Admission to hospital following head injury in England: Incidence and socio-economic associations

BACKGROUND: Head injury in England is common. Evidence suggests that socio-economic factors may cause variation in incidence, and this variation may affect planning for services to meet the needs of those who have sustained a head injury. METHODS: Socio-economic data were obtained from the UK Office for National Statistics and merged with Hospital Episodes Statistics obtained from the Department of Health. All patients admitted for head injury with ICD-10 codes S00.0–S09.9 during 2001–2 and 2002–3 were included and collated at the level of the extant Health Authorities (HA) for 2002, and Primary Care Trust (PCT) for 2003. Incidence was determined, and cluster analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to look at patterns and associations. Results: 112,718 patients were admitted during 2001–2 giving a hospitalised incidence rate for England of 229 per 100,000. This rate varied across the English HA's ranging from 91–419 per 100,000. The rate remained unchanged for 2002–3 with a similar magnitude of variation across PCT's. Three clusters of HA's were identified from the 2001–2 data; those typical of London, those of the Shire counties, and those of Other Urban authorities. Socio-economic factors were found to account for a high proportion of the variance in incidence for 2001–2. The same pattern emerged for 2002–3 at the PCT level. The use of public transport for travel to work is associated with a decreased incidence and lifestyle indicators, such as the numbers of young unemployed, increase the incidence. CONCLUSION: Head injury incidence in England varies by a factor of 4.6 across HA's and PCT's. Planning head injury related services at the local level thus needs to be based on local incidence figures rather than regional or national estimates. Socio-economic factors are shown to be associated with admission, including travel to work patterns and lifestyle indicators, which suggests that incidence is amenable to policy initiatives at the macro level as well as preventive programmes targeted at key groups

Prospective assessment of integrating the existing emergency medical system with automated external defibrillators fully operated by volunteers and laypersons for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the Brescia Early Defibrillation Study (BEDS)

AIMS: There are few data on the outcomes of cardiac arrest (CA) victims when the defibrillation capability of broad rural and urban territories is fully operated by volunteers and laypersons. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, we investigated whether a programme based on diffuse deployment of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) operated by 2186 trained volunteers and laypersons across the County of Brescia, Italy (area: 4826 km(2); population: 1 112 628), would safely and effectively impact the current survival among victims of out-of-hospital CA. Forty-nine AEDs were added to the former emergency medical system that uses manual EDs in the emergency department of 10 county hospitals and in five medically equipped ambulances. The primary endpoint was survival free of neurological impairment at 1-year follow-up. Data were analysed in 692 victims before and in 702 victims after the deployment of the AEDs. Survival increased from 0.9% (95% CI 0.4-1.8%) in the historical cohort to 3.0% (95% CI 1.7-4.3%) (P=0.0015), despite similar intervals from dispatch to arrival at the site of collapse [median (quartile range): 7 (4) min vs. 6 (6) min]. Increase of survival was noted both in the urban [from 1.4% (95% CI 0.4-3.4 %) to 4.0% (95% CI 2.0-6.9 %), P=0.024] and in the rural territory [from 0.5% (95% CI 0.1-1.6%) to 2.5% (95% CI 1.3-4.2%), P=0.013]. The additional costs per quality-adjusted life year saved amounted to euro39 388 (95% CI euro16 731-49 329) during the start-up phase of the study and to euro23 661 (95% CI euro10 327-35 528) at steady state. CONCLUSION: Diffuse implementation of AEDs fully operated by trained volunteers and laypersons within a broad and unselected environment proved safe and was associated with a significantly higher long-term survival of CA victims

Changes in the use of anti-asthmatic medication in an international cohort

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldThe aim of this study was to describe changes in pharmacotherapy for asthma since the early 1990s in an international cohort of young and middle-aged adults. A total of 28 centres from 14 countries participated in a longitudinal study. The study included 8,829 subjects with a mean follow-up time of 8.7 yrs. Change in the prevalence of use for medication was expressed as absolute net change (95% confidence interval) standardised to a 10-yr period. The use of anti-asthmatics was found to have increased by 3.1% (2.4-3.7%) and the prevalence of symptomatic asthma by 4.0% (3.5-4.5%). In the sample with asthma in both surveys (n=423), the use of inhaled corticosteroids increased by 12.2% (6.6-17.8%). Despite this, only 17.2% were using inhaled corticosteroids on a daily basis at follow-up. Females with continuous asthma were more likely, compared with males, and smokers with asthma, to have started using inhaled corticosteroids since the first survey. The use of anti-asthmatics has increased in a pattern consistent with current consensus on treatment. However, despite increased use of inhaled corticosteroids, a large majority of subjects with symptomatic asthma do not use this treatment on a daily basis, particularly males and smokers with asthma

