Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2024
COVID-19 outcomes in haemopoietic stem cell transplant recipients in Western Australia: the value of vaccination and antiviral therapy.
Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) mortality rates among haemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients are high, ranging between 20% and 40%. We prospectively evaluated the mortality outcomes of COVID-19 in Western Australian HSCT patients. ⋯ Two allogeneic HSCT patients were hospitalised for severe COVID-19; one patient died. Stringent healthcare, social isolation practices, aggressive vaccination programmes and rapid access to COVID-19 antivirals may have promoted mild COVID-19 illness in Western Australian HSCT patients, resulting in one of the lowest COVID-19 mortality rates in HSCT recipients worldwide.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2024
Queensland Inpatient Diabetes Survey (QuIDS): patient experience survey evaluation.
Measurement of inpatient experience can allow for treatment tailored to patient preferences and needs. The patient experience of diabetes care has not been explored in Queensland hospitals. ⋯ Many patients reported positive inpatient experiences; however, patients also expressed dissatisfaction with their inpatient diabetes care. Our data provide unique insight and an opportunity to improve standards of care and service provision for inpatients with diabetes.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2024
Serum vitamin B12, distal symmetrical polyneuropathy and anaemia in type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase 2.
There are limited data relating to the effects of metformin-associated vitamin B12 deficiency on the risk of distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DSPN) and megaloblastic anaemia in well-characterised community-based cohorts. ⋯ Since nutritional sources likely attenuate metformin-associated vitamin B12 malabsorption and its clinical sequelae in developed countries such as Australia, there is no need for routine/opportunistic serum vitamin B12 screening in metformin-treated patients.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2024
Hepatitis B genotypes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: correlation with clinical course and implications for management.
The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in Far North Queensland (FNQ) is greater than twice that of the general Australian population. CHB is common in Torres Strait Islanders diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) - and in Aboriginals with HCC living in the Northern Territory - however, Aboriginals diagnosed with HCC in FNQ very rarely have CHB. The explanation for this apparent disparity is uncertain. ⋯ HBV genotypes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in FNQ differ markedly, which could explain the significant differences in the clinical phenotype in the two populations and might be used to inform cost-effective CHB care in the region.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2024
Observational StudyEvaluation of a virtual ward model of care and readmission characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic within an Australian tertiary hospital.
Virtual ward (VW) models of care established during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic provided safe and equitable provision of ambulatory care for low-risk patients; however, little is known about patients who require escalation of care to hospitals from VWs. ⋯ This VW model of care was both safe and effective when applied to a broad socioeconomic population during the COVID-19 pandemic. While readmission to the hospital was low, this study identified key characteristics of such presentations, which may assist future triaging, escalation and resource allocation within VWs during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.