Under-treatment of elderly patients with ovarian cancer: a population based study

International audienceAbstractBackgroundOvarian cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in France, and mainly affects the elderly. The primary objective of this study was to compare treatment of ovarian cancer according to age.MethodsAll patients with invasive cancer (n = 1151) diagnosed between 1997 and 2011 in the Herault Department of southern France were included. Demographic data (age, area of residence), cancer characteristics (stage, histology, grade) and treatment modality (type, period and location of treatment) were analysed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to compare treatment by age.ResultsOvarian cancer was less treated in elderly compared to younger patients, regardless of the type of treatment. This difference was more pronounced for chemotherapy, and was maximal for surgery followed by chemotherapy (odds ratio (OR) for surgery for patients aged >70 vs those aged 70 vs 70 vs <70 = 0.14 [0.08–0.28]). This effect of age was independent of other variables, including stage and grade. The probability of receiving standard treatment, in accordance with recommendations, was reduced by 50 % in elderly patients compared to their younger counterparts. Overall and net survival of elderly patients with standard treatment was similar to those of younger patients treated outside standard treatment.ConclusionsElderly women with ovarian cancer were therapeutically disadvantaged compared to younger women. Further studies including co morbidities are necessary to refine these results and to improve therapeutic management of elderly patients with ovarian cancer

214: Interpreting troponin elevation in relation to symptom onset in intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism

BackgroundTroponin elevation in the setting of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is of small magnitude and short duration and can go unnoticed in pts referred late after symptom onset.MethodsProspective, single-center registry of pts with confirmed intermediate-risk PE, defined as at least 1 echocardiographic finding of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction (endo-diastolic (EDRV)/left ventricular (EDLV) end-diastolic diameter ratio >=1 in the 4-chamber view, paradoxical septal systolic motion or pulmonary hypertension defined as RV/atrial gradient >30mmHg), or positive troponin test. Combined in-hospital endpoint was defined as death, non-fatal recurrent PE, or residual pulmonary vascular obstruction (RPVO) ≥35%.Results282 pts were included, age 66±14 years, 59% women, 174 (62%) referred ≤5 days after symptom onset, 108 (38%) after >5 days. Troponin elevation was observed in 126 (72%) treated within ≤5 days, in 60 (56%) treated after >5 days (p=0.004). A significant interaction was observed between time since symptom onset and both troponin elevation and persistence of EDRV/EDLV diameter ratio>1 at 48h. The negative predictive value of troponin elevation was 85% in patients treated within 5 days of symptoms, but fell to 70% in those admitted >5 days after symptom onset (p=0.002). Positive troponin was an independent predictor of adverse outcome (OR=1.43 [1.08-5.56]). ROC curves show that prognostic value of positive troponin test was higher in pts referred ≤5 days than in pts referred >5 days after symptom onset (p=0.01).ConclusionThere is a significant relation between troponin elevation and time since symptom onset in patients with intermediate-risk PE. Negative predictive value of troponin elevation is adequate in pts treated early (≤5 days) but is suboptimal in pts treated >5 days after symptom onset.TableResults<=5 days since symptom onset>5 days since symptom onsetpSensitivity72% (61.3-82.7)51% (42.4-59.6)0.005Specificity42% (44.5-49.5)47% (39.1-54.9)0.33PPV26% (18.4-33.6)30% (22.2-37.8)0.81NPV85% (78.4-91.6)70% (63-77)0.00

Extended Anticoagulation After Pulmonary Embolism:A Multicenter Observational Cohort Analysis

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) has a long‐term risk of adverse events, which can be prevented by extended anticoagulation. We compared clinical characteristics and outcomes between patients treated with 2‐year extended anticoagulation and those who were not, in a population who had completed an initial phase of 3 to 6 months of anticoagulant therapy after acute PE. METHODS AND RESULTS: Observational cohort analysis of patients with PE who survived an initial phase of 3 to 6 months anticoagulation. Primary efficacy outcome was all‐cause death or recurrent venous thromboembolism. Primary safety outcome was major bleeding. In total, 858 (71.5%) patients were treated with and 341 (28.5%) were treated without extended anticoagulant therapy during the active study period. Age <65 years, intermediate‐high or high‐risk index PE, normal platelet count, and the absence of concomitant antiplatelet treatment were independently associated with the prescription of extended anticoagulation. The mean duration of the active phase was 2.1±0.3 years. The adjusted rate of the primary efficacy outcome was 2.1% in the extended group and 7.7% in the nonextended group (P<0.001) for patients treated with extended anticoagulant therapy. Rate of bleeding were similar between the extended anticoagulant group and the nonextended group. CONCLUSIONS: Extended oral anticoagulation over 2 and a half years after index PE seems to provide a net clinical benefit compared with no anticoagulation in patients with PE selected to receive extended anticoagulation. Randomized clinical trials are warranted to explore the potential benefit of extended anticoagulation in patients with PE, especially those with transient provoking factors but residual risk

