Advancements in murine modeling systems for ulcerative colitis have diversified our understanding of the pathophysiological factors involved in disease onset and progression.This has fueled the identification of molec...Advancements in murine modeling systems for ulcerative colitis have diversified our understanding of the pathophysiological factors involved in disease onset and progression.This has fueled the identification of molecular targets,resulting in a rapidly expanding therapeutic armamentarium.Subsequently,management strategies have evolved from symptomatic resolution to well-defined objective endpoints,including clinical remission,endoscopic remission and mucosal healing.While the incorporation of these assessment modalities has permitted targeted intervention in the context of a natural disease history and the prevention of complications,studies have consistently depicted discrepancies associated with ascertaining disease status through clinical and endoscopic measures.Current recommendations lack consideration of histological healing.The simultaneous achievement of clinical,endoscopic,and histologic remission has not been fully investigated.This has laid the groundwork for a novel therapeutic outcome termed disease clearance(DC).This article summarizes the concept of DC and its current evidence.展开更多
Objective To determine the associations of socio-economic and psychosocial factors with active and passive smoking in older adults. Methods Using a standard interview method, we examined random samples of 6071 people ...Objective To determine the associations of socio-economic and psychosocial factors with active and passive smoking in older adults. Methods Using a standard interview method, we examined random samples of 6071 people aged 〉 60 years in 5 provinces of China during 2007-2009. Results World age-standardised prevalence for current and former smoking in men was 45.6% and 20.5%, and in women 11.1% and 4.5%. Current smoking reduced with older age but increased with men, low socioeconomic status （SES）, alcohol drinking, being never-married, pessimistic and depressive syndromes. Former smoking was associated with men, secondary school education, a middle-high income, being a businessman, being widowed, less frequencies of visiting children/relatives and friends, and worrying about children. Among 3774 never-smokers, the prevalence of passive smoking was 31.5%, and the risk increased with women, low SES, alcohol drinking, being married, having a religious believe, and daily visiting children/relatives. There were sex differences in the associations, and an interaction effect of education and income on smoking and passive smoking. Conclusion Older Chinese had a higher level of smoking and passive smoking than those in high income countries, reflecting China＇s failures in controlling smoking. The associations with low SES and different psychosocial aspects and sex differences suggest preventative strategies for active and passive smoking.展开更多
Most studies of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)progression have focused on the transfer of patients within secondary or tertiary care hospitals from regular wards to intensive care units.Little is known about the r...Most studies of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)progression have focused on the transfer of patients within secondary or tertiary care hospitals from regular wards to intensive care units.Little is known about the risk factors predicting the progression to severe COVID-19 among patients in community iso-lation,who are either asymptomatic or suffer from only mild to moderate symptoms.Using a multivari-able competing risk survival analysis,we identify several important predictors of progression to severe COVID-19—rather than to recovery—among patients in the largest community isolation center in Wuhan,China from 6 February 2020(when the center opened)to 9 March 2020(when it closed).All patients in community isolation in Wuhan were either asymptomatic or suffered from mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.We performed competing risk survival analysis on time-to-event data from a cohort study of all COVID-19 patients(n=1753)in the isolation center.The potential predictors we inves-tigated were the routine patient data collected upon admission to the isolation center:age,sex,respira-tory symptoms,gastrointestinal symptoms,general symptoms,and computed tomography(CT)scan signs.The main outcomes were time to severe COVID-19 or recovery.The factors predicting progression to severe COVID-19 were:male sex(hazard ratio(HR)=1.29,95%confidence interval(CI)1.04–1.58,p=0.018),young and old age,dyspnea(HR=1.58,95%CI 1.24–2.01,p<0.001),and CT signs of ground-glass opacity(HR=1.39,95%CI 1.04–1.86,p=0.024)and infiltrating shadows(HR=1.84,95%CI 1.22–2.78,p=0.004).The risk of progression was found to be lower among patients with nausea or vomiting(HR=0.53,95%CI 0.30–0.96,p=0.036)and headaches(HR=0.54,95%CI 0.29–0.99,p=0.046).Our results suggest that several factors that can be easily measured even in resource-poor set-tings(dyspnea,sex,and age)can be used to identify mild COVID-19 patients who are at increased risk of disease progression.Looking for CT signs of ground-glass opacity and infiltrating shadows may be an affordable option to support triage decisions in resource-rich settings.Common and unspecific symptoms(headaches,nausea,and vomiting)are likely to have led to the identification and subsequent community isolation of COVID-19 patients who were relatively unlikely to deteriorate.Future public health and clinical guidelines should build on this evidence to improve the screening,triage,and monitoring of COVID-19 patients who are asymtomatic or suffer from mild to moderate symptoms.展开更多
