Risk factors for persistent frequent use of the primary health care services among frequent attenders: A Bayesian approach

Abstract

Objectives . The aim of this study was to examine risk factors that predict persistent healthcare frequent attendance among a frequent attender (FA) population. Design. Prospective cohort study without intervention. Setting. Primary healthcare centre in Tampere, Finland. Subjects. A total of 85 primary healthcare working-age patients participated in the study. All participants were FAs in the first study year. Main outcome measures. We identified two groups of patients: temporary FAs and persistent FAs. A patient was considered as a persistent FA if he or she visited the health centre at least eight times a year for at least three out of four follow-up years. Some 59 different variables were examined as potential risk factors for persistent FA. P-course, a web-based Na ï ve Bayesian classification tool, was used for the modelling of the data. Results. In our model, the most influential predictive risk factors for persistent frequent attendance in an FA population were female gender, body mass index above 30, former frequent attendance, fear of death, alcohol abstinence, low patient satisfaction, and irritable bowel syndrome. New observations were high body mass index, alcohol abstinence, irritable bowel syndrome, low patient satisfaction, and fear of death. Conclusions. In FA analyses, distinction between temporary and persistent frequent attendance should be made. Our Bayesian model could be used for identifying persistent FAs in uncertain situations. The model can quite easily be further developed as a practical decision support tool for general practitioners. However, before its use in practice, the external validity of the model will need to be defined.     

常染色体显性遗传性脑动脉病伴皮质下梗死和白质脑病家系的临床随访研究

目的通过3个常染色体显性遗传性脑动脉病伴皮质下梗死和白质脑病(CADASIL)家系的临床随访,分析CADASIL表型差异。方法选择2012～2015年徐州医科大学附属医院就诊的3个CADASIL家系的7例患者,进行NOTCH3基因的检测,分析临床症状及影像学检查结果,并完成3年左右的随访。结果家系1(p. C67S)的首发症状多为无先兆偏头痛,并可在头痛10年后发生缺血性卒中;家系2(p. G149V)均为头晕起病,早期即出现认知障碍及球麻痹;家系3(p. R182C)表现为缺血性卒中反复发作。随访发现影像学表现与病情进展基本一致,但个体化特征明显。结论 CADASIL早期症状无特异性易被误诊,家系间及家系内患者的表型及病程演变各有不同,影像学检查对早期诊断敏感性高,却不能完全反映病情的变化。     

Cervical disc herniation and cervical spondylosis surgically treated by Cloward procedure: a 10-year-minimum follow-up study

Background  

Cervical degenerative pathology produces pain and disability, and if conservative treatment fails, surgery is indicated. The aim of this study was to determined whether anterior decompression and interbody fusion according to Cloward is effective for treating segmental cervical degenerative pathology and whether the results are durable after a 10-year-minimum follow-up.     

个案管理制度在乳腺癌患者治疗后首次复诊中的作用

目的探讨应用个案管理模式,提高乳腺癌病人复查随访率。方法回顾2008年8月至2009年4月期间,我中心新确诊乳腺癌132例,完成手术和/或化疗及放疗等临床治疗,医嘱患者三个月后返院复查;2009年8月至2010年4月期间我中心新确诊乳腺癌141例,运用个案管理模式对乳腺癌病人的治疗和随访复诊进行管理。比较个案管理模式管理前后患者的首次复查随访率。结果 2008年8月至2009年4月未启用个案管理模式期间,患者的首次复查随访率为78.8%,2009年8月至2010年4月启用个案管理模式后患者的首次复查随访率为91.5%,较前提高了12.7%。结论应用个案管理模式能够有效提高乳腺癌病人的复查随访率。     

Fifteen-year remission of a steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome sustained by cyclosporine A

Many children with a late steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) and focal glomerulosclerosis have a poor prognosis and enter end-stage renal failure (ESRF) within five years. Reports are scarce on the long-term follow-up of patients entering remission while receiving immunosuppressive therapy after steroids have failed. A two-year-old boy with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis having both late steroid and cyclophosphamide resistance entered complete remission of the SRNS almost two years after starting induction therapy with cyclosporine A (CSA). During the 15-year follow-up, the patient experienced five relapses during CSA maintenance therapy. All relapses were successfully treated within 10 days by intravenous methylprednisolone pulses in addition to CSA. The relapses were accompanied by a drop in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). At the age of 18 years, the patient had grade II chronic kidney disease (GFR=61 ml/min/1.73 m²). At the age of 14 years, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was added to the maintenance therapy and the CSA dosage was reduced. Two renal biopsies at the ages of 10 and 18 years failed to detect CSA nephrotoxicity. We conclude that children with SRNS may have long-term benefit from a combination therapy using intravenous methylprednisolone pulses and CSA.     

