Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2022
End-of-life intravenous chemotherapy administration patterns in the treatment of Queensland lung and pancreas cancer patients: A 10 year retrospective analysis.
End-of-life (EOL) chemotherapy administration rates for solid tumours are 12-20% and are associated with a reduced quality of life, increased hospitalisation and incidence of death within an acute care facility. ⋯ EOL chemotherapy rates were similar to Australian yet marginally lower than international rates, with variation dependent on the size and type of facility and increased the rate of deaths within an acute care facility.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2022
ReviewDeveloping a framework for implementing Opioid Stewardship Programs in Australian Hospital Settings.
There is growing interest in strategies to improve patient safety with prescription opioids, collectively known as opioid stewardship (OS). This study aimed to develop a framework to facilitate the implementation of OS in the Australian acute hospital setting. Using a Modified Delphi Technique, a diverse stakeholder panel (including patient representatives and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals) was selected. ⋯ The remaining item not agreed on in the initial round was modified based on comments received and reached 100% agreement on importance at the second round. There was greater than 85% agreement on importance of 24 of 27 items for inclusion in a framework with 8 of 27 reaching a 100% level of agreement. We have developed a framework for OS in the Australian acute hospital settings that may be used to guide health services to prioritise and plan strategies to improve opioid use.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2022
Ten year trends in cardiac implantable electronic devices in New Zealand: a national data linkage study (ANZACS-QI 51).
Implant rates for cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED), including permanent pacemakers (PPM) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), have increased globally in recent decades. ⋯ CIED implant rates have increased steadily in NZ over the past decade but remain low compared with international benchmarks. Males had substantially higher CIED implant rates compared with females, with a growing gender disparity in ICD implant rates.
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Internal medicine journal · Apr 2022
Fenofibrate, which reduces risk of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes, is associated with early narrowing of retinal venules: a FIELD trial substudy.
Retinal vessel calibre metrics were evaluated at baseline and 2 years in a FIELD substudy (n = 208). Central retinal venule calibre was significantly reduced by fenofibrate and unchanged by placebo. Arteriole metrics did not change. Larger studies relating retinal vessel calibre to future diabetes complications and response to therapy are merited.