Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2024
Comparative StudyHow do geriatricians practise comprehensive geriatric assessment in the outpatient setting: an analysis of geriatricians' letters and a comparison to the Medicare benefits schedule requirement.
Little is known about what components geriatricians routinely incorporate into outpatient comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGAs). ⋯ Analysis of geriatricians' letters provides important and novel insights into usual CGA practice. The letters provide evidence of multidimensional assessments of physical, functional, social and psychological health, and most include use of standardised tools. However, less than 50% include evidence of goal setting or multidisciplinary working. The results allow consideration of how CGAs might be carried out in the outpatient setting, so that interventions focused on improving the quality and efficacy of this intervention can be implemented.
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2024
Infective endocarditis outcomes at a tertiary hospital in Western Australia: a retrospective cohort study from 2016 to 2021.
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe infection with considerable mortality. It is associated with geographical variation, complicating diagnosis and treatment of patients in a standardised manner. ⋯ IE mortality rates remain high, particularly in patients who do not undergo surgical management. Streamlined MDT assessment and referral for surgical management where appropriate is necessary to improve outcomes.
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2024
How doctors can lead the way in their communities: Co-creation, the Indian community and organ donation registration.
Transplant success rates can increase when organs and tissues are matched within ethnic communities, but how well are the processes around organ donation understood by discrete ethnic communities in Australia? We investigated this in relation to one ethnic group, the Australian-Indian community in Sydney. ⋯ The information needed to understand the process of organ donation and registration in Australia is not embedded in this community, highlighting the need for programmes to be tailored to each culturally diverse community rather than culturally diverse communites in general. Doctors and the advisory panels are pivotal in this process.
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2024
ReviewA review and recommendations on the management of psoriatic arthritis in Australia 2024.
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a progressive, systemic inflammatory disease. It can lead to serious joint damage and disability, increased cardiovascular risk and reduced quality of life. Six experts met to develop the recommendations for the management of PsA in Australia. ⋯ Management and treatment recommendations have been made under six subheadings: Recommendations for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids; Disease-modifying treatment; Screening and monitoring; Family planning; Symptom treatment and extra-articular manifestations; Comorbidities and lifestyle considerations. Our recommendations for the management of PsA in Australia draw heavily on the established global guidelines. These recommendations aim to assist clinicians to make informed, patient-centric choices when delivering treatment to people with PsA.
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2024
ReviewPhenotype of patients with late diagnosis of 22q11 deletion: a review and retrospective study.
Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is the most common microdeletion syndrome, typically presenting in neonates with congenital cardiac anomalies, hypocalcaemia and thymic hypoplasia. Some patients are diagnosed later in adolescence and adulthood, with less known about the clinical phenotype of these patients. ⋯ Chromosome 22q11DS has diverse clinical features and a highly variable phenotype, likely contributing to underdiagnosis and later diagnoses.