Project description:Clinical contextSince 1979 and 1980 when the first reports of clinical feline hyperthyroidism (FHT) appeared in the literature, our understanding of the disease has evolved tremendously. Initially, FHT was a disease that only referral clinicians treated. Now it is a disease that primary clinicians routinely manage. Inclusion of the measurement of total thyroxine concentration in senior wellness panels, as well as in diagnostic work-ups for sick cats, now enables diagnosis of the condition long before the cat becomes the classic scrawny, unkempt, agitated patient with a bulge in its neck. However, earlier recognition of the problem has given rise to several related questions: how to recognize the health significance of the early presentations of the disease; how early to treat the disease; whether to treat FHT when comorbid conditions are present; and how to manage comorbid conditions such as chronic kidney disease and cardiac disease with treatment of FHT. The 2016 AAFP Guidelines for the Management of Feline Hyperthyroidism (hereafter referred to as the Guidelines) will shed light on these questions for the general practitioner and suggest when referral may benefit the cat.ScopeThe Guidelines explain FHT as a primary disease process with compounding factors, and provide a concise explanation of what we know to be true about the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease.The Guidelines also:Distill the current research literature into simple recommendations for testing sequences that will avoid misdiagnosis and separate an FHT diagnosis into six clinical categories with associated management strategies.Emphasize the importance of treating all hyperthyroid cats, regardless of comorbidities, and outline the currently available treatments for the disease.Explain how to monitor the treated cat to help avoid exacerbating comorbid diseases.Dispel some of the myths surrounding certain aspects of FHT and replace them with an evidence-based narrative that veterinarians and their practice teams can apply to feline patients and communicate to their owners.Evidence baseTo help ensure better case outcomes, the Guidelines reflect currently available, evidenced-based knowledge. If research is lacking, or if a consensus does not exist, the expert panel of authors has made recommendations based on their extensive, cumulative clinical experience.
Project description:Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease characterised by an increase of body fat stores. It is a gateway to ill health, and it has become one of the leading causes of disability and death, affecting not only adults but also children and adolescents worldwide. In clinical practice, the body fatness is estimated by BMI, and the accumulation of intra-abdominal fat (marker for higher metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk) can be assessed by waist circumference. Complex interactions between biological, behavioural, social and environmental factors are involved in regulation of energy balance and fat stores. A comprehensive history, physical examination and laboratory assessment relevant to the patient's obesity should be obtained. Appropriate goals of weight management emphasise realistic weight loss to achieve a reduction in health risks and should include promotion of weight loss, maintenance and prevention of weight regain. Management of co-morbidities and improving quality of life of obese patients are also included in treatment aims. Balanced hypocaloric diets result in clinically meaningful weight loss regardless of which macronutrients they emphasise. Aerobic training is the optimal mode of exercise for reducing fat mass while a programme including resistance training is needed for increasing lean mass in middle-aged and overweight/obese individuals. Cognitive behavioural therapy directly addresses behaviours that require change for successful weight loss and weight loss maintenance. Pharmacotherapy can help patients to maintain compliance and ameliorate obesity-related health risks. Surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity in terms of long-term weight loss. A comprehensive obesity management can only be accomplished by a multidisciplinary obesity management team. We conclude that physicians have a responsibility to recognise obesity as a disease and help obese patients with appropriate prevention and treatment. Treatment should be based on good clinical care, and evidence-based interventions; should focus on realistic goals and lifelong multidisciplinary management.
Project description:Background and Purpose:The Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2016 (J-SSCG 2016), a Japanese-specific set of clinical practice guidelines for sepsis and septic shock created jointly by the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, was first released in February 2017 in Japanese. An English-language version of these guidelines was created based on the contents of the original Japanese-language version. Methods:Members of the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine were selected and organized into 19 committee members and 52 working group members. The guidelines were prepared in accordance with the Medical Information Network Distribution Service (Minds) creation procedures. The Academic Guidelines Promotion Team was organized to oversee and provide academic support to the respective activities allocated to each Guideline Creation Team. To improve quality assurance and workflow transparency, a mutual peer review system was established, and discussions within each team were open to the public. Public comments were collected once after the initial formulation of a clinical question (CQ), and twice during the review of the final draft. Recommendations were determined to have been adopted after obtaining support from a two-thirds (>66.6%) majority vote of each of the 19 committee members. Results:A total of 87 CQs were selected among 19 clinical areas, including pediatric topics and several other important areas not covered in the first edition of the Japanese guidelines (J-SSCG 2012). The approval rate obtained through committee voting, in addition to ratings of the strengths of the recommendation and its supporting evidence were also added to each recommendation statement. We conducted meta-analyses for 29 CQs. Thirty seven CQs contained recommendations in the form of an expert consensus due to insufficient evidence. No recommendations were provided for 5 CQs. Conclusions:Based on the evidence gathered, we were able to formulate Japanese-specific clinical practice guidelines that are tailored to the Japanese context in a highly transparent manner. These guidelines can easily be used not only by specialists, but also by non-specialists, general clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, clinical engineers, and other healthcare professionals.
