Proton-Pump Inhibitors Are Associated With Increased Cardiovascular Risk Independent of Clopidogrel Use: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Ann Intern Med. 2010 Sep 21;153(6):378-386

Authors: Charlot M, Ahlehoff O, Norgaard ML, Jørgensen CH, Sørensen R, Abildstrøm SZ, Hansen PR, Madsen JK, Køber L, Torp-Pedersen C, Gislason G

Background: Controversy remains on whether the dual use of clopidogrel and proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) affects clinical efficacy of clopidogrel. Objective: To examine the risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes related to concomitant use of PPIs and clopidogrel compared with that of PPIs alone in adults hospitalized for myocardial infarction. Design: A nationwide cohort study based on linked administrative registry data. Setting: All hospitals in Denmark. Patients: All patients discharged after first-time myocardial infarction from 2000 to 2006. Measurements: The primary outcome was a composite of rehospitalization for myocardial infarction or stroke or cardiovascular death. Patients were examined at several assembly time points, including 7, 14, 21, and 30 days after myocardial infarction. Follow-up was 1 year. Results: Of 56 406 included patients, 9137 (16.2%) were re-hospitalized for myocardial infarction or stroke or experienced cardiovascular death. Of the 24 702 patients (43.8%) who received clopidogrel, 6753 (27.3%) received concomitant PPIs. The hazard ratio for cardiovascular death or rehospitalization for myocardial infarction or stroke for concomitant use of a PPI and clopidogrel among the cohort assembled at day 30 after discharge was 1.29 (95% CI, 1.17 to 1.42). The corresponding ratio for use of a PPI in patients who did not receive clopidogrel was 1.29 (CI, 1.21 to 1.37). No statistically significant interaction occurred between a PPI and clopidogrel (P = 0.72). Limitations: Unmeasured and residual confounding, time-varying measurement errors of exposure, and biases from survival effects were possible. Conclusion: Proton-pump inhibitors seem to be associated with increased risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes after discharge, regardless of clopidogrel use for myocardial infarction. Dual PPI and clopidogrel use was not associated with any additional risk for adverse cardiovascular events over that observed for patients prescribed a PPI alone. Primary Funding Source: The Danish Medical Research Council and the Danish Heart Foundation.

PMID: 20855802 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Effect of Metformin on Mortality in Patients With Heart Failure and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Am J Cardiol. 2010 Oct 1;106(7):1006-1010

Authors: Evans JM, Doney AS, Alzadjali MA, Ogston SA, Petrie JR, Morris AD, Struthers AD, Wong AK, Lang CC

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) plus chronic heart failure (CHF) is a common but lethal combination and therapeutic options are limited. Metformin is perceived as being relatively contraindicated in this context, although mounting evidence indicates that it may be beneficial. This study was carried out to investigate the use of metformin therapy for treating patients with DM and CHF in a large population-based cohort study. The Health Informatics Centre-dispensed prescribing database for the population of Tayside, Scotland (population ∼400,000) was linked to the Diabetes Audit and Research in Tayside Scotland (DARTS) information system. Patients with DM and incident CHF from 1994 to 2003 receiving oral hypoglycemic agents but not insulin were identified. Cox regression was used to assess differences in all-cause mortality rates between patients prescribed metformin and patients prescribed sulfonylureas with adjustment for co-morbidities and other therapies. Four hundred twenty-two study subjects (mean ± SD 75.4 ± 0.5 years of age, 46.2% women) were identified: metformin monotherapy (n = 68, mean age 75.5 ± 1.1 years, 48.5% women), sulfonylurea monotherapy (n = 217, mean age 76.7 ± 0.7 years, 45.2% women), and combination (n = 137, mean age, 73.4 ± 0.7 years, 46.7% women). Fewer deaths occurred in metformin users, alone or in combination with sulfonylureas, compared to the sulfonylurea monotherapy cohort at 1 year (0.59, 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.96) and over long-term follow up (0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.51 to 0.88). In conclusion, this large observational data suggest that metformin may be beneficial in patients with CHF and DM. These findings need to be verified by a prospective clinical trial.

