Croatian medical journal
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Croatian medical journal · Dec 2020
Epidemiological and clinical features of Croatian children and adolescents with a PCR-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019: differences between the first and second epidemic wave.
To describe epidemiological and clinical features of Croatian children and adolescents with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019. ⋯ A large proportion of SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive children/adolescents were asymptomatic. The associated disease was predominantly mild, comparably so in the first and second pandemic wave.
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Croatian medical journal · Dec 2020
The analysis of waiting time and utilization of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in Croatia: a nationwide survey.
To assess the variation in the waiting time for diagnostic imaging (DI) services among Croatian public hospitals and the utilization of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners. ⋯ The waiting times for CT and MRI were exceptionally long regardless of the hospital category, with highly varying utilization. Croatia performed more exams per scanner compared with other EU countries, but not significantly so. High-level hospitals' utilization was significantly higher than that of low-level hospitals, and CT utilization was significantly higher than EU average, while the difference for MRI utilization was not significant.
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Croatian medical journal · Dec 2020
A validation of the Croatian version of Zarit Burden Interview and clinical predictors of caregiver burden in informal caregivers of patients with dementia: a cross-sectional study.
To validate the Croatian version of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and to investigate the predictors of perceived burden. ⋯ The Croatian version of ZBI is reliable and valid. Our data confirm that ZBI is a multidimensional construct. Caregivers may benefit from individually tailored interventions.
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Croatian medical journal · Dec 2020
Coronavirus epidemic in Croatia: case fatality decline during summer?
To describe the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic pattern in Croatia during February-September 2020 and compare the case fatality ratio (CFR) between spring and summer. ⋯ The epidemic dynamics suggests summer decline in case fatality, except in ventilated patients. While the effect of comorbidity also decreased, cardiovascular comorbidity remained an important risk factor for death even during summer. A plethora of possible confounders and an ever-changing landscape of SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Croatia require constant monitoring and evaluation, with an aim to prevent the uncontrolled spread of the virus and a disruption of health care functioning.