Background: Preventive care of diabetic foot and eye complications is essential. However, data on the prevalence of and factors associated with screening of angiopathic complications in ambulatory patients with diabet...Background: Preventive care of diabetic foot and eye complications is essential. However, data on the prevalence of and factors associated with screening of angiopathic complications in ambulatory patients with diabetes are very limited in Switzerland. We aimed to fill this gap of knowledge. Methods: Cross-sectional data on recommended preventive care using RAND’s criteria in a random sample of patients aged 50-80 years in 2005-2006. Participants were recruited from 4 Swiss university primary care settings (in Lausanne, Geneva, Zürich and Basel). Scores for general preventive care in patients with and without diabetes were calculated by using generalized estimating equation binomial models. Multivariate regression models were used to identify determinants of appropriateness of angiopathic complications prevention. The main outcome measure was appropriateness of screening for angiopathic complications based on the 2005 American Diabetes Association recommendations corresponding to the period of data collection. Results: Among the 1002 patients aged 50 - 80 years, 292 (29.1%) had diabetes (101/292 [34.6%] female, mean BMI 30.7 [SD 5.7]). Fifty-nine percent had appropriate preventive foot care and 55.8% had appropriate preventive eye care. Only 34.6% had appropriate preventive care of both foot and eye. No differences in aggregate scores for general preventive care in patients with and without diabetes were found (67.5% vs. 69.1%, p value 0.39). In multivariate model, obesity was negatively (OR = 0.28, 0.15 - 0.53) and hyperlipidemia positively (OR = 2.29, 1.20 - 4.38) associated with appropriate eye preventive care and with appropriate combined foot and eye preventive care (OR = 0.35, 0.18 - 0.70 for obesity and OR = 2.82, 1.24 - 6.40 for hyperlipidemia). Conclusions: Preventive care of diabetic angiopathic complications is low among ambulatory patients despite universal health care coverage. Particular attention should be paid to obese patients with diabetes.展开更多
Background: Involving pharmacists in clinical care could improve the identification of subjects at risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease. Data on web-based approach involving pharmacists for CV disease risk assessment ...Background: Involving pharmacists in clinical care could improve the identification of subjects at risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease. Data on web-based approach involving pharmacists for CV disease risk assessment are very limited. Methods: We first developed a web-based CV risk assessment tool to be used by pharmacists that includes demographic, lifestyle, biological and anthropometric information. Biological and anthropometric data were collected in independent laboratories. We then assessed the feasibility and validity of this approach by inviting adults who previously (within 6 months) participated in a Swiss standardized population-based study to fill out the web-based platform. Attrition rates and correlations were used to assess the feasibility and validity, respectively. Proportions were expressed as percentages and continuous variables were expressed as means ± standard deviations (SD). Main Outcomes Measure: Proportions of participants who 1) agreed to participate;2) filled out the questionnaire and had their biological and anthropometric measures taken;3) only filled out the questionnaire;and 4) only had their biological and anthropometric measures taken. Correlations were used to compare continuous variables (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total plasma cholesterol, HDL plasma cholesterol, LDL plasma cholesterol, triglycerides) collected via both studies. Results: Overall, 218 (53.2% women) adults of the population-based study were eligible and were contacted to participate, from April to November 2013. Of these, 140 (64.2%) agreed to participate. The majority (67/140, 47.8%) both filled out the questionnaire and had their biological/anthropometric measures taken, whereas only 2.8% and 7.1% only filled out the questionnaire or only had their biological measures taken, respectively. Except for systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and triglycerides, the correlations between the measures obtained in the population-based study and the web-based approach were generally greater than 0.80, suggesting very good correlations. Conclusions: A web-based CV risk assessment via pharmacists is a feasible and valid approach. This web-based approach should be adapted to lower attrition, and its impact on CV risk factors should be further tested.展开更多
