A critical analysis of discovery health's claims-based risk adjustment of mortality rates in South African private sector hospitals

In 2019, Discovery Health published a risk adjustment model to determine standardised mortality rates across South African private hospital systems, with the aim of contributing towards quality improvement in the private healthcare sector. However, the model suffers from limitations due to its design and its reliance on administrative data. The publication's aim of facilitating transparency is unfortunately undermined by shortcomings in reporting. When designing a risk prediction model, patient-proximate variables with a sound theoretical or proven association with the outcome of interest should be used. The addition of key condition-specific clinical data points at the time of hospital admission will dramatically improve model performance. Performance could be further improved by using summary risk prediction scores such as the EUROSCORE II for coronary artery bypass graft surgery or the GRACE risk score for acute coronary syndrome. In general, model reporting should conform to published reporting standards, and attempts should be made to test model validity by using sensitivity analyses. In particular, the limitations of machine learning prediction models should be understood, and these models should be appropriately developed, evaluated and reported.

Avaliação audiológica em pacientes com hepatite C crônica tratados por antivirais de ação direta / Audiological evaluation in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated by direct-action antivirals

RESUMO Objetivo Verificar se o tratamento com os antivirais de ação direta para a hepatite C provocam efeitos adversos na audição. Métodos A casuística foi composta por 16 indivíduos portadores do vírus da hepatite C, de ambos os gêneros, com média de idade de 51 anos. Foram excluídos do grupo indivíduos com perda auditiva do tipo condutiva ou mista e que apresentassem fatores de risco para perda auditiva. A avaliação foi realizada em dois momentos: antes do uso dos antivirais de ação direta e após o término do tratamento de três meses. Incluiu os seguintes procedimentos: anamnese, inspeção do meato acústico externo, audiometria tonal liminar, limiar de recepção de fala, índice de reconhecimento de fala, medidas de imitância acústica e emissões otoacústicas evocadas por estímulo transiente e produto de distorção. Resultados: Houve baixa ocorrência de zumbido e vertigem. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os resultados da avaliação pré-tratamento e pós-tratamento. Conclusão O tratamento com antivirais de ação direta contra o vírus da hepatite C não provocou efeitos adversos na função auditiva.

ABSTRACT Purpose To verify whether treatment with hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals has adverse effects on hearing. Methods The sample consisted of 16 individuals with hepatitis C virus, of both sexes, with an average age of 51 years. Individuals with conductive or mixed hearing loss who presented risk factors for hearing loss were excluded from the group. The evaluation was carried out in two moments: before the use of direct-acting antivirals and after the three-month treatment. It included the following procedures: anamnesis, external auditory canal inspection, pure tone audiometry, speech reception threshold, speech recognition index, acoustic immittance measures and transient and distortion product otoacoustic emissions. Results There was a low incidence of tinnitus and vertigo. There was no statistically significant difference between the results of the pre- and post-treatment assessment. Conclusion The treatment with direct-acting antivirals against the hepatitis C virus did not cause any adverse effects on hearing function.

Avaliação do cuidado hospitalar pelo risco de óbito / Evaluation of hospital care by risk of death

A taxa de mortalidade hospitalar é tradicionalmente usada para medir a qualidade do cuidado nas unidades hospitalares, no entanto a mesma não consegue discriminar o risco de óbito proveniente da assistência oferecida e da carga de comorbidades que o paciente tem no momento da internação. A Razão de Mortalidade Hospitalar Padronizada (RMHP) é um índice que possibilita avaliar a qualidade do cuidado de acordo com o perfil dos pacientes atendidos pelo hospital. Resultados da RMHP < 1 indica uma qualidade melhor que a esperada e resultados > 1 apontam qualidade pior que a esperada. Assim este estudo propôs avaliar a qualidade da assistência hospitalar prestada no âmbito da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de Goiás, considerando seu perfil assistencial e os tipos de pacientes atendidos, no período de 2014 a 2019. O cálculo da RMHP foi baseado na metodologia de Jarman et al., no Índice de Comorbidades de Charlson (ICC) E Índice de Elixhauser para avaliar o risco de óbito, e posterior aplicação da curva ROC (para encontrar o modelo de ajuste de risco) e da regressão linear logística multivariada. A qualidade da assistência prestada no Estado de Goiás, considerando o perfil dos pacientes atendidos, foi pior que o esperado nos anos de 2014 a 2016, dentro do esperado no ano 2017 e melhor que o esperado nos anos de 2018 e 2019. Observou-se uma melhora gradativa na qualidade do cuidado nos últimos três anos

