Case number 3 : Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

A 62-year-old man was admitted in October 2013 due to worsening involuntary movements of his arms and legs. This was confirmed on examination which revealed persistent jerky movements in his left upper limb associated with generalised stiffness and hyperreflexia in his lower limbs. His dystaxia had developed in August 2013 whilst visiting Argentina. An MRI and EEG were consistent with a diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD). Over the following weeks, he developed rapidly progressive cognitive decline and myoclonus. The patient was eventually placed on palliative care.peer-reviewe

Rapidity of diagnosis and management of H. Pylori in the endoscopy unit at Mater Dei Hospital

This article has been reprinted in Malta Medical School Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 1 in 2018.Introduction: H.pylori infection has been associated with various gastric pathologies and its prevalence varies between different countries. Furthermore, there is an increasing antibiotic resistance and the eradication rates have declined. There is clinical and administrative pressure as to provide the Rapid Urease Test (RUT) result as quickly as possible and ideally prior to discharge from the endoscopy unit. Results: A total of 542 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The patient`s mean age was 54.6 years and 52.4% were female. The main clinical indications for an Oesophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy (OGD) were dyspepsia (44.7%) and GORD (24.5%). The overall positivity rate was 15% of which 8.7% were early positive and 6.3% were late positive. Analysis of patients’ age with RUT positivity revealed that patients above the age of 60 years were more likely to have a positive result (p=0.013). There was no statistical significance between the H.pylori results and smoking (p= 0.6). In this study, there was a variety of 10 different eradication regimes prescribed, the most popular being the use of a PPI 20mg BD + Amoxicillin 1g BD + Clarithromycin 500mg BD for 10 days (total of 27 cases) versus 14 days (23 cases). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the importance of checking the RUT taken at endoscopy at 24 hours as this has given a 42% increase in the yield for H.pylori. It also demonstrates that various regimens are used in clinical practice. In view of the relatively low prevalence of H.pylori, especially amongst young patients, maybe it is prime time that treatment of H.pylori is specifically managed by culture and sensitivity to avoid worsening clarithromycin-resistance.peer-reviewe

Is it giant cell arteritis? : a retrospective audit on temporal artery biopsy for giant cell arteritis

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the commonest of the vasculitides and should form part of the differential diagnosis of a new-onset headache in patients over 50 years with elevated inflammatory markers. Temporal artery biopsy (TAB) is the gold standard for its diagnoses. Aim: The aim of this audit was to determine whether patients referred for a TAB between 2010 and 2015 at Mater Dei Hospital qualified for a diagnosis of GCA and the significance of the TAB result in affecting management of GCA by correlating the clinical profile and biochemical criteria according to the guidelines based on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Results: The percentage of positive TABs in our cohort of 170 patients was 23%. The ESR (sensitivity - 100%) was shown to be a significant factor associated with a positive TAB when compared to CRP (sensitivity 90%). 79.5% of positive TAB results were patients aged between 70-89 years of age, proving age is also a significant factor. New onset headache was the most common complaint (66%). Only 45.9% of patients were started on steroids prior to TAB despite the clinical suspicion of GCA. This increased to 54.1% of patients on steroids after TAB was performed, pending a histology result. Conclusion:Our findings, which are similar to comparing studies, question the practicality of TAB in the clinical diagnosis of GCA. Clinical symptoms, raised ESR and increasing age proved to be significant factors contributing to the clinical diagnosis and management of GCA. Non-invasive ultrasonography can further confirm the diagnosis and is to replace TAB in the near future.peer-reviewe

National analyses on survival in Maltese adult patients on renal replacement therapy started during 2009–2012

Chronic kidney disease patients on maintenance dialysis (CKD 5D) experience major morbidity and mortality. No data on survival in Maltese dialysis patients exist; therefore, the aim of this study was to rigorously examine survival statistics in a complete cohort of Maltese CKD 5D patients. The study population was comprised of all incident chronic patients (N=328) starting dialysis at the renal unit, Mater Dei hospital, Msida, Malta, for 4 consecutive years (2009–2012). Each yearly cohort was analysed in detail up to 31st December 2017, providing up to 8 years follow-up. Demographics (male 65%; female 35%), aetiology of renal failure (diabetic kidney disease: n=191; 58.2%), comorbidities, transplant status, and death were documented. Data collection and follow up were completed and statistical analysis was performed on the aggregated cohorts with SPSS version 23 with censoring up to 31st December 2017. The cumulative adjusted 5-year overall survival in Maltese CKD 5D patients was 0.36 and 0.25 at 8 years. No statistical difference was observed according to the year of starting dialysis. Cox regression analysis showed that age and transplant status influenced survival. The unadjusted hazard of death increased by 3% for every 1-year increase in age and was increased by 7% if the patient did not receive a transplant, and overall 22% (n=72) of the entire cohort eventually received transplants. This study reports an approximate 65% mortality at 5 years in Maltese haemodialysis patients, a poor prognosis that, despite optimal medical management, is consistent with worldwide reports.peer-reviewe

The first wave of COVID-19 in Malta; a national cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed major challenges to all aspects of healthcare. Malta’s population density, large proportion of elderly and high prevalence of diabetes and obesity put the country at risk of uncontrolled viral transmission and high mortality. Despite this, Malta achieved low mortality rates compared to figures overseas. The aim of this paper is to identify key factors that contributed to these favorable outcomes. METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational, nationwide study which evaluates outcomes of patients during the first wave of the pandemic in Malta, from the 7th of March to the 24th of April 2020. Data was collected on demographics and mode of transmission. Hospitalization rates to Malta’s main general hospital, Mater Dei Hospital, length of in-hospital stay, intensive care unit admissions and 30-day mortality were also analyzed. RESULTS: There were 447 confirmed cases in total; 19.5% imported, 74.2% related to community transmission and 6.3% nosocomially transmitted. Ninety-three patients (20.8%) were hospitalized, of which 4 were children. Patients with moderate-severe disease received hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, in line with evidence available at the time. A total of 4 deaths were recorded, resulting in an all-cause mortality of 0.89%. Importantly, all admitted patients with moderate-severe disease survived to 30-day follow up. CONCLUSION: Effective public health interventions, widespread testing, remote surveillance of patients in the community and a low threshold for admission are likely to have contributed to these favorable outcomes. Hospital infection control measures were key in preventing significant nosocomial spread. These concepts can potentially be applied to stem future outbreaks of viral diseases. Patients with moderate-severe disease had excellent outcomes with no deaths reported at 30-day follow up

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially