Annals of medicine
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Compliance with medical treatment is vital for the control of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and prevention of disease complications and is an issue in paediatric patients. We explored patient-related factors associated with non-compliance in a large database of predominantly adolescent, hospitalized paediatric Crohn's disease (CD) patients. ⋯ In this study, mental health disorders and smoking were independently associated with non-compliance to medication in predominantly adolescent, hospitalized paediatric CD patients. A multidisciplinary approach involving paediatric gastroenterologists, psychiatrists and addiction specialists are needed to treat the underlying causes and improve adherence in these patients.KEY MESSAGESMental health disorders and smoking are independent risk factors for medication non-compliance amongst adolescent, paediatric CD patients.A multidisciplinary approach is required to treat underlying causes and improve adherence in paediatric IBD patients.
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U. S. military veterans have been heavily impacted by the opioid overdose crisis, with drug overdose mortality rates increasing by 53% from 2010-2019. Risk for overdose among veterans is complex and influenced by ongoing interaction among physiological/biological, psychological, and socio-structural factors. ⋯ S. military veterans have been heavily impacted by the opioid overdose crisis, with drug overdose mortality rates increasing by 53% from 2010-2019. The risks for overdose that veterans face need to be understood as resulting from an ongoing interaction among biological/physiological, psychological, and social/structural factors. Addressing drug overdose in the veteran population requires accessible and non-judgemental, low threshold, wraparound, and holistic solutions that recognise the complex aetiology of overdose risk for veterans.
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The global burden of hypertension remains an unsolved problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). For this reason, clinical practice guidelines containing the latest evidence-based recommendations are crucial in the management of hypertension. It is noteworthy that guidelines simply translated from those of high-income countries (HICs) are not the solution to the problem of hypertension in LMICs. ⋯ The lack of customised guidelines for LMICs cannot be solved simply by adopting guidelines from high-income countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently published a clinical guideline for the pharmacological management of hypertension in LMICs. We compare select recommendations from the guidelines to those published by the International Society of Hypertension.
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A systematic review was commissioned to support an international expert group charged to update the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)/World Health Organisation (WHO)'s vitamin D intake recommendations for children aged 0-4 years. ⋯ The evidence report provided the expert group with a foundation and core set of data to begin their work to set vitamin D nutrient reference values. To move the field forward, future studies should use standardised 25(OH)D assay measurements and should examine the relationship between long-term vitamin D status and health outcomes.Key MessagesResults of a large complex systematic review suggest the current totality of evidence from trials and prospective observational studies do not reach sufficient certainty level to support a causal relationship between vitamin D intake and asthma, wheeze, eczema, infectious diseases, or rickets (most trials reported no rickets) in generally healthy infants and young children.In this systematic review, the only body of evidence that reached a moderate level of certainty was regarding the effect of daily vitamin D supplementation (vitamin D3 or D2 supplements to infants/children) on increasing serum 25(OH)D concentrations. However, currently there is no consensus on the definitions of vitamin D status, e.g. deficiency, insufficiency, sufficiency and toxicity, based on serum 25(OH)D concentrations.This systematic review provided an international expert group a foundation and core set of data through intake-response modelling to help set vitamin D nutrient reference values for infants and children up to 4 years of age.
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Psychotropic medications are commonly prescribed among adults with intellectual disability, often in the absence of a psychiatric diagnosis. The aim of this scoping review is to provide an overview of the extent, range, and nature of the available research on medication use and practices and medication management in people with intellectual disability taking psychotropic medications for behaviours that challenge. ⋯ These findings can inform prescribing interventions and highlight the need for timely and comprehensive patient outcome data, especially on long-term use of high doses of psychotropics and what happens when reduce or stop prescribing these doses.KEY MESSAGESPsychotropic medications are frequently prescribed for people with intellectual disabilities, often at high doses and these medications are associated with both positive and negative patient outcomes.Work to rationalize psychotropic use has been reported with interventions aiming to reduce polypharmacy or deprescribe a single psychotropic medicine. These interventions had mixed success and risk of relapse was documented in some studies.Limitations in sample size and heterogenous patient cohorts make it challenging to understand the risks and benefits associated with reducing or stopping psychotropic medicines.Patient, carer, and clinician partnerships are critical to advance medication management.