Biomedical subjects

Theo Stijnen

Publications and source records attributed to Theo Stijnen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

A multivariate score objectively assessed health of depressed elderly.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The self-report health measures commonly used may be biased in depressed persons. We introduce a method to assess physical health objectively in prospective studies of elderly persons. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses in the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort. Under the assumption that good health is related to survival, all baseline variables independently associated with mortality were included in a global health index. A multivariate score function for this index was derived from a Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Information on risk factors, disabilities, medical conditions, and physiologic measurements was combined into one score. This made it possible to compare the health of persons with depression to those with other diseases. Physical health of persons with depression and stroke was equally poor. Furthermore, in persons with established depression, worse health was related to more severe symptoms. Finally, we found that the association between an inflammation marker and depression is modified by health status as measured by our index. CONCLUSION: Late-life depression is strongly associated with poor health as measured by an objective global health index. The index makes it possible to quantify health and to study potential etiological risk factors for depression in health strata.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Imaging peripheral arterial disease: a randomized controlled trial comparing contrast-enhanced MR angiography and multi-detector row CT angiography.

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate clinical utility, patient outcomes, and costs of contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) angiography compared with multi-detector row computed tomographic (CT) angiography for initial imaging in the diagnostic work-up of patients with peripheral arterial disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Patients referred for diagnostic imaging work-up to evaluate the feasibility of a revascularization procedure were randomly assigned to undergo either MR angiography or CT angiography. Clinical utility was assessed with therapeutic confidence (scale of 0-10) at initial imaging and with the need for additional imaging. Patient outcomes included ankle-brachial index, maximum walking distance, change in clinical status, and health-related quality of life. Actual diagnostic and therapeutic costs were calculated from the hospital perspective. Differences between group means were calculated with unpaired t tests and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: A total of 157 consecutive patients with peripheral arterial disease were prospectively randomized to undergo MR angiography (51 men, 27 women; mean age, 63 years) or CT angiography (50 men, 29 women; mean age, 64 years). For one of the 78 patients in the MR group, no data were available. Mean confidence for MR angiography (7.7) was slightly lower than that for CT angiography (8.0, P = .8). During 6 months of follow-up, 13 patients in the MR group compared with 10 patients in the CT group underwent additional vascular imaging (P = .5). Although not statistically significant, there was a consistent trend of less improvement in the MR group across all patient outcomes. The average cost for diagnostic imaging was 359 ($438) higher in the MR group than in the CT group (95% confidence interval: 209, 511 [$255, $623]; P < .001). Therapeutic costs were higher in the MR group, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that CT angiography has some advantages over MR angiography in the initial evaluation of peripheral arterial disease.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity is associated with risk of coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke: the Rotterdam Study.

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) has been proposed as an inflammatory marker of cardiovascular disease. In the present study, we investigated whether Lp-PLA2 is an independent predictor of coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Rotterdam Study is a population-based follow-up study in 7983 subjects > or =55 years of age. We performed a case-cohort study, including 308 coronary heart disease cases, 110 ischemic stroke cases, and a random sample of 1820 subjects. We used Cox proportional-hazard models with modification of the standard errors based on robust variance estimates to compute hazard ratios adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, non-HDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, cholesterol-lowering medication, white blood cell count, and C-reactive protein. Compared with the first quartile of Lp-PLA2 activity, multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios for coronary heart disease for the second, third, and fourth quartiles were 1.39 (95% CI, 0.92 to 2.10), 1.99 (95% CI, 1.32 to 3.00), and 1.97 (95% CI, 1.28 to 3.02), respectively (P for trend=0.01). Corresponding multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios for ischemic stroke were 1.08 (95% CI, 0.55 to 2.11), 1.58 (95% CI, 0.82 to 3.04), and 1.97 (95% CI, 1.03 to 3.79) (P for trend=0.03). The relation between Lp-PLA2 and coronary heart disease was present in both subjects with non-HDL cholesterol levels below the median and those with non-HDL cholesterol levels above the median. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that Lp-PLA2 activity is an independent predictor of coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke in the general population.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗

PubMed2005

Genetic risk estimation by healthcare professionals.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether healthcare professionals correctly incorporate the relevance of a favourable test outcome in a close relative when determining the level of risk for individuals at risk for Huntington's disease. DESIGN AND SETTING: Survey of clinical geneticists and genetic counsellors from 12 centres of clinical genetics (United Kingdom, 6; The Netherlands, 4; Italy, 1; Australia, 1) in May-June 2002. Participants were asked to assess risk of specific individuals in 10 pedigrees, three of which required use of Bayes' theorem. PARTICIPANTS: 71 clinical geneticists and 41 other healthcare professionals involved in genetic counselling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of respondents correctly assessing risk in the three target pedigrees; proportion of respondents who were confident of their estimate. RESULTS: 50%-64% of respondents (for the three targets separately) did not include the favourable test information and incorrectly estimated the risks as being about equal to the prior risks; 77%-91% of these respondents were "sure" or "completely sure" that their estimations were correct. Twenty of the 112 respondents correctly estimated the risks for all three target pedigrees. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical geneticists and genetic counsellors frequently use prior risks in situations where Bayes' theorem should be applied, leading to overestimations of the risk for an individual.

Australia↗

PubMed2005

Reduced melanoma-related mortality in uveal melanoma by preenucleation radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy of an eye before enucleation, so called preenucleation radiotherapy (PER), of patients with uveal melanoma was initiated to reduce enucleation-induced systemic metastasis. Earlier studies with a short follow-up period have not demonstrated a significant effect on survival. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of PER on melanoma-related mortality after more than 9 years of follow-up. DESIGN: In a prospective study, 167 patients with uveal melanoma were treated between 1978 and 1992 by irradiation with 800 rad (8 Gy) given in 2 fractions 2 days before enucleation. A group of 108 patients with uveal melanoma treated between 1971 and 1992 by enucleation only in the same hospital served as a historical control group. Patients were followed up until December 2002 or death. RESULTS: Melanoma-related death occurred in 32.3% of the PER-treated group and in 40.7% of the enucleation only group. Mean follow-up was 9.25 years. After 48 months of follow-up, a significant difference in survival became evident in favor of the PER group. The estimated 15-year survival rates for patients with melanoma in the PER group and enucleation only group were 63.7% and 51.0%, respectively. For patients dying of all causes, these percentages were 47.5% and 25.2%, respectively. In both groups, women had a better prognostic outcome than men. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that PER improves long-term survival in patients with uveal melanoma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Meta-analysis of positron emission tomographic and computed tomographic imaging in detecting mediastinal lymph node metastases in nonsmall cell lung cancer.

A systematic review was undertaken to select studies that compared the accuracy of 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography with computed tomographic imaging in detecting mediastinal lymph node metastases in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer. Two authors selected relevant articles according to predefined criteria. With a meta-analytic method, summary receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed. The point on the receiver operating characteristic curve with equal sensitivity and specificity for 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography was Q* = 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86 to 0.95). For computed tomography it was 0.70 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.75). The difference was highly significant (p < 0.0001). We conclude that 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography is more accurate than computed tomography in detecting mediastinal lymph node metastases.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Sustained efficacy of dialectical behaviour therapy for borderline personality disorder.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is considered one of the most promising treatments for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Recently, we reported significantly positive effects of 12 months DBT on parasuicidal behaviour and impulsivity in a mixed group of female BPD patients with and without substance abuse. Fifty-eight women with BPD were randomly assigned to either 52 weeks of DBT or treatment as usual (TAU). Follow-up assessment took place at 78 weeks, i.e., 6 months after discontinuation of DBT. Participants were clinical referrals from addiction treatment and psychiatric services. Outcome measures included parasuicidal behaviour, impulsivity and substance abuse. Six months after treatment discontinuation, the benefits of DBT over TAU in terms of lower levels of parasuicidal and impulsive behaviours, and in alcohol use, sustained. No differences between the treatment conditions were found for drug abuse. In conclusion, DBT seems to have a sustained effect on some of the core symptoms of BPD and on alcohol problems in a mixed population of female borderline patients with and without substance abuse problems.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Improved outcome of pediatric kidney transplantations in the Netherlands -- effect of the introduction of mycophenolate mofetil?

