Conectar
There is a significant need for trials that evaluate the treatment of University of Texas (UT) grade 2 and 3 diabetic foot ulcers (bone, joint, or tendon exposed wounds). We undertook a trial looking at the effect of intact fish skin graft (IFSG) on these deep and difficult-to-heal ulcers. 262 patients Intent to Treat (ITT) patients with UT grade 2 and 3 DFUs were randomised to receive intact fish skin graft (IFSG) or a standardised treatment (SOC) that adhered to the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) guidelines. The secondary endpoints that were measured included wound area reduction (WAR), healing rates at 20 and 24 weeks; closure rates by UT grade, perfusion, quality of life, pain reduction and IFSG safety. We report ITT (all randomised) (mITT previosly reported) The (WAR) at 12 weeks was 65.53% for IFSG versus 30.82% for SOC (p = 0.007). UT 2 wounds (60% of total) exhibited a closure rate of 47% versus 23% at 16 weeks for IFSG versus SOC (p = 0.0033). Target wound infections were comparable (39 vs. 37) and major outcomes were comparable during the 24 week period (target-limb amputations 8% vs. 7%). Time-to-heal favoured IFSG (restricted mean to 24 weeks 17.31 vs. 19.37 weeks; KM/log-rank significant; Cox HR 1.59). The in the treatment of deep complex diabetic foot wounds the addition of IFSG significantly improved the number of patients with total wound closure as well as the time to wound closure without increased risk of complications. This improvement in total wound closure and time to wound closure was noted across prior amputation status, quality of perfusion, and UT grade.
Since 1985, the international healthcare community has recommended the ideal rate of caesarean section (CS) to be 10%–15% at the national level. The literature has reported that overused CS without necessary medical indications can be harmful to both maternal and child health. To generate evidence to support policy on CS, this study evaluated the trend over time of CS in Thailand during January 2016 to October 2021 (which included the COVID-19 pandemic period) and explored predictors of CS use.
This study was a retrospective secondary data analysis of de-identified hospitalisation data under the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) from the National Health Security Office’s e-Claims database. Descriptive analyses were conducted to explore the number and rate of CS over time and across different characteristics (ie, age, hospital type, COVID-19 status and delivery day) including a multivariable logistic analysis to explore predictors of CS. Interrupted time series analysis was adopted to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on CS rate.
569 321 CS cases under UCS from 2016 to 2021.
The results showed an increasing trend of CS rate, from 30% in January 2016 to 35% in October 2021. Both clinical (eg, medical indication and age) and non-clinical (eg, region and day of delivery) factors were significantly associated with CS. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic had no significant effect on CS rate (level: –0.0016, 95% CI –0.0085 to 0.0053, p=0.66).
This study highlighted an increasing trend of CS in Thailand and could present supportive evidence that Thailand might have been facing an overuse of CS. More awareness and actions are warranted to ensure the movement towards reduction of unnecessary CS in Thailand.
by Ratikorn Chaisiwamongkol, Rattapon Uppala, Phanthila Sitthikarnkha, Leelawadee Techasatian, Suchaorn Saengnipanthkul, Pope Kosalaraksa, Kaewjai Thepsuthammarat, Sirapoom Niamsanit
Background and aimsDiabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) remains a major cause of pediatric morbidity and death. This study examined national trends in DKA hospitalizations and factors associated with in-hospital mortality among Thai children.
Materials and methodsA nationwide, retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the National Health Security Office (NHSO) during 2015–2023. Children aged 1 month to under 18 years hospitalized with DKA were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Thai Modification (ICD-10-TM) codes. Prevalence and mortality were described by year and region. Factors associated with death were assessed with multivariable logistic regression; model discrimination used area under the curve (AUC).
