Importancia de la detección de la disfagia en pacientes geriátricos / Importance of the detection of dysphagia in geriatric patients

Introducción. La disfagia orofaríngea es uno de los síndromes geriátricos menos conocidos, a pesar de su enorme impacto sobre la capacidad funcional, la calidad de vida y la salud de los individuos afectados. Material y método. Estudio descriptivo y prospectivo, por parte del Servicio de Geriatría del hospital de Barbastro (Huesca), desde marzo del 2012 hasta octubre del 2014, con fin de revisiones semestrales y anuales en octubre del 2015. Incluidos todos los paciente a los que se realizó método de exploración clínica de volumen-viscosidad (test MECV-V) por sospecha de disfagia. Resultados. El estudio incluyó a 266 pacientes, con una edad media de 82,35+/-12,3 años, con una puntuación media en el índice de Barthel de 20,5±25,4 y en el índice de Charlson de 1,77±1,6. El motivo de realización del test fue en 105 casos accidente cerebrovascular (40%), en 53 demencia (20%), en 24 parkinsonismos (9%) y por otros motivos diferentes en 80 (31%). Fueron diagnosticados de disfagia 228 casos (86%). Se instauró nutrición enteral en 25 casos (10,9%). Se reflejaron los resultados del test en el informe de alta en el 45% de los mismos con resultado positivo. La supervivencia media obtenida en los pacientes fallecidos desde la realización de test fue de 230,8±256,5 días. Encontramos diferencias en la supervivencia a los 12 meses en pacientes con test positivo, sin una clara relación con la situación funcional ni con la comorbilidad. Conclusiones. La disfagia conlleva una importante mortalidad, debiendo reflejarse adecuadamente el uso de espesantes tras su detección

Introduction. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is one of the lesser known geriatric syndromes, despite its enormous impact on functional capacity, quality of life, and health of those affected. Material and methods. A descriptive and prospective study was conducted by the Geriatric Department of Barbastro Hospital (Huesca), from March 2012 to October 2014, as biannual and annual reviews in October 2015. This study included all patients on whom a volume-viscosity clinical examination (MECV-V test) was performed to suspecting dysphagia. Results. The study included 266 patients with a mean age of 82.35±12.3 years, and with a mean Barthel index score of 20.5±25.4, and mean Charlson index of 1.77±1.6. The test was performed in 105 cases after stroke (40%), 53 in dementia (20%), 24 in Parkinsonism (9%), and for other different reasons in 80 (31%). Dysphagia was diagnosed in 228 (86%) cases. Enteral nutrition was given in 25 (10.9%) cases. The test results were shown in the discharge report in 45% of the tests with positive result. The mean survival obtained after test in the patients who died was 230.8±256.5 days. Differences in survival at 12 months were found in patients with positive test, without finding a clear relationship with functional status and comorbidity. Conclusions. Dysphagia has a significant mortality, and the use of thickeners after its detection should be properly reported

[Importance of the detection of dysphagia in geriatric patients]. / Importancia de la detección de la disfagia en pacientes geriátricos.

INTRODUCTION: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is one of the lesser known geriatric syndromes, despite its enormous impact on functional capacity, quality of life, and health of those affected. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive and prospective study was conducted by the Geriatric Department of Barbastro Hospital (Huesca), from March 2012 to October 2014, as biannual and annual reviews in October 2015. This study included all patients on whom a volume-viscosity clinical examination (MECV-V test) was performed to suspecting dysphagia. RESULTS: The study included 266 patients with a mean age of 82.35±12.3 years, and with a mean Barthel index score of 20.5±25.4, and mean Charlson index of 1.77±1.6. The test was performed in 105 cases after stroke (40%), 53 in dementia (20%), 24 in Parkinsonism (9%), and for other different reasons in 80 (31%). Dysphagia was diagnosed in 228 (86%) cases. Enteral nutrition was given in 25 (10.9%) cases. The test results were shown in the discharge report in 45% of the tests with positive result. The mean survival obtained after test in the patients who died was 230.8±256.5 days. Differences in survival at 12 months were found in patients with positive test, without finding a clear relationship with functional status and comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Dysphagia has a significant mortality, and the use of thickeners after its detection should be properly reported.

Resultados tras la implementación de un programa de mejora de la calidad del contenido de los informes de alta hospitalaria en insuficiencia cardiaca / Results of implementing a programme to improve the quality of the contents in hospital discharge reports in cases of heart failure

Objetivos: Analizar la información recogida en los informes de alta hospitalaria (IAH) que se entregan a los pacientes con diagnóstico principal de insuficiencia cardiaca (IC), y demostrar la mejora en el contenido de estos informes después de la intervención realizada. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron los IAH con diagnóstico de IC emitidos por el servicio de Medicina Interna y se comparó la presencia de datos diagnósticos, pronósticos y terapéuticos en estos IAH, en una muestra anterior y otra posterior a una intervención, consistente en la comunicación de los resultados obtenidos del análisis de la muestra inicial a los facultativos del servicio. Resultados: Se analizaron 651 IAH (371 preintervención y 280 postintervención). La mayoría de los IAH (> 70%) no recogían la clase funcional. La mayor parte de los IAH no contenían información sobre la realización de un ecocardiograma previo al ingreso analizado, y de los IAH que recogieron información ecocardiográfica previa la mayoría no permitían determinar si la IC era diastólica o sistólica. En la muestra posterior hubo un menor porcentaje de IAH que prescribían inhibidores de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina o antagonistas de los receptores de angiotensina ii (26% vs. 32%; p < 0,001). En el 30% de la muestra previa y en el 38% de la posterior había indicación de betabloqueantes (p = 0,027). Conclusiones: La realización de una pequeña intervención informativa a los facultativos responsables de los pacientes con IC mejora la recogida de datos importantes diagnósticos, pronósticos y terapéuticos en los IAH (AU)

