Incidence of health problems in travelers to Southeast Asia: a prospective cohort study

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Phimphan Pisutsan ◽  
Ngamphol Soonthornworasiri ◽  
Wasin Matsee ◽  
Weerapong Phumratanaprapin ◽  
Suda Punrin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background There are few studies of the incidence of health problems among travelers to Southeast Asia. The current study sought to determine the incidence of self-reported health problems among travelers visiting the region. Methods A prospective questionnaire-based study was conducted among travelers from high-income countries who visited Southeast Asia. Participants were enrolled at time of their pre-travel visit at Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Travelers were prospectively followed by self-administered questionnaires 2 weeks after arrival, upon return to their home country and 2 weeks after return. Results During January 2018–February 2019, 359 travelers were enrolled in Bangkok, Thailand, and the first questionnaire was administered. Follow-up questionnaires were returned by 191, 96 and 64 participants 2 weeks later, at the end of the trip and 2 weeks after return, respectively. A total of 6094 travel days were included in the final analysis. The incidence of acute diarrhea per month per 1000 travelers was 217 [95% confidence interval (CI), 189–248] episodes; skin problems, 197 (95% CI, 170–227); respiratory symptoms, 133 (95% CI, 111–158); fever, 49 (95% CI, 36–65); and potential rabies exposure, 34 (95% CI, 24–48). The incidence of acute diarrhea episodes per month per 1000 travelers was significantly higher during the first 2 weeks of travel compared with subsequent weeks of travel: 325 (95% CI, 291–362) vs 132 (95% CI, 110–1157) (P < 0.05). The incidence of outpatient visits and hospitalizations per month per 1000 travelers was 49 (95% CI, 36–65) and 5 (95% CI, 2–10), respectively. Conclusions In this prospective cohort study we observed substantial burden of acute diarrhea and skin and respiratory symptoms among travelers to Southeast Asia. The higher incidence of diarrhea in the first 2 weeks of travel should be further investigated.

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 561.2-562
Author(s):  
X. Liu ◽  
Z. Sun ◽  
W. Guo ◽  
F. Wang ◽  
L. Song ◽  
...  

Background:Experts emphasize early diagnosis and treatment in RA, but the widely used diagnostic criterias fail to meet the accurate judgment of early rheumatoid arthritis. In 2012, Professor Zhanguo Li took the lead in establishing ERA “Chinese standard”, and its sensitivity and accuracy have been recognized by peers. However, the optimal first-line treatment of patients (pts) with undifferentiated arthritis (UA), early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are yet to be established.Objectives:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Iguratimod-based (IGU-based) Strategy in the above three types of pts, and to explore the characteristics of the effects of IGU monotherapy and combined treatment.Methods:This prospective cohort study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01548001) was conducted in China. In this phase 4 study pts with RA (ACR 1987 criteria[1]), ERA (not match ACR 1987 criteria[1] but match ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria[2] or 2014 ERA criteria[3]), UA (not match classification criteria for ERA and RA but imaging suggests synovitis) were recruited. We applied different treatments according to the patient’s disease activity at baseline, including IGU monotherapy and combination therapies with methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, and prednisone. Specifically, pts with LDA and fewer poor prognostic factors were entered the IGU monotherapy group (25 mg bid), and pts with high disease activity were assigned to combination groups. A Chi-square test was applied for comparison. The primary outcomes were the proportion of pts in remission (REM)or low disease activity (LDA) that is DAS28-ESR<2.6 or 3.2 at 24 weeks, as well as the proportion of pts, achieved ACR20, Boolean remission, and good or moderate EULAR response (G+M).Results:A total of 313 pts (26 pts with UA, 59 pts with ERA, and 228 pts with RA) were included in this study. Of these, 227/313 (72.5%) pts completed the 24-week follow-up. The results showed that 115/227 (50.7%), 174/227 (76.7%), 77/227 (33.9%), 179/227 (78.9%) pts achieved DAS28-ESR defined REM and LDA, ACR20, Boolean remission, G+M response, respectively. All parameters continued to decrease in all pts after treatment (Fig 1).Compared with baseline, the three highest decline indexes of disease activity at week 24 were SW28, CDAI, and T28, with an average decline rate of 73.8%, 61.4%, 58.7%, respectively. Results were similar in three cohorts.We performed a stratified analysis of which IGU treatment should be used in different cohorts. The study found that the proportion of pts with UA and ERA who used IGU monotherapy were significantly higher than those in the RA cohort. While the proportion of triple and quadruple combined use of IGU in RA pts was significantly higher than that of ERA and UA at baseline and whole-course (Fig 2).A total of 81/313 (25.8%) pts in this study had adverse events (AE) with no serious adverse events. The main adverse events were infection(25/313, 7.99%), gastrointestinal disorders(13/313, 4.15%), liver dysfunction(12/313, 3.83%) which were lower than 259/2666 (9.71%) in the previous Japanese phase IV study[4].The most common reasons of lost follow-up were: 1) discontinued after remission 25/86 (29.1%); 2) lost 22/86 (25.6%); 3) drug ineffective 19/86 (22.1%).Conclusion:Both IGU-based monotherapy and combined therapies are tolerant and effective for treating UA, ERA, and RA, while the decline in joint symptoms was most significant. Overall, IGU combination treatments were most used in RA pts, while monotherapy was predominant in ERA and UA pts.References:[1]Levin RW, et al. Scand J Rheumatol 1996, 25(5):277-281.[2]Kay J, et al. Rheumatology 2012, 51(Suppl 6):vi5-9.[3]Zhao J, et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2014, 32(5):667-673.[4]Mimori T, et al. Mod Rheumatol 2019, 29(2):314-323.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (675) ◽  
pp. e682-e693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niamh M Redmond ◽  
Sophie Turnbull ◽  
Beth Stuart ◽  
Hannah V Thornton ◽  
Hannah Christensen ◽  
...  