Idiopathic Granulomatous Appendicitis Treated Surgically with Long-Term Follow-Up: Report of a Case

Isolated granulomatous inflammation of the appendix is extremely rare, and its etiology is still unknown. Thus, differentiating between idiopathic granulomatous appendicitis and isolated appendiceal Crohn's disease is difficult. We report a case of idiopathic granulomatous appendicitis with long-term follow-up after surgery. A 26-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for investigation of persistent right lower abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography showed a mass, suggesting an inflammatory tumor around the appendix; thus, we suspected subacute appendicitis and performed laparoscopically assisted ileocecal resection. Histological examination of the resected specimen revealed several noncaseous epithelioid granulomas in the wall of the appendix, but no foreign bodies, obstructing lesions, or parasites. Stains for acid-fast bacillus and fungi, and serology for yersinia were all negative. The patient has been followed up for 9 years and remains asymptomatic. This clinical course suggests that her isolated granulomatous appendicitis was idiopathic granulomatous appendicitis unrelated to Crohn's disease.     

Midterm results of mobile-bearing knee replacements

We examined the clinical and radiographic results of 93 patients affected by knee arthritis or osteonecrosis subjected to unilateral cementless mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty with the LCS prothesis (Depuy/Johnson & Johnson). The mean follow-up was 9.5 years (range, 7–12 years). Clinical evaluation was performed using the Knee Society rating system, while radiographic evaluation was done according to the Knee Society roentgenographic system. At the latest follow-up, the mean knee score was 87 points: the functional score improved from 40 to 90. Radiolucent lines were small and not progressive. The implant survival at 12 years was 88%. Six knees (7%) required revision for implant-related problems. We conclude that the mobile-bearing prosthesis is a successful device even at long-term follow-up.     

The Impact of Gender on Prognosis After Non-cardiac Vascular Surgery

Objectives

The objective was to evaluate the impact of gender on long-term survival of patients who underwent non-cardiac vascular surgery.

Design, Material and Methods

Our prospectively collected data contained information on 560 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA), 923 elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs (AAA) and 1046 lower limb reconstructions (LLR). Patient characteristics and long-term mortality of women were compared to that of men. Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival curves were constructed for men and women, on which we superimposed age- and sex-matched KM survival curves of the general population. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify risk factors for mortality.

Results

Men in the CEA group had statistically significant higher all-cause mortality, hazard rate ratio (HRR) 1.41 (95% CI 1.01–1.98) No differences in mortality between the genders were observed in the AAA and LLR groups.Overall, men had more co-morbidities but received more disease-specific medication compared to women. Women retained their higher life expectancy after CEA but lost it in the AAA and LLR groups.

Conclusion

Women retain their higher life expectancy after CEA; however, after AAA repair and LLR, this advantage is lost. Both men and women received too little disease-specific medication, but women were worse off.     

上海市癌症患者连续性照护现况调查

目的了解上海市癌症患者连续性照护现况,为构建上海市癌症患者连续性照护模式提供参考。方法选取上海市6所三级医院、2所二级医院、3所社区卫生服务中心和1所区疾病预防控制中心进行实地询问调查。结果有2所医院对出院后的患者进行主动病情跟踪,1所医院通过患者自评量表的方式进行症状管理;分别有2所通过网络、1所医院通过联谊会进行健康教育活动;1所医院与社区卫生服务中心建立了合作关系。各机构均建立了机构内的患者档案,3所医院加入了医院间的信息共享平台。结论医疗机构对患者的服务呈现出连续性照护的雏形,存在医院对出院后患者提供的服务不完善、社区服务与医院服务不协调和机构之间缺乏互动等问题。建议增强医院对出院患者的服务,衔接好医院社区对患者的照护服务,建立医院社区间的互动平台,以完善癌症患者的连续性照护机制和提高照护质量。