A qualitative study exploring midlife women’s stages of change from domestic violence towards freedom

Gold OABackground Domestic Violence (DV) remains a significant global health problem for women in contemporary society. Existing literature on midlife women’s experiences of domestic violence is limited and focuses on health implications. Leaving a violent relationship is a dynamic process that often requires multiple attempts and separations prior to final termination. The aim of this study was to explore the process of leaving a violent relationship for midlife women. Methods This qualitative study involved fifteen women aged between 40–55 who had accessed residential and non-residential community support services for domestic violence within the UK. Community-based support agencies provided these women with access to letters of invitation and participant information sheet explaining the study. The women notified agency staff who contacted the research team to arrange a mutually convenient time to meet within a safe place for both the women and researchers. It was stressed to all potential participants that no identifiable information would be shared with the agency staff. Women were considered survivors of DV if they defined themselves as such. Data were gathered through semi structured interviews, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Results Midlife women appear to differ from younger women by transitioning quickly though the stages of change, moving rapidly through the breaking free onto the maintenance stage. This rapid transition is the resultant effect of living with long-term violence causing a shift in the women’s perception towards the violent partner, with an associated reclamation of power from within the violent relationship. A realisation that rapid departure from the violence may be critical in terms of personal safety, and the realisation that there was something ‘wrong’ within the relationship, a ‘day of dawning’ that had not been apparent previously appears to positively affect the trajectory of leaving. Conclusions Midlife women appeared to navigate through the stages of change in a rapid linear process, forging ahead and exiting the relationship with certainty and without considering options. Whilst these findings appear to differ from younger women’s process of leaving, further research is needed to explore and understand the optimum time for intervention and support to maximise midlife women’s opportunities to escape an abusive partner, before being reflected appropriately in policy and practice.This study received funding from The Research and Knowledge Transfer Office, The University of Chester, and from the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation – ‘Healthway

Association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the multinational Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been associated with exposures in the workplace. We aimed to assess the association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study. Methods We analysed cross-sectional data from 28 823 adults (≥40 years) in 34 countries. We considered 11 occupations and grouped them by likelihood of exposure to organic dusts, inorganic dusts and fumes. The association of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, wheeze, dyspnoea, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/FVC with occupation was assessed, per study site, using multivariable regression. These estimates were then meta-analysed. Sensitivity analyses explored differences between sexes and gross national income. Results Overall, working in settings with potentially high exposure to dusts or fumes was associated with respiratory symptoms but not lung function differences. The most common occupation was farming. Compared to people not working in any of the 11 considered occupations, those who were farmers for ≥20 years were more likely to have chronic cough (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.19–1.94), wheeze (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.16–1.63) and dyspnoea (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.53–2.20), but not lower FVC (β=0.02 L, 95% CI −0.02–0.06 L) or lower FEV1/FVC (β=0.04%, 95% CI −0.49–0.58%). Some findings differed by sex and gross national income. Conclusion At a population level, the occupational exposures considered in this study do not appear to be major determinants of differences in lung function, although they are associated with more respiratory symptoms. Because not all work settings were included in this study, respiratory surveillance should still be encouraged among high-risk dusty and fume job workers, especially in low- and middle-income countries.publishedVersio

Cohort Profile: Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study was established to assess the prevalence of chronic airflow obstruction, a key characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and its risk factors in adults (≥40 years) from general populations across the world. The baseline study was conducted between 2003 and 2016, in 41 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, the Caribbean and Oceania, and collected high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry from 28 828 participants. The follow-up study was conducted between 2019 and 2021, in 18 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. At baseline, there were in these sites 12 502 participants with high-quality spirometry. A total of 6452 were followed up, with 5936 completing the study core questionnaire. Of these, 4044 also provided high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry. On both occasions, the core questionnaire covered information on respiratory symptoms, doctor diagnoses, health care use, medication use and ealth status, as well as potential risk factors. Information on occupation, environmental exposures and diet was also collected

Chimney technique for aortic arch pathologies:an 11-year single-center experience.

Purpose: To report our single-center experience with the chimney technique for aortic arch pathologies and the mid- to long-term results in these patients. Methods: From June 2002 to May 2013, 26 patients (18 men; mean age 71.2 years, 53–86) underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) combined with chimney technique. Indications for treatment were: a proximal landing zone ,15 mm long distal to the left subclavian artery (LSA), thoracic aortic aneurysm (n1⁄413), complicated type B aortic dissection (n1⁄410), type I endoleak after previous TEVAR (n1⁄42), and penetrating aortic ulcer (n1⁄41). Treatment was performed in the emergency setting in 7 cases. The 28 chimney stent- grafts (double chimneys in 2 patients) were deployed in the innominate artery (n1⁄47), left common carotid artery (n1⁄410), and LSA (n1⁄411). All patients underwent computed tomography before discharge, at 1, 6, and 12 months, and yearly thereafter. Results: Technical success was 100%. One (3.8%) perioperative death was due to a cerebral hemorrhage. No major stroke was registered, but 3 (11.5%) minor strokes occurred (all resolved). Paraparesis developed in 2 (7.7%) patients. Median follow-up was 36.8 months (range 1–131), during which an additional 4 (15.4%) patients died, but only 1 death was aneurysm-related. Chimney graft patency was 89.3% (25/28); an asymptomatic fracture was found in a patent chimney stent-graft at the 18-month follow-up. The type I endoleak rate was 23% (n1⁄46); 3 endoleaks associated with aneurysm sac enlargement were treated. Conclusion: The chimney technique for aortic arch pathologies is safe and feasible and may be an option in patients considered at high risk for surgery or who are ineligible for conventional TEVAR, especially in the emergency setting. Concern persists regarding type I endoleak, and long-term follow-up remains mandatory

Endovascular management of total juxtarenal aortic occlusive disease in high-risk patients: technical considerations and clinical outcome

BaCKground: To report our single-center experience in the endovascular treatment of juxtarenal aorto-iliac occlusions. MeThods: Between december 2008 and december 2012, 13 patients with total juxtarenal aorto-iliac occlusion, considered at high risk for open revascularization, were treated by endovascular means at our department. inclusion criteria were severe intermittent claudication, rest pain and distal tissue loss. antegrade recanalization from percutaneous brachial access and retrograde angioplasty and stenting from percutaneous or surgical femoral accesses were performed. The renal arteries (RAs) were protected using filters or balloons. Aorto-iliac bare-metal stents were deployed in all patients. resulTs: no death was registered. Technical success was 100%. in 11 patients (84.6%) the ankle-Brachial index increased to 0.9-1. renal arteries were involved in 7 cases (53.8%): 3 chimney stent grafts deployment, 2 aorto-iliac stent fenestrations and 2 aorto-iliac stents placement above the renal arteries without renal function impairment. Complication rate was 38.5%: 2 cases of thrombus dislodgement into the ras, 1 distal artery embolization, 1 common iliac artery rupture and 1 pseudo-aneurysm. all complications were treated percutaneously, except for the distal embolization treated surgically. The patient with iliac artery rupture underwent acute renal insufficiency requiring temporary dialysis after hemorrhagic shock because of retroperitoneal hematoma. Mean follow-up was 18 months (range 6-30 months). The primary and secondary patency was respectively 92.3% and 100%. ConClusion: endovascular recanalization of juxtarenal aorto-iliac occlusion in selected patients is feasible and safe, with good early and mid-term results and should be considered in high risk patients