The hospital mortality rate is traditionally used to measure the quality of care in hospital units, however it cannot discriminate the risk of death resulting from the assistance provided and the burden of comorbidities that the patient has at the time of hospitalization. The Standardized Hospital Mortality Ratio (RMHP) is an index that makes it possible to assess the quality of care according to the profile of patients treated by the hospital. RMHP results < 1 indicate better quality than expected and results > 1 indicate worse quality than expected. Thus, this study proposed to assess the quality of hospital care provided by the State Health Department of Goiás, considering its care profile and the types of patients cared for, in the period from 2014 to 2019. The RMHP calculation was based on Jarman's methodology et al., in the Charlson Comorbidity Index (ICC) and Elixhauser Index to assess the risk of death, and subsequent application of the ROC curve (to find the risk adjustment model) and multivariate logistic linear regression. The quality of care provided in the State of Goiás, considering the profile of the patients cared for, was worse than expected in the years 2014 to 2016, within expectations in 2017 and better than expected in the years 2018 and 2019. A gradual improvement in the quality of care in the last three years

Avaliação da deglutição e indicadores clínicos associados em crianças após correção cirúrgica de doença cardíaca congênita / Evaluation of swallowing and associated clinical markers in infants after surgical repair of congenital heart disease

RESUMO Objetivo Identificar os marcadores clínicos associados às alterações da deglutição em crianças após a correção da doença cardíaca congênita e correlacionar esses marcadores às categorias da escala Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery 1 (RACHS-1). Métodos Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo observacional, utilizando a base de dados eletrônica do centro de pediatria para crianças admitidas em um hospital, em decorrência de doença cardíaca congênita. Foram coletados dados da avaliação de deglutição e a presença de disfagia foi classificada de acordo com a Dysphagia Management Staging Scale (DMMS). Foram incluídos os dados demográficos, os marcadores clínicos e o risco de mortalidade, de acordo com a RACHS-1. Resultados A amostra final do estudo foi composta por 108 pacientes. Os achados mais relevantes foram: os sinais mais graves de disfagia estiveram associados ao aumento da permanência no hospital (p=0,005); ao maior número e tempo de intubações orotraqueais (p=0,022 e 0,005, respectivamente); ao maior tempo entre a admissão hospitalar e a avaliação da deglutição (p=0,003); ao maior tempo entre o procedimento cirúrgico e a avaliação da deglutição (p=0,043) e ao maior número de sessões fonoaudiológicas para remoção da via alternativa de alimentação e retorno seguro para via oral (p<0,001). Não foram encontradas correlações entre o risco de mortalidade das crianças e os sinais alterados na avaliação da deglutição. Conclusão Os resultados do estudo contribuem para o conhecimento atual de que crianças com doenças cardíacas que precisam de correção cirúrgica apresentam dificuldades alimentares e necessitam atendimento hospitalar prolongado. Não houve correlação entre as categorias da escala RACHS-1 e os sinais de alteração na avaliação clínica da deglutição.

ABSTRACT Purpose To identify clinical markers that are associated to swallowing alterations in infants after surgical repair of congenital heart disease (CHD) and to correlate these markers to the categories on the Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Disease 1 (RACHS-1) scale. Methods Using the Pediatric Center Database System we conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study on children admitted to the pediatric hospital unit due to CDH. We collected data on specific parameters of a clinical swallowing assessment (SA) and dysphagia was classified according to the Dysphagia Management Staging Scale. We also included demographic and clinical markers and patient´s risk of mortality was determined by using the RACHS-1. Results The final study sample consisted of 108 patients. Important findings were: the more severe signs of dysphagia are associated to an increased length of hospital stay (p=0.005); an increased number and duration of orotracheal intubation (p=0.022 and 0.005 respectively); an increased time between hospital admission and SA (p=0.003); an increased time between the surgical procedure and swallowing assessment (0.043); and an increased number of SLP sessions to remove alternate feeding methods and warrant safe oral feeding (p<0.001). No correlations were observed between the infant's risk of mortality and the altered sings on the clinical swallowing assessment. Conclusion The data from this study contributes to the current knowledge that children with heart condition requiring heart surgery in the first month of life have high risk of presenting feeding difficulties and will require prolonged hospital care. No correlation was observed between the categories on RACHS-1 and the altered signs on the clinical swallowing assessment.

Casuística y seguimiento telemático de pacientes Covid-19 en Vinces ­Ecuador, Marzo a Junio 2020 / Casuistry and telematic follow-up of patients Covid-19 in Vinces ­ Ecuador, March to June, 2020