PMID: 20854965 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Antibiotic prophylaxis for cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;9:CD002907

Authors: Chavez-Tapia NC, Barrientos-Gutierrez T, Tellez-Avila FI, Soares-Weiser K, Uribe M

BACKGROUND: Bacterial infections are a frequent complication in patients with cirrhosis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Antibiotic prophylaxis seems to decrease the incidence of bacterial infections. Oral antibiotics, active against enteric bacteria, have been commonly used as antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with cirrhosis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 2002. OBJECTIVES: To assess the benefits and harms of antibiotic prophylaxis in cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index EXPANDED until June 2010. In addition, we handsearched the references of all identified studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised clinical trials comparing different types of antibiotic prophylaxis with no intervention, placebo, or another antibiotic to prevent bacterial infections in cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Three authors independently assessed trial quality, risk of bias, and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information. Association measures were relative risk (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes. MAIN RESULTS: Twelve trials (1241 patients) evaluated antibiotic prophylaxis compared with placebo or no antibiotic prophylaxis. All trials were at risk of bias. Antibiotic prophylaxis compared with no intervention or placebo was associated with beneficial effects on mortality (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.98), mortality from bacterial infections (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.97), bacterial infections (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.49), rebleeding (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.74), days of hospitalisation (MD -1.91, 95% CI -3.80 to -0.02), bacteraemia (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.40), pneumonia (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.75), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.57), and urinary tract infections (RR 0.23, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.41). No serious adverse events were reported. The trials showed no significant heterogeneity of effects. Another five trials (650 patients) compared different antibiotic regimens. Data could not be combined as each trial used different antibiotic regimen. None of the examined antibiotic regimen was superior to the control regimen regarding mortality or bacterial infections. AUTHORS’ CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic antibiotic use in patients with cirrhosis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding significantly reduced bacterial infections, and seems to have reduced all-cause mortality, bacterial infection mortality, rebleeding events, and hospitalisation length. These benefits were observed independently of the type of antibiotic used; thus, no specific antibiotic can be preferred. Therefore, antibiotic selection should be made considering local conditions such as bacterial resistance profile and treatment cost.

PMID: 20824832 [PubMed - in process]

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Corticosteroids for acute bacterial meningitis.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;9:CD004405

Authors: Brouwer MC, McIntyre P, de Gans J, Prasad K, van de Beek D

BACKGROUND: In experimental studies, the outcome of bacterial meningitis has been related to the severity of inflammation in the subarachnoid space. Corticosteroids reduce this inflammatory response. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of adjuvant corticosteroid therapy versus placebo on mortality, hearing loss and neurological sequelae in people of all ages with acute bacterial meningitis. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2010, issue 1), MEDLINE (1966 to February 2010), EMBASE (1974 to February 2010) and Current Contents (2001 to February 2010). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of corticosteroids for acute bacterial meningitis. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We scored RCTs for methodological quality. We collected outcomes and adverse effects. We performed subgroup analyses for children and adults, causative organisms, low-income versus high-income countries, time of steroid administration and study quality. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-four studies involving 4041 participants were included. Similar numbers of participants died in the corticosteroid and placebo groups (18.0% versus 20.0%; risk ratio (RR) 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.82 to 1.04, P = 0.18). There was a trend towards lower mortality in adults receiving corticosteroids (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.05, P = 0.09). Corticosteroids were associated with lower rates of severe hearing loss (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.88), any hearing loss (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.89) and neurological sequelae (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.00).Subgroup analyses for causative organisms showed that corticosteroids reduced severe hearing loss in Haemophilus influenzae meningitis (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.59) and reduced mortality in Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.98).In high-income countries, corticosteroids reduced severe hearing loss (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.73), any hearing loss (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.73) and short-term neurological sequelae (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.85). There was no beneficial effect of corticosteroid therapy in low-income countries.Subgroup analysis for study quality showed no effect of corticosteroids on severe hearing loss in high quality studies.Corticosteroid treatment was associated with an increase in recurrent fever (RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.47), but not with other adverse events. AUTHORS’ CONCLUSIONS: Corticosteroids significantly reduced hearing loss and neurological sequelae, but did not reduce overall mortality. Data support the use of corticosteroids in patients with bacterial meningitis in high-income countries. We found no beneficial effect in low-income countries.

