Patterns of Care in Patients with Chemotherapy Receiving Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs).

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 964-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arash Naeim ◽  
Lyssa Friedman ◽  
Eric Elkin ◽  
Sara Adams ◽  
Hema Viswanathan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Hemoglobin (Hb) levels at ESA treatment initiation have undergone recent policy debate. This retrospective chart review used baseline data prior to an educational intervention on anemia guidelines in community-based oncology practices to understand ESA patterns of care among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. National guidelines at the time of data collection recommended treatment when Hb was <11 g/dL or when Hb was 11–12 g/dL in the presence of anemia symptoms or risk factors for development of symptomatic anemia. The objectives of this analysis were to examine Hb levels and presence of symptoms or risk factors at ESA treatment initiation and proportion of patients receiving at least one transfusion after initial ESA treatment. Methods: Medical charts of patients ≥18 years receiving chemotherapy (June 2005 – August 2006) for lung, ovarian, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, colorectal, breast, head and neck, bladder or testicular cancer from 47 sites were abstracted. Hb level at initial ESA administration was defined as the value recorded within 7 days prior to or on the day of treatment initiation. Anemia symptoms (chest pain, peripheral edema, sustained tachycardia, severe fatigue, dizziness) and risk factors for the development of symptomatic anemia (prior transfusion, radiation or chemotherapy; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular disease or cardiac disease; age ≥ 65 years) were identified using national guidelines. Results: Of 2844 patients on chemotherapy, mean age was 62 years; 66% were female; most common malignancies were breast (36%), non-small cell lung cancer (19%) and colorectal (18%). A total of 1268 patients (44%) received at least one administration of an ESA and of these 1165 (92%) had Hb levels recorded at treatment initiation. A total of 238 patients (20%) had Hb levels ≤10g/dL at ESA initiation, 419 (36%) had Hb levels from 10.1–11.0 g/dL, 358 (31%) had Hb levels from 11.1–12.0 g/dL and 150 (13%) had Hb levels >12g/dL at treatment initiation. Of the 1268 patients who received initial treatment with an ESA, 102 (8%) required at least one transfusion during chemotherapy. Anemia symptoms or risk factors were present in 206 patients (87%) with Hb ≤10g/dL, 335 (80%) with Hb 10.1–11.0 g/dL and 287 (80%) with Hb 11.1–12.0 g/dL at ESA treatment initiation. Of the 1616 patients (56%) who did not receive an ESA during chemotherapy, the majority had a lowest recorded Hb level >12g/dL (647 patients, 40%) and 68% of such patients had anemia symptoms or risk factors. In comparison, 83% of patients receiving an initial ESA administration at Hb >12 g/dL had anemia symptoms or risk factors. Conclusions: Initiation of ESAs occurred most commonly between Hb levels of 10.1–11.0 g/dL. A majority of patients had symptoms or risk factors at ESA treatment initiation across Hb levels. Evaluation of specific symptoms and the role of ESAs in symptom alleviation is needed. Future studies should investigate the impact of new polices for ESA use on utilization patterns. Hb Levels at ESA Treatment Initiation and Presence of Symptoms or Risk Factors (N=1165)* ESA Treatment Presence of Symptoms or Risk Factors Hb at ESA Treatment Initiation N % N % *n=102 with no Hb in week prior to initial ESA treatment ≤10 238 20.4 206 86.6 >10–11 419 36.0 335 80.0 >11–12 358 30.7 287 80.2 >12 150 12.9 125 83.3

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Socias ◽  
Guillem Frontera ◽  
Catalina Rubert ◽  
Joan Torres ◽  
Tomas Ripoll ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. The patients who attend a hospital without a hemodynamic laboratory may have differences in health outcomes, treatment, reperfusion times, the rate of cardiovascular complications, hospital stay, mortality or costs may be affected. The study aimed to analyze the prognostic of patients with STEMI treated in the Emergency Department (ED) and the impact prognostic of the delayed reperfusion time in a Hospital General without hemodynamic laboratory. Methods. After ethics review board approval, this retrospective observational cohort study of patients included acute coronary syndrome with ST elevation of ≤ 24 h in the Illes Balears infarction code registry (CI-IB) between May 2008 and December 2018. The information recorded were age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, site of AMI, time delays, reperfusion therapy with fibrinolysis and primary angioplasty (PA). Cardiovascular Event (CE) was defined the combined variable: Killip class progression, malignant arrhythmias, Re-infarction, cerebrovascular disease and mortality. Results.605 patients were analyzed. The reperfusion treatment was 83,1% (80,8% with PA). 19% presented some CE. Hospital and monthly mortality was 6.8% and 7.8% respectively. The main differences between patients with and without CE were: age (66 vs 59 years); Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); previous infarction; anterior location; Door-To-Needle Time and FPC-PA time. The risk factors of CE were: age, COPD, anterior location, fibrinolysis and patients without reperfusion treatment. In the group with PA, the risk of mortality was higher in COPD (p=0.012), Symptom start –FPC time with (p = 0,084) and FPC-PA time > 90 minutes (p= 0.107). FCM-AP> 90 minutes had a higher mortality (10 vs 4.4%;HR 1,79; IC 95% 1,15-2,78; log-rank:p=0,013)Conclussions. In our cohort, most patients received reperfusion treatment and were performed within the recommended time. In ED, the pacients with a FCM-PA time longer than recommended in the guidelines and COPD had higher CE y mortality.


