European journal of internal medicine
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jan 2021
Pharmacist-driven medication recognition/ reconciliation in older medical patients.
In older medical patients polypharmacy is often associated with poor prescription appropriateness and harmful drug-drug interactions. An effort that jointly involved hospital pharmacists and clinicians attending multimorbid older patients acutely admitted to medical wards was implemented for medication recognition and reconciliation aided by the use of a computerized support system. ⋯ This interventional prospective study based upon the integrated expertise of hospital pharmacists and clinicians confirms that drug-related problems are frequent in multimorbid older patients acutely admitted to hospital medical wards, and demonstrates afresh the feasibility and mutual acceptance of a trajectory of recognition/reconciliation based upon an integrated collaboration between hospital pharmacists and ward clinicians in the process of medication optimization.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jan 2021
Prognostic impact of Vitamin D deficiency in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
Whether Vitamin D deficiency represents an independent predictor of mortality and major cardiovascular events or rather the mirror of a more advanced clinical condition with increased comorbidities is still debated. We aimed at assessing the impact of vitamin D levels on the long-term outcomes among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. ⋯ Among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions, lower levels of vitamin D are associated with an over 3-fold increased risk of mortality and major cardiovascular events. Future larger studies are certainly warranted in order to define the prognostic implications of cholecalciferol supplementation among high-risk patients with established coronary artery disease.
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Urinalysis and urine culture are two of the most commonly ordered tests. A positive urine test in asymptomatic patients often leads to overtreatment. Antimicrobials for asymptomatic bacteriuria is one of the most common unnecessary treatments. We aimed to explore the current ordering patterns of urinalysis and cultures. ⋯ Unnecessary urine testing is frequent in non-surgical patients in the Netherlands. We need to take action to reduce unnecessary urinalysis and cultures, and thereby probably reduce overtreatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jan 2021
Observational StudyEnterococcal infective endocarditis is a marker of current occult or future incident colorectal neoplasia.
Few studies suggest an association between Enterococcal infective endocarditis (EIE) and colorectal disease, including colorectal neoplasia (CRN) and colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we analyze differences in prevalence, risk factors and outcome of CRN and CRC between EIE and Streptococcus gallolyticus infective endocarditis (SGIE). ⋯ EIE seems to be associated with colorectal disease, including colorectal neoplasia and colorectal cancer, to the same extent as SGIE. EIE should be considered a marker of colorectal neoplasia, even in patients with a clear health-care related acquisition. Colonoscopy is generally safe in EIE patients, and should be considered to early diagnose and treat colorectal disease.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Jan 2021
Lower dose direct oral anticoagulants and improved survival: A combined analysis in patients with established atherosclerosis.
Antithrombotic/anticoagulation effects of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are dose-dependent. However, recent observations suggest that administering lower dose DOACs may better protect against all-cause mortality. We investigated whether, in patients with established atherosclerosis, DOAC dose selection would affect the risk of all-cause mortality. ⋯ Within antithrombotic/anticoagulation regimens of DOAC administration, selection of lower dose appears to protect from all-cause mortality in patients with established atherosclerosis.