Biomedical subjects

R Brant

Publications and source records attributed to R Brant.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Comparison of 2 methods for calculating adjusted survival curves from proportional hazards models.

CONTEXT: Adjusted survival curves are often presented in medical research articles. The most commonly used method for calculating such curves is the mean of covariates method, in which average values of covariates are entered into a proportional hazards regression equation. Use of this method is widespread despite published concerns regarding the validity of resulting curves. OBJECTIVE: To compare the mean of covariates method to the less widely used corrected group prognosis method in an analysis evaluating survival in patients with and without diabetes. In the latter method, a survival curve is calculated for each level of covariates, after which an average survival curve is calculated as a weighted average of the survival curves for each level of covariates. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Analysis of cohort study data from 11 468 Alberta residents undergoing cardiac catheterization between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Crude and risk-adjusted survival for up to 3 years after cardiac catheterization in patients with vs without diabetes, analyzed by the mean of covariates method vs the corrected group prognosis method. RESULTS: According to the mean of covariates method, adjusted survival at 1044 days was 94.1% and 94.9% for patients with and without diabetes, respectively, with misleading adjusted survival curves that fell above the unadjusted curves. With the corrected group prognosis method, the corresponding survival values were 91.3% and 92.4%, with curves that fell more appropriately between the unadjusted curves. CONCLUSIONS: Misleading adjusted survival curves resulted from using the mean of covariates method of analysis for our data. We recommend using the corrected group prognosis method for calculating risk-adjusted curves.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Risk adjustment using administrative data: impact of a diagnosis-type indicator.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency with which commonly coded clinical variables are complications, as opposed to baseline comorbidities, and to compare the results of 2 risk-adjusted outcome analyses for coronary artery bypass graft surgery for which we either (a) ignored, or (b) used the available "diagnosis-type indicator." DESIGN: Analysis of existing administrative data. SETTING: Twenty-three Canadian hospitals. PATIENTS: A total of 50,357 coronary artery bypass graft surgery cases. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Among 21 clinical variables whose definitions involve the diagnosis-type indicator, 14 were predominantly (> or =97%) baseline risk factors when present. Seven variables were often complication diagnoses: renal disease (when present, 13% coded as complications), recent myocardial infarction (15%), peptic ulcer disease (15%), congestive heart failure (17%), cerebrovascular disease (26%), hemiplegia (34%), and severe liver disease (35%). The results of risk adjustment analyses predicting in-hospital mortality differed when the diagnosis-type indicator was either used or ignored, and as a result, adjusted hospital mortality rates and rankings changed, often dramatically, with rankings increasing for 10 hospitals, decreasing for 9 hospitals, and remaining the same for only 4 hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: The results of analyses performed using the diagnosis-type indicator in Canadian administrative data differ considerably from analyses that ignore the indicator. The widespread introduction of such an indicator should be considered in other countries, because risk-adjustment analyses performed without a diagnosis-type indicator may yield misleading results.

Canada↗

PubMed2001

Poor long-term survival after coronary angiography in patients with renal insufficiency.

Cardiovascular disease is common among dialysis patients, but much less is known regarding non-dialysis-dependent renal insufficiency (NDDRI) and its association with cardiac disease. We undertook a study to assess the impact of renal insufficiency on survival post-coronary angiography by comparing three groups of patients: dialysis-dependent patients, patients with NDDRI (creatinine > 2.3 mg/dL), and a reference group with creatinine levels less than 2.3 mg/dL and not on dialysis therapy. We used a prospective cohort that consisted of all patients undergoing coronary angiography in Alberta, Canada, from January 1, 1995, to December 31, 1997. Of the 16,989 patients, 196 patients (1.2%) were on dialysis therapy, 262 patients (1.5%) had NDDRI, and 16,531 patients (97.3%) formed the reference group. Mortality rates 1 year after angiography were 30.2% for patients with NDDRI, 15.8% for dialysis patients, and 4.1% for the reference group. Compared with the reference group, crude 4-year survival was significantly worse for dialysis patients and those with NDDRI, with hazard ratios of 4.05 (95% confidence interval, 3.02 to 5.42) and 7.32 (95% confidence interval, 5.97 to 8.97), respectively. Even after adjusting for clinical risk factors, survival remained worse for dialysis patients and those with NDDRI, with hazard ratios of 2.59 (95% confidence interval, 1.92 to 3.49) and 2.51 (95% confidence interval, 2.02 to 3.12), respectively. We conclude that renal insufficiency, both dialysis dependent and non-dialysis dependent, is an independent risk factor for increased mortality and poor long-term survival among patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis using dalteparin in close proximity to surgery vs warfarin in hip arthroplasty patients: a double-blind, randomized comparison. The North American Fragmin Trial Investigators.

