Nevin Manimala

Gynecol Endocrinol. 2022 Apr 26:1-7. doi: 10.1080/09513590.2022.2068522. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes and preimplantation embryo development between underweight and normal-weight women.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 26 underweight women (body mass index [BMI] < 18.50 kg/m²) and 104 normal-weight women (BMI >20 and <24.9 kg/m²) who underwent a total of 204 in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles and 358 fresh/frozen embryo transfers (ET) in our institution between January 2016 and December 2018. Statistical analyses compared selected ART outcomes (ovarian stimulation, fertilization, and pregnancy) between both weight groups. Morphokinetic and morphological parameters were also compared between 346 and 1467 embryos of underweight and normal-weight women, respectively.

RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation age of the underweight and normal-weight women was similar (31.6 ± 4.17 vs 32.4 ± 3.59 years; p = .323). There were no differences in the peak estradiol levels, the number of retrieved oocytes, the number of metaphase II oocytes, and the oocyte maturity rates between the two groups. The IVF/ICSI fertilization rates and the number of embryos suitable for transfer or cryopreservation were similar for both groups. All morphokinetic parameters that were evaluated by means of time-lapse imaging as well as the morphological characteristics were comparable between low and normal BMI categories. There were no significant differences in pregnancy achievement, clinical pregnancy, live births, and miscarriage rates between the suboptimal and optimal weight women.

CONCLUSION: Underweight status has no adverse impacts on the outcomes of IVF/ICSI with either fresh or frozen ET or on preimplantation embryo development and quality.

PMID:35471122 | DOI:10.1080/09513590.2022.2068522

Urologia. 2022 Apr 26:3915603221093913. doi: 10.1177/03915603221093913. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Bladder diary and questionnaire forms have an important role in the diagnosis of overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome and can predict response to OAB treatment. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between three different validated Turkish OAB questionnaires and bladder diary form.

METHODS: Patients aged over 18 years who admitted to the urology outpatient clinic with OAB symptoms between March 2019 and April 2020 were enrolled into the study. Demographic data of the patients were recorded, and they were asked to complete a 3-days bladder diary. In addition, the patients filled Turkish validated OAB version-8 (OABv8), the International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), and OAB Symptom Score (OABSS) questionnaire. The relationship between these questionnaire forms and bladder diary was evaluated with statistical analysis. The significant p was p < 0.05.

RESULTS: A total of 592 patients were included in the study. The mean total points of the questionnaire forms were 22.07 ± 8.34 (0-38) for OABv8, 10.78 ± 7.21 (0-21) for ICIQ-SF, and 9.36 ± 3.53 (0-15) for OABSS, respectively. There was a positive poor correlation between OABv8 questionnaire form and nocturia (r = 0.287, p = 0.013). There was a positive moderate correlation between OABSS and the number of micturition (r = 0.405, p = 0.03) and nocturia (r = 0.508, p = 0.036), and the urgency incontinence was negatively moderate correlations (r = -0.525, p = 0.041).

CONCLUSION: Both questionnaire forms and bladder diaries are important in the evaluation of OAB patients. According to our results the bladder diary and OABSS questionnaire forms were interrelated.

PMID:35471101 | DOI:10.1177/03915603221093913

Microbiol Spectr. 2022 Apr 26:e0234521. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.02345-21. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Ultra) compared with its predecessor, Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert), in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in a low TB incidence country. Retrospective analysis was performed on 689 clinical samples received between 2015 and 2018, on which Xpert was performed, and on 715 samples, received between 2018 and 2020, on which Ultra was performed. Samples were pulmonary (n = 830) and extrapulmonary (n = 574) in nature, and a total of 264 were culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). The diagnostic performance of both assays was analyzed using culture as the reference standard. The sensitivity of Ultra for culture positive (smear positive and smear negative) MTBC samples, was 93.2% (110/118) compared with 82.2% (120/146) for Xpert (P = 0.0078). In smear negative-culture positive samples, Ultra had a sensitivity of 74.2% (23/31) versus 36.11% (13/36) for Xpert (P = 0.0018). Specificity of both assays was comparable at 94.8% (566/597) for Ultra and 95.8% (520/543) for Xpert (P = 0.4475). The sensitivity of Ultra and Xpert assays among exclusively pulmonary samples was 95.3% (82/86) and 90.3% (84/93), respectively (P = 0.1955), and 87.5% (28/32) and 67.9% (36/53), respectively, among extrapulmonary samples (P = 0.0426). Ultra showed improved performance compared with Xpert in a low TB incidence setting, particularly in smear negative and extrapulmonary MTBC disease. The specificity of Ultra was lower than Xpert, however, this was not statistically significant. IMPORTANCE The study demonstrates the improved sensitivity of the Ultra compared with the Xpert, particularly in smear negative TB disease, for both pulmonary and extrapulmonary samples in a low TB incidence setting. Cycle threshold (Ct) value for both assays was found to positively correlate with time to TB culture positivity, suggesting that Ct and semiquantitative results could be used as indicators of sample MTBC bacillary burden, and thus, perhaps, of transmission potential. This may have implications for the designation of patient isolation precautions.