Covid-19 al ser una enfermedad nueva, sin un tratamiento específico, cuyo protocolo de actuación está en continua revisión y sujeto a modificaciones según los reportes clínicos, epidemiológicos y terapéuticos. El presente estudio planteó como objetivo: conocer la casuística y seguimiento telemático de pacientes Covid-19 atendidos en el "Centro Médico Popular" ciudad de Vinces durante el periodo Marzo­junio 2020, en la provincia de Los Ríos, Ecuador. Estudio epidemiológico, descriptivo, observacional, prospectivo, realizado en dos fases: (1) Revisión de 83 historias clínicas de los pacientes Covid-19 y (2) Entrevista a personal de salud para identificar criterios de selección y seguimiento a través de la telemedicina de la evolución del caso durante el aislamiento domiciliario. Los resultados evidenciaron entre la casuística que el 33,73% eran de 46-64 años, y el 22,89% de 30 a 45 años; el 54,22% masculino; el 90,36% de Vinces; los 5 síntomas de mayor frecuencia fueron: tos 12.76%, malestar general 11.93%, fiebre 11.73%, dolor de garganta 9.67%, rinorrea 8.85%; hubo 10 pacientes de hipertensión grado 1, 2, y 3 47 pacientes con frecuencia respiratoria elevada, en 48 pacientes se presentó frecuencia cardiaca elevada; 26 pacientes con hipoxemia leve, moderada y severa; las 3 comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron HTA 55.56%, DM 13.89% y Obesidad 11.11%; los resultados de tomografía se los clasificó en leve 84.34%, moderado 14.46% y grave el 1.20%; la confirmación de laboratorio mediante prueba específica cualitativa 92%, Rt.PCR 78% y la prueba cuantitativa para control de inmunidad 85%. : la telemedicina permitió un mejor telemonitoreo y teleseguimiento del paciente Covid-19 desde la plataforma tecnológica. No se presentaron complicaciones, el 98,79% de los casos se recuperaron, no hubo fallecidos. Se cumplieron en todo momento los protocolos de bioseguridad y bioética emitidos por la OMS y OPS para la atención de pacientes Covid-19(AU)

Covid-19 is a new disease, without specific treatment, whose protocol of action is under continuous review and subject to modifications according to clinical, epidemiological and therapeutic reports. The objective of this study was to know the casuistics and telematic follow-up of Covid-19 patients attended in the "Popular Medical Center" city of Vances during the period March­June 2020, in the province of Los Rios, Ecuador. Epidemiological, descriptive, observational, prospective study carried out in two phases: (1) Review of 83 case histories of the patients Covid-19 and (2) Interviews to health personnel to identify criteria of selection and follow-up across the telemedicina of the evolution of the case during the home isolation. . The results showed among the casuistics that 33,73% were 46-64 years old, and 22,89% were 30 to 45 years old; 54,22% male; 90,36% Vince; the 5 most frequent symptoms were: Cough 12.76%, general malaise 11.93%, fever 11.73%, sore throat 9.67%, rhinorrhea 8.85%; there were 10 patients with grade 1, 2 hypertension, and 3 47 patients with high respiratory rate, in 48 patients there was high heart rate; 26 patients with mild, moderate, and severe hypoxemia; the 3 most frequent comorbidities were 55.56% HBP, 13.89% DM, and 11.11% Obesity; the tomography results were classified as mild 84.34%, moderate 14.46%, and severe 1.20%; Laboratory confirmation by specific qualitative test 92%, RT.PCR 78% and quantitative test for immunity control 85%. : Telemedicine allowed for better telemonitoring and tele-telegument of the patient Covid-19 from the technological platform. No complications occurred, 98,79% of cases recovered, no deaths. The biosecurity and bioethics protocols issued by WHO and PAHO for the care of Covid-19 patients were always complied with(AU)

Doenças do sistema digestório de pequenos ruminantes no norte do Paraná / Digestive disorders of small ruminants in northern Paraná

As doenças do sistema digestório de ovinos e caprinos no norte do Paraná foram avaliadas por meio de um estudo retrospectivo de 427 pequenos ruminantes atendidos no Ambulatório de Grandes Animais, do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Estadual de Londrina, no período de janeiro de 2006 a dezembro de 2015. Para isso, foi realizada revisão das fichas clínicas dos pequenos ruminantes com afecções do sistema digestório, determinando a ocorrência, principais características clínicas, tratamentos instituídos e evolução dos casos. Os dados foram tabulados e submetidos a um estudo descritivo das variáveis, observando a distribuição das frequências (%) das condições analisadas. As afecções do sistema digestório foram diagnosticadas em 38,64% (165/427) dos atendimentos realizados. Vinte e seis animais apresentaram duas afecções no momento do atendimento, totalizando 191 enfermidades diagnosticadas. Dentre essas enfermidades, as mais comumente diagnosticadas foram: hemoncose (27,7%; 53/191), acidose láctica ruminal aguda (18,8%; 36/191), eimeriose (13,6%; 26/191) e indigestão simples (6,8%; 13/191). O aumento da criação de ovinos e caprinos no estado do Paraná reitera a importância do desenvolvimento de estudos como o presente trabalho, a fim de identificar as enfermidades mais frequentes e preparar o médico veterinário para o diagnóstico e tratamento correto.

