scholarly journals Exploring Access to Surgical Interventions for Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Retrospective Population-Based Analysis

10.2196/31047 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e31047
Author(s):  
Alexandra Finstad ◽  
Alex Lee ◽  
Ralph George ◽  
Raed Alhusayen

Background Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a painful inflammatory disorder that confers significant distress to patients, with surgery as an integral treatment modality. Objective To inform improvements in care, patterns in HS surgery were assessed. Methods A retrospective population-based analysis was performed on Ontario billing claims for HS surgery across a period of 10 years from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2017. HS surgery was defined as the excision of inguinal, perineal, or axillary skin and sweat glands for hidradenitis. The top 5 billing specialties, including general and plastic surgery, were analyzed. The total number of procedures performed as well as the number performed per physician were investigated. Patient and physician locations were compared. Results A total of 7195 claims for the excision of inguinal, perineal, or axillary skin and sweat glands for HS were submitted across the study period. Annual HS surgery claims showed an increasing trend across 10 years, ranging between 4.9 and 5.8 per 100,000 population. However, overall, for every additional year, the number of claims per 100,000 population only increased slightly, by 0.03 claims. The number of providers steadily decreased, ranging between 1.7 and 1.9 per 100,000, with approximately twice as many general than plastic surgeons. However, again overall, for every additional year, the number of providers per 100,000 population decreased slightly, by 0.002 physicians. The mean annual number of procedures per physician rose from 2.8 to 3.1. In rural areas, analyzed per claim, general surgeons performed the majority of surgeries (1318/2003, 65.8%), while in urban areas, surgeries were more equally performed by general (2616/5192, 50.4%) and plastic (2495/5192, 48.1%) surgeons. Of HS surgery claims, 25.7%-35.9% were provided by a physician residing in a different area than the patient receiving care. Conclusions No significant improvements in access to HS surgery were seen across the study period, with access potentially worsening with annual HS claims rising overall and number of providers decreasing, with patients travelling further to access surgery. System barriers across the continuum of HS diagnosis and management must be evaluated to improve access to surgical care.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Finstad ◽  
Alex Lee ◽  
Ralph George ◽  
Raed Alhusayen

BACKGROUND Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a painful inflammatory disorder that confers significant distress to patients, with surgery as an integral treatment modality. OBJECTIVE To inform improvements in care, patterns in HS surgery were assessed. METHODS A retrospective population-based analysis was performed on Ontario billing claims for HS surgery across a period of 10 years from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2017. HS surgery was defined as the excision of inguinal, perineal, or axillary skin and sweat glands for hidradenitis. The top 5 billing specialties, including general and plastic surgery, were analyzed. The total number of procedures performed as well as the number performed per physician were investigated. Patient and physician locations were compared. RESULTS A total of 7195 claims for the excision of inguinal, perineal, or axillary skin and sweat glands for HS were submitted across the study period. Annual HS surgery claims showed an increasing trend across 10 years, ranging between 4.9 and 5.8 per 100,000 population. However, overall, for every additional year, the number of claims per 100,000 population only increased slightly, by 0.03 claims. The number of providers steadily decreased, ranging between 1.7 and 1.9 per 100,000, with approximately twice as many general than plastic surgeons. However, again overall, for every additional year, the number of providers per 100,000 population decreased slightly, by 0.002 physicians. The mean annual number of procedures per physician rose from 2.8 to 3.1. In rural areas, analyzed per claim, general surgeons performed the majority of surgeries (1318/2003, 65.8%), while in urban areas, surgeries were more equally performed by general (2616/5192, 50.4%) and plastic (2495/5192, 48.1%) surgeons. Of HS surgery claims, 25.7%-35.9% were provided by a physician residing in a different area than the patient receiving care. CONCLUSIONS No significant improvements in access to HS surgery were seen across the study period, with access potentially worsening with annual HS claims rising overall and number of providers decreasing, with patients travelling further to access surgery. System barriers across the continuum of HS diagnosis and management must be evaluated to improve access to surgical care.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hassan Emamian ◽  
Hossein Ebrahimi ◽  
Hassan Hashemi ◽  
Akbar Fotouhi

