Investigating the current knowledge and needs concerning a follow-up for long-term cardiovascular risks in Dutch women with a preeclampsia history: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that a history of preeclampsia is an important risk factor for future cardiovascular events. Awareness of this risk could provide opportunities for identification of women at risk, with opportunities for prevention and / or early intervention. A standardized follow-up has not yet been implemented in the north of the Netherlands. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore the opinions and wishes among women and physicians about the follow-up for women with a history of preeclampsia. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with 15 women and 14 physicians (5 obstetricians, 4 general practitioners, 3 vascular medicine specialists and 2 cardiologists) were performed and addressed topics about knowledge on CVR, current - and future follow-up. Women were approached through the HELLP foundation and their physicians. Physicians were approached by email. The interviews were recorded, typed and coded using ATLAS.ti software. A theoretical-driven thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Women had some knowledge about the association between preeclampsia and the increased CVR, but missed information from their health care providers. Specialists were aware of the association, but the information and advice they provided to their patients was minimal and inconsistent according to themselves. Whereas some general practitioners regarded their own knowledge as limited. There was a clear desire among women for a more extensive follow-up with specific attention to both emotional and physical consequences of preeclampsia. Physicians indicated that they preferred to see a follow up program concerning the CVR at the general practitioner as part of the already existent cardiovascular risk management (CVRM) program. CONCLUSION: Women and medical specialists consider it important to improve aftercare for women after a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia. Introducing these women into the CVRM program at the general practitioner is regarded as a preferred first step. Further research is warranted to establish an evidence-based guideline for the follow-up of these women.

Non-adherence to antidepressants among older patients with depression: a longitudinal cohort study in primary care.

Background: Depression is common among older adults and is typically treated with antidepressants. Objective: To determine the non-adherence rates to antidepressants among older adults in primary care, based on non-initiation, suboptimal implementation or non-persistence. Methods: We selected all patients aged ≥60 years and diagnosed with depression in 2012, from the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL) Primary Care Database. Non-initiation was defined as no dispensing within 14 days of the first prescription; suboptimal implementation, as fewer than 80% of the days covered by dispensed dosages; and non-persistence, as discontinuation within 294 days after first dispense. First, we determined the antidepressant non-initiation, suboptimal implementation and non-persistence rates. Second, we examined whether comorbidity and chronic drug use were associated with non-adherence by mixed-effects logistic regression (non-initiation or suboptimal implementation as dependent variables) and a clustered Cox regression (time to non-persistence). Results: Non-initiation, suboptimal implementation and non-persistence rates were 13.5%, 15.2% and 37.1%, respectively. As the number of chronically used drugs increased, the odds of suboptimal implementation (odds ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.83-0.95) and of non-persistence (hazard ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.92) reduced. Conclusions: Non-adherence to antidepressants is high among older patients with depression in primary care settings. Adherence is better when patients are accustomed to taking larger numbers of prescribed drugs, but this only provides partial explanation of the variance. GPs should be aware of the high rates of non-adherence. Emphasizing the importance of adhering to the optimal length of antidepressant therapy might be prudent first steps to improving adherence.

Non-adherence to cardiovascular drugs in older patients with depression: A population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Depression is common among patients with cardiovascular disease and has been associated with both drug non-adherence and increased mortality. Non-adherence can occur because of non-initiation, suboptimal implementation, or non-persistence. We aimed to determine if depression increased the risk of any of these components of non-adherence among older patients prescribed cardiovascular drugs in primary care. METHODS: A longitudinal analysis of routine primary care data from the Nivel Primary Care Database was performed using data for 2011-2013. A total of 1512 patients aged ≥60 years diagnosed with depression in 2012 were compared with age- and sex-matched groups with either other psychological diagnoses (N = 1457) or mentally healthy controls (N = 1508), resulting in the inclusion of 4477 patients. Non-adherence was classified as non-initiation, suboptimal implementation, or non-persistence. Regression analyses were performed to determine the association between mental health status and non-initiation, suboptimal implementation, and non-persistence. RESULTS: Mixed-effects logistic regression analyses showed increased odds for suboptimal implementation of beta-blockers among depressed patients (2.18; 95% CI 1.29-3.69). For non-persistence, a clustered Cox regression analysis demonstrated that, compared with controls, there was an increased hazard ratio for depressed patients to discontinue beta-blockers (2.31; 95% CI 1.58-3.37) and calcium antagonists (1.74; 95% CI 1.23-2.46). CONCLUSIONS: It is likely that older patients in primary care diagnosed with depression are at increased risk of non-persistence with cardiovascular drug therapy. Because non-adherence is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality, it is important that physicians ensure that older depressed patients persevere with therapy.