Project description:This is an updated guideline for the diagnosis and management of asthma, developed by the Saudi Initiative for Asthma (SINA) group, a subsidiary of the Saudi Thoracic Society. The main objective of SINA is to have guidelines that are up to date, simple to understand and easy to use by nonasthma specialists, including primary care and general practice physicians. SINA approach is mainly based on symptom control and assessment of risk as it is the ultimate goal of treatment. The new SINA guidelines include updates of acute and chronic asthma management, with more emphasis on the use of asthma control in the management of asthma in adults and children, inclusion of a new medication appendix, and keeping consistency on the management at different age groups. The section on asthma in children is rewritten and expanded where the approach is stratified based on the age. The guidelines are constructed based on the available evidence, local literature, and the current situation in Saudi Arabia. There is also an emphasis on patient-doctor partnership in the management that also includes a self-management plan.
Project description:The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes Lipid Work Group recommends statins for adults ≥50 years old with CKD. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association endorses statins for adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, adults with LDL cholesterol≥190 mg/dl, and adults 40-79 years old with LDL cholesterol=70-189 mg/dl and diabetes or a 10-year predicted risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ≥7.5% estimated using the Pooled Cohort risk equations. Using data from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study, we calculated the agreement for statin treatment between these two guidelines for adults 50-79 years old with CKD (eGFR<60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) or albuminuria≥30 mg/g) not on dialysis. We assessed the validity of the Pooled Cohort risk equations in individuals with CKD. Study participants were enrolled between 2003 and 2007, and we report incident cardiovascular disease events (stroke and coronary heart disease) through December of 2010. Among 4726 participants with CKD, 2366 (50%) were taking statins, and 1984 (42%) were recommended statins by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline but not taking them. Overall, 376 (8%) participants did not meet the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association criteria for initiating statin treatment. Cardiovascular disease incidence was low (3.0/1000 person-years; 95% confidence interval, 0.1 to 5.9) among these participants. The Pooled Cohort risk equations were well calibrated (Hosmer-Lemeshow chi-squared=2.7, P=0.45) with moderately good discrimination (C index, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.65 to 0.77). In conclusion, these guidelines show high concordance for statin treatment for adults with CKD.
Project description:Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) have a high disease burden in India. Dyslipidemia, a major CVD risk factor, requires effective management. Our review describes the appropriateness of the international dyslipidemia guidelines in the Indian context. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library and Science Direct to obtain relevant articles. Dyslipidemia management guidelines by western medical associations are based on their studies, with ethnic minorities underrepresented and biological features of other racial groups inadequately incorporated. The Lipid Association of India (LAI) came up with a consensus statement guided by an expert panel to adapt the western guidelines to Indians. However, absence of Indian guidelines has led to physicians basing treatment on individual preference, contributing to heterogeneity. Our review underscores the need for formulating Indian dyslipidemia management guidelines and CV risk estimation algorithms, highlighting the scope for further research. This could supplement the clinical expertise of LAI and enhance patient experience.
Project description:PurposeDyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes are well-established risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study investigated the prevalence and management status of these factors for dyslipidemia among Korean adults aged 30 years old and older.Materials and methodsThe prevalence and management status of dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes were analyzed among 12229 subjects (≥30 years) participating in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey 2010-2012. Dyslipidemia was defined according to treatment criteria rather than diagnostic criteria in Korea. Therefore, hyper-low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterolemia was defined if LDL cholesterol levels exceeded the appropriate risk-based threshold established by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III.ResultsThe age-standardized prevalence was highest for dyslipidemia (39.6%), followed by hypertension (32.8%) and diabetes (9.8%). The lowest patient awareness was found for dyslipidemia (27.9%). The treatment rate was 66.5% for diabetes and 57.3% for hypertension, but only 15.7% for dyslipidemia. The control rate among those undergoing treatment was highest for hypertension (64.2%), followed by dyslipidemia (59.2%) and diabetes (22.1%). The higher the risk levels of CVD were, the lower the control rate of dyslipidemia.ConclusionWhile the prevalence of dyslipidemia was higher than hypertension and diabetes, awareness and treatment rates thereof were lower. Higher CVD-risk categories showed lower control rates of dyslipidemia. In order to improve awareness and control rates of dyslipidemia, diagnostic criteria should be reconciled with treatment targets based on cardiovascular risk in Korean populations.