Abstract Background Previous studies have reported a high prevalence of hypertension in Iranian students, especially in rural areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the daily intake of salt in students and its association with high blood pressure. Methods A random sub-sample was selected from the participants of the second phase of Shahroud schoolchildren eye cohort study and then a random urine sample was tested for sodium, potassium and creatinine. Urine electrolyte esexcretion and daily salt intake were calculated by Tanaka et al.’s formula. Results Among 1455 participants (including 230 participants from rural area and 472 girls), the mean age was 12.9 ± 1.7 year and the mean daily salt intake was 9.7 ± 2.6 g (95% CI 9.5–9.8). The mean salt consumption in rural areas [10.8 (95% CI 10.4–11.2)] was higher than urban areas [9.4 (95% CI 9.3–9.6)], in people with hypertension [10.8 (95% CI 10.3–11.3)] was more than people with normal blood pressure [9.4 (95% CI 9.3–9.6)], and in boys [9.8 (95% CI 9.7–10.0)] was more than girls [9.3 (95% CI 9.1–9.6)]. Higher age, BMI z-score, male sex and rural life, were associated with increased daily salt intake. Increased salt intake was associated with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion Daily salt intake in Iranian adolescents was about 2 times the recommended amount of the World Health Organization, was higher in rural areas and was associated with blood pressure. Reducing salt intake should be considered as an important intervention, especially in rural areas.


2021 ◽  
pp. jech-2020-213755
Author(s):  
Liying Xing ◽  
Yuanmeng Tian ◽  
Li Jing ◽  
Min Lin ◽  
Zhi Du ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo evaluate the up-to-date epidemiology of diabetes in northeast China.MethodsThe cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2017 and March 2019 using a multistage, stratified and cluster random sampling method. 18 796 participants (28.9% urban and 71.1% rural) aged ≥40 years were enrolled. Diabetes and pre-diabetes were diagnosed according to the history, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels.ResultsThe prevalence of diabetes was 17.1%, higher in urban than in rural residents (20.2% vs 15.8%, p<0.001). Meanwhile, the prevalence of pre-diabetes was 44.3%, higher in rural than in urban areas (49.4% vs 31.8%, p<0.001). The overall FPG and HbA1c were 6.10±1.94 mmol/L and 5.59%±1.08%. The FPG level was higher in rural area than in urban areas (6.15±1.83 mmol/L vs 5.97±2.18 mmol/L, p<0.001). Among participants with diabetes, 47.5% were aware of their diabetes condition; 39.5% were taking antidiabetic medications and 36.8% of people had their diabetes controlled. The awareness and treatment rates in rural areas were lower than those in urban areas (47.3% vs 57.5%, 34.4% vs 49.5%, p<0.001). Patients with diabetic, especially those in rural areas, tended to have multiple risk factors including hypertension (71.7%), overweight or obesity (69.6%) and dyslipidaemia (52.8%).ConclusionA considerable burden of diabetes was observed in northeast China, with high percentage of untreated diabetes, high prevalence of pre-diabetes, high overall FPG level and multiple uncontrolled risk factors in patients with diabetics. Therefore, region-specific strategies on prevention and management of diabetes should be emphasised.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Saad Alshahrani ◽  
Ahmed Hablas ◽  
Robert M. Chamberlain ◽  
Jane Meza ◽  
Steven Remmenga ◽  
...  