BACKGROUND: Based on the current understanding that venous thrombosis starts perioperatively, administration of just-in-time low-molecular-weight heparin immediately before or in close proximity after hip arthroplasty may be more effective than usual clinical practice. METHODS: We performed a randomized, double-blind trial comparing subcutaneous dalteparin sodium given once daily immediately before or early after surgery with the use of postoperative warfarin sodium in 1472 patients undergoing elective hip arthroplasties. The primary end point was deep vein thrombosis detected using contrast venography performed after surgery (mean, 5. 7 days) in each group. RESULTS: The frequencies of deep vein thrombosis for patients with interpretable venograms receiving preoperative and postoperative dalteparin for all deep vein thrombosis were 36 (10.7%) of 337 (P<.001) and 44 (13.1%) of 336 (P<.001), respectively, vs 81 (24.0%) of 338 for warfarin; for proximal deep vein thrombosis, 3 (0.8%) of 354 (P =.04) and 3 (0.8%) of 358 (P =.03), respectively, vs 11 (3.0%) of 363. Relative risk reductions for the dalteparin groups ranged from 45% to 72%. Symptomatic thrombi were less frequent in the preoperative dalteparin group (5/337 patients [1.5%]) vs the warfarin group (15/338 patients [4.4%]) (P =.02). Serious bleeding was similar among groups. Increased major bleeding at the surgical site was observed for patients receiving preoperative dalteparin vs warfarin (P =.01). CONCLUSIONS: A modified dalteparin regimen in close proximity to surgery resulted in substantive risk reductions for all and proximal deep vein thrombosis, compared with warfarin therapy. Such findings have not been observed with low-molecular-weight heparin therapy commenced 12 hours preoperatively or 12 to 24 hours postoperatively vs oral anticoagulants. Increased major but not serious bleeding occurred in patients receiving preoperative dalteparin. Dalteparin therapy initiated postoperatively provided superior efficacy vs warfarin without significantly increased overt bleeding.

Anticoagulants↗

PubMed2000

Low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis using dalteparin extended out-of-hospital vs in-hospital warfarin/out-of-hospital placebo in hip arthroplasty patients: a double-blind, randomized comparison. North American Fragmin Trial Investigators.

BACKGROUND: No randomized trials have directly evaluated the need for extended out-of-hospital thromboprophylaxis for patients who have hip arthroplasty in the United States or Canada. The uncertainty as to the need for extended prophylaxis in North American patients is complicated by early hospital discharge, resulting in a short thromboprophylaxis interval. METHODS: To resolve this uncertainty, we performed a randomized double-blind trial in 569 patients who underwent hip arthroplasty comparing the use of dalteparin sodium started immediately before surgery or early after surgery and extended out-of-hospital to an overall interval of 35 days with the use of warfarin sodium in-hospital and placebo out-of-hospital. RESULTS: For patients with interpretable venograms in the preoperative, postoperative, and combined dalteparin groups, new proximal vein thrombosis out-of-hospital was observed in 1.3%, 0. 7% (P =.04), and 1.0% (P =.02) of patients, respectively, compared with 4.8% in the in-hospital warfarin/out-of-hospital placebo group. The respective overall cumulative frequencies of all deep vein thrombosis were 30 (17.2%) of 174 patients (P<.001), 38 (22.2%) of 171 (P =.003), and 68 (19.7%) of 345 (P<.001) in the dalteparin groups compared with 69 (36.7%) of 188 for the in-hospital warfarin/out-of-hospital placebo group. For proximal deep vein thrombosis, the respective frequencies were 5 (3.1%) of 162 (P =.02), 3 (2.0%) of 151 (P =.007), and 8 (2.6%) of 313 (P =.002) compared with 14 (9.2%) of 153. No major bleeding occurred during the extended prophylaxis interval. CONCLUSIONS: Extended dalteparin prophylaxis resulted in significantly lower frequencies of deep vein thrombosis compared with in-hospital warfarin therapy. Despite in-hospital thromboprophylaxis, patients having hip arthroplasty in the United States and Canada remain at moderate risk out-of-hospital. The number needed to treat provides a public health focus; only 24 to 28 patients require extended prophylaxis to prevent 1 new out-of-hospital proximal vein thrombosis. Recent studies demonstrate that asymptomatic deep vein thrombi cause the postphlebitic syndrome; thus, extended out-of-hospital prophylaxis will lessen the burden to both the patient and society.

