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Biomedical subjects

Gerald McGwin

Publications and source records attributed to Gerald McGwin.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

The impact of combined trauma and burns on patient mortality.

BACKGROUND: Combined trauma and burn injuries are uncommon and seldom studied. There is a presumption that these patients fare worse than their trauma- and burn-only counterparts, but the mortality risk has not been quantified. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using the 1994 to 2002 National Trauma Data Bank. Trauma- and burn-only patients were categorized according to Injury Severity Score (ISS) and burn severity (percentage body surface area burned [BSAB]), respectively, and combined trauma-burn patients were similarly categorized. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated comparing combined trauma-burn mortality to trauma-only and burn-only patients by corresponding trauma or burn severity. RRs were adjusted for age, gender, and ISS or burn severity. RESULTS: Compared with minor trauma-only patients (ISS of 1-15), patients with minor trauma, when combined with burn injury, had significantly increased mortality (RR, 4.04; 95% CI, 3.51-4.66). Similarly, relative to minor burn-only patients (BSAB of 1-25%), combined trauma-burn patients with minor burns (RR, 5.00; 95% CI, 3.54-7.06) had significantly increased mortality. For combined trauma-burn patients with more severe burns or trauma, small but significant increased mortality risks were seen relative to major trauma-only patients (ISS of 26+; RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.05-1.51) and major burn-only patients (BSAB of 76+; RR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.15-1.82). CONCLUSION: The large increased risk of death for those with combined minor injuries is of clinical interest because the majority of combined patients fall into this category. Future research should characterize specific causes and types of injury of increased mortality in the patient with combined injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

The financial impact of delayed discharge at a level I trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Delayed discharge is a costly phenomenon that takes place in every hospital system in the country, with significant operational consequences. The purpose of this study was to identify reasons for delayed discharge and evaluate the financial implications at a Level I trauma center. METHODS: Patients admitted to a Level I trauma center from September 2001 through June 2003 were classified with respect to those who did and did not experience a delay in discharge. RESULTS: For every 25 patients admitted to the trauma center, 1 experienced a delay in discharge, with an average delay of 6 days. The majority of the delays in discharge were attributable to difficulties in patient placement, such as lack of a rehabilitation or subacute hospital bed. Total hospital charges for excess days in the hospital for patients experiencing a delay in discharge were $2,455,703 per year and total costs were $715,403 per year. Patients with delayed discharge tended to be older, female, more severely injured, and more likely to have government-sponsored insurance. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the main cause of delayed discharge from trauma centers is a consequence of limitations in posthospital care. Strategies must be identified to reduce the barriers to posthospital care to reduce these delays in discharge, lower unnecessary hospital costs, and ensure the financial viability of trauma centers and continuation of clinical services to the communities they serve.

Alabama↗
PubMed2005

Benign essential blepharospasm: risk factors with reference to hemifacial spasm.

BACKGROUND: To identify risk factors associated with benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) with reference to hemifacial spasm (HFS). Persons with BEB and HFS experience similar physical symptoms, yet the two disorders have different etiologies. METHODS: Patients with BEB (n = 159) or HFS (n = 91) were identified from two large neuro-ophthalmology clinics. Demographic, medical, behavioral, and psychological characteristics were obtained from chart review and a telephonic survey questionnaire. RESULTS: The average age of BEB and HFS was 66 years. Most patients in both groups were retired, white, and female. BEB patients were more than two times as likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder than HFS patients (odds ratio, 2.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-3.72). There was no difference between the two groups regarding demographics, smoking, a family history of dystonia, Parkinson disease, Bell palsy, Tourette disorder, obsessive compulsive symptoms, history of head trauma, alcohol use, or caffeine consumption. CONCLUSIONS: As compared to HFS, BEB was significantly more often associated with generalized anxiety disorder. Given the similarity of other clinical features of these two disorders, it is reasonable to conclude that anxiety is a cause not a consequence of BEB. Contrary to previous studies, BEB was not associated with obsessive-compulsive symptoms, head trauma, Parkinson disease, Bell palsy, Tourette disorder, or lack of smoking.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2005