2005 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 265-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
GG Alvarez ◽  
M Schulzer ◽  
D Jung ◽  
JM FitzGerald

BACKGROUND: Asthma mortality and morbidity continue to be a serious global problem. Systematic reviews provide an opportunity to review risk factors in detail.OBJECTIVE: To review all of the literature for risk factors associated with near-fatal asthma (NFA) and fatal asthma (FA).METHODS: A literature search from 1960 to January 2004 in MEDLINE and EMBASE was conducted. Studies were included based on the following criteria: NFA was defined as an asthma exacerbation resulting in respiratory arrest requiring mechanical ventilation or a partial pressure of CO2of at least 45 mmHg or asthma resulting in death (FA); the study reported the number of cases (NFA and/or FA) and asthmatic controls; there was explicit reporting of risk factors; cases that were adult and pediatric in nature; and all study types. Studies that included patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were excluded.RESULTS: Four hundred and three articles were identified, of which 27 met the inclusion criteria. Increased use of medications such as beta-agonists via metered dose inhalers (OR=1.67, 95% CI 0.99 to 2.84, P=0.057) and nebulizers (OR=2.45, 95% CI 1.52 to 3.93, P=0.0002), oral steroids (OR=2.71, 95% CI 1.34 to 5.51, P=0.006) and oral theophylline (OR=2.02, 95% CI 1.03 to 3.98, P=0.04) and a history of hospital (OR=2.62, 95% CI 1.04 to 6.58, P=0.04) and/or intensive care unit (OR=5.14, 95% CI 1.91 to 13.86, P=0.001) admissions and mechanical ventilation (OR=6.69, 95% CI 2.80 to 15.97, P=0.0001) due to asthma were predictors of NFA and FA. Prior emergency department assessment did not confer a greater risk of NFA and FA (OR=1.13, 95% CI 0.43 to 2.92, P=0.810).The use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) measured in a dose-independent fashion (did the patient take ICS previously; yes or no) inferred equivocal risk of NFA and FA (OR=1.31, 95% CI 0.83 to 2.05, P=0.25). However, two studies measured the use of ICS in a dose-dependent fashion (ie, measured the number of prescriptions filled within the previous six to 12 months). Both studies showed a trend toward a protective effect against FA. One study showed that the premature cessation of ICS can hasten death.CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, risk factors of NFA and FA have been more accurately defined. Clinicians should identify patients with these characteristics to reduce their risk of NFA and FA. Further research should focus on quantifying the impact of risk factors on asthma deaths.


2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 287-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon L Walker ◽  
David L Saltman ◽  
Rosemary Colucci ◽  
Lesli Martin

OBJECTIVE: To assess awareness among persons at risk for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sleep apnea regarding symptoms and risk factors of the disease, and their attitudes regarding the disease and toward those who are affected.METHODS: A quantitative hybrid telephone and Internet survey of a representative population of Canadian adults at risk for at least one of the three diseases was conducted. To measure the awareness and attitudes of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people to these diseases, a proportionate number were also surveyed.RESULTS: A total of 3626 individuals were contacted. Of these, 3036 (84%) were eligible to participate. Of those at risk for lung cancer and COPD, 65% and 69%, respectively, were due to tobacco smoke exposure. Among those at risk, 72% believed that they were informed about lung cancer compared with 36% for COPD and 56% for sleep apnea. Most respondents were knowledgeable about the common symptoms of lung cancer, COPD and sleep apnea, but were less aware of the impact lifestyle choices could have on the development of these disorders and the availability of treatment. Most of the participants (77%) believed that smoking was an addiction rather than a habit (19%). There were no significant differences in the awareness of risk factors, symptoms and attitudes toward all three lung diseases between First Nations, Inuit and Métis people and the general population.CONCLUSIONS: Canadians are reasonably aware of risk factors and symptoms for lung cancer and sleep apnea. However, there is poor awareness of COPD as a disease entity. There is a lack of appreciation for the impact lifestyle choices and changes can have on lung diseases.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 179-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katy E. Trinkley ◽  
Heather D. Anderson ◽  
Kavita V. Nair ◽  
Daniel C. Malone ◽  
Joseph J. Saseen

