Genetic Contribution of Femoral Neck Bone Geometry to the Risk of Developing Osteoporosis : A Family-Based Study

Femoral neck geometry parameters are believed to be as good as bone mineral density as independent factors in predicting hip fracture risk. This study was conducted to analyze the roles of genetic and environmental factors in femoral properties measured in a sample of Spanish families with osteoporotic fractures and extended genealogy. The "Genetic Analysis of Osteoporosis (GAO) Project" involved 11 extended families with a total number of 376 individuals. We studied three categorical phenotypes of particular clinical interest and we used a Hip structural analysis based on DXA to analyze 17 strength and geometrical phenotypes of the hip. All the femoral properties had highly significant heritability, ranging from 0.252 to 0.586. The most significant correlations were observed at the genetic level (ρ). Osteoporotic fracture status (Affected 2) and, particularly, low bone mass and osteoporotic condition (Affected 3) had the highest number of significant genetic correlations with diverse femoral properties. In conclusion, our findings suggest that a relatively simple and easy to use method based on DXA studies can provide useful data on properties of the Hip in clinical practice. Furthermore, our results provide a strong motivation for further studies in order to improve the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism underlying bone architecture and the genetics of osteoporosis

Association of Serum Ferritin Levels Before Start of Conditioning With Mortality After alloSCT - A Prospective, Non-interventional Study of the EBMT Transplant Complications Working Party

Elevated serum ferritin levels occur due to iron overload or during inflammation and macrophage activation. A correlation of high serum ferritin levels with increased mortality after alloSCT has been suggested by several retrospective analyses as well as by two smaller prospective studies. This prospective multicentric study aimed to study the association of ferritin serum levels before start of conditioning with alloSCT outcome. Patients with acute leukemia, lymphoma or MDS receiving a matched sibling alloSCT for the first time were considered for inclusion, regardless of conditioning. A comparison of outcomes between patients with high and low ferritin level was performed using univariate analysis and multivariate analysis using cause-specific Cox model. Twenty centers reported data on 298 alloSCT recipients. The ferritin cut off point was determined at 1500 mu g/l (median of measured ferritin levels). In alloSCT recipients with ferritin levels above cut off measured before the start of conditioning, overall survival (HR = 2.5, CI = 1.5-4.1, p = 0.0005) and progression-free survival (HR = 2.4, CI = 1.6-3.8, p <0.0001) were inferior. Excess mortality in the high ferritin group was due to both higher relapse incidence (HR = 2.2, CI = 1.2-3.8, p = 0.007) and increased non-relapse mortality (NRM) (HR = 3.1, CI = 1.5-6.4, p = 0.002). NRM was driven by significantly higher infection-related mortality in the high ferritin group (HR = 3.9, CI = 1.6-9.7, p = 0.003). Acute and chronic GVHD incidence or severity were not associated to serum ferritin levels. We conclude that ferritin levels can serve as routine laboratory biomarker for mortality risk assessment before alloSCT.Peer reviewe

Tratamiento del dolor en pacientes hospitalizados: relación entre satisfaciión y tratamiento analgésico.

