Medicine
-
Observational Study
Intraocular pressure and optical coherence tomography concerning visual field outcomes in "green" patients: An observational study.
This study investigates the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP), optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters, and visual field (VF) outcomes in 'Green' patients-those with normal OCT findings but potential VF abnormalities. Understanding this relationship is crucial for improving early detection and management strategies for glaucoma, especially in patients who show functional loss despite normal structural findings on OCT. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Taipei City Hospital, Renai Branch, Taiwan, from July 1, 2015, to July 1, 2023. ⋯ Disc area plays a critical role in predicting VF abnormalities in "green" patients, suggesting the importance of integrating disc size into screening and monitoring protocols. These findings challenge the reliance on IOP alone for predicting VF loss and support the need for more comprehensive assessments. Future research should explore longitudinal studies to further assess the predictive value of disc area and investigate additional factors, such as vascular and biomechanical influences, that may contribute to VF deterioration in this population.
-
Observational Study
Multimorbidity in the elderly of an educational program in Brazilian capital: A cross-sectional study.
Population aging generated changes in the epidemiological profile and culminated in a high frequency of diseases. The objective of this study was estimating the prevalence of multimorbidity and the associated variables in the elderly of an educational program in the Federal District of Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study with data collection carried out during the period from December 2022 to April 2023 by means of telephone calls. ⋯ The median number of self-reported diseases was 2, ranging from 0 to 9. The estimated prevalence of multimorbidity was 69.3%, being higher among elderly individuals self-reporting their health as regular or bad/or very bad, having systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, hypothyroidism, overweight/obesity, and depression, including polypharmacy (P < .05). The high rate of multimorbidity and associated variables shows the importance of an integrated approach on health services focused on promoting health and preventing health impairment to favor the quality of life during aging.
-
Following improved accessibility to medical services, the phenomenon of polypharmacy in elderly patients with comorbidity has been increasing globally. Polypharmacy patients are prone to drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, and even the risk of death etc. Therefore, there is an urgent need to fully understand the current status and characteristics of drug use in elderly patients with chronic diseases, focusing on polypharmacy factors to ensure that medications for elderly patients are effective and safe. ⋯ The problem of irrational use of drugs in elderly patients with chronic diseases was relatively prominent, especially the use of traditional Chinese medicines. The medication situation in elderly patients with chronic diseases was not optimistic, and the problem of polypharmacy was relatively prominent. Further large-scale studies are needed to provide a certain reference for improving the current status of drug use in elderly patients.
-
Metabolic syndrome is a major public health problem worldwide and an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its individual components among Jordanian patients with T2DM. A cross-sectional design was conducted among T2DM patients at the National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics in Jordan. ⋯ The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Jordanian patients with T2DM is extremely high. The main modifiable risk factors of metabolic syndrome among these patients include nonadherence to a diet regimen, insufficient physical activity, being overweight/obese and smoking. It is recommended that healthcare providers counsel patients on the importance of maintaining physical activity, smoking cessation, and adherence to a diet regimen.
-
Observational Study
A retrospective study for clinical characteristics of 293 patients with dermatomyositis.
This retrospective study aimed to investigate differences in clinical characteristics between different antibody phenotypes in patients with dermatomyositis (DM). Two hundred and ninety-three patients with DM were included in this study from September 2018 to September 2023. We collected basic clinical data from the patients, using statistical methods to analyze the clinical characteristics, and used survival analysis and COX regression to assess the prognosis of the patients. ⋯ The clinical features of DM are associated with myositis-specific antibodies. At the same time, advanced age, fever, elevated γ-glutamyl transferase levels, and reduced C3 and eosinophil levels may be associated with poor prognosis in patients with DM. These data may provide useful information for clinical management of patients with DM.