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G Bréart

Publications and source records attributed to G Bréart.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Clinical decision rules to distinguish between bacterial and aseptic meningitis.

BACKGROUND: Clinical decision rules have been derived to distinguish between bacterial and aseptic meningitis in the emergency room to avoid unnecessary antibiotic treatments and hospitalisations. AIMS: To evaluate the reproducibility and to compare the diagnostic performance of five clinical decision rules. METHODS: All children hospitalised for bacterial meningitis between 1995 and 2004 or aseptic meningitis between 2000 and 2004 have been included in a retrospective cohort study. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated by applying each rule to the patients. The best rule was a priori defined as the one yielding 100% sensitivity for bacterial meningitis, the highest specificity, and the greatest simplicity for a bedside application. RESULTS: Among the 166 patients included, 20 had bacterial meningitis and 146 had aseptic meningitis. Although three rules achieved 100% sensitivity (95% CI 84-100), one had a significantly lower specificity (13%, 95% CI 8-19) than those of the other two rules (57%, 95% CI 48-65; and 66%, 95% CI 57-73), which were not statistically different. The ease of manual computation of the rule developed by Nigrovic et al (a simple list of five items: seizure, blood neutrophil count, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Gram stain, CSF protein, CSF neutrophil count) was higher than the one developed by Bonsu and Harper. CONCLUSION: On our population, the rule derived by Nigrovic et al had the best balance between accuracy and simplicity of manual computation and could help to avoid two thirds of unnecessary antibiotic treatments and hospitalisations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Delay in diagnosis of imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children.

The study reported here prospectively evaluated the time-to-diagnosis of imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children in seven French pediatric emergency departments during a 1-week period. For the 29 patients included, the mean patient, doctor and total delays were 3.1, 1.5 and 4.7 days, respectively. The late medical diagnosis for 11 patients was mainly due to the treating physician's failure to consider malaria, despite having been informed that the child had been in an endemic area, and erroneously making a diagnosis of viral infection. The five patients who were diagnosed correctly without delay had higher mean platelet counts than the others (206,000 vs 118,541/mm(3); p=0.008). The results indicate that greater awareness of the risk of malaria in returning travelers may help reduce delays in diagnosis and its consequences.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Trends in perinatal health in metropolitan France between 1995 and 2003: results from the National Perinatal Surveys].

OBJECTIVE: To study trends in the main indicators of health, medical practice and risk factors in France. Population and method. A sample of all births during one week was set up in 1995 (N=13,318), 1998 (N=13,718) et 2003 (N=14,737). We compared data from these three years. RESULTS: Between 1995 and 2003, there was an increase in maternal age, a development of some characteristics of care (HIV screening procedure, maternal serum screening of Down syndrome, in utero transfers) and an increase in the proportion of caesarean sections, epidurals and spinal anesthesia. The proportion of livebirths before 37 weeks of gestation and the proportion of newborns under 2,500 g slightly increased but the differences were mainly between 1995 et 1998. In 2003, obstetrician gynecologists were the main care providers during pregnancy. However 24.3% of women had their first visit with a general practitioner. For the following visits, 15.4% of women had seen a GP at least once and 26.9% had seen a midwife in maternity unit at least once. CONCLUSION: Because of the trends in obstetrical practice and organisation of services, routine national perinatal surveys are useful to show major changes and yield quick answers to specific questions.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Level of perinatal care of the maternity unit and rate of cesarean in low-risk nulliparas.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of level of perinatal care of the maternity unit on the rate of cesarean delivery during labor among women with low-risk pregnancies. METHODS: Using data from the PREMODA (PREsentation et MODe d'Accouchement: presentation and mode of delivery) study of 138 French maternity units, the delivery method in 3,654 low-risk nulliparas (live singleton fetus in cephalic presentation at term [37-41 weeks of gestation], born weighing 2,500-4,500 g, no uterine scar, no cesarean before labor, and no induction of labor for maternal or fetal disorders) was analyzed. Independent variables included maternal and fetal characteristics and the level of perinatal care of the maternity unit (level 1, 2a, 2b, and 3; where levels 2b and 3 routinely manage high-risk pregnancies). Univariable and multivariable analysis with a multilevel logistic model explored the factors associated with cesarean delivery during labor. RESULTS: Overall, the rate of cesarean during labor was 11.7%. The rate was significantly higher in level 2b (odds ratio 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.1) and 3 (odds ratio 1.3, 95% confidence interval 1.0-1.9) maternity units than in level 1 facilities. The size and status of the facilities did not significantly affect these rates. Risk factors for cesarean were older maternal age, non-French origin, gestational age of 41 weeks, male sex, and high birth weight. CONCLUSION: Maternity units that frequently manage high-risk pregnancies (levels 2b and 3) have higher rates of cesareans during labor for their population of nulliparas at low risk than do facilities that deal mainly with low-risk pregnancies (level 1). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Quantitative ultrasound parameters as well as bone mineral density are better predictors of trochanteric than cervical hip fractures in elderly women. Results from the EPIDOS study.

