Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Nov 2024
Impact of Frailty on COVID-19 Hospitalizations: Results from the California State Inpatient Database.
Frail patients are at greater risk of experiencing adverse clinical outcomes in any critical illness due to decreased physiologic reserves, greater susceptibility to the adverse effects of treatment, and greater needs for intensive care. In this study, we sought to assess the prevalence of frailty and associated adverse in-hospital outcomes among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations using the 2020 California State Inpatient Database (SID). ⋯ Our findings show that frailty could be used for assessing and risk stratifying patients for improved hospital outcomes.
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Southern medical journal · Nov 2024
Comparative StudyLGBTQ+ Health Inequities in a Rural, Conservative Context: Alabama Compared with Other Southern States.
There are no statewide statistics regarding the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) Alabamians. To fill this gap, we used data collected by the Southern Equality Research and Policy Center to compare Alabama with other southern US states regarding the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ people. ⋯ Alabama LGBTQ+ populations, who live in more rural settings than in most prior studies, experience markedly poor outcomes.
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Southern medical journal · Nov 2024
A Cohort Study of Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers VA Medical Center Patients with Positive FIT and Incomplete GI Evaluation during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The reasons for and incidence of delay in screening colonoscopies during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are of major public health interest. The risks and reasons for delay likely vary between public and private institutions. This research sought to analyze data regarding the completion of screening colonoscopies after a positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the reasons for a delay in obtaining these results at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The goals were to evaluate the institutional resilience and analyze the problems associated with this major healthcare crisis. ⋯ There was a statistically significant increase in timely colonoscopy completion during the study period when compared with the pre-COVID-19 period. The completion rate was higher at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center than a large population average in 2020, possibly related to community colonoscopies and an aggressive case management system. In addition, increasing age and White race were associated with decreased colonoscopy completion. Predictors of an increased delay in colonoscopy completion included a pre-COVID-19 positive FIT and colonoscopies performed within the VA rather than being referred to providers in the community. A common reason for delay in all of the groups was patients declining intervention and delay/lack of referral.
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Southern medical journal · Nov 2024
Lymphedema Awareness and Experience in the Turner Syndrome Community.
Lymphedema commonly affects females with Turner syndrome (TS), although it may be underrecognized and untreated. The objective of this study was to better understand self-reported lymphedema prevalence, knowledge, and experience in TS. ⋯ Identification of knowledge gaps and experience with lymphedema in TS can help with the development of targeted educational interventions. Greater awareness and understanding of this treatable condition in TS may contribute to improved health outcomes.