Postgraduate medical journal
-
Comparative Study
Comparative evaluation of quality of diabetes care within a population using discrete HbA1c thresholds versus longitudinal trends within a defined time period.
HbA1c is a quality measurement for a population's diabetes care. Currently, discrete values are used to judge the care quality. However, an improved trend may have been achieved without reaching a discrete threshold. We aimed to compare the quality of glycaemic care using discrete thresholds versus longitudinal trends of a patient's HbA1c. ⋯ Our study highlights the need to consider longitudinal trends when measuring quality of diabetes care.
-
In this study, we aimed to investigate the usefulness of P wave peak time (PWPT), a novel ECG parameter, in patients who were diagnosed with acute ischaemic stroke (IS) and had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) on Holter monitoring. ⋯ To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a significant relationship between PWPT in lead DII and PAF among patients with acute IS.
-
Extremely preterm birth reflects global disruption of the third trimester environment. Young adults born preterm have an adverse cardiovascular and metabolic health profile, together with molecular evidence of accelerated ageing and a reduced life expectancy. The underlying mechanism for these observations is unknown. This review summarises recent evidence of the lifetime effects of preterm birth and highlights the risks survivors face.