Anticoagulants↗

PubMed2000

Prognostic significance of diabetes as a predictor of survival after cardiac catheterization. APPROACH Investigators. Alberta Provincial Program for Outcome Assessment in Coronary Heart Disease.

PURPOSE: Diabetes is a recognized risk factor for the development of cardiac disease, but its importance as a prognostic factor among patients with known cardiovascular disease is less clear. We evaluated survival in patients with and without diabetes who underwent cardiac catheterization for presumed coronary artery disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from a prospective cohort study that captures detailed clinical information and longitudinal outcomes for all patients who undergo cardiac catheterization in Alberta, Canada. We studied 11,468 patients, 1959 (17%) of whom had diabetes. Logistic regression was used to model predictors of 1-year mortality, and proportional hazards analysis was used to model predictors of survival up to 3 years after cardiac catheterization. RESULTS: One-year mortality was 7.6% for patients with diabetes versus 4.1% for those without diabetes (odds ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6 to 2.3). After adjusting for other characteristics of the patients, including comorbid conditions, previous cardiac history, coronary anatomy, and renal function, the odds ratio for 1-year mortality was 1.1 (95% CI: 0.8 to 1.3). Similarly, the adjusted hazard ratio for longer term mortality was 1. 2 (95% CI: 1.0 to 1.4, mean follow-up of 702 days). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that there is little or no independent association between diabetes and mortality for up to 3 years after cardiac catheterization. Estimates of short- to intermediate-term prognosis for diabetic patients with coronary artery disease should be based on the presence of other prognostic factors associated with diabetes.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

A Canadian comparison of data sources for coronary artery bypass surgery outcome "report cards".

BACKGROUND: Prior comparisons of administrative versus clinical data for creating coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery outcome "report cards" are all from the United States and yield inconsistent conclusions regarding the validity of administrative data report cards. In this study, we compared 2 CABG surgery outcome report cards for Ontario, Canada: one derived from clinical data from the Cardiac Care Network of Ontario and one derived from administrative data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. METHODS: Data from 4 fiscal years, 1992-93 through 1995-96, were used. The Canadian Institute for Health Information report card was derived from administrative data only. The Cardiac Care Network report card drew on prospectively collected clinical information that included variables such as left ventricular ejection fraction but also required linkages to the Canadian Institute for Health Information data for ascertainment of selected comorbidities and in-hospital mortality rates. Logistic regression models were used to calculate risk-adjusted death rates for each of the 9 hospitals performing CABG surgery in Ontario. RESULTS: The risk-adjusted death rates were quite similar between data sources for 7 of the 9 hospitals. For 2 hospitals, rather large absolute differences in adjusted death rates of 0.58% and 0.64% were seen between report cards. There was a strong correlation between data sources for risk-adjusted hospital death rates (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.927, P <.001) and for rankings of adjusted hospital death rates (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.828, P =.02). CONCLUSION: These results from Ontario, Canada, reveal general similarities between administrative and clinical data report cards for CABG surgery. However, clinical data are likely needed if individual hospitals are to be publicly scrutinized in outcome report cards.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Mortality and institutionalization following hip fracture.

