AIM In this multicentre cross-sectional study we aimed to identify whether self-management ability and healthcare service delivery factors were related to preventable conditions [urinary tract infections (UTIs), pressure ulcers] and healthcare utilization [emergency room (ER) visits, hospitalizations] specifically in a sample of young adults with myelomeningocele. BACKGROUND Spina bifida is o...

BACKGROUND Concurrent personality disorder (PD) and substance use disorder (SUD) are common in clinical practice. However, SUD is the main criterion for study exclusion in most psychotherapeutic studies of PD. As a result, data on treatment outcomes in patients with concurrent PD/SUD are scarce. METHODS The study sample consisted of 51 patients diagnosed with severe PD and admitted for psycho...

The first Autocapture generation worked well with all recommended leads. The newer Autocapture generation provides a more sensitive resolution for evoked response testing and its implementation in a dual-chamber device. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the performance of the Affinity SR/DR pacemaker with the new Autocapture algorithm in combination with the small surface area pacing lea...

BACKGROUND Limited information exists on the impact of tumor necrosis factor inhibition on COPD exacerbations. This retrospective study characterized this impact among COPD patients with underlying autoimmune conditions, exposed to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and/or non-biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). PATIENTS AND METHODS Adult COPD patients with ≥1 diagno...

PURPOSE Our objective was to estimate the economic outcomes of using mirabegron versus antimuscarinics in the treatment of patients with overactive bladder (OAB) from a societal perspective in the UK. MATERIALS AND METHODS A Markov model was developed using Microsoft Excel®. The time horizon and cycle length are 12 and 1 months, respectively; and the hypothetical cohort size 100 patients. Ant...

<b>Background:</b> Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged as a new threat to healthcare systems. In this setting, heart failure units have faced an enormous challenge: taking care of their patients while at the same time avoiding patients’ visits hospital. <b>Objective:</b> The aim study was evaluate results follow-up protocol establishe...

BACKGROUND The ability of a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and long-acting beta 2 agonists (LABAs; long-acting bronchodilators, LABDs) with or without inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) to reduce early readmission in hospitalized patients with COPD is unknown. METHODS We studied a 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare parts A, B and D and hospitalized for COPD in 2011...

BACKGROUND Symptom and pulmonary function measures of asthma severity are used for severity classification in practice guidelines. However, there is limited methodological evidence in support of their validity and utility. AIM To validate initial symptom and forced expiratory volume (FEV1) measures of asthma severity with the subsequent risks of exacerbations resulting in emergency room (ER) ...

BACKGROUND Evidence of the associations between statin adherence level, health care costs, and utilization is still limited. It is not clear whether better clinical outcomes derived from increasing statin adherence levels can be translated into cost savings and lower health care utilization. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the associations between statin adherence level, health care costs, hospital ad...

Background. The growing geriatric population in the United States (US) has prompted better understanding of treatment of the elderly in the hospital and emergency room (ER) settings. This study examines factors influencing the disposition of psychogeriatric patients after their initial presentation in the ER. Methods. Data was collected on patients 65 years of age or older arriving at the ER of...