Comment on: High acquisition rate and internal validity in the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry (SOReg)
Creator
Dan AG
Publisher
Surgery For Obesity And Related Diseases
Date
2021
2021-02-20
Description
The general practice of any modern medical specialty is rooted in evidence-based principles shaped by research. The discipline of metabolic and bariatric surgery is no exception. An abundant number of studies in our field utilize data from large and accessible registries to guide clinical management, quality improvement, asset allocation, and healthcare policy. Research evaluating the validity and methodological challenges of these data repositories, however, remain scarce.
Harmonized outcome measures for use in atrial fibrillation patient registries and clinical practice: Endorsed by the Heart Rhythm Society Board of Trustees.
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects an estimated 33 million people worldwide, leading to increased mortality and an increased risk of heart failure and stroke. Many AF patient registries exist, but the ability to link and compare data across registries is hindered by differences in the outcome measures collected by each registry and a lack of harmonization. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this project was to develop a minimum set of standardized outcome measures that could be collected in AF patient registries and clinical practice. METHODS: AF patient registries were identified through multiple sources and invited to join the workgroup and submit outcome measures. Additional measures were identified through literature searches and reviews of consensus statements. Outcome measures were categorized using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's supported Outcome Measures Framework (OMF). A minimum set of broadly relevant measures was identified. Measure definitions were harmonized through in-person and virtual meetings. RESULTS: One hundred twelve outcome measures, including those from thirteen registries, were curated according to the OMF and then harmonized into a minimum set of measures in the OMF categories of survival (3 measures), clinical response (3 measures), events of interest (9 measures), patient-reported outcomes (2 measures), and resource utilization (3 measures). The harmonized definitions build on existing consensus statements. CONCLUSIONS: The harmonized measures represent a minimum set of outcomes that are relevant in AF research and clinical practice. Routine and consistent collection of these measures in registries and in other systems would support creation of a research infrastructure to efficiently address new questions and improve patient outcomes.
Subject
Humans; Risk Factors; United States/epidemiology; Survival Rate/trends; Cardiology; Morbidity/trends; Risk Assessment/methods; Atrial fibrillation; Common data element; Data standard; Harmonization; Outcome measure; Patient outcome; Patient registry; Registries; Societies Medical; Atrial Fibrillation/complications/epidemiology; Outcome Assessment Health Care/methods; Stroke/epidemiology/etiology
Oral Fluconazole During Pregnancy Increases Risk for Spontaneous Abortion.
Creator
Watkins Richard R
Publisher
Infectious Disease Alert
Date
2016
2016-03
Description
A nationwide cohort study from Denmark found a significantly increased risk of spontaneous abortion associated with oral fluconazole usage. Caution with this medication during pregnancy is advised.
Incidental findings in the cervical spine at CT for trauma evaluation.
Creator
Barboza Richard; Fox Jason H; Shaffer Lynn E T; Opalek Judy M; Farooki Shella
Publisher
AJR. American journal of roentgenology
Date
2009
2009-03
Description
OBJECTIVE: CT is the standard of care for assessment of traumatic injuries. Because of the detail depicted with this technique, findings incidental to the injury are easily detected. We sought to determine the frequency and types of incidental findings in the cervical spines of trauma patients undergoing CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The trauma registry was accessed to identify the cases of patients evaluated with cervical spine CT at a level 1 trauma center from January to July 2007. Trauma registry data, including age, sex, injury severity score, mechanism of injury, length of stay, and diagnosis were recorded, and all CT scans of the cervical spine were reviewed for incidental findings. Clinically significant incidental findings were classified according to bodily location, and the association between various patient characteristics and the likelihood of an incidental finding was assessed. RESULTS: We identified incidental CT findings in 230 of 1,256 patients (18.3%) who underwent CT of the cervical spine during an initial trauma evaluation. We stratified the incidental findings as trauma-related and not trauma-related. The likelihood of non-trauma-related incidental findings was associated with age (p \textless 0.0001). The likelihood of trauma-related incidental findings was associated with injury severity score (p \textless 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Incidental findings in the cervical spine were associated with age, injury severity score, and mechanism of injury. Awareness of the prevalence of incidental findings is important to assuring that both traumatic and nontraumatic pathologic findings are detected and appropriately managed.
BACKGROUND: Chiari malformation (CM) is characterized by herniation of the cerebellar tonsils into the cervical spine. While ample literature on CM exists for clinical and procedural aspects of the disease, few studies have measured the impact CM has on daily activities. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure the impact that CM has on daily living activities. METHODS: Data was analyzed from 798 CM patients gathered by the national Conquer Chiari Patient Registry database. RESULTS: Results indicate CM is associated with negative impact on daily living and physical activities for patients, even those exhibiting mild symptoms. Participants with severe symptoms experience the greatest deficit with regards to daily living such as difficulty walking, driving, housecleaning and food preparation. CONCLUSIONS: As 96.1% of CM patients report impact in one or more areas of daily living, CM is classified as a disability according to 42 U.S. CODE section sign 12101 (Americans with Disabilities Act). The degree of self-reported CM symptom severity is strongly related to the frequency and extent of limitations in both physical and daily activities.
Subject
*Activities of Daily Living; *Disabled Persons; *Quality of Life; Adult; Arnold-Chiari malformation; Arnold-Chiari Malformation/classification/*complications; Automobile Driving; Daily living; Databases; Factual; Female; Food Handling; Housekeeping; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Physical activities; Quality of life; Recreational activities; Registries; Severity of Illness Index; United States; Walking