scholarly journals Extended prediction rule to optimise early detection of heart failure in older persons with non-acute shortness of breath: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e008225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelien E S van Riet ◽  
Arno W Hoes ◽  
Alexander Limburg ◽  
Marcel A J Landman ◽  
Hans Kemperman ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 373-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi ◽  
Maryam Ghadimi ◽  
Mahboubeh Hajiabdolbaghi ◽  
Mehrnaz Rasoolinejad ◽  
Ladan Abbasian ◽  
...  

Background: COVID-19 has spread globally with remarkable speed, and currently, there is limited data available exploring any aspect of the intersection between HIV and SARSCoV- 2 co-infection. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of clinical symptoms associated with COVID-19 among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Tehran, Iran. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 200 PLWH were recruited through the positive club via sampling, and completed the symptom-based questionnaire for COVID-19, which was delivered by trained peers. Results: Of 200 participants, respiratory symptoms, including cough, sputum, and shortness of breath, were the most prevalent among participants, but only one person developed symptoms collectively suggested COVID-19 and sought treatments. Conclusions: It appears that existing infection with HIV or receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) might reduce the susceptibility to the infection with SARS-CoV-2 or decrease the severity of the infection acquired. Further research is needed to understand causal mechanisms.


Breast Care ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Elna Kuehnle ◽  
Wulf Siggelkow ◽  
Kristina Luebbe ◽  
Iris Schrader ◽  
Karl-Heinz Noeding ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Although immigrant health is an important issue in national health policy, there is a serious shortage of data in many countries. Most studies lack information on educational status, which is a major limitation. This prospective cross-sectional study analyzed a real-world breast cancer population on the influence of immigration background and educational status on participation in breast cancer early detection programs in the federal state of Lower Saxony, Germany. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Data collection was conducted from 2012 to 2016 in six certified breast cancer centers using a standardized questionnaire for patients’ interview and tumor-specific data from the patients’ medical records. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 2,145/3,047 primary breast cancer cases were analyzed. 17.5% of our patients had a history of immigration, including <i>n</i> = 202 first-generation immigrants and <i>n</i> = 168 second-generation immigrants. Most of them were citizens of EU27 member states. No significant difference was seen in age, tumor stage, histology, grading, Ki-67, Her2/neu-status, and hormone receptor status compared to the native cohort. 100% participation rate in the breast cancer early detection programs were seen in patients with no school graduation. With regards to the national mammography screening program, participation decreased significantly with educational status (<i>p</i> = 0.0003). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> No tumor biological differences were seen between immigrants and German natives. In first-generation immigrants, early detection programs were well accepted despite sociocultural and language differences. Participation rate decreased significantly with higher education levels irrespective of country of origin. Immigration background does not have a negative effect on the participation in breast cancer screening. This mainly relates to immigrants from EU27 member states.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 204800402110027
Author(s):  
Eshan Ashcroft ◽  
Otar Lazariashvili ◽  
Jonathan Belsey ◽  
Max Berrill ◽  
Pankaj Sharma ◽  
...  

Objectives The right ventricular (RV) function is an important prognostic factor in acute and chronic heart failure (HF). Echocardiography is an essential imaging modality with established parameters for RV function which are useful and easy to perform. However, these fail to reflect global RV volumes due to reliability on one acoustic window. It is therefore attractive to calculate RV volumes and ejection fraction (RVEF/E) using an ellipsoid geometric model which has been validated against MRI in healthy adults but not in the HF patients. Design This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective cross-sectional study enrolling 418 consecutive patients with symptoms of HF according to a predefined study protocol. All patients underwent echocardiographic assessment of RV function using Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE) and RV fractional area change (RVFAC) and RVEF/E. Setting Single centre study with multiple locations for acute in-patients including high dependency units. Participants Patients with acute or exacerbation of chronic HF older than 18 y.o. Main outcome measures Ability of RVEF/E to predict patient outcomes compared with two established parameters of RV function over two-year follow-up period. Primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality. Results RVEF/E is equal to TAPSE & RVFAC in predicting outcome (p ≤ 0.01 vs p ≤ 0.01) and provides additional benefit of RV volume estimation based on standard 2D echo measurements. Conclusions In this study we have shown that RVEF/E derived from ellipsoid model is not inferior to well established measures of RV function as a prognostic indicator of outcome in the acute HF.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Gyasi Necku ◽  
Emmanuel Anongeba Anaba ◽  
Aaron Asibi Abuosi