El dolor es un síntoma muy común y la práctica asistencial diaria nos muestra que, a pesar de todas las herramientas que tenemos para combatirlo, aún somos incapaces de controlarlo adecuadamente en muchos pacientes. La evaluación del dolor es de vital importancia para el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de las enfermedades que cursan con éste síntoma y, aún más, cuando el síntoma se convierte en la enfermedad. En el presente trabajo se describen varios estudios en los cuales se valoraron la prevalencia y características del dolor, y en el que se ha desarrollado un instrumento para la valoración del dolor hospitalario y la satisfacción de los pacientes. Posteriormente lo hemos utilizado para evaluar si el dolor en los pacientes hospitalarios está bien controlado y, de no ser así, intentar establecer las razones por las cuales no lo está. Los objetivos del presente trabajo fueron la construcción de un instrumento para evaluar la satisfacción de los pacientes con el tratamiento analgésico. Posteriormente se determinó la prevalencia y las características del dolor en una muestra de pacientes hospitalizados, así como los métodos de valoración del mismo. Inicialmente se realizó una prueba piloto con el nuevo instrumento en 255 pacientes, la cual mostró que las puntuaciones de dolor en los pacientes hospitalizados eran elevadas. Además, la intensidad del dolor era incongruente con la satisfacción de los pacientes con el tratamiento recibido, ya que ésta estaba más relacionada con el trato recibido por los profesionales sanitarios que con el alivio del dolor. Posteriormente se utilizó el mismo instrumento en 1675 pacientes de 15 hospitales catalanes, para confirmar y ampliar los resultados de la primera investigación. Al principio se confirmó que la prevalencia del dolor era elevada y que inclusive era mayor durante el ingreso y al alta que a la llegada al hospital. Para analizar las causas de este hallazgo se valoró la utilización de analgésicos en los hospitales. El estudio demostró que, a pesar del alto número de prescripciones analgésicas, de que el tipo de analgésico era el adecuado y de x que las dosis utilizadas eran las correctas, la mayoría de los pacientes presentaba valoraciones de intensidad de dolor más altas de lo deseable ya que solamente el 1% de los pacientes tenían prescritas dosis de rescate analgésicas y que las pautas analgésicas no se cumplían rigurosamente. Posteriormente se valoró el registro de la intensidad del dolor, y se observó que más de la mitad de los pacientes carecían de un registro de la intensidad del dolor y que esta práctica, valorada como indicador de calidad asistencial, no se cumplía de manera rutinaria. En conclusión, hemos observado que los pacientes hospitalizados presentan unas puntuaciones de dolor elevadas, que las recomendaciones para el tratamiento analgésico hospitalario no se cumplen rigurosamente y que no se registra la intensidad del dolor en las historias clínicas de forma sistemática. Sorprendentemente, a pesar de esos hallazgos, los pacientes refieren estar satisfechos con el alivio del dolor. Por esta razón continuamos con la investigación con el propósito de estimar si es la valoración del dolor, la falta de rigor en el seguimiento de las pautas analgésicas hospitalarias o bien las creencias y experiencias previas de los pacientes las que nos llevan a tener esta alta prevalencia de dolor en los pacientes hospitalizados.Pain is a common symptom and many evidences show us that, in spite of all the tools we have to manage it, we are unable to do so. Pain evaluation is of great importance for the diagnosis and treatment of patients, and even more when the pain symptom becomes the disease. Within the present work, several studies have been conducted in order to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of pain in the hospital setting. We also have developed a tool for the evaluation of pain and patient satisfaction. Subsequently we have used this tool to appraise if pain is adequately handled and if otherwise, try to establish the main reasons for this finding. The main objective of this work was the construction of an instrument to evaluate patients’ satisfaction with the management of pain, and to assess the prevalence and characteristics of pain in a sample of patients in a hospital setting, as well as the methodology used to assess them. Initially a pilot test of the tool was performed in 255 patients, which showed that the pain scores in inpatients were too high. Moreover, pain intensity was incongruent with patients’ satisfaction with pain relief. Yet, it had a higher correlation with satisfaction with health workers than with satisfaction with the received treatment. Next, the same tool was used with three additional questionnaires in 1675 admitted patients into 15 hospitals in Catalonia, in order to look deeper into the results of the first study. For starters, it was confirmed that pain prevalence was too high and higher during hospitalization and at discharge than before admittance. To analyze the cause of these findings the analgesic use in the hospital was examined. The results showed that, in spite of the high number of analgesic prescriptions and the use of the correct type of analgesic, most of the patients had high pain intensity scores; only 1% of the patients had rescue analgesia prescribed and the analgesic regimes were not properly administered. Subsequently, pain intensity registration in the medical record was xii evaluated, showing that that more than half of patients did not have their pain intensity registered on the medical chart. This practice is valued as an indicator of medical assistance quality, and even though it was not followed as a routine in the hospitals. In conclusion, we have observed that hospital inpatients show high pain intensity scores, the recommendations for analgesic use in a hospital setting are not rigorously followed, and pain intensity scores are not systematically registered in the medical charts. Surprisingly, in spite of theses findings, patients seem to be satisfied with the analgesic treatment. In consequence, we are continuing with the research with the aim of figuring out if the high prevalence of pain in Catalonian hospitals is due to pain evaluation, the absence of rigor in following the analgesic prescriptions or maybe the patients’ previous experiences and beliefs

