scholarly journals Hospital Admissions for Herpes Zoster in Portugal Between 2000 and 2010

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 531
Author(s):  
Margarida Mesquita ◽  
Filipe Froes
Keyword(s):  
Herpes Zoster ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Post Herpetic Neuralgia ◽  
Health Database

Introduction and Objectives: Herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia increasing incidence is related to ageing. These conditions can be very debilitating and have an important impact in patients’ quality of life. In an ageing population like the Portuguese, is expectedthat the burden of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia rises, nevertheless, a specific surveillance system for zoster does not exist in the country, and data regarding the incidence of herpes zoster and the burden of the disease in Portugal in the last decadeswas not found. In Portugal, the vaccine is still not available. Scaling the burden of disease is important to support public health policies regarding zostervaccination.Material and Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis from encoded information from the Portuguese Ministery of Health database for hospital admissions which included all individuals with a primary diagnosis of Herpes Zoster (IDC-9-CM 053), who were discharged between 2000 and 2010.Results: In Portugal, between 2000 and 2010, 1 706 hospital admissions with primary diagnosis of herpes zoster occurred. The majority of the patients were elderly. Eleven percent of the patients had potentially severe immunocompromise. The predominant diseasewas uncomplicated herpes zoster, followed by nervous system and ophthalmic herpes zoster. Mean hospital stay length was 9.3 days, increasing with age. There was a 1% case fatality rate. Considering the 2000-2009 period and the adult population only, the averageannual incidence rate of hospitalization with primary diagnosis of herpes zoster in Portugal was 1.9/100 000 inhabitants, increasing with age.Conclusion: This study confirms that, in Portugal, severe herpes zoster is related to ageing and associated with significant morbidity, mortality and health resources allocation.

Acupuncture in the Management of Herpes Zoster

1996 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Boaler
Keyword(s):  
Herpes Zoster ◽  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Post Herpetic Neuralgia ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trials ◽  
Care Level ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Acute Herpes Zoster ◽  
Pain Clinics ◽  
Distressing Condition

Although it has been demonstrated conclusively that anti-viral medication reduces the duration and intensity of the manifestations of acute herpes zoster, controversy remains concerning its effectiveness in preventing post herpetic neuralgia and patients with this distressing condition are often referred to Pain Clinics. The problem is likely to become more prevalent in the future due to the ageing population, particularly in those over 80 years of age. Research, most of it uncontrolled so far, suggests that simple acupuncture starting in the acute phase, within 24–72 hours of the appearance of the skin eruption, could, if combined with anti-viral medication, produce a substantial reduction in the incidence and severity of post herpetic neuralgia. Further controlled clinical trials conducted at primary health care level are urgently needed.

scholarly journals The impact of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia on quality-of-life

BMC Medicine ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W Johnson ◽  
Didier Bouhassira ◽  
George Kassianos ◽  
Alain Leplège ◽  
Kenneth E Schmader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Herpes Zoster ◽  
Post Herpetic Neuralgia ◽  
The Impact

Measuring herpes zoster, zoster-associated pain, post-herpetic neuralgia-associated loss of quality of life, and healthcare utilization and costs in Thailand

2011 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kobkul Aunhachoke ◽  
Valai Bussaratid ◽  
Pornchai Chirachanakul ◽  
Boosbun Chua-Intra ◽  
Jittima Dhitavat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Herpes Zoster ◽  
Healthcare Utilization ◽  
Post Herpetic Neuralgia

scholarly journals Hospital admissions for stroke and bleeding in Hounslow following a quality improvement initiative

Open Heart ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e001558
Author(s):  
Kam Ying Wong ◽  
Bethan Davies ◽  
Yewande Adeleke ◽  
Thomas Woodcock ◽  
Dionne Matthew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Incidence Rate Ratio ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Quality Improvement Initiative ◽  
Interrupted Time Series Analysis ◽  
Level Change ◽  
Slope Change

ObjectiveAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia. Undiagnosed and poorly managed AF increases risk of stroke. The Hounslow AF quality improvement (QI) initiative was associated with improved quality of care for patients with AF through increased detection of AF and appropriate anticoagulation. This study aimed to evaluate whether there has been a change in stroke and bleeding rates in the Hounslow population following the QI initiative.MethodsUsing hospital admissions data from January 2011 to August 2018, interrupted time series analysis was performed to investigate the changes in standardised rates of admission with stroke and bleeding, following the start of the QI initiative in October 2014.ResultsThere was a 17% decrease in the rate of admission with stroke as primary diagnosis (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.83; 95% CI 0.712 to 0.963; p<0.014). There was an even larger yet not statistically significant decrease in admission with stroke as primary diagnosis and AF as secondary diagnosis (IRR 0.75; 95% CI 0.550 to 1.025; p<0.071). No significant changes were observed in bleeding admissions. For each outcome, an additional regression model including both the level change and an interaction term for slope change was created. In all cases, the slope change was small and not statistically significant.ConclusionReduction in stroke admissions may be associated with the AF QI initiative. However, the immediate level change and non-significant slope change suggests a lack of effect of the intervention over time and that the decrease observed may be attributable to other events.

scholarly journals Determinants of walking fitness in patients with heart failure attending cardiac rehabilitation

Open Heart ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Doherty ◽  
Alexander Stephen Harrison ◽  
Rashed Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Model Fit ◽  
Walking Distance ◽  
Patients With Heart Failure

IntroductionPatients with heart failure (HF) attending cardiac rehabilitation (CR) benefit in terms of improved quality of life, physical fitness and reduced hospital admissions. Too few patients with HF attend CR and little data exist on the characteristics of those who do especially in respect of physical fitness. This study evaluates the extent by which clinical and demographic factors determine walking fitness in patients with a primary diagnosis of HF.MethodsClinical data from the British Heart Foundation National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation identified 1519 patients with HF who completed an incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT). Stepwise regression accounting for age, gender and multiple potential confounders assessed their contribution to total walking distance.ResultsMean age was 64.5 (SD 12.70) years with a range of ISWT distances across gender and associated comorbidities from 215 to 282 m. Walking distance reduced by 4.9 m for each year increase in age above mean age (p<0.001). After accounting for confounders, females walked 42.1 m less than males (p≤ 0.001). Pulmonary disease and the existence of depression was associated with a 39.3 and 52.2 m reduction in walking distance, respectively. Body mass index >30 was associated with 28.5 m reduction in walking distance (p<0.001). HF severity failed to improve the regression model fit or achieve significance in the analysisConclusionsAge, gender and the presence of pulmonary disease or depression were highly significant factors in predicting walking fitness in patients with HF. The study also produced a set of reference values based on these four factors to aid the interpretation of walking fitness in patients with HF.

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