PMID: 20824838 [PubMed - in process]

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Interventions to improve hand hygiene compliance in patient care.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;9:CD005186

Authors: Gould DJ, Moralejo D, Drey N, Chudleigh JH

BACKGROUND: Health care-associated infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Hand hygiene is regarded as an effective preventive measure. OBJECTIVES: To update the review done in 2007, to assess the short and longer-term success of strategies to improve hand hygiene compliance and to determine whether a sustained increase in hand hygiene compliance can reduce rates of health care-associated infection. SEARCH STRATEGY: We conducted electronic searches of: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group specialised register of trials; MEDLINE; PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; and the BNI. Originally searched to July 2006, for the update databases were searched from August 2006 until November 2009. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, controlled before and after studies, and interrupted time series analyses meeting explicit entry and quality criteria used by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group were eligible for inclusion. Studies reporting indicators of hand hygiene compliance and proxy indicators such as product use were considered. Self-reported data were not considered a valid measure of compliance. Studies to promote hand hygiene compliance as part of a care bundle approach were included, providing data relating specifically to hand hygiene were presented separately. Studies were excluded if hand hygiene was assessed in simulations, non-clinical settings or the operating theatre setting. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed data quality. MAIN RESULTS: Four studies met the criteria for the review: two from the original review and two from the update. Two studies evaluated simple education initiatives, one using a randomized clinical trial design and the other a controlled before and after design. Both measured hand hygiene compliance by direct observation. The other two studies were both interrupted times series studies. One study presented three separate interventions within the same paper: simple substitutions of product and two multifaceted campaigns, one of which included involving practitioners in making decisions about choice of hand hygiene products and the components of the hand hygiene program. The other study also presented two separate multifaceted campaigns, one of which involved application of social marketing theory. In these two studies follow-up data collection continued beyond twelve months, and a proxy measure of hand hygiene compliance (product use) was recorded. Microbiological data were recorded in one study. Hand hygiene compliance increased for one of the studies where it was measured by direct observation, but the results from the other study were not conclusive. Product use increased in the two studies in which it was reported, with inconsistent results reported for one initiative. MRSA incidence decreased in the one study reporting microbiological data. AUTHORS’ CONCLUSIONS: The quality of intervention studies intended to increase hand hygiene compliance remains disappointing. Although multifaceted campaigns with social marketing or staff involvement appear to have an effect, there is insufficient evidence to draw a firm conclusion. There remains an urgent need to undertake methodologically robust research to explore the effectiveness of soundly designed and implemented interventions to increase hand hygiene compliance.

PMID: 20824842 [PubMed - in process]

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Emergency Department Visits Among Recipients of Chronic Opioid Therapy.

Arch Intern Med. 2010 Sep 13;170(16):1425-1432

Authors: Braden JB, Russo J, Fan MY, Edlund MJ, Martin BC, Devries A, Sullivan MD

BACKGROUND: There has been an increase in overdose deaths and emergency department visits (EDVs) involving use of prescription opioids, but the association between opioid prescribing and adverse outcomes is unclear. METHODS: Data were obtained from administrative claim records from Arkansas Medicaid and HealthCore commercially insured enrollees, 18 years and older, who used prescription opioids for at least 90 continuous days within a 6-month period between 2000 and 2005 and had no cancer diagnoses. Regression analysis was used to examine risk factors for EDVs and alcohol- or drug-related encounters (ADEs) in the 12 months following 90 days or more of prescribed opioids. RESULTS: Headache, back pain, and preexisting substance use disorders were significantly associated with EDVs and ADEs. Mental health disorders were associated with EDVs in HealthCore enrollees and with ADEs in both samples. Opioid dose per day was not consistently associated with EDVs but doubled the risk of ADEs at morphine-equivalent doses over 120 mg/d. Use of short-acting Drug Enforcement Agency Schedule II opioids was associated with EDVs compared with use of non-Schedule II opioids alone (relative risk range, 1.09-1.74). Use of Schedule II long-acting opioids was strongly associated with ADEs (relative risk range, 1.64-4.00). CONCLUSIONS: Use of Schedule II opioids, headache, back pain, and substance use disorders are associated with EDVs and ADEs among adults prescribed opioids for 90 days or more. It may be possible to increase the safety of chronic opioid therapy by minimizing the prescription of Schedule II opioids in these higher-risk recipients.

