Trends in Cystic Fibrosis survival over 40 years in South Africa: an observational cohort study

Introduction: Temporal trends in CF survival from low-middle-income settings are poorly reported. We describe changes in CF survival after diagnosis over 40 years from a South African (SA) CF center. Methods: An observational cohort study of people diagnosed with CF from 1974 to 2019. Changes in age-specific mortality rates from the year 2000 (versus before 2000) were estimated using multivariable Poisson regression. Data were stratified by current age < or ≥ 10 years and models controlled for diagnosis age, sex, ethnicity, genotype, and P. aeruginosa (PA) infection. A second analysis explored association of mortality with weight and FEV1z-scores at age 5-8 years. Results: 288 people (52% male; 57% Caucasian; 44% p.Phe508del homozygous) were included (median diagnosis age 0.5 years: Q1,Q3: 0.2, 2.5); 58 (35%) died and 30 (10%) lost to follow-up. Among age >10 years, age-specific mortality from year 2000 was significantly lower (adjusted hazard ratio aHR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.06,0.29; p<0.001), but not among age <10 years (aHR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.28,1.64; p=0.383). In children <10 years, Caucasian ethnicity was associated with lower mortality (aHR 0.17; 95% CI 0.05,0.63), and time since first PA infection with higher mortality (aHR 1.31; 95% CI 1.01,1.68). Mortality was 7-fold higher if FEV1z was < -2.0 at age 5-8 years (aHR 7.64; 95% CI 2.58,22.59). Conclusion: Overall, CF survival has significantly improved in SA from year 2000 in people older than 10 years. However, increased risk of mortality persists in young non-Caucasian children, and with FEV1z<-2.0 at age 5-8 years.

Evaluation of cysts and odontogenic tumors over a period of 8 years in a reference medical hospital in Brazil

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relative prevalence, demographic distribution and clinical-pathological characteristics of the maxillary odontogenics cysts and tumors of the jaws in a pathology laboratory located in a university hospital in Northeastern Brazil. Methods: An observational and retrospective study was carried out, in which information was collected on histopathological diagnosis, age, gender and location of the lesion of patients who had been diagnosed with odontogenic cysts or odontogenic tumors between 2013 and 2020. Results: Among the 546 specimens, 57 were odontogenic cysts and 41 were odontogenic tumors. The most frequent odontogenic cysts were the odontogenic keratocyst 21 (21.4%) and the root cyst 19 (19.4%). The most frequent odontogenic tumors were ameloblastoma 27 (27.6%) and odontoma 6 (6.1%). Conclusion: The data found in this study are possibly associated with the service assistance profile.

Incidence of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy and Other Neovascular Sequelae at 5 Years Following Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes

<b>Objective:</b> To determine the incidence and risk factors for developing proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), tractional retinal detachment (TRD), and neovascular glaucoma (NVG) at 5 years after initial diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. <p><b>Research Design and Methods: </b>Insured patients age 18 or older with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes and 5 years of continuous enrollment were identified from a nationwide commercial claims database containing data from 2007-2015.<b> </b>The<b> </b>incidences of PDR, TRD, and NVG were computed at 5 years following index diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.<b> </b>Associations between these outcomes and demographic, socioeconomic, and medical factors were tested with multivariable logistic regression.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> At 5 years following initial diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, 1.74% (1,249/71,817) of patients had developed PDR. Additionally, 0.25% of patients had developed TRD, and 0.14% of patients had developed NVG. Insulin use (OR 3.59, 95% CI 3.16-4.08), maximum HbA1c >9% or 75mmol/mol (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.54-2.69), renal disease (OR 2.68, 95% CI 2.09-3.42), peripheral circulatory disorders (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.25-2.83), neurological disease (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.24-2.11), and older age at diagnosis (age 65-74, OR 1.62, 1.28-2.03) were identified as risk factors for development of PDR at 5 years. Young age at diagnosis (age 18-34, OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.29-0.74), Medicare insurance (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.70-0.76), morbid obesity (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.87), and smoking (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70-1.00) were identified as protective factors. </p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> A subset of patients with type 2 diabetes develop PDR and other neovascular sequelae within the first 5 years following diagnosis with type 2 diabetes. These patients may benefit from increased efforts for screening and early intervention.</p>

Incidence of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy and Other Neovascular Sequelae at 5 Years Following Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes

<b>Objective:</b> To determine the incidence and risk factors for developing proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), tractional retinal detachment (TRD), and neovascular glaucoma (NVG) at 5 years after initial diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. <p><b>Research Design and Methods: </b>Insured patients age 18 or older with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes and 5 years of continuous enrollment were identified from a nationwide commercial claims database containing data from 2007-2015.<b> </b>The<b> </b>incidences of PDR, TRD, and NVG were computed at 5 years following index diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.<b> </b>Associations between these outcomes and demographic, socioeconomic, and medical factors were tested with multivariable logistic regression.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> At 5 years following initial diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, 1.74% (1,249/71,817) of patients had developed PDR. Additionally, 0.25% of patients had developed TRD, and 0.14% of patients had developed NVG. Insulin use (OR 3.59, 95% CI 3.16-4.08), maximum HbA1c >9% or 75mmol/mol (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.54-2.69), renal disease (OR 2.68, 95% CI 2.09-3.42), peripheral circulatory disorders (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.25-2.83), neurological disease (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.24-2.11), and older age at diagnosis (age 65-74, OR 1.62, 1.28-2.03) were identified as risk factors for development of PDR at 5 years. Young age at diagnosis (age 18-34, OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.29-0.74), Medicare insurance (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.70-0.76), morbid obesity (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.87), and smoking (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70-1.00) were identified as protective factors. </p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> A subset of patients with type 2 diabetes develop PDR and other neovascular sequelae within the first 5 years following diagnosis with type 2 diabetes. These patients may benefit from increased efforts for screening and early intervention.</p>