To determine the effect of combinations of statins, aspirin, β blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in the secondary prevention of all cause mortality in patients with ischaemic heart disease. Desig...To determine the effect of combinations of statins, aspirin, β blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in the secondary prevention of all cause mortality in patients with ischaemic heart disease. Design: Open prospective cohort study with nested case control analysis. Setting: 1.18 million patients registered with 89 general practices across 23 strategic health authority areas within the United Kingdom. Practices had longitudinal data for a minimum of eight years and were contributing to QRESEARCH, a new database. Patients: All patients with a first diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease between January 1996 and December 2003. Cases were patients with ischaemic heart disease who died. Controls were patients with ischaemic heart disease who were matched for age, sex, and year of diagnosis and were alive at the time their matched case died. Main outcome measures: Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval for risk of death in cases compared with controls. Exposure was current use of different combinations of statins, aspirin, β blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors before death in cases, or the equivalent date in controls. Results: 13 029 patients had a first diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease(incidence rate 338 per 100 000 person years). 2266 cases were matched to 9064 controls. Drug combinations associated with the greatest reduction in all cause mortality were statins, aspirin, and β blockers(83% reduction, 95% confidence interval 77% to 88% ); statins, aspirin, β blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors(75% reduction, 65% to 82% ); and statins, aspirin, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors(71% reduction, 59% to 79% ). Treatments associated with the smallest reduction in all cause mortality were β blockers alone(19% reduction, 37% reduction to 4% increase), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors alone(20% reduction, 1% to 35% ), and combined statins and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors(31% reduction, 57% reduction to 12% increase). Conclusions: Combinations of statins, aspirins, and β blockers improve survival in high risk patients with cardiovascular disease, although the addition of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor conferred no additional benefit despite the analysis being adjusted for congestive cardiac failure.展开更多
Background:Understanding willingness to undergo pulmonary function tests(PFTs)and the factors associated with poor uptake of PFTs is crucial for improving early detection and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary...Background:Understanding willingness to undergo pulmonary function tests(PFTs)and the factors associated with poor uptake of PFTs is crucial for improving early detection and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).This study aimed to understand willingness to undergo PFTs among high-risk populations and identify any barriers that may contribute to low uptake of PFTs.Methods:We collected data from participants in the"Happy Breathing Program"in China.Participants who did not follow physicians’recommendations to undergo PFTs were invited to complete a survey regarding their willingness to undergo PFTs and their reasons for not undergoing PFTs.We estimated the proportion of participants who were willing to undergo PFTs and examined the various reasons for participants to not undergo PFTs.We conducted univariable and multivariable logistic regressions to analyze the impact of individual-level factors on willingness to undergo PFTs.Results:A total of 8475 participants who had completed the survey on willingness to undergo PFTs were included in this study.Out of these participants,7660(90.4%)were willing to undergo PFTs.Among those who were willing to undergo PFTs but actually did not,the main reasons for not doing so were geographical inaccessibility(n=3304,43.1%)and a lack of trust in primary healthcare institutions(n=2809,36.7%).Among the 815 participants who were unwilling to undergo PFTs,over half(n=447,54.8%)believed that they did not have health problems and would only consider PFTs when they felt unwell.In the multivariable regression,individuals who were≤54 years old,residing in rural townships,with a secondary educational level,with medical reimbursement,still working,with occupational exposure to dust,and aware of the abbreviation"COPD"were more willing to undergo PFTs.Conclusions:Willingness to undergo PFTs was high among high-risk populations.Policymakers may consider implementing strategies such as providing financial incentives,promoting education,and establishing community-based programs to enhance the utilization of PFTs.展开更多
