Perinatal Outcomes of Fetuses and Infants Diagnosed with Trisomy 13 or Trisomy 18

Objectives: To identify factors associated with adverse prenatal, perinatal and postnatal outcomes, and determine the utilization medical care for fetuses & infants with trisomy 13 (T13) and trisomy (T18). Study Design: This population-based retrospective cohort study included all prenatal and postnatal diagnoses of T13 or T18 in the Greater Cincinnati area from 1/1/12-12/31/18. Overall survival, survival to hospital discharge, approach to medical management, and maternal, fetal and neonatal characteristics are analyzed. Results: 124 pregnancies (125 fetuses) were identified, which resulted in 72 liveborn infants. Male fetal sex and hydrops were associated with a higher rate of spontaneous loss. The median length of survival was 7 days (95% CI, 0-18 days) and 29 days (95% CI, 2-115 days), for infants with T13 and T18, respectively. Of the 27 infants who were alive at 1 month of age, 14 (52%) were alive at 1 year of age. Only the trisomy type, chosen goals of care (comfort care), and extremely low birthweight were associated with overall length of survival. A high degree of variability existed in the use of medical services, with 28% of infants undergoing at least one surgical procedure and some children requiring repeated (up to 29) or prolonged hospitalization (> 1 year). Conclusions: Although many infants with T13 or T18 did not survive past the first week of life, up to 25% of infants lived for more than one year. Length of survival for an individual infant cannot be easily predicted, and surviving infants have high health care utilization throughout their lifespan.

Which are the intermediate determinants of gender inequalities in mental health?: A scoping review

Background: Gender segmentation in the labour market and women’s greater burden of domestic work and caregiving increase their risk of developing mental health problems, especially in vulnerable social groups. Aims: The objectives of this study were to identify and describe the role of working and labour conditions, domestic work and caregiving and social support in gender inequalities in mental health, as well as to assess whether studies have taken an intersectional approach, describing its role in gender inequalities in mental health. Methods: We carried out a systematic review of scientific articles published between 2010 and 2019 in PubMed, Scopus, WoS and PsycInfo, in Spanish and English, conducted in the European Economic Area in populations aged between 25 and 65 years. Studies were excluded if they were qualitative, focused on sexual identity or factors based on biological differences, or considered use of medical services, medicalisation or suicide as the outcome variable. Results: A total of 30 articles were included, of which only four concerned studies in which intersectional analysis had been performed. The mental health of men was seen to be more influenced by employment conditions and that of women by working conditions, the double presence and civil status. Further, depending on the size of the household (women) and unemployment (men), people in lower social classes had poorer mental health outcomes. Conclusions: The results may be useful for designing policies focused on reducing gender inequalities in mental health. Additionally, they show the need for taking an intersectional perspective.

Prevalence and Age Structure of Polypharmacy in Poland: Results of the Analysis of the National Real-World Database of 38 Million Citizens

Introduction: Polypharmacy is a risk factor for adverse health outcomes, higher use of medical services and additional costs. The problem has gained attention as a consequence of aging and related multimorbidity. Therefore, there is an urgent need to adopt effective interventions aimed at reducing its burden. In order to achieve this, in-depth understanding of the prevalence of polypharmacy is required. Of particular interest is, however, assessing prevalence of polypharmacy in various age groups, to reach the right target for these interventions. So far, only limited data on polypharmacy among non-elderly individuals have been available.Aim of study: To assess overall prevalence of polypharmacy in Poland as well as its distribution in various age groups using real-world data.Methodology: A retrospective analysis of complete dispensation data of national payer organization for the years 2018–2019. The analyzed dataset included data on dispensation of reimbursed drugs, and exclusively for 2019, also non-reimbursed drugs. Polypharmacy was defined as dispensation of ≥5 prescription medications within six months.Results: In the analyzed national cohort of 38 million Polish citizens, the prevalence of polypharmacy was found to be 11.7% in 2018 and 11.6% in 2019. With age, the prevalence of polypharmacy increased, reaching the value of 56.0% in those aged 80+ in 2018, and 55.0% in 2019. Altogether, among those aged 65+, the polypharmacy was present in 43.1% in 2018, and 42.1% in 2019. In the youngest group of citizens, i.e., among those aged below 20 years, polypharmacy was found in 0.9%, and 0.8% in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Prevalence of polypharmacy, calculated for 2019 according to dispensation of five or more reimbursed and non-reimbursed drugs for the whole Polish population, was 21.8% for January-June, and 22.4% for July-December 2019. Among those aged 65+, the relevant numbers were 62.3%, and 62.9%, respectively.Conclusion: This study, being the first nationwide assessment of polypharmacy in Poland, confirmed its high prevalence. We found polypharmacy present in over one fifth of Polish society. Peaking in the elderly, polypharmacy occurred in each age group. These results lay the foundations for future interventions focused on reducing the scope of this problem in Poland.