OBJECTIVES: To identify determinants of mortality and institutionalization after hip fracture and to identify those older hip fracture patients at high risk of death or institutionalization after hip fracture. DESIGN: Population-based prospective inception cohort study of hip fracture patients; patients were assessed in the hospital and at 3 months following the hip fracture. SETTING: Edmonton area hip fracture patients admitted to one of two Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, acute care centers between July 10, 1996, and August 31, 1997. PARTICIPANTS: Patients were residents of the Edmonton area and over the age of 64. Those who had previously fractured the same hip within the past 5 years or had some pathological condition underlying the hip fracture were excluded. Of 610 eligible patients, 558 contributed some baseline information and were included in the mortality analysis; the institutionalization analysis was restricted to the 338 patients who lived in the community before fracture, survived the 3-month period postfracture, and had completed a 3-month follow-up interview. MEASUREMENTS: The baseline interview was done in the hospital to assess mental status, prefracture physical function, prefracture health perception, and prefracture social support. The 3-month follow-up interview was done by phone to assess physical function, health perception, and social support 3 months postfracture. Demographic and comorbidity information was collected from medical records. RESULTS: Low mental status in hospital was found to increase the chances of mortality and institutionalization, and male gender was found to increase mortality risk fourfold. Each additional 10 years of age increased the risk of institutionalization approximately 2.5 times. Patients with lower postfracture physical function had at least five times the risk of institutionalization compared to patients with high postfracture physical function. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive impairment, older age, and gender were associated with increased risk of poor outcome following hip fracture. The socioeconomic variables--social support and health perception--did not contribute significant additional information in explaining mortality or institutionalization risk. While demographic factors cannot be modified, physical function 3 months postfracture may be amenable to intervention and may reduce the risk of institutionalization. Intervening to increase postfracture physical function may be particularly beneficial to older patients, or to those who are cognitively impaired.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Automated analysis of digital oximetry in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea.

BACKGROUND: The gold standard diagnostic test for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is overnight polysomnography (PSG) which is costly in terms of time and money. Consequently, a number of alternatives to PSG have been proposed. Oximetry is appealing because of its widespread availability and ease of application. The diagnostic performance of an automated analysis algorithm based on falls and recovery of digitally recorded oxygen saturation was compared with PSG. METHODS: Two hundred and forty six patients with suspected OSA were randomly selected for PSG and automated off line analysis of the digitally recorded oximeter signal. RESULTS: The PSG derived apnoea hypopnea index (AHI) and oximeter derived respiratory disturbance index (RDI) were highly correlated (R = 0.97). The mean (2SD) of the differences between AHI and RDI was 2.18 (12.34)/h. The sensitivity and specificity of the algorithm depended on the AHI and RDI criteria selected for OSA case designation. Using case designation criteria of 15/h for AHI and RDI, the sensitivity and specificity were 98% and 88%, respectively. If the PSG derived AHI included EEG based arousals as part of the hypopnea definition, the mean (2SD) of the differences between RDI and AHI was -0.12 (15. 62)/h and the sensitivity and specificity profile did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: In a population of patients suspected of having OSA, off line automated analysis of the oximetry signal provides a close estimate of AHI as well as excellent diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for OSA.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Prediabetes and perinatal mortality.

OBJECTIVE: The association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and perinatal outcome is largely based on case series and retrospective studies that found an increased risk of perinatal mortality and stillbirth as the onset of diabetes approached. Our objective was to assess the relationship between latency to diabetes and perinatal outcome of prediabetic pregnancies in a contemporary population of women with adult-onset diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A population of 403 diabetic women from two recruitment sites completed a pretested questionnaire. RESULTS: Details of 1,181 pregnancy outcomes were obtained. This comprised 1,024 live births, 22 stillbirths, and 8 early neonatal deaths. Crude analysis suggested a relationship between time to diabetes (latency) < or =20 years and both perinatal death and stillbirth: odds ratio (95% CI), 2.41 (1.17-4.95) and 2.15 (0.93-4.98). Generalized additive modeling revealed a nonlinear relationship between the variables time to diabetes, and maternal age and perinatal outcome. Final logistic regression analysis was then performed for the outcomes perinatal death and stillbirth, with maternal age as a second-degree polynomial, year of birth as a continuous variable, and time to diabetes dichotomized < or =20 years to diagnosis and >20 years. This final analysis documented a significant association between time to diabetes < or =20 years and both perinatal death (4.06 [1.79-9.36]) and stillbirth (3.35 [1.25-9.05]). CONCLUSIONS: There appeared to be an increased risk of perinatal death and stillbirth in pregnancies occurring in the last 20 years before the diagnosis of diabetes.