Sheep and Goat’s digestive disorders in northern Paraná were evaluated by a retrospective study of 427 small ruminants treated at the State University of Londrina’s Veterinary Hospital (HV-UEL), from January 2006 to December 2015. Analysis of medical records of small ruminants with digestive disorder were performed, determining the occurrence, main clinical signs, established treatments and outcome of cases. Data were tabulated and submitted to a descriptive study of variables, observing frequency distribution (%) of analyzed conditions. Digestive disorders occurs in 38,6% (165/427) of cases in small ruminants at the studied period. Among these diseases, the most common were: hemoncose (27.7%; 53/191), acute rumen lactic acidosis (18.8%; 36/191), eimeriosis (13.6%; 26/191) and simple indigestion (6.8%; 13/191). The increase in sheep and goats’ flock in the state of Paraná reiterates the importance of developing studies such as the present study, in order to identify the most frequent diseases and prepare the veterinarian for the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Surgical casuistic in dogs at a Veterinary Hospital - Piauí State Federal University / Casuística cirúrgica em cães de um Hospital Veterinário - Universidade Federal do Piauí

The objective of this report was to record surgical procedures performed in 241 dogs in a teaching veterinary hospital. There were 40 elective surgical procedures (16.6%) and 201 therapeutic surgical procedures (83.4%). The most frequent procedure was ovariohysterectomy (OH), 65% (26/40) and 24.38% (49/201), respectively, for elective and therapeutic surgical procedures. Among therapeutic surgical procedures were registered fracture reduction (16.91%, 34/201), mastectomies (13.93%, 28/201), drainage of the otohematoma (12.94%; 26/201) and ophthalmic surgical procedures (5.47%, 11/201). The high percentage of therapeutic surgical procedures conducted demonstrates the complexity of the cases attended daily in a teaching veterinary hospital.(AU)

O presente relato tem o objetivo de registrar procedimentos cirúrgicos realizados em 241 cães em um Hospital Veterinário Universitário. Foram realizados 40 procedimentos cirúrgicos eletivos (16,6%) e 201 procedimentos cirúrgicos terapêuticos (83,4%). Em ambos os casos, o procedimento mais frequente foi ovariosalpingohisterectomia (OSH), 65% (26/40) e 24,38% (49/201) respectivamente para procedimentos cirúrgicos eletivos e terapêuticos. Entre os procedimentos cirúrgicos terapêuticos foram registradas redução de fraturas (16,91%; 34/201), mastectomias (13,93%; 28/201), drenagem de otohematomas (12,94%; 26/201) e procedimentos cirúrgicos oftálmicos (5,47%; 11/201). A alta porcentagem de procedimentos cirúrgicos terapêuticos demonstra a complexidade dos casos atendidos diariamente em um Hospital Escola.(AU)

Validation of the EuroSCORE model in patients undergoing heart surgery in Regional Hospital of High Speciality of Bajio / Validación del modelo EuroSCORE en pacientes sometidos a cirugía cardiaca en el Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad del Bajío

Abstract: Introduction: EuroSCORE is a probabilistic model with good performance in the prognosis of mortality in heart surgery in many latitudes. It is recommendable to validate it in hospitals where it is employed. Objective: To validate the EuroSCORE model in adult patients at the Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad del Bajío (HRAEB) of León, Guanajuato, Mexico. Material and methods: We conducted an observational transversal, and retrospective study, accomplishing this through the review of the clinical files of patients submitted to heart surgery with and without extracorporeal circulation pump from 01/01/2008 to 12/31/2013 at the HRAEB. This included mortality up to hospital discharge, utilizing the on-line calculator of the EuroSCORE program to estimate risk of death. In order to validate the EuroSCORE model, we assessed discrimination and calibration through the Area Under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve and χ2 test with Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) goodness-of-fit, respectively. Results: A total of 342 patients, aged 50.02 ± 16.66 years, 181 males (52.9%) and 161 women (47.1%). The area under the ROC curve of the additive model was 0.763, and of the Hosmer-Lemeshow test was 5.30, with p = 0.62. The area under the ROC curve of the logistic model was 0.761 and of the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, 8.78, with p = 0.36. Conclusion: The EuroSCORE model is a reliable score for estimating the probabilities of death in adult patients submitted to heart surgery with or without the pump at the HRAEB.

Resumen: Introducción: EuroSCORE es un modelo probabilístico con buen desempeño en el pronóstico de mortalidad en cirugía cardiaca en muchas latitudes. Es recomendable validarlo en los hospitales donde se emplea. Objetivo: Validar el modelo EuroSCORE en pacientes adultos en el Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad del Bajío (HRAEB) de León, Guanajuato, México. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional transversal y retrospectivo, que se completó con la revisión de los expedientes clínicos de pacientes sometidos a cirugía cardiaca con y sin bomba de circulación extracorpórea desde el 01/01/2008 hasta el 31/12/2013 en el HRAEB. Esto incluyó la mortalidad hasta el alta hospitalaria, utilizando la calculadora en línea del programa EuroSCORE para estimar el riesgo de muerte. Para validar el modelo EuroSCORE, evaluamos la discriminación y la calibración a través de la curva de características de operación del receptor (ROC) y la prueba de χ2 con la efectividad de ajuste de Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L), respectivamente. Resultados: Un total de 342 pacientes, de 50.02 ± 16.66 años, 181 hombres (52.9%) y 161 mujeres (47.1%). El área bajo la curva ROC del modelo aditivo fue de 0.763, y la de la prueba Hosmer-Lemeshow fue de 5.30, con p = 0.62. El área bajo la curva ROC del modelo logístico fue 0.761 y de la prueba Hosmer-Lemeshow, 8.78, con p = 0.36. Conclusión: El modelo EuroSCORE es una herramienta confiable para estimar las probabilidades de muerte en pacientes adultos sometidos a cirugía cardiaca con o sin bomba en el HRAEB.