Background:Large numbers of Latin American immigrants recently arrived in Western Europe.Curative and preventive programmes need to take account of their risk of suffering and transmitting imported chronic infections ...Background:Large numbers of Latin American immigrants recently arrived in Western Europe.Curative and preventive programmes need to take account of their risk of suffering and transmitting imported chronic infections and of their susceptibility to cosmopolitan infections.We aimed to assess the prevalence and co-occurrence of imported chronic infections among Latin American immigrants,and their susceptibility to highly prevalent cosmopolitan infections.Methods:Adult participants were recruited in the community and in a primary health centre in Geneva in 2008.Serological tests were performed on stored sera for HIV,HBV,syphilis,Strongyloides stercoralis,Trypanosoma cruzi,varicella and measles.We considered only chronic active infections in the analysis.Results and discussion:The 1012 participants,aged 37.2(SD 11.3)years,were mostly female(82.5%)and Bolivians(48%).Overall,209(20.7%)had at least one and 27(2.7%)two or more chronic infections.T.cruzi(12.8%)and S.stercoralis(8.4%)were the most prevalent chronic active infections compared to syphilis(0.4%),HBV(0.4%)and HIV(1.4%).Concomitant infections affected 28.2 and 18.5%of T.cruzi and S.stercoralis infected cases.Bolivian origin(aOR:13.6;95%CI:3.2–57.9)was associated with risk of multiple infections.Susceptibilities for VZV and measles were 0.7 and 1.4%,respectively.Latin American immigrants are at risk of complications and possible reactivation of chronic parasitic infections but have overall low risks of chronic viral and syphilitic active infections.Conclusions:Systematic screening for chronic active parasitic infections is therefore necessary especially among Bolivians.The high protection rate against measles and VZV doesn’t require specific preventive interventions.展开更多
Storylines of Family Medicine is a 12-part series of thematically linked mini-essays with accompanying illustrations that explore the many dimensions of family medicine as interpreted by individual family physicians a...Storylines of Family Medicine is a 12-part series of thematically linked mini-essays with accompanying illustrations that explore the many dimensions of family medicine as interpreted by individual family physicians and medical educators in the USA and elsewhere around the world.In‘Ⅷ:clinical approaches’,authors address the following themes:‘Evaluation,diagnosis and managementⅠ—toward a working diagnosis’,‘Evaluation,diagnosis and managementⅡ—process steps’,‘Interweaving integrative medicine and family medicine’,‘Halfway—the art of clinical judgment’,‘Seamless integration in family medicine—team-based care’,‘Technology—uncovering stories from noise’and‘Caring for patients with multiple long-term conditions’.May readers recognise in these essays the uniqueness of a family medicine approach to care.展开更多
文摘Advancements in murine modeling systems for ulcerative colitis have diversified our understanding of the pathophysiological factors involved in disease onset and progression.This has fueled the identification of molecular targets,resulting in a rapidly expanding therapeutic armamentarium.Subsequently,management strategies have evolved from symptomatic resolution to well-defined objective endpoints,including clinical remission,endoscopic remission and mucosal healing.While the incorporation of these assessment modalities has permitted targeted intervention in the context of a natural disease history and the prevention of complications,studies have consistently depicted discrepancies associated with ascertaining disease status through clinical and endoscopic measures.Current recommendations lack consideration of histological healing.The simultaneous achievement of clinical,endoscopic,and histologic remission has not been fully investigated.This has laid the groundwork for a novel therapeutic outcome termed disease clearance(DC).This article summarizes the concept of DC and its current evidence.
基金supported by the Research Grants from the BUPA Foundation (45NOV06)Alzheimer’s Research Trust (ART/PPG2007B/2) in the UK.+1 种基金Anhui provincial natural science foundation for institutions of higher education (KJ2013A164)supported by the Strategic Research Development Fund,University of Wolverhampton in Centre for Health and Social Care Improvement, School of Health and Wellbeing,UK.
文摘Objective To determine the associations of socio-economic and psychosocial factors with active and passive smoking in older adults. Methods Using a standard interview method, we examined random samples of 6071 people aged 〉 60 years in 5 provinces of China during 2007-2009. Results World age-standardised prevalence for current and former smoking in men was 45.6% and 20.5%, and in women 11.1% and 4.5%. Current smoking reduced with older age but increased with men, low socioeconomic status （SES）, alcohol drinking, being never-married, pessimistic and depressive syndromes. Former smoking was associated with men, secondary school education, a middle-high income, being a businessman, being widowed, less frequencies of visiting children/relatives and friends, and worrying about children. Among 3774 never-smokers, the prevalence of passive smoking was 31.5%, and the risk increased with women, low SES, alcohol drinking, being married, having a religious believe, and daily visiting children/relatives. There were sex differences in the associations, and an interaction effect of education and income on smoking and passive smoking. Conclusion Older Chinese had a higher level of smoking and passive smoking than those in high income countries, reflecting China＇s failures in controlling smoking. The associations with low SES and different psychosocial aspects and sex differences suggest preventative strategies for active and passive smoking.