Collaboration of the Dutch centers for kidney transplantation in children started in 1997 with a shared immunosuppressive protocol, aimed at improving graft survival by diminishing the incidence of acute rejections. This study compares the results of transplantations in these patients to those in a historical reference group. Ninety-six consecutive patients receiving a first kidney transplant were treated with an immunosuppressive regimen consisting of mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine and corticosteroids. The results were compared with those of historic controls (first transplants between 1985 and 1995, n = 207), treated with different combinations of corticosteroids, cyclosporine A and/or azathioprine. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis was prescribed to high-risk patients in the study group, and only a small proportion of the reference group. The graft survival at 1 yr improved significantly: 92% in the study group, vs. 73% in the reference group (p < 0.001). In the study group 63% of patients remained rejection-free during the first year; in the reference group 28% (p < 0.001). After statistical adjustment of differences in baseline data, as cold ischemia time, the proportion of LRD, preemptive transplantation, and young donors, the difference between study and reference group in graft survival (RR 0.33, p = 0.003) and incidence of acute rejection (RR 0.37, p < 0.001), as the only factor, remained statistically significant, indicating the effect of the immunosuppressive therapy. In the first year one case of malignancy occurred in each group. CMV disease occurred less frequently in the study group (11%) than in the reference group (26%, p = 0.02). As a new complication in 4 patients bronchiectasis was diagnosed. A new consensus protocol, including the introduction of mycophenolate mofetil, considerably improved the outcome of pediatric kidney transplantation in the Netherlands, measured as reduction of the incidence of acute rejection and improved graft survival.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Intravenous contrast material administration at helical 16-detector row CT coronary angiography: effect of iodine concentration on vascular attenuation.

The institutional review board approved this study, and all patients gave written informed consent. One hundred twenty-five patients scheduled to undergo retrospectively electrocardiographically gated 16-detector row computed tomographic coronary angiography were prospectively randomized into the following five groups with respect to the intravenous administration of a 140-mL bolus of contrast material at 4 mL/sec: group 1 (iohexol [300 mg of iodine per milliliter]), group 2 (iodixanol [320 mg I/mL]), group 3 (iohexol [350 mg I/mL]), group 4 (iomeprol [350 mg I/mL]), and group 5 (iomeprol [400 mg I/mL]). Attenuation was measured in the descending aorta and coronary arteries. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare groups. Mean attenuation values in the descending aorta were significantly (P < .05) lower in group 1 and higher in group 5 compared with the mean values in the other three groups. The same pattern was observed in the coronary arteries. Contrast materials with higher iodine concentrations yield significantly higher attenuation in the descending aorta and coronary arteries.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