Hospital mortality in older patients in the Brazilian Unified Health System, Southeast region / Mortalidade hospitalar em pacientes idosos no Sistema Único de Saúde, região Sudeste

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To evaluate factors associated with hospital death in older inpatients for specific diseases of the circulatory system in the Brazilian Unified Health System considering the risk-adjusted hospital mortality as an indicator of effectiveness. METHODS The data were extracted from the Brazilian Hospital Information System. A total of 385,784 hospitalizations of older were selected for hypertensive diseases, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, and stroke in the Brazilian Southeast region between 2011 and 2012. Age, sex, emergency admission, principal diagnosis, and two comorbidity indexes were included in the logistic regression for the risk adjustment of hospital death. The analyses were developed at two levels: hospitalization and hospital. RESULTS A greater chance of death was observed with increasing age, emergency hospitalizations, stroke, presence of comorbidities, especially pneumonia and weight loss, hospitalizations for clinical care, and use of intensive care units. The risk-adjusted hospital mortality rate was 11.1% in for-profit private hospitals, 12.3% in non-profit private hospitals, and 14.4% in public hospitals, but there was great variability among the hospitals. The hospital standardized mortality ratio (ratio between observed and predicted deaths) ranged from 103.3% in non-profit private hospitals to 118.2% in for-profit private hospitals. CONCLUSIONS Although the information source has its shortcomings, the ability for discrimination of the risk adjustment model was reasonable. The variability in the risk-adjusted hospital mortality was great and comparatively higher in for-profit private hospitals. Despite the limits, the results favor the use of the risk-adjusted hospital mortality in the monitoring of the quality of hospital care provided to the older adult.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Avaliar fatores associados ao óbito hospitalar em idosos internados por doenças do aparelho circulatório específicas no Sistema Único de Saúde, considerando a mortalidade hospitalar ajustada como indicador de efetividade. MÉTODOS As informações foram extraídas do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares. Foram selecionadas 385.784 internações de idosos por doenças hipertensivas, doença isquêmica do coração, insuficiência cardíaca congestiva e doenças cerebrovasculares, na região Sudeste entre 2011 e 2012. Idade, sexo, admissão de emergência, diagnóstico principal e dois índices de comorbidade foram incluídos na regressão logística para o ajuste do risco de óbito. As análises foram desenvolvidas em dois níveis: internação e hospital. RESULTADOS Observou-se maior chance de morrer nas idades mais avançadas, nas internações de urgência, por doenças cerebrovasculares, com registro de comorbidade, especialmente pneumonia e perda de peso, nas internações para cuidado clínico e com uso de unidades de terapia intensiva. A taxa de mortalidade hospitalar ajustada foi 11,1% nos hospitais privados, 12,3% nos filantrópicos e 14,4% nos públicos, mas houve grande variabilidade entre hospitais. A razão de mortalidade hospitalar ajustada (razão entre óbitos observados e preditos) variou entre 103,3% nos hospitais filantrópicos e 118,2% nos hospitais privados. CONCLUSÕES Embora haja insuficiências na fonte de informação, a capacidade de discriminação do modelo de ajuste de risco mostrou-se razoável. A variabilidade na mortalidade hospitalar ajustada foi ampla e comparativamente maior nos hospitais privados. Apesar dos limites, os resultados favorecem o uso da mortalidade hospitalar ajustada por risco no monitoramento da qualidade do cuidado hospitalar prestado ao idoso.

A Study on Prevalence and Risk Factors for Varicose Veins in Nurses at a University Hospital

BACKGROUND: Lower-limb varicose veins (VVs) are common and known to have a higher prevalence among people who work in occupations requiring prolonged standing. In the Republic of Korea, however, VV-related occupational factors have seldom been examined. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of VVs among nurses, an occupational group considered to be at high risk of VVs, and determine the occupational risk factors of prolonged standing. METHODS: Between March and August 2014, a questionnaire survey coupled with Doppler ultrasonography was conducted on the nurses working at a university hospital. RESULTS: A total of 414 nurses participated in the survey and diagnostic testing. From the survey analysis and test results, the prevalence of VVs in nurses was estimated to be 16.18%. Significant factors for venous reflux were age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03–1.10], pregnancy (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.17–3.94), and delivery (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.08–3.78). The statistical significance of these factors was verified after risk adjustment for sociodemographic factors (OR = 3.40, 95% CI = 1.27–9.09). CONCLUSION: Factors significantly associated with venous reflux were increasing age and prolonged working hours (≥ 4 hours) in a standing position (OR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.08–7.25), even after risk adjustment for sociodemographic factors. This study is significant in that an objective diagnosis of VVs preceded the analysis of the risk factors for VV incidence, thus verifying objectively that VVs are associated with occupations requiring prolonged hours of working in a standing position.

