scholarly journals Long-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy and weight gain: a population-based cohort study

Rheumatology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Fardet ◽  
Irwin Nazareth ◽  
Irene Petersen

Abstract Objectives To describe the variation in weight gain in people chronically exposed to systemic glucocorticoids in primary care and to identify the risk factors for weight gain. Methods Data were analysed from the British database, The Health Improvement Network. Body weight variations of individuals prescribed systemic glucocorticoids for at least 3 months at a mean dose ≥10 mg/day were described. The risk factors associated with weight gain ≥10% of the usual weight were assessed. Results A total of 31 516 adults prescribed glucocorticoids and 26 967 controls were included in the study. During glucocorticoid exposure, only 12 475 (39.6%) individuals gained >2 kg compared with their usual weight. Younger women were more likely to gain weight (mean weight gain in 18–39-year-old glucocorticoid-exposed women: 3.6 kg (s.d. 8.6) compared with 2 kg (s.d. 7.3) in the control group; the absolute mean difference was 1.6 kg (95% CI 0.9, 2.2; P < 0.001). Weight gain ≥10% of the usual weight was observed in 10.2% (n = 3208) of those chronically exposed to glucocorticoids. Women, younger people, those living in areas of higher deprivation, smokers, those on higher doses of the drug and those previously exposed to glucocorticoids were at higher risk. The risk was lower in people prescribed glucocorticoids for an inflammatory condition when compared with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Conclusion After taking into account usual weight rather than weight just before glucocorticoid initiation and the natural history of weight variation, the amount of weight gain induced by systemic glucocorticoids as prescribed in primary care is less than usually thought. Clinical trial registration 18THIN081.

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Rivero-Calle ◽  
Miriam Cebey-López ◽  
Jacobo Pardo-Seco ◽  
José Yuste ◽  
Esther Redondo ◽  
...  

IntroductionInformation about community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) risk in primary care is limited. We assess different lifestyle and comorbid conditions as risk factors (RF) for CAP in adults in primary care.MethodsA retrospective-observational-controlled study was designed. Adult CAP cases diagnosed at primary care in Spain between 2009 and 2013 were retrieved using the National Surveillance System of Primary Care Data (BiFAP). Age-matched and sex-matched controls were selected by incidence density sampling (ratio 2:1). Associations are presented as percentages and OR. Binomial regression models were constructed to avoid bias effects.Results51 139 patients and 102 372 controls were compared. Mean age (SD) was 61.4 (19.9) years. RF more significantly linked to CAP were: HIV (OR [95% CI]: 5.21 [4.35 to 6.27]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2.97 [2.84 to 3.12]), asthma (2.16 [2.07,2.26]), smoking (1.96 [1.91 to 2.02]) and poor dental hygiene (1.45 [1.41 to 1.49]). Average prevalence of any RF was 82.2% in cases and 69.2% in controls (2.05 [2.00 to 2.10]). CAP rate increased with the accumulation of RF and age: risk associated with 1RF was 1.42 (1.37 to 1.47) in 18–60-year-old individuals vs 1.57 (1.49 to 1.66) in >60 years of age, with 2RF 1.88 (1.80 to 1.97) vs 2.35 (2.23, 2.48) and with ≥ 3 RF 3.11 (2.95, 3.30) vs 4.34 (4.13 to 4.57).DiscussionPrevalence of RF in adult CAP in primary care is high. Main RFs associated are HIV, COPD, asthma, smoking and poor dental hygiene. Our risk stacking results could help clinicians identify patients at higher risk of pneumonia.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. e001921
Author(s):  
Max Oscar Bachmann ◽  
Eric D Bateman ◽  
Rafael Stelmach ◽  
Alvaro A Cruz ◽  
Matheus Pacheco de Andrade ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe Practical Approach to Care Kit (PACK) guide was localised for Brazil, where primary care doctors and nurses were trained to use it.MethodsTwenty-four municipal clinics in Florianópolis were randomly allocated to receive outreach training and the guide, and 24 were allocated to receive only the guide. 6666 adult patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were enrolled, and trial outcomes were measured over 12 months, using electronic medical records. The primary outcomes were composite scores of treatment changes and spirometry, and new asthma and COPD diagnosis rates.ResultsAsthma scores in 2437 intervention group participants were higher (74.8%, 20.4% and 4.8% with scores of 0, 1 and 2, respectively) than in 2633 control group participants (80.0%, 16.8% and 3.2%) (OR for higher score 1.32, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.61, p=0.006). Adjusted for asthma scores recorded in each clinic before training started, the OR was 1.24 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.50, p=0.022). COPD scores in 1371 intervention group participants (77.7%, 17.9% and 4.3% with scores of 0, 1 and 2) did not differ from those in 1181 control group participants (80.5%, 15.8% and 3.7%) (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.55, p=0.142). Rates of new asthma and COPD diagnoses, and hospital admission, and indicators of investigation, diagnosis and treatment of comorbid cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression, and tobacco cessation did not differ between trial arms.ConclusionPACK training increased guideline-based treatment and spirometry for asthma but did not affect COPD or comorbid conditions, or diagnosis rates.Trial registrationNCT02786030 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/).