PMID:35471095 | DOI:10.1128/spectrum.02345-21

COPD. 2022;19(1):226-235. doi: 10.1080/15412555.2022.2061935.

ABSTRACT

Asthma and COPD are common chronic obstructive respiratory diseases. COPD is associated with increased mortality, but for asthma the results are varying. Their combination has been less investigated, and the results are contradictory. The aim of this prospective study was to observe the overall mortality in obstructive pulmonary diseases and how mortality was related to specific causes using postal questionnaire data. This study included data from 6,062 participants in the FinEsS Helsinki Study (1996) linked to mortality data during a 24-year follow-up. According to self-reported physician diagnosed asthma, COPD, or smoking status, the population was divided into five categories: combined asthma and COPD, COPD alone and asthma alone, ever-smokers without asthma or COPD and never-smokers without asthma or COPD (reference group). For the specific causes of death both the underlying and contributing causes of death were used. Participants with asthma and COPD had the highest hazard of mortality 2.4 (95% CI 1.7-3.5). Ever-smokers without asthma or COPD had a 9.5 (3.7-24.2) subhazard ratio (sHR) related to lower respiratory tract disease specific causes. For asthma, COPD and combined, the corresponding figures were 10.8 (3.4-34.1), 25.0 (8.1-77.4), and 56.1 (19.6-160), respectively. Ever-smokers without asthma or COPD sHR 1.7 (95% CI 1.3-2.5), and participants with combined asthma and COPD 3.5 (1.9-6.3) also featured mortality in association with coronary artery disease. Subjects with combined diseases had the highest hazard of overall mortality and combined diseases also showed the highest hazard of mortality associated with lower respiratory tract causes or coronary artery causes.Abbreviations: CigCigaretteCOPDChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCVDCardiovascular diseaseFEV₁Forced Expiratory Volume in one secondFVCForced Vital CapacityFinEsSFinland, Estonia, and Sweden study on chronic obstructive pulmonary diseasesHRHazard RatiosHRSubhazard RatioICD-10International Statistical Classifications of Diseases and Related Health Problems (Version 10).

PMID:35471091 | DOI:10.1080/15412555.2022.2061935

J Feline Med Surg. 2022 Apr 26:1098612X221089701. doi: 10.1177/1098612X221089701. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine closure-related complications and outcome after median sternotomy (MS) in cats.

METHODS: This was a retrospective, multicentric study. The medical records of cats undergoing MS from six referral hospitals were reviewed (2010-2020). Data retrieved included signalment, history, presenting complaints, surgery, patient outcomes and complications. Follow-up was performed via patient records and email/telephone contact with both owners and referring veterinarians. Descriptive statistics were performed.

RESULTS: Data on 36 cats were collected; four were excluded due to insufficient follow-up and six died less than 5 days after surgery. Twenty-six cats survived to discharge (survival rate 81%). Three cats had a full sternotomy (FS) performed and 23 cats a partial sternotomy (PS). Of the cats that underwent a PS, six included the manubrium (PSM) and three included the xyphoid process. For 14 cats, the length of sternotomy was unknown. Sternotomy closure was performed with suture in all cats. Two cats (7.7%) developed closure-related complications, both after PSM, during the long-term follow-up, one mild, slightly displaced sternal fracture and one severe, sternal dehiscence (without skin wound dehiscence) requiring revision surgery. No seroma, surgical site infection or wound dehiscence occurred. The most common reason for MS was the presence of a thoracic mass (17/26; 65%), with thymoma being the most common (11/17; 65%).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: MS has a low closure-related complication risk in cats when compared with dogs. Complications in cats present differently to what has been previously described in dogs.

PMID:35471089 | DOI:10.1177/1098612X221089701

J Feline Med Surg. 2022 Apr 26:1098612X221089695. doi: 10.1177/1098612X221089695. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Breed-specific reference intervals (RIs) may be necessary to avoid misinterpretation of laboratory results. The main aim of this study was to establish haematobiochemical RIs for Ragdoll cats.