Project description:BackgroundUpdating national trends in diabetes management is important for identifying areas of progress and remaining gaps in diabetes care.ObjectiveEvaluate trends in diabetes management.DesignThree nationally representative, serial cross-sectional surveys (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [n = 5800], National Health Interview Survey [n = 48,519], and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System [n = 741,497]) were used to estimate trends in diabetes management from 1999 to 2016.ParticipantsNon-pregnant US adults (aged ≥ 18 years) diagnosed with diabetes.Main measuresAmerican Diabetes Association's general recommendations for glycemic and cardiovascular risk factor control, medication usage, physical activity, preventive practices, and dietary intake.Key resultsFrom 1999 to 2016, the proportion of US adults with diabetes who attained glycemic control (HbA1c < 7.0%) followed a quadratic trend (49.6% in 1999-2004 to 58.6% in 2005-2010 to 55.8% in 2011-2016, P < 0.05 for trend). Control of blood pressure (< 140/90 mmHg) and lipids (LDL cholesterol < 100 mg/dl) increased by 6.6 and 18.7 percentage points, respectively (P < 0.05 for trends). The proportion that attained glycemic, blood pressure, and lipid control followed a quadratic trend (13.3% in 1999-2004 to 24.8% in 2005-2010 to 20.2% in 2011-2016, P < 0.05 for trend). Use of antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and statin medication among those who were eligible rose by 8.6, 5.0, and 24.0 percentage points, respectively (P < 0.05 for trends). Aerobic inactivity declined 7.1 percentage points, while adherence to aerobic activity (≥ 150 min/week) and resistance training (≥ 2 times/week) recommendations grew 3.4 and 3.2 percentage points, respectively (P < 0.05 for trends). Engagement in preventive practices (e.g., receipt of vaccinations) consistently increased for 6 out of 8 outcomes. However, the adherence to saturated fat (< 10% of total daily calories) and sodium (< 2300 mg/day) recommendations fell by 6.5 and 5.2 percentage points (P < 0.05 for trends).ConclusionsDespite notable improvements, declines in glycemic control and adherence to dietary recommendations may be growing challenges in diabetes care.
Project description:The Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2016 (J-SSCG 2016), a Japanese-specific set of clinical practice guidelines for sepsis and septic shock created jointly by the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, was first released in February 2017 and published in the Journal of JSICM, [2017; Volume 24 (supplement 2)] 10.3918/jsicm.24S0001 and Journal of Japanese Association for Acute Medicine [2017; Volume 28, (supplement 1)] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jja2.2017.28.issue-S1/issuetoc.This abridged English edition of the J-SSCG 2016 was produced with permission from the Japanese Association of Acute Medicine and the Japanese Society for Intensive Care Medicine.Members of the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine were selected and organized into 19 committee members and 52 working group members. The guidelines were prepared in accordance with the Medical Information Network Distribution Service (Minds) creation procedures. The Academic Guidelines Promotion Team was organized to oversee and provide academic support to the respective activities allocated to each Guideline Creation Team. To improve quality assurance and workflow transparency, a mutual peer review system was established, and discussions within each team were open to the public. Public comments were collected once after the initial formulation of a clinical question (CQ) and twice during the review of the final draft. Recommendations were determined to have been adopted after obtaining support from a two-thirds (>?66.6%) majority vote of each of the 19 committee members.A total of 87 CQs were selected among 19 clinical areas, including pediatric topics and several other important areas not covered in the first edition of the Japanese guidelines (J-SSCG 2012). The approval rate obtained through committee voting, in addition to ratings of the strengths of the recommendation, and its supporting evidence were also added to each recommendation statement. We conducted meta-analyses for 29 CQs. Thirty-seven CQs contained recommendations in the form of an expert consensus due to insufficient evidence. No recommendations were provided for five CQs.Based on the evidence gathered, we were able to formulate Japanese-specific clinical practice guidelines that are tailored to the Japanese context in a highly transparent manner. These guidelines can easily be used not only by specialists, but also by non-specialists, general clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, clinical engineers, and other healthcare professionals.
Project description:The treatment of dyslipidemia continues to be a dynamic and controversial topic. Even the most appropriate therapeutic range for lipid levels-including that of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-remain actively debated. Furthermore, with ever-increasing options and available treatment modalities, the management of dyslipidemia has progressed in both depth and complexity. An understanding of appropriate lipid-lowering therapy remains an essential topic of review for practitioners across medical specialties. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of recent research developments and recommendations for patients with dyslipidemia as a means of better informing the clinical practice of lipid management. By utilizing a guideline-directed approach, we provide a reference point on optimal lipid-lowering therapies across the spectrum of dyslipidemia. Special attention is paid to long-term adherence to lipid-lowering therapies, and the benefits derived from instituting appropriate medications in a structured manner alongside monitoring. Novel therapies and their impact on lipid lowering are discussed in detail, as well as potential avenues for research going forward. The prevention of cardiovascular disease remains paramount, and this review provides a roadmap for instituting appropriate therapies in cardiovascular disease prevention.