scholarly journals Is ultrasound screening for vasa praevia clinically justified and a financially viable screening test? A literature review

Ultrasound ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-15
Author(s):  
Gillian Coleman ◽  
Heather Venables

Vasa praevia is an obstetric complication currently not screened for within the United Kingdom, which if undetected prenatally can lead to fetal death when the membranes rupture. Internationally, guidelines are available providing guidance on the best screening policy and management pathways. However, the UK National Screening Committee and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists do not support screening due to a lack of evidence. Recent studies explore the ability of ultrasound to detect vasa praevia prenatally in both the general and high-risk populations. Whilst there is no consensus on the ‘best’ screening strategy, the majority of authors note that targeted screening of the high-risk population is the most achievable and cost-effective strategy. Although not infallible, a standard screening protocol could identify the majority of cases in the high-risk group. Introduction of a screening strategy would affect training needs of professionals within the UK and would have implications on the need to produce guidelines on management and quality assurance. Further research is also needed to define a relevant high-risk population and explore how this would impact on service provision. This review explores the current evidence base for systematic screening and the implications for service.

Open Heart ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e001037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia I Rinciog ◽  
Laura M Sawyer ◽  
Alexander Diamantopoulos ◽  
Mitchell S V Elkind ◽  
Matthew Reynolds ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo evaluate the cost-effectiveness of insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs) compared with standard of care (SoC) for detecting atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients at high risk of stroke (CHADS2 >2), using a UK National Health Service (NHS) perspective.MethodsUsing patient characteristics and clinical data from the REVEAL AF trial, a Markov model assessed the cost-effectiveness of detecting AF with an ICM compared with SoC. Costs and benefits were extrapolated across modelled patient lifetime. Ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes, intracranial and extracranial haemorrhages and minor bleeds were modelled. Diagnostic and device costs were included, plus costs of treating stroke and bleeding events and costs of oral anticoagulants (OACs). Costs and health outcomes, measured as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), were discounted at 3.5% per annum. One-way deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were undertaken.ResultsThe total per-patient cost for ICM was £13 360 versus £11 936 for SoC (namely, annual 24 hours Holter monitoring). ICMs generated a total of 6.50 QALYs versus 6.30 for SoC. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was £7140/QALY gained, below the £20 000/QALY acceptability threshold. ICMs were cost-effective in 77.4% of PSA simulations. The number of ICMs needed to prevent one stroke was 21 and to cause a major bleed was 37. ICERs were sensitive to assumed proportions of patients initiating or discontinuing OAC after AF diagnosis, type of OAC used and how intense the traditional monitoring was assumed to be under SoC.ConclusionsThe use of ICMs to identify AF in a high-risk population is cost-effective for the UK NHS.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Bashir ◽  
Ibrahim Ibrahim ◽  
Fatin Eltaher ◽  
Stephen Beer ◽  
Khaled Baagar ◽  
...  

AbstractThere are currently several diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes (GDM). Both the WHO -2013 and NICE diagnose GDM based on a single step 75 g OGT; however; each uses different glucose thresholds. Previous studies have shown that the prevalence of GDM using the NICE criteria (GDM-N) is lower than that using the WHO-2013 criteria (GDM-W). Qatar has national diabetes in pregnancy program in which all pregnant women undergo OGTT screening using the WHO-2013 criteria. This study aims to define the prevalence of GDM using both criteria in a high-risk population. This retrospective study included 2000 women who underwent a 75 g (OGTT) between Jan 2016 and Apr 2016 and excluded patients with known pre-conception diabetes, multiple pregnancy, and those who did not complete the OGTT. We then classified the women into GDM-W positive, GDM-N positive but GDM-W negative, and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) population. A total of 1481 women (74%) had NGT using the NICE or the WHO-2013 criteria. The number of patients who met both criteria was 279 subjects (14%) with a good agreement (Kappa coefficient 0.67, p < 0.001). The NICE and the WHO-2013 criteria were discordant in 240 subjects (12% of the cohort); 6.7% met the WHO -2013 criteria only and only 5.3% met the NICE criteria. The frequency of pre-eclampsia, pre-term delivery, Caesarean-section, LGA and neonatal ICU admissions were significantly increased in the GDM-W group. However, the GDM-N positive but GDM-W negative had no increased risk of maternal or fetal complications apart from pregnancy-induced hypertension. The WHO-2013 and the NICE criteria classified a similar proportion of pregnant women, 21.5% and 20.1%, respectively, as having GDM; however, they were concordant in only 14% of the cases. Women who are GDM-N positive but GDM-W negative are not at increased risk of maternal and fetal pregnancy complications, except for pregnancy-induced hypertension. As the NICE criteria are more specific to the UK population, we would recommend the use of the WHO-2013 criteria to diagnose GDM in the MENA region and possibly other regions that do not have the same set-up as the UK.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bushra Zahid ◽  
Nuzhat Khawaja ◽  
Rakhshanda Tayyeb