Disembodied Mind: Cortical Changes Following Brainstem Injury in Patients with Locked-in Syndrome

Locked-in syndrome (LIS) following ventral brainstem damage is the most severe form of motor disability. Patients are completely entrapped in an unresponsive body despite consciousness is preserved. Although the main feature of LIS is this extreme motor impairment, minor non-motor dysfunctions such as motor imagery defects and impaired emotional recognition have been reported suggesting an alteration of embodied cognition, defined as the effects that the body and its performances may have on cognitive domains. We investigated the presence of structural cortical changes in LIS, which may account for the reported cognitive dysfunctions. For this aim, magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired in 11 patients with LIS (6 males and 5 females; mean age: 52.3\ub15.2SD years; mean time interval from injury to evaluation: 9\ub11.2SD months) and 44 healthy control subjects matching patients for age, sex and education. Freesurfer software was used to process data and to estimate cortical volumes in LIS patients as compared to healthy subjects. Results showed a selective cortical volume loss in patients involving the superior frontal gyrus, the pars opercularis and the insular cortex in the left hemisphere, and the superior and medium frontal gyrus, the pars opercularis, the insular cortex, and the superior parietal lobule in the right hemisphere. As these structures are typically associated with the mirror neuron system, which represents the neural substrate for embodied simulation processes, our results provide neuroanatomical support for potential disembodiment in LIS

De-novo headache with transient vertebro-basilar symptoms: role of embryonic hypoglossal artery

We report the case of a 56-year-old man with acute onset of de-novo stabbing, pulsating and diffuse headache with subsequent appearance (within few minutes) of posterior fossa symptoms (vomiting, postural instability, anisocoria, incoordination, dysarthria, retropulsion) lasting 9–12 h. Recurrent hypertensive crises were detected during the acute observation in the Emergency Room, even in the absence of previous history of hypertension. Once subarachnoid hemorrhage and focal lesions (vascular and non-vascular) were excluded, brain computerized tomography-angiography and digital subtraction angiography disclosed the presence of left persistent primitive hypoglossal artery with bilateral vertebral artery hypoplasia and a slight aneurysmal dilation of the anterior communicating artery. Brain magnetic resonance study performed 24 h after onset of symptoms was negative for recent ischemic lesions. The clinical features of this rare vascular condition are discussed as a possible cause of magnetic resonance (diffusion weighted imaging) negative vertebro-basilar transient ischemic attack

Pioglitazone for secondary prevention after ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack: Rationale and design of the Insulin Resistance Intervention after Stroke Trial

Background: Recurrent vascular events remain a major source of morbidity and mortality after stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). The IRIS Trial is evaluating an approach to secondary prevention based on the established association between insulin resistance and increased risk for ischemic vascular events. Specifically, IRIS will test the effectiveness of pioglitazone, an insulin-sensitizing drug of the thiazolidinedione class, for reducing the risk for stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) among insulin resistant, nondiabetic patients with a recent ischemic stroke or TIA. Design: Eligible patients for IRIS must have had insulin resistance defined by a Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance \u3e3.0 without meeting criteria for diabetes. Within 6 months of the index stroke or TIA, patients were randomly assigned to pioglitazone (titrated from 15 to 45 mg/d) or matching placebo and followed for up to 5 years. The primary outcome is time to stroke or MI. Secondary outcomes include time to stroke alone, acute coronary syndrome, diabetes, cognitive decline, and all-cause mortality. Enrollment of 3,876 participants from 179 sites in 7 countries was completed in January 2013. Participant follow-up will continue until July 2015. Summary: The IRIS Trial will determine whether treatment with pioglitazone improves cardiovascular outcomes of nondiabetic, insulin-resistant patients with stroke or TIA. Results are expected in early 2016

Three-year follow-up and event rates in the international REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health Registry