ResultsAmong 10,669 admissions, national DKA prevalence increased from 4.5 to 11.8 per 10,000 pediatric hospitalizations, with Bangkok showing the highest rates. The overall intubation rate was 10.2%, peaking in infants and older adolescents. Although national mortality declined from 2.2% to 0.6%, regional and age-specific fluctuations persisted. Independent associations with mortality included malignancy (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 5.25, 95% CI: 1.63-16.92; p=0.005), septic shock (AOR 2.93, 95% CI: 1.71-5.03; p Conclusion
DKA hospitalizations are increasing in Thailand, with regional variation and persistent mortality risk, particularly among patients with critical complications and vulnerable groups. Although declining mortality trends and lower mortality in recurrent cases suggests improved protocol-based treatment, targeted prevention strategies remain essential for high-risk populations.
by Alyssa Howren, Quan L. Tran, Sadaf Sediqi, Saadiya Hawa, Douglas K. Owens, Eleni Linos, Titilola O. Falasinnu, Yashaar Chaichian, Julia F. Simard
BackgroundSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune rheumatic disease whose epidemiology and clinical prognosis vary by race and sex. Observed disparities in SLE may be partly attributable to cognitive processes in clinical decision-making, which can influence diagnostic accuracy and clinical management. We aimed to examine variation in primary care physicians’ (PCP) diagnosis and management of SLE when all content of a clinical case is identical, apart from race and sex.
MethodsWe distributed an online randomized factorial survey from 04/11/2024–06/10/2024 to PCPs across the US. Participants were presented with one of four possible SLE vignettes – Black female, White female, Black male, White male – for which all other clinical content was identical. Block randomization was used to randomly modify the race (Black/White) and sex (female/male) of the SLE “case”. Primary outcomes were correct text-based responses for SLE diagnosis at initial case presentation and after reviewing additional lab results. Secondary outcomes were participants’ review time and planned next steps (treatment, referral, tests) as a proxy for cognitive bias and certainty, respectively. We calculated descriptive statistics for all outcomes stratified by assigned randomized factor and used chi-square tests to evaluate between-group differences.
Results1031 PCPs (42.7% women, mean age 52.1 ± 12.1 years) completed the case. At initial presentation, 63.9% of participants correctly identified SLE as a differential diagnosis. An initial diagnosis of SLE significantly differed by the race and sex of the case (p Conclusion
A patient’s race and sex may influence diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making for SLE in primary care. The observed variation in diagnostic accuracy, which aligns with the descriptive epidemiology of SLE, highlights the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable diagnostic processes.
by Lin Zhang, Feng Luo, Yalin Chai, Lijie Sun, Xuan Wang, Le Yin, Congjuan Luo
Acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a major clinical challenge due to its high morbidity and mortality, with ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) as one of its primary causes. Severe IRI-associated AKI (IRI-AKI) can progress to irreversible renal failure, yet no effective therapies are currently available. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent regulated cell death, has recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of IRI-AKI. Moreover, IL-22 may alleviate AKI by modulating the ferroptosis process through regulation of the P62-Keap1-Nrf2 signaling axis. In this study, we examined the protective role of the immune cytokine interleukin-22 (IL-22) in IRI-AKI and its mechanistic association with ferroptosis. Using a murine IRI model and an HK-2 cell hypoxia/reoxygenation system, we systematically assessed the impact of IL-22 treatment. IL-22 administration significantly enhanced renal function, reduced histological injury, and limited both reactive oxygen species accumulation and ferroptotic cell death. Further mechanistic studies demonstrated that IL-22 suppresses ferroptosis in vitro through an Nrf2-dependent mechanism and is associated with activation of the P62-Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway. These findings offer experimental evidence supporting IL-22 as a potential therapy for IRI-AKI and highlight ferroptosis modulation as a promising therapeutic strategy.To refine fall risk assessment scale among older adults with cognitive impairment in nursing homes.
A cross-sectional survey.
Mokken analysis was conducted to refine the assessment scale based on unidimensionality, local independence, monotonicity, dimensionality, and reliability. Data were gathered from cognitively impaired older adults in a nursing home from January to February 2023. Trained nursing assistants conducted face-to-face assessments and reviewed medical records to administer the scale.
Emotion and State Dimension did not meet unidimensionality criteria (H = 0.14), particularly item Q9, which also violated local independence. Monotonicity analysis showed all items exhibited monotonic increases. After refinement at c = 0.3, the scale consists of nine items. With increasing c-values, the first seven items were ultimately retained to form the final version of the scale. Both optimised scales (9-item and 7-item) satisfied reliability requirements, with all coefficients (Cronbach's α, Guttman's lambda-2, Molenaar-Sijtsma, Latent Class Reliability Coefficient) ≥ 0.74.
