Recent Advances in Minimally-Obtrusive Monitoring of People's Health

Author(s):  
Amol D. Mali

Monitoring people's health is useful for enhancing the care provided to them by others or self-management of health. This article is a survey of the latest research on monitoring parameters indicating a person's current health or having potential to affect the person's health in future, using various physical sensors. These sensors include accelerometers, gyroscopes, electromyography sensors, fiber optic sensors, textile electrodes, thermistors, infrared sensors, force sensors, and photo diodes. The health parameters monitored include heart rate, respiration rate, weight, body mass index, calories burnt, pressure distribution, diet, blood pressure, blood glucose, oxygen saturation, posture, duration of sleep, quality of sleep, hand movement, body temperature, skin conductance, exposure to ultraviolet light, adherence to medication-intake schedule, gait characteristics, and steps taken. The population monitored includes elderly people, miners, stroke survivors, osteoarthritis patients, people suffering from anorexia nervosa, obese people, people with Parkinson's disease, people having panic attacks, and wheelchair users.

2020 ◽  
pp. 593-606
Author(s):  
Amol D. Mali

Monitoring people's health is useful for enhancing the care provided to them by others or self-management of health. This article is a survey of the latest research on monitoring parameters indicating a person's current health or having potential to affect the person's health in future, using various physical sensors. These sensors include accelerometers, gyroscopes, electromyography sensors, fiber optic sensors, textile electrodes, thermistors, infrared sensors, force sensors, and photo diodes. The health parameters monitored include heart rate, respiration rate, weight, body mass index, calories burnt, pressure distribution, diet, blood pressure, blood glucose, oxygen saturation, posture, duration of sleep, quality of sleep, hand movement, body temperature, skin conductance, exposure to ultraviolet light, adherence to medication-intake schedule, gait characteristics, and steps taken. The population monitored includes elderly people, miners, stroke survivors, osteoarthritis patients, people suffering from anorexia nervosa, obese people, people with Parkinson's disease, people having panic attacks, and wheelchair users.


Author(s):  
F.Z. Abdullaev ◽  
F.E. Abbasov ◽  
N.M. Babaev ◽  
L.S. Shikhieva ◽  
G.A. Amrakhova