This screening study was carried out in Gynae Unit II, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore. The aim of study was to find out prevalence of abnormal pap smears and its correlation to age & parity so that we can formulate a policy to screen at risk population with Utilization of minimum resources in our setup. Role of Pap smear in detection of cervical pre-malignant & malignant lesions can not be over emphasized. The Cervical smears of 310 women have been evaluated. The frequency of mild to severe cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was found to be 8% while smear positive for malignant cells was in 0.9% of cases. This study reveals 41-60 years of age and Para three and above a high risk group for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) and cytology positive for malignant cells. In view of the expenditure involved and technical constraints in mass screening, an approach of selective screening of high risk population could be an effective strategy for control of carcinoma of cervix in developing countries like ours. 524-5+7+F Bushra Zahid-Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital/Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore Nuzhat Khawaja-Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital/Fatima Jinnah Medical College, [email protected] Rakhshanda Tayyeb-Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital/Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e041370
Author(s):  
Charlie Kenward ◽  
Adrian Pratt ◽  
Sam Creavin ◽  
Richard Wood ◽  
Jennifer A Cooper

ObjectivesTo use Population Health Management (PHM) methods to identify and characterise individuals at high-risk of severe COVID-19 for which shielding is required, for the purposes of managing ongoing health needs and mitigating potential shielding-induced harm.DesignIndividuals at ‘high risk’ of COVID-19 were identified using the published national ‘Shielded Patient List’ criteria. Individual-level information, including current chronic conditions, historical healthcare utilisation and demographic and socioeconomic status, was used for descriptive analyses of this group using PHM methods. Segmentation used k-prototypes cluster analysis.SettingA major healthcare system in the South West of England, for which linked primary, secondary, community and mental health data are available in a system-wide dataset. The study was performed at a time considered to be relatively early in the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.Participants1 013 940 individuals from 78 contributing general practices.ResultsCompared with the groups considered at ‘low’ and ‘moderate’ risk (ie, eligible for the annual influenza vaccination), individuals at high risk were older (median age: 68 years (IQR: 55–77 years), cf 30 years (18–44 years) and 63 years (38–73 years), respectively), with more primary care/community contacts in the previous year (median contacts: 5 (2–10), cf 0 (0–2) and 2 (0–5)) and had a higher burden of comorbidity (median Charlson Score: 4 (3–6), cf 0 (0–0) and 2 (1–4)). Geospatial analyses revealed that 3.3% of rural and semi-rural residents were in the high-risk group compared with 2.91% of urban and inner-city residents (p<0.001). Segmentation uncovered six distinct clusters comprising the high-risk population, with key differentiation based on age and the presence of cancer, respiratory, and mental health conditions.ConclusionsPHM methods are useful in characterising the needs of individuals requiring shielding. Segmentation of the high-risk population identified groups with distinct characteristics that may benefit from a more tailored response from health and care providers and policy-makers.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant Murewanhema ◽  
Moffat Malisheni ◽  
Noah Fongwen Takah

Abstract Background Women in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. In 2019, they constituted 59% of new infections; thus, they remain a key population for control. Public health interventions to prevent acquisition of HIV in this high-risk population are urgently needed. Tenofovir-based pre-exposure prophylaxis (TFV-PrEP) has been shown to reduce HIV infections in other key populations. However, comprehensive evidence regarding TFV-PrEP effectiveness in women living in SSA has not been determined. Therefore, we undertook a systematic review to determine the effectiveness of tenofovir-1% (TFV-1%) vaginal gel, oral tenofovir (TFV) and tenofovir-emtricitabine (TDF-FTC) pre-exposure prophylaxis for primary acquisition of HIV in at-risk women living in SSA.Methods OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science and Clinical Trials.gov were searched for eligible studies from 01 January 2020 to 31 July 2020. Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in women living in SSA were included. Measures of effectiveness (hazard ratios (HR), incidence rate ratios (IRR)) were extracted from individual studies to determine the effectiveness of TFV-PrEP in preventing HIV infection among at-risk women living in SSA.Results From 2002 non-duplicate articles, four RCTs evaluating the effectiveness of one or more of the interventions against placebos were included. TFV-1% vaginal gel, oral TDF or TDF-FTC were not effective in preventing the acquisition of HIV infection in women living in SSA. However, poor adherence by study participants could have confounded the true effectiveness of TFV-PrEP in this high risk population. Meta-analysis was not conducted given the limited number of eligible studies identified from the search.Conclusion The current evidence does not support the effectiveness of TFV-PrEP for HIV in SSA women. More studies aimed at addressing factors driving low adherence to HIV interventions in this high risk population are urgently needed in order to improve the design of future RCTs leading to the determination of more reliable estimates of TFV-1% vaginal gel or oral TDF or TDF-FTC effectiveness.Protocol registration: This systematic review was not registered in PROSPERO.


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