The European journal of general practice
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Individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) face a fivefold increased risk of ischaemic stroke compared with those without the condition. Recent studies suggest that individuals with asymptomatic AF also face an increased risk of ischaemic stroke, but their condition is often not recognized and diagnosed until an ischaemic stroke event has occurred. Identification of individuals with undiagnosed AF at increased risk for stroke is critical in promoting optimal intervention with anticoagulants. ⋯ It was determined that improved detection and diagnosis of AF, combined with appropriate anticoagulation strategies, will be crucial for improving stroke prevention and reducing its associated social and economic costs.
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Multi-morbidity and polypharmacy of the elderly population enhances the probability of elderly in residential long-term care facilities experiencing inappropriate medication use. ⋯ Beers criteria of 2003 and STOPP were most frequently used to determine inappropriate medication use in residential long-term care facilities. Prevalence of inappropriate medication use strongly varied, despite similarities in research design and assessment with identical instrument(s).
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General practice recognizes the existential dimension as an integral part of multidimensional patient care alongside the physical, psychological and social dimensions. However, general practitioners (GPs) report substantial barriers related to communication with patients about existential concerns. ⋯ This study resulted in a question tool that can serve as inspiration and help GPs when communicating with cancer patients about existential problems and resources. This tool may qualify GPs' assessment of existential distress, increase the patient's existential well-being and help deepen the GP-patient relationship.
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The impact of smoking on morbidity is well known, but in Romania, limited data are available regarding the smoking prevalence and relationship with cardiometabolic profile and kidney function. ⋯ The PREDATORR study showed a high prevalence of smoking in the adult Romanian population providing data on the association of smoking with cardiometabolic traits.