2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 369-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis A. García Rodríguez ◽  
Mari-Ann Wallander ◽  
Laura Barreales Tolosa ◽  
Saga Johansson

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. e031870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandy Wan ◽  
Laura J Horsfall ◽  
Emre Basatemur ◽  
Jignesh Prakash Patel ◽  
Rukshana Shroff ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo examine temporal changes in the incidence and patterns of vitamin D supplementation prescribing by general practitioners (GPs) between 2008 and 2016.DesignPopulation-based cohort study.SettingUK general practice health records from The Health Improvement Network.ParticipantsChildren aged 0 to 17 years who were registered with their general practices for at least 3 months.Outcome measuresAnnual incidence rates of vitamin D prescriptions were calculated, and rate ratios were estimated using multivariable Poisson regression to explore differences by sociodemographic factors. Data on the type of supplementation, dose, dosing schedule, linked 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) laboratory test results and clinical symptoms suggestive of vitamin D deficiency were analysed.ResultsAmong 2 million children, the crude annual incidence of vitamin D prescribing increased by 26-fold between 2008 and 2016 rising from 10.8 (95% CI: 8.9 to 13.1) to 276.8 (95% CI: 264.3 to 289.9) per 100 000 person-years. Older children, non-white ethnicity and general practices in England (compared with Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland) were independently associated with higher rates of prescribing. Analyses of incident prescriptions showed inconsistent supplementation regimens with an absence of pre-supplementation 25(OH)D concentrations in 28.7% to 56.4% of prescriptions annually. There was an increasing trend in prescribing at pharmacological doses irrespective of 25(OH)D concentrations, deviating in part from UK recommendations. Prescribing at pharmacological doses for children with deficient status increased from 3.8% to 79.4%, but the rise was also observed in children for whom guidelines recommended prevention doses (0% to 53%). Vitamin D supplementation at pharmacological doses was also prescribed in at least 40% of children with no pre-supplementation 25(OH)D concentrations annually.ConclusionsThere has been a marked and sustained increase in vitamin D supplementation prescribing in children in UK primary care. Our data suggests that national guidelines on vitamin D supplementation for children are not consistently followed by GPs.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elias Eythorsson ◽  
Valgerdur Bjarnadottir ◽  
Hrafnhildur Linnet Runolfsdottir ◽  
Dadi Helgason ◽  
Ragnar Freyr Ingvarsson ◽  
...  