DSA versus multi-detector row CT angiography in peripheral arterial disease: randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To prospectively compare therapeutic confidence in, patient outcomes (in terms of quality of life) after, and the costs of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) with those of multi-detector row computed tomographic (CT) angiography as the initial diagnostic imaging test in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional medical ethics committee approval and patient informed consent were obtained. Between April 2000 and August 2001, patients with PAD were randomly assigned to undergo either DSA or multi-detector row CT angiography as the initial diagnostic imaging test. Outcomes were the therapeutic confidence assessed by physicians (on a scale from 0 to 10), the need for additional imaging, the health-related quality of life at 6-month follow-up, diagnostic and therapeutic costs, and the costs for a hospital stay. Costs were computed from a hospital perspective according to Dutch guidelines for cost calculations in health care. Mean outcomes were compared between groups with unpaired t testing and were adjusted for predictive baseline characteristics with multivariable regression analysis. RESULTS: Among the 145 patients, 72 were randomly allocated to the DSA group and 73 to the CT angiography group. One patient in the DSA group had to be excluded. Mean age was 63 years in the DSA group and 64 years in the CT angiography group. There were 47 men in the DSA group and 58 men in the CT angiography group. Physician confidence in making a correct therapeutic choice was significantly higher at DSA (mean confidence score, 8.2) than at CT angiography (mean score, 7.2; P < .001). During 6-month follow-up, 14% less additional imaging was performed in the DSA group than in the CT angiography group (P = .3). No significant quality-of-life differences were found between groups. The diagnostic cost associated with DSA (564 +/- 210 euro [standard deviation]) was significantly higher than that associated with CT angiography (363 +/- 273 euro), a difference of -201 euro (95% confidence interval: -281 euro, -120 euro; P < .001). Therapeutic and hospitalization costs were similar for both strategies. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that use of noninvasive multi-detector row CT angiography instead of DSA as the initial diagnostic imaging test for PAD provides sufficient information for therapeutic decision making and reduces imaging costs.

Angiography↗

PubMed2005

Concurrent loss of chromosome arm 1p and chromosome 3 predicts a decreased disease-free survival in uveal melanoma patients.

PURPOSE: Uveal melanoma is a highly malignant disease with a mortality rate of 50% at 10 to 15 years. Previous studies have shown that chromosomal changes are associated with decreased survival of the patient. However, in these studies the small number of tumors analyzed did not allow robust statistical analysis. In the present study, the independent numerical changes in chromosomes 1, 3, 6, and 8 on disease-free survival (DFS) was assessed in a large series of patients with uveal melanoma. METHODS: One hundred twenty tumors from patients with uveal melanoma were analyzed for numerical changes in chromosomes 1, 3, 6, and 8, with cytogenetic analysis, fluorescent in situ hybridization, and/or comparative genomic hybridization. Data were correlated with disease outcome in univariate and multivariate analyses, by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up time of 45 months, 42 patients had died or had metastatic disease. In the univariate analysis, loss of chromosome 3, gain of 8q, largest tumor diameter, or the presence of epithelioid cells was associated with a decreased DFS. In the multivariate analysis, the effect of monosomy 3 on survival was largely modified by changes in 1p36. Regarding all chromosomal changes, only the concurrent loss of the short arm of chromosome 1 and all of chromosome 3 was an independent prognostic parameter for disease-free survival (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In uveal melanoma, concurrent loss of the short arm of chromosome 1 and all of chromosome 3 is an independent predictor of decreased DFS.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Standard versus user-interactive assessment of significant coronary stenoses with multislice computed tomography coronary angiography.

Forty-four patients in sinus rhythm with suspected coronary artery disease underwent 16-row multislice computed tomography coronary angiography and conventional coronary angiography. Two protocols for image analysis were applied to the multislice computed tomographic images: standard projections versus interactive postprocessing. The diagnostic accuracy of both methods for the detection of significant lesions (>50% lumen reduction) was compared with quantitative coronary angiography. Sensitivity and specificity were 58% and 96% and 96% and 97%, for standard projections and interactive postprocessing protocol, respectively.

Coronary Angiography↗

PubMed2004

Prevalence, impact on the quality of life and pathophysiological determinants of nocturia in urinary incontinent women.