PURPOSE Uterine cancer is a top-ranking women’s cancer worldwide, with wide incidence variations across countries and by rural and urban areas. Hormonal exposures and access to health care vary between rural and urban areas, globally. Egypt has an overall low incidence of uterine cancer but variable rural and urban lifestyles. Are there changes in the incidence of uterine cancer in rural and urban areas in middle-income countries such as Egypt? No previous studies have addressed this question from a well-characterized and validated population-based cancer registry resource in middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to explore the differences in clinical and demographic characteristics of uterine cancer over the period of 1999 to 2010 in rural and urban Gharbiah province, Egypt. METHODS Data were abstracted for all 660 patients with uterine cancer included in the Gharbiah Population-based Cancer Registry. Clinical variables included tumor location, histopathologic diagnosis, stage, grade, and treatment. Demographic variables included age, rural or urban residence, parity, and occupation. Crude and age-adjusted incidence rates (IRs) and rate ratios by rural or urban residence were calculated. RESULTS No significant differences were observed in most clinical and demographic characteristics between rural and urban patients. The age standardized IR (ASR) was 2.5 times higher in urban than in rural areas (6.9 and 2.8 per 100,000 in urban and rural areas, respectively). The rate ratio showed that the IR in urban areas was 2.46 times the rate in rural areas. CONCLUSION This study showed that the disease IR in rural areas has increased in the past decade but is still low compared with the incidence in urban areas in Egypt, which did not show a significant increase in incidence. Nutritional transitions, obesity, and epidemiologic and lifestyle changes toward Westernization may have led to IRs increasing more in rural than in urban areas in Egypt. This pattern of increasing incidence in Egypt, which used to have a low incidence of uterine cancer, may appear in other middle-income countries that experience emerging nutritional and epidemiologic transitions. The rate of uterine cancer in urban areas in Gharbiah is almost similar to the corresponding rates globally. However, the rate in rural areas in this population has increased over the past decade but is still lower than the corresponding global rates. Future studies should examine the etiologic factors related to increasing rates in rural areas and quantify the improvement in rural case finding.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 874-874
Author(s):  
Fausto R Loberiza ◽  
Anthony J Cannon ◽  
Dennis D Weisenburger ◽  
Julie M. Vose ◽  
Matt J. Moehr ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives: We evaluated the association of the primary area of residence (urban vs. rural) and treatment (trt) provider (university-based vs. community-based) with overall survival in patients with lymphoma, and determined if there are patient subgroups that could benefit from better coordination of care. Methods: We performed a population-based study in 2,330 patients with centrally confirmed lymphoma from Nebraska and surrounding states reported to the Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group between 1982 and 2006. Patient residential ZIP codes at the time to trt were used to determine rural/urban designation, household income and distance to trt center; while trt providers were categorized into university-based or community based. Multivariate analyses were used to group patients into risk levels based on 8 factors found to be associated with survival at the time of trt (age, performance score, Ann Arbor stage, presence of B symptoms, LDH levels, tumor bulk, nodal and extranodal involvement). The following categories were identified: low-risk (1–3 factors), intermediate risk (4–5 factors), and high-risk (≥6 factors). Cox proportional regression analyses, stratified by type of lymphoma (low-grade NHL, high-grade NHL and Hodgkin) were used to evaluate the association between place of residence and trt provider with overall survival. Results: Among urban residents, 321 (14%) were treated by university-based providers (UUB) and 816 (35%) were treated by community-based providers (UCB). Among rural residents, 332 (14%) were treated by university-based providers (RUB) and 861 (37%) were treated by community-based providers (RCB). Patients from rural areas were more likely to be older and Caucasian, with a lower median household income, greater travel distance to seek trt, and more likely to have high-risk disease when compared to patients from urban areas. In multivariate analysis, using all patients regardless of risk level, the relative risk of death (RR) among UUB, UCB and RUB was not statistically different. However, RCB had a higher risk of death RR 1.37, 95% CI 1.14–1.65, p=0.01; RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04–1.33, p<0.01; and RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.06–1.49, p=0.01 when compared with UUB, UCB and RUB, respectively. This association remained true in both low- and intermediate-risk patients. Among high-risk patients, both RUB and RCB were at higher risk of death when compared with UUB or UCB, while UCB were not different from UUB. We found no differences in progression-free survival according to place of residence and trt provider. The use of stem cell transplantation was significantly higher in patients coming from urban and rural areas treated by university-based providers (UUB 19%, RUB 16%) compared to urban and rural patients treated by community-based providers (UCB 11%, RCB 10%, p < 0.01). Patients from rural areas (RUB and RCB) were slightly less likely to die from lymphoma-related causes than patients from urban areas (75% versus 80%, p=0.04). Conclusion: Overall survival in patients with lymphoma is inferior in patients coming from rural areas. This relationship varies according to treatment provider and pretreatment risk levels. Further studies in patients from rural areas are needed to understand how coordination of care is carried to design appropriate interventions that may improve the disparity noted.


