Well being of obstetric patients on minimal blood transfusions (WOMB trial)

Background: Primary postpartum haemorrhage is an obstetrical emergency often causing acute anaemia that may require immediate red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. This anaemia results in symptoms such as fatigue, whic

The association between hospital volume and overall survival in adult AML patients treated with intensive chemotherapy

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) requires specialized care, particularly when administrating intensive remission induction chemotherapy (ICT). High-volume hospitals are presumed more adept at delivering this complex treatment, resulting in better overall survival (OS) rates. Despite its potential implications for quality improvement, research on the volume–outcome relationship in ICT administration for AML is scarce. This nationwide, population-based study in the Netherlands explored the volume–outcome relationship in AML. Materials and methods: Data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry on adult (≥18 years of age) ICT-treated AML patients, diagnosed between 2014 and 2018, were analyzed. Hospital volume was assessed against OS using mixed-effects Cox regression, adjusting for patient and disease characteristics (i.e. case mix), with hospital as a random effect. Results: Our study population consisted of a total of 1761 patients (57% male), with a median age of 61 years. The average annual number of ICT-treated patients varied across the 24 hospitals (range 1-56, median 13, and interquartile range 8-20 patients per hospital per year). Overall, an increase of 10 ICT-treated patients annually was associated with an 8% lower mortality risk [hazard ratio (HR) 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87-0.98, P = 0.01]. This association was not significant at 30-day (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.89-1.17, P = 0.75) and 42-day (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.85-1.08, P = 0.54) OS but became apparent after 100-day OS (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83-0.99, P = 0.05). Conclusions: There is a volume–outcome association within AML care. This finding could support hospital volume as a metric in AML care. However, it should be acknowledged that centralizing care is a complex process with implications for health care providers and patients. Therefore, any move toward centralization must be judiciously balanced.</p

Management of disease progression after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in systemic sclerosis: Results from an international questionnaire-based study

OBJECTIVES: Autologous stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is an established treatment in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). Optimal management of disease progression after AHSCT in dcSSc has not been defined. The aim of this study was to explore the experience and preferences of SSc experts on post-AHSCT management. METHODS: An online questionnaire study was conducted containing 17 questions concerning respondent demographics, definition of SSc progression after AHSCT, diagnostic work-up and treatment preferences. RESULTS: In total, 69 respondents from 21 countries completed the questionnaire. The majority (89.7 %) works at a university hospital, and were involved in decisions regarding AHSCT in patients with SSc (71 %). Most have 1 to 5 patients who underwent AHSCT under their care. They defined failure to improve after AHSCT as: an increase in mRSS, new onset or worsening of interstitial lung disease (ILD), new onset scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) or inflammatory arthritis. Progression after initial response was defined as: increase in mRSS, new or worsening of ILD, new SRC, inflammatory arthritis, new pulmonary arterial hypertension, digital vasculopathy or impaired physical functioning. The most frequent therapy in case of AHSCT failure was mycophenolate mofetil (N = 55, 88.7 %), rituximab (N = 54, 87.1 %), nintedanib (N = 39, 62.9 %) or/and tocilizumab (N = 36, 58.1 %). Combination therapy with more than one of these agents was considered by most respondents (N = 61, 88.4 %). CONCLUSION: Our study benchmarks the unique combined experiences of post-AHSCT management among SSc experts. We summarize preferences regarding definition of AHSCT failure and progression after response, as well as approach to diagnostic work-up and treatment

Treatment-Free Remission Outcomes in a <i>BCR::ABL1</i> Digital PCR Selected Clinical Cohort of CML Patients