Potentially Inappropriate Medication among Older Patients Who Are Frequent Users of Outpatient Services

Aging is accompanied by changes in organ degeneration, and susceptibility to multiple diseases, leading to the frequent occurrence of adverse drug reactions resulting from polypharmacy (PP) and potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) in older patients. This study employs a retrospective cohort design and investigates the association of PP with PIM among older patients with high rates of medical utilization. Using records from a national pharmaceutical care database, an experimental group is formed from patients meeting these criteria, who are then offered home pharmaceutical care. Correspondingly, a control group is formed by identifying older patients with regular levels of use of medical services who had been dispensed medications at community pharmacies. Multivariate logistic regression is performed to assess the association between the rate of PIM and variables, including age, gender, and PP. The study finds that experimental PP participants had a higher rate of PIM prescription (odds ratio (OR) = 5.4) than non-PP control participants (all p < 0.001). In clinical practice, additional caution is required to avoid PIMs. Patients engaged in continuously using long-term medication should take precautions in daily life to alleviate related discomforts. Pharmacists should serve as a bridge between patients and physicians to enhance their health and improve their quality of life.

Outcomes of Establishing an Urgent Care Centre in the Same Location as an Emergency Department

The emergency department (ED) is one of the busiest facilities in a hospital, and it is frequently described as a bottleneck that limits space and structures, jeopardising surge capacity during Major Incidents and Disasters (MIDs) and pandemics such as the COVID 19 outbreak. One remedy to facilitate surge capacity is to establish an Urgent Care Centre (UCC), i.e., a secondary ED, co-located and in close collaboration with an ED. This study investigates the outcome of treatment in an ED versus a UCC in terms of length of stay (LOS), time to physician (TTP) and use of medical services. If it was possible to make these parameters equal to or even less than the ED, UCCs could be used as supplementary units to the ED, improving sustainability. The results show reduced waiting times at the UCC, both in terms of TTP and LOS. In conclusion, creating a primary care-like facility in close proximity to the hospitals may not only relieve overcrowding of the hospital’s ED in peacetime, but it may also provide an opportunity for use during MIDs and pandemics to facilitate the victims of the incident and society as a whole.

Management of COVID-19 in Liver Transplant Recipients with Immunosuppressant Therapy: Experiences of an Iranian Transplant Registry

Background: Following the pandemic of COVID-19 and the increased COVID-19 risk in transplant patient receptions, the authors assessed the prevalence, clinical course, and the outcome of the COVID-19 infection among liver transplant receptions. Methods: By designing and the use of researcher made questionnaire and the use of medical services, liver transplantation recipients under our center surveyed in terms of COVID-19 infection.Results: Seven patients infected with COVID-19 were identified from 265 liver transplantation recipients. The majority of patients were male and had COVID-19 despite being in-home quarantine. All patients received immunosuppressive drugs during infection with COVID-19 with no change in the routine immunosuppressive therapy. Among the identified patients, 5 recovered and 2 died. One of the dead patients, in addition to having a liver transplant, suffered brain cancer with metastasis to the lungs. Conclusion: It seems that the in liver transplants infected with COVID-19, the immunosuppressive drugs causes mild to moderate illness, and even recover from the disease.However, more evidence is needed to prove this hypothesis. It is also recommended that transplant recipients should be warned about personal hygiene and closely be monitored by organ transplant centers.

Loneliness Among Rural Elderly

Population aging is a great challenge for modern societies at the future and is a central issue in the development of public policies. In Spain, in rural regions, the demographic problem of aging must be added to the problem of migration. In this context, a direct consequence of the union of aging and depopulation appears: loneliness of the elderly rural populations. Several studies indicate that loneliness has a significant association with increased use of medical services. These medical analyses need to be complemented with conceptualizations that integrate them into broader views that analyze structural causes and consequences. This text reviews the types of measurement scales proposed by the academy and lists some of the campaigns carried out by the administrations. The authors will attempt to take a critical approach, analyzing how individualized and medicalized visions of loneliness have been led.