Acta Medica Port
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The aging of the population has led to an increased prevalence of chronic diseases such as chronic kidney disease. Anemia is one of the most frequent complications of chronic kidney disease, with an impact not only on the quality of life but also on the patient's prognosis and associated costs. Knowledge in this therapeutic area has increased significantly: from the appearance of recombinant erythropoietin in 1989, through the use of increasing doses of parenteral iron and, more recently, to new molecules such as hypoxia-inducible factor inhibitors. The aim of this article is to present a pragmatic review of the state of the art in the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of anemia associated with chronic kidney disease.
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Observational Study
The Patient Perspective Regarding Ambulatory Surgery: An Observational Study.
Due to the advances in anesthetics and surgery, ambulatory surgery plays an increasingly important role. This regimen, despite showing several advantages, still instills fear in patients. The aim of this was to evaluate the level of knowledge and the perspective of patients regarding ambulatory surgery. ⋯ Patients may benefit from being more informed about the ambulatory surgical regimen in order to decrease their fears and increase their acceptance of the regimen. Providing more information to patients may result in increased satisfaction with this regimen.
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The increasing burden of diabetes poses a great challenge to healthcare systems and economy worldwide. Although modern therapeutic strategies for diabetes are widely available, most patients still fail to achieve optimal clinical targets and well-being. The primary objective of this study was to assess and explore potential drivers and successful management of diabetes among people with diabetes, family members and healthcare professionals in Portugal, by applying the protocol of the multinational study "Diabetes, Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN2)". ⋯ We have used for the first time in Portugal the DAWN2 protocol to address the wishes, needs, and attitudes of Portuguese diabetes patients, their relatives, and healthcare professionals regarding the disease.