The scale is suitable for assessing fall risk among older adults with cognitive impairment, with a unidimensional scale of the first seven items recommended for practical use. Future efforts should refine the scale by exploring additional risk factors, especially emotion-related ones.
The refined 7-item scale provides nursing home staff with a practical, reliable tool for assessing fall risk in cognitively impaired older adults, enabling targeted prevention strategies to enhance safety and reduce injuries.
The refined 7-item scale provides nursing home staff with a reliable, practical, and scientifically validated tool specifically designed for assessing fall risk in older adults with cognitive impairment. Its simplicity enables efficient integration into routine clinical workflows, empowering caregivers to proactively identify risk factors and implement timely, targeted interventions. This approach directly enhances resident safety by translating assessment results into actionable prevention strategies within daily care practices.
This study was reported in accordance with the STROBE guidelines.
No Patient or Public Contribution.
The overuse of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections in primary healthcare in rural China is a particular challenge and is highly related to antibiotic resistance. Our research team designed a multi-component intervention focusing predominantly on health practitioners to reduce antibiotic prescriptions in rural communities of China. The effects of the intervention were evaluated through a randomised controlled trial. This study was conducted alongside the trial to develop a contextualised understanding of the implementation of the intervention and related influencing factors.
Qualitative process study nested in a randomised controlled trial, including observation and semi-structured interviews.
Primary healthcare in rural China.
27 health practitioners from township health centres assigned to the intervention arm.
A complex intervention to reduce antibiotic prescriptions in rural communities of China, which includes the following components: training for health practitioners, a public letter of commitment, patient leaflets, a decision support system and a peer support group.
Not applicable.
Data were analysed using thematic analysis.
The overall multi-component intervention was described as useful in reducing antibiotic prescribing, with a particularly high acceptance and use of patient leaflets and the public letter of commitment among health practitioners. There were mixed views on the decision support system and peer support group. Practitioners reported usability-related barriers to using the decision support system during consultations. Practitioners did not understand the role or benefits of the peer support group and found it difficult to initiate group discussions, due to the lack of any existing clinical team at the primary care level.
The multi-component intervention appears to be acceptable and useful in primary healthcare in rural China. Successful implementation requires a comprehensive understanding of the contextual characteristics of the setting. Interventions to reduce antibiotic prescribing in China in the future could consider wider stakeholders including patients, retail pharmacies and health authorities.
ISRCTN30652037 (01/12/2020).
Technology-assisted interventions offer a promising alternative to conventional cardiac rehabilitation. However, there is limited evidence on their effectiveness, particularly in non-Western settings with emphasis on exercise self-efficacy.
To evaluate the effects of a 12-week, technology-assisted hybrid cardiac rehabilitation (TecHCR) program on physical, physiological, and psychological outcomes of patients with coronary heart disease.
A two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial including 160 participants was randomly assigned to either TecHCR or usual care. TecHCR was underpinned by the Health Belief Model, consisting of three supervised exercise training and occupational therapy sessions, a fitness watch for exercise self-monitoring, six audio-visual educational videos, and a weekly video call follow-up. Data were collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 24 weeks post-intervention.
Participants in TecHCR demonstrated significantly greater improvement in exercise self-efficacy (β = 5.909, 95% CI [3.146, 8.672]; p < 0.001), health-promoting behaviors (β = 9.058, 95% CI [5.524, 12.591]; p < 0.001), and perceived anxiety levels (β = −1.255, 95% CI [−1.893, −0.616]; p < 0.001) at immediate post-intervention and (β = 8.506, 95% CI [4.951, 12.061]; p < 0.001, β = 14.563, 95% CI [8.809, 20.317]; p < 0.001, β = −1.145, 95% CI [−1.975, −0.315]; p = 0.007, respectively) 24 weeks post-intervention when compared with the control group. No statistically significant improvements were observed in perceived depression and cardiovascular risk factors.
The TecHCR program, combining supervised sessions with technology-assisted components, is an effective approach for significantly improving exercise self-efficacy, health-promoting behaviors, and anxiety in patients with coronary heart disease. Healthcare institutions should consider implementing hybrid programs to overcome barriers to traditional cardiac rehabilitation, leveraging technology to extend support and maintain patient engagement beyond supervised sessions.
clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04862351
To evaluate the effectiveness of short-duration self-learning (SSL) and mastery learning (ML) strategies on the acquisition and 6-month retention of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills and basic life support (BLS) knowledge among hospital administrative staff in Thailand.
