Summary Background No clinical trials have assessed the effects or cost-effectiveness of sequential screening strategies to detect new cases of type 2 diabetes. We used a mathematical model to ...estimate the cost-effectiveness of several screening strategies. Methods We used person-specific data from a representative sample of the US population to create a simulated population of 325 000 people aged 30 years without diabetes. We used the Archimedes model to compare eight simulated screening strategies for type 2 diabetes with a no-screening control strategy. Strategies differed in terms of age at initiation and frequency of screening. Once diagnosed, diabetes treatment was simulated in a standard manner. We calculated the effects of each strategy on the incidence of type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction, stroke, and microvascular complications in addition to quality of life, costs, and cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Findings Compared with no screening, all simulated screening strategies reduced the incidence of myocardial infarction (3–9 events prevented per 1000 people screened) and diabetes-related microvascular complications (3–9 events prevented per 1000 people), and increased the number of QALYs (93–194 undiscounted QALYs) added over 50 years. Most strategies prevented a significant number of simulated deaths (2–5 events per 1000 people). There was little or no effect of screening on incidence of stroke (0–1 event prevented per 1000 people). Five screening strategies had costs per QALY of about US$10 500 or less, whereas costs were much higher for screening started at 45 years of age and repeated every year ($15 509), screening started at 60 years of age and repeated every 3 years ($25 738), or a maximum screening strategy (screening started at 30 years of age and repeated every 6 months; $40 778). Several strategies differed substantially in the number of QALYs gained. Costs per QALY were sensitive to the disutility assigned to the state of having diabetes diagnosed with or without symptoms. Interpretation In the US population, screening for type 2 diabetes is cost effective when started between the ages of 30 years and 45 years, with screening repeated every 3–5 years. Funding Novo Nordisk, Bayer HealthCare, and Pfizer.
Study objective Recent-onset atrial fibrillation and flutter are the most common arrhythmias managed in the emergency department (ED). We evaluate the management and 30-day outcomes for recent-onset ...atrial fibrillation and flutter patients in Canadian EDs, where cardioversion is commonly practiced. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study in 6 academic hospital EDs and enrolled patients who had atrial fibrillation and flutter onset within 48 hours. Patients were followed for 30 days by health records review and telephone. Adverse events included death, stroke, acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, subsequent admission, or ED electrocardioversion. Results We enrolled 1,091 patients with mean age 63.9 years, atrial fibrillation 84.7%, atrial flutter 15.3%, hospital admission 9.0%, and converted to sinus rhythm 80.1%. Although 10.5% of recent-onset atrial fibrillation and flutter patients had adverse events within 30 days, there were no related deaths and 1 stroke (0.1%). Adjusted odds ratios for factors associated with adverse event were hours from onset (1.03/hour; 95% confidence interval CI 1.01 to 1.05), history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (2.09; 95% CI 1.01 to 4.36), and pulmonary congestion on chest radiograph (7.37; 95% CI 2.40 to 22.64). Patients who left the ED in sinus rhythm were much less likely to experience an adverse event ( P <.001). Conclusion Although most recent-onset atrial fibrillation and flutter patients were treated aggressively in the ED, there were few 30-day serious outcomes. Physicians underprescribed oral anticoagulants. Potential risk factors for adverse events include longer duration from arrhythmia onset, previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, pulmonary congestion on chest radiograph, and not being in sinus rhythm at discharge. An ED strategy of sinus rhythm restoration and discharge in most patients is effective and safe.
Study objective Although recent-onset atrial fibrillation and flutter are common arrhythmias managed in the emergency department (ED), there is insufficient evidence to help physicians choose between ...2 competing treatment strategies, rate control and rhythm control. We seek to evaluate variation in ED management practices for recent-onset atrial fibrillation and flutter patients at multiple Canadian sites and to determine whether hospital site was an independent predictor of attempted cardioversion. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey by health records review on an observational cohort of all eligible adult recent-onset atrial fibrillation and flutter cases, with onset of symptoms less than 48 hours, treated at 8 academic hospital EDs during a 12-month period, and evaluated the variation in practice among sites for important management strategies. Results Among the 1,068 study patients, 88.3% had atrial fibrillation and 11.7% had atrial flutter. The proportion of cases managed with rhythm control was 59.4% (interhospital range 42% to 85%) and, among these, electrocardioversion was attempted first for 44.2% (range 7% to 69%). There was variation in most management strategies, including use of rate control drugs 54.9% (range 37% to 65%), choice of procainamide as rhythm control drug 62.1% (range 15% to 89%), referral to cardiology in the ED 30.7% (range 16% to 64%), use of heparin 13.7% (range 1% to 29%), and outpatient cardiology referral 43.0% (range 30% to 65%). Adverse events were relatively uncommon and transient for patients undergoing attempts at pharmacologic (13.0%) or electrocardioversion (12.1%). Overall, 83.3% of patients were discharged home from the ED (range 73% to 90%). After controlling for 12 covariates, multivariate logistic regression found that factors independently associated with attempted cardioversion were age (odds ratio OR 0.97; 95% confidence interval CI 0.95 to 0.98), history of electrocardioversion (OR 2.73; 95% CI 1.56 to 4.80), associated heart failure (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.95), and hospital site (ORs ranged from 0.38 to 3.05). Conclusion We demonstrated a high degree of variation in management approaches for recent-onset atrial fibrillation and flutter patients treated in academic hospital EDs. Individual hospital site, age, previous cardioversion, and associated heart failure were independent predictors for the use of rhythm control.