RATIONALE: Hip fractures can be separated into cervical and trochanteric fractures. Trochanteric fractures have been associated with up to twice the short-term mortality of cervical fractures in the elderly. There is also evidence suggesting that the mechanisms are different. Evidence from the literature remains limited on the predictive power of bone mineral density (BMD) and quantitative ultrasounds (QUS) for both types of hip fractures. METHODS: 5703 elderly women aged 75 years or more, who were recruited from the voting lists in the EPIDOS study, and had baseline calcaneal ultrasounds (QUS) and DXA measurements at the hip and the whole body, were analyzed in this paper. Among those, 192 hip fractures occurred during an average follow-up of 4 years, 108 cervical and 84 trochanteric fractures. RESULTS: Femoral neck, trochanteric and whole body BMD were able to predict trochanteric hip fracture (RR's and 95% CI were, respectively, 3.2 (2.4-4.2); 4.8 (3.5-6.6); and 2.8 (2.2-3.6)) more accurately than cervical fractures (respectively, 2.1 (1.7-2.7); 2.3 (1.8-3.0); 1.2 (1.0-1.6)). All ultrasound parameters, SOS, BUA, and stiffness index (SI) were significant predictors of trochanteric (RR's respectively 3.0 (2.2-4.1), 2.5(2.0-3.1), and 3.5(2.6-4.7)) but not cervical fractures. After adjustment for femoral neck or trochanteric BMD ultrasound parameters were still significant predictors of trochanteric fracture, and stiffness tended to be a better predictor of trochanteric fractures than either BUA or SOS with a relative risk of 2.25 (1.6-3.1). CONCLUSIONS: A significant decrease of all bone measurements, BMD and QUS, was highly predictive of trochanteric fractures, whereas a decrease of femoral neck and trochanteric BMD were only associated with a slight increase in cervical fracture risk and a low total body BMD or QUS parameters were not significant predictors of cervical fractures. In women who sustained a hip fracture, the decrease of BMD and QUS values increases the risk of trochanteric fracture as compared to cervical fracture. Trochanteric fractures were mostly a consequence of a generalized low BMD and QUS, whereas other parameters might be involved in cervical fractures.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

[Neonatal mortality in France: usefulness of a neonatal death certificate].

UNLABELLED: A neonatal death certificate was introduced in France in 1997. It provides detailed data on the causes of death and the characteristics of newborn, birth and parents. Our aim was to describe the new results of this certificate. METHOD: All deaths in 1999 in the first 27 days of life were included (N=2036). Certificates were analysed using the usual process, especially following the International Classification of Diseases. RESULTS: The neonatal death certificate was used for 87% of deaths. The proportion of documented items was 96% for gestational age and birthweight, 87% for maternal age and parity and 70% for maternal occupation. Almost three quarters of the deaths occurred in the first 6 days (36.9% in the first 24 hours and 35.1% between one and six days). 30.5% of the died infants were born before 27 weeks of gestation and 36.5% between 27 and 36 weeks. A shift in medical care was observed at 26 weeks, with an increase in caesarean sections before labour and newborn referrals. In all, 63.3% of neonatal deaths were due to perinatal conditions, and 27.9% to congenital anomalies. The proportion of deaths explained by congenital anomalies was higher for longer gestational age: 14% of deaths between 25 and 28 weeks of gestation vs 38 to 43% between 33 and 42 weeks. CONCLUSION: The neonatal death certificate was well accepted; however the data on detailed causes of death and parent's characteristics were insufficient. Analysis of the circumstances and the causes of death is facilitated with the neonatal death certificate and it will be developped in the future.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed2005

Prediction of vesicoureteral reflux after a first febrile urinary tract infection in children: validation of a clinical decision rule.