Comparative assessment of two CPR training strategies.
Tertiary-level academic institution in Thailand.
A total of 163 hospital administrative staff aged ≥18 years without prior BLS certification were enrolled and randomly allocated to either the SSL group (n=82) or the ML group (n=81). Participants with previous CPR certification, medical limitations preventing chest compressions or those unwilling to attend the 6-month retention test were excluded. 71 participants in each group completed the 6-month follow-up.
All participants viewed an 8 min self-directed instructional video on BLS and subsequently performed CPR practice using real-time feedback manikins. The SSL group practised independently for up to five 1 min sessions, while the ML group practised until achieving a predefined mastery threshold (QCPR (Quality Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) score >90%).
The primary outcome was CPR skill retention at 6 months, measured by QCPR overall performance score. Secondary outcomes included observational BLS performance (scene safety, responsiveness, emergency activation, breathing assessment and correct hand placement), knowledge retention scores and the number of attempts required to achieve mastery in the ML group.
Both SSL and ML groups demonstrated significant improvement in CPR performance and BLS knowledge immediately after training (p
Both SSL and ML effectively enhanced CPR performance and knowledge retention among non-medical hospital staff. SSL offers a practical, resource-efficient and scalable approach for CPR training in large-scale community or institutional settings. Future studies should investigate the cost-effectiveness and optimal refresher frequency for sustaining CPR competency.
TCTR20210521003.
Self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviours are a significant public health concern. While individual risk factors have been widely studied, the role of social determinants in shaping these outcomes remains underexplored within policy contexts. This Rapid Realist Policy Review aims to investigate how macro level (national) policies in England address the impact of social determinants of self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
This Rapid Realist Policy Review adapts the rapid realist review method to place policy documents at the centre of analysis. It will identify and extract relevant English policy documents (2002–2023) related to suicide, self-harm and mental health, using government and archival databases.
Policy documents will be mapped and categorised based on their pertinence to proximal and distal outcomes and social determinants. A predefined template will be used to extract and appraise data based on relevance, richness and rigour. Context-mechanism-outcome configurations will be developed, validated by content experts and synthesised into an initial programme theory. The review will follow Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards for realist syntheses.
This review does not require ethical approval due to the use of secondary sources. Findings will be disseminated via an open-access, peer-reviewed journal article. A summary of key recommendations will be produced with the expert stakeholder group to inform policy and practice.
CRD420251057759.
Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) associated with an underlying connective tissue disease (CTD), also known as a systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease or SARD, are chronic conditions with a tendency to progress. CTD-ILDs are increasingly diagnosed and pose an important global health challenge. This systematic review aims to provide an overarching evaluation of their epidemiology and disease burden in Asia. In this review, the term CTD-ILD will be used to denote all major forms of ILD arising in the context of a SARD.
This systematic review will adhere to the standards of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, including a flow diagram to depict the process by four independent reviewers that will assess titles and abstracts against the following predetermined criteria. A systematic review of the literature search published from 2000 to 2024 will be conducted using five electronic databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Publications that meet the inclusion criteria of this review will be subjected to a full-text review to extract relevant data. Collated data will be analysed and organised into categories based on the expected outcome and objectives. The quality of published evidence, including heterogeneity across studies, will be checked against PRISMA checklists and assessed by Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
Ethics approval is not applicable for this study since no original data will be collected. The findings of this review will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication in a scientific journal and conference communications, with the aim of contributing insights to the field by identifying research gaps and informing clinical practice.
The protocol of this systematic review is registered with the National Medical & Research Register (ID-24–03600-GUB) and International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews PROSPERO (CRD420251037095).
Proximal humeral fractures are increasingly common, particularly among older people, whereas the prognosis of surgical treatments for these fractures remains substantially uncertain. In China, where the ageing population is rapidly growing, high-quality prospective data on surgical outcomes, complications and cost-effectiveness are lacking. To address this gap, we propose to initiate a prospective, multicentre cohort study on surgical treatment for proximal humeral fractures in China—Cohort of Acute Shoulder Trauma (CAST) study.