Abstract Background Prostate cancer (PC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths among men in Ghana. This poses a public health threat, especially among the Ghana Armed Force (GAF) where the majority are males. This study aimed to assess male soldiers’ awareness, knowledge and attitudes toward early detection of prostate cancer. Results It was found that 58.3% of the soldiers were less aware of PC and 76.0% had low or neutral knowledge regarding risk factors and symptoms of PC. The soldiers had positive attitudes toward early detection but had low intentions of getting tested. Awareness was significantly associated with education, rank, haven received PC information from a health worker and being knowledgeable of signs of PC. Conclusion We recommend that management of the GAF should liaise with the Ministry of Health to sensitize and educate soldiers on prostate cancer, and if possible, organize periodic screening activities for the soldiers to aid in early detection and effective management of the disease. The findings of this study provide valuable information for health interventions in Ghana.


2020 ◽  
pp. 201010582096214
Author(s):  
Tsegu Hailu Gebru ◽  
Haftea Hagos Mekonen ◽  
Kbrom Gemechu Kiros

Background: Good knowledge of self-care related to heart failure (HF) is key to improve patient outcomes. However, information regarding how much patients know about self-care is lacking in developing countries, particularly in the study setting. Objective: The objectives of this study were to assess HF patients’ knowledge about self-care and to explore predictors among HF patients in Ayder comprehensive specialised referral hospital, Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study design was undertaken in Ayder comprehensive specialised referral hospital, Tigray, Ethiopia. A total of 408 HF patients participated, and the study was done between February and April 2018. An interviewer-assisted structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Bivariate logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to identify the predictors associated with knowledge about self-care. Results: The mean age of the participants was 45.4 years (standard deviation=19 years). Around 255 (62.5%) of the participants had poor self-care knowledge. Age, New York Heart Association classes, duration of the disease and previous hospitalisation were the factors associated with knowledge about self-care. Conclusion: More than half of all participants had poor knowledge about self-care. Improving existing prevention strategies and strengthening patients’ knowledge are recommended to address this knowledge deficit.


BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. e021966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Dellafiore ◽  
Cristina Arrigoni ◽  
Francesco Pittella ◽  
Gianluca Conte ◽  
Arianna Magon ◽  
...  

AimThe aim of this study was to critically analyse and describe gender differences related to self-care among patients with chronic heart failure (HF).Methods and resultsA monocentric real-world cohort of 346 patients with chronic HF in follow-up was used for this cross-sectional study. We report data related to the cohort’s demographic and clinical characteristics. Self-care was assessed using the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index before patients’ discharge. After bivariate analysis, logistical regression models were used to describe the relationship between gender, self-care behaviours and self-care confidence. While men were found to have more than quadruple the risk of poor self-care than women (OR 4.596; 95% CI 1.075 to 19.650), men were also found to be approximately 60% more likely to have adequate self-care confidence than women (OR 0.412; 95% CI 0.104 to 0.962). Considering that self-care confidence is described as a positive predictor of behaviours, our results suggest a paradox. It is possible that the patient–caregiver relationship mediates the effect of confidence on behaviours. Overall, adequate levels of self-care behaviours are a current issue, ranging 7.6%–18.0%.ConclusionThis study sets the stage for future research where elements of the patient–caregiver relationship ought to be considered to inform the planning of appropriate educational interventions. We recommend routinely measuring patients’ self-care behaviours to guide their follow-up and as a basis for any changes in their daily life behaviours.


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