2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yehezkel Waisman ◽  
Limor Aharonson-Daniel ◽  
Meirav Mor ◽  
Lisa Amir ◽  
Kobi Peleg

AbstractObjectives:To review and analyze the cumulative two-year, Israeli experience with medical care for children victims of terrorism during the prehospital and hospital phases.Methods:Data were collected from the: (1) Magen David Adom National Emergency Medical System Registry (prehospital phase); (2) medical records from the authors’ institutions (pediatric triage); and (3) Israel Tr auma Registry (injury characteristics and utilization of in-hospital resources). Statistical analyses were performed as appropriate.Introduction:During the recent wave of violence in Israel and the surrounding region, hundreds of children have been exposed to and injured by terrorist attacks. There is a paucity of data on the epidemiology and management of terror-related trauma in the pediatric population and its effects on the healthcare system. This study focuses on four aspects of terrorism-related injuries: (1) tending to victims in the prehospital phase; (2) triage, with a description of a modified, pediatric triage algorithm; (3) characteristics of trauma-related injuries in children; and (4) utilization of in-hospital resources.Results:During the study period, 41 mass-casualty events (MCEs) were managed by Magen David Adom. Each event involved on average, 32 regular and nine mobile intensive care unit ambulances with 93 medics, 19 paramedics, and four physicians. Evacuation time was 5–10 minutes in urban areas and 15–20 minutes in rural areas. In most cases, victims were evacuated to multiple facilities. To improve efficiency and speed, the Magen David Adom introduced the use of well-trained “first-responders” and volunteer, off-duty professionals, in addition to “scoop and run” on-the-scene management. Because of differences in physiology and response between children and adults, a pediatric triage algorithm was developed using four categories instead of the usual three. Analysis of the injuries sustained by the 160 children hospitalized after these events indicates that most were caused by blasts and penetration by foreign objects. Sixty-five percent of the children had multiple injuries, and the proportion of critical to fatal injuries was high (18%). Compared to children with non-terrorism-related injuries, the terrorism-related group had a higher rate of surgical interventions, longer hospital stays, and greater needs for rehabilitation services.Conclusion:Terrorism-related injuries in children are severe and increase the demand for acute care. The modifications in the management of pedi-atric casualties from terrorism in Israel may contribute to the level of preparedness of medical and paramedical personnel to cope with future events. Further studies of other aspects of traumatic injuries, such as its short- and long-term psychological consequences, will provide a more comprehensive picture of the damage inflicted on children by acts of terrorism.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-91
Author(s):  
Abrar Gaffari ◽  
Dwini Handayani

Motivated from the employment report which reveals the still high percentage of NEE in Indonesia, using the IFLS5 data we conduct studies related to the impact of sosio-demographic characteristics and local indicators and labor markets on NEE young age. NEE is a heterogeneous population based on attitudes and time availability from a young age towards work (Salvà-Mut, Tugores-Ques, Quintana-Murci, 2017) so that grouping can capture patterns of vulnerability and young age transition decisions to the labor market which is produce appropriate recommendations. The estimation results indicate that NEE carers-cared have characteristics as young women, low education, married status and come from underprivileged backgrounds and tend to be in rural areas with high local unemployment rates. While NEE unemployed is also characterized by young age, but the dominant of men with unmarried status and education is higher than non-NEE, besides it tends to be in urban areas and is influenced by high local unemployment rates. However, it is different from the previous categories, although NEE discourage is also young, male dominated and education level is low. But this category is not affected by regional indicators and the local labor market, due to their lack of perceptions and attitudes towards work. Termotivasi dari laporan ketenagakerjaan yang mengungkapkan masih tingginya persentase NEE di Indonesia, maka dengan menggunakan data IFLS5 kami melakukan kajian terkait dampak karakteristik-karakteristik individu, pendidikan, latar belakang keluarga dan indikator wilayah dan pasar kerja lokal terhadap usia muda yang NEE. Kami tertarik untuk meneliti NEE sebagai populasi yang heterogen dengan cara mengelompokkannya berdasarkan atas sikap dan ketersediaan waktu dari usia muda terhadap pekerjaan (Salvà-Mut, Tugores-Ques, Quintana-Murci, 2017), agar dapat menangkap pola kerentanan dan keputusan transisi usia muda ke pasar kerja sehingga dapat dihasilkan rekomendasi kebijakan yang tepat. Hasil estimasi menunjukkan bahwa NEE carers-cared mempunyai karakteristik sebagai perempuan yang berusia muda, tingkat pendidikan rendah, berstatus sudah menikah dan berasal dari latar belakang keluarga yang kurang beruntung terkait ekonomi dan cenderung di pedesaan dengan tingkat pengangguran lokal yang tinggi. Sedangkan NEE unemployed juga mempunyai karakteristik berusia muda, tapi dominan berjenis kelamin laki-laki dengan status belum menikah dan tingkat pendidikan lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan bukan NEE, selain itu kategori ini cenderung di perkotaan dan juga dipengaruhi oleh tingkat pengangguran lokal yang tinggi. Namun berbeda dengan dua kategori sebelumnya, walaupun discourage juga cenderung berusia muda, berjenis kelamin laki-laki dan tingkat pendidikan rendah, tapi usia muda ini tidak terpengaruh oleh indikator wilayah dan pasar kerja lokal. Hal ini dikarenakan kurangnya persepsi dan sikap terhadap pekerjaan. 