The CAST is a multicentre, prospective cohort study enrolling patients with acute proximal humeral fractures undergoing surgical treatments at eight hospitals in China between May 2024 and December 2029. Patients can receive any of the surgical treatment methods which include percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation, external fixation, open reduction and internal fixation using locking plates or intramedullary nails, suture anchors and shoulder arthroplasty. We will collect patient-reported outcome measures (Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand), Constant-Murley, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, EuroQol 5-Dimension and Visual Analogue Scale), physical examination results, imaging assessments (based on X-rays, ultrasound, CT and MRI scans), laboratory tests (including inflammatory cytokines) and data on medical costs. We will follow patients at 1 day, and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months postoperatively. The planned sample size is 1500 patients.
The study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Approval No. 2024-ky-104(K)). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Findings from the CAST study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and academic conferences.
ChiCTR2500109651.
by Caitlin D. October, Dzunisani P. Baloyi, Lario Viljoen, Rene Raad, Dillon T. Wademan, Megan Palmer, Juli Switala, Michaile G. Anthony, Karen Du Preez, Petra De Koker, Anneke C. Hesseling, Bronwyne Coetzee, Graeme Hoddinott
Children who are hospitalised for tuberculosis (TB) experience challenges that put them at risk of developing emotional, behavioural, and social difficulties. In this methodological paper, we showcase the development of a narrative intervention toolkit with key components of the resulting version 1.0 tool. The study design was participatory and pragmatic, with researchers working with the routine staff of TB hospital wards, children admitted and their caregivers, to iteratively understand and improve children’s experiences of hospitalisation. The project included three phases: (1) a situational analysis to map children and healthcare providers’ perspectives on priorities and potential intervention components, (2) co-development of a beta-version of the intervention, and (3) piloting and incremental refinement toward a version 1.0 of the intervention. The intervention toolkit combined a series of activities alongside the story of ‘Courageous Curly’ to facilitate children’s engagement with their own experiences of hospitalisation, including psychosocial and treatment challenges, captured, and described throughout data collection. We found that dividing the story into short chapters facilitated children’s engagement with the section of story that is being told on a specific day. Each chapter of the story follows/mimics a different stage children can expect during their treatment journey while hospitalised for TB care. Implementation and evaluation of such interventions can mitigate the psychosocial impact of TB in children and inform policies to improve their overall TB care.Growing evidence suggests that vaccines targeting respiratory pathogens have non-specific and broader effects. We aimed to investigate the non-specific effects of respiratory vaccines on acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) hospitalisations and associated outcomes in children
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
We searched online databases including Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus and Clinical Trials.gov from inception to 24 January 2024.
We included human studies involving non-specific/off-target effects of respiratory vaccines (including maternal, infant and childhood vaccines) and excluded studies investigating the Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine and non-pathogen-confirmed outcomes following pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV).
We used Research Screener, a machine learning tool, to semi-automate the abstract screening process and Covidence, a management and streamlining software for full-text reviews and data extraction. A meta-analysis was conducted if four or more studies reported on the same outcome and the same exposure vaccine.
After removing duplicates, 9727 articles were identified. After screening and full-text reviews, 20 articles were eligible. Of those, four met the requirements for a meta-analysis which showed a 21% vaccine effectiveness (VE) (95% CI 8.0% to 32.0%) of maternal influenza vaccine against all-cause ALRI hospitalisations in infants
Our review demonstrated both protective and neutral non-specific effects of respiratory vaccines against ALRI-hospitalisations and related outcomes in young children. Such effects should be considered as part of the full value of a vaccine and how vaccine investments are prioritised. Further research on the impact of respiratory vaccines on antibiotic prescribing rates is essential as consistent reductions may help contribute to reducing the global burden of antimicrobial resistance.
CRD 42023476038.
To explore the optimal timing of patient-reported outcome assessment, defined as the collection and use of patient-reported outcomes at clinically meaningful points such as before or during encounters, treatment initiation and follow-up, and to identify the facilitators and barriers to timely use.
A qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals across diverse US health systems.
Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes related to the timing and implementation of patient-reported outcomes assessments. Interviews were analysed iteratively to develop a coding framework and synthesise overarching themes.
