Multimorbidity and mortality in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo review literature and provide a pooled effect for the association between multimorbidity and mortality in older adults.MethodsA systematic review was performed of articles held on the PUBMED database published up until January 2015. Studies which used different diseases and other conditions to define frailty, evaluated multimorbidity related only to mental health or which presented disease homogeneity were not included. A meta-analysis using random effect to obtain a pooled effect of multimorbidity on mortality in older adults was conducted only with studies which reported hazard ratio (HR). Stratified analysis and univariate meta-regression were performed to evaluate sources of heterogeneity.ResultsOut of 5806 identified articles, 26 were included in meta-analysis. Overall, positive association between multimorbidity and mortality [HR: 1.44 (95%CI: 1.34; 1.55)] was detected. The number of morbidities was positively related to risk of death [HR: 1.20 (95%CI: 1.10; 1.30)]. Compared to individuals without multimorbidity, the risk of death was 1.73 (95%CI: 1.41; 2.13) and 2.72 (95%CI: 1.81; 4.08) for people with 2 or more and 3 or more morbidities, respectively. Heterogeneity between studies was high (96.5%). The sample, adjustment and follow-up modified the associations. Only nine estimates performed adjustment which included demographic, socioeconomic and behaviour variables. Disabilities appear to mediate the effect of multimorbidity on mortality.ConclusionsMultimorbidity was associated with an increase in risk of death. Multimorbidity measurement standardization is needed to produce more comparable estimates. Adjusted analysis which includes potential confounders might contribute to better understanding of causal relationships between multimorbidity and mortality.     

Target specific effects of direct current stimulation in schizo-obsessive disorder: A case report

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a type of non-invasive brain stimulation technique that is explored as an add-on treatment for the alleviation of symptoms across the diverse symptom domains in neuropsychiatric disorders. In psychiatry, data is emerging on the effects of tDCS as an add-on treatment in schizophrenia as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). But despite high prevalence, the effectiveness of tDCS in co-morbid schizophrenia and OCD is lacking. This case report for the first time examines the clinical utility with target-specific effects of the add-on tDCS in a patient diagnosed with schizo-obsessive disorder.     

结核特异性抗原与CD4+T细胞计数比值对AIDS合并肺结核的辅助诊断价值

目的:评价结核特异性抗原(TBAg)与CD4⁺T淋巴细胞(简称“CD4”)计数的比值(TBAg/CD4)对AIDS合并活动性肺结核(PTB)的辅助诊断价值。方法:采用前瞻性研究的方法,参照入组标准纳入2018年1月至2020年12月苏州市第五人民医院收治的262例疑似活动性PTB的AIDS患者,并将患者分为AIDS+PTB组(152例)和AIDS组(110例)。采集患者入院次日清晨静脉血进行干扰素体外释放酶联免疫法(TB-IGRA)、血常规、CD4检测,比较两组间TBAg水平和TBAg/CD4比值的差异。以临床诊断为参考标准,评价TB-IGRA检测AIDS合并PTB的效能,并以受试者工作特征曲线(ROC曲线)下面积(AUC)确定诊断效能最佳的检测指标。结果:以临床诊断为参考标准,TB-IGRA检测AIDS合并活动性PTB的敏感度和特异度分别为53.95%(82/152)和75.45%(83/110)。TB-IGRA检测AIDS+PTB组的TBAg、TBAg/CD4水平[分别为92.51(-68.20,906.10)pg/ml和1.01(0.00,10.12)]均明显高于AIDS组[分别为85.20(-33.80,801.30)pg/ml和0.11(0.00,2.07)],对照培养管抗原浓度[529.50(12.50,1160.50)pg/ml]明显低于AIDS组[694.50(29.90,990.00)pg/ml],差异均有统计学意义(Z=-3.481、-9.557、3.289,P值均<0.001)。ROC曲线分析显示,对照培养管抗原浓度、TBAg、TBAg/CD4对诊断AIDS合并活动性PTB的AUC值分别为0.718、0.637和0.842;当TBAg/CD4的临界值为0.592时,约登指数最大,其敏感度为88.10%,特异度为77.10%。结论:相较于AIDS患者,AIDS合并PTB患者的TBAg和TBAg/CD4水平均明显升高,尤以TBAg/CD4诊断价值高,结合患者免疫状态的影响,认为TBAg/CD4对AIDS合并PTB患者具有一定辅助诊断价值。     

Cronicidad,envejecimiento y multimorbilidadChronicity,ageing and multimorbidity

Thanks to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV-related mortality has been drastically reduced and HIV infection has become a chronic disease. The HIV-infected population is ageing prematurely. Despite good immunovirological control, HIV causes chronic inflammation and accelerated immunosenes-cence. This clinically manifests as an increased prevalence of age-related comorbidity and frailty occurring earlier than in the general population. The heterogeneity of older HIV-infected adults highlights the rele-vance of identifying those who are at risk of poor health, and frailty may be an effective indicator. The rela-tionship between ageing, HIV infection, antiretroviral treatment, comorbidities and frailty still needs to be clarified. Elderly HIV-infected adults are complex patients who require a specific, global and multidisci-plinary approach.     

Epidemiology of DSM-5 bipolar I disorder: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions – III

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to present 12-month and lifetime prevalence, correlates, comorbidity, treatment and disability of DSM-5 bipolar I disorder.MethodsNationally representative U.S. adult sample (N = 36,309), the 2012–2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions – III.ResultsPrevalences of 12-month and lifetime DSM-5 bipolar I disorder were 1.5% and 2.1% and did not differ between men (1.6% and 2.2%) and women (1.5% and 2.0%). Prevalences of bipolar I disorder were greater among Native Americans, and lower among Blacks, Hispanics and Asians/Pacific Islanders than whites. Rates were also lower among younger than older individuals, those previously married than currently married and with lower education and income relative to higher education and income. Bipolar I disorder was more strongly related to borderline and schizotypal personality disorders (adjusted odds ratios (AORS) = 2.2–4.7)), than to anxiety disorders (AORs = 1.3–2.9), and substance use disorders (AORs = 1.3–2.1) overall and among men and women. Quality of life was lower among individuals with bipolar I disorder relative to those without the disorder. Treatment rates among individuals with bipolar I disorder were low in the total sample (46%, SE = 2.63), among men (36.7%, SE = 3.82) and among women (55.8%, SE = 3.32).ConclusionsBipolar I disorder continues to be common disabling and highly comorbid disorder among men and women, contributing substantially to low quality of life and burden of disease in our society.     

Urinary Liver-Type Fatty Acid-Binding Protein Linked with Increased Risk of Acute Kidney Injury after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Stem cell transplantation (SCT) involves a great risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). Urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (uL-FABP) is a sensitive biomarker to detect kidney damage before an increase in serum creatinine (Cr); however, the utility of uL-FABP is not fully understood in the platform of SCT. A prospective study was conducted in 84 allogeneic SCT recipients to ascertain a link between the uL-FABP level before preparative procedures and AKI incidence after SCT. The association between them was analyzed using Gray's method and a multivariate Fine-Gray proportional hazards regression model. The recipients were stratified into high and low uL-FABP groups, according to the reference value for healthy subjects (8.4 μg/g Cr). AKI developed more frequently in the high (n = 20) than low (n = 64) group (55.0% versus 26.6% at day 30, P = .005), and high uL-FABP was an independent risk for the emergence of AKI (hazard ratio, 2.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.24 to 6.22, P = .01). In conclusion, increased baseline uL-FABP, which may indicate previous incipient kidney injury, is linked with a high risk of AKI after allogeneic SCT.