Approximately 40%–60% of patients reaching a stable deep molecular response during TKI treatment will maintain a state of remission after TKI discontinuation, denoted as treatment-free remission (TFR). Depth of molecular response assessed by BCR::ABL1 digital PCR prior to TKI discontinuation has demonstrated its significance as a reliable predictive parameter for TFR. A clinically applicable prediction cutoff of 0.0023%IS has been established and externally validated. In this study, BCR::ABL1 digital PCR, as most sensitive and stable assay of its kind, was investigated as a TFR prediction tool in the Netherlands, and evaluated for its predictive value to stop TKI treatment below the aforementioned cutoff. The primary endpoint of molecular recurrence (MolR, BCR::ABL1 &gt; 0.1%IS) at 12 months was prospectively assessed. Overall, 67 discontinued patients below the set BCR::ABL1 digital PCR cutoff were included. The overall MolR probability was 50% (95% CI, 36%–62%). In 38 patients treated for more than 6 years as commonly recommended as desirable treatment duration before TFR attempt, the MolR probability dropped to 36% (95% CI, 18%–50%). Patients attempting an early TKI discontinuation (treated for less than 6 years) had a high MolR probability of 76% (95% CI, 65%–89%). BCR::ABL1 digital PCR was successfully used in Dutch clinical practice. Our study indicates that in patients with a low BCR::ABL1 digital PCR result, a total TKI treatment duration of six or more years remains associated with a lower MolR rate and should generally be pursued. In patients treated for more than 6 years, BCR::ABL1 digital PCR was capable to identify stop candidates with a higher probability of TFR success.</p

The association between hospital volume and overall survival in adult AML patients treated with intensive chemotherapy

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) requires specialized care, particularly when administrating intensive remission induction chemotherapy (ICT). High-volume hospitals are presumed more adept at delivering this complex treatment, resulting in better overall survival (OS) rates. Despite its potential implications for quality improvement, research on the volume–outcome relationship in ICT administration for AML is scarce. This nationwide, population-based study in the Netherlands explored the volume–outcome relationship in AML. Materials and methods: Data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry on adult (≥18 years of age) ICT-treated AML patients, diagnosed between 2014 and 2018, were analyzed. Hospital volume was assessed against OS using mixed-effects Cox regression, adjusting for patient and disease characteristics (i.e. case mix), with hospital as a random effect. Results: Our study population consisted of a total of 1761 patients (57% male), with a median age of 61 years. The average annual number of ICT-treated patients varied across the 24 hospitals (range 1-56, median 13, and interquartile range 8-20 patients per hospital per year). Overall, an increase of 10 ICT-treated patients annually was associated with an 8% lower mortality risk [hazard ratio (HR) 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87-0.98, P = 0.01]. This association was not significant at 30-day (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.89-1.17, P = 0.75) and 42-day (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.85-1.08, P = 0.54) OS but became apparent after 100-day OS (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83-0.99, P = 0.05). Conclusions: There is a volume–outcome association within AML care. This finding could support hospital volume as a metric in AML care. However, it should be acknowledged that centralizing care is a complex process with implications for health care providers and patients. Therefore, any move toward centralization must be judiciously balanced

Impaired work functioning due to common mental disorders in nurses and allied health professionals: the Nurses Work Functioning Questionnaire

Common mental disorders (CMD) negatively affect work functioning. In the health service sector not only the prevalence of CMDs is high, but work functioning problems are associated with a risk of serious consequences for patients and healthcare providers. If work functioning problems due to CMDs are detected early, timely help can be provided. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a detection questionnaire for impaired work functioning due to CMDs in nurses and allied health professionals working in hospitals. First, an item pool was developed by a systematic literature study and five focus group interviews with employees and experts. To evaluate the content validity, additional interviews were held. Second, a cross-sectional assessment of the item pool in 314 nurses and allied health professionals was used for item selection and for identification and corroboration of subscales by explorative and confirmatory factor analysis. The study results in the Nurses Work Functioning Questionnaire (NWFQ), a 50-item self-report questionnaire consisting of seven subscales: cognitive aspects of task execution, impaired decision making, causing incidents at work, avoidance behavior, conflicts and irritations with colleagues, impaired contact with patients and their family, and lack of energy and motivation. The questionnaire has a proven high content validity. All subscales have good or acceptable internal consistency. The Nurses Work Functioning Questionnaire gives insight into precise and concrete aspects of impaired work functioning of nurses and allied health professionals. The scores can be used as a starting point for purposeful intervention

Rationale and design of the HOVON 170 DLBCL-ANTICIPATE trial: preventing anthracycline-induced cardiac dysfunction with dexrazoxane