Effect of cataract surgery on cognitive function in older adults.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether cataract surgery has an effect on cognitive function in older adults. DESIGN: Longitudinal. SETTING: Assessment of patients seen in eye clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with no cataract (n=92), patients with cataract who elected surgery (n=122), and patients with cataract who declined surgery (n=87). MEASUREMENTS: At baseline and 1-year follow-up visits, the following information was obtained: demographic, health behavior, general health status, medication use, depressive symptoms, cognitive function, and visual function information. This information was compared within and between groups at baseline and follow-up visits. RESULTS: Mattis Organic Mental Syndrome Screening Examination scores at baseline and follow-up varied across the three groups, with the cataract/no surgery group having the highest scores (more cognitive impairment) and the no-cataract group having the lowest scores (less cognitive impairment). For the within-group analysis, at follow-up, the cataract/no surgery group and the cataract/surgery group had significantly less cognitive impairment (P<.001), whereas the no-cataract group experienced no change. For those with cataract, there were no associations between changes in visual function and cognitive function. CONCLUSION: Improvement in cognitive function may occur after cataract surgery but cannot be attributed to the cataract surgery per se or to improved visual function. Clinicians may find this information useful when discussing the nonvisual outcomes of cataract surgery with patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Visual field defects and the risk of motor vehicle collisions among patients with glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between visual field defects in the central 24 degrees field and the risk of motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) among patients with glaucoma. METHODS: A nested case-control study was conducted in patients with glaucoma aged 55 or more. Cases were patients who were involved in a police-reported motor vehicle collision (MVC) between January 1994 and June 2000; controls were those who had not experienced an MVC at the time of their selection. For each patient, an Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS) score was calculated on automated visual fields collected with the 24-2 or 3-2 programs. RESULTS: With respect to the better-eye AGIS score, compared with patients with no visual field defect, those with severe defects (scores 12-20) had an increased risk of an MVC (odds ratio [OR] 3.2, 95% CI 0.9-10.4), although the association was not statistically significant. Moderate (6-11) or minor field defects (1-5) in the better eye were not associated with the risk of involvement in a crash. In the worse eye, patients with moderate or severe field defects were at significantly increased risk of an MVC (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.4-9.4 and OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.6-12.4, respectively) compared with those with no defects. Minor field defects in the worse eye did not increase risk of MVC (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.5-3.4). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with glaucoma who have moderate or severe visual field impairment in the central 24 degrees radius field in the worse-functioning eye are at increased risk of involvement in a vehicle crash.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2005

Unexplained sudden death and the likelihood of drug abuse.

The common history of drug abuse in adults with an undetermined cause of death has led us to hypothesize that chronic drug abuse increases the risk of sudden death. To begin evaluating this hypothesis, we conducted a retrospective case-control study of 61 decedents whose cause of death remained undetermined following autopsy matched one to one to a control group of pedestrians or passengers killed in motor vehicle collisions. In 21 pairs, the case subject had evidence of drug abuse but the control did not, and in 5 cases the reverse was true. Analysis showed that individuals with an undetermined cause of death are 4.2 times more likely to have evidence of drug abuse than are victims of a motor vehicle collision.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2005

Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic cohort (LUMINA): XXIX. Elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate is associated with disease activity and damage accrual.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if different categories of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) elevation are associated with disease activity and/or damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: We studied 2317 study visits in 553 SLE patients (> or = 4 American College of Rheumatology criteria, < or = 5 years' disease duration at enrollment) from a multiethnic (Hispanic, African American, and Caucasian) longitudinal study of outcome. A study visit was done every 6 months for the first year and annually thereafter. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was measured using the Westergren method; results were expressed in 4 categories: < 25 (normal), 25-50 (mild elevation), 51-75 (moderate elevation), and > 75 (marked elevation) mm/h. Anti-dsDNA antibodies were measured at enrollment with the Crithidia luciliae assay. Disease activity was assessed with the Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM) and the Physician's Global Assessment (PGA). Because ESR is one of the measures evaluated in the SLAM, it was excluded from the total SLAM score. Disease damage was assessed with the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics damage index (SDI). The relationship between the SLAM (total and PGA) and SDI scores (at baseline and for all visits) and anti-dsDNA antibodies (at enrollment) with ESR was examined by univariable and generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression analyses. Ethnicity, age, and sex were entered in all regression models. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 89.7% women with mean age 36.8 (SD 12.6) years and disease duration 4.6 (SD 3.2) years. GEE analyses showed that increasing levels of ESR and anti-dsDNA antibody positivity were independently associated with SLAM and PGA scores, at enrollment and for all visits. Overall, the associations of ESR with SLAM and PGA scores were stronger than for the presence of anti-dsDNA antibodies. At baseline, there was no relationship of ESR elevation or anti-dsDNA positivity with SDI scores. However, when all visits were studied, moderate and marked elevations of ESR were independently associated with SDI scores. CONCLUSION: Mild, moderate, and marked ESR elevations are strongly associated with disease activity in SLE. Moderate and marked ESR elevations are also associated with damage accrual. These associations are stronger than those for the presence of anti-dsDNA antibodies. Our data suggest that ESR could be used to assess disease activity and predict organ/system damage in a relatively rapid and inexpensive manner in SLE.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Factors associated with chronic renal failure in HIV-infected ambulatory patients.