Background: Despite strong recommendations to use metformin as first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes (T2DM), its use has been suboptimal, likely due to concerns of lactic acidosis. This study compared the association of acidosis in patients with T2DM prescribed metformin with those prescribed other antihyperglycemic medications or no medications. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with newly diagnosed T2DM utilizing an administrative database, which includes medical and prescription claims. Eligible patients had a diagnosis of T2DM, had continuous health plan enrollment 3 months prior to study enrollment and during the study period, and were at least 18 years of age. Mutually exclusive exposure groups were metformin only, other antihyperglycemic medications, and no medication. Acidosis cases were stratified by exposure group and risk factors for lactic acidosis (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatic dysfunction, alcohol abuse, heart failure, renal insufficiency, age of 80 years or older, and a history of acidosis). Degree of renal insufficiency was not available. Associations between exposure and acidosis were estimated, and risk factors evaluated. Results: A total of 132,780 patients met inclusion criteria: 24,936 (20%) metformin only group, 15,059 (11%) other antihyperglycemic medication group, and 92,785 (70%) no medication group. Acidosis was observed in 1.45 per 10,000 patient months (0.78 metformin, 1.59 other antihyperglycemic medication, 1.51 no medication). The unadjusted relative risk of acidosis was 0.5 for patients prescribed metformin only compared with the other exposure groups (95% confidence interval = 0.2–1.2). There was no significant difference in risk of acidosis between exposure groups, irrespective of risk factors for lactic acidosis. Conclusions: Risk of acidosis was similar with metformin only compared with those prescribed other antihyperglycemic medications or no medication. These results support expanded use of metformin for T2DM. Additional studies are needed to understand the impact of risk factor severity on risk of lactic acidosis.


Breathe ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 306-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren Lenney ◽  
Francis J. Gilchrist ◽  
Aphrodite Kouzouna ◽  
Anand D. Pandyan ◽  
Val Ball

SummaryChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third most common cause of mortality worldwide and it is important to discover whether risk factors can be identified from studies undertaken in childhood.Numerous longitudinal cohort studies have been developed in many parts of the world to better understand the long-term outcomes of chronic respiratory diseases. Using data they have generated, it should be possible to identify specific risk factors in children and develop a model to prioritise their importance when found, in order to consider ways to reduce the prevalence and/or severity of disease in adults. However, this does require the sharing of data within the field, as is happening in other related fields, such as the Virtual International Stroke Trial Archive (www.vista.gla.ac.uk). Pooling of the raw data could be very informative and an organisation such as the European Respiratory Society could play an important role in ensuring this happens.Unfortunately, cohort studies vary widely in their inclusion criteria, their methodology and the format in which lung function data are presented. The raw data required to develop a model to assess the impact of childhood risk factors on future lung function have not been made available from many of the published articles.Our initial belief that recognised risk factors are independent variables was naïve and a different approach is required to better understand their interdependence.


Vascular ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose O Leite ◽  
Leandro O Costa ◽  
Walter M Fonseca ◽  
Debora U Souza ◽  
Barbara C Goncalves ◽  
...  

Objectives Major and minor amputations are associated with significant rates of mortality. However, little is known about the impact of unplanned redo-amputation during the same hospitalization on outcomes. The objectives of this study were to identify the risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality after both major and minor amputations as well as the results of unplanned redo-amputation on outcome. Methods Retrospective study of 342 consecutive patients who were treated with lower extremity amputation in Brazil between January 2013 and October 2014. Results The in-hospital mortality rate was higher in major compared to minor amputation (25.6% vs. 4.1%; p < 0.0001). Whereas chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and planned staged amputation predicted in-hospital mortality after major amputation, age, and congestive heart failure predicted mortality after minor amputation. The white blood cell count predicted in-hospital mortality following both major and minor amputation. However, postoperative infection predicted in-hospital mortality only following major amputation. Conclusions In-hospital mortality was high after major amputations. Unplanned redo-amputation was not a predictor of in-hospital mortality after major or minor amputation. Planned staged amputation was associated with reduced survival after major but not minor amputation. Postoperative infection predicted mortality after major amputation. Systemic diseases and postoperative white blood cell were associated with in-hospital mortality. This study suggests a possible link between a pro-inflammatory state and increased in-hospital mortality following amputation.


Author(s):  
Gavin H. West ◽  
Laura S. Welch

This chapter describes the hazards for construction workers, with a particular focus on injuries as well as exposures to hazardous chemicals and dusts. A section describes hazardous exposures to lead and other heavy metals. Another section describes noise exposure. The impact of musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers is then discussed. A section on respiratory diseases focuses on asbestosis, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma. Exposures known to cause dermatitis and cancer are reviewed. There is a discussion of engineered nanomaterials as a potential emerging hazard. Various approaches to prevention and control, including regulations and health services, are described.


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