Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · Jul 2009
ReviewObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and excessive sleepiness associated with OSA: recognition in the primary care setting.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common and debilitating condition characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway obstruction, resulting in intermittent occurrence of apnea-hypopnea. Clinical features include snoring or disturbed sleep, reduced concentration and memory, mood disorders, and excessive sleepiness (ES). Left undiagnosed and untreated, OSA may have detrimental consequences, including cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality, decreased health-related quality of life, and increased incidence of motor vehicle accidents. ⋯ Management of the condition should include lifestyle changes and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment if required. Wakefulness-promoting agents may be considered if ES persists despite CPAP. Effective intervention for OSA not only provides symptomatic benefits, but also improves hypertension and reduces the risk for fatal and nonfatal CV events associated with the condition.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jul 2009
ReviewContinuous opioid treatment for chronic noncancer pain: a time for moderation in prescribing.
Physicians have embraced the concept of long-term opioid treatment for chronic noncancer pain (CNCP), as evidenced by increased prescribing. Many patients have benefited from more liberal opioid prescribing, but many have not, and prescription opioid abuse has risen significantly coincident with increased prescribing. Because of the potentially serious adverse effects of opioids, physicians must balance potential benefits against risks, especially in individuals at risk for opioid misuse, abuse, or dependence. This article reviews long-term, continuous opioid treatment of CNCP, current treatment guidelines, addiction risk stratification, opioid-induced hyperalgesia, and endocrine dysfunction.
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Salicylates are widely used and are easily available as over-the-counter medications; thus, they can be readily abused. Although acute toxicity can be readily diagnosed if an ingestion history is provided, both acute and chronic salicylate toxicity often goes unrecognized, with high mortality when the patient is not treated properly. ⋯ The prognosis depends on prompt recognition and treatment. Delayed diagnosis results in increased morbidity and mortality, particularly in the elderly.
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Postgraduate medicine · Jul 2009
ReviewThe role of RAS modification for primary and secondary stroke prevention.
Clinical trial results indicate that the choice of antihypertensive agent can be a determinant of stroke protection, independent of blood pressure (BP) reduction. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) are effective for BP control and stroke protection, but their use may be limited by patient tolerability. Angiotensin receptor blockers appear to provide similar BP control compared with ACE-Is and may also offer the clinician the added benefit of primary and secondary stroke prevention, with the potential for fewer tolerability issues.
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Treatment guidelines for chronic noncancer pain recommend opioids for carefully selected, closely monitored patients. However, many primary care physicians have a limited understanding of urine toxicology testing, which is the standard for monitoring opioid therapy. This article describes the technical aspects of urine toxicology testing and provides recommendations for monitoring patients to maximize the safety of opioid therapy. ⋯ Effective monitoring requires careful test selection, an understanding of pharmacologic and metabolic factors influencing test results, and awareness of methods by which patients who are substance abusers may tamper with test specimens to escape detection. All patients prescribed opioids, not just those considered at risk for abuse, should undergo urine toxicology testing. Given its inherent complexities, effective urine testing requires close collaboration between the primary care physician and a reliable laboratory to develop an appropriate test protocol for each patient and to interpret test results.