Cohort Studies↗

PubMed2000

Effect on lipid, complete blood count and blood proteins of a standardized preparation for drawing blood: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare a standardized recommended procedure for drawing blood to measure blood lipid and lipoprotein levels with the procedure commonly used in clinical practice. The aim was to see if hemoconcentration and spuriously elevated lipid levels could be avoided. DESIGN: An open randomized crossover clinical trial. SETTING: The University of Calgary. PATIENTS: Twenty-five patients with dyslipidemia. INTERVENTIONS: Blood drawing using a standardized procedure in which the patient remained seated for 5 minutes before blood collection and tourniquet use was minimized or avoided. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in lipid levels between the usual clinical procedure and the recommended procedure for drawing blood. RESULTS: Prior to drawing blood, laboratories have sat patients for an average of 1.4 minutes (95% CI, 0.9 to 1.9) and used a tourniquet in every patient. In the standardized procedure, patients rested for an average of 5.6 minutes (95% CI 5.0 to 6.2), and a tourniquet was used briefly in only 3 of 23 patients. There were no differences in lipid and lipoprotein values and no clinically significant difference in hemoglobin or albumin levels or in the calculation of hemoconcentration. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to rest patients and avoid tourniquet use when drawing blood for assessment of lipid levels are unlikely to be useful.

Blood Cell Count↗

PubMed1999

CABG in Canada.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Canada↗

PubMed1999

Examining the minimum important difference.

The increasing use of constructed scales and indices in clinical science has preceded in many cases a clear understanding of how to appraise the importance of the differences or changes that are thereby observed. For example, in the design of clinical trials which employ such scales as outcome measures it may be difficult to specify what constitutes a clinically significant shift in means, a key factor in sample size calculations. Determination of the minimum important difference relative to specific outcome measures has historically been based on informal and/or intuitive arguments. In this paper we propose a formal statistical framework for these considerations, based on a previously published validation study design which captures patients' perceptions in comparative self-reported assessments. We begin by adopting a mixed-effect model to represent the comparative assessments as composites of individual self-ratings on an underlying continuous scale. We then present two basic approaches for assessing the relation between the hypothesized latent scale and the outcome scale(s) under consideration, taking the latent scale as a plausible benchmark against which observable changes on the outcome scale can be judged.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

PubMed1998

Coronary artery bypass grafting in Canada: hospital mortality rates, 1992-1995.

BACKGROUND: Rates of in-hospital death after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have been studied in many regions of Canada as possible indicators of hospital-specific quality of care. This nationwide study examined observed and risk-adjusted death rates for 23 Canadian hospitals performing CABG. METHODS: Hospital discharge data were obtained from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and were used to identify all CABG procedures performed in Canadian hospitals in fiscal years 1992/93 through 1995/96. Cases from Quebec hospitals were not studied because hospitals in that province do not report to the institute. Observed death rates were evaluated, and a logistic regression model was used to calculate a risk-adjusted death rate for each hospital for the 4-year period studied. Changes over time in hospital-specific death rates were also examined. RESULTS: A total of 50,357 CABG cases were studied, with an overall death rate of 3.6%. Interhospital comparisons showed that average severity of illness varied considerably across hospitals. Despite risk adjustment accounting for this variable severity, there was considerable variation in adjusted death rates across the 23 hospitals, from 1.95% to 5.76% (p < 0.001 for difference across hospitals). For some hospitals, death rates decreased between 1992/93 and 1995/96, whereas for others the rates were stable or increased. INTERPRETATION: Risk-adjusted rates of in-hospital death after CABG vary widely across Canadian hospitals. There may be differences in quality of care across hospitals, and focused quality-improvement initiatives may be necessary in some institutions.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Coronary artery bypass grafting in Canada: national and provincial mortality trends, 1992-1995.