A population-based study to estimate survival and standardized mortality of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in Taiwan

Background Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disease with systemic manifestations, which can cause significant mortality and morbidity. Population-based epidemiological studies on TSC mortality and survival remain scarce, though several recent studies provide evidence that TSC survival rates are high and disease prognosis is fair for most patients. This study aims to estimate the life expectancy and mortality statistics in Taiwanese TSC patients, investigate prognosis and associations of TSC mortality based on demographic variables, and compare these results to past literature, especially for Asian patients. Methods Taiwanese National Health Insurance (NHI) insurees can obtain Catastrophic Illness Certificates (CIC) for certain eligible diseases to waive copayments after diagnosis by two independent physicians. CIC holders for TSC during 1997–2010 were identified from the NHI Research Database. Queries on enrollment (CIC acquisition) age, endpoint (end of query period or death) age, sex, and comorbidities were obtained. Patients were separated into cohorts (endpoint age, sex, and age of diagnosis), and analyzed accordingly. Results 471 patients (232 male, 239 female) were identified, of which 14 died. Compared to literature, patients showed similar demographics (age range, diagnosis age, sex distribution); similar manifestations and prevalence (epilepsy, intellectual disability, renal disease); lower disease prevalence (1 in 63,290); lower mortality (0.21% per year); and near-identical standardized mortality ratio (4.99). A cumulative mortality of 4.08% was found over 14 years, though mortality plateaued at 7 years post-enrollment, suggesting a good overall survival rate; comparable with previous studies in Asian patients. Enrollment age was a significant prognostic factor, with late-enrollment (age > 18) patients at higher risk for all-cause mortality (Hazard ratio = 6.54). Average remaining lifetime was significantly lower than the general population, and decreased with age. Conclusions This study reports a population-based disease database, highlights the importance of diagnosis age in prognosis prediction, and suggests the role of renal manifestations in mortality. Furthermore, it corroborates recent TSC studies in the Asian population in terms of survival. Overall, physician vigilance, early diagnosis, and careful monitoring are beneficial for disease outcome and patient survival.

Do you want to receive bad news through your patient accessible electronic health record? A national survey on receiving bad news in an era of digital health

Despite the fact that patient accessible electronic health records (PAEHRs) have been around for many years in several countries, there is a lack of research investigating patient’s preferences for receiving bad news, including through PAEHRs. Little is also known about the characteristics of the patients who prefer to receive bad news through the PAEHR in terms of, for example medical diagnosis, age and educational level. This study, based on a national patient survey in Sweden ( N = 2587), investigated this. Results show that, generally, receiving bad news by reading in the PAEHR is still among the least preferred options. Additionally, a higher proportion of men want to receive bad news in the PAEHR compared to women ( p = 0.001), and the same goes for those who are not working/have worked in healthcare ( p = 0.007). An effect of disease groups was also found, showing that diabetes patients in particular, want to receive bad news through the PAEHR.

Factors Associated with “Survivor Identity” in Men with Breast Cancer

Cancer patients vary in their comfort with the label “survivor”. Here, we explore how comfortable males with breast cancer (BC) are about accepting the label cancer “survivor”. Separate univariate logistic regressions were performed to assess whether time since diagnosis, age, treatment status, and cancer stage were associated with comfort with the “survivor” label. Of the 70 males treated for BC who participated in the study, 58% moderately-to-strongly liked the term “survivor”, 26% were neutral, and 16% moderately-to-strongly disliked the term. Of the factors we explored, only a longer time since diagnosis was significantly associated with the men endorsing a survivor identity (OR = 1.02, p = 0.05). We discuss how our findings compare with literature reports on the comfort with the label “survivor” for women with BC and men with prostate cancer. Unlike males with prostate cancer, males with BC identify as “survivors” in line with women with BC. This suggests that survivor identity is more influenced by disease type and treatments received than with sex/gender identities.

Allergies, Allergic Comorbidities and the Home Environment in Pediatric Asthma in Southern Florida

Background: Environmental exposure is critical in sensitization to environmental allergens and pediatric asthma morbidity, especially in tropical climates where children are perennially exposed to bioaerosols, such as pollen and mold spores, and endotoxins. Objective: This cross-sectional study examines the association of allergies, associated allergic comorbidities, and the home environment separately and synergistically in pediatric asthma, including in asthma prevalence, severity of asthma, and undiagnosed asthma, in South Florida. Methods: An online survey was administered to the parents of children attending two of the University of Miami pediatric clinics from June to October 2016. Descriptive, factor, and multivariate regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Results: Of 163 children, 22% (36) children had physician-diagnosed asthma; 10% and 32% had allergic rhinitis diagnosis and rhinitis symptoms, respectively, in the past. The allergy diagnosis age was 2.3 years higher than the asthma diagnosis age (p < 0.01). Children with ≥ 2 allergies were 12.8 times more likely to have physician-diagnosed asthma than those without allergies (p < 0.01). Children with allergies and allergic rhinitis were 4.3 (p < 0.05) times more likely to have asthma, and those with asthma were 15 (p < 0.05) times more likely to have an asthma attack than those without known allergies and allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: Allergies and associated comorbidities are risk factors of asthma, asthma persistence, and multiple allergies exacerbate their effects. Early screening for allergies and treatment are warranted to manage asthma. Since the home environment plays an important role in sensitization to allergens, further research is needed to assess home-environment-mediated allergic conditions in the onset and persistence of asthma.