The aim of the paper is to correlate the results of endovascular myocardial revascularization (EMR) in patients under 40 years of age with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) / stable angina, primary EMR age ≤35/36–40 and stent diameter. Materials and Methods. The authors examined 208 patients (24–40 years of age) with coronary artery disease: 157 patients (75.5 %) aged 36–40; 51 patients (24.5 %) aged ≤35. All in all, 165 (79.3 %) patients underwent EMR; 32 patients (15.4 %) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting; 11 patients (5.3 %) refused medical intervention. EMR results and the quality of life were studied in 126 patients (76.4 %) at 10–107 months of observation (62.5±2.6 months). Results. 84 patients with ACS (50.9 %) and 81 patients with stable angina (49.1 %) underwent EMR. There were no any peri-procedural complications. The authors observed 0 % hospital and 30-day mortality. The survival rate of patients for the period up to 9 years was 99.2 %; long-term mortality was 0.8 %; the constancy of results up to 1, 2 and 3 years of follow-up was 90.5 %, 84.1 % and 81.7 %, respectively, and up to 5–9 years it was 79.4 %. An active lifestyle was verified in 74.6 % of patients; a sparing lifestyle was observed in 25.4 %; 86.5 %, of patients returned to work; transient sexual disorders were found in 28.6% of patients. 83.3 % and 27.8 % of patients kept to drug therapy and dietary regimen. 34.1 % and 23.8 % of patients kept smoking and taking power drinks; overweight and obesity were observed in 23.8 % and 19 % of patients. Recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) / angina was verified in 23 % of patients; 20.6 % of patients underwent second EMR. 23 % of patients got depressed due to recurrent myocardial infarction / angina, while 18.3 % of patients were down due to the quarantine (COVID-19); 6.3 % suffered from panic attacks, for fear of recurrent anginous pain. Conclusion. Predictors of recurrent EMR and stability of results were: 1) ACS; 2) patients’ age (≤35); 3) history of MI, ejection fraction ≤35–40 %, diabetes; 4) stent diameter (<28 mm); 5) smoking and taking power drinks. The leading predictor was the aggressiveness of atherosclerosis and diabetes in persons under 40, causing: a) early stent dysfunction; b) native and “protected” coronary vessels damage in case of intact stents patency. Keywords: ischemic heart disease, young patients, risk profile, semiotics of coronary arteries, endovascular myocardial revascularization, quality of life. Цель. Корреляция результатов эндоваскулярных реваскуляризаций миокарда (ЭВРМ) у больных моложе 40 лет с острым коронарным синдромом (ОКС) / стабильной стенокардией, возрастом при первичной ЭВРМ ≤35 лет / 36–40 лет и диаметром стентов. Материалы и методы. Обследовано 208 больных ИБС в возрасте 24–40 лет: 157 (75,5 %) чел. – в возрасте 36–40 лет, 51 (24,5 %) – ≤35 лет. ЭВРМ выполнена 165 (79,3 %) больным, коронарное шунтирование – 32 (15,4 %), 11 (5,3 %) пациентов отказались от вмешательства. Исходы ЭВРМ и качество жизни изучены у 126 (76,4 %) больных на сроках 10–107 мес. (62,5±2,6 мес.) наблюдения. Результаты. ЭВРМ выполнена 84 (50,9 %) больным ОКС и 81 (49,1 %) больному стабильной стенокардией. Перипроцедурных осложнений не выявлено. Госпитальная и 30-дневная летальность составила 0 %. Выживаемость пациентов на сроках до 9 лет – 99,2 %; отдаленная летальность – 0,8 %; сохранность результатов до 1, 2 и 3 лет наблюдения составила соответственно 90,5, 84,1 и 81,7 %, до 5–9 лет – 79,4 %. Активный образ жизни верифицирован у 74,6 % обследованных, щадящий – у 25,4 %, возврат к работе – у 86,5 %, транзиторные сексуальные нарушения – у 28,6 %. Медикаментозную терапию и диетический режим питания соблюдали 83,3 и 27,8 % пациентов. Продолжали курить и принимать энергетические напитки 34,1 и 23,8 % обследованных; избыточный вес и ожирение сохранялись у 23,8 и 19 %. Рецидив инфаркта миокарда (ИМ) / стенокардии отмечен у 23 % пациентов; повторные ЭВРМ выполнены 20,6 % больным. Депрессию из-за рецидива ИМ / стенокардии отмечали 23 % пациентов, ввиду карантина (COVID-19) – 18,3 %; 6,3 % страдали паническими атаками, боясь повторения ангинозных болей. Выводы. Предикторами повторных ЭВРМ и стабильности результатов являются: 1) ОКС; 2) возраст ≤35 лет; 3) анамнез ИМ, фракция выброса ≤35–40 %, диабет; 4) диаметр стентов <28 мм; 5) курение и прием энергетических напитков. Ведущий предиктор – агрессивность атеросклероза и диабета у лиц не старше 40 лет, обусловливающих: а) раннюю дисфункцию стентов; б) при сохранной проходимости стентов – поражение нативных и «защищенных» коронарных сосудов. Ключевые слова: ишемическая болезнь сердца, молодые больные, профиль риска, семиотика коронарных артерий, эндоваскулярная реваскуляризация миокарда, качество жизни.


2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 63-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casper de Boer ◽  
Johan J.M. Pel ◽  
Johannes van der Steen ◽  
Francesco Mattace-Raso

