Family practice
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Mental health needs of transgender individuals can be complex with individual, social, and medical factors impacting symptoms. This study examines predictors of mood or anxiety problems among transgender individuals seeking hormone therapy (HT). ⋯ Gender-affirming care and addressing comorbidities can be important aspects of mental health needs for transgender individuals.
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Observational Study
Variation in general practice referral rate to acute medicine services and association with hospital admission. A retrospective observational study.
Variation in general practice (GP) referral rates to outpatient services is well described however variance in rates of referral to acute medical units is lacking. ⋯ High variation in GP practice referral rate for acute medical assessment is incompletely explained by practice population socioeconomic factors and negatively associates with need for urgent inpatient care. Identifying modifiable factors influencing referral rate may provide opportunities to facilitate community-based care and reduce congestion on acute unscheduled care pathways.
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Ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) is related to the future risk of cardiovascular disease. Sleep duration is an important factor influencing health outcomes. The association between sleep duration and CVH is unclear. ⋯ Short sleep duration was associated with decreased odds of ideal CVH and lower mean CVH score. Confirmation through longitudinal studies is needed.
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Hypertension (HT) is highly prevalent and a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Over 42% of Portuguese adults have HT. Even though the benefits of antihypertensive (AHT) drugs have been demonstrated, HT control remains inadequate. One major reason is that patients often fail to take their medications as prescribed. This paper aims to determine primary adherence to AHT therapy in newly diagnosed and treated hypertensive patients in Primary Health Care (PHC) units of Lisbon and Tagus Valley Health Region. ⋯ Overall, almost 1 out of 2 prescribed AHT drugs were not dispensed. Until this study, little was known in Portugal about primary adherence. Our findings imply that the potential benefits of AHT therapy cannot be fully realized in this population.
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Treatment of obesity-related diseases, rather than obesity itself, remains the mainstay of medical care. The current study examined a novel approach that prioritizes weight management in primary care to shift this paradigm. ⋯ Results from the current study demonstrate early success in changing the paradigm from treating weight-related comorbidities to treating weight in primary care.