BackgroundClinicians commonly prescribe antibiotics to prevent major adverse outcomes in children presenting in primary care with cough and respiratory symptoms, despite limited meaningful evidence of impact on these outcomes.AimTo estimate the effect of children’s antibiotic prescribing on adverse outcomes within 30 days of initial consultation.Design and settingSecondary analysis of 8320 children in a multicentre prospective cohort study, aged 3 months to <16 years, presenting in primary care across England with acute cough and other respiratory symptoms.MethodBaseline clinical characteristics and antibiotic prescribing data were collected, and generalised linear models were used to estimate the effect of antibiotic prescribing on adverse outcomes within 30 days (subsequent hospitalisations and reconsultation for deterioration), controlling for clustering and clinicians’ propensity to prescribe antibiotics.ResultsSixty-five (0.8%) children were hospitalised and 350 (4%) reconsulted for deterioration. Clinicians prescribed immediate and delayed antibiotics to 2313 (28%) and 771 (9%), respectively. Compared with no antibiotics, there was no clear evidence that antibiotics reduced hospitalisations (immediate antibiotic risk ratio [RR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.47 to 1.45; delayed RR 0.70, 95% CI = 0.26 to 1.90, overall P = 0.44). There was evidence that delayed (rather than immediate) antibiotics reduced reconsultations for deterioration (immediate RR 0.82, 95% CI = 0.65 to 1.07; delayed RR 0.55, 95% CI = 0.34 to 0.88, overall P = 0.024).ConclusionMost children presenting with acute cough and respiratory symptoms in primary care are not at risk of hospitalisation, and antibiotics may not reduce the risk. If an antibiotic is considered, a delayed antibiotic prescription may be preferable as it is likely to reduce reconsultation for deterioration.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 524-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Raimo ◽  
Sean LaVine ◽  
Kelly Spielmann ◽  
Meredith Akerman ◽  
Karen A. Friedman ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background  Residents and practicing physicians displaying signs of stress is common. It is unclear whether stress during residency persists into professional practice or is associated with future burnout. Objective  We assessed the persistence of stress after residency and its correlation with burnout in professional practice. We hypothesized that stress would linger and be correlated with future burnout. Methods  A prospective cohort study was conducted over 10 years using survey instruments with existing validity evidence. Residents over 3 academic years (2003–2005) were surveyed to measure stress in residency. Ten years later, these residents were sought out for a second survey measuring current stress and burnout in professional practice. Results  From 2003 to 2005, 143 of 155 residents participated in the initial assessment (92% response rate). Of those, 21 were excluded in 2015 due to lack of contact information; follow-up surveys were distributed to 122 participants, and 81 responses were received (66% response rate and 57% of original participants). Emotional distress in residency correlated with emotional distress in professional practice (correlation coefficient = 0.45, P &lt; .0001), emotional exhaustion (correlation coefficient = 0.30, P = .007), and depersonalization (correlation coefficient = 0.25, P = .029). Multivariate linear regression showed that emotional distress in residency was associated with future emotional distress (β estimate = 0.57, P = .005) and depersonalization (β estimate = 2.29, P = .028). Conclusions  We showed emotional distress as a resident persists into individuals' professional practice 10 years later and has an association with burnout in practice.


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