Background/Aims: Recent evidence shows that early dementia patients have deficits in manual reaching tasks. It is important to understand the impact of these functional disabilities on their quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is an association between manual reaching and measures of (instrumental) activities of daily living (IADL) in a group of patients with cognitive complaints. Methods: The manual reaching performance of 27 patients was assessed in detail with eye and hand tracking devices. Patients were divided into three groups based on self-reported loss of IADL function. Parameters describing hand response and movement times were compared between groups. Results: Patients with loss of IADL function in ≥1 domain had delayed hand response and hand movement times towards visible targets compared to patients with no loss of IADL function. Conclusion: Delays in manual reaching movements are related to the degree of loss of IADL function in early dementia patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S180-S180
Author(s):  
A M Folan ◽  
G Jones ◽  
D Baker ◽  
S Brown ◽  
M Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The decision for ulcerative colitis (UC) patients to opt for elective surgery or continue medical treatment is dependent on patient preferences taking into account a range of factors. In addition to choosing between medical and surgical treatment, patients undergoing elective surgery are presented with a further decision regarding which operation to choose. The aim of this systematic review is to identify and understand what matters to UC patients when they are making these decisions. Methods Five electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Medline, and Embase) were searched for relevant literature up to 15 October 2020. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies were included in this review. Studies reporting on what was important to UC patients (over 16 years of age) when they make treatment decisions were included. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the quality of the papers. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results The searches identified 6,917 papers and a final 19 (eight quantitative, seven qualitative, four mixed methods) papers were included. All studies were published since 2007 and included a total of 3,328 participants from nine countries. Five overarching themes (and their associated 20 sub-themes) were generated to describe the factors reported as important to UC patients in making treatment decisions. These were: 1. Information provision (information content, knowledge about their illness, quality of information); 2. Impact of the treatment upon daily life (controlling physical symptoms, quality of life); 3. Levels of risk (trade-off, high risk, concern and worry); 4. Burden of treatment (the need to see benefits of medication, route and size of medication, side effects, dosing frequency, costs, effort of being the patient, adherence to medication, surgery concerns, timing of surgery); and 5. Patient-clinician relationship (shared decision-making, communication, mismatch between what clinicians and patients consider to be important). Conclusion Communication between patients and their IBD teams should take into account the range of factors that influence their treatment decision making. Decision support interventions that incorporate such factors may better support the patient-clinician relationship and improve knowledge of treatment options and how these impact on what matters to them. Future studies are needed to determine which factors identified in this review are dominant.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Sasube ◽  
Starry H. Rampengan

Abstract: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common among cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients. It is an important component of the quality of life. Moreover, it also confers an independent risk for future CV events. There is usual a 3-year time frame between the onset of ED symptoms and a CV event which offers an opportunity for risk mitigation. Thus, sexual function should be incorporated into CVD risk assessment for all males. Algorithms for the management of patient with ED have been proposed according to the risk for sexual activity and future (comprising of both lifestyle changes and pharmacological treatment) improve overall vascular health, including sexual function. Proper sexual counselling improves the quality of life and increase adherence to medication. Testosterone assessment may be useful for both diagnosis of ED, risk stratification, and further management. There are issues to be addressed, such as whether PDE5 inhibitors reduce CV risk. Management of ED requires a collaborative approach and the role of the cardiologist is pivotal.Keywords: cardiovascular disease, erectile dysfunction, sexual functionAbstrak: Disfungsi ereksi (DE) umumnya ditemukan pada pasien dengan penyakit kardiovaskular. DE merupakan komponen penting terhadap penurunan kualitas hidup pada laki-laki dan merupakan indikator terhadap risiko kejadian penyakit kardiovaskular di masa depan. Terdapat jangka waktu sekitar 3 tahun antara munculnya DE dan kejadian penyakit kardiovaskular, sehingga masih ada kesempatan untuk mencegah risiko yang akan terjadi. Dengan demikian fungsi seksual harus dimasukkan dalam penilaian risiko penyakit kardiovaskular pada semua laki-laki. Algoritma untuk penanganan pasien DE telah dirumuskan sesuai dengan risiko aktivitas seksual dan kejadian penyakit kardiovaskular di masa depan. Beberapa pendekatan untuk mengurangi resiko penyakit kardiovaskular terdiri dari perubahan gaya hidup dan pengobatan farmakologi dapat meningkatkan kesehatan termasuk fungsi seksual. Konseling seksual yang tepat dapat meningkatkan kualitas hidup dan meningkatkan kepatuhan terhadap pengobatan. Penggunaan testosteron dan inhibitor PDE5 dapat bermanfaat dalam pengobatan DE. Penanganan DE memerlukan kerjasama dari berbagai bidang spesialistik termasuk peran dari kardiologis.Kata kunci: disfungsi ereksi, fungsi seksual, penyakit kardiovaskular