基金supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Project INV-006261)supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (KL2TR003143)+4 种基金supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation through the Alexander von Humboldt Professor awardfunded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the European Union’s Research and Innovation Programme Horizon 2020the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP)supported by the Sino-German Center for Research Promotion (Project C-0048), which is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
文摘Most studies of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)progression have focused on the transfer of patients within secondary or tertiary care hospitals from regular wards to intensive care units.Little is known about the risk factors predicting the progression to severe COVID-19 among patients in community iso-lation,who are either asymptomatic or suffer from only mild to moderate symptoms.Using a multivari-able competing risk survival analysis,we identify several important predictors of progression to severe COVID-19—rather than to recovery—among patients in the largest community isolation center in Wuhan,China from 6 February 2020(when the center opened)to 9 March 2020(when it closed).All patients in community isolation in Wuhan were either asymptomatic or suffered from mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.We performed competing risk survival analysis on time-to-event data from a cohort study of all COVID-19 patients(n=1753)in the isolation center.The potential predictors we inves-tigated were the routine patient data collected upon admission to the isolation center:age,sex,respira-tory symptoms,gastrointestinal symptoms,general symptoms,and computed tomography(CT)scan signs.The main outcomes were time to severe COVID-19 or recovery.The factors predicting progression to severe COVID-19 were:male sex(hazard ratio(HR)=1.29,95%confidence interval(CI)1.04–1.58,p=0.018),young and old age,dyspnea(HR=1.58,95%CI 1.24–2.01,p<0.001),and CT signs of ground-glass opacity(HR=1.39,95%CI 1.04–1.86,p=0.024)and infiltrating shadows(HR=1.84,95%CI 1.22–2.78,p=0.004).The risk of progression was found to be lower among patients with nausea or vomiting(HR=0.53,95%CI 0.30–0.96,p=0.036)and headaches(HR=0.54,95%CI 0.29–0.99,p=0.046).Our results suggest that several factors that can be easily measured even in resource-poor set-tings(dyspnea,sex,and age)can be used to identify mild COVID-19 patients who are at increased risk of disease progression.Looking for CT signs of ground-glass opacity and infiltrating shadows may be an affordable option to support triage decisions in resource-rich settings.Common and unspecific symptoms(headaches,nausea,and vomiting)are likely to have led to the identification and subsequent community isolation of COVID-19 patients who were relatively unlikely to deteriorate.Future public health and clinical guidelines should build on this evidence to improve the screening,triage,and monitoring of COVID-19 patients who are asymtomatic or suffer from mild to moderate symptoms.
文摘Background: Preventive care of diabetic foot and eye complications is essential. However, data on the prevalence of and factors associated with screening of angiopathic complications in ambulatory patients with diabetes are very limited in Switzerland. We aimed to fill this gap of knowledge. Methods: Cross-sectional data on recommended preventive care using RAND’s criteria in a random sample of patients aged 50-80 years in 2005-2006. Participants were recruited from 4 Swiss university primary care settings (in Lausanne, Geneva, Zürich and Basel). Scores for general preventive care in patients with and without diabetes were calculated by using generalized estimating equation binomial models. Multivariate regression models were used to identify determinants of appropriateness of angiopathic complications prevention. The main outcome measure was appropriateness of screening for angiopathic complications based on the 2005 American Diabetes Association recommendations corresponding to the period of data collection. Results: Among the 1002 patients aged 50 - 80 years, 292 (29.1%) had diabetes (101/292 [34.6%] female, mean BMI 30.7 [SD 5.7]). Fifty-nine percent had appropriate preventive foot care and 55.8% had appropriate preventive eye care. Only 34.6% had appropriate preventive care of both foot and eye. No differences in aggregate scores for general preventive care in patients with and without diabetes were found (67.5% vs. 69.1%, p value 0.39). In multivariate model, obesity was negatively (OR = 0.28, 0.15 - 0.53) and hyperlipidemia positively (OR = 2.29, 1.20 - 4.38) associated with appropriate eye preventive care and with appropriate combined foot and eye preventive care (OR = 0.35, 0.18 - 0.70 for obesity and OR = 2.82, 1.24 - 6.40 for hyperlipidemia). Conclusions: Preventive care of diabetic angiopathic complications is low among ambulatory patients despite universal health care coverage. Particular attention should be paid to obese patients with diabetes.
