Krystal Hunter

Correction of Low Vitamin D Improves Fatigue: Effect of Correction of Low Vitamin D in Fatigue Study (EViDiF Study).

Background: Fatigue is a common presenting complaint of patients in the primary care offices. Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with fatigue in cancer patients. Normalization of vitamin D level improves their fatigue. Whether low vitamin D plays a role in fatigue in medically stable patients is not known. Aims: This prospective non-randomized therapeutic study observed the prevalence of low vitamin D in fatigue and the effect of normalization of vitamin D on fatigue. Material and Methods: One hundred and seventy four adult patients, who presented in our primary care office with fatigue and stable chronic medical conditions,completed fatigue assessment questionnaires. Patients with low vitamin D levels received ergocalciferol therapy for 5 weeks. Scores of pre- and post-treatment fatigue assessment questionnaires were compared. Results: Prevalence of low vitamin D was 77.2% in patients who presented with fatigue. After normalization of vitamin D levels fatigue symptom scores improved significantly (P < 0.001) in all five subscale categories of fatigue assessment questionnaires. Conclusion: The prevalence of low vitamin D is high in patients who present with fatigue and stable chronic medical conditions, if any. Normalization of vitamin D levels with ergocalciferol therapy significantly improves the severity of their fatigue symptoms.

Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC-8) Guidelines and the Outpatient Management of Hypertension in the African-American Population.

Background: Hypertension is a common medical disease, occurring in about one third of young adults and almost two thirds of individuals over the age of 60. With the release of the Eighth Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment (JNC-8) guidelines, there have been major changes in blood pressure management in the various subgroups. Aim: Optimal blood pressure management and markers of end-organ damage in African-American adult patients were compared between patients who were managed according to the JNC-8 hypertension management guidelines and those who were treated with other regimens. Materials and Methods: African-American patients aged 18 years or older with an established diagnosis of hypertension were included in the study who were followed up in our internal medicine clinic between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2103; the data on their systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings, heart rate, body mass index (BMI), age, gender, comorbidities, and medications were recorded. Patients were divided into four groups based on the antihypertensive therapy as follows - Group 1: Diuretic only; Group 2: Calcium channel blocker (CCB) only; Group 3: Diuretic and CCB; Group 4: Other antihypertensive agent. Their blood pressure control, comorbidities, and associated target organ damage were analyzed. Results: In all 323 patients, blood pressures were optimally controlled. The majority of the patients (79.6%) were treated with either a diuretic, a CCB, or both. Intergroup comparison analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the mean systolic blood pressure, mean diastolic blood pressure, associated comorbidities, or frequency of target organ damage. Conclusion: Although diuretics or CCBs are recommended as first-line agents in African-American patients, we found no significant difference in the optimal control of blood pressure and frequency of end-organ damage compared to management with other agents.

Association of comorbid and metabolic factors with optimal control of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a poorly controlled epidemic worldwide that demands active research into mitigation of the factors that are associated with poor control. Aims: The study was to determine the factors associated with suboptimal glycemic control. Materials and Methods: Electronic medical records of 263 adult patients with T2DM in our suburban internal medicine office were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 [optimal diabetes control with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of 7% or less] and Group 2 (suboptimal diabetes control with HbA1c greater than 7%). The influence of factors such as age, gender, race, social history, comorbid conditions, gestational diabetes, family history of diabetes, diabetes management, statin use, aspirin use, angiotensin convertase enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) use, body mass index (BMI), blood pressures, lipid profile, and urine microalbumin level were analyzed in the two groups. Results: In the suboptimal diabetes control group (N = 119), the majority (86.6%) of the patients were 41-80 years old. Factors associated with the suboptimal control were male gender [odds ratio (OR) 2.6, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.579-4.321], Asian ethnicity (OR 1.4, 95% CI, 0.683-3.008), history of peripheral arterial disease (PAD; OR 3.9, 95% CI, 1.017-14.543), history of congestive heart failure (CHF; OR 3.9, 95% CI, 1.017-14.543), elevated triglycerides (OR 1.004, 95% CI, 1.000-1.007), and elevated urine microalbumin level of 30 mg/24 h or above (OR 4.5, 95% CI, 2.446-8.380). Patients with suboptimal diabetes control had a 3.8 times greater odds (95% CI, 1.493-6.885) of receiving the insulin and oral hypoglycemic agent together. Conclusions: In adult patients with T2DM, male gender, Asian ethnicity, CHF, PAD, management with insulin along with oral hypoglycemic agents, hypertriglyceridemia, and microalbuminuria were associated with suboptimal control.