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of nocturia in incontinent women in a urogynaecologic practice and its association with the quality of life and to estimate the prevalences of the pathophysiological categories among nocturics. From 1 January 2002, all patients with complaints of urinary incontinence were analysed according to a specific protocol: multichannel urodynamic testing, a 1-h International Incontinence Society (ICS) pad test and a 3-day frequency-volume (FV) chart. From 1 June 2002, subjects had to fill in a standardised quality of life questionnaire as well. Nocturia was defined as two or more micturitions per night calculated from the FV chart. Evaluable FV charts were received from 111 patients, and 72 patients completed the questionnaires correctly. The overall prevalence of nocturia was 48.6% (confidence interval: 43.9-53.3%). Nocturia had a negative impact on several aspects of the quality of life. The maximum voided volume was significantly (p=0.005) less in nocturics. The 24-h frequency was higher in nocturics (p=0.001). Nocturics lost more urine during the pad test (p=0.039). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the greater the proportion of 24-h urine excreted at night, the greater the odds of having nocturia and that the lesser the maximum voided volume, the greater the odds of having nocturia. The majority (92.7%) of the nocturics can be classified into one of the responsible pathophysiologic categories: nocturnal polyuria in 51.2%, a low functional bladder capacity in 14.6%, a combination of both in 9.8%, polyuria in 4.9% and a combination of polyuria and nocturnal polyuria in 12.2% of the cases. Nocturia is a frequent symptom among urinary incontinent patients, with a negative impact on several aspects of the quality of life. With a FV chart, nocturics can be classified into one of the responsible pathophysiologic categories in the majority (92.7%) of the cases.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Peripheral arterial disease: therapeutic confidence of CT versus digital subtraction angiography and effects on additional imaging recommendations.

PURPOSE: To compare multi-detector row computed tomographic (CT) angiography and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) prior to revascularization in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease for the purpose of assessing recommendations for additional imaging and physician confidence ratings for chosen therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial, 73 patients were assigned to CT angiography, and 72 were assigned to DSA. Physician confidence in the treatment decision was measured as a continuous outcome on a scale of 0-10 (uncertain to certain) and as a dichotomous outcome (further imaging recommended, yes or no). Mean confidence scores and additional imaging recommendations were compared between CT and DSA groups in an intention-to-diagnose-and-treat analysis. To detect trends in confidence, confidence scores were plotted over time, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed. To detect trends in additional imaging recommendations, logistic regression analysis was used. Data from eligible nonrandomized patients were analyzed separately. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference in baseline characteristics between randomized groups was found. CT had a lower confidence score than did DSA (7.2 vs 8.2, P < .001). Further imaging was recommended more often after CT (25 of 71 patients, 35%) than after DSA (nine of 66 patients, 14%; P = .003). Analysis of trends demonstrated increasing (but not statistically significant) confidence in CT and stable confidence in DSA. No significant difference was found in baseline characteristics between randomized and nonrandomized patients. Among nonrandomized patients, no significant difference in mean confidence score (8.2 vs 8.3, P = .26) was found between CT (n = 24) and DSA (n = 26). CONCLUSION: With CT angiography, physician confidence decreases with an associated increase in additional imaging prior to revascularization in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease. Given that CT is less invasive than DSA, results suggest that CT may replace DSA in selected cases.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Inflammatory proteins in plasma and the risk of dementia: the rotterdam study.

BACKGROUND: Increased levels of inflammatory proteins have been found in the brains and plasma samples of patients with dementia. Whether the levels of inflammatory proteins in plasma samples are elevated before clinical onset of dementia is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether high levels of inflammatory proteins in plasma samples are associated with an increased risk of dementia. DESIGN AND SETTING: A case-cohort study within the Rotterdam Study, a population-based prospective cohort study in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: The source population comprises 6713 subjects who, at baseline (1990-1993), were free of dementia and underwent venipuncture. From these, we selected both a random subcohort of 727 subjects and 188 cases who had developed dementia at follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The associations between plasma levels of alpha1-antichymotrypsin, C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, the soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and the risk of dementia were examined using the Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: High levels of alpha1-antichymotrypsin, interleukin 6, and, to a lesser extent, C-reactive protein were associated with an increased risk of dementia; rate ratios per standard deviation increase were 1.49 (95% confidence interval, 1.23-1.81), 1.28 (95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.55), and 1.12 (95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.25), respectively. Similar associations were observed for Alzheimer disease, whereas rate ratios of vascular dementia were higher for alpha1-antichymotrypsin and C-reactive protein. Soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 were not associated with dementia. CONCLUSION: Plasma levels of inflammatory proteins are increased before clinical onset of dementia, Alzheimer disease, and vascular dementia.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Relationship between atherosclerosis and late-life depression: the Rotterdam Study.