文摘Background: Involving pharmacists in clinical care could improve the identification of subjects at risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease. Data on web-based approach involving pharmacists for CV disease risk assessment are very limited. Methods: We first developed a web-based CV risk assessment tool to be used by pharmacists that includes demographic, lifestyle, biological and anthropometric information. Biological and anthropometric data were collected in independent laboratories. We then assessed the feasibility and validity of this approach by inviting adults who previously (within 6 months) participated in a Swiss standardized population-based study to fill out the web-based platform. Attrition rates and correlations were used to assess the feasibility and validity, respectively. Proportions were expressed as percentages and continuous variables were expressed as means ± standard deviations (SD). Main Outcomes Measure: Proportions of participants who 1) agreed to participate;2) filled out the questionnaire and had their biological and anthropometric measures taken;3) only filled out the questionnaire;and 4) only had their biological and anthropometric measures taken. Correlations were used to compare continuous variables (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total plasma cholesterol, HDL plasma cholesterol, LDL plasma cholesterol, triglycerides) collected via both studies. Results: Overall, 218 (53.2% women) adults of the population-based study were eligible and were contacted to participate, from April to November 2013. Of these, 140 (64.2%) agreed to participate. The majority (67/140, 47.8%) both filled out the questionnaire and had their biological/anthropometric measures taken, whereas only 2.8% and 7.1% only filled out the questionnaire or only had their biological measures taken, respectively. Except for systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and triglycerides, the correlations between the measures obtained in the population-based study and the web-based approach were generally greater than 0.80, suggesting very good correlations. Conclusions: A web-based CV risk assessment via pharmacists is a feasible and valid approach. This web-based approach should be adapted to lower attrition, and its impact on CV risk factors should be further tested.
文摘To determine the effect of combinations of statins, aspirin, β blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in the secondary prevention of all cause mortality in patients with ischaemic heart disease. Design: Open prospective cohort study with nested case control analysis. Setting: 1.18 million patients registered with 89 general practices across 23 strategic health authority areas within the United Kingdom. Practices had longitudinal data for a minimum of eight years and were contributing to QRESEARCH, a new database. Patients: All patients with a first diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease between January 1996 and December 2003. Cases were patients with ischaemic heart disease who died. Controls were patients with ischaemic heart disease who were matched for age, sex, and year of diagnosis and were alive at the time their matched case died. Main outcome measures: Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval for risk of death in cases compared with controls. Exposure was current use of different combinations of statins, aspirin, β blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors before death in cases, or the equivalent date in controls. Results: 13 029 patients had a first diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease(incidence rate 338 per 100 000 person years). 2266 cases were matched to 9064 controls. Drug combinations associated with the greatest reduction in all cause mortality were statins, aspirin, and β blockers(83% reduction, 95% confidence interval 77% to 88% ); statins, aspirin, β blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors(75% reduction, 65% to 82% ); and statins, aspirin, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors(71% reduction, 59% to 79% ). Treatments associated with the smallest reduction in all cause mortality were β blockers alone(19% reduction, 37% reduction to 4% increase), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors alone(20% reduction, 1% to 35% ), and combined statins and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors(31% reduction, 57% reduction to 12% increase). Conclusions: Combinations of statins, aspirins, and β blockers improve survival in high risk patients with cardiovascular disease, although the addition of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor conferred no additional benefit despite the analysis being adjusted for congestive cardiac failure.
基金funding from the Strategic Research and Consulting Project of the Chinese Academy of Engineering(No.2022-XBZD-14)funding from the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(CIFMS)(No.2021-I2M-1-049).