Defining Your &ldquo;Life Territory&rdquo;: The Meaning of Place and Home for Community Dwellers and Nursing Home Residents&mdash;A Qualitative Study in Four European Countries

The meaning of place and home for community dwellers and nursing home residents remains unclear. We explored the relationship between older people and their &ldquo;life territory&rdquo;, to propose a working definition of this concept, which could be used to orient policy decisions. Individual, semi-structured interviews were performed with older people, nursing home staff, and representatives of local institutions/elected officials in four European countries (France, Belgium, Germany, Italy). Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. In total, 54 interviews were performed. Five main themes emerged: (i) working definition of &ldquo;your life territory&rdquo; (a multidimensional concept covering individual and collective aspects); (ii) importance of the built environment (e.g., public transport, sidewalks, benches, access ramps); (iii) interactions between nursing homes and the outside community (specifically the need to maintain interactions with the local community); (iv) a sense of integration (dependent on social contacts, seniority in the area, perceived self-utility); and (v) the use of new technologies (to promote integration, social contacts and access to culture). This study found that the &ldquo;life territory&rdquo; of older people is a multidimensional concept, centred around five main domains, which together contribute to integrating older people into the fibre of their community

Palliative care for solid transplant candidates and recipients: protocol for a scoping review of the literature

Palliative care for solid transplant candidates and recipients: protocol for a scoping review of the literatur

Ethical issues in intensive care: more questions than answers.

Préface du numéro spécial de "the Annals of Translational Medicine" portant sur des questions d'éthique médicale en soins intensifs. [Vol 5, Supplement 4 (December 2017): Annals of Translational Medicine (Focus on “Ethical Issues in Intensive Care”)]http://atm.amegroups.com/article/view/17714/1810

Ethical challenges involved in obtaining consent for research from patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit

International audienceClinical research remains a vital contributor to medical knowledge, and is an established and integral part of the practice of medicine worldwide. Respect for patient autonomy and ethical principles dictate that informed consent must be obtained from subjects before they can be enrolled into clinical research, yet these conditions may be difficult to apply in real practice in the intensive care unit (ICU). A number of factors serve to complexify the consent process in critically ill patients, notably decisional incapacity of the patient due to illness or sedation. Obtaining consent for research from a designated proxy or family member, commonly termed a "surrogate decision maker" (SDM) may be difficult, since SDMs dealing with the emotional, psychological and logistic impact of a sudden hospitalisation of their loved-one are not always receptive to the idea of research or emotionally equipped to reflect rationally on the opportunities being proposed to them. In addition, time constraints and workload pressures on the attending physician may render consent opportunities unfeasible, and the resulting loss of eligible patients could represent a bias in clinical trials, or limit the generalizability of their results. Alternative procedures such as deferred or waived consent have been used in the past and may be suitable alternatives in certain conditions, provided appropriate approval from institutional review boards (IRBs) can be obtained, in accordance with existing legislation. Some of the main questions inherent to the conduct of clinical research in critically ill patients are discussed in this review

Adult vaccination as the cornerstone of successful ageing: the case of herpes zoster vaccination. A European Interdisciplinary Council on Ageing (EICA) expert focus group

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a painful cutaneous rash with vesicular lesions, lasting up to 3 weeks, and caused by reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus (VZV). It may be associated with complications, the most feared being post-herpetic neuralgia. Effective vaccines are available to prevent HZ, but uptake remains low. We report here the conclusions of an expert focus group convened by the European Interdisciplinary Council on Ageing (EICA). The group discussed how existing recommendations regarding HZ vaccination could be better implemented, and how compliance and coverage with HZ vaccination could be enhanced. This report proposes strategies to increase awareness of HZ and its vaccine, enhance vaccine uptake, and educate regarding the role of prevention, including immunization, as a means to “age well”. A key strategy that could rapidly and easily be implemented at low cost is co-administration of HZ vaccine with other vaccines scheduled in the target age group. The scientific evidence surrounding the safety and efficacy of co-administration is discussed. Other strategies, such as active calls, publicity campaigns and national vaccine registries are also outlined. There is a compelling need for a full consensus document that carries weight across all the healthcare professions involved in vaccination, to issue simple and basic recommendations for all healthcare providers