Project description:BackgroundPaediatric outpatient prescription (POP) monitoring is pivotal to identify inadequate prescriptions and optimize drug use. We aimed at describing recent trends in POPs in France.MethodsAll reimbursed dispensations of outpatient prescribed drugs (excluding vaccines) were prospectively collected for the paediatric population (<18 years old) in the French national health database in 2010-2011 and 2018-2019 (mean 117,356,938/year). POP prevalence (proportion of children receiving ≥1 drug prescriptions/year) was calculated by age groups and compared by prevalence rate ratios (PRRs). Given the large sample size, 95% confidence intervals of POP prevalences and PRRs did not differ from estimates.FindingsAmong the 14,510,023 children resident in France in 2018-2019, mean POP prevalence was 857‰ children. Most prescribed therapeutic classes were analgesics (643‰), antibiotics (405‰), nasal corticosteroids (328‰), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (244‰), antihistamines (246‰) and systemic corticosteroids (210‰). POPs decreased with age from 976‰ for infants to 782‰ for adolescents. Children <6 years old were notably more exposed to inhaled corticosteroids (PRR=3.06), non-penicillin beta-lactam antibacterial agents (PRR=3.05) and systemic corticosteroids (PRR=2.11) than older ones. The POP prevalence was slightly higher (PRR=1.04) during 2018-2019 than 2010-2011, with marked increases for anti-emetics (PRR=1.84), vitamin D (PRR=1.49), proton pump inhibitors (PRR=1.42), systemic contraceptives (PRR=1.24) and nasal corticosteroids (PRR=1.21) and decreases for propulsive/prokinetic agents (PRR=0.09), NSAIDs (PRR=0.73) and systemic antibiotics (PRR=0.88).InterpretationPOP remained highly prevalent in France throughout the 2010s, especially for children <6 years old, with only a few improvements for selected therapeutic classes. These findings should prompt clinical guidance campaigns and/or regulatory policies.FundingInternal funding.
Project description:ObjectivesHyperuricaemia is a risk factor for gout attacks, kidney damage and cardiovascular events. Evidence on the trends in hyperuricaemia burden in Wuhan city, China, was limited. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and a decade trend in hyperuricaemia in Wuhan city.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingHealth Management Center of Tongji Hospital.ParticipantsA total of 732 527 adult participants from the general population who took a physical examination in the Health Management Center between 2010 and 2019.Main outcome measuresPrevalence of and trends in hyperuricaemia.ResultsThe overall prevalence of hyperuricaemia was 25.8% (36.6% in men and 10.8% in women) in 2019. The hyperuricaemia prevalence and serum uric acid (SUA) levels were significantly higher in young men, old women and participants with obesity, hypertension, diabetes or dyslipidaemia (p<0.05). SUA levels among men and women gradually increased from 358.0 (313.0-407.0) umol/L and 250.0 (217.0-288.0) umol/L in 2010 to 388.0 (338.0-445.2) umol/L and 270.0 (233.0-314.0) umol/L in 2019, respectively, p<0.05. From 2010 through 2019, hyperuricaemia prevalence significantly increased in each age category and it increased most sharply among participants aged 20-39 years. The multivariate-adjusted prevalence among men was 26.1% (25.4% to 26.7%) in 2010, 30.9% (30.4% to 31.4%) in 2015 and 34.4% (34.1% to 34.8%) in 2019, while among women it was 5.8% (5.4% to 6.2%) in 2010, 7.2% (6.9% to 7.5%) in 2015 and 10.1% (9.9% to 10.3%) in 2019.ConclusionsHyperuricaemia was highly prevalent among adults in Wuhan city. More attention should be paid to the increasing burden of hyperuricaemia, especially for those at higher risks.
Project description:Genetic and environmental risk factors contribute to periodontal disease, but the underlying susceptibility pathways are not fully understood. Epigenetic mechanisms are malleable regulators of gene function that can change in response to genetic and environmental stimuli, thereby providing a potential mechanism mediating risk effects in periodontitis. The aim of this study is to identify epigenetic changes across tissues that are associated with periodontal disease.