Author(s):  
Andrew J. Roth ◽  
Christian J. Nelson

Cancer-related fatigue is common, occurring in up to 80% of patients. Distressing fatigue can be related to psychiatric or medical causes such as significant depression, frequent intense anxiety, or panic attacks, as well as sleep disturbances, pain, and electrolyte or hormonal abnormalities. It is often caused by a wide range of medications and substances. This chapter presents the various causes of fatigue to help non-prescribing clinicians distinguish fatigue from other look-alike diagnoses such as depression and make appropriate referrals to prescribers. Identifying opportunities to supplement nonpharmacologic therapies with an activating medication can improve a patient’s quality of life and joy in living. This chapter will help all clinicians become more aware of medications used to boost energy, such as energizing antidepressants, wakefulness agents, and psychostimulants, as well as the potential side effects of these medications.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A C Martins ◽  
P Francisco

Abstract Introduction Recognizing that AT service characteristics, including knowledge and reasoning of providers, play a potential role in the appropriated selection and training, with impact on the psychosocial domains of QoL. In Portugal, AT services are detected to be ineffective concerning evaluation, recommendation, advocacy, training and outcome measuring, what could be a reason for these findings. Objectives To investigate the relationship between AT services characteristics and psychosocial impact of the wheelchairs on users QoL to get insights to new approach models in physiotherapy. Methodology Procedures included answering to self-administered questionnaires at their own. The dependent variable was the psychosocial impact of assistive devices (PIADS) and the independent variables were satisfaction with AT (QUEST) and AT service characteristics. Results Participants were 184 wheelchair users for more than one year with diverse diagnosis; age M = 37.3 years, recruited at physiotherapy/rehabilitation settings in Portugal. Wheelchair users are more satisfied with devices than with AT services. Correlations between psychosocial impact of wheelchair are moderate regarding the satisfaction of device dimension, measured by QUEST. No corrections were found to satisfaction with service dimension Manual wheelchair users scored lower psychosocial impact than motorized wheelchair users and that difference was statistically significant. Conclusion PT should be aware of the newest high technology devices introduced on the market, payment sources and state AT programs as well as destigmatize dependence associated to AT. We got significant insights to AT field and to the development of PT curriculum; PT students need more than the basic level of knowledge and training they achieved at school to feel prepared to provide AT services. After graduation, PTs need continuing education on AT. Strategies are discussed on this report.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 140
Author(s):  
Phyo Wai Minn ◽  
Hemant Deepak Shewade ◽  
Nang Thu Thu Kyaw ◽  
Khaing Hnin Phyo ◽  
Nay Yi Yi Linn ◽  
...  

Malaria accounted for 18% of all deaths in the ethnic communities of Myanmar. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the extent of and factors associated with receipt of quality malaria treatment services provided by integrated community malaria volunteer (ICMV) under six ethnic health organisations. Data of people with malaria diagnosed by rapid diagnostic tests during 2017–2018 were extracted from the ICMV registers. Documentation of prescribing a complete course of drugs was used to assess quality. Of 2881 people with malaria, village-based ICMV diagnosed and treated 2279 (79%) people. Overall, 2726 (95%) people received correct drugs in the correct dose and adequate duration appropriate to malaria species, age and pregnancy status while 1285 (45%) people received ‘correct and timely (within 24 h of fever)’ treatment. Children under five years, those with severe malaria, mixed infection and falciparum malaria were less likely to receive the correct treatment. When compared to health posts, village-based ICMVs and mobile teams performed better in providing correct treatment and mobile teams in providing ‘correct and timely’ treatment. This calls for ensuring the early presentation of people to health workers within 24 h of undifferentiated fever through health promotion initiatives. Future studies should assess adherence to medication and clinical improvement.


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