scholarly journals A new diagnostic work-up for defining anemia etiologies: a cohort study in patients ≥ 50 years in general practices

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Schop ◽  
K. Stouten ◽  
J. A. Riedl ◽  
R. J. van Houten ◽  
M. J. G. Leening ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
General Practices ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

scholarly journals General practitioner use of D-dimer in suspected venous thromboembolism: historical cohort study in one geographical region in the Netherlands

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e026846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel M R Schols ◽  
Eline Meijs ◽  
Geert-Jan Dinant ◽  
Henri E J H Stoffers ◽  
Mariëlle M E Krekels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
General Practitioner ◽  
Clinical Assessment ◽  
Geographical Region ◽  
Historical Cohort ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up ◽  
D Dimer

ObjectivesTo investigate how many general practitioner (GP)-referred venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) are diagnosed during 1 year in one geographical region and to investigate the (urgent) referral pathway of VTE diagnoses, including the role of laboratory D-dimer testing.DesignHistorical cohort study.SettingGP patients of 47 general practices in a demarcated geographical region of 161 503 inhabitants in the Netherlands.ParticipantsWe analysed all 895 primary care patients in whom either the GP determined a D-dimer value or who had a diagnostic work-up for suspected VTE in a non-academic hospital during 2015.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcomes of this study were the total number of VTEs per year and the diagnostic pathways—including the role of GP determined D-dimer testing—of patients urgently referred to secondary care for suspected VTE. Additionally, we explored the use of an age-adjusted D-dimer cut-off.ResultsThe annual VTE incidence was 0.9 per 1000 inhabitants. GPs annually ordered 5.1 D-dimer tests per 1000 inhabitants. Of 470 urgently GP-referred patients, 31.3% had a VTE. Of those urgently referred based on clinical assessment only (without D-dimer testing), 73.8% (96/130) had a VTE; based on clinical assessment and laboratory D-dimer testing yielded 15.0% (51/340) VTE. Applying age-adjusted D-dimer cut-offs to all patients aged 50 years or older resulted in a reduction of positive D-dimer results from 97.9% to 79.4%, without missing any VTE.ConclusionsAlthough D-dimer testing contributes to the diagnostic work-up of VTE, GPs have a high detection rate for VTE in patients who they urgently refer to secondary care based on clinical assessment only.

scholarly journals Sensitivity and specificity of routine diagnostic work-up for tuberculosis in lung clinics in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: a cohort study

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonia Morita I. Saktiawati ◽  
Yanri W. Subronto ◽  
Ymkje Stienstra ◽  
Sumardi ◽  
Fabiola Supit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

scholarly journals Workload, diagnostic work-up and treatment of urinary tract infections in adults during out-of-hours primary care: a retrospective cohort study

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Spek ◽  
Jochen W. L. Cals ◽  
Guy J. Oudhuis ◽  
Paul H. M. Savelkoul ◽  
Eefje G. P. M. de Bont
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Urinary Tract Infections ◽  
Electronic Patient Records ◽  
Out Of Hours ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

Abstract Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections in primary care. Previous research showed that GPs find it challenging to diagnose UTIs and frequently divert from guidelines leading to unwarranted antibiotic prescriptions and inefficient use of diagnostics such as urinary cultures. We hypothesise that management of UTIs during out-of-hours care may be extra challenging due to a higher workload and logistical issues regarding diagnostic work-up and obtaining results. We therefore aimed to study the workload, diagnostic work-up and treatment of UTIs during out-of-hours primary care. Methods We performed a retrospective observational cohort study in which we analysed a full year (2018) of electronic patient records of two large Dutch GP out-of-hours centres. All adult patients with UTI symptoms were included in this study. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression were used to analyse diagnostics and subsequent management. Results A total of 5657 patients were included (78.9% female, mean age of 54 years), with an average of eight patients per day that contact a GP out-of-hours centre because of UTI symptoms. Urinary dipsticks were used in 87.5% of all patients visiting the out-of-hours centres with UTI symptoms. Strikingly, urinary cultures were only requested in 10.3% of patients in which urinary culture was indicated. Seventy-four percent of the patients received antibiotics. Seventy-nine percent of the patients with a negative nitrite test still received antibiotics. Remarkably, patients at risk of complications because of a UTI, such as men, received fewer antibiotic prescriptions. Conclusions In total, 74% of the patients received antibiotics. 8 out of 10 patients still received an antibiotic prescription in case of a negative nitrite test, and 9 out of 10 patients with an indication did not receive a urine culture. In conclusion, we found that correctly diagnosing UTIs and prescribing antibiotics for UTIs is a challenge that needs major improvement, especially during out-of-hours GP care.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of heart failure and trends in diagnostic work-up: a retrospective, population-based cohort study in Sweden

