Doron Hermoni

Advances in the field of low back pain in primary care: a report from the fourth international forum.

Study Design. Review of advances in the primary care research on low back pain (LBP) from a unique international forum, and analysis of open-ended questionnaires from participants. Summary of Background Data. LBP continues to be one of the most common and challenging problems in primary care. It is associated with enormous costs in terms of direct health care expenditures, and indirect work and disability-related losses. Objective. To ascertain the current status and state of the art regarding LBP in primary care. Methods. Four reviewers independently assessed the content and implications of presentations at the Fourth International Forum for Primary Care Research on LBP, pooled the data, and then augmented it with open-ended questionnaires completed by 35 participants. Results. The Fourth Forum documented the field’s emergent new paradigm–a transition from thinking about back pain as a biomedical “injury” to viewing LBP as a multifactorial biopsychosocial pain syndrome. The paradigm shift has occurred in the context of increased interest in evidence-based medicine regarding LBP in primary care. The Forum demonstrated the strides taken in moving from research and evidence gathering, through guidelines and policy formulations and finally to the dissemination and implementation imperative. There was an increasing confidence among the Forum researchers that LBP can be managed successfully in primary care settings through a combination of encouraging activity, reassurance, short-term symptom control, and alteration of inappropriate beliefs about the correlations of back pain with impairment and disability. There is also recognition that a wide range of international, evidence-based guidelines now exists that have very similar messages. Conclusions. The Fourth Forum reflected a major shift in the conceptualization of LBP in primary care and an increased emphasis on implementation and dissemination of LBP research findings and clinical guidelines. Although there is a wide array of challenges ahead, the Fourth Forum provided a clear message regarding the need to focus research energies on changing practitioner behavior.

Is a biopsychosocial–spiritual approach relevant to cancer treatment? A study of patients and oncology staff members on issues of complementary medicine and spirituality

BackgroundComplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly being used by patients with cancer.ObjectivesOur aim is to compare the attitudes of cancer patients who use CAM to those of nonusers, on issues of CAM, biopsychosocial considerations, and spiritual needs.MethodsQuestionnaires were administered to patients and medical care providers in a tertiary teaching hospital with a comprehensive cancer center.ResultsForty-nine percent of the study patients reported integrating CAM into their conventional care. Health care providers considered psychological and spiritual needs as major reasons for CAM use, while patients considered the familial–social aspect to be more important.ConclusionsCancer patients do not correlate CAM use with spiritual concerns but expect their physicians to attend to spiritual themes. Health care providers involved in oncology cancer care should emphasize spiritual as well as CAM themes. The integration of these themes into a biopsychosocial–spiritual approach may enrich the dialogue between patients and health providers.

Thyrotropin Levels Within the Lower Normal Range Are Associated With an Increased Risk of Hip Fractures in Euthyroid Women, But Not Men, Over the Age of 65 Years

CONTEXT The contemporary literature on the relationship between serum TSH levels and osteoporotic fractures in euthyroid individuals is limited by conflicting results and analyses conducted on a small number of fractures. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to examine the association between the normal range of variation of TSH and the incidence of hip fractures in male and female euthyroid patients aged 65 years or older. DESIGN AND SETTING We performed a population-based historical prospective cohort study within the Clalit Health Services population. PARTICIPANTS Clalit Health Services members aged ≥65 years with at least 1 TSH measurement during the year 2004. We excluded patients with preexisting hip fracture, thyroid disease, malignancy, or chronic kidney disease. OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was hip fracture, and the secondary outcome was any other osteoporotic fracture. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Adjusted odds ratios comparing episodes of each outcome across 3 TSH groups (low, 0.35-1.6 mIU/L; intermediate, 1.7-2.9 mIU/L; high, 3-4.2 mIU/L) were generated using logistic regression models. RESULTS The 14 325 included participants suffered from 514 hip fractures (mean follow-up, 102 ± 3 months). Women, but not men, in the lowest TSH group had a higher incidence of hip fractures (odds ratio = 1.28, 95% confidence interval = 1.03-1.59, P = .029) when compared with the intermediate group, after multivariate adjustment for age, comorbidities, and use of drugs affecting bone metabolism. There was no difference in hip fracture incidence between intermediate- and high-TSH groups. No association was found between TSH levels and other osteoporotic fractures. CONCLUSIONS TSH levels within the lower normal range are associated with an increased risk of hip fractures in euthyroid women, but not men, aged 65 years and more.