To determine 3-year event rates in outpatients with vascular disease enrolled in the REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) Registry. Methods and results REACH enrolled 67 888 outpatients with atherothrombosis [ established coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascutar disease, or peripheral arterial disease (PAD)], or with at least three atherothrombotic risk factors, from 44 countries . Among the 55 499 patients at baseline with symptomatic disease, 39 675 were eligible for 3-year follow-up, and 32 247 had data available (81% retention rate). Among the symptomatic patients at 3 years, 92% were taking an antithrombotic agent, 91% an anti hypertensive, and 76% were on Upid- lowering therapy. For myocardial infarction (Ml)/ stroke/vascutar death, 1 - and 3-year event rates for all patients were 4.2 and 11.0%, respectively. Event rates (MI/ stroke/vascutar death) were significantly higher for patients with symptomatic disease vs. those with risk factors only at 1 year (4.7 vs. 2.3%, P < 0.001) and at 3 years (12.0 vs. 6.0%, P < 0.001). One and 3-year rates of MI /stroke/vascular cleath/ rehospitatization were 14.4 and 28.4 %, respectively, for patients with symptomatic disease. Rehospitalization for a vascular event other than Mi/ stroke/ vascular death was common at 3 years (19.0% overall; 33.6% for PAD ; 23.0% for CAD). For patients with symptomatic vascular disease in one vascular bed vs. multiple vascular beds, 3-year event rates for MI/stroke/ vascular death/ rehospitalization were 25.5 vs. 40.5% (P < 0.001). Conclusion Despite contemporary therapy, outpatients with symptomatic atherothrombotic vascular disease experience high rates of recurrent vascular events and rehospitalizations

Effects of immunomodulatory treatment with subcutaneous interferon beta-1a oncognitive decline in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of subcutaneous (sc) interferon beta-1a (IFNbeta-1a) on cognition in mildly disabled patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Patients aged 18-50 years with RRMS (McDonald criteria; Expanded Disability Status Scale score <or=4.0) were assigned IFNbeta therapy at the physician's discretion and underwent standardized magnetic resonance imaging, neurological examination and neuropsychological testing at the baseline and regular intervals for up to three years. This analysis included 459 patients who received sc IFNbeta-1a (44 mcg: n = 236; 22 mcg: n = 223; three-year follow up was available for 318 patients). The hazard ratio for cognitive impairment over three years (44 mcg versus 22 mcg) was 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.480-0.972), suggesting a 32% lower risk with the higher dose treatment. At year 3, the proportion of patients who were cognitively impaired increased slightly from 23.5% at the baseline to 24.8% in the IFNbeta-1a 22 mcg treatment group, but remained stable at 15.2% in the IFNbeta-1a 44 mcg treatment group. The proportion of patients with cognitive impairment at year 3 was significantly higher in the 22 mcg group than in the 44 mcg group (P = 0.03), although a trend was also seen at the baseline (P = 0.058). Multivariate logistic regression (corrected for baseline cognitive deficits) indicated that treatment with the higher dose of IFNbeta-1a was predictive of lower cognitive impairment at three years (odds ratio: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.26-0.99) compared with the lower dose of IFNbeta-1a. These findings suggest that sc IFNbeta-1a may have dose-dependent cognitive benefits in mildly disabled patients with RRMS, and may support early initiation of high-dose IFNbeta-1a treatment

Subcutaneous interferon \u3b2-1a may protect against cognitive impairment in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: 5-year follow-up of the COGIMUS study

Objective: To assess the effects of subcutaneous (sc) interferon (IFN) -1a on cognition over 5 years in mildly disabled patients with relapsing\u2013remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods: Patients aged 18\u201350 years with RRMS (Expanded Disability Status Scale score #4.0) who had completed the 3- year COGIMUS study underwent standardized magnetic resonance imaging, neurological examination, and neuropsychological testing at years 4 and 5. Predictors of cognitive impairment at year 5 were identified using multivariate analysis. Results: Of 331 patients who completed the 3-year COGIMUS study, 265 participated in the 2-year extension study, 201 of whom (75.8%; sc IFN b-1a three times weekly: 44 mg, n = 108; 22 mg, n = 93) completed 5 years\u2019 follow-up. The proportion of patients with cognitive impairment in the study population overall remained stable between baseline (18.0%) and year 5 (22.6%). The proportion of patients with cognitive impairment also remained stable in both treatment groups between baseline and year 5, and between year 3 and year 5. However, a significantly higher proportion of men than women had cognitive impairment at year 5 (26.5% vs 14.4%, p = 0.046). Treatment with the 22 versus 44 mg dose was predictive of cognitive impairment at year 5 (hazard ratio 0.68; 95% confidence interval 0.48\u20130.97). Conclusions: This study suggests that sc IFN b-1a dose-dependently stabilizes or delays cognitive impairment over a 5-year period in most patients with mild RRMS. Women seem to be more protected against developing cognitive impairment, which may indicate greater response to therapy or the inherently better prognosis associated with female sex in MS