2019 ◽  
Vol Volume 11 ◽  
pp. 231-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krister Lindmark ◽  
Kurt Boman ◽  
Mona Olofsson ◽  
Michael Törnblom ◽  
Aaron Levine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

scholarly journals Role of endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnostic work-up of idiopathic acute pancreatitis (PICUS): study protocol for a nationwide prospective cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e035504
Author(s):  
Devica S Umans ◽  
Hester C Timmerhuis ◽  
Nora D Hallensleben ◽  
Stefan A Bouwense ◽  
Marie-Paule GF Anten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Pancreatitis ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Endoscopic Ultrasonography ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Idiopathic Acute Pancreatitis ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

IntroductionIdiopathic acute pancreatitis (IAP) remains a dilemma for physicians as it is uncertain whether patients with IAP may actually have an occult aetiology. It is unclear to what extent additional diagnostic modalities such as endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) are warranted after a first episode of IAP in order to uncover this aetiology. Failure to timely determine treatable aetiologies delays appropriate treatment and might subsequently cause recurrence of acute pancreatitis. Therefore, the aim of the Pancreatitis of Idiopathic origin: Clinical added value of endoscopic UltraSonography (PICUS) Study is to determine the value of routine EUS in determining the aetiology of pancreatitis in patients with a first episode of IAP.Methods and analysisPICUS is designed as a multicentre prospective cohort study of 106 patients with a first episode of IAP after complete standard diagnostic work-up, in whom a diagnostic EUS will be performed. Standard diagnostic work-up will include a complete personal and family history, laboratory tests including serum alanine aminotransferase, calcium and triglyceride levels and imaging by transabdominal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography after clinical recovery from the acute pancreatitis episode. The primary outcome measure is detection of aetiology by EUS. Secondary outcome measures include pancreatitis recurrence rate, severity of recurrent pancreatitis, readmission, additional interventions, complications, length of hospital stay, quality of life, mortality and costs, during a follow-up period of 12 months.Ethics and disseminationPICUS is conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki and Guideline for Good Clinical Practice. Five medical ethics review committees assessed PICUS (Medical Ethics Review Committee of Academic Medical Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Radboud University Medical Center, Erasmus Medical Center and Maastricht University Medical Center). The results will be submitted for publication in an international peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration numberNetherlands Trial Registry (NL7066). Prospectively registered.

scholarly journals Stroke masquerading as cardiac arrest: the artery of Percheron

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e238681
Author(s):  
Megan Quetsch ◽  
Sureshkumar Nagiah ◽  
Stephen Hedger
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Clinical Assessment ◽  
Altered Consciousness ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Consciousness Level ◽  
Artery Of Percheron ◽  
Conscious Level ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

The artery of Percheron (AOP) is a rare arterial variant of the thalamic blood supply. Due to the densely packed collection of nuclei it supplies, an infarction of the AOP can be devastating. Here we highlight a patient who had an AOP stroke in the community, which was initially managed as cardiac arrest. AOP strokes most often present with vague symptoms such as reduced conscious level, cognitive changes and confusion without obvious focal neurology, and therefore are often missed at the initial clinical assessment. This case highlights the importance of recognising an AOP stroke as a cause of otherwise unexplained altered consciousness level and the use of MRI early in the diagnostic work-up.

scholarly journals Death of unknown cause? Post-mortem diagnosis of fulminant course of an EBV-associated secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josia Fauser ◽  
Stefan Köck ◽  
Eberhard Gunsilius ◽  
Andreas Chott ◽  
Andreas Peer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Macrophage Activation ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Appropriate Therapy ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up ◽  
Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

SummaryHLH is a life-threatening disease, which is characterized by a dysregulated immune response with uncontrolled T cell and macrophage activation. The often fulminant course of the disease needs a fast diagnostic work-up to initiate as soon as possible the appropriate therapy. We present herein the case of a 71-year-old patient with rapidly progressive hyperinflammatory syndrome, which post mortem resulted in the diagnosis of EBV-associated HLH. With this case report, we intend to highlight the relevance of the HScore in the diagnosis of HLH, to create a greater awareness for EBV as a trigger of HLH, and to demonstrate the importance of treating EBV-associated HLH as early as possible.

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