AIMS: To test the reproducibility of a highly sensitive clinical decision rule proposed to predict vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) after a first febrile urinary tract infection in children. This rule combines clinical (family history of uropathology, male gender, young age), biological (raised C reactive protein), and radiological (urinary tract dilation on renal ultrasound) predictors in a score, and provides 100% sensitivity. METHODS: A retrospective hospital based cohort study included all children, 1 month to 4 years old, with a first febrile urinary tract infection. The sensitivities and specificities of the rule at the two previously proposed score thresholds (< or =0 and < or =5) to predict respectively, all-grade or grade > or =3 VUR, were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 149 children were included. VUR prevalence was 25%. The rule yielded 100% sensitivity and 3% specificity for all-grade VUR, and 93% sensitivity and 13% specificity for grade > or =3 VUR. Some methodological weaknesses explain this lack of reproducibility. CONCLUSIONS: The reproducibility of the previously proposed decision rule was poor and its potential contribution to clinical management of children with febrile urinary tract infection seems to be modest.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2004

A triage strategy based on clinical risk factors for selecting elderly women for treatment or bone densitometry: the EPIDOS prospective study.

A triage strategy, based on a clinical hip fracture risk score, may be used to classify elderly women into three groups: one at high risk and requiring treatment, another needing further assessment by bone densitometry, and a third at low risk. We used prospective data from the EPIDOS study (7512 women older than 75 years and followed for an average of 3.9 years) to assess the potential value of such a strategy for identifying elderly women with a hip fracture risk twice the cohort average (i.e. > or =20 per 1000 woman-years). An individual fracture risk score was calculated with the final risk function (Cox model). To compare this strategy with systematic BMD measurement and with current European recommendations, we examined the number of high-risk women identified, their average risk levels, sensitivity for hip fracture, and the number of high-risk women who need to be treated to prevent one hip fracture (hypotheses: all identified women are treated; sensitivity is equal to the point estimate; treatment reduces fracture risk by 35%). A triage strategy based on age, fracture history since the age of 40 years, body mass index, number of instrumental activities of daily living for which assistance is needed, grip strength, and visual acuity can identify 20% of the cohort as at high risk, 75% of them from clinical factors only, and the rest after BMD measurements (threshold: -2.5 T-score). The triage strategy would be significantly more sensitive than systematic BMD screening (51 versus 35%) and would require many fewer BMD examinations (10%). Compared with current recommendations, triage would identify fewer women (20 versus 28%) but at a significantly higher average risk of hip fracture (30 versus 20 per 1000 woman-years). Fewer high-risk women would be treated to prevent one hip fracture (29 versus 41) and fewer bone densitometry tests would be needed (10% versus 54%). The proposed triage strategy may be a useful clinical tool for selecting elderly women for treatment or bone densitometry.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2004

Presurgical diagnosis of posterior deep infiltrating endometriosis based on a standardized questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: To derive a diagnostic model based on symptoms and history as assessed by a standardized questionnaire to predict posterior deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) among women with chronic pelvic pain symptoms. METHODS: 134 women scheduled for laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain symptoms completed a standardized self-administered questionnaire, specifically designed for the study. We compared the symptoms of the women with posterior DIE diagnosed at laparoscopy with those of the women with other disorders, and used multiple logistic regression analysis to select the best combination of symptoms for predicting posterior DIE. Cross-validation was performed with the jackknife method. RESULTS: 51 women (38.1%) were diagnosed with posterior DIE and 83 with other disorders (61.9%). The following variables were independent predictors for posterior DIE: painful defecation during menses, severe dyspareunia (visual analogic scale > or =8), pain other than noncyclic, and previous surgery for endometriosis. The cross-validation procedure leads to a simplified diagnostic model that uses two independent predictors: painful defecation during menses and severe dyspareunia. The sensitivity of this model for diagnosing posterior DIE was 74.5%, its specificity was 68.7%, its positive likelihood ratio was 2.4, and its negative likelihood ratio was 0.4. It correctly classified 70.9% of our sample into a high-risk (with either severe dyspareunia or painful defecation during menses) and a low-risk (neither symptom) group. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized evaluation of painful symptoms is useful for screening women so that they may have adequate exploration and counselling before laparoscopic surgery for pelvic pain symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Should age influence the choice of quantitative bone assessment technique in elderly women? The EPIDOS study.

In a prospective cohort of 7,598 women aged 75 and over, we analyzed the effect of age on the ability of femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) and of ultrasound (BUA and SOS) of the calcaneus to predict hip fracture. Unadjusted regression analysis showed that the risk of hip fracture was increased 1.7 times for one standard deviation increase in age (3.7 years). Overall, for a decrease of one standard deviation in quantitative bone measures, the risk was significantly increased by 2.2 times for BMD (1.9-2.5), 1.8 for BUA (1.6-2.1), and 1.9 for SOS (1.6-2.2). However the average relative risk associated with a decrease in BMD tends to diminish with advancing age, meaning that a smaller part of the risk is explained by BMD in the very elderly. This is confirmed by the areas under the ROC curves (AUC) of BMD that are significantly better before 80 years (0.75 [0.73-0.76]) than after (0.65 [0.63-0.67] in group 80-84 years and 0.65 [0.61-0.68] in group >/=85). On the other hand, as the absolute risk increases exponentially with age, the number of hip fractures attributable to a low BMD is still important in the very elderly, the risk difference between the lowest and the highest quartile of BMD is 25 hip fractures / 1,000 woman-years in the group >/=85 compared with 16 in the two other groups. Thus, after 80, quantitative assessment of bone may still be of interest for clinical decisions. Compared with quantitative ultrasound parameters, the ability of BMD to predict hip fracture was significantly superior to that of BUA and SOS only before the age of 80 (AUC of BMD 0.75 [0.73-0.76], BUA 0.67 [0.66-0.69], SOS 0.67 [0.65-0.69]). For patients older than 80, we did not observe significant differences in AUC between DXA and QUS to predict hip fracture.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2004

