Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnętrznej
-
Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Mar 2022
Management of SARS-CoV-2 infection: recommendations of the Polish Association of Epidemiologists and Infectiologists as of February 23, 2022.
The first Polish recommendations regarding the management of patients with COVID-19 were published by the Polish Society of Epidemiologists and Infectiologists (PTEiLChZ) on March 31, 2020, and the last annex was dated November 12, 2021. The ongoing state of pandemic, the emergence of new variants of the virus, and the availability of new drugs necessitate their updating. ⋯ Anakinra, an antagonist of interleukin 1 receptors, has been added as a treatment option in advanced stages of the disease, and the recommended daily dose of glucocorticosteroids used in the most severe forms of COVID-19 has been increased. Information on vaccination and pre-exposure prophylaxis in specific populations has also been updated.
-
Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Mar 2022
ReviewMedical referral criteria for palliative care in adults: a scoping review.
Palliative care (PC) is focused on the relief of serious suffering due to severe illness. The Polish health care reimbursement system limits the access to PC to a so-called "basket" of recipients with life‑limiting incurable diseases (mainly cancer), not responding to disease‑modifying therapy. This scoping literature review was aimed to define the criteria of medical referral for PC in the context of the interpretation of the terms life‑limiting illness and disease‑modifying therapy, which may aid in increasing the number of appropriate referrals and patients receiving optimal treatment. ⋯ Equally important as limited survival prognosis is the presence of severe, complex, and persistent symptoms or problems occurring despite optimal treatment and general care. Based on the reviewed literature, the national reimbursement program should be urgently extended to cover more patients who are eligible and could benefit from specialist PC. Additionally, the importance of general PC should be universally acknowledged.
-
Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Mar 2022
Multicenter StudyThe impact of overweight on diverticular disease: a cross-sectional multicentre study.
The prevalence of colonic diverticulosis and diverticulitis has significantly increased in recent years. Obesity is a well‑known risk factor for diverticulitis, but far less is known about the association between diverticulitis and overweight. ⋯ Overweight was associated with an increased risk of diverticulitis among patients with diverticulosis. Since overweight is a modifiable factor, this observation has preventive importance.