METHODS: Forty-two clinically healthy adult (0.8-10 years old) Ragdoll cats (Ragdoll population [RP]) and 60 non-Ragdoll cats as the control population (CP) were prospectively enrolled. Results of haematology, biochemistry and total thyroxine (TT4) were used to determine both Ragdoll-specific and general feline population RIs for each variable using Reference Value Advisor software according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines and the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines.

RESULTS: For each analyte, RIs of the RP were calculated and compared with those obtained from the CP. Haematocrit, haemoglobin, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, reticulocyte absolute count, platelet count and lymphocyte absolute number were statistically different from the CP. Biochemistry RIs revealed a statistical difference in creatinine kinase (CK), total protein, urea, creatinine, glucose, total calcium and iron.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Haematobiochemical RIs of the general feline population must be used with caution in Ragdoll cats when it comes to iron and glucose concentrations, CK activity and absolute lymphocyte number. For these parameters, the use of breed-specific RIs is suggested. The docile and more relaxed nature of this breed may explain these differences and further investigations are necessary to better understand the results. Furthermore, investigations are needed to evaluate the possible benefits of breed-specific urea RIs.

PMID:35471086 | DOI:10.1177/1098612X221089695

J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2022 May;28(5):529-537. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2022.28.5.529.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Caring for children with hemophilia A (HA) impacts many aspects of parents’ lives. How this translates to caregivers’ utilization of health services is unknown, and its elicitation can inform future evaluations of interventions that address caregiver burden for HA. OBJECTIVE: To understand the impact of caring for children with HA on parents’ utilization of nonmental and mental health services by comparing 1-year costs and number of claims with parents of children without HA. METHODS: Retrospective matched cohort study using MarketScan commercial medical and pharmacy claims from 2011 to 2019. Children with HA were male sex, aged younger than 18 years, dependent policyholders, and had at least 1 HA-related medical claim from 2011 to 2018 and either an HA-related procedure or drug claim. Parents of children with HA (PCH) were primary or secondary policyholders, shared the same family ID as children with HA, and were continuously enrolled for 1-year post-index. PCH were matched (1:2) with parents of children without HA on age, sex, beneficiary type, child’s age, number of children, index month and year, health plan type, employment status, and region. Primary outcomes were nonmental and mental health care costs (2020 US dollars). Secondary outcomes were number of nonmental health outpatient claims and utilization of mental health outpatient or drug claim. Subgroup analyses excluding parents with HA were also conducted. Productivity loss was also explored. Outcomes were compared using 2-sided, paired t-tests, and McNemar test. RESULTS: 1,068 PCH met inclusion criteria and were matched to 2,122 control parents. Mean 1-year cost for PCH was higher for nonmental health (mean difference $1,826 [95% CI = -1,000 to 4,652; P = 0.20]) and similar for mental health services (mean difference $14 [95% CI = -77 to 105; P = 0.76]). When parents with HA were excluded in the subgroup analyses, mental health cost was significantly higher for PCH (mean difference $676 [95% CI = 399 to 953; P < 0.001]). PCH had more nonmental health outpatient claims compared with parents of children without HA (mean difference 1.9 [95% CI = -1.1 to 4.9; P = 0.21]) and were 1.2 times (95% CI = 0.99 to 1.45; P = 0.07) more likely to have a mental health outpatient or drug claim. CONCLUSIONS: PCH had moderately higher health care costs and utilization compared with parents of children without HA; however, these results were not statistically significant. Future studies to better characterize HA disease severity and assess its impact on caregiver burden or to expand caregivers to spouses of adult patients with HA may be warranted. Limitations include inability to ascertain severity of HA in children and the use of claims data to capture complex effects on health care utilization. DISCLOSURES: Dr. Kim’s postdoctoral fellowship is supported by Genentech, Inc. Dr. Raimundo is an employee of Genentech, Inc.

PMID:35471073 | DOI:10.18553/jmcp.2022.28.5.529

J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2022 May;28(5):538-543. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2022.28.5.538.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A growing body of evidence supports the need for health systems to shift towards addressing social determinants of health (SDoH) as part of routine care. However, little is known about the state of the industry in terms of procurement and use of SDoH data. OBJECTIVES: To assess stakeholders’ perceptions and experiences in collecting and utilizing SDoH data. METHODS: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted using a 24-item electronic survey. The pilot-tested survey was distributed to a diverse convenience sample of 94 health care stakeholder organizations that are members of the Pharmacy Quality Alliance organization. Survey responses were collected from November to December 2020. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze responses. RESULTS: A total of 25 respondents completed the survey (response rate = 26.6%). More than half (n = 14, 56.0%) collected and tracked SDoH data, and of those, most (n = 6, 42.85%) reported using organization-specific tools instead of standardized SDoH tools. Economic stability and health and health care indicators were the most frequently identified types of SDoH data collected. Participants reported that both identifying (mean = 3.88 ± SD = 0.88; 1 = not important to 5 = extremely important) and addressing (3.88 ± 0.93) patients’ SDoH were moderately important to their organization. Lack of standard data format (72.0%), lack of time (52.0%), and lack of technological capabilities (44.0%) were the most commonly reported barriers to collecting SDoH data. However, value-based payment programs that reward addressing SDoH needs (76.0%) and a coding structure or reimbursement mechanism for identification and management of SDoH (60.0%) were most commonly reported as mechanisms to overcome SDoH data collection barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Health care stakeholders consider patient SDoH indicators important but report significant challenges in collecting these data. Solutions that address data standardization, time burden, technological barriers, and the offering of incentives could facilitate its collection and effective use. DISCLOSURES: Pharmacy Quality Alliance received an unrestricted grant from Pfizer, Inc, to support this work.

