Comparison of Calculated with Measured Oxygen Consumption in Children Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization

Our objective was to compare calculated (LaFarge) with measured oxygen consumption (VO2) using the AS/3 TM Compact Airway Module M-CAiOVX (Datex-Ohmeda, Helsinki, Finland; AS/3 TM) in children without cardiac shunts in a prospective, observational study. VO2 was determined at the end of the routine diagnostic and/or interventional catheterization. VO2was calculated according to the formula of LaFarge and Miettinen for each child and compared with the measured VO2. Data were compared using simple regression and Bland Altman analysis. Fifty-two children aged from 0.5 to 16years (median, 6.9years) and weighing 3.4 to 59.4kg (median, 22.9kg) were investigated. Calculated VO2values ranged from 59.0 to 230.8ml/min, and measured VO2 values from 62.7 to 282.2ml/min. Comparison of calculated versus measured VO2 values revealed a significant correlation (r=0.90, p<0.0001). Bias and precision were 8.9 and 48.3ml/min, respectively (95% limits of agreement: −39.4 to 57.2ml/min). Comparison of calculated VO2 in children older than 3 years (n=41), as restricted to the formula, with measured VO2, revealed a slightly reduced correlation (r=0.86, p<0.0001). Bias and precision were 10.0 and 52.5ml/min, respectively (95% limits of agreement: -42.4 to 62.5ml/min). We conclude that calculation of VO2 by the LaFarge formula does not provide reliable values compared to measured values. In clinical routine, measured rather than calculated VO2 values should be used for the estimation of cardiac output and related variable

Characteristics of poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes patients in Swiss primary care

BACKGROUND: Although a variety of treatment guidelines for Type 2 diabetes patients are available, a majority of patients does not achieve recommended targets. We aimed to characterise Type 2 diabetes patients from Swiss primary care who miss HbA1c treatment goals and to reveal factors associated with the poorly controlled HbA1c level. METHODS: Cross-sectional study nested within the cluster randomised controlled Chronic Care for Diabetes study. Type 2 diabetes patients with at least one HbA1c measurement ≥ 7.0 % during the last year were recruited from Swiss primary care. Data assessment included diabetes specific and general clinical measures, treatment factors and patient reported outcomes. RESULTS: 326 Type 2 diabetes patients from 30 primary care practices with a mean age 67.1 ± 10.6 years participated in the study. The patients' findings for HbA1c were 7.7 ± 1.3 %, for systolic blood pressure 139.1 ± 17.6 mmHg, for diastolic blood pressure 80.9 ± 10.5 mmHg and for low density lipoprotein 2.7 ± 1.1. 93.3 % of the patients suffered from at least one comorbidity and were treated with 4.8 ± 2.1 different drugs. No determining factor was significantly related to HbA1c in the multiple analysis, but a significant clustering effect of GPs on HbA1c could be found. CONCLUSIONS: Within our sample of patients with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes, no "bullet points" could be pointed out which can be addressed easily by some kind of intervention. Especially within this subgroup of diabetes patients who would benefit the most from appropriate interventions to improve diabetes control, a complex interaction between diabetes control, comorbidities, GPs' treatment and patients' health behaviour seems to exist. So far this interaction is only poorly described and understood

Congruency of diabetes care with the Chronic Care Model in different Swiss health care organisations from the patients' perspective: A cross sectional study

QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY: Patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes mellitus benefit from care following the concept of the Chronic Care Model. To improve quality and to be responsive to patients' needs reliable data on patients' view of care in different healthcare settings are required. We evaluated the congruency of diabetes care with the Chronic Care Model between managed and non-managed care organisations from a patient's perspective. METHODS: We compared type 2 diabetes patients from non-managed care with a managed care organisation in Switzerland. We evaluated differences between these settings with the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care 5A questionnaire (PACIC 5A; scale from 1-5) that combines the PACIC and the 5A-approach of physicians' counselling. RESULTS: 374 patients completed the PACIC 5A (326 from non-managed care settings, 48 from managed care). The adjusted average PACIC summary score was 3.18 in the non-managed care compared to 3.49 in the managed care sample (p = 0.046). Managed care patients scored significantly higher in the subscales goal setting (2.86 vs 3.29; p = 0.015), advice (3.23 vs 3.64; p = 0.014), assist (2.98 vs 3.44; p = 0.016) and arrange (2.50 vs 2.88; p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Our data from different health care settings suggest that managed care is recognised by type 2 diabetes patients as care that is more congruent with the Chronic Care Model and offers more intense behavioural counselling and self-management support compared with usual primary care in Switzerland. Future research should evaluate larger, more comparable patient groups

