Journal of internal medicine
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Although deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are manifestations of the same disease, far from all patients develop PE. Our objective was to investigate risk-modifying factors. SETTING, SUBJECTS AND DESIGN: Between 1970 and 1982, 23,796 autopsies, representing 84% of all in-hospital deaths in the Malmö City population, were performed, using a standardized procedure. In a case-control study nested in a population-based cohort of patients with proximal DVT, the relationship between PE and body mass index (BMI), thoracic and abdominal subcutaneous (SC) fat thickness was evaluated. ⋯ We found no differences in age- and gender distribution between PE cases and controls. BMI and SC fat thickness were markers of disease progression from proximal DVT to PE. The highly significant and independent association indicates that SC obesity may be of greater importance in venous thromboembolism as compared with cardiovascular diseases related to visceral (abdominal) obesity with lipid- and glucose metabolic disturbances.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The use of B-type natriuretic peptide in the management of elderly patients with acute dyspnoea.
The aim of this study was to define the impact of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels on the management of elderly patients presenting with acute dyspnoea. ⋯ Used in conjunction with other clinical information, rapid measurement of BNP in the emergency department improved the management of elderly patients presenting with acute dyspnoea and thereby reduced the time to discharge and the total treatment cost. In addition, BNP testing seemed to reduce 30-day mortality.
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Review Meta Analysis
Low-dose aspirin for secondary cardiovascular prevention - cardiovascular risks after its perioperative withdrawal versus bleeding risks with its continuation - review and meta-analysis.
Low-dose aspirin given for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease is frequently withdrawn prior to surgical or diagnostic procedures to reduce bleeding complications. This may expose patients to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Aim of the study was to review and quantify cardiovascular risks because of periprocedural aspirin withdrawal and bleeding risks with the continuation of aspirin. ⋯ Only if low-dose aspirin may cause bleeding risks with increased mortality or sequels comparable with the observed cardiovascular risks after aspirin withdrawal, it should be discontinued prior to an intended operation or procedure. Controlled clinical studies are urgently needed.
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We evaluated the predictive value of chills, bacteraemia and endotoxaemia for in-hospital mortality and survival at 5-10 years long-term follow-up in a prospective cohort of 'early sepsis' patients presenting with fever resulting from community-acquired pneumonia or pyelonephritis. Febrile patients with chills had bacteraemia more often (RR 3.1, 95% CI 1.8-5.4) than those without chills. ⋯ Patients with chills had a significantly higher survival rate at long-term follow-up than those without chills on admission: the estimated risk of dying was 0.644 (95% CI 0.43-0.95, P = 0.029) for an individual with chills, compared to a person without chills, adjusting for the other factors [age cohort, underlying disease and the pro-inflammatory response in the blood, i.e. tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and blood leucocyte number, as scored on hospital admission] in the Cox proportional hazards model. Chills may characterize a patient subpopulation that upon pulmonary and urinary tract infection is able to raise a more rapid and/or efficient host response.