Effectiveness, cost-utility, and benefits of a multicomponent therapy to improve the quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia in primary care : a mixed methods study protocol

Introduction:Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition characterized by chronic pain, fatigue and loss of function which significantly impairs quality of life. Although treatment of FM remains disputed, some studies point at the efficacy of interdisciplinary therapy. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness, cost-utility and benefits of a multicomponent therapy on quality of life (main variable), functional impact, mood and pain in people suffering from FM that attend primary care centers (PCCs) of the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS).Methods and analysis:A 2-phase, mixed methods study has been designed following Medical Research Council guidance. Phase 1: Pragmatic randomized clinical trial with patients diagnosed with FM that attend one of the 11 PCCs of the ICS Gerència Territorial Terres de l'Ebre. We estimate a total sample of 336 patients. The control group will receive usual clinical care, while the multicomponent therapy group (MT group) will receive usual clinical care plus group therapy (consisting of health education, exercise and cognitive-behavioural therapy) during 12 weeks in 2-hourly weekly sessions. Analysis: the standardized mean response and the standardized effect size will be assessed at 3, 9, and 15 months after the beginning of the study using multiple linear regression models. Utility measurements will be used for the economic analysis. Phase 2: Qualitative socio constructivist study to evaluate the intervention according to the results obtained and the opinions and experiences of participants (patients and professionals). We will use theoretical sampling, with 2 discussion groups of participants in the multicomponent therapy and 2 discussion groups of professionals of different PCCs. A thematic content analysis will be carried out.Ethics and dissemination:This study protocol has been approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (code P18/068). Articles will be published in international, peer-reviewed scientific journals.Trial registration:Clinical-Trials.gov: NCT04049006

Anticoagulation Control with Acenocoumarol or Warfarin in Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation in Primary Care (Fantas-TIC Study)

Introduction: The use of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is complicated due to the narrow therapeutic margin they present and their unpredictable dose-response relationship. Most studies are based on warfarin, with the results being extrapolated to acenocoumarol. However, studies comparing the two treatments in terms of the degree of anticoagulation control are scarce, justifying the present study. Main factors associated with poor control of time in therapeutic range (TTR) of anticoagulated patients are also studied. Methods: Cross-sectional study, with real-world data from patients treated in primary care (PC). Data were obtained from the System for the Improvement of Research in PC (SIDIAP) database, covering 60,978 NVAF-anticoagulated patients from 287 PC centres in 2018. Descriptive statistics were derived, and odds ratios were estimated by multivariate logistic regression. Results: 41,430 patients were considered: 93% were being treated with acenocoumarol and 7% with warfarin. There was no difference in poor control of TTR between the two types of VKA treatment, acenocoumarol and warfarin (38.9 vs. 38.4; p = 0.610). Poor anticoagulation control was mainly associated with advanced alcoholism (OR = 1.38), liver failure (OR = 1.37) and intracranial haemorrhage (OR = 1.35) as well as female sex, age < 60 years, cardiovascular history, diabetes mellitus and other variables. Conclusions: There is no association between poor anticoagulation control and the type of VKA treatment administered. Factors associated with poor control of TTR must be considered in clinical practice to improve control and decision-making

Effectiveness, cost-utility, and benefits of a multicomponent therapy to improve the quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia in primary care: A mixed methods study protocol

Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition characterized by chronic pain, fatigue and loss of function which significantly impairs quality of life. Although treatment of FM remains disputed, some studies point at the efficacy of interdisciplinary therapy. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness, cost-utility and benefits of a multicomponent therapy on quality of life (main variable), functional impact, mood and pain in people suffering from FM that attend primary care centers (PCCs) of the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS). Methods and analysis: A 2-phase, mixed methods study has been designed following Medical Research Council guidance. Phase 1: Pragmatic randomized clinical trial with patients diagnosed with FM that attend one of the 11 PCCs of the ICS Gerència Territorial Terres de l'Ebre. We estimate a total sample of 336 patients. The control group will receive usual clinical care, while the multicomponent therapy group (MT group) will receive usual clinical care plus group therapy (consisting of health education, exercise and cognitive-behavioural therapy) during 12 weeks in 2-hourly weekly sessions. Analysis: the standardized mean response and the standardized effect size will be assessed at 3, 9, and 15 months after the beginning of the study using multiple linear regression models. Utility measurements will be used for the economic analysis. Phase 2: Qualitative socio constructivist study to evaluate the intervention according to the results obtained and the opinions and experiences of participants (patients and professionals). We will use theoretical sampling, with 2 discussion groups of participants in the multicomponent therapy and 2 discussion groups of professionals of different PCCs. A thematic content analysis will be carried out. Ethics and dissemination: This study protocol has been approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (code P18/068). Articles will be published in international, peer-reviewed scientific journals

A new clinical decision support tool for improving the adequacy of anticoagulant therapy and reducing the incidence of stroke in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation

Altres ajuts: Pla estratègic de recerca i innovació en salut (PERIS) - Subvencions per a projectes de recerca orientats a l'atenció primària), grant number SLT002/16/00146.Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and increases the risk of ischemic stroke 4 to 5-fold. The first choice of anticoagulant therapy (AT) is the vitamin K antagonist (VKA). Contraindication to VKA or poor control of the International Normalized Ratio leads to the administration of direct-acting oral anticoagulants. There is a trend toward inadequate AT in nonvalvular AF (NVAF) patients. Aim: To evaluate the impact of the implementation of a decision support tool linked to the digital clinical history on the adequacy of AT, the incidence of complications, and the mortality in patients with NVAF in primary care centers (PCCs) of the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS). Randomized clinical trial in 287 PCCs, formed by 2 groups (intervention and control). Population: patients controlled in PCCs, diagnosed with NVAF 1 year before the implementation of the decision support tool and with VKA treatment over a minimum of 1 year. A simple randomization method will be performed at a sector level. The decision support tool will be available for 1 year. The time in therapeutic range (TTR) will be available in the digital clinical history only to professionals of the intervention group. The information system for primary care research development database will be used for the data extraction. Statistical analysis will be done at 3 time points: before the implementation of the tool, at 1 year, and at 2 years after the beginning of the intervention. Multilevel (patient and professional levels) logistic regression models will be used to estimate the effect of the intervention. This study protocol was approved by the Ethical Committee of Clinical Investigation of the Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (code P17/091). Articles will be published in scientific journals. Clinical-Trials.gov: NCT03367325

Oral Anticoagulant Adequacy in Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation in Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Real-World Data (Fantas-TIC Study)

Background: Oral anticoagulants (OAs) are the treatment to prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation (AF). Anticoagulant treatment choice in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) must be individualized, taking current guidelines into account. Adequacy of anticoagulant therapy under the current criteria for NVAF in real-world primary care is presented. Methods: Cross-sectional study, with real-world data from patients treated in primary care (PC). Data were obtained from the System for the Improvement of Research in Primary Care (SIDIAP) database, covering 60,978 NVAF-anticoagulated patients from 287 PC centers in 2018. Results: In total, 41,430 (68%) were treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and 19,548 (32%) NVAF with direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Inadequate prescription was estimated to be 36.0% and 67.6%, respectively. Most DOAC inadequacy (77.3%) was due to it being prescribed as a first-line anticoagulant when there was no history of thromboembolic events or intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). A total of 22.1% had missing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values. Common causes of inadequate VKA prescription were poor control of time in therapeutic range (TTR) (98.8%) and ICH (2.2%). Conclusions: Poor adequacy to current criteria was observed, being inadequacy higher in DOACs than in VKAs. TTR and GFR should be routinely calculated in electronic health records (EHR) to facilitate decision-making and patient safety

Diferencias entre MDRD-4 y CG en la prevalencia de la insuficiencia renal y sus variables asociadas en pacientes diabéticos tipo 2

Objetivo: Estimar la prevalencia de insuficiencia renal (IR) oculta en DM2, comparando 2 fórmulas de estimación de filtrado glomerular (EFG): Modification of Diet in Renal Disease 4 (MDRD-4) y Crockcoft-Gault (CG) y las variables clínicas asociadas. Diseño Analítico transversal multicéntrico. Emplazamiento: Dos áreas básicas de atención primaria a Terres de l’Ebre. Participantes: Un total de 493 DM2 con médico asignado en las áreas incluidas y edad > 18 años. Pérdidas de 9 y 11 casos en cada fórmula debido a falta de variables necesarias para EFG. Mediciones principales: Estimación del filtrado glomerular mediante las 2 fórmulas, valores de creatinina plasmática, clasificación de pacientes con IR establecida, IR oculta y sin IR, posibles variables clinicopatológicas asociadas a la IR. Resultados: Un 45,2% fueron hombres, con una media de edad 70,4 años y un tiempo de evolución de diabetes de 7,5 años. La prevalencia de IR oculta con MDRD-4 fue del 18%, y del 22,6% con CG. Los casos detectados por CG y no por MDRD-4 fueron mayores y con peso menor. En ambas fórmulas, los pacientes con IR oculta presentaron más patologías crónicas, hipertensión y eventos cardiovasculares (CV) que los sin IR. Los factores de riesgo asociados a IR oculta fueron el ser mujer y el incremento de la edad y del colesterol LDL. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de IR oculta fue del 20% en DM2 e, independientemente de la fórmula, se observó un peor control de factores CV, lo que les hace ser un grupo de mayor riesgo de sufrir un evento

A new clinical decision support tool for improving the adequacy of anticoagulant therapy and reducing the incidence of stroke in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation

Altres ajuts: Pla estratègic de recerca i innovació en salut (PERIS) - Subvencions per a projectes de recerca orientats a l'atenció primària), grant number SLT002/16/00146.Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and increases the risk of ischemic stroke 4 to 5-fold. The first choice of anticoagulant therapy (AT) is the vitamin K antagonist (VKA). Contraindication to VKA or poor control of the International Normalized Ratio leads to the administration of direct-acting oral anticoagulants. There is a trend toward inadequate AT in nonvalvular AF (NVAF) patients. Aim: To evaluate the impact of the implementation of a decision support tool linked to the digital clinical history on the adequacy of AT, the incidence of complications, and the mortality in patients with NVAF in primary care centers (PCCs) of the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS). Randomized clinical trial in 287 PCCs, formed by 2 groups (intervention and control). Population: patients controlled in PCCs, diagnosed with NVAF 1 year before the implementation of the decision support tool and with VKA treatment over a minimum of 1 year. A simple randomization method will be performed at a sector level. The decision support tool will be available for 1 year. The time in therapeutic range (TTR) will be available in the digital clinical history only to professionals of the intervention group. The information system for primary care research development database will be used for the data extraction. Statistical analysis will be done at 3 time points: before the implementation of the tool, at 1 year, and at 2 years after the beginning of the intervention. Multilevel (patient and professional levels) logistic regression models will be used to estimate the effect of the intervention. This study protocol was approved by the Ethical Committee of Clinical Investigation of the Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (code P17/091). Articles will be published in scientific journals. Clinical-Trials.gov: NCT03367325

Gender and Socioeconomic Inequality in the Prescription of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation in Primary Care in Catalonia (Fantas-TIC Study)

Background: evidence points to unequal access to direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy, to the detriment of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged patients in different geographic areas; however, few studies have focused on people with atrial fibrillation. This study aimed to assess gender-based and socioeconomic differences in the prescriptions of anticoagulants in people with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who attended Primary Care. Method: a cross-sectional study with real-world data from patients treated in Primary Care in Catalonia (Spain). Data were obtained from the SIDIAP database, covering 287 Primary Care centers in 2018. Results were presented as descriptive statistics and odds ratios estimated by multivariable logistic regression. Results: a total of 60,978 patients on anticoagulants for non-valvular atrial fibrillation were identified: 41,430 (68%) were taking vitamin K antagonists and 19,548 (32%), DOACs. Women had higher odds of treatment with DOAC (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] 1.12), while lower DOAC prescription rates affected patients from Primary Care centers located in high-deprivation urban centers (ORadj 0.58) and rural areas (ORadj 0.34). Conclusions: DOAC prescription patterns differ by population. Women are more likely to receive it than men, while people living in rural areas and deprived urban areas are less likely to receive this therapy. Following clinical management guidelines could help to minimize the inequality

A Predictive Model of the Start of Annual Influenza Epidemics

Influenza is a respiratory disease that causes annual epidemics during cold seasons. These epidemics increase pressure on healthcare systems, sometimes provoking their collapse. For this reason, a tool is needed to predict when an influenza epidemic will occur so that the healthcare system has time to prepare for it. This study therefore aims to develop a statistical model capable of predicting the onset of influenza epidemics in Catalonia, Spain. Influenza seasons from 2011 to 2017 were used for model training, and those from 2017 to 2018 were used for validation. Logistic regression, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest models were used to predict the onset of the influenza epidemic. The logistic regression model was able to predict the start of influenza epidemics at least one week in advance, based on clinical diagnosis rates of various respiratory diseases and meteorological variables. This model achieved the best punctual estimates for two of three performance metrics. The most important variables in the model were the principal components of bronchiolitis rates and mean temperature. The onset of influenza epidemics can be predicted from clinical diagnosis rates of various respiratory diseases and meteorological variables. Future research should determine whether predictive models play a key role in preventing influenza

Effectiveness, cost-utility, and benefits of a multicomponent therapy to improve the quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia in primary care : a mixed methods study protocol

Introduction:Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition characterized by chronic pain, fatigue and loss of function which significantly impairs quality of life. Although treatment of FM remains disputed, some studies point at the efficacy of interdisciplinary therapy. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness, cost-utility and benefits of a multicomponent therapy on quality of life (main variable), functional impact, mood and pain in people suffering from FM that attend primary care centers (PCCs) of the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS).Methods and analysis:A 2-phase, mixed methods study has been designed following Medical Research Council guidance. Phase 1: Pragmatic randomized clinical trial with patients diagnosed with FM that attend one of the 11 PCCs of the ICS Gerència Territorial Terres de l'Ebre. We estimate a total sample of 336 patients. The control group will receive usual clinical care, while the multicomponent therapy group (MT group) will receive usual clinical care plus group therapy (consisting of health education, exercise and cognitive-behavioural therapy) during 12 weeks in 2-hourly weekly sessions. Analysis: the standardized mean response and the standardized effect size will be assessed at 3, 9, and 15 months after the beginning of the study using multiple linear regression models. Utility measurements will be used for the economic analysis. Phase 2: Qualitative socio constructivist study to evaluate the intervention according to the results obtained and the opinions and experiences of participants (patients and professionals). We will use theoretical sampling, with 2 discussion groups of participants in the multicomponent therapy and 2 discussion groups of professionals of different PCCs. A thematic content analysis will be carried out.Ethics and dissemination:This study protocol has been approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (code P18/068). Articles will be published in international, peer-reviewed scientific journals.Trial registration:Clinical-Trials.gov: NCT04049006