Fourteen healthcare professionals, including nurse practitioners, cardiologists and health informatics experts across seven U.S. health systems from academic and community hospitals, were interviewed in February 2024. Three major themes emerged: (1) value proposition of timely patient-reported outcome data collection (2) key facilitators for timely implementation and (3) multilevel barriers. The value proposition focused on the use of patient-reported outcomes for prevention and active disease management. Critical facilitators for the timely implementation of patient-reported outcomes included the involvement of research and clinical coordinators, strategies for pre-visit and on-site patient-reported outcome collection, the use of standardised templates within EHRs and the alignment of patient-reported outcome collection with patients' long-term treatment goals. Finally, multilevel barriers included time constraints, patient-level challenges (e.g., fatigue, literacy, language) and systemic issues (e.g., technical limitations, lack of reimbursement and unclear guidelines).
Timely collection and use of patient-reported outcomes is critical for improving symptom monitoring and supporting patient-centered clinical decision-making. However, multilevel barriers hinder consistent implementation across health care settings.
Integrating patient-reported outcomes into clinical workflows can improve the patient-centeredness of patient-healthcare professional interactions, and provide a more holistic picture of a patient's health status. Addressing barriers to patient-reported outcome implementation, including lack of time, poor health literacy and workflow integration barriers, is crucial for improving clinical outcomes.
This study adhered to the COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) checklist, in accordance with EQUATOR Network guidelines.
No patient or public involvement: This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct or reporting.
by Pornpen Sangthawan, Thammasin Ingviya, Songyos Rajborirug, Jirayut Janma, Siribha Changsirikulchai
BackgroundThailand implemented a peritoneal dialysis (PD)-first policy under its universal health coverage (UHC) from 2008 to 2022. This study aims to describe patient survival during dialysis and after kidney transplantation (KT), and to identify factors associated with survival in these periods among UHC-covered patients undergoing PD, hemodialysis (HD), or transitioning between dialysis modalities.
MethodsThis retrospective study analyzed data from patients receiving PD, HD, or KT, recorded by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) between January 2013 and December 2021. Patients were categorized into four groups: PD, HD, PD-to-HD transition, and HD-to- PD transition. Survival factors were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models.
ResultsAmong 81,572 patients receiving kidney replacement therapy, 38.9% were on PD, 35.3% were on HD, 10.2% transitioned from PD to HD, and 15.6% transitioned from HD to PD. Patients transitioning from PD to HD had superior 3- and 5-year survival rates compared to the other three groups. Survival outcomes were significantly influenced by age at dialysis initiation, diabetes, and comorbidities. Overall, 1,517 patients (1.9%) received KT: 70.4% had PD, 19.8% HD, and 9.8% had transitioned. Median follow-up time before KT was 94.5 months. Post-KT survival rates were comparable across dialysis groups. Factors associated with post-KT survival were age, cardiac disease, antibody-mediated rejection, and delayed graft function.
ConclusionsUnder Thailand’s PD-first policy, starting with PD and later switching to HD was linked to better survival than staying on a single modality or switching from HD to PD. A higher proportion of PD patients underwent KT compared to HD patients. Post-KT survival rates remained similar across all dialysis modalities. These findings underscore the importance of individualized dialysis modality selection and proactive transition planning to optimize patient outcomes.
Older age is one of the greatest risk factors of dementia, and the rural demographic is ageing in Canada. Compared with their urban counterparts, rural older adults often face unique challenges in accessing cognitive healthcare, which is exacerbated by a shortage of healthcare specialists, public transportation, finances, education, services and dispersed geography. This scoping review protocol outlines the methodology that will be used to examine the literature about the care priorities, service needs and lived experiences from the perspectives of rural older adults living with cognitive impairment and dementia in Canada.
Our scoping review protocol will follow the guidance of Arksey and O’Malley and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extensions for Scoping Reviews checklist. Our search strategy will identify relevant peer-reviewed literature in databases including Cumulated Index in Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. The database search dates for this scoping review will be from 1 January 2015 to 1 January 2025. The data will be charted by two reviewers using a standardised data extraction table. Inductive content analysis will be performed using a three-step process.