Mortality and Coronary Heart Disease in Euthyroid Patients

BACKGROUND Subclinical thyroid dysfunction is associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular risk. It is unknown whether this association remains within normal thyroid function range. METHODS The study was conducted using the computerized database of the Sharon-Shomron district of Clalit Health services. Included were subjects aged ≥40 years with normal thyroid function. Patients with a history of thyroid or cardiovascular diseases or diabetes were excluded. The primary end points were all-cause mortality and the need for coronary revascularization with either percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting. RESULTS The 42,149 participants were stratified into 3 groups of equal thyrotropin intervals (0.35-1.6, 1.7-2.9, and 3-4.2 mIU/L). During a mean follow-up of 4.5±2.1 years, 4239 (10.1%) participants died and 1575 (3.7%) underwent coronary revascularization. For both women and men, the lowest mortality rates were observed in the intermediate thyrotropin group. Nevertheless, only for the low thyrotropin group, mortality risk remained significantly higher as compared with the intermediate thyrotropin group, even following multivariate model adjusted for the conventional cardiovascular risk factors, in both women (odds ratio 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.36 for the low thyrotropin group, compared with the intermediate group) and men (odds ratio 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.3 for the low thyrotropin group, compared with the intermediate group). There was no significant difference in the need for coronary revascularization among the 3 thyrotropin groups in both men and women. CONCLUSIONS Low thyrotropin level within the reference range is associated with increased risk for all-cause mortality.

Is knowledge a barrier to implementing low back pain guidelines? Assessing the knowledge of Israeli family doctors

OBJECTIVES To measure knowledge of Israeli low back pain (LBP) clinical practice guidelines among different subgroups of primary care doctors, prior to designing an intervention programme to enhance guideline adherence in practice. STUDY DESIGN Confidential mailed survey questionnaire. SETTING Family practices in the Haifa and western Galilee district, Israel. PARTICIPANTS Random sample of 163 primary care doctors. A total of 134 doctors (82%) completed the questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES A Multiple Choice Questionnaire measuring knowledge of the LBP guidelines. Instrument reliability and inter-item reliability were tested in a pilot phase. Content validity was assured by having the Israeli LBP guideline authors involved in a consensus procedure. RESULTS Distribution of test scores significantly differentiated professional levels and background variables, demonstrating the instrument reliability. Cronbachs alpha was above 0.91. The average test score was 67.7 [standard deviation (SD) 16.2], family doctors had average scores of 75.2 (SD 9.8), general practitioners (GPs) 57.9 (SD 19) and family practice residents 67.4 (SD 13.2). The difference between the test average scores of family doctors, GPs and residents was significant (P < 0.001). Significant differences were also found for specific variables including the doctors age, country of medical training and self-report familiarity with the LBP guidelines. CONCLUSIONS Striking differences exist between subgroups of primary care doctors regarding their knowledge of LBP guidelines. These differences will require the design of multiple interventions tailored to each subgroup.

New-Onset Diabetes in Elderly Subjects: Association between HbA1c levels, mortality, and coronary revascularization

OBJECTIVE New-onset diabetes mellitus (DM) in elderly patients is associated with increased risk of diabetes complications and mortality. It is unknown whether glycemic control in this population influences the mortality risk. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The current study was conducted using the computerized database of the Sharon-Shomron District of Clalit Health Services in Israel. Included in the study were subjects 65 years of age and above with new-onset DM. The primary outcome measures were all-cause mortality and coronary revascularization procedures with either percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting. RESULTS Participants (n = 2,994) were stratified into four groups according to their mean HbA1c levels during the follow-up period (<6.5% [48 mmol/mol], 6.5–6.99% [48–52 mmol/mol], 7–7.49% [53–57 mmol/mol], and ≥7.5% [58 mmol/mol]). During a mean follow-up of 5.54 ± 2.1 years, 1,173 (39.17%) participants died and 285 (9.51%) underwent coronary revascularization. An HbA1c level >7.5% (58 mmol/mol) was associated with a significantly increased all-cause mortality rate (hazard ratio [HR] 1.74 [95% CI 1.2–1.8], P < 0.0001). This difference remained statistically significant after a multivariate model adjusted for the conventional cardiovascular risk factors and for the use of hypoglycemic agents and statins. Kaplan-Meier survival plots revealed lower survival rates in this group of patients. Coronary revascularization rates were highest among subjects with HbA1c 6.5–6.99% (48–52 mmol/mol) (HR 1.6 [1.01–2.4], P < 0.05) and lowest in patients with HbA1c ≥7.5% (58 mmol/mol). CONCLUSIONS An HbA1c level >7.5% (58 mmol/mol) is associated with increased risk for all-cause mortality and with a lower revascularization rate in elderly patients with new-onset DM.

