Objective Measures of Vest Therapy Adherence Among Pediatric Subjects With Cystic Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Airway clearance techniques (ACTs), including high-frequency chest wall oscillation (vest therapy), are important for maintaining lung function for patients with cystic fibrosis, but daily completion of ACTs is time-consuming and cumbersome. Patient adherence is a persistent challenge, and adherence data are largely patient reported, which may reduce accuracy. To provide definitive adherence data, this study utilized a Bluetooth-enabled vest therapy system to remotely collect objective adherence data from a cohort of pediatric subjects. METHODS: Vest usage data were collected over a 12-month period and compared to each subject vest prescription. Because vest prescriptions are multifaceted, we developed metrics to examine adherence to the various facets (eg, daily treatment, treatments per day, treatment duration, frequency settings, and frequency and pressure settings combined) as well as an overall adherence metric. RESULTS: Among the 73 enrolled subjects, 62 (50% male, age range 2-19 y) completed the study. Among adolescent subjects age 13-19 y, average adherence to daily vest therapy (44.0%) was significantly lower than that among subjects 0-6 y old (77.8%) and subjects 7-12 y old (89.5%). As more prescribed therapy components were combined into a single adherence metric, all age groups declined in mean adherence rates, with overall adherence a decreasing function of age. CONCLUSIONS: Employing new technology to remotely collect vest usage data allows for a granular examination of vest therapy adherence. While maintaining high levels of treatment adherence becomes increasingly difficult as children age, we also found substantial reductions in adherence rates among all age groups when more complex aspects of therapy prescriptions, such as frequency and pressure settings, were examined. These data illustrate areas providers and care teams can focus on to improve patient adherence to vest prescriptions.

The association of pediatric cystic fibrosis-related diabetes screening on clinical outcomes by center: A CF patient registry study.

BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD) has been associated with pulmonary function decline, nutritional status decline and increased mortality. In 2010, the CFRD Clinical Care Guideline were updated, recommending all patients with CF begin CFRD screening at 10 years old. This study uses CF Foundation Patient Registry to examine the impact of screening practices at centers across the United States from 2008 to 2015. We examined the association of screening practices and CFRD diagnosis at individual centers and trends in ppFEV1 and BMI percentile prior to and after diagnosis. METHODS: The cohort was defined as patients with CF and without CFRD who turned 10 years old from 2009 to 2015. Centers were classified based on their CFRD screening rates. Kaplan-Meier curves summarized the distribution of age at CFRD diagnosis. Among patients diagnosed with CFRD, we examined differences in ppFEV1 and BMI percentile two years prior to diagnosis and two years post-diagnosis by clinic screening rate. RESULTS: Of 3553 patients, 445 (13%) were diagnosed with CFRD. The average age of diagnosis was 13 years old. The screening rate of the patients' clinic was significantly associated with time to diagnosis (pvalue=0.0001). Among patients diagnosed with CFRD, clinics with lower screening rates of CFRD had steeper rates of pulmonary decline two years prior to diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Centers that screen for CFRD more tend to diagnose a larger percent of patients with CFRD and at a younger age. Additionally, patients at centers with lower screening rates have faster rates of pulmonary decline prior to CFRD diagnosis.

Travelers' Diarrhea and Other Gastrointestinal Symptoms Among Boston-Area International Travelers.

AbstractThis prospective cohort study describes travelers' diarrhea (TD) and non-TD gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms among international travelers from the Boston area, the association of TD with traveler characteristics and dietary practices, use of prescribed antidiarrheal medications, and the impact of TD and non-TD GI symptoms on planned activities during and after travel. We included adults who received a pre-travel consultation at three Boston-area travel clinics and who completed a three-part survey: pre-travel, during travel, and post-travel (2-4 weeks after return). TD was defined as self-reported diarrhea with or without nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, or fever. Demographic and travel characteristics were evaluated by χ2 test for categorical and Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables. Analysis of dietary practices used logistic generalized estimating equation models or logistic regression models. Of 628 travelers, 208 (33%) experienced TD and 45 (7%) experienced non-TD GI symptoms. Of 208 with TD, 128 (64%), 71 (36%), and 123 (62%) were prescribed ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, and/or loperamide before travel, respectively. Thirty-nine (36%) of 108 took ciprofloxacin, 20 (38%) of 55 took azithromycin, and 28 (28%) of 99 took loperamide during travel. Of 172 with TD during travel, 24% stopped planned activities, and 2% were hospitalized. Of 31 with non-TD GI symptoms during travel, six (13%) stopped planned activities. International travelers continue to experience diarrhea and other GI symptoms, resulting in disruption of planned activities and healthcare visits for some. Although these illnesses resulted in interruption of travel plans, a relatively small proportion took prescribed antibiotics.

Dengue Virus Seroconversion in Travelers to Dengue-Endemic Areas.