Evaluation of the Aesculon cardiac output monitor by subxiphoidal Doppler flow measurement in children with congenital heart defects

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the noninvasive electrical velocimetry (Aesculon) monitor for cardiac output (CO) by subxiphoidal Doppler flow measurement in children. METHODS: CO was determined at the end of diagnostic or interventional cardiac catheterization for congenital heart defects. Standard ECG surface electrodes were attached in a vertical direction to the patients' left middle and lower neck, and lower thorax at the level of the heart and xiphoid process. Aesculon CO data were compared with a simultaneously measured CO by the subxiphoidal Doppler flow measurement technique. For each patient, measurements were repeated three times within 5 min. Whitney U-test, simple regression and Bland-Altman analysis were performed to compare CO values obtained by the two techniques. Data are given as range (median). RESULTS: A total of 36 children aged 5.7 (0.5-16.0) years were investigated. CO values obtained by Aesculon monitor [0.55-5.58 (2.62) l min] and subxiphoidal Doppler flow measurements [0.62-6.27 (3.05) l min] differed significantly between both methods (P = 0.04). Simple regression analysis revealed moderate correlation between CO values obtained from the two techniques (r = 0.5544, P < 0.001). Bias between the two methods was 0.31 l min with a precision of 1.92 l min. CONCLUSION: We conclude that electrical velocimetry using the Aesculon monitor does not reliably reflect absolute CO values as compared with subxiphoidal Doppler flow measurement

Comparison of calculated with measured oxygen consumption in children undergoing cardiac catheterization

Our objective was to compare calculated (LaFarge) with measured oxygen consumption (VO(2)) using the AS/3 TM Compact Airway Module M-CAiOVX (Datex-Ohmeda, Helsinki, Finland; AS/3 TM) in children without cardiac shunts in a prospective, observational study. VO(2) was determined at the end of the routine diagnostic and/or interventional catheterization. VO(2 )was calculated according to the formula of LaFarge and Miettinen for each child and compared with the measured VO(2). Data were compared using simple regression and Bland Altman analysis. Fifty-two children aged from 0.5 to 16 years (median, 6.9 years) and weighing 3.4 to 59.4 kg (median, 22.9 kg) were investigated. Calculated VO(2 )values ranged from 59.0 to 230.8 ml/min, and measured VO(2) values from 62.7 to 282.2 ml/min. Comparison of calculated versus measured VO(2) values revealed a significant correlation (r = 0.90, p < 0.0001). Bias and precision were 8.9 and 48.3 ml/min, respectively (95% limits of agreement: -39.4 to 57.2 ml/min). Comparison of calculated VO(2) in children older than 3 years (n = 41), as restricted to the formula, with measured VO(2), revealed a slightly reduced correlation (r = 0.86, p < 0.0001). Bias and precision were 10.0 and 52.5 ml/min, respectively (95% limits of agreement: -42.4 to 62.5 ml/min). We conclude that calculation of VO(2) by the LaFarge formula does not provide reliable values compared to measured values. In clinical routine, measured rather than calculated VO(2) values should be used for the estimation of cardiac output and related variables

The Chronic Care for age-related macular degeneration study (CHARMED): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in people 50 years of age or older in the developed world. As in other chronic diseases, several effective treatments are available, but in clinical daily practice there is an evidence performance gap. The Chronic Care Model represents an evidence-based framework for the care of chronically ill patients and aims at closing that gap. However, no data are available regarding patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: CHARMED is a multicenter randomised controlled trial. The study challenges the hypothesis that the implementation of core elements of the Chronic Care Model (patient empowerment, delivering evidence based information, clinical information system, reminder system with structured follow up and frequent monitoring) via a specially trained Chronic Care Coach in Swiss centres for neovascular age-related macular degeneration results in better visual acuity (primary outcome) and an increased disease specific quality of life (secondary outcome) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. According to the power calculation, a total sample size of 352 patients is needed (drop out rate of 25%). 14 specialised medical doctors from leading ophtalmologic centres in Switzerland will include 25 patients. In each centre, a Chronic Care Coach will provide disease specific care according to the Chronic Care Model for intervention group. Patients from the control group will be treated as usual. Baseline measurements will be taken in month III - XII, starting in March 2011. Follow-up data will be collected after 6 months and 1 year. DISCUSSION: Multiple studies have shown that implementing Chronic Care Model elements improve clinical outcomes as well as process parameters in different chronic diseases as osteoarthritis, depression or e.g. the cardiovascular risk profile of diabetes patients. This study will be the first to assess this approach in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. If our hypothesis will be confirmed, the implementation of this approach in routine care for patients with with neovascular age-related macular degeneration should be considered. Trial Registration Current controlled trials ISRCTN32507927