Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Dec 2014
A possible role of serum uric acid as a marker of metabolic syndrome.
The association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and metabolic syndrome (MetS) has recently been reported in several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. We investigated SUA as a biomarker to predict future development of MetS in healthy Korean men without diabetes or hypertension and determined the optimal cut-off levels of SUA. ⋯ Our results indicate that an increased level of SUA, even within the normal range, is associated with future development of MetS in healthy middle-aged men.
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A wide gap persists between the health of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians despite a recent Federal government commitment to close the gap by 2030. The complex underlying factors include socioeconomic and environmental disadvantage, inadequate education, underemployment, racial prejudice, high-risk health-related behaviours and limited access to clinical services and health promotion programmes. Over recent decades some aspects of Aboriginal health have deteriorated badly, largely from a surge in chronic 'lifestyle' diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular and kidney disorders plus the effects of tobacco smoking, alcohol and drug abuse and high rates of violence and trauma. ⋯ These include education, living conditions, vocational training, employment, closer cooperation between government and non-government agencies, access to affordable and nutritious fresh food, with better access to high-quality medical treatment, health promotion and disease prevention programmes. Indigenous people must be encouraged to become more involved in activities to improve their health and have more responsibility for the decision-making processes this will entail. Governments must support these changes to help close the Aboriginal health gap.
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Internal medicine journal · Nov 2014
Outcomes of haematology/oncology patients admitted to intensive care unit at The Canberra Hospital.
Outcomes for haematology/oncology patients have improved; however, determining their suitability for intensive care unit (ICU) admission remains challenging and controversial. ⋯ Short-term outcomes were similar to contemporary studies from a general tertiary hospital setting and better than historical data. Sixty-two per cent of patients were alive 30 days post-ICU admission, with a significant minority alive at 12 months, confirming some patients achieved worthwhile outcomes. Further research is needed to ensure appropriate patient selection and to explore quality of life post ICU.
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Internal medicine journal · Nov 2014
Effects of hospital-acquired conditions on length of stay for patients with diabetes.
Inpatients with diabetes have longer length of stays (LOS). Understanding patterns of in-hospital complications between patients with diabetes and others may reveal measures to improve patient welfare and minimise LOS. ⋯ We demonstrate that diabetes patients have consistently higher rates of CHADx and longer LOS than similar patients with complex and chronic conditions. This provides a foundation for future studies to investigate preventative practices for this high-risk patient population.
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Internal medicine journal · Nov 2014
Mortality attributable to rheumatic heart disease in the Kimberley: a data linkage approach.
Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its sequelae, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are now uncommon in the general Australian population. However, these preventable and treatable diseases continue to affect Aboriginal Australians disproportionately, especially in remote communities. In the Kimberley region of Western Australia (WA), the prevalence of RHD is approximately 1% among Aboriginal residents. Yet an accurate and comprehensive picture of RHD-related mortality is lacking. ⋯ RHD remains a significant cause of premature mortality for Aboriginal people in the Kimberley, with mortality rates unmatched in the general Australian population since the first half of the 20th century. Efforts to reduce progression of this disease through RHD Register and Control Programs are crucial alongside action to address underlying socioeconomic and environmental inequities.