Project description:OBJECTIVES:The relationship between high dietary sodium intake and hypertension is well established. Some drugs are associated with high-sodium content, particularly effervescent tablets (ETs). Despite a possible cardiovascular risk associated with the use of such drugs, observational data describing exposure to ETs in ambulatory subjects are lacking.This study aims to estimate the prevalence of exposure to ETs and to highlight factors associated with this exposure in a large French health check-up population. DESIGN:This was a cross-sectional study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS:Participants were French individuals who underwent medical check-ups at the Investigations Préventives et Cliniques centre between April and June 2017. RESULTS:In total, 1043 subjects were included in the study. The prevalence of exposure to ETs in the last 30 days was 26.9% (95% CI 24.2% to 29.6%). Exposure was frequent (ie, two ETs per week or more in the last 30 days) for 7.3% of subjects. Self-medication was the major source of exposure (93.8%). Paracetamol, aspirin, vitamins and betaine accounted for 95.3% of the ETs used. The factors associated with this exposure by multivariate analysis were: male gender, Overseas French origin, depression and body mass index ?25?kg/m2. A diagnosis of hypertension or treatment with diuretics were not protective factors against exposure to ETs. CONCLUSION:Exposure to ETs is frequent in the general population, particularly through self-medication. Clinical conditions associated with low-salt requirements were not associated with lower exposure to ETs, suggesting a lack of awareness by practitioners and patients about this iatrogenic issue.
Project description:The degree of vertebral wedging, a key structural characteristic of spinal curvatures, has recently been found to be negatively related to vertebral cross-sectional area (CSA). The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the relation between vertebral cross-sectional growth and vertebral wedging progression within the immature lumbar spine. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we analyzed the potential association between increases in lumbar vertebral CSA and changes in L5 vertebral wedging in 27 healthy adolescent girls (ages 9-13 years) twice within a two-year period. Vertebral CSA growth was negatively associated with changes in posteroanterior vertebral wedging (r = -0.61; p = 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that this relation was independent of gains in age, height, and weight. When compared to the 14 girls whose vertebral wedging progressed, the 13 subjects whose vertebral wedging decreased had significantly greater vertebral cross-sectional growth (0.39 ± 0.25 vs. 0.75 ± 0.23 cm2; p = 0.001); in contrast, there were no significant differences in increases in age, height, or weight between the two groups. Changes in posteroanterior vertebral wedging and the degree of lumbar lordosis (LL) positively correlated (r = 0.56, p = 0.002)-an association that persisted even after adjusting for gains in age, height, and weight. We concluded that in the immature skeleton, vertebral cross-sectional growth is an important determinant of the plasticity of the vertebral body; regression of L5 vertebral wedging is associated with greater lumbar vertebral cross-sectional growth, while progression is the consequence of lesser cross-sectional growth.
Project description:BackgroundVaccination of healthcare workers (HCW) aims to protect them and to reduce transmission to susceptible patients. Influenza, measles, pertussis, and varicella vaccinations are recommended but not mandatory for HCW in France. Insufficient vaccine coverage for these diseases in HCW has raised the question of introducing mandatory vaccination. We conducted a survey to estimate acceptability of mandatory vaccination for these four vaccines by HCW working in healthcare facilities (HCF) in France, and to identify associated determinants.MethodsIn 2019, we performed a cross-sectional survey of physicians, nurses, midwives and nursing assistants working in HCF in France using a randomised stratified three-stage sampling design (HCF type, ward category, HCW category). Data were collected in face-to-face interviews using a tablet computer. We investigated the possible determinants of acceptability of mandatory vaccination using univariate and multivariate Poisson regressions, and estimated prevalence ratios (PR).ResultsA total of 8594 HCW in 167 HCF were included. For measles, pertussis, and varicella, self-reported acceptability of mandatory vaccination (very or quite favourable) was 73.1% [CI95%: 70.9-75.1], 72.1% [69.8-74.3], and 57.5% [54.5-57.7], respectively. Acceptability varied according to i) HCW and ward category for these three vaccinations, ii) age group for measles and pertussis, and iii) sex for varicella. For mandatory influenza vaccination, acceptability was lower (42.7% [40.6-44.9]), and varied greatly between HCW categories (from 77.2% for physicians to 32.0% for nursing assistants).ConclusionHCW acceptability of mandatory vaccination was high for measles, pertussis and varicella but not as high for influenza. Vaccination for COVID-19 is mandatory for HCW in France. Replication of this study after the end of the COVID-19 crisis would help assess whether the pandemic had an impact on their acceptability of mandatory vaccination, in particular for influenza.
Project description:Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO) may result in neurological deficits and sequelae, so early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are critical. Many previous studies on PVO exist, but our paper has aimed to comprehensively summarize the clinical aspects of PVO. Through review of the vast literature on the clinical research of PVO an overview of the clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, treatment and prognosis is provided.