The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of e-health interventions for depression and anxiety in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Psychological interventions are labor-intensive and expensive, but e-health interventions may support them in primary care. In this study, we systematically reviewed the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of e-health interventions for depressive and anxiety symptoms and disorders in primary care. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane library, Embase, and PsychINFO until January 2018, for randomized controlled trials of e-health interventions for depression or anxiety in primary care. Two reviewers independently screened the identified publications, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. RESULTS: Out of 3617 publications, we included 14 that compared 33 treatments in 4183 participants. Overall, the methodological quality was poor to fair. The pooled effect size of e-health interventions was small (standardized mean difference = -0.19, 95%CI -0.31 to -0.06) for depression compared to control groups in the short-term, but this was maintained in the long-term (standardized mean difference = -0.22, 95%CI -0.35 to -0.09). Further analysis showed that e-health for depression had a small effect compared to care as usual and a moderate effect compared to waiting lists. One trial on anxiety showed no significant results. Four trials reported on cost-effectiveness. LIMITATIONS: The trials studied different types of e-health interventions and had several risks of bias. Moreover, only one study was included for anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: E-health interventions for depression have a small effect in primary care, with a moderate effect compared to waiting lists. The approach also appeared to be cost-effective for depression. However, we found no evidence for its effectiveness for anxiety.

Development of a core outcome set for immunomodulation in pregnancy (COSIMPREG): a protocol for a systematic review and Delphi study.

INTRODUCTION: To establish pregnancy, the maternal immune system must adapt to tolerate the semiallogenic fetus. Less than optimal adaptation of the maternal immune system during (early) pregnancy is implicated in several complications of pregnancy. The development of effective immune modulation interventions as preventive or therapeutic strategies for pregnancy complications holds promise. Several studies sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of various approaches. However, a limitation is the high variability in clinical and immune outcomes that are reported. We, therefore, aim to develop a core outcome set for application to studies of immune modulation in pregnancy (COSIMPREG). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will use a stepwise approach to develop a COSIMPREG. First, we will perform a systematic review to identify reported outcomes. For this review, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines will be followed. Second, we will use the Delphi method to develop a preliminary COSIMPREG. In three rounds, the outcomes of the systematic review will be scored. A panel comprising experts from relevant disciplines and diverse geographical locations will be assembled until a sufficient quality of the panel is reached. We will use predefined decision rules for outcomes. After each round outcomes, including scores, will be returned to the panel for further refinement. The outcomes not excluded after the third round will be taken to a consensus meeting. In this meeting, experts from all relevant disciplines will discuss and finalise the COSIMPREG. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: For this study ethical approval is not required. The systematic review will be published in an appropriate open access reproductive immunology journal. Once the COSIMPREG is finalised, it will be published in an open access reproductive immunology journal, and disseminated at appropriate international meetings, as well as through relevant research and scientific societies. Experts involved in the Delphi study will be asked to give informed consent.

Non-pharmacological treatment for depressed older patients in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Late-life depression is most often treated in primary care, and it usually coincides with chronic somatic diseases. Given that antidepressants contribute to polypharmacy in these patients, and potentially to interactions with other drugs, non-pharmacological treatments are essential. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to present an overview of the non-pharmacological treatments available in primary care for late-life depression. METHOD: The databases of PubMed, PsychINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched in January 2017 with combinations of MeSH-terms and free text words for "general practice," "older adults," "depression," and "non-pharmacological treatment". All studies with empirical data concerning adults aged 60 years or older were included, and the results were stratified by primary care, and community setting. We narratively reviewed the results and performed a meta-analysis on cognitive behavioral therapy in the primary care setting. RESULTS: We included 11 studies conducted in primary care, which covered the following five treatment modalities: cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise, problem-solving therapy, behavioral activation, and bright-light therapy. Overall, the meta-analysis showed a small effect for cognitive behavioral therapy, with one study also showing that bright-light therapy was effective. Another 18 studies, which evaluated potential non-pharmacological interventions in the community suitable for implementation, indicated that bibliotherapy, life-review, problem-solving therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy were effective at short-term follow-up. DISCUSSION: We conclude that the effects of several treatments are promising, but need to be replicated before they can be implemented more widely in primary care. Although more treatment modalities were effective in a community setting, more research is needed to investigate whether these treatments are also applicable in primary care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42016038442.

