 12.35; 95% CI, 4.50-33.85). Fungal infection (OR, 47.32; 95% CI, 5.56-200.97) and previous antibiotic therapy within the last month (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.1-5.45) were independent variables related to administration of inadequate antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In patients admitted to the ICU for sepsis, the adequacy of initial empirical antimicrobial treatment is crucial in terms of outcome, although early mortality rate was unaffected by the appropriateness of empirical antibiotic therapy.     

Aminoglycoside-associated nephrotoxicity in the elderly

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there was an increased incidence of nephrotoxicity in elderly patients (> or =65 y) prescribed single-dose (SD) versus multiple-dose (MD) aminoglycosides and whether aminoglycoside-induced nephrotoxicity was associated with length of therapy and other risk factors. METHODS: A prospective, observational audit at a university teaching hospital was conducted. Physician prescribing was used to stratify subjects according to dosing regimen: MD (n = 60) or SD (n = 26). Nephrotoxicity was defined as an increase in the serum creatinine level of 0.5 mg/dL sustained over 2 days. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients were included; 9.3% developed nephrotoxicity, of whom 62.5% received SD therapy. The incidence of nephrotoxicity did not differ between regimens (p = 0.051). There was an increased length of therapy in those who developed nephrotoxicity (mean +/- SD 6.1 +/- 6.2 vs. 3.7 +/- 2.8 d; p = 0.044). Additionally, patients who developed nephrotoxicity had an increased length of hospitalization (20.3 +/- 16.1 vs. 8.4 +/- 5.4 d; p < 0.001). Nephrotoxicity correlated with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (OR 15.1; 95% CI 1.11 to 205), concomitant angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy (OR 28.0; 95% CI 2.15 to 365), and SD therapy (OR 20.7; 95% CI 1.45 to 297). CONCLUSIONS: Our overall incidence of nephrotoxicity is consistent with that reported in the literature. A diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, concomitant use of ACE inhibitors, and SD regimens were risk factors for the development of nephrotoxicity. An adequately powered, randomized trial is needed to assess whether a difference in the incidence of nephrotoxicity exists between SD and MD therapy in the elderly.