CONTEXT: Depression in late life has been associated with vascular abnormalities. Several studies have demonstrated that persons with brain infarcts are more likely to have depressive disorders. Furthermore, depression is related to the subsequent development of ischemic heart disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between atherosclerosis at different locations and depression in the general population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population-based study. SETTING: The Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: In 4019 men and women 60 years and older, we assessed atherosclerosis at different locations, including common carotid intima-media thickness, plaques in the carotid arteries, the ankle-brachial blood pressure index, and aortic atherosclerosis. An overall measure of extracoronary atherosclerosis was obtained in 3747 persons by computing the principal component of these extracoronary atherosclerosis measures. In a subgroup of 1986 persons, we additionally measured coronary calcifications. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All subjects were screened for depressive symptoms. Screen-positive subjects had a psychiatric interview to diagnose depressive disorder. RESULTS: More severe extracoronary atherosclerosis was associated with a higher prevalence of depressive disorders. For every 1-standard deviation increase, the prevalence increased by 30%. Furthermore, we found a strong relationship of severe coronary and aortic calcifications with depressive disorders (odds ratio, 3.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.55-9.77; and odds ratio, 2.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-3.96, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Atherosclerosis and depression are associated in the elderly. This finding is compatible with the vascular depression hypothesis. However, the cross-sectional nature of the study does not allow causal inferences. In particular, earlier depressive episodes may have contributed to the development of atherosclerosis.

Age of Onset↗

PubMed2004

Comparison of two methodologies to analyze exposure to statins in an observational study on effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE: Estimates of efficacy of drugs from clinical trials may differ from estimates in observational studies. To obtain valid results, the definition of exposure in an observational study is critical. The objective of our study was to compare different exposure definitions for assessing the effectiveness of statins. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: The study was performed in the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort study that included 7983 subjects of > or =55 years of age. We selected 3806 subjects who received antihyperlipidemic drug treatment (n=179) or had a total cholesterol > or =6.5 mmol/L at baseline. We conducted analyses with two different exposure definitions. RESULTS: Treatment with statins was assessed at baseline. The adjusted relative risk (RR) of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke was 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41-1.37) and of total mortality was 1.34 (95% CI 0.66-2.74) in subjects treated with statins. We used pharmacy data, which give insight into drug use on a continuous basis. The adjusted RR of MI and stroke after 2 years of cumulative treatment was 0.63 (95% CI 0.34-1.15) and of total mortality was 0.91 (95% CI 0.59-1.39). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that use of a time-dependent exposure definition is more accurate because estimates of effectiveness were more in agreement with results from randomized controlled trials of statin treatment.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

The Liver Disease Symptom Index 2.0; validation of a disease-specific questionnaire.

The available liver disease-specific questionnaires do address severity of symptoms but hardly evaluate how patients experience these specific symptoms during daily activities. The Liver Disease Symptom Index 2.0 (LDSI) includes 18 items that measure symptom severity and symptom hindrance in the past week. In a large survey (n = 1175) conducted in collaboration with the Dutch liver patient association, convergent and divergent construct validity and the surplus value of including symptom severity and symptom hindrance items in the LDSI were examined. The LDSI items showed expected convergent and divergent correlations with Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Multidimensional Fatigue Index-20 (MFI-20) scales. Correlations revealed only a slight to moderate overlap between LDSI items and SF-36 and MFI-20 scales. The impact of symptom severity and symptom hindrance on generic health related quality of life (HRQoL) varied in a different way across liver patients, which indicated that symptom severity items and the symptom hindrance items measure different aspects of HRQoL. We conclude that the LDSI provides information complementary to the information given by the SF-36 and the MFI-20 and that it is psychometrically sound to include both symptom severity items and symptom hindrance items in the LDSI.

Adult↗