Cognitive function and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus in young adults

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been associated with impairment of cognitive function. Studies show a strong negative correlation between the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin and cognitive function in adult patients above the mean age of 60 years. In healthy adults, age-related cognitive impairment is mostly reported after the age of 60 years, hence the decline in cognitive function can be a part of normal aging without diabetes. Since the majority of patients with diabetes are between the ages of 40 and 59 years, it is crucial to ascertain whether the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin negatively correlate with the levels of cognitive function scores in adult patients of age 60 years or younger, similar to the way it correlates in patients older than 60 years of age, or not. Aims: We observed the relationship between the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin and the levels of cognitive function in patients of age 60 years or younger with T2DM. Materials and Methods: Eighty-two patients with T2DM underwent cognitive assessment testing by using a Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS), and their cognitive function scores were correlated with their glycosylated hemoglobin levels, durations of diabetes, and levels of education. Results: Cognitive impairment was observed in 19.5% of the studied patients. We found a weakly negative relationship between the glycosylated hemoglobin level and cognitive function score (r = -0.292), a moderately negative relationship between the duration of diabetes and cognitive function score (r = -0.303), and a weakly positive relationship between the level of education and cognitive function score (r = 0.277). Conclusion: Cognitive impairment affects one-fifth of the patients of age 60 years or younger with T2DM. It is weakly negatively related to the glycosylated hemoglobin level, moderately negatively related to the duration of diabetes, and weakly positively related to the level of education.

Gender Differences in Presentation, Treatment, and In-Hospital Outcome of Patients Admitted With Heart Failure Complicated by Atrial Fibrillation (from the Get With the Guidelines—Heart Failure [GWTG-HF] Registry)

Almost 25% of patients with heart failure (HF) have coexisting atrial fibrillation (AF), the latter of which may increase morbidity and mortality. Despite the high prevalence of HF with concomitant AF, this subgroup of patients remains understudied. This study examines gender differences in presentation, treatment and in-hospital outcome of patients with HF and AF. The Get With the Guidelines-Heart Failure (GWTG-HF) database enrolled 6,496 patients with HF who presented to Cooper University Hospital from 2005 to 2012. Twenty-four percent (1,561 patients) had concomitant AF. Pearson chi-square tests and the Student T-tests were used to compare patient characteristics by gender. Multivariate logistic regression was used to predict in-hospital mortality. Six hundred sixty-nine (42.8%) patients with HF and AF were women. Women were older (p <0.001), had a higher ejection fraction (p <0.001), had systolic hypertension (p <0.001), and were more likely to have health insurance (p <0.001). Despite a higher CHADS2 score in women (p = 0.007), there was no gender difference in percent of anticoagulation medications prescribed before admission. Women were less likely to present with dizziness, lightheadedness, or syncope, and were more likely to be compliant with medications and diet recommendations before admission. Despite differences in presentation, co-morbidities, and therapy, in-hospital mortality was similar between men and women. Decreased appetite or early satiety predicted in-hospital mortality in women, whereas age, chest pain on admission, and decreased appetite or early satiety predicted in-hospital mortality in men. In conclusion, women presenting with HF complicated by AF clinically differ from men, but despite these differences, both groups shared similar symptom presentation and in-hospital mortality rates.

The effectiveness of magnesium sulfate for status asthmaticus outside the intensive care setting

Magnesium is an adjunctive therapy used in patients with status asthmaticus who do not respond to conventional therapy. The optimal time from initiation of therapy, to determination of response and administration of magnesium has not yet been resolved. Our objective was to determine if magnesium administered in the non‐intensive care setting can decrease duration of continuous albuterol and hospital length of stay.

A comparison of induction of labor success rates over three time periods in 20 years at a single academic tertiary care center: are we improving vaginal delivery rates?