Riesgo aumentado de lesiones colónicas preneoplásicas en acromegalia: estudio multicéntrico caso control. Resultados preliminares / Increased risk of pre-cancerous bowel lesions in acromegaly: Multicentre case-control study. Preliminary results

Introducción: El riesgo de desarrollar neoplasias colónicas en pacientes acromegálicos y su relación directa con los niveles elevados de GH/IGF-1 no están bien establecidos y continúan siendo motivo de controversia en la literatura mundial. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el riesgo de desarrollar lesiones neoplásicas avanzadas (LNA) (adenomas mayores a 1 cm, componente velloso mayor del 75% y/o displasia de alto grado), en pacientes con acromegalia, comparado con un grupo control. Materiales y métodos: Estudio multicéntrico caso-control retrospectivo. Ciento treinta y siete pacientes con acromegalia que realizaron videocolonoscopia (VCC) fueron incluidos inicialmente, aunque solo 69 cumplieron criterios de inclusión. Sesenta y dos controles fueron obtenidos: por cada caso (paciente con acromegalia) 2 «controles¼ fueron seleccionados aleatorizadamente e igualados por edad y sexo. El riesgo se expresó en odds ratio (OR) y su correspondiente intervalo de confianza (IC) del 95%. La significación estadística fue considerada una p < 0,05. Resultados: De los 69 pacientes con VCC completa y datos adecuados para su análisis, 28 presentaron VCC positiva con hallazgos de pólipos (40%) y 41 VCC negativa o normal (60%). Dentro del grupo con VCC positiva, 14 presentaron LNA (20%) y solo un paciente presentó diagnóstico de cáncer colorrectal. Para el análisis caso-control se incluyó a 31 pacientes frente al grupo control (n = 62) que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. La presencia de pólipos colónicos, adenomas y LNA en los pacientes con acromegalia fue de 19/31 (61,9%), 14/31 (45,16%) y 10/31 (32,25%), y en el grupo control de 18/62 (29,03%), 11/62 (17,74%) y 4/62 (6,45%), respectivamente. El riesgo de adenomas y LNA fue mayor en el grupo de acromegalia en comparación con el grupo control, siendo ambos resultados estadísticamente significativos: adenomas OR 2,54 (IC 1,22-5,25) p = 0,005, LNA OR: 7,3 (2,4-25), p = 0,00. Conclusión: La acromegalia se asocia a un mayor riesgo de lesiones colónicas preneoplásicas. Este hallazgo justifica el cribado con VCC al diagnóstico en pacientes con acromegalia.

Background: The risk of developing cancerous lesions in the colon of acromegaly patients and their direct relationship with elevated growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels is not well established, and is still controversial in the international literature. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of developing advanced neoplastic lesions (ALN: greater than 1 cm adenomas, villous component greater than 75% and/or high grade dysplasia) in patients with acromegaly compared to a control group. Materials and methods: A multicentre, retrospective case-control study was conducted initially on 137 patients with acromegaly (cases) who underwent videocolonoscopy (VCC), although only 69 met inclusion criteria. Sixty-two controls were obtained, and for each case two "controls" were randomly selected and matched by age and gender. Risk was expressed as odds ratio (OR) and its corresponding 95% con"dence interval (CI). P values < .05 were considered statistical significantly. Results: Of the 69 acromegaly patients with a completed VCC and adequate data for their analysis, 28 had a positive VCC with findings of polyps (40%), and 41 VCC negative with no lesions (60%). Within the group with positive VCC, 14 were ALN (20%) and one a colorectal cancer. In the case-control analysis, 31 cases were to be analysed against the control group (n = 62). The presence of colonic polyps, adenomas, and ALN in patients with acromegaly was 19/31 (61.9%), 14/31 (45.16%), and 10/31 (32.25%), respectively, and in the control group, it was 18/62 (29.03%), 11/62 (17.74%), and 4/62 (6.45%), respectively. The risk of adenomas and ALN was higher in the acromegaly group compared to the control group: adenomas OR: 2.54 (95% CI 1.22-5.25) P=.005, ALN OR: 7.3 (2.4-25) P=.00. Conclusion: This preliminary case control study showed an increased risk of pre-cancerous colprectal lesions in patients with acromegaly, supporting the VCC screening at diagnosis.

