Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnętrznej
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Mar 2024
Does the atrial fibrillation still increase the risk of death? Results from the NOMED study in one-year follow-up.
Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is a well‑known risk factor for ischemic stroke and hospitalization, its effect on mortality has not been clearly established. ⋯ AF is an independent risk factor for death and cardiovascular hospitalization. The risk of death and stroke in patients with AF is significantly higher than in the patients without this arrhythmia. Oral anticoagulation in patients with AF significantly reduces the rates of death and stroke; however, its use is suboptimal in this group of patients.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Mar 2024
Use of antihypertensive drug classes and combination therapies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland: a cross-sectional, nation-wide study 2019-2021.
The 2018 European Society of Cardiology / European Society of Hypertension guidelines recommended the use of combination therapy, especially in the form of single‑pill combinations (SPCs), for treatment of hypertension. ⋯ During the COVID‑19 pandemic, a decrease in the frequency of combination treatments and an increase in the frequency of dual and triple SPC use were observed. Despite the slow increase in the frequency of prescribing the guideline‑recommended drug combinations, their use remains suboptimal.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Mar 2024
Genetic predisposition to differentiated thyroid cancer among Polish population.
Genome sequencing technologies reveal molecular mechanisms of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Unlike somatic mutation analysis from thyroidectomy samples, germline mutations showing genetic susceptibility to DTC are less understood. ⋯ Even though the Polish population is genetically similar to the other European populations, there are significant differences in variant frequencies contributing to the disease development and progression, such as those in the RET, CHEK2, BRCA1, SLC26A4, or TERT genes. Further studies are needed to identify genomic variants associated directly with DTC.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Mar 2024
Practical approach to a patient with a fever after travelling to the tropics.
By 2030, an estimated 2 billion international tourist trips are expected annually worldwide, with citizens of Poland as important contributors. Illness rates among returnees from developing regions range between 43% and 79%. Properly diagnosing fever in these travelers is vital due to potentially serious implications. ⋯ Other significant diseases include chikungunya, Zika, typhoid fever, amebic liver abscess, and occasionally viral hemorrhagic fevers. SARS‑CoV‑2 and influenza viruses are crucial pathogens as well. An in‑depth assessment of the travel history, combined with knowledge on tropical diseases, are key to the diagnostic process, and algorithms may be helpful in selecting appropriate tests and treatment methods.