Objectives: To analyse the information collected in hospital discharge reports (HDR) that are given to patients with a diagnosis of heart failure (HF), and demonstrate the improvement in the content of these reports after the introduction of an intervention. Material and methods: HDR with HF as the main diagnosis issued by the Department of Internal Medicine were analysed, and the presence of the diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic data in these HDR was compared in a sample before and after the intervention, which consisted of reporting the results of analysis of the initial sample to the physicians. Results: A total of 651 HDR (371 pre-intervention and 280 post-intervention) were analysed. Most of the HDR (over 70%) did not include the functional class. Most of the HDR did not include information about echocardiogram performed before the hospitalization period analysed, and most of the HDR that collected this information did not determine if the HF was diastolic or systolic. In the post-intervention sample there was a lower percentage of HDR that prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blocker ii (26% vs 32%, P < .001). In 30% of the pre-intervention sample and 38% of the post-intervention sample there was indication of beta-blockers (P = .027). Conclusions: A short discussion with the physicians responsible for patients with HF improves the inclusion of important data on the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment in the HDR (AU)

[Results of implementing a programme to improve the quality of the contents in hospital discharge reports in cases of heart failure]. / Resultados tras la implementación de un programa de mejora de la calidad del contenido de los informes de alta hospitalaria en insuficiencia cardiaca.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the information collected in hospital discharge reports (HDR) that are given to patients with a diagnosis of heart failure (HF), and demonstrate the improvement in the content of these reports after the introduction of an intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HDR with HF as the main diagnosis issued by the Department of Internal Medicine were analysed, and the presence of the diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic data in these HDR was compared in a sample before and after the intervention, which consisted of reporting the results of analysis of the initial sample to the physicians. RESULTS: A total of 651 HDR (371 pre-intervention and 280 post-intervention) were analysed. Most of the HDR (over 70%) did not include the functional class. Most of the HDR did not include information about echocardiogram performed before the hospitalization period analysed, and most of the HDR that collected this information did not determine if the HF was diastolic or systolic. In the post-intervention sample there was a lower percentage of HDR that prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blocker ii (26% vs 32%, P<.001). In 30% of the pre-intervention sample and 38% of the post-intervention sample there was indication of beta-blockers (P=.027). CONCLUSIONS: A short discussion with the physicians responsible for patients with HF improves the inclusion of important data on the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment in the HDR.

Posible relación entre alopecia areata e infecciones por enterovirus / Possible relationship between alopecia areata and enterovirus infections

Introducción: la alopecia areata es una enfermedad autoinmune de etiología desconocida que se asocia a otras enfermedades autoinmunes. La enfermedad mano-pie-boca es una infección viral frecuente en la edad pediátrica, causada por diferentes serotipos de enterovirus y que en ocasiones asocia onicomadesis. El presente estudio pretende comprobar un incremento de los casos de alopecia areata tras un brote de enfermedad mano-pie-boca en nuestro entorno. Material y métodos: identificación de los pacientes menores de 14 años diagnosticados de enfermedad mano-pie-boca y/o alopecia areata en un área de salud entre el 1 de enero de 2011 y el 31 de diciembre de 2012. Revisión de historias clínicas, recogiendo fecha de nacimiento y diagnóstico, edad al diagnóstico y características clínicas. Resultados: se encontraron 49 pacientes diagnosticados de enfermedad mano-pie-boca y siete diagnosticados de alopecia areata. Se confirmó un brote de enfermedad mano-pie-boca con 42 casos en un periodo de ocho semanas. Se observó un incremento posterior de los casos de alopecia areata (cuatro casos en las cuatro semanas siguientes, frente a tres casos a lo largo de los 11 meses previos y ninguno durante el año anterior). Conclusiones: tras un brote de enfermedad mano-pie-boca se observó un incremento del número de casos de alopecia areata. Este hecho, unido a la asociación de la alopecia areata con otras enfermedades autoinmunes y a la relación encontrada entre infecciones por enterovirus y procesos autoinmunes como la diabetes mellitus tipo 1, plantea una posible relación causal entre infecciones por enterovirus y alopecia areata, así como un posible componente de autoinmunidad en la onicomadesis asociada a la enfermedad mano-pie-boca (AU)

Introduction: alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology that is associated to other autoimmune diseases. Hand-foot-mouth disease is a common viral infection in children caused by several enterovirus serotypes, and it is sometimes associated to onychomadesis. This study intends to investigate an increase in cases of alopecia areata after an outbreak of hand-foot-mouth disease in our environment. Methods: identification of patients under 14 years old diagnosed with hand-foot-mouth disease and/or alopecia areata in a Primary Care Service Area between 1/1/2011 and 31/12/2012. Review of medical records, collecting date of birth and diagnosis, age at diagnosis and clinical characteristics. Results: forty-nine patients diagnosed with hand-foot-mouth disease and 7 diagnosed with alopecia areata were found. An outbreak of hand-foot-mouth disease was confirmed with 42 cases within a period of 8 weeks. A subsequent increase in cases of alopecia areata (4 cases within 4 weeks, compared with 3 cases over the 11 months before and none during the previous year) was observed. Conclusions: following an outbreak of hand-foot-mouth disease an increased number of cases of alopecia areata was observed. This fact, coupled with the association of alopecia areata with other autoimmune diseases, and the relationship found between enterovirus infections and autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes mellitus poses a possible causal relationship between enterovirus infections and alopecia areata, and a possible component of autoimmunity in onychomadesis associated to hand-foot-mouth disease (AU)