Given this scoping review will be an examination of the published literature, human subjects will not be included in this research. Therefore, ethics approval is not required. Knowledge mobilisation and dissemination strategies will include peer-reviewed journal articles, conference presentations, community workshops, newsletter articles and webinars. This study may provide valuable information for healthcare practitioners, community leaders and policymakers working to support people living with cognitive impairment and dementia in rural communities.
The WHO recommends task-sharing with community health workers (CHWs) to help overcome the limited access to hearing healthcare and hearing aids in low-income and middle-income settings (LMIs). This systematic review examined the feasibility, efficacy and effectiveness of CHW-facilitated hearing aid provision.
Systematic review guided by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines.
PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched through 4 June 2025.
Studies in which CHWs facilitated hearing aid provision in any context.
Data on study characteristics, CHW training and roles, hearing-aid outcomes and implementation factors were extracted. Study quality was determined using the National Institute of Health quality assessment tool, and level of evidence was determined using the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. A narrative synthesis was conducted.
Six studies published between 2013 and 2025 were included. Two were conducted in high-income countries but implemented in LMI communities. Four studies were conducted in LMI countries. All provided CHW training, though content and duration varied; only one used WHO-endorsed materials. Sustained device use was high as reported at follow-ups, though only one included 12-month outcomes. All studies included validated outcome measures, including the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids, Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly–Screening version, Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit and Self-Efficacy for Situational Communication Management Questionnaire. Implementation facilitators included use of local CHWs, delivery in participants’ home languages, comprehensive CHW training and employing mHealth tools. Barriers included CHW scope constraints and unfamiliarity with outcome subscales in rural contexts. Only two studies used formal feasibility frameworks.
CHW-facilitated hearing aid provision is feasible and effective. However, variation in training and implementation highlights the need for standardised training materials, supervision models and culturally adapted outcome measures. Further research should examine long-term outcomes, cost-effectiveness and scalability using formal implementation frameworks.
Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained arrhythmia globally, necessitates effective strategies for stroke prevention. Although current risk stratification tools, such as the CHA2DS2-VASc score, are widely used to guide anticoagulation therapy, their limited predictive accuracy underscores the urgent need for more precise and reliable models. This study aims to establish a nationwide AF registry incorporating multi-dimensional data to identify novel risk factors and develop a more accurate stroke prediction model to improve risk stratification and guide anticoagulation therapy in patients with AF.
The risk factors for stroke in patients with non-valvular AF in China (REFINE) registry is a nationwide, multicentre, observational registry integrating retrospective (n=20 000) and prospective (n=5000) cohorts. Demographics, lifestyle, medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, ECG, echocardiography, contrast-enhanced CT scan and blood samples will be collected at baseline. Long-term follow-up will be performed to identify clinical events and treatment at the timepoint. We aim to use the multidimensional dataset to establish a more precise stroke risk predictive tool.
The study is approved by the Ethics Committee of Fuwai Hospital, CAMS&PUMC (No. 2022–1845; No. 2024–2489) and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05598632. The results of this study will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.
In the Netherlands, approximately 2200 major amputations of the lower extremities are performed each year, the majority in vascular patients. Around 61% of these patients will develop postamputation pain (PAP). PAP is a severe, lifelong, disabling condition profoundly affecting quality of life. During amputations, the common practice is to cut the nerves without employing nerve-surgical techniques to prevent chronic pain due to neuroma formation. In recent years, targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) has been the most frequently studied technique for treating PAP, inhibiting neuroma formation by rerouting the cut mixed nerve to a functional motor nerve. We hypothesise that a primary TMR procedure during major lower limb amputations will result in a lower prevalence of PAP.
We propose a national, multicentre, randomised, sham-controlled trial comparing TMR with traction neurectomy in major amputations of the lower extremities in patients with vascular disease. 203 patients will be recruited with an indication for a transfemoral to transtibial amputation as a primary or secondary sequela of vascular disease. The subjects are randomly assigned to the TMR group or the traction neurectomy group. PAP will be evaluated 1 year postoperatively as the primary endpoint. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, mobility, neuropathic pain, hospital anxiety and depression, cost-effectiveness and complications.
This study has been reviewed and approved by the local ethical review body, ‘The Medical Ethics Committee Leiden The Hague Delft’, under the reference: P24.073 on 28 November 2024. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.
NCT06719245. Dutch trial registry: NL87196.058.24
FreshRSS 