Background: The severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection varies from asymptomatic state to severe respiratory failure and the clinical course is difficult to predict. The aim of the study was to develop a prognostic model to predict the severity of COVID-19 at the time of diagnosis and determine risk factors for severe disease. Methods: All SARS-CoV-2-positive adults in Iceland were prospectively enrolled into a telehealth service at diagnosis. A multivariable proportional-odds logistic regression model was derived from information obtained during the enrollment interview with those diagnosed before May 1, 2020 and validated in those diagnosed between May 1 and December 31, 2020. Outcomes were defined on an ordinal scale; no need for escalation of care during follow-up, need for outpatient visit, hospitalization, and admission to intensive care unit (ICU) or death. Risk factors were summarized as odds ratios (OR) adjusted for confounders identified by a directed acyclic graph. Results: The prognostic model was derived from and validated in 1,625 and 3,131 individuals, respectively. In total, 375 (7.9%) only required outpatient visits, 188 (4.0%) were hospitalized and 50 (1.1%) were either admitted to ICU or died due to complications of COVID-19. The model included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), current smoking, underlying conditions, and symptoms and clinical severity score at enrollment. Discrimination and calibration were excellent for outpatient visit or worse (C-statistic 0.75, calibration intercept 0.04 and slope 0.93) and hospitalization or worse (C-statistic 0.81, calibration intercept 0.16 and slope 1.03). Age was the strongest risk factor for adverse outcomes with OR of 75- compared to 45- year-olds, ranging from 5.29-17.3. Higher BMI consistently increased the risk and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic kidney disease correlated with worse outcomes. Conclusion: Our prognostic model can accurately predict the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection using information that is available at the time of diagnosis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 438-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques Joubert ◽  
Stephen M Davis ◽  
Geoffrey A Donnan ◽  
Christopher Levi ◽  
Graeme Gonzales ◽  
...  