New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus in Elderly Subjects

OBJECTIVE New-onset diabetes mellitus (DM) in elderly patients is associated with increased risk of diabetes complications and mortality. It is unknown whether glycemic control in this population influences the mortality risk. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The current study was conducted using the computerized database of the Sharon-Shomron District of Clalit Health Services in Israel. Included in the study were subjects 65 years of age and above with new-onset DM. The primary outcome measures were all-cause mortality and coronary revascularization procedures with either percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting. RESULTS Participants (n = 2,994) were stratified into four groups according to their mean HbA1c levels during the follow-up period (<6.5% [48 mmol/mol], 6.5–6.99% [48–52 mmol/mol], 7–7.49% [53–57 mmol/mol], and ≥7.5% [58 mmol/mol]). During a mean follow-up of 5.54 ± 2.1 years, 1,173 (39.17%) participants died and 285 (9.51%) underwent coronary revascularization. An HbA1c level >7.5% (58 mmol/mol) was associated with a significantly increased all-cause mortality rate (hazard ratio [HR] 1.74 [95% CI 1.2–1.8], P < 0.0001). This difference remained statistically significant after a multivariate model adjusted for the conventional cardiovascular risk factors and for the use of hypoglycemic agents and statins. Kaplan-Meier survival plots revealed lower survival rates in this group of patients. Coronary revascularization rates were highest among subjects with HbA1c 6.5–6.99% (48–52 mmol/mol) (HR 1.6 [1.01–2.4], P < 0.05) and lowest in patients with HbA1c ≥7.5% (58 mmol/mol). CONCLUSIONS An HbA1c level >7.5% (58 mmol/mol) is associated with increased risk for all-cause mortality and with a lower revascularization rate in elderly patients with new-onset DM.

The Effect of Combined Aspirin and Clopidogrel Treatment on Cancer Incidence

BACKGROUND Multiple studies have shown an association between aspirin treatment and a reduction in newly diagnosed cancer. Conversely, there are conflicting clinical and laboratory data on the effect of combined clopidogrel and aspirin therapy on cancer incidence, including analyses suggesting an increased cancer risk. No large-scale cohort study has been performed to address this issue in a heterogeneous real-world scenario. We investigated the effect of clopidogrel and aspirin on cancer incidence compared with aspirin alone and no antiplatelet therapy. METHODS A population-based historical cohort study of subjects aged ≥50 years covered by Clalit Health Services, an Israeli health maintenance organization, was performed. Patients treated with the newer antiplatelet drugs, prasugrel or ticagrelor, which, like clopidogrel, inhibit adenosine diphosphate receptors, and those with prior cancer were excluded. Prescription records of antiplatelet medication were retrieved. RESULTS The cohort included 183,912 subjects diagnosed with 21,974 cancer cases based upon the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision. Dual aspirin and clopidogrel was prescribed in 9.6%, while 49% received aspirin alone and 41% used neither. Compared with nonusers, there was a lower risk of cancer in subjects exposed to aspirin with (hazard ratio [HR] 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.44-0.49) or without clopidogrel (HR 0.54; 95% CI, 0.52-0.56), on long-term follow-up. Combined treatment was associated with a lower cancer risk than the aspirin-only group (HR 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.97). CONCLUSIONS Dual clopidogrel and aspirin treatment is safe regarding the cancer risk. This study generates the hypothesis that clopidogrel may reduce cancer incidence.

Effect of ezetimibe on the prevalence of cholelithiasis

AIM To investigate the prevalence of cholelithiasis among patients treated with ezetimibe. METHODS A retrospective, case-control study based on computerized medical records from patients of the Clalit Health Services, Sharon-Shomron region, from 2000 to 2009. Patients 20-85 years of age, who had been treated with ezetimibe and statins or statins only for at least 6 mo, and who had an abdominal ultrasound were included in the study. Collected data included age, gender, ezetimibe treatment duration, presence of hypothyroidism or diabetes, and existence of cholelithiasis as determined by ultrasound. Excluded were subjects after gallbladder resection, with hemolysis, myeloproliferative or inflammatory bowel diseases, and those treated with ursodeoxycholic acid and fibrates. Patients treated with statins and ezetimibe (study group) were compared to patients treated with statins only (control group). RESULTS The study group included 25 patients and the control group 168. All patients in the study were treated with statins. The study group included 13 males (52%) and 12 females (48%), the control group 76 males (45%) and 92 (55%) females (P = 0.544). The groups did not differ in age (mean age: 68 ± 8 years, range 53-85 years vs mean age: 71 ± 8 years, range 51-85 years; P = 0.153) or in the rate of diabetic and hypothyroid patients [11 (44%) vs 57 (33%), P = 0.347 in the study group and 5 (20%) vs 23 (14%), P = 0.449 in the control group, respectively]. Patients in the study group were treated with ezetimibe for an average of 798 ± 379 d. Cholelithiasis was found in 4 (16%) patients in the study group and in 33 (20%) patients in the control group (P = 0.666). CONCLUSION Ezetimibe does not appear to influence the prevalence of gallstones.

Teaching complementary medicine at an academic oncology department

Background. The increased use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by patients with cancer is a significant phenomenon in cancer care and suggests the need for increased knowledge by clinicians of these therapies. Methods. Aiming at bridging the gap in knowledge of the philosophy and practice of major CAM modalities in cancer care, an elective course was offered to physicians and nurses in a large academic center. Results. The course also aimed at providing the tools necessary to establish open and trusting clinician-patient dialogue regarding CAM. Conclusions. Exposure to the course was successful in improving knowledge and attitudes.