We conducted a prospective study to measure dengue virus (DENV) antibody seroconversion in travelers to dengue-endemic areas. Travelers seen in the Boston Area Travel Medicine Network planning to visit dengue-endemic countries for ≥ 2 weeks were enrolled from 2009 to 2010. Pre- and post-travel blood samples and questionnaires were collected. Post-travel sera were tested for anti-DENV IgG by indirect IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and anti-DENV IgM by capture IgM ELISA. Participants with positive post-travel anti-DENV IgG or IgM were tested for pre-travel anti-DENV IgG and IgM; they were excluded from the seroconversion calculation if either pre-travel anti-DENV IgG or IgM were positive. Paired sera and questionnaires were collected for 62% (589/955) of enrolled travelers. Most participants were 19-64 years of age, female, and white. The most common purposes of travel were tourism and visiting friends and relatives; most trips were to Asia or Africa. Median length of travel was 21 days. DENV antibody seroconversion by either anti-DENV IgM or IgG ELISA was 2.9-6.8%; lower range percent excluded potential false-positive anti-DENV IgG due to receipt of yellow fever or Japanese encephalitis vaccines at enrollment; upper range percent excluded proven false-positive anti-DENV IgM. Eighteen percent of those with seroconversion reported dengue-like symptoms. Seroconversion was documented for travel to Africa as well as countries and regions known to be highly dengue endemic (India, Brazil, southeast Asia). Given widespread risk of dengue, travel medicine counseling should include information on risk of dengue in endemic areas and advice on preventing insect bites and seeking prompt medical attention for febrile illness.

Malaria Prevention Strategies: Adherence Among Boston Area Travelers Visiting Malaria-Endemic Countries.

We conducted a prospective cohort study to assess adherence to malaria chemoprophylaxis, reasons for nonadherence, and use of other personal protective measures against malaria. We included adults traveling to malaria-endemic countries who were prescribed malaria chemoprophylaxis during a pre-travel consultation at three travel clinics in the Boston area and who completed three or more surveys: pre-travel, at least one weekly during travel, and post-travel (2-4 weeks after return). Of 370 participants, 335 (91%) took malaria chemoprophylaxis at least once and reported any missed doses; 265 (79%) reported completing all doses during travel. Adherence was not affected by weekly versus daily chemoprophylaxis, travel purpose, or duration of travel. Reasons for nonadherence included forgetfulness, side effects, and not seeing mosquitoes. Main reasons for declining to take prescribed chemoprophylaxis were peer advice, low perceived risk, and not seeing mosquitoes. Of 368 travelers, 79% used insect repellent, 46% used a bed net, and 61% slept in air conditioning at least once. Because travelers may be persuaded to stop taking medication by peer pressure, not seeing mosquitoes, and adverse reactions to medications, clinicians should be prepared to address these barriers and to empower travelers with strategies to manage common side effects of antimalarial medications.

Preferences and decision needs of Boston-area travelers to countries with risk of Yellow fever virus transmission: implications for health care providers.

BACKGROUND: Yellow fever (YF), a potentially fatal mosquito-borne infection, is preventable with a live-attenuated vaccine, rarely associated with severe adverse events. We surveyed travelers to assess their reasons for pre-travel medical consultation, information they considered important regarding YF disease and vaccination, whether they recalled receiving this information, and whether they were involved in vaccine decision-making. METHODS: Travelers aged 18 years and older were surveyed at three Boston-area travel clinics. Only those making YF vaccination decisions were included for analyses. RESULTS: Of 831 travelers surveyed, 589 (70%) indicated making a YF vaccination decision. Travel medicine providers recommended YF vaccination to 537 (91%) of 589 travelers; 92% of these 537 received vaccine. Among 101 travelers aged 60 years and older, 9% declined the vaccine; among those younger than 60 years, 4% declined the vaccine (p = 0.06). Of 589 travelers, most agreed they needed to understand destination-specific YF risks (82%) and vaccine risks (88%), and were involved in YF vaccine decisions (87%). Less than half recalled discussing their concerns about YF vaccine with the provider (42%) or what risks and benefits mattered most to them (32%). CONCLUSION: Most participants sought YF disease and vaccine risk information and wanted to be involved in decision-making; however, fewer than half recalled discussing their opinions or concerns about YF vaccine. Providers need effective risk communication skills and the ability to elicit and respond to travelers' concerns to help them make informed, shared decisions.

Acceptability of hypothetical dengue vaccines among travelers.

BACKGROUND: Dengue viruses have spread widely in recent decades and cause tens of millions of infections mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. Vaccine candidates are being studied aggressively and may be ready for licensure soon. METHODS: We surveyed patients with past or upcoming travel to dengue-endemic countries to assess rates and determinants of acceptance for four hypothetical dengue vaccines with variable efficacy and adverse event (AE) profiles. Acceptance ratios were calculated for vaccines with varied efficacy and AE risk. RESULTS: Acceptance of the four hypothetical vaccines ranged from 54% for the vaccine with lower efficacy and serious AE risk to 95% for the vaccine with higher efficacy and minor AE risk. Given equal efficacy, vaccines with lower AE risk were better accepted than those with higher AE risk; given equivalent AE risk, vaccines with higher efficacy were better accepted than those with lower efficacy. History of Japanese encephalitis vaccination was associated with lower vaccine acceptance for one of the hypothetical vaccines. US-born travelers were more likely than non-US born travelers to accept a vaccine with 75% efficacy and a risk of minor AEs (p = 0.003). Compared with North American-born travelers, Asian- and African-born travelers were less likely to accept both vaccines with 75% efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Most travelers would accept a safe and efficacious dengue vaccine if one were available. Travelers valued fewer potential AEs over increased vaccine efficacy.