BACKGROUND: Despite a body of research on outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in Canada, little is known about Canada-wide outcome trends and interregional differences in outcome. The objectives of this study were to examine Canadian trends in rates of in-hospital death after CABG and to compare provincial risk-adjusted death rates. METHODS: Hospital discharge data were obtained from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and were used to identify complete cohorts of patients who underwent CABG in 8 provinces in fiscal years 1992/93 through 1995/96. Data from Quebec hospitals were not available. A logistic regression model was used to calculate risk-adjusted death rates by year, province, and province and year. RESULTS: A total of 50,357 CABG cases were studied, with an overall death rate of 3.6%. A national trend of decreasing mortality was found, with a risk-adjusted death rate of 3.8% in 1992/93 versus 3.2% in 1995/96 (relative decrease of 17%) (p < 0.001 for difference across years). Some provinces (e.g., Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario) achieved overall declines in death rates over the study period, whereas others (e.g., British Columbia and Saskatchewan) did not. The average severity of illness of patients who underwent CABG differed considerably across provinces. Despite risk adjustment for these differences, provincial death rates varied significantly (p < 0.001). INTERPRETATION: Rates of death after CABG in Canada decreased significantly in a relatively short period. Despite this encouraging finding, there were interprovincial differences in severity of illness and risk-adjusted death rates. This finding raises the possibility of unequal access to CABG and variable quality of care for patients undergoing the surgery across Canadian provinces.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1998

Fluctuations in blood lipid levels during furosemide therapy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.

BACKGROUND: Acute decreases in intravascular volume are associated with increases in lipid levels. Furosemide causes acute changes in intravascular volume during prolonged therapy but is thought to have little effect on lipid levels. METHODS: To determine if there are daily acute rises in lipid and lipoprotein levels associated with changes in intravascular volume during long-term furosemide ingestion therapy, we performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in 10 patients. RESULTS: In the 8 hours after furosemide ingestion there were increases in levels of plasma cholesterol (10.1%; P = .001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (9.0%; P = .006), and apolipoprotein B (9.8%; P = .003). The increases in levels of triglycerides (11.5%; P = .17) and apolipoprotein A-1 (13.3%; P = .051) were of similar magnitude but more variable and did not achieve statistical significance. There was no substantial change in the total cholesterol-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (0.6%; 95% CI,-0.74% to 8.6%; P =.88). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that there are acute increases in lipid levels after furosemide ingestion during prolonged therapy, which could affect the interpretation of lipid levels and cardiovascular risk in patients.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Compliance of clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumor patients with surveillance.

PURPOSE: We evaluate compliance and its effect on the outcome of patients with clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumor who underwent post-orchiectomy surveillance at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1980 to 1994, 76 evaluable patients underwent surveillance at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. The surveillance protocol consisted of clinical evaluation, chest x-ray and serum tumor marker measurements monthly in year 1, every 2 months in year 2, every 6 months in years 3 to 5 and yearly in years 6 to 10. Abdomen and pelvic computerized tomography (CT) were scheduled every 2 months in year 1 and every 4 months in year 2. Noncompliance was defined as missing 2 or more consecutive clinic visits, tumor marker measurements or chest x-rays or 1 or more CT scans. RESULTS: Compliance with clinical evaluations was 61.5% in year 1 and 35.5% in year 2, whereas compliance with CT was only 25% and 11.8% in years 1 and 2, respectively. By univariate analysis diagnosis before 1990 predicted noncompliance, while age, marital status and distance from the center did not. Recurrent disease was detected in 28 patients (37%) at a median of 5.5 months after orchiectomy (range 1 to 49.5). Among the 47 compliant patients 23 had relapse and none died. Among the 29 noncompliant patients 5 had relapse and 2 died with central nervous system disease. CONCLUSIONS: Overall compliance with this surveillance program was poor but this study was too small to demonstrate whether poor compliance adversely affects overall survival.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Prevalence and incidence of stenosing flexor tenosynovitis (trigger finger) in a meat-packing plant.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and incidence of trigger finger (TF) in a meat-packing plant and explore the relationship between hand-tool use and the development of TF. A cross-sectional study was competed wherein 665 workers were interviewed and examined to determine the point prevalence. Subsequently, 454 TF-negative workers were followed up and examined twice at a median interval of 225 days. The point prevalence of TF was 14%. The person-year incidence rate was 12.4% and 2.6% for tool use and non-tool use workers, respectively. Forty-three cases of TF (75.2%) in the incidence arm of the study used a hand tool, for a relative risk of 4.7 (P < 0.002; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-23.9). Although a significant relationship was found between ethnicity and the presence of TF in the prevalence data, this was not confirmed in the incidence study. There is an increased prevalence of TF in this meat-packing plant and high worker turnover may underestimate the true prevalence rates. Hand-tool use increases the risk of developing TF.

Adult↗