Collaborative quality improvement in the congenital heart defects: development of the assist consortium and a preliminary surgical outcomes report

Abstract Objective: ASSIST is the first Brazilian initiative in building a collaborative quality improvement program in pediatric cardiology and congenital heart disease. The purposes of this manuscript are: (a) to describe the development of the ASSIST project, including the historical, philosophical, organizational, and infrastructural components that will facilitate collaborative quality improvement in congenital heart disease care; (b) to report past and ongoing challenges faced; and (c) to report the first preliminary data analysis. Methods: A total of 614 operations were prospectively included in a comprehensive online database between September 2014 and December 2015 in two participating centers. Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS) 1 and Aristotle Basic Complexity (ABC) scores were obtained. Descriptive statistics were provided, and the predictive values of the two scores for mortality were calculated by multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Many barriers and challenges were faced and overcome. Overall mortality was 13.4%. Independent predictors of in-hospital death were: RACHS-1 categories (3, 4, and 5/6), ABC level 4, and age group (≤ 30 days, and 30 days - 1 year). Conclusion: The ASSIST project was successfully created over a solid base of collaborative work. The main challenges faced, and overcome, were lack of institutional support, funding, computational infrastructure, dedicated staff, and trust. RACHS-1 and ABC scores performed well in our case mix. Our preliminary outcome analysis shows opportunities for improvement.

Validation of the Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 in a Single Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Korea

To compare mortality rate, the adjustment of case-mix variables is needed. The Pediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) 3 score is a widely used case-mix adjustment system of a pediatric intensive care unit (ICU), but there has been no validation study of it in Korea. We aim to validate the PIM3 in a Korean pediatric ICU, and extend the validation of the score from those aged 0–16 to 0–18 years, as patients aged 16–18 years are admitted to pediatric ICU in Korea. A retrospective cohort study of 1,710 patients was conducted in a tertiary pediatric ICU. To validate the score, the discriminatory power was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and calibration was evaluated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit (GOF) test. The observed mortality rate was 8.47%, and the predicted mortality rate was 6.57%. For patients aged < 18 years, the discrimination was acceptable (c-index = 0.76) and the calibration was good, with a χ² of 9.4 in the GOF test (P = 0.313). The observed mortality rate in the hemato-oncological subgroup was high (18.73%), as compared to the predicted mortality rate (7.13%), and the discrimination was unacceptable (c-index = 0.66). In conclusion, the PIM3 performed well in a Korean pediatric ICU. However, the application of the PIM3 to a hemato-oncological subgroup needs to be cautioned. Further studies on the performance of PIM3 in pediatric patients in adult ICUs and pediatric ICUs of primary and secondary hospitals are needed.

Learning curves for three specific procedures by anesthesiology residents using the learning curve cumulative sum (LC-CUSUM) test / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The learning curve cumulative sum (LC-CUSUM) test is an innovative tool that allows quantitative monitoring of individual medical performance during the learning process by determining when a predefined acceptable level of performance is reached. This study used the LC-CUSUM test to monitor the learning process and failure rate of anesthesia residents training for specific subspecialty anesthesia procedures. METHODS: The study included 490 tracheal punctures (TP) for jet ventilation, 340 thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) procedures, and 246 fiberoptic nasal intubations (FONI) performed by 18 residents during their single 6-month rotation. RESULTS: Overall, 27 (14–52), 19 (5–41), and 14 (6–33) TP, TEA, and FONI procedures were performed, respectively, by each resident. In total, 2 of 18 residents achieved an acceptable failure rate for TEA according to the literature and 4 of 18 achieved an acceptable failure rate for FONI, while none of the residents attained an acceptable rate for TP. CONCLUSIONS: A single 6-month rotation in a reference teaching center may not be sufficient to train residents to perform specific or sub-specialty procedures as required. A regional learning network may be useful. More patient-based data are necessary to conduct a risk adjustment analysis for such specific procedures.

Learning curves for three specific procedures by anesthesiology residents using the learning curve cumulative sum (LC-CUSUM) test / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The learning curve cumulative sum (LC-CUSUM) test is an innovative tool that allows quantitative monitoring of individual medical performance during the learning process by determining when a predefined acceptable level of performance is reached. This study used the LC-CUSUM test to monitor the learning process and failure rate of anesthesia residents training for specific subspecialty anesthesia procedures. METHODS: The study included 490 tracheal punctures (TP) for jet ventilation, 340 thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) procedures, and 246 fiberoptic nasal intubations (FONI) performed by 18 residents during their single 6-month rotation. RESULTS: Overall, 27 (14–52), 19 (5–41), and 14 (6–33) TP, TEA, and FONI procedures were performed, respectively, by each resident. In total, 2 of 18 residents achieved an acceptable failure rate for TEA according to the literature and 4 of 18 achieved an acceptable failure rate for FONI, while none of the residents attained an acceptable rate for TP. CONCLUSIONS: A single 6-month rotation in a reference teaching center may not be sufficient to train residents to perform specific or sub-specialty procedures as required. A regional learning network may be useful. More patient-based data are necessary to conduct a risk adjustment analysis for such specific procedures.