文摘Background:Understanding willingness to undergo pulmonary function tests(PFTs)and the factors associated with poor uptake of PFTs is crucial for improving early detection and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).This study aimed to understand willingness to undergo PFTs among high-risk populations and identify any barriers that may contribute to low uptake of PFTs.Methods:We collected data from participants in the"Happy Breathing Program"in China.Participants who did not follow physicians’recommendations to undergo PFTs were invited to complete a survey regarding their willingness to undergo PFTs and their reasons for not undergoing PFTs.We estimated the proportion of participants who were willing to undergo PFTs and examined the various reasons for participants to not undergo PFTs.We conducted univariable and multivariable logistic regressions to analyze the impact of individual-level factors on willingness to undergo PFTs.Results:A total of 8475 participants who had completed the survey on willingness to undergo PFTs were included in this study.Out of these participants,7660(90.4%)were willing to undergo PFTs.Among those who were willing to undergo PFTs but actually did not,the main reasons for not doing so were geographical inaccessibility(n=3304,43.1%)and a lack of trust in primary healthcare institutions(n=2809,36.7%).Among the 815 participants who were unwilling to undergo PFTs,over half(n=447,54.8%)believed that they did not have health problems and would only consider PFTs when they felt unwell.In the multivariable regression,individuals who were≤54 years old,residing in rural townships,with a secondary educational level,with medical reimbursement,still working,with occupational exposure to dust,and aware of the abbreviation"COPD"were more willing to undergo PFTs.Conclusions:Willingness to undergo PFTs was high among high-risk populations.Policymakers may consider implementing strategies such as providing financial incentives,promoting education,and establishing community-based programs to enhance the utilization of PFTs.
文摘Background:Large numbers of Latin American immigrants recently arrived in Western Europe.Curative and preventive programmes need to take account of their risk of suffering and transmitting imported chronic infections and of their susceptibility to cosmopolitan infections.We aimed to assess the prevalence and co-occurrence of imported chronic infections among Latin American immigrants,and their susceptibility to highly prevalent cosmopolitan infections.Methods:Adult participants were recruited in the community and in a primary health centre in Geneva in 2008.Serological tests were performed on stored sera for HIV,HBV,syphilis,Strongyloides stercoralis,Trypanosoma cruzi,varicella and measles.We considered only chronic active infections in the analysis.Results and discussion:The 1012 participants,aged 37.2(SD 11.3)years,were mostly female(82.5%)and Bolivians(48%).Overall,209(20.7%)had at least one and 27(2.7%)two or more chronic infections.T.cruzi(12.8%)and S.stercoralis(8.4%)were the most prevalent chronic active infections compared to syphilis(0.4%),HBV(0.4%)and HIV(1.4%).Concomitant infections affected 28.2 and 18.5%of T.cruzi and S.stercoralis infected cases.Bolivian origin(aOR:13.6;95%CI:3.2–57.9)was associated with risk of multiple infections.Susceptibilities for VZV and measles were 0.7 and 1.4%,respectively.Latin American immigrants are at risk of complications and possible reactivation of chronic parasitic infections but have overall low risks of chronic viral and syphilitic active infections.Conclusions:Systematic screening for chronic active parasitic infections is therefore necessary especially among Bolivians.The high protection rate against measles and VZV doesn’t require specific preventive interventions.
文摘Storylines of Family Medicine is a 12-part series of thematically linked mini-essays with accompanying illustrations that explore the many dimensions of family medicine as interpreted by individual family physicians and medical educators in the USA and elsewhere around the world.In‘Ⅷ:clinical approaches’,authors address the following themes:‘Evaluation,diagnosis and managementⅠ—toward a working diagnosis’,‘Evaluation,diagnosis and managementⅡ—process steps’,‘Interweaving integrative medicine and family medicine’,‘Halfway—the art of clinical judgment’,‘Seamless integration in family medicine—team-based care’,‘Technology—uncovering stories from noise’and‘Caring for patients with multiple long-term conditions’.May readers recognise in these essays the uniqueness of a family medicine approach to care.
基金资助（Funding） ： This study received no external funding. The authors did the work either in their personal time or during the course of their normal employment. The corresponding author （JH-C） and CC had access to all the data in the study, and all authors agreed and share responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.
