Internal medicine journal
-
Internal medicine journal · Feb 2021
ReviewSevere asthma assessment, management and the organisation of care in Australia and New Zealand: expert forum roundtable meetings.
Severe asthma imposes a significant burden on individuals, families and the healthcare system. Treatment is complex, due to disease heterogeneity, comorbidities and complexity in care pathways. New approaches and treatments improve health outcomes for people with severe asthma. ⋯ We recommend development of education and training activities, clinical resources and standards of care documents, increased stakeholder engagement and public awareness campaigns and improved access to infrastructure and funding. Further, we propose specific future research to inform clinical decision-making and develop novel therapies. A concerted effort is required from all stakeholders (including patients, healthcare professionals and organisations and government) to integrate new evidence-based practices into clinical care and to advance research to resolve questions relevant to improving outcomes for people with severe asthma.
-
Internal medicine journal · Feb 2021
Effect of the COVID-19 induced phase of massive telehealth uptake on end-user satisfaction.
COVID-19 has resulted in a massive increase in telehealth utilisation. ⋯ During a rapid increase in its utilisation and scope due to the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth was generally well accepted by patients, parents and clinicians, which was consistent with pre-COVID-19 experiences.
-
Internal medicine journal · Feb 2021
Impact of fast-food outlet density on incidence of myocardial infarction in the Hunter region.
There is an established association between fast-food consumption and metabolic diseases. Some studies also suggest that calorie-dense food promotes a proinflammatory response, which is itself linked with myocardial infarction (MI). Whether increased fast-food availability is a risk factor for MI remains unknown. ⋯ FFD was positively associated with incidence of MI in both rural and metropolitan areas of NSW. This relationship remained consistent after multivariate adjustment for standard cardiovascular risk factors, highlighting the importance of an individual's food environment as a potential contributor towards their health.
-
Internal medicine journal · Feb 2021
Meta AnalysisImmunosuppression as a risk factor for COVID-19: a meta-analysis.
While immunosuppression poses a theoretical increase in the risk of COVID-19, the nature of this relationship is yet to be ascertained. ⋯ Compared to the general population, immunosuppressed patients were not at significantly increased risk of COVID-19 infection. This finding provides support for current expert consensus statements, which have recommended the continuation of immunosuppressant therapy in the absence of COVID-19.