PMID: 20837827 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Risk of Bleeding With Single, Dual, or Triple Therapy With Warfarin, Aspirin, and Clopidogrel in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Arch Intern Med. 2010 Sep 13;170(16):1433-1441

Authors: Hansen ML, Sørensen R, Clausen MT, Fog-Petersen ML, Raunsø J, Gadsbøll N, Gislason GH, Folke F, Andersen SS, Schramm TK, Abildstrøm SZ, Poulsen HE, Køber L, Torp-Pedersen C

BACKGROUND: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) often require anticoagulation and platelet inhibition, but data are limited on the bleeding risk of combination therapy. METHODS: We performed a cohort study using nationwide registries to identify all Danish patients surviving first-time hospitalization for AF between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2006, and their posthospital therapy of warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel, and combinations of these drugs. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate risks of nonfatal and fatal bleeding. RESULTS: A total of 82 854 of 118 606 patients (69.9%) surviving AF hospitalization had at least 1 prescription filled for warfarin, aspirin, or clopidogrel after discharge. During mean (SD) follow-up of 3.3 (2.6) years, 13 573 patients (11.4%) experienced a nonfatal or fatal bleeding. The crude incidence rate for bleeding was highest for dual clopidogrel and warfarin therapy (13.9% per patient-year) and triple therapy (15.7% per patient-year). Using warfarin monotherapy as a reference, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for the combined end point was 0.93 (0.88-0.98) for aspirin, 1.06 (0.87-1.29) for clopidogrel, 1.66 (1.34-2.04) for aspirin-clopidogrel, 1.83 (1.72-1.96) for warfarin-aspirin, 3.08 (2.32-3.91) for warfarin-clopidogrel, and 3.70 (2.89-4.76) for warfarin-aspirin-clopidogrel. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AF, all combinations of warfarin, aspirin, and clopidogrel are associated with increased risk of nonfatal and fatal bleeding. Dual warfarin and clopidogrel therapy and triple therapy carried a more than 3-fold higher risk than did warfarin monotherapy.

PMID: 20837828 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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A Population-Based Study of Inferior Vena Cava Filters in Patients With Acute Venous Thromboembolism.

Arch Intern Med. 2010 Sep 13;170(16):1456-1462

Authors: Spencer FA, Bates SM, Goldberg RJ, Lessard D, Emery C, Glushchenko A, Gore JM, White RH

BACKGROUND: Our study objective was to describe the frequency, indications, and outcomes after inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement in a population-based sample of residents of the Worcester, Massachusetts, metropolitan area who had been diagnosed as having acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) in 1999, 2001, and 2003. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of inpatient and outpatient medical records was conducted. Recorded indication(s) for IVC filter placement was determined among a subset of cases from 3 Worcester tertiary care hospitals. Three thrombosis specialists assessed the appropriateness of IVC filter placement. RESULTS: Of 1547 greater Worcester residents with validated acute VTE and without a prior IVC filter, 203 (13.1%) had an IVC filter placed after acute VTE. Patients with an IVC filter were older, had more comorbidities, and had a higher mortality rate during 3 years of follow-up. There was unanimous agreement by panel members that the use of an IVC filter was appropriate in 51% of cases and inappropriate in 26% of cases, with no consensus in the remaining 23%. CONCLUSIONS: In this community-based study, IVC filters were frequently used in the treatment of patients with acute VTE. Placement was deemed to be appropriate in approximately 50% of the patients but was not appropriate or debatable in the remaining cases. Given the increasing use of IVC filters, prospective studies are clearly needed to better define the indications for, and efficacy of, IVC filter placement.