How Can We Use Hospital-Standardized Mortality Ratio as a Quality Indicator of Hospital Care in Korea? / 보건행정학회지

The hospital standardized mortality ratio (HSMR) is a widely used generic measure for assessing quality of hospital care in many countries. However, the validity of HSMR as a quality indicator is still controversial. We critically reviewed characteristics of HSMR and suggested how to use HSMR as a quality indicator in the Korean setting. The association between HSMR and other quality measures of hospital care is inconclusive. In addition current HSMR model has shortcomings in risk adjustment because of the lack of clinical data, accuracy of disease coding, coding variation among hospitals, end-of-life care issues, and so on. Therefore, HSMR should be used as an indicator for improvement, not for judgement such as public reporting and pay-for-performance. More efforts will be needed to tackle practical and methodological weaknesses of HSMR in the Korean setting.

Prediction of Health Care Cost Using the Hierarchical Condition Category Risk Adjustment Model / 보건행정학회지

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of the Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) model, identify potentially high-cost patients, and examine the effects of adding prior utilization to the risk model using Korean claims data. METHODS: We incorporated 2 years of data from the National Health Insurance Services-National Sample Cohort. Five risk models were used to predict health expenditures: model 1 (age/sex groups), model 2 (the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services-HCC with age/sex groups), model 3 (selected 54 HCCs with age/sex groups), model 4 (bed-days of care plus model 3), and model 5 (medication- days plus model 3). We evaluated model performance using R² at individual level, predictive positive value (PPV) of the top 5% of high-cost patients, and predictive ratio (PR) within subgroups. RESULTS: The suitability of the model, including prior use, bed-days, and medication-days, was better than other models. R² values were 8%, 39%, 37%, 43%, and 57% with model 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. After being removed the extreme values, the corresponding R² values were slightly improved in all models. PPVs were 16.4%, 25.2%, 25.1%, 33.8%, and 53.8%. Total expenditure was underpredicted for the highest expenditure group and overpredicted for the four other groups. PR had a tendency to decrease from younger group to older group in both female and male. CONCLUSION: The risk adjustment models are important in plan payment, reimbursement, profiling, and research. Combined prior use and diagnostic data are more powerful to predict health costs and to identify high-cost patients.

La casuística como pedagogía para enseñar la Bioética / Casuistics as pedagogy to teach Bioethics

Aunque la gran mayoría de los procesos educativos de enseñanza­ aprendizaje en Medicina deben seguir una metodología y estar regidos por la Didáctica, no siempre esto es adecuado desde el punto de vista de la Bioética. El propósito de la educación en bioética es el desarrollo de la habilidad de tomar decisiones, no solamente el dominio de conocimientos y saberes. Tomar decisiones requiere práctica en la balanza de varias consideraciones, no de manera deductiva, sino desde una perspectiva personal. Por lo tanto los autores de este artículo consideran que la casuística, como metodología de la enseñanza de la Bioética, es más apropiada que el principialismo. Se incluye aquí una introducción breve a la pedagogía casuística (AU).

Even though most of the teaching-learning educative processes in Medicine should follow a methodology and are ruled by Didactics, this is not always right from the Bioethics point of view. The purpose of the education in bioethics is the development of taking-decisions skills, not only in the domains of knowledge and learning. Taking decisions requires practice in allowing for several considerations, not in a deductive way, but from a personal perspective. Therefore, the authors of this article consider that casuistics, as methodology of Bioethics pedagogy, is more appropriated than principialism. It is included here a brief introduction to casuistic pedagogy (AU).

Cholera Risk Assessment in Iraq

WHO conducted a cholera risk assessment among high risk internally displaced population who have been affected by the ongoing escalation of conflict in Mosul. The risk assessment mission took place from 7 to 19 April 2017

Analysis of surgical mortality for congenital heart defects using rachs-1 risk score in a brazilian single center

ABSTRACT Introduction: Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery 1 (RACHS-1) score is a simple model that can be easily applied and has been widely used for mortality comparison among pediatric cardiovascular services. It is based on the categorization of several surgical palliative or corrective procedures, which have similar mortality in the treatment of congenital heart disease. Objective: To analyze the in-hospital mortality in pediatric patients (<18 years) submitted to cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease based on RACHS-1 score, during a 12-year period. Methods: A retrospective date analysis was performed from January 2003 to December 2014. The survey was divided in two periods of six years long each, to check for any improvement in the results. We evaluated the numbers of procedures performed, complexity of surgery and hospital mortality. Results: Three thousand and two hundred and one surgeries were performed. Of these, 3071 were able to be classified according to the score RACHS-1. Among the patients, 51.7% were male and 47.5% were younger than one year of age. The most common RACHS-1 category was 3 (35.5%). The mortality was 1.8%, 5.5%, 14.9%, 32.5% and 68.6% for category 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, respectively. There was a significant increase in the number of surgeries (48%) and a significant reduction in the mortality in the last period analysed (13.3% in period I and 10.4% in period II; P=0.014). Conclusion: RACHS-1 score was a useful score for mortality risk in our service, although we are aware that other factors have an impact on the total mortality.