PMID:35471072 | DOI:10.18553/jmcp.2022.28.5.538

J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2022 May;28(5):508-517. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2022.28.5.508.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cost-related nonadherence compromises successful and effective management of chronic disease. The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) aimed to increase the affordability of outpatient prescription drugs for older adults (older than age 64 years). The Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance coverage gap (“donut hole”) created by the MMA was fully closed in 2020 by the ACA. OBJECTIVES: To (1) describe prescription drug coverage and financial hardship from purchasing prescription drugs among older American adults for 2021, (2) compare these results with findings from data collected before the MMA and during the progressive elimination of the Medicare Part D coverage gap, and (3) compute the likelihood for financial hardship from purchasing prescription drugs using variables for year, prescription drug insurance coverage, health-related information, and demographics. METHODS: Data were obtained from 4 nationally distributed, crosssectional surveys of older adults to track coverage for and financial hardship from purchasing prescription drugs. Surveys in 1998 and 2001 were mailed to national random samples of US seniors. Of 2,434 deliverable surveys, 700 (29%) provided useable data. Data were collected in 2015 and 2021 via online surveys sent to samples of US adults. Of 27,694 usable responses, 4,445 were from older adults. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses described relationships among financial hardship and demographics, diagnoses, and daily prescription drug use. RESULTS: Five percent of older adults lacked prescription drug coverage in 2021, continuing a downward trend from 32% in 1998, 29% in 2001, and 9% in 2015. Contrastingly, 20% of older adults reported financial hardship from prescription drug purchases in 2021, bending an upward trend from 19% in 1998, 31% in 2001, and 36% in 2015. Financial hardship from purchasing prescription drugs was more likely to be reported by older adults lacking prescription drug insurance, taking multiple medications daily, and having a low annual household income across all survey years. The latter 2 of these 3 factors were still predictive of financial hardship from purchasing prescription drugs among older adults with prescription drug insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Financial hardship from purchasing prescription drugs is still experienced by many older adults after the full implementation of the MMA and ACA. Lacking prescription drug coverage, taking more than 5 prescription drugs daily, and a low annual household income may increase the likelihood of experiencing this financial hardship. Pharmacists can be a resource for older adults making choices about their prescription drug coverages and purchases. DISCLOSURES: Funding was provided by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy New Investigator Program, the University of Minnesota Grant-in-Aid of Research Program, the Peters Endowment for Pharmacy Practice Innovation, the Chapman University Research Program, and the University Minnesota Research Program.

PMID:35471065 | DOI:10.18553/jmcp.2022.28.5.508

G Ital Nefrol. 2022 Apr 21;39(2):2022-vol2.

ABSTRACT

Creating an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is complicated by the gradual increase in the average age of patients initiating chronic haemodialysis treatment and by the greater prevalence of pathologies that impact the cardiovascular system. In the past, the choice of which vessels to use for the creation of the AVF was essentially based on the physical examination of the upper limbs. Current international guidelines suggest that a colour doppler ultrasound (DUS) should be performed to complete the physical examination. Similarly, vascular ultrasound is fundamental in the post-operative phase for appropriately monitoring the access. We have conducted a retrospective analysis on the use of DUS in clinical practice in our centre, in order to determine the repercussions on vascular access survival. To this end, we identified three phases, according to the methods that were used for pre-operative vascular evaluation and monitoring of the AVF, that saw the progressive integration of clinical and ultrasound parameters. The analysis of the data highlighted a statistically significant higher rate of survival for all vascular accesses, evaluated as a whole, and for distal AVFs, in the third phase, despite a greater percentage of patients over 75 (48% vs 28%). In conclusion, we believe that an approach integrating clinical and ultrasound evaluation is indispensable to identify the most suitable AVF site and guarantee its efficiency over time.

PMID:35470998