PMID: 20837832 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Red cell transfusion for the management of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;9:CD006613

Authors: Jairath V, Hearnshaw S, Brunskill SJ, Doree C, Hopewell S, Hyde C, Travis S, Murphy MF

BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage affects 50 to 150 per 100,000 adults per year, with a high mortality. Red blood cell transfusions are frequently given, but their impact on rebleeding rates and mortality is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in adults with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. SEARCH STRATEGY: For this update, we re-ran the initial search strategies from the last issue/month searched until March 2010.We previously searched the Cochrane Upper Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Diseases Group Trials Register to February 2008, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2008, issue 1), MEDLINE (1950 to February 2008), EMBASE (1974 to February 2008), the Systematic Review Initiative database of randomised controlled trials (RCTs), haematology and gastroenterology conference proceedings, and reference lists of articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised studies comparing RBC transfusion and standard care with other intravenous fluid and standard care regimens in haemodynamically stable and haemodynamically unstable adults with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information. MAIN RESULTS: Three trials involving 126 patients were included, with complete data available for 93 patients. The participants were heterogeneous, none of the three studies examined exactly the same interventions or measured the same outcomes. Only two trials reported mortality data and the summary relative risk for mortality of the intervention was 5.4 (95% CI 0.27 to 107.09). One trial reported increased coagulation times in the transfused group, and reported these patients to have increased rates of rebleeding. None of the studies reported adverse events directly related to RBC transfusion. Methodological deficiencies, including allocation concealment, generation of random sequences and blinding, simply compound the uncertainty surrounding analysis. None of the studies were appropriately powered and in the largest study fewer than half the participants were included in the final analysis.One RCT of restrictive versus liberal RBC transfusion aims to recruit 860 patients but has yet to be completed. AUTHORS’ CONCLUSIONS: There were more deaths and more rebleeding in the transfusion arms of the combined studies, but the small numbers of participants and large volume of missing data limit the significance of the findings. The studies in this review do not provide useful data regarding outcomes following red blood cell transfusion for acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. They appear to exclude large survival benefit. Large, well-concealed RCTs of sufficient power are urgently needed.

PMID: 20824851 [PubMed - in process]

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Does ambulation modify venous thromboembolism risk in acutely ill medical patients?

Thromb Haemost. 2010 Sep 13;104(5)

Authors: Amin AN, Girard F, Samama M

In the US, ambulatory status is often a criterion for stopping prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE). In an analysis of the prophylaxis in MEDical patients with ENOXaparin (MEDENOX) trial, ambulatory status was assessed as outcome and patients grouped accordingly for further analysis. Rates of VTE and bleeding were evaluated. Using multivariate logistic regression, the relationships between thromboprophylaxis, VTE risk, and ambulatory status were assessed. Ambulatory status was reached in 607/1,084 patients, in a mean time of 4.4 days. Thromboprophylaxis was provided for 7.3 and 7.7 days in the ambulatory and non-ambulatory groups. Although VTE rates were lower in ambulatory patients, enoxaparin 40 mg once daily significantly reduced the risk of VTE vs. placebo in ambulatory (3.3% vs. 10.6%; relative risk [RR] = 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13-0.78; p=0.008) and non-ambulatory patients (9.0% vs. 19.7%; RR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.23-0.91; p=0.02). Major bleeding was not significantly different between enoxaparin and placebo in either group. By multivariate regression analysis, VTE risk in ambulatory patients was lower with enoxaparin vs. placebo (odds ratio [OR] = 0.28; 95% CI, 0.11-0.74; p=0.01), but higher in patients with a history of VTE (OR = 3.74; 95% CI, 1.59-8.84; p=0.003) or cancer (OR = 2.12; 95% CI, 1.00-4.48; p=0.049). Despite timely mobilisation, patients who become ambulatory are at VTE risk and experience a significant risk reduction with enoxaparin 40 mg. Therefore, it is essential that ambulatory patients receive recommended thromboprophylaxis.

PMID: 20838741 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Effect of Availability Bias and Reflective Reasoning on Diagnostic Accuracy Among Internal Medicine Residents.