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia Krabbendam ◽  
Mark van Vugt ◽  
Philippe Conus ◽  
Ola Söderström ◽  
Lilith Abrahamyan Empson ◽  
...  

Abstract Twenty-first century urbanization poses increasing challenges for mental health. Epidemiological studies have shown that mental health problems often accumulate in urban areas, compared to rural areas, and suggested possible underlying causes associated with the social and physical urban environments. Emerging work indicates complex urban effects that depend on many individual and contextual factors at the neighbourhood and country level and novel experimental work is starting to dissect potential underlying mechanisms. This review summarizes findings from epidemiology and population-based studies, neuroscience, experimental and experience-based research and illustrates how a combined approach can move the field towards an increased understanding of the urbanicity-mental health nexus.


2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 690-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Olofsson ◽  
Eva Lena Ulander ◽  
Yngve Gustafson ◽  
Carl Hörnsten

Aims: To study edentulism and use of dental services in a population-based sample of people aged 65 years and older from northern Sweden and western Finland. Methods: In 2010, people aged 65, 70, 75 and 80 years who were living in one of 32 municipalities in northern Sweden and western Finland were invited to answer a questionnaire as part of the Gerontological Regional Database (GERDA) study ( n = 6099). The questionnaire contained items related to socioeconomic status, general health and edentulism. Results: The prevalence of edentulism was 34.9% in Finland, compared with 20.6% in Sweden ( p < 0.001), 31.9% in rural areas, compared with 20.9% in urban areas ( p < 0.001), and 25% overall. The prevalence of edentulism rose from 17.8% in 65-year-olds, 23.8% in 70-year-olds, 33.5% in 75-year-olds and 37.3% in 80-year-olds ( p < 0.001), and was 23.8% in women, compared with 27% in men ( p < 0.001). In multivariate models, edentulism was associated with lower educational level (odds ratio (OR) 2.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.31–3.58), low income level (OR 1.7, CI 1.09–1.47), residence in a rural area (OR 1.43, CI 1.23–1.66), male sex (OR 1.30, CI 1.12–1.52), dependence in instrumental activities of daily living (OR 1.48, CI 1.25–1.74), social isolation (OR 1.52, CI 1.17–1.98) and poor self-experienced health (OR 1.38, CI 1.17–1.62). Conclusions: One-quarter of the total sample was edentulous, with a higher prevalence of edentulism in Finland than in Sweden and in rural than in urban areas. Edentulism was associated with socioeconomic, psychological and health-related factors. These findings could be used to inform preventive measures and identify people aged 65 years and older who are in need of oral care.


Author(s):  
Govind Maakhni ◽  
Shavinder Singh ◽  
Deepshikha Kamra

Background: In India, fast foods are becoming part of our daily lifestyle. Foods prepared in restaurants are very high in trans fats (TFs). Also, alarmingly about 400,000 tonnes of snacks, which are largely prepared in TFs are consumed every year. According to recent studies, TFs levels are 5 to 12 times higher in the oils consumed in India as compared to the world standard. The WHO recommends that TFs intake be less than 1 percent of total caloric intake. The objective of the study was to assess the consumption of TFs and fats in foods by the population in urban and rural areas.Methods: This was a community-based cross-sectional study. All adult females above 18 years of age who took an active part in kitchen were interviewed. Their dietary patterns were assessed. The sampling was done using a systematic random sampling technique and 200 participants each in rural and urban areas were selected.Results: 12 percent participants in the urban area and 9 percent participants in the rural area were exceeding WHO limit of less than 1 percent TFs consumption. The median value of TFs consumption was higher in urban area (0.575 grams/day) than in rural area (0.427 grams/day).Conclusions: The study concludes that 12 percent participants in the urban area and 9 percent participants in the rural area were exceeding TFs consumption. Therefore, a proactive approach to ensure that these WHO regulations have the full intended effect needs to be taken.


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