Current medical research and opinion
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Observational Study
Health-related quality of life in type 1 diabetes mellitus pediatric patients and their caregivers in Spain: an observational cross-sectional study.
Objectives: This study assessed the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and their caregivers. Methods: CHRYSTAL was an observational cross-sectional study conducted in Spain in 2014 on 275 patients under 18 years old diagnosed with T1DM. Patient/caregiver pairs were stratified by patients' HbA1c level (≥7.5% versus <7.5%) and by presence or absence of T1DM complications and/or comorbidities. ⋯ EQ-5D scales showed significant moderate correlation between EQ-5D-Y and EQ-5D-3L proxy VAS score (rho = 0.45; p < .001). Conclusions: Patients with few complications and controlled HbA1c reported a relatively high HRQOL. The results suggest that parent-proxy EQ-5D ratings are valid for use as part of an overall health outcomes assessment in clinical studies of T1DM in pediatric patients.
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Background and aims: Pentazocine remains a widely used opioid pre-anesthetic medication and post-operative analgesic in low- and middle-income countries despite concerns. We assessed the adverse events (AEs) associated with off-label use of pentazocine in pediatric surgical patients and determined the possible risk factors associated with slow respiratory AEs. Method: Children ≤18 years old were administered pentazocine IM/IV as a pre-anesthetic medication or post-operative analgesic. ⋯ None of the demographics and clinical variables significantly predicted the risk of slow respiratory AEs. Conclusion: Off-label use of pentazocine is common and associated with multiple AEs. Care is needed as no predictors of slow respiratory AEs were observed.
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Objectives: The study aimed to investigate risk factors for venous symptoms in Russian patients with chronic venous disease (CVD). Methods: Data on 487 patients with CVD aged 18 years and more were extracted from the database of a cross-sectional population-based study on the prevalence of CVD in a rural settlement. Risk factors for venous symptoms were calculated by multiple regression analysis. ⋯ Superficial venous reflux is a predictor only for venous pain (HR 2.4, p < .01). Conclusions: This study presents independent risk factors for venous symptoms in CVD patients. It demonstrates that different symptoms are associated with different factors.
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Introduction: Non-vitamin-K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are known to have advantages over vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, more than half of patients are still treated with VKAs. The absence of direct comparisons amongst NOACs and the insufficient evidence in some clinical situations could explain, at least in part, this predominance of VKAs. ⋯ Edoxaban and apixaban were the favorites for patients with AF and moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD). In the case of patients on triple antithrombotic therapy due to AF and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) the lowest effective NOAC dose should be used. Conclusion: Our study emphasizes that there are several clinical circumstances in patients with AF requiring complex decisions about anticoagulation treatment and offers some recommendations based on the consensus reached by an expert panel.