[Mode of delivery and term breech presentation in the PREMODA cohort].

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this work was to report labor and birth management practices for term breech presentation in France and Belgium in 2001-2002 and to describe indications for cesarean sections (before labor, emergency situations) in breech presentations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The PREMODA cohort is a survey population which included 19408 deliveries, 8108 of which were term breech presentations. RESULTS: Infants were delivered by cesarean section before labor (59.1%), emergency cesarean section during labor (18.4%) or vaginally (22.5%). The decision for cesarean section before labor was empirical (breech presentation) in 44.3% of the cases. Half of the cesarean sections performed during labor (n=704, 49.3%) were planned C-sections. Overall, 67.8% of the breech presentations were delivered during planned cesarean sections (before or during labor). When vaginal delivery was attempted, the rate of vaginal birth was 70%. CONCLUSION: These early results reveal a high rate of cesarean section as well as differences in inter-regional practices. Considering all cesarean sections performed before labor, the most frequent indication was an empirical decision because of the breech presentation. An increased rate of planned cesarean section does not reduce the rate of vaginal delivery when attempted.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Re-hospitalization in infants younger than 29 weeks' gestation in the EPIPAGE cohort.

AIM: To estimate the re-hospitalization rate of extremely preterm children during infancy and associated factors after the recent improvement in survival rates. METHOD: The cohort included all children born before 29 wk of gestation in nine French regions in 1997. All admissions between discharge from initial hospitalization and 9 mo after birth were considered. Factors studied included the child's characteristics at birth and during neonatal hospitalization, risk factors for infection after discharge and parents' socio-demographic characteristics. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for re-hospitalization for all reasons and for respiratory disorders were obtained from logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of the 376 children, 178 were re-admitted at least once (47.3%; 95% CI: 42.3-52.4). Fifty-five percent of the hospitalized children were admitted at least once for respiratory disorders. The re-hospitalization rate was higher for children who had had chronic lung disease (aOR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.3-3.7), those initially discharged between August and October (aOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.2-5.1) or between November and January (aOR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.5-6.8), and children living with other children under six (aOR: 3.4; 95 %CI: 1.6-7.5). Re-hospitalizations were associated with neither gestational age nor the duration of neonatal hospitalization. Adjusted odds ratios for re-hospitalization for respiratory tract disorders were very similar to those for the overall hospitalizations. CONCLUSION: Infants born before 29 wk have a very high risk of re-hospitalization. The associated factors can help define high-risk groups at discharge from the neonatal unit who need special surveillance.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Survival of very preterm infants: Epipage, a population based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome for all infants born before 33 weeks gestation until discharge from hospital. DESIGN: A prospective observational population based study. SETTING: Nine regions of France in 1997. PATIENTS: All births or late terminations of pregnancy for fetal or maternal reasons between 22 and 32 weeks gestation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Life status: stillbirth, live birth, death in delivery room, death in intensive care, decision to limit intensive care, survival to discharge. RESULTS: A total of 722 late terminations, 772 stillbirths, and 2901 live births were recorded. The incidence of very preterm births was 1.3 per 100 live births and stillbirths. The survival rate for births between 22 and 32 weeks was 67% of all births (including stillbirths), 85% of live births, and 89% of infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units. Survival increased with gestational age: 31% of all infants born alive at 24 weeks survived to discharge, 78% at 28 weeks, and 97% at 32 weeks. Survival among live births was lower for small for gestational age infants, multiple births, and boys. Overall, 50% of deaths after birth followed decisions to withhold or withdraw intensive care: 66% of deaths in the delivery room, decreasing with increasing gestational age; 44% of deaths in the neonatal intensive care unit, with little variation with gestational age. CONCLUSION: Among very preterm babies, chances of survival varies greatly according to the length of gestation. At all gestational ages, a large proportion of deaths are associated with a decision to limit intensive care.

Birth Weight↗