JAMA. 2010 Sep 15;304(11):1198-1203

Authors: Mamede S, van Gog T, van den Berge K, Rikers RM, van Saase JL, van Guldener C, Schmidt HG

CONTEXT: Diagnostic errors have been associated with bias in clinical reasoning. Empirical evidence on the cognitive mechanisms underlying biases and effectiveness of educational strategies to counteract them is lacking. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether recent experience with clinical problems provokes availability bias (overestimation of the likelihood of a diagnosis based on the ease with which it comes to mind) resulting in diagnostic errors and whether reflection (structured reanalysis of the case findings) counteracts this bias. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Experimental study conducted in 2009 at the Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, with 18 first-year and 18 second-year internal medicine residents. Participants first evaluated diagnoses of 6 clinical cases (phase 1). Subsequently, they diagnosed 8 different cases through nonanalytical reasoning, 4 of which had findings similar to previously evaluated cases but different diagnoses (phase 2). These 4 cases were subsequently diagnosed again through reflective reasoning (phase 3). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean diagnostic accuracy scores (perfect score, 4.0) on cases solved with or without previous exposure to similar problems through nonanalytical (phase 2) or reflective (phase 3) reasoning and frequency that a potentially biased (ie, phase 1) diagnosis was given. RESULTS: There were no main effects, but there was a significant interaction effect between “years of training” and “recent experiences with similar problems.” Results consistent with an availability bias occurred for the second-year residents, who scored lower on the cases similar to those previously encountered (1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.96) than on the other cases (2.19; 95% CI, 1.73-2.66; P =.03). This pattern was not seen among the first-year residents (2.03; 95% CI, 1.55-2.51 vs 1.42; 95% CI, 0.92-1.92; P =.046). Second-year residents provided the phase 1 diagnosis more frequently for phase 2 cases they had previously encountered than for those they had not (mean frequency per resident, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.93-1.96 vs 0.72; 95% CI, 0.28-1.17; P =.04). A significant main effect of reasoning mode was found: reflection improved the diagnoses of the similar cases compared with nonanalytical reasoning for the second-year residents (2.03; 95% CI, 1.49-2.57) and the first-year residents (2.31; 95% CI, 1.89-2.73; P =.006). CONCLUSION: When faced with cases similar to previous ones and using nonanalytic reasoning, second-year residents made errors consistent with the availability bias. Subsequent application of diagnostic reflection tended to counter this bias; it improved diagnostic accuracy in both first- and second-year residents.

PMID: 20841533 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Outpatient Management of Patients following Pulmonary Embolism.

Am J Med. 2010 Sep 17;

Authors: Spurzem JR, Geraci SA

Pulmonary embolus is a common reason for hospitalization and requires close follow-up and management in the office setting. The main issues facing the clinician include determination of the appropriate anticoagulation regimen, how long to anticoagulate, and whether an evaluation for hypercoagulable states is indicated. The decisions will depend on individual patient factors and assessment of the risks and benefits for that patient.

PMID: 20851365 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Outcomes in Patients with Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices and Bacteremia Due to Gram-Positive Cocci Other Than Staphylococcus aureus.

Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2010 Sep 18;

Authors: Madhavan M, Sohail MR, Friedman PA, Hayes DL, Steckelberg JM, Wilson WR, Baddour LM

BACKGROUND: -Infection is a serious complication of cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) placement and requires device removal for attempted cure. Methods and results-We studied the rate, risk factors and outcomes of CIED infection in 74 consecutive patients with bacteremia due to gram-positive cocci (GPC) other than Staphylococcus aureus between 2001 and 2007. CIED infection was defined as presence of signs of infection at the generator site, lead vegetations seen on echocardiography, or microbiological growth from device cultures. Twenty-two (30%) of 74 patients with non-S. aureus GPC bacteremia had CIED infections. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) accounted for 73% of CIED infections. The rate of CIED infection in patients with CoNS bacteremia was almost two-fold that of non-CoNS GPC bacteremia (36% vs 20%, p=0.13). Number of leads, presence of abandoned leads, and prior generator replacement were associated with CIED infection. Among 33 patients without identifiable CIED infection at initial evaluation, who did not undergo device removal, 5 (15%) experienced relapsing bacteremia within 12 weeks of completing antibiotic therapy. CoNS accounted for all relapses and none of them had evidence of CIED infection at relapse. CONCLUSIONS: -Patients with a CIED and bacteremia due to GPC other than S. aureus frequently had evidence of underlying CIED infection on clinical evaluation that included transesophageal echocardiography. This was particularly true among those with CoNS bacteremia. No evidence of underlying CIED infections was identified in the subgroup of patients who did not have manifestations of CIED infection on initial evaluation, but subsequently suffered relapsing bacteremia due to CoNS.

