Articles: chronic.
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Comparative Study
Intensive care at the end of life in patients dying due to non-cancer chronic diseases versus cancer: a nationwide study in Denmark.
It is unknown to what extent use of palliative care and focus on proactive planning of end-of-life (EOL) care among cancer patients is also reflected by less use of intensive care. We aimed to examine the use of intensive care in the EOL in patients dying as a result of non-cancer diseases compared with patients dying due to cancer. ⋯ Overall, patients dying as a result of non-cancer diseases were twice as likely to be admitted to ICUs at the EOL as patients dying due to cancer. Further studies are warranted to explore whether this difference in use of intensive care reflects an unmet need of palliative care, poor communication about the EOL or lack of prognostic tools for terminally ill non-cancer patients.
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The diagnosis of patients presenting to the emergency department with acute heart failure (AHF) is challenging due to the similarity of AHF symptoms to other conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia. Additionally, because AHF is most common in an older population, the presentation of coexistent pathologies further increases the challenge of making an accurate diagnosis and selecting the most appropriate treatment. Delays in the diagnosis and treatment of AHF can result in worse outcomes and higher healthcare costs. ⋯ This review differs from others published recently on the topic of treating AHF by providing a detailed examination of the clinical utility of diagnostic tools for the differentiation of dyspneic patients such as bedside ultrasound, hemodynamic changes, and interrogation of implantable cardiac devices. In addition, our clinical guidance on considerations for initial pharmacologic therapy in the undifferentiated patient is provided. It is crucial for emergency physicians to achieve an early diagnosis of AHF and initiate therapy in order to reduce morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs.
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We undertook systematic reviews to examine key questions (KQs) related to pediatric chronic wet cough. In children with chronic (>4-weeks) wet/productive cough not related to bronchiectasis; (KQ1)-how effective are antibiotics in improving the resolution of cough? If so, what and for how long? and; (KQ2)-when should they be referred for further investigations? ⋯ There is high quality evidence that in children aged ≤14-years with chronic (>4-weeks duration) wet or productive cough, the use of appropriate antibiotics improves cough resolution. There is also high quality evidence that when specific cough pointers (e.g. digital clubbing) are present in children with wet cough, further investigations (e.g. flexible bronchoscopy, chest CTs and immunity tests) should be undertaken. When the wet cough does not improve by 4-weeks of antibiotics, there is moderate quality evidence that children should be referred to a major center for consideration of further investigations to determine whether an underlying lung or other disease are present.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Nov 2015
Consumption of and satisfaction with health care among opioid users with chronic non-malignant pain.
Although persons with chronic pain are frequent users of the health care system, they report poor satisfaction with health care services. Participants with persistent opioid use in Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT)3 report severe pain in spite of treatment. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that subjects with persistent opioid use have both a higher consumption of health care services and a poorer satisfaction than the remaining subjects reporting chronic pain. ⋯ Combined with previous findings of high levels of pain in spite of opioid treatment, the present findings indicate that symptomatic relief is not a prerequisite for patient satisfaction. The study shows higher patient satisfaction compared to previous studies.
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Acta Anaesthesiol Scand · Nov 2015
Pain-related psychological distress, self-rated health and significance of neuropathic pain in Danish soldiers injured in Afghanistan.
Pain and mental health concerns are prevalent among veterans. While the majority of research has focused on chronic pain as an entity, there has been little work directed towards investigating the role of neuropathic pain in relation to psychological comorbidity. As such, we hypothesised that participants with signs of neuropathic pain would report higher levels of psychological distress and diminished self-rated health compared to those without a neuropathic component. ⋯ The results from the present study suggest that neuropathic pain is related to increased psychological distress and deterioration in self-rated health in injured soldiers.