El dolor en ancianos y en pacientes con déficits cognitivos. Un estudio DELPHI

ABSTRACT Objetives: Many elderly people that live in nursing homes suffer from chronic pain and almost half of them may be affected by cognitive impairment. This situation reduces the possibility of communicating the pain that they suffer and may hinder its detection by health professionals who care them. The aim of the current study was to know the opinions and beliefs of healthcare workers who look after them on the presence of pain as well as the methods to assess it. Material and methods: Physicians, psychologists, physiotherapists, nurses and nurses assistants from 25 nursing homes of Catalonia were invited to participate. In the first phase 22 centers and 107 people participated. A questionnaire with 19 statements (16 assessed by Likert-like scale and 3 open questions) was used. In the second phase, a new questionnaire was prepared with the distribution of the answers of the first phase. In this phase, 19 centers (76 %) and 90 people (84 %) agreed to collaborate again. Results: A consensus (≥ 90 % of agreement) was reached in the following statements: a) Pain in the elderly is an exclusively physical symptom (disagree); b) Chronic pain of elderly cannot be treated (disagree); c) The lack of verbal communication to report pain in the elderly with cognitive impairment may convey to an inadequate treatment (agree); d) Pain may be equally evaluated in people with oral communication that in those who cannot do it (disagree); e) There are not enough tools for assessing pain in patients with cognitive impairment and limited communication (agree); f) Elderly people feel pain more frequently than younger people because it is the only way to feel alive (disagree). The variation index in the two phases was less than 0.04 and the Spearman analysis did not find any different answers in the different profile of health workers. Conclusions: These results showed that health professionals believed that there is a lack of adequate tools to evaluate pain in their patients and that this situation may have deleterious effect for them and health professionals as well. It is suggested that the use of the observation of behavioral changes may be the best way to assess pain and that they should be included in the evaluation tools to be used in patients with communication disabilities.RESUMEN Objetivos: Muchos ancianos que viven en centros sociosanitarios sufren de dolor crónico y casi la mitad de ellos pueden presentar alteraciones cognitivas. Esta situación reduce considerablemente su posibilidad de comunicar el dolor que padecen y puede impedir que sea detectado por los profesionales sanitarios que les atienden. El objetivo del presente estudio Delphi fue conocer la opinión de los profesionales implicados en el cuidado de los pacientes ancianos con alteraciones cognitivas graves sobre la presencia de dolor y la valoración de su existencia. Material y métodos: Se invitó a participar a médicos, psicólogos, fisioterapeutas, enfermeras y auxiliares de clínica pertenecientes a 25 centros socio-sanitarios de Cataluña. En la primera fase, participaron 22 centros (88 %) y 107 expertos. Se elaboró un cuestionario con 19 enunciados (16 valorados según la escala tipo Likert y tres preguntas abiertas). En la segunda, se preparó un cuestionario con la distribución percentual de respuestas en cada enunciado. Colaboraron 19 centros (76 %) y 90 profesionales (84 %). Resultados: Se obtuvo consenso (≥ 90 % de coincidencia) en los siguientes enunciados: a) el dolor en los ancianos es un síntoma exclusivamente físico (en desacuerdo); b) el dolor crónico del anciano es intratable (en desacuerdo); c) la falta de capacidad verbal para manifestar el dolor en los ancianos con alteraciones cognitivas puede conducir a un tratamiento insuficiente (en acuerdo); d) se puede evaluar el dolor de la misma manera en aquellas personas que pueden expresarlo de forma verbal que en aquellas que no pueden hacerlo (en desacuerdo); e) no existen instrumentos suficientes para valorar la presencia de dolor en pacientes con deficiencias cognitivas y dificultades de comunicación (en acuerdo); f) los ancianos sienten más el dolor pues es la única forma de sentirse vivos (en desacuerdo). El índice de variación de estabilidad de respuesta en las dos rondas fue inferior al 0,04 y el análisis de correlación de Spearman no encontró comportamientos diferentes en la respuesta de ninguna de las subpoblaciones de profesionales. Conclusiones: Los resultados muestran que los profesionales sanitarios creen que faltan instrumentos adecuados para valorar el dolor en sus pacientes y que este hecho puede conllevar consecuencias deletéreas tanto para ellos como para los profesionales que los atienden. Se propone la observación de los cambios conductuales como la mejor forma de valorar el dolor y su empleo en instrumentos de evaluación para aquellos pacientes con dificultades de comunicación oral