BACKGROUND: Dexrazoxane has been studied for its ability to prevent anthracycline-induced cardiac dysfunction (AICD) in several trials but its use in clinical practice remains limited. This is related to the low to moderate quality of the generated evidence, safety concerns and restricted prescribing indications. Additional randomized trials are needed before this drug can be routinely integrated into cardio-oncology clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: To describe the rationale and design of the HOVON 170 DLBCL - ANTICIPATE trial. This trial aims to establish the efficacy and safety of dexrazoxane for the primary prevention of AICD in patients diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with six cycles R-CHOP 21 chemo-immunotherapy. METHODS: This is a multicenter, parallel-group, open-label, phase III trial, randomizing 324 patients between either no cardioprotective treatment or dexrazoxane from the first R-CHOP cycle. The primary and co-primary endpoints are the incidence of AICD within 12 months of registration and the percentage of patients with complete metabolic remission at the end-of-treatment PET-CT respectively. The trial is registered at the EU Clinical Trials Register (EU-CT number 2023-505377-32) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06220032). RESULTS: The medical research ethics committee approved the trial in May 2024. Recruitment has started in September 2024 and is expected to last for three years. CONCLUSIONS: This trial is poised to contribute crucial evidence concerning the efficacy and safety on the use of dexrazoxane in the primary prevention of AICD. The trial is anticipated to address critical knowledge gaps and offer important insights into the value of dexrazoxane in cardio-oncology practice

Factors Associated with Work Participation and Work Functioning in Depressed Workers: A Systematic Review

Background Depression is associated with negative work outcomes such as reduced work participation (WP) (e.g., sick leave duration, work status) and work functioning (WF) (e.g., loss of productivity, work limitations). For the development of evidence-based interventions to improve these work outcomes, factors predicting WP and WF have to be identified. Methods This paper presents a systematic literature review of studies identifying factors associated with WP and WF of currently depressed workers. Results A total of 30 studies were found that addressed factors associated with WP (N = 19) or WF (N = 11). For both outcomes, studies reported most often on the relationship with disorder-related factors, whereas personal factors and work-related factors were less frequently addressed. For WP, the following relationships were supported: strong evidence was found for the association between a long duration of the depressive episode and work disability. Moderate evidence was found for the associations between more severe types of depressive disorder, presence of co-morbid mental or physical disorders, older age, a history of previous sick leave, and work disability. For WF, severe depressive symptoms were associated with work limitations, and clinical improvement was related to work productivity (moderate evidence). Due to the cross-sectional nature of about half of the studies, only few true prospective associations could be identified. Conclusion Our study identifies gaps in knowledge regarding factors predictive of WP and WF in depressed workers and can be used for the design of future research and evidence-based interventions. We recommend undertaking more longitudinal studies to identify modifiable factors predictive of WP and WF, especially work-related and personal factors

The Mental Vitality @ Work study: design of a randomized controlled trial on the effect of a workers' health surveillance mental module for nurses and allied health professionals

Employees in health care service are at high risk for developing mental health complaints. The effects of mental health complaints on work can have serious consequences for the quality of care provided by these workers. To help health service workers remain healthy and productive, preventive actions are necessary. A Workers' Health Surveillance (WHS) mental module may be an effective strategy to monitor and promote good (mental) health and work performance. The objective of this paper is to describe the design of a three arm cluster randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of a WHS mental module for nurses and allied health professionals. Two strategies for this WHS mental module will be compared along with data from a control group. Additionally, the cost effectiveness of the approaches will be evaluated from a societal perspective. The study is designed as a cluster randomized controlled trial consisting of three arms (two intervention groups, 1 control group) with randomization at ward level. The study population consists of 86 departments in one Dutch academic medical center with a total of 1731 nurses and allied health professionals. At baseline, after three months and after six months of follow-up, outcomes will be assessed by online questionnaires. In both intervention arms, participants will complete a screening to detect problems in mental health and work functioning and receive feedback on their screening results. In cases of impairments in mental health or work functioning in the first intervention arm, a consultation with an occupational physician will be offered. The second intervention arm offers a choice of self-help e-mental health interventions, which will be tailored based on each individual's mental health state and work functioning. The primary outcomes will be help-seeking behavior and work functioning. Secondary outcomes will be mental health and wellbeing. Furthermore, cost-effectiveness in both intervention arms will be assessed, and a process evaluation will be performed. When it is proven effective compared to a control group, a WHS mental module for nurses and allied health professionals could be implemented and used on a regular basis by occupational health services in hospitals to improve employees' mental health and work functioning. NTR278