Intravenous iron therapy in a rural hospital: A retrospective chart review.

INTRODUCTION: Intravenous iron infusion therapy is commonly delivered in rural hospitals, but there are no common guidelines for dosing or choice of agent. The objective of the study was to understand present practice and alternate therapies and develop practical recommendations for small hospital use. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of all non-dialysis patients aged 15 years or older who received iron replacement therapy at Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre from May 2013 to May 2019 and a literature review of available iron preparations. RESULTS: Of the 147 patients who received intravenous iron replacement, 75 were administered a single dose of 200 mg or 500 mg iron sucrose. Commonly used in pregnant patients, an increase in haemoglobin by an average of 9.2 g/L followed a 200 mg dose and 12.5 g/L after 500 mg. The 3-h infusion time for the 500 mg dose consumed considerably more nursing resources. Non-pregnant patients can be transfused more effectively with iron maltoside which can efficiently deliver larger doses of iron. CONCLUSION: We recommend iron maltoside for efficient intravenous iron replacement in non-pregnant patients and single or multiple doses of 200 mg iron sucrose during pregnancy.

Résumé Introduction: La perfusion intraveineuse de fer est fréquente dans les hôpitaux ruraux, mais il n'existe pas de lignes directrices courantes sur la posologie ou le choix de l'agent. Cette étude visait à comprendre la pratique actuelle, et les autres options thérapeutiques et d'émettre des recommandations pratiques à l'intention des petits hôpitaux. Méthodologie: Revue rétrospective des dossiers de tous les patients de 15 ans et plus non sous dialyse qui avaient reçu une supplémentation en fer à l'Hôpital SLMHC entre les mois de mai 2013 et mai 2019 et revue de la littérature sur les préparations de fer commercialisées. Résultats: Sur les 147 patients ayant reçu une perfusion de supplémentation en fer, 75 ont reçu une dose unique de 200 mg ou de 500 mg de fer-saccharose. Fréquemment utilisées chez les femmes enceintes, les doses de 200 et de 500 mg ont augmenté le taux d'Hb d'en moyenne 9,2 g/L et de 12.5 g/L, respectivement. La perfusion de 3 heures nécessaire à la dose de 500 mg a utilisé considérablement plus de ressources infirmières. Le fer-isomaltoside, qui administre efficacement des doses supérieures de fer, est perfusé plus efficacement chez les patients, à l'exclusion des femmes enceintes. Conclusion: Nous recommandons le fer-isomaltoside pour la supplémentation en fer efficace chez les patients, à l'exclusion des femmes enceintes et une dose unique ou multiple de 200 mg de fer-saccharose durant la grossesse. Mots-clés: Fer-isomaltoside, médecine rurale, perfusion intraveineuse de fer.

New obesity treatment: Fasting, exercise and low carb diet - The NOT-FED study.

INTRODUCTION: Due to high rates of obesity in Canada, weight loss is an important primary care challenge. Recent innovations in strategies include intermittent fasting and low-carbohydrate diets, with limited research in a rural setting. METHODS: This prospective 1-year observational study provided patients in Sioux Lookout, Northwestern Ontario with information on fasting and low-carbohydrate diets. Patients were recommended to attend every 3 months for measurements of weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure. Initial and 6-month bloodwork included A1c and Lipids. A survey of health status and diet was administered at 6 months. RESULTS: Of the 94 initial registrants, 36 participants completed 1 year and achieved a 9% weight loss and an 8.6% decrease in BMI and waist circumference. Most participants were female with an average age of 60 years. Clinically insignificant changes in blood pressure and serology were observed. Participants reported few side effects and good compliance with intermittent fasting, averaging 15 h/day, 6 days/week. As in other dietary studies, the dropout rate was high at 62%. CONCLUSION: This low-resource initiative was successful in assisting self-selected patients at a rural primary care clinic to achieve significant weight loss at 1-year. This approach is practical and is fertile ground for ongoing research.

Introduction: En raison du taux élevé d'obésité au Canada, la perte pondérale est un énorme défi en première ligne. Les récentes innovations stratégiques incluent le jeûne intermittent et les régimes faibles en glucides, qui ont fait l'objet de peu de recherche dans les contextes ruraux. Méthodologie: Cette étude prospective d'observation d'un an a fourni aux patients de Sioux Lookout, du Nord-Ouest de l'Ontario de l'information sur le jeûne et les régimes faibles en glucides. On recommandait aux patients de se présenter tous les 3 mois pour mesurer le poids, le tour de taille, l'IMC et la tension artérielle. Les analyses sanguines initiales et à 6 mois comptaient les taux d'HbA1C et de lipides. Un sondage sur l'état de santé et le régime alimentaire était administré à 6 mois. Résultats: Sur les 94 personnes initialement inscrites, 36 participants ont terminé l'étude d'un an et ont perdu 9 % de leur poids et ont réduit l'IMC et le tour de taille de 8,6 %. La plupart des participants étaient de sexe féminin et l'âge moyen était de 60 ans. Des variations significatives sur le plan clinique de la tension artérielle et de la sérologie ont été observées. Les participants ont signalé peu d'effets indésirables et ont bien observé le jeûne intermittent, en moyenne pendant 15 heures/jour, 6 jours sur 7. Tout comme dans les autres études sur les régimes alimentaires, le taux d'abandons était élevé, à 62 %. Conclusion: Cette initiative nécessitant peu de ressources a réussi à aider les patients volontaires recrutés dans une clinique rurale de première ligne à perdre significativement de poids à un an. Cette approche est pratique et est un terreau fertile pour la recherche qui continue. Mots-clés: diabète, obésité, régimes faibles en glucides, jeûne intermittent.

Intermittent fasting and weight loss: Systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the evidence for intermittent fasting (IF), an alternative to calorie-restricted diets, in treating obesity, an important health concern in Canada with few effective office-based treatment strategies. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE and EMBASE search from January 1, 2000, to July 1, 2019, yielded 1200 results using the key words fasting, time restricted feeding, meal skipping, alternate day fasting, intermittent fasting, and reduced meal frequency. STUDY SELECTION: Forty-one articles describing 27 trials addressed weight loss in overweight and obese patients: 18 small randomized controlled trials (level I evidence) and 9 trials comparing weight after IF to baseline weight with no control group (level II evidence). Studies were often of short duration (2 to 26 weeks) with low enrolment (10 to 244 participants); 2 were of 1-year duration. Protocols varied, with only 5 studies including patients with type 2 diabetes. SYNTHESIS: All 27 IF trials found weight loss of 0.8% to 13.0% of baseline weight with no serious adverse events. Twelve studies comparing IF to calorie restriction found equivalent results. The 5 studies that included patients with type 2 diabetes documented improved glycemic control. CONCLUSION: Intermittent fasting shows promise for the treatment of obesity. To date, the studies have been small and of short duration. Longer-term research is needed to understand the sustainable role IF can play in weight loss.

Interlaminar epidural steroid injections for low back pain in rural Ontario.

INTRODUCTION: We sought to document the efficacy of interlaminar epidural steroid injections (ESIs) for the relief of low back pain in a rural population. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study with brief follow-up telephone interviews at 1, 3 and 6 months after interlaminar ESI. RESULTS: A total of 47 ESIs were administered to the 24 participants. In an intention-to-treat analysis, pain relief was achieved in 78.7%, 55.3% and 27.7% of participants at 1, 3 and 6 months. CONCLUSION: Interlaminar ESIs, without fluoroscopic guidance, were effective for up to 3 months of symptom relief.

INTRODUCTION: Nous avons cherché à déterminer l'efficacité des infiltrations épidurales interlaminaires de stéroïdes pour réduire la lombalgie chez une population rurale. METHODS: Pour ce faire, nous avons mené une étude de cohorte observationnelle prospective au moyen de brèves entrevues téléphoniques de suivi après 1, 3 et 6 mois. RESULTS: Au total, 47 infiltrations épidurales ont été administrées à 24 participants. Dans le cadre d'une analyse par intention de traiter, 78,7 %, 55,3 % et 27,7 % des participants ont rapporté un soulagement de la douleur à 1, 3 et 6 mois, respectivement. CONCLUSION: Les infiltrations épidurales interlaminaires sans guidage fluoroscopique peuvent procurer un soulagement des symptômes pendant jusqu'à 3 mois.

Epidural steroid injections for low back pain in rural practice: a 5-year retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are a safe and accessible therapy for chronic low back pain, one of the most common and challenging chronic conditions seen in primary care. However, the indications for and effectiveness of ESI remain controversial. In rural settings with limited public transportation infrastructure, such a mobility-limiting condition can have even more negative effects on quality of life and function. Furthermore, diagnostic and specialist services are often limited. A paucity of safe, effective and accessible treatments leads to heavy reliance on oral analgesics, especially opioids, which have well-known complications. METHODS: We reviewed the use of ESI for the 2 most common types of chronic low back pain in those with neurologic symptoms: lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). We did a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent ESI between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 25, 2010, at our rural hospital in northwestern Ontario. RESULTS: During the study period, 123 ESIs were administered to 65 patients. After the first injection, 40 patients (62%) reported improvement, 10 (15%) reported worsening or no change, and 15 (23%) had no follow-up documented. CONCLUSION: Some patients with neurologic compromise from LDH or LSS have improvement in symptoms after ESI. A prospective study is underway to more rigorously assess the effectiveness of this treatment.