Project description:Low-grade, chronic inflammation during ageing (“inflammageing”) is suggested to be involved in the development of frailty in older age. However, studies on the association between frailty, using the frailty index definition, and inflammatory markers are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and frailty index (FI) in older, home-dwelling adults. Home-dwelling men and women aged ≥ 70 years old, living in South-East Norway were recruited and included in a cross-sectional study. The FI used in the current study was developed according to Rockwood’s frailty index and included 38 variables, resulting in an FI score between 0 and 1 for each participant. Circulating inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP, IGF-1, cystatin C, cathepsin S, and glycoprotein Acetyls) were analyzed from non-fasting blood samples using ELISA. Whole-genome PBMC transcriptomics was used to study the association between FI score and inflammation. The present study was a cross-sectional study that included home-dwelling men and women aged ≥ 70 years old, living in the Skedsmo area, South-East Norway. The study was conducted in 2014/2015 and has been described previously [Ottestad I, Ulven SM, Øyri LKL, Sandvei KS, Gjevestad GO, Bye A, et al. Reduced plasma concentration of branched-chain amino acids in sarcopenic older subjects: a cross-sectional study. Br J Nutr. 2018;120(4):445-53]. The participants were recruited by the National Register and received an invitation letter by mail. Briefly, a total of 2820 subjects were invited, and 437 subjects participated in the study. The participants met for a single study visit, and data was collected on dietary intake, body weight and composition, physical performance, medical history, cognitive function, risk of malnutrition, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, heart rate, and quality of life. Non-fasting blood samples were also collected.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Vertebral osteomyelitis can be attributed to many factors including immunosuppression, diabetes, malignancy, collagen disease, periodontal disease, open fractures, and endoscopic procedures. Anaerobic bacteria, such as Veillonella species, are found in the oral cavity and are rarely implicated in the infection. This report describes vertebral osteomyelitis secondary to a dental abscess with positive Veillonella cultures. CASE DESCRIPTION:A 76-year-old man presented to the hospital due to back pain with a four-day history of fever and chills. CT scans revealed several abscesses in the lumbar region as well as indications of vertebral osteomyelitis. After a psoas drain, the patient began antibiotics with a combination of ampicillin-sulbactam, metronidazole, and levofloxacin, but due to the patient's penicillin allergy, he was initially desensitized to this antibiotic for a significant period of time. Laminectomies, foraminotomies, and facetectomies were performed, but the infection spread to vertebral levels. The patient was then switched to a combination of vancomycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin which eliminated the infection. Final laminectomy was performed with posterior segmental instrumentation and arthrodesis. Post-operatively, there were no signs of infection. The patient recovered well and regained mobility. Deeper examination of the patient's medical history revealed a severe tooth abscess immediately before the onset of bacteremia. CONCLUSION:We believe that a delay in the onset of antibiotic treatment is what led to the initial bacteremia that ultimately took root in the lower lumbar vertebrae. To the best of our ability, we could identify only one other case that linked vertebral osteomyelitis to the oral cavity.
Project description:The incidence of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO) has increased over the past two decades. One possible cause of this increase is the aging of the population, which results in more comorbidities in high income countries.To better characterize the clinical presentation and outcome of PVO in the elderly.We conducted a post-hoc analysis of a previously published trial that studied treatment duration in PVO and compared the presentation and outcomes according to age.Our analysis included 351 patients among whom 85 (24%) were 75-years-old or more.There were no significant differences in the socio-demographics of the patients. Neoplasia and chronic inflammatory diseases were more common in the older group: 34% vs. 19% (p = 0.021) and 9% versus 1% (p = 0.004), respectively. There were no significant differences in clinical and radiological presentations between the groups in terms of back pain (337/351, 97%), fever (182/351, 52%), PVO localization, neurological signs and epidural abscess. Associated infective endocarditis (IE) was more frequent in the older group (37% vs. 14%, p<0.001). Streptococci were more frequently involved in infections of older patients (29% vs. 14%, p = 0.003) in contrast to Staphylococcus aureus (31% vs. 45%, p = 0.03). Older patients displayed higher mortality rates at 1 year (21% vs. 3%, p<0.001) and more adverse events related to cardiorespiratory failure (10.6% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.025), but had similar quality of life among the survivors.During PVO, the clinical and radiological findings are similar in older patients. Global mortality rates are higher in older patients compared to younger patients, which could be explained by the increased frequency of neoplasia at diagnosis and higher prevalence of associated IE in the elderly.