Late-life depression and the association with multimorbidity and polypharmacy: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Late-life depression often coincides with chronic somatic diseases and, consequently, with polypharmacy, which may complicate medical treatment. Objective: To determine the associations between patients diagnosed with late-life depression in primary care and multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was performed using 2012 primary care data. Depressed patients aged ≥60 years were compared to age and gender matched patients diagnosed with other psychological diagnoses and mentally healthy controls. Morbidity and prescription data were combined, and regression analyses were performed for the associations between depression and chronic disease and chronic drug use. Results: We included 4477 patients; 1512 had a record of depression, 1457 of other mental health or psychological diagnoses and 1508 were controls. Depressed patients had a 16% [Prevalence Ratio (PR) 1.16; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 10%-24%] higher rate of chronic somatic disease and higher odds for multimorbidity (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.33-1.81) compared with controls. No differences existed between depressed patients and patients with other psychological diagnoses. Compared with controls, depressed patients had a 46% (95% CI 39-53%) higher rate of chronic drug use and higher odds for polypharmacy (OR 2.89; 95% CI 2.41-3.47). Depressed patients also had higher rates of chronic drug use and higher odds for polypharmacy compared with patients with other psychological diagnoses (PR 1.26; OR 1.75; both P < 0.001). Conclusions: Late-life depression in primary care patients is associated with more chronic drug use, even beyond the increased rates of comorbid somatic diseases. General practitioners should consider medication reviews to prevent unnecessary drug-related problems in these patients.

Loneliness is associated with poor prognosis in late-life depression: Longitudinal analysis of the Netherlands study of depression in older persons.

BACKGROUND: Although depression and loneliness are common among older adults, the role of loneliness on the prognosis of late-life depression has not yet been determined. Therefore, we examined the association between loneliness and the course of depression. METHODS: We conducted a 2-year follow-up study of a cohort from the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons (NESDO). This included Dutch adults aged 60-90 years with a diagnosis of major depression, dysthymia, or minor depression according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. We performed regression analyses to determine associations between loneliness at baseline and both severity and remission of depression at follow-up. We controlled for potential confounders and performed multiple imputations to account for missing data. RESULTS: Of the 285 respondents, 48% were still depressed after 2 years. Loneliness was independently associated with more severe depressive symptoms at follow-up (beta 0.61; 95% CI 0.12-1.11). Very severe loneliness was negatively associated with remission after 2 years compared with no loneliness (OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.08-0.80). LIMITATIONS: Despite using multiple imputation, the large proportion of missing values probably reduces the study's precision. Generalizability to the general population may be limited by the overrepresentation of ambulatory patients with possibly more persistent forms of depression. CONCLUSION: In this cohort, the prognosis of late-life depression was adversely affected by loneliness. Health care providers should seek to evaluate the degree of loneliness to obtain a more reliable assessment of the prognosis of late-life depression.

Determinants of receiving mental health care for depression in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is common among elderly people. However, it appears that only a minority receives treatment. This study aims to identify and analyse the factors that determine whether elderly people with depressive disorders have contact with health care professionals for mental problems. METHOD: Cross-sectional analysis of cohort data collected in the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older persons (NESDO) and the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) among 167 respondents aged ≥55 with a depressive disorder as indicated by the CIDI. Contacts for mental health problems during the past six months (TiC-P), and indicators of predisposing, enabling, and objective need factors were assessed by interview. RESULTS: Of the total sample, 70% had contact for mental health problems, almost entirely within primary care (62%). The odds of having contact increased with advancing age; for respondents born in the Netherlands; for those who felt less lonely; and for those with a higher household income. LIMITATIONS: Our study is based on base-line interviews and thus has a cross-sectional character. Therefore, causal conclusions cannot be drawn. Furthermore, we studied the respondents' perception whether mental health care was received. CONCLUSIONS: The contact rate for mental health problems is high. Health care professionals should be aware that having contact is not associated with a higher objective need, but rather with increasing age, being Dutch-born, being less lonely and having a higher household income.