Background and purpose After an initial stroke, the risk of recurrent stroke is high. Models that implement best-practice recommendations for risk factor management in stroke survivors to prevent stroke recurrence remain elusive. We examined a model which focuses on vascular risk factor management to prevent stroke recurrence in survivors returning to their primary care physicians. This model is coordinated from the stroke unit, integrates specialist stroke services with primary care physicians, and directly involves patients and carers in risk factor management. It is underpinned by the shared care principle in which there is joint participation of specialists as well as primary care physicians in a planned, integrated delivery of care with ongoing involvement of patients and carers, a structure which encourages implementation of best-practice recommendations as well as transferability and sustainability. We hypothesized that an integrated, multimodal intervention based on a shared-care model which supports joint participation of stroke specialists and primary care physicians would improve the implementation of best-practice recommendations for risk factor management in stroke survivors returning to the community. Methods We undertook a double-blind randomized controlled trial, testing the model in three Australian cities using stroke survivors admitted to stroke units and discharged from hospital to return to their primary care physicians. The model was a shared care, multifaceted integrated program which included bidirectional feedback between general practitioner and specialist unit, education, and engagement of patient and carer in self-management with ongoing input from a multidisciplinary team. The primary endpoint was improvement or abolition of risk factors such as raised blood pressure, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, the modification of adverse life-style factors such as lack of exercise, smoking and alcohol abuse and adherence to preventive medication at one year. Intermediate measurement points were scheduled at three monthly intervals. Analysis was by intention to treat, evaluated by covariance or a linear model adjusting for confounding factors or variance of base-line risk factors. The study was registered as ACTRN = 1261100026498. Results The study population was as follows: intervention ( n = 112), control ( n = 137). At baseline, there was no statistical difference between the groups for any variable. At the 12-month evaluation, there was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure from baseline in the intervention group of 5.2 mmHg ( p < 0.01). This change was not observed in the control group ( p = 0.29). Moreover, at 12 months the mean systolic blood pressure in the intervention group was 129.4 mmHg (SD 14.7), a result which was not obtained in controls. Fasting total cholesterol as well as triglycerides was reduced significantly in the intervention group (both p < 0.01) but this was not the case in the control group ( p = 0.11 and p = 0.27, respectively). At 12 months, there was no change in BMI in the intervention group but there was a significant increase in BMI ( p = 0.02) in the control group. At 12 months in the intervention group, the mean distance walked with ease compared to the baseline measurements was increased by a mean distance of 600 m while in the control group the distance walked with ease was reduced compared to that measured at baseline. At 12 months, the Barthel index in the intervention group demonstrated improved function ( p = 0.01), but no change was observed in controls. At 12 months in the intervention group, there was a significant decrease in number of standard alcoholic drinks consumed per week compared to the baseline ( p = 0.04). This was not observed in the control group ( p = 0.34). Conclusion In stroke survivors, the ICARUSS (Integrated Care for the Reduction of Secondary Stroke) model is superior to usual care with respect to best-practice recommendations for traditional risk factors as well as behavioral and functional outcomes.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shang-Feng Yang ◽  
Chia-Jen Liu ◽  
Wu-Chang Yang ◽  
Chao-Fu Chang ◽  
Chih-Yu Yang ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThere is a lack of consensus on the risk factors for hernia formation, and the impact on peritoneal dialysis (PD) survival has seldom been studied.MethodsThis was a population-based study and all collected data were retrieved from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Patients who commenced PD between January 1998 and December 2006 were screened for inclusion. Multiple logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were applied to estimate the predictors for hernia formation and determine the predictors of PD withdrawal.ResultsA total of 6,928 PD patients were enrolled and followed until December 2009, with 631 hernia events and 391 hernioplasties being registered in 530 patients (7.7%). The incidence rate was 0.04 hernias/patient/year. Longer PD duration (per 1 month increase, hazard ratio (HR) 1.019) and history of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) (HR 1.584) were independent risk factors for hernia formation during PD, and female gender (HR 0.617) was a protective factor. On the other hand, there were 4,468 PD withdrawals, with cumulative incidence rates of 41% at 1 year, 66% at 3 years, and 82% at 5 years. Independent determinants for cumulative PD withdrawal included hernia formation during PD (HR 1.154), age (per 1 year increase, HR 1.014), larger dialysate volume (per 1 liter increase, HR 0.496), female gender (HR 0.763), heart failure (HR 1.092), hypertension (HR 1.207), myocardial infarction (HR 1.292), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (HR 1.227), cerebrovascular accident (CVA) (HR 1.364), and history of MVP (HR 0.712)ConclusionsProlonged PD duration was a risk factor for hernia formation, and female gender was protective. Hernia formation during PD therapy may increase the risk of PD withdrawal.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e031028
Author(s):  
Songchun Yang ◽  
Canqing Yu ◽  
Yu Guo ◽  
Zheng Bian ◽  
Mengyu Fan ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe application of bowel movement frequency (BMF) in primary care is limited by the lack of solid evidence about the associations of BMF with health outcomes apart from Parkinson’s disease and colorectal cancer. We examined the prospective associations of BMF with major vascular and non-vascular diseases outside the digestive system.DesignPopulation-based prospective cohort study.SettingThe China Kadoorie Biobank in which participants from 10 geographically diverse areas across China were enrolled between 2004 and 2008.Participants487 198 participants aged 30 to 79 years without cancer, heart disease or stroke at baseline were included and followed up for a median of 10 years. The usual BMF was self-reported once at baseline.Primary and secondary outcome measuresIncident events of predefined major vascular and non-vascular diseases.ResultsIn multivariable-adjusted analyses, participants having bowel movements ‘more than once a day’ had higher risks of ischaemic heart disease (IHD), heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (CKD) when compared with the reference group (‘once a day’). The respective HRs (95% CIs) were 1.12 (1.09 to 1.16), 1.33 (1.22 to 1.46), 1.28 (1.22 to 1.36), 1.20 (1.15 to 1.26) and 1.15 (1.07 to 1.24). The lowest BMF (‘less than three times a week’) was also associated with higher risks of IHD, major coronary events, ischaemic stroke and CKD. The respective HRs were 1.07 (1.02 to 1.12), 1.22 (1.10 to 1.36), 1.11 (1.05 to 1.16) and 1.20 (1.07 to 1.35).ConclusionBMF was associated with future risks of multiple vascular and non-vascular diseases. The integration of BMF assessment and health counselling into primary care should be considered.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document