Abstract Background We sought to describe prevalence and care practices for patients experiencing prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV), defined as ventilation for 21 or more consecutive days and ...medical stability. Methods We provided the survey to eligible units via secure Web link to a nominated unit champion from April to November 2012. Weekly telephone and e-mail reminders were sent for 6 weeks. Results Response rate was 215 (90%) of 238 units identifying 308 patients requiring PMV on the survey day occupying 11% of all Canadian ventilator-capable beds. Most units (81%) used individualized plans for both weaning and mobilization. Weaning and mobilization protocols were available in 48% and 38% of units, respectively. Of those units with protocols, only 25% reported weaning guidance specific to PMV, and 11% reported mobilization content for PMV. Only 30% of units used specialized mobility equipment. Most units referred to speech language pathologists (88%); use of communication technology was infrequent (11%). Only 29% routinely referred to psychiatry/psychology, and 17% had formal discharge follow-up services. Conclusions Prolonged mechanical ventilation patients occupied 11% of Canadian acute care ventilator bed capacity. Most units preferred an individualized approach to weaning and mobilization with considerable variation in weaning methods, protocol availability, access to specialized rehabilitation equipment, communication technology, psychiatry, and discharge follow-up.
Abstract Trust and confidence are critical to the success of health care models. There are two main methods for achieving this: transparency (people can see how the model is built) and validation ...(how well the model reproduces reality). This report describes recommendations for achieving transparency and validation developed by a taskforce appointed by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research and the Society for Medical Decision Making. Recommendations were developed iteratively by the authors. A nontechnical description—including model type, intended applications, funding sources, structure, intended uses, inputs, outputs, other components that determine function, and their relationships, data sources, validation methods, results, and limitations—should be made available to anyone. Technical documentation, written in sufficient detail to enable a reader with necessary expertise to evaluate the model and potentially reproduce it, should be made available openly or under agreements that protect intellectual property, at the discretion of the modelers. Validation involves face validity (wherein experts evaluate model structure, data sources, assumptions, and results), verification or internal validity (check accuracy of coding), cross validity (comparison of results with other models analyzing the same problem), external validity (comparing model results with real-world results), and predictive validity (comparing model results with prospectively observed events). The last two are the strongest form of validation. Each section of this article contains a number of recommendations that were iterated among the authors, as well as among the wider modeling taskforce, jointly set up by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research and the Society for Medical Decision Making.
Abstract The evaluation of the cost and health implications of agreeing to cover a new health technology is best accomplished using a model that mathematically combines inputs from various sources, ...together with assumptions about how these fit together and what might happen in reality. This need to make assumptions, the complexity of the resulting framework, the technical knowledge required, as well as funding by interested parties have led many decision makers to distrust the results of models. To assist stakeholders reviewing a model’s report, questions pertaining to the credibility of a model were developed. Because credibility is insufficient, questions regarding relevance of the model results were also created. The questions are formulated such that they are readily answered and they are supplemented by helper questions that provide additional detail. Some responses indicate strongly that a model should not be used for decision making: these trigger a “fatal flaw” indicator. It is hoped that the use of this questionnaire, along with the three others in the series, will help disseminate what to look for in comparative effectiveness evidence, improve practices by researchers supplying these data, and ultimately facilitate their use by health care decision makers.
Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate mineral metabolism markers as potential risk factors for calcific aortic valve disease. Background Mineral metabolism disturbances are common among ...older people and may contribute to cardiac valvular calcification. Associations of serum mineral metabolism markers with cardiac valvular calcification have not been evaluated in a well-characterized general population of older adults. Methods We measured serum levels of phosphate, calcium, parathyroid hormone, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in 1,938 Cardiovascular Health Study participants who were free of clinical cardiovascular disease and who underwent echocardiographic measurements of aortic valve sclerosis (AVS), mitral annular calcification (MAC), and aortic annular calcification (AAC). We used logistic regression models to estimate associations of mineral metabolism markers with AVS, MAC, and AAC after adjustment for relevant confounding variables, including kidney function. Results The respective prevalences of AVS, MAC, and AAC were 54%, 39%, and 44%. Each 0.5 mg/dl higher serum phosphate concentration was associated with greater adjusted odds of AVS (odds ratio OR: 1.17, 95% confidence interval CI: 1.04 to 1.31, p = 0.01), MAC (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.26, p = 0.05), and AAC (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.99 to 1.25, p = 0.05). In contrast, serum calcium, parathyroid hormone, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were not associated with aortic or mitral calcification. Conclusions Higher serum phosphate levels within the normal range were associated with valvular and annular calcification in a community-based cohort of older adults. Phosphate may be a novel risk factor for calcific aortic valve disease and warrants further study.
An abstract of the study by Hui et al providing an up-to-date clinical evidence on the use of high flow oxygen for palliative of dyspnea, is presented. Reviewing the pathophysiology of dyspnea and ...the high flow oxygen's mechanism and discussing the high flow oxygen's logistical and ethical considerations for palliation are mentioned. Also noted the symptoms associated with cancer include decreased function, quality of life and survival.
Abstract Objective to provide guidance for guideline developers on how to consider health equity at key stages of the guideline development process. Study Design and Setting literature review ...followed by group discussions and consensus building. Results The key stages at which guideline developers could consider equity include setting priorities, guideline group membership, identifying the target audience(s), generating the guideline questions, considering the importance of outcomes and interventions, deciding what evidence to include and searching for evidence, summarising the evidence and considering additional information, wording of recommendations, and evaluation and use. We provide examples of how guidelines have actually considered equity at each of these stages. Conclusion Guideline projects should consider the above suggestions for recommendations that are equity-sensitive.
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