PMID: 20852296 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Treatment of Systolic Heart Failure in the Elderly: An Evidence-Based Review (October) (CE).

Ann Pharmacother. 2010 Sep 14;

Authors: Arif SA, Mergenhagen KA, Diaz Del Carpio RO, Ho C

OBJECTIVE: To review relevant literature supporting the use of β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), diuretics, digoxin, aldosterone antagonists, and vasodilators in the management of heart failure in an elderly patient population aged ≥65 years. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE, and MEDLINE searches (January 1960-April 2010) were utilized to identify primary literature using the key terms heart failure, treatment, and elderly. Additionally, reference citations from publications identified were utilized, as well as the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Primary and tertiary literature, including subgroup analyses, published in English and relating to the use of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of systolic heart failure in the elderly was reviewed. DATA SYNTHESIS: The aging of the US population is creating a higher prevalence of systolic heart failure in the elderly. Most clinical trials have established the mortality and morbidity benefit of pharmacotherapy in heart failure in nonelderly patients; however, the current ACC/AHA guidelines do not clearly delineate this benefit in persons ≥65 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical trial data, based on limited numbers of individuals aged ≥65 years, suggest that use of β-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, aldosterone antagonists, and vasodilators (hydralazine/nitrates) have similar mortality benefit to that observed in younger patients. As supported in the ACC/AHA guidelines, these agents should be prescribed with clinical judgment to all elderly patients, with close monitoring for adverse events. Future clinical trials with greater inclusion of patients ≥65 years will help to elucidate the magnitude of benefits of optimal pharmacotherapy on mortality and morbidity rates in this population.

PMID: 20841514 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Association of Third-Year Medical Students’ First Clerkship With Overall Clerkship Performance and Examination Scores.

JAMA. 2010 Sep 15;304(11):1220-1226

Authors: Kies SM, Roth V, Rowland M

CONTEXT: Anecdotal experience has suggested that third-year medical students whose first clerkship is internal medicine may have superior performance throughout the academic year. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the order of clerkships by specialty is associated with student performance. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Clerkship performance records of medical students at all 4 campuses of the University of Illinois College of Medicine who completed their third-year core clerkships from July 2000 through June 2008 (N = 2236) were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Analysis of covariance was used to test for between-group differences (by first clerkship) in mean National Board of Medical Examiners subject examination scores (range, 0-100), preceptor ratings of clerkship clinical performances (range, 12-30), total overall clerkship grades (range, 12-30), and United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 scores, adjusted for sex, campus, and USMLE Step 1 score. RESULTS: First clerkship specialty was significantly associated with mean subject examination scores (family medicine, 71.96 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 70.90-72.98], internal medicine, 73.86 [95% CI, 73.33-74.39], obstetrics/gynecology, 72.36 [95% CI, 71.64-73.04], pediatrics, 73.11 [95% CI, 72.38-73.84], psychiatry, 72.17 [95% CI, 71.52-72.81], surgery, 72.37 [95% CI, 71.73-73.02]; P < .001) and overall clerkship grades (family medicine, 24.20 [95% CI, 23.90-24.90], internal medicine, 25.33 [95% CI, 25.07-25.60], obstetrics/gynecology, 24.68 [95% CI, 24.32-25.05], pediatrics, 24.92 [95% CI, 24.59-25.27], psychiatry, 24.61 [95% CI, 24.33-25.01], surgery 24.97 [95% CI, 24.64-25.30]; P = .01). There was no significant association with preceptor ratings or USMLE Step 2 scores. Pairwise comparisons for mean total overall clerkship grades showed a significant difference for students taking internal medicine first compared with obstetrics/gynecology (mean difference, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.18-1.12), psychiatry (mean difference, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.20-1.12), and family medicine (mean difference, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.37-1.50). CONCLUSION: Among students at 4 campuses of a US medical school, clerkship order was significantly associated with performance on clerkship subject examinations and overall grades but not with clerkship clinical performance or USMLE Step 2 scores.

PMID: 20841536 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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