Abstract Objective: To compare the rates of successful induction of labor during three one-year periods over 20 years at a single institution. Methods: All women at 37 weeks or beyond with a living, singleton, cephalic fetus admitted for induction of labor in 1992, 2002, and 2012 were included. The use of induction agents and rates of successful vaginal delivery were compared. Results: A total of 627 women were evaluated, 219 in 1992, 220 in 2002, and 188 in 2012. Various induction agents were employed over the 20 year period. However, the rates of successful vaginal deliveries did not significantly vary over the three time periods, 79.5% in 1992, 72.3% in 2002, 76.1% in 2012, p = .21. In subgroup analysis, no significant differences were found among women with one or more prior vaginal delivery, no prior vaginal delivery, or after excluding those with a prior cesarean section. In multiple variable logistic regression analysis, no induction agent besides amniotomy improved successful vaginal delivery rates. Conclusions: Despite the multiple induction agents available at our tertiary care institution over the past 20 years, we were unable to demonstrate any significant improvement in successful vaginal delivery rates after induction of labor.

Understandability and Actionability of the CDC’S Printable Sepsis Patient Education Material

Background Quality improvement efforts in sepsis management have increased patients’ survival rates. Many sepsis survivors experience sequelae leading to unplanned hospital readmissions and subsequent mortality, especially when survivors delay seeking medical attention because they do not recognize the signs and symptoms of recurrent sepsis. Thus, increasing knowledge of sepsis among patients and caregivers before initial hospital discharge is essential. Objective To evaluate the understandability and actionability of a printable patient education tool on sepsis. Methods Ten sepsis experts were invited to evaluate and score the content of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Sepsis Fact Sheet for understandability and actionability using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for printable material. Data were collected on 24 items via an electronic survey. Descriptive analysis included overall and understandability and actionability scores and measurement of interrater reliability. Items with discrepancies were reviewed. Results Nine experts responded to the survey. Mean understandability (80.74), actionability (90.74), and overall (83.33) scores support the tool’s utility for patient education. Interrater reliability found fair‐to‐moderate agreement across survey items. Conclusions The Sepsis Fact Sheet provides useful patient information as evaluated using established recommendations for printed materials and expert content validation. Areas for improvement include providing a summary, modifying images, and simplifying language. Results may be useful for sepsis education and discharge teaching.

The Association of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Status in Patients with Osteoarthritis in the Primary Care Office.

Background: Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and osteoarthritis (OA) are commonly found in patients followed up in a primary care office. Clear evidence to support the link between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and OA is lacking. Aim: To describe the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status in patients with OA in the primary care office. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 1,455 patients seen in our primary care office between November 2013 and October 2014. All patients were older than 18 years and had a diagnosis of OA. Demographic characteristics as well as 25(OH)D levels and comorbidities were analyzed. Results: Levels of 25(OH)D were available in 1,222 patients with OA. Fifty-one percent of the patients had a low 25(OH)D level. Patients with OA and low 25(OH)D were on an average 5 years younger than patients with OA and normal 25(OH)D (P < 0.001). African Americans (71.7%) and Hispanics (63.1%) had a higher prevalence of low 25(OH)D compared to Whites (42.9%) and other races (49.1%) (P < 0.001). There were significantly more smokers (15.4%) and patients with type 2 diabetes (27.6%) in the group of patients with osteoarthritis and low 25(OH)D (P < 0.001). A lower prevalence of hypothyroidism (18.5% versus 27.4%) and higher body mass index (BMI) were also noted in the group of interest. Conclusion: Patients with low levels of 25(OH)D and OA are younger than their counterparts with low 25(OH)D level. Future studies are needed to clarify the relationship between 25(OH)D level and OA.

OBESITY PARADOX IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE READMISSIONS: AN ANALYSIS FROM AHA “GET WITH THE GUIDELINES” HEART FAILURE

The phenomenon of obesity paradox which is mild to moderate obesity confers survival benefit over normal weight is well described in patients with chronic heart failure. Our study evaluated the presence of obesity on 30 day readmissions in patients admitted with heart failure. We studied 3,758