Hypertriglyceridaemia and the risk of pancreatitis six months post lopinavir/ritonavir initiation

Background: Hypertriglyceridaemia (HTG) is an important risk factor for pancreatitis and cardiovascular disease (CVD), depending on severity. Hypertriglyceridaemia is common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and is also a common complication of lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r).Objectives: To evaluate the risk of pancreatitis associated with HTG in patients six months post initiation of LPV/r-based therapy in a regional public hospital.Methods: Triglyceride (TG), serum amylase (s-amylase) and CD4+ count values were retrospectively investigated six months post LPV/r-based initiation. Age, gender, previous antiretroviral regimen and period since HIV diagnosis were also recorded.Results: The final sample consisted of 194 patients, 50 males and 144 females; mean (± standard deviation [s.d.]) age was 39.52 (± 9.98) years, and the mean (± s.d.) period since HIV diagnosis was 91.32 (± 25.18) months. Normal TG levels (< 1.70 mmol/L) were detected in only 55% of patients and the rest presented with some degree of HTG. The mean (± s.d.) TG for the entire sample was elevated at 1.94 (± 1.30) mmol/L with the mean (± s.d.) of the males at 2.36 (± 1.74) – statistically higher compared to the females at 1.79 (± 1.08) mmol/L (p = 0.034). No cases of pancreatitis were recorded and the time since HIV diagnosis did not indicate any statistically significant differences in the means of the TG, serum amylase or CD4 count values.Conclusion: Triglyceride levels were not substantially elevated to induce pancreatitis at six months post initiation of LPV/r, but were elevated above the accepted upper normal limit of 1.70 mmol/L which may have implications for cardiovascular risk

Asthma control limitations in selected primary health care clinics

Primary health care services worldwide are currently experiencing many quality-related problems. Efforts to improve these services appear to be sporadic and unsatisfactory. Investigations have revealed (Sharma & Sharma 2007) that one of the main causes for this state of affairs can be identified as neglected or inadequate documentation of patient / case history. The health care provider (HCP) should be equipped to improve the quality of health care and to take the lead in assuaging the predicament. The present study was undertaken to assess the correlation between asthma control and patient-related case history notes as recorded via the HCP. The data were obtained retrospectively from the patient notes of all asthmatic patients (including children and pregnant women) who attended six selected clinics in the North West Province of South Africa (Dr Kenneth Kaunda Municipal District). The analysis of the data collected from the patient clinic books confirmed the suspicion of poor quality of documentation, although the documentation in certain categories rendered some positive results. When compared to the GINA® guidelines, none of the patients had been controlled properly and only a small number (18.4%) had been controlled partly (GINA 2008). Asthma control may be enhanced when a standard template is developed for completion by the HCP. It is envisaged that this will ensure that vital information regarding asthma control is documented in order to contribute to satisfactory chronic disease control.Primêre gesondheidsorgdienste wêreldwyd ondervind tans menige gehaltediens-verwante probleme, terwyl pogings om dit te verbeter sporadies en onbevredigend voorkom. Navorsing toon (Sharma & Sharma, 2007) dat een van die hoofoorsake hiervan die onvoldoende dokumentasie van die pasiënt of die geval se geskiedenis of nalating om te dokumenteer, is. Die gesondheidsorgverskaffer (GSV) moet toegerus word om die gehalte van gesondheidsorg te verbeter en leiding te neem om die verknorsing te hanteer. Hierdie studie het die korrelasie tussen asmabeheer en pasiëntgeskiedenis, soos genoteer deur 'n GSV, ondersoek. Dié data is retrospektief van die klinieknotas van alle asmapasiënte (kinders en swanger vroue ingesluit) verkry wat die ses klinieke in Noordwes Provinsie, Suid-Afrika (Dr. Kenneth Kaunda Munisipale Distrik), besoek het. Die analise van die data wat uit pasiënte se kliniekboekies versamel is, het die vermoede oor die swak gehalte van dokumentasie bevestig, alhoewel daar positiewe uitkomste was in sekere kategorieë se dokumentasie. Wanneer die dokumentasie met die GINA®-riglyne vergelyk word, is dit duidelik dat geen van die pasiënte optimaal bestuur is nie en slegs 'n klein groepie (18.4%) gedeeltelik bestuur is (GINA 2008). Asmabeheer sou kon verbeter deur 'n standaard templaat te ontwikkel wat die GSV kan voltooi. Daar word voorsien dat dit die dokumentering van die nodige inligting oor asmabeheer sal verseker en sodoende kan bydra tot die bevredigende bestuur van kroniese siektes

Managing asthma in primary care through imperative outcomes

Rationale, aims and objectives To evaluate asthma management and control in primary care clinics so as to design improvements based on guideline-directed outcomes. Methods In this study, all medical records of asthma-diagnosed patients (children as well as adults, entire lifespan, asthma-related visits or not) were retrospectively reviewed as a basis for assessing the level of guideline adherence and asthma control. Six primary health care clinics were visited in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda Municipal District, Potchefstroom, South Africa during May to July 2008, 2009 and 2010. Results A total of 323 asthma patient records were reviewed over the three time slots, resulting in 125, 87, and 111 patients respectively. A suboptimal clinical asthma control picture, with a mere 16% (n = 20) of females and 2% (n = 3) of males with Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) percentages above 60%, were observed in the initial assessment. Improvement in control was observed during the following time slot, but with an end result in 2010 of no PEF percentages above 60% for males and only 9% (n = 7) for females. Conclusion Over all three of the data collection periods adherence to effectively applied management of asthma guidelines proved to be below the minimum recommended clinical evaluation work-up as set out by the Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR3) of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP). Applying a greater focus on essential outcomes through different disease management documents resulted in an improved quality of managed care, but still requires dedicated and continuous education and motivation. (NWU-0052-08-A5

Is guideline-driven prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism common practice in the South African private hospital setting?

Background: Prophylactic venous thromboembolism (VTE) strategies have the greatest impact on patient outcomes. Both global and local guidelines support VTE prophylaxis for hospitalised patients. However, studies have reported that these measures are routinely under-prescribed. This study evaluated prescribing patterns of VTE prophylaxis in one of the largest South African (SA) private hospital groups.Methods: A quantitative, retrospective analysis of the hospital group’s patient database was conducted for patients admitted between 01 September 2015 and 31 August 2016. Those younger than 18 years with trauma or suffering from contraindications to anticoagulation were excluded. Additionally, patients with warfarin billed were also excluded as they possibly required therapeutic anticoagulation. Included prophylactic measures were compared with published SA guidelines by abstracting prophylaxis type and dosing, according to corresponding individual patients’ VTE risk ratings.Results: Amongst the 373 020 patients included as the study population, 77% required prophylaxis. Of these, 38.36% (n = 85 486) received guideline-appropriate prophylactic measures during their hospital stay. Patients in whom prophylaxis was indicated, only 24.56% (n = 42 715) complied with the SA guidelines. The most commonly used prophylactic measures were enoxaparin (89.09%) and fondaparinux (2.68%). Prophylactic measures differed per speciality, with the most compliant amongst intensivists. A low uptake of the risk assessment model use (n = 222 860, 59.75%) was, however, reported for this data set.Conclusion: Less than 24.56% of patients who required prophylaxis received guideline-appropriate interventions. Further studies should focus on understanding differences in practice and improving acceptance and application of guideline-driven care