OBJECTIVE: Renal disease is an increasingly common manifestation among HIV-positive persons, particularly during late stages of HIV disease. We performed a cohort-based, nested case-control study to examine the role of several factors in developing HIV-related chronic renal disease, including HIV viral load and CD4+ cell count. DESIGN: Incident cases of chronic renal disease were identified from a cohort of 6361 prospectively followed HIV-1 positive persons. Controls were selected using incidence density sampling and matched 4:1 on age, race/ethnicity, and gender. METHODS: Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: One hundred and eight cases of chronic renal disease were identified; 80 (74.1%) were eligible for the current analysis. Nadir CD4+ cell count < 200 x 10(6) cells/l (OR = 4.3; 95% CI, 2.1-8.7), highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) use for 56 days or more (OR = 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-1.0), and hypertension [treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: OR = 4.6; 95% CI, 1.8-11.6; treated with non-ACE inhibitors: OR = 2.5; 95% CI, 1.0-6.2; not treated: OR = 4.2; 95% CI, 0.8-21.6] were associated with disease. HAART use for 56 days or more modified the associations for nadir CD4+ cell count and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that advanced HIV-disease, as indicated by low CD4+ cell count, is associated with subsequently developing chronic renal disease and treatment with HAART may reduce the risk of developing chronic renal disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Systemic lupus erythematosus in three ethnic groups. XIX. Natural history of the accrual of the American College of Rheumatology criteria prior to the occurrence of criteria diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for the classification of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) accrue in a multiethnic cohort of SLE patients. METHODS: SLE patients enrolled in a longitudinal study of outcome were analyzed (LUMINA; Lupus in Minorities: Nature versus nurture) for the manner in which ACR criteria manifestations occurred prior to the accrual of 4 of them. Time at which a criterion was said to be present was determined by review of all previously available medical records and interview. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were examined for the association with time to accrual of 4 ACR criteria; results were reported as hazard ratios. RESULTS: There were 103 Texas Hispanic (of Mexican or Central America ancestry) patients, 55 Puerto Rico Hispanics, 176 African Americans, and 137 Caucasians. The mean +/- SD and median (range) time to accrual of 4 ACR criteria were 29.4 +/- 52.0 months and 9.1 (0-328.7) months; time was shortest for the Texas Hispanics (18.4 +/- 42.8 and 5.0 [0-248] months) and longest for the Caucasians (39.9 +/- 59.3 months and 17.7 [0-324.6] months). Arthritis was the most frequent first criterion (34.5%); it was followed by photosensitivity (18.8%). When 2 criteria occurred from the outset, the most frequent combination was arthritis and antinuclear antibody positivity followed by malar rash and photosensitivity. A Cox-regression multivariable model identified Hispanic ethnicity (from Texas) and HLA-DRB1*0301 as predictors of short time to criteria accrual, whereas older age and married/living together were associated with long time to criteria accrual. CONCLUSION: Significant variability in the evolution of ACR criteria manifestations does occur. Texas Hispanics are more likely to have a rapid evolution of criteria manifestations, but several years may elapse before ACR criteria are accrued.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic lupus cohort (LUMINA). XVII. Predictors of self-reported health-related quality of life early in the disease course.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the baseline factors predictive of self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL) early in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus patients (SLE) from a multiethnic LUMINA (Lupus in Minorities: Nature versus nurture) cohort. METHODS: LUMINA patients with > or =2 visits were studied. Self-reported HRQOL was examined with the 8 subscales and 2 summary measures (the Physical Component Summary [PCS], and the Mental Component Summary [MCS]) of the Short Form 36 (SF-36). Bivariable and multivariable analyses were done with the PCS, MCS and 8 subscales as the dependent variables. The analyses were performed including and excluding the corresponding SF-36 measure from the independent variables. Age, sex, and ethnicity were included in all models. Time was modeled in all regressions. RESULTS: A total of 1,351 visits (346 patients [80 Hispanics-Texas, 34 Hispanics-Puerto Rico, 126 African Americans, and 106 Caucasians]) were included in these analyses. Mean +/- SD PCS and MCS scores were 36.7 +/- 12.0 and 46.6 +/- 11.5, respectively. The scores for the eight subscales of the SF-36 were also lower than those for the general population. Baseline SF-36 measures were highly predictive of subsequent HRQOL. In the same set of regressions, older age was found to consistently predict poor self-reported HRQOL whereas fibromyalgia, helplessness, fatigue, and abnormal illness-related behaviors were also predictive, but less consistently. Estimated adjusted variances in these regressions ranged from 23% (Role-Emotional [RE]) to 43% (Physical Functioning [PF]). CONCLUSION: In patients with SLE, poor baseline HRQOL was highly predictive of subsequent poor HRQOL. Other predictive variables of poor functioning were primarily psychological/behavioral and socioeconomic-demographic.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Systemic lupus erythematosus in three ethnic groups. XVIII. Factors predictive of poor compliance with study visits.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the baseline factors predictive of poor compliance with study visits in a longitudinal multiethnic lupus cohort study. METHODS: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 344) representing a total of 2,069 potential study visits were studied. Of the participants, 24.4% were Hispanic, 43.3% African American, and 32.3% Caucasian. Noncompliance was defined as missing 2 or more study visits. For the purpose of these analyses, visits completed only by review of medical records were considered missing. Baseline socioeconomic-demographic, clinical, and psychosocial features between compliant and noncompliant patients were compared. Variables with P < 0.10 were then entered into a multivariable logistic regression analysis with compliance being the dependent variable. RESULTS: There were 178 compliant and 166 noncompliant patients. Noncompliant patients were more likely to be young, unmarried, of African American ethnicity, live closer to the medical centers, and have longer disease duration and greater disease activity as assessed by the physician than the compliant patients. In the multivariable model, longer disease duration (P = 0.010), higher level of disease activity (P = 0.009), and shorter distance to travel to study visits (P = 0.046) were predictors of noncompliance; their odds ratios and confidence intervals were below 1. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified baseline patient characteristics that may predict noncompliance with study visits (disease duration, disease activity, and distance to the medical center). This information will serve as the basis for developing interventions to curtail noncompliance. Our data may have applicability in other lupus cohort studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Systemic lupus erythematosus in three ethnic groups. XIV. Poverty, wealth, and their influence on disease activity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of wealth on disease activity in the multiethnic (Hispanic, African American, and Caucasian) LUMINA (Lupus in Minorities, Nature versus nurture) cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and disease duration < or =5 years at enrollment. METHODS: Variables (socioeconomic, demographic, clinical, immunologic, immunogenetic, behavioral, and psychological) were measured at enrollment and annually thereafter. Four questions from the Women's Health Initiative study were used to measure wealth. Disease activity was measured with the Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM). The relationship between the different variables and wealth was then examined. Next, the impact of wealth on disease activity was examined in regression models where the dependent variables were the SLAM score and SLAM global (physician). Variables previously found to impact disease activity plus the wealth questions were included in the models. RESULTS: Questions on income, assets, and debt were found to distinguish patients into groups, wealthier and less wealthy. Less wealthy patients tended to be younger, women, noncaucasian, less educated, unmarried, less likely to have health insurance, and more likely to live below the poverty line. They also tended to have more active disease, more abnormal illness-related behaviors, less social support, and lower levels of self reported mental functioning. None of the wealth questions was retained in the regression models, although other socioeconomic features (such as African American ethnicity, poverty, and younger age) did. CONCLUSIONS: Wealth, per se, does not appear to have an additional predictive value, over and above traditional measures of socioeconomic status, in SLE disease activity.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Cervical spine injury and restraint system use in motor vehicle collisions.

CONTEXT: Cervical spine injury related to motor vehicle collision (MVC) is a severe and often permanently disabling injury. Although advances in automobile crashworthiness have reduced both fatalities and some severe injuries, the impact of varying occupant restraint systems (seatbelts and airbags) on cervical spine injury is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the occurrence of cervical spine injury and occupant restraint systems among front seat occupants involved in frontal MVCs. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: A case-control study among subjects obtained from the 1995 to 2001 National Automotive Sampling System (NASS). Cases were identified based on having sustained a cervical spine injury score of 2 or more on the Abbreviated Injury Scale, 1990 Revision. RESULTS: Approximately half (44.7%) of 8,412 cases of cervical spine injury were unrestrained occupants while belted only, airbag only, and both restraint systems represented 38.2%, 8.8%, and 8.4% of cases, respectively. Overall, the combined use of airbag and seatbelt had the greatest protective effect, relative to unrestrained occupants, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.19 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.12 to 0.30. Use of a seatbelt only also had a protective effect (OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.23-0.70). Occupant use of an airbag only neither increased nor decreased the risk of cervical spine injuries relative to unrestrained occupants (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.57-2.13). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that there is an increase in overall protection against cervical spine injury by combining airbag and seatbelt restraint systems relative to seatbelt alone.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2004

Statins and other cholesterol-lowering medications and the presence of glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether oral statin and other antihyperlipidemic medications are associated with open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: The administrative clinical databases maintained at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, Ala, were used to conduct a matched case-control study. Cases were all male patients aged 50 years and older with a new diagnosis of glaucoma on an outpatient or inpatient visit during the period January 1, 1997, through December 31, 2001. Ten control subjects were matched to each case according to age (within 1 year). Prescription files were assessed for statin use as well as additional medications to lower cholesterol levels. Information on comorbid medical conditions was also obtained. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Longer duration of statin use was associated with a lower risk of open-angle glaucoma (P for trend =.04) primarily among subjects with 24 months or more of use (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39-0.92). When stratified by comorbid medical condition, among those with cardiovascular disease (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.42-0.97), lipid metabolism disorders (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41-0.99), and the absence of cerebrovascular disease (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.58-0.99), statins demonstrated a protective effect on open-angle glaucoma. Finally, a protective association was also observed among those who used nonstatin cholesterol-lowering agents (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Initial examination of an administrative clinical database indicates the intriguing possibility that long-term use of oral statins may be associated with a reduced risk of open-angle glaucoma, particularly among those with cardiovascular and lipid diseases. Nonstatin cholesterol-lowering agents were also associated with a reduced risk of having open-angle glaucoma. Additional investigation is warranted as to whether these classes of agents may provide an additional therapeutic addition for glaucoma.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2004

Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic US cohort (LUMINA): XXII. Predictors of time to the occurrence of initial damage.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the factors predisposing to initial damage in patients in the LUMINA (lupus in minorities: nature versus nurture) cohort, a multiethnic cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the US. METHODS: One hundred fifty-eight LUMINA patients with no damage at baseline (time 0) according to the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index (SDI) and with disease duration > 6 months were followed up for a median of 24 months (range 5-112 months). Damage was assessed from time 0 to the last visit. Predictors of time to initial damage were examined by univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models. Results were reported as hazard ratios (HRs); HR values > or = 1 indicated a shorter time to initial damage, and values < 1 indicated a longer time. RESULTS: Initial damage occurred in 54 patients (34%), of whom 21 were Hispanics from Texas (39%), 2 were Hispanics from Puerto Rico (4%), 21 were African Americans (39%), and 10 were Caucasians (19%). The most frequently observed initially involved SDI domains (and items) were as follows: renal (primarily proteinuria) in Hispanics from Texas and African Americans, integument (primarily scarring alopecia) in Hispanics from Puerto Rico, and ocular (primarily cataracts) in Caucasians. By multivariable analyses, independent predictors of a shorter time to initial damage were Hispanic ethnicity from Texas (HR 2.11, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.15-3.88), greater disease activity according to the Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04-1.15), the occurrence of thrombotic events in visceral and/or peripheral veins or arteries (HR 7.66, 95% CI 2.13-27.51), and prednisone at a dosage of < 10 mg/day (HR 2.53, 95% CI 1.15-5.55). Prednisone at a dosage of 10-30 mg/day was found to be protective against the occurrence of initial damage (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.22-0.96). CONCLUSION: Given that damage is a predictor of further damage, identifying the factors that may herald the occurrence of initial damage has very practical implications for the management of patients with SLE. These results need to be considered when evaluating therapies for SLE.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic US cohort (LUMINA). XXIII. Baseline predictors of vascular events.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the baseline (time 0) risk factors associated with the subsequent occurrence of vascular events in a multiethnic US cohort (LUMINA [LUpus in MInorities: NAture versus nurture]) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Five hundred forty-six LUMINA patients were assessed at time 0 for traditional and nontraditional (disease-related) risk factors for vascular events. These were defined as 1) cardiovascular (myocardial infarction and/or definite or classic angina and/or the undergoing of a vascular procedure for myocardial infarction [coronary artery bypass graft]), 2) cerebrovascular (stroke), and 3) peripheral vascular (arterial claudication and/or gangrene or significant tissue loss and/or arterial thrombosis in peripheral arteries). The observation time (followup time in the cohort) was the interval between time 0 and the last visit. The unit of analysis was the patient and not each vascular event. Variables at time 0 and vascular events were examined by univariable and multivariable (logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression) analyses. Age, sex, ethnicity, followup time, and all known risk factors for the occurrence of vascular events were included in the model. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients (6.2%) developed one or more vascular event after time 0. The overall median duration of followup in the cohort was 73.8 months (range 10.8-111.3 months). Vascular events (13 cardiovascular, 18 cerebrovascular, 5 peripheral vascular) occurred in 7 Hispanics from Texas (6.5%), 1 Hispanic from Puerto Rico (1.2%), 15 African Americans (7.5%), and 11 Caucasians (7.1%). The mean total number of traditional risk factors was significantly higher in patients who developed vascular events than in those who did not (7.1 versus 5.6). Independent predictors of vascular events were older age, current smoking status, longer followup time, elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), and the presence of any antiphospholipid antibody. The same variables were identified when time-dependent analyses were performed, although azathioprine use was also found to be a contributing factor. CONCLUSION: Smoking, previously not reported in SLE, emerged as a predictor of vascular events and should be strongly discouraged. Antiphospholipid antibodies and CRP support the role of inflammation and autoimmunity in the development of accelerated atherosclerosis in SLE. Ethnicity was not associated with vascular events in our patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

An association between central serous chorioretinopathy and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

PURPOSE: To explore a clinically observed association between central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) DESIGN: A retrospective case-control study. PARTICIPANTS AND CONTROLS: Sixty-nine consecutive patients diagnosed with CSC were compared with a control group of 55 non-CSC patients. METHODS: The records of 69 patients with CSC were retrospectively reviewed and compared with the records of 55 controls. All patients and controls were examined in a referral setting. RESULTS: Patients with CSC were significantly more likely to have GERD compared with controls (odds ratio 6.05; 95% confidence interval 2.14-17.11; P =.0003). Central serous chorioretinopathy patients were also more likely than controls to have used oral corticosteroid medications (odds ratio 16.30; 95% confidence interval 2.09-127.33; P =.0006) and antacid/antireflux medications (odds ratio 15.00; 95% confidence interval 1.91-117.58; P =.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies an association between CSC and GERD. There are biochemical factors common to both diseases that support this association, giving further insight into the pathogenesis of CSC.

Adolescent↗