Related Articles

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis 2016.

J Dermatol. 2016 Apr 14;

Authors: Saeki H, Nakahara T, Tanaka A, Kabashima K, Sugaya M, Murota H, Ebihara T, Kataoka Y, Aihara M, Etoh T, Katoh N, Committee for Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis of Japanese Dermatological Association

Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease characterized by relapsing eczema with pruritus as a primary lesion. Most patients have an atopic predisposition. The definitive diagnosis of AD requires the presence of all three features: (i) pruritus; (ii) typical morphology and distribution of the eczema; and (iii) chronic and chronically relapsing course. The current strategies to treat AD in Japan from the perspective of evidence-based medicine consist of three primary measures: (i) the use of topical corticosteroids and tacrolimus ointment as the main treatment for the inflammation; (ii) topical application of emollients to treat the cutaneous barrier dysfunction; and (iii) avoidance of apparent exacerbating factors, psychological counseling and advice about daily life. The guidelines present recommendations to review clinical research articles, evaluate the balance between the advantages and disadvantages of medical activities, and optimize medical activity-related patient outcomes with respect to several important points requiring decision-making in clinical practice.

PMID: 27076388 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline: Pediatric Chronic Home Invasive Ventilation.

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2016 Apr 15;193(8):e16-35

Authors: Sterni LM, Collaco JM, Baker CD, Carroll JL, Sharma GD, Brozek JL, Finder JD, Ackerman VL, Arens R, Boroughs DS, Carter J, Daigle KL, Dougherty J, Gozal D, Kevill K, Kravitz RM, Kriseman T, MacLusky I, Rivera-Spoljaric K, Tori AJ, Ferkol T, Halbower AC, ATS Pediatric Chronic Home Ventilation Workgroup

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Children with chronic invasive ventilator dependence living at home are a diverse group of children with special health care needs. Medical oversight, equipment management, and community resources vary widely. There are no clinical practice guidelines available to health care professionals for the safe hospital discharge and home management of these complex children.
PURPOSE: To develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the hospital discharge and home/community management of children requiring chronic invasive ventilation.
METHODS: The Pediatric Assembly of the American Thoracic Society assembled an interdisciplinary workgroup with expertise in the care of children requiring chronic invasive ventilation. The experts developed four questions of clinical importance and used an evidence-based strategy to identify relevant medical evidence. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used to formulate and grade recommendations.
RESULTS: Clinical practice recommendations for the management of children with chronic ventilator dependence at home are provided, and the evidence supporting each recommendation is discussed.
CONCLUSIONS: Collaborative generalist and subspecialist comanagement is the Medical Home model most likely to be successful for the care of children requiring chronic invasive ventilation. Standardized hospital discharge criteria are suggested. An awake, trained caregiver should be present at all times, and at least two family caregivers should be trained specifically for the child's care. Standardized equipment for monitoring, emergency preparedness, and airway clearance are outlined. The recommendations presented are based on the current evidence and expert opinion and will require an update as new evidence and/or technologies become available.

PMID: 27082538 [PubMed - in process]

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Adherence to guidelines for hospitalized community-acquired pneumonia over time and its impact on health outcomes and mortality.

Intern Emerg Med. 2016 Apr 20;

Authors: Costantini E, Allara E, Patrucco F, Faggiano F, Hamid F, Balbo PE

Abstract
Compliance with validated guidelines is crucial to guide management of patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Data describing real-life management and treatment of CAP are limited. We aimed to evaluate the compliance with guidelines over time, and to assess its impact on all-cause mortality and clinical outcomes. We retrospectively compared two cohorts of patients admitted to the hospital, throughout 2005, just after the implementation of a local clinical pathway based on CAP international guidelines, and 7 years later over 2012. We included all patients with a diagnosis of pneumonia and/or related complications. 564 patients were included. The Pneumonia Severity Index calculation was better documented in 2012 (25.23 %) compared to 2005 (17.70 %; p = 0.032), but compliance with guideline empirical antibiotic therapy was lower in 2012 (56.70 %) than in 2005 (68.75 %; p = 0.004). Performance of guideline recommended urinary antigen tests was higher in 2012, and associated with 57.3 % lower odds of in-hospital mortality (95 % CI 15.0-78.5 %) and with 65.9 % lower odds of 30-day mortality (95 % CI 31.5-83.0 %). Compliance with empirical antibiotic therapy was associated with 2.9 days lower mean length of hospital stay (95 % CI -4.2 to -1.6 days) and with 2.0 days lower mean duration of antibiotic therapy (95 % CI -3.3 to -0.7 days). Compliance with guidelines changed over time, with some effects on mortality and with an apparent reduction in the length of hospital stay and the duration of antibiotic therapy. Specific clinical training and hospital control policies could achieve greater compliance with guidelines, and thus reduce a burden on hospital services.

PMID: 27098057 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Bronchodilator treatment for COPD in primary care of four Latin America countries: The multinational, cross-sectional, non-interventional PUMA study.

Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2016 Apr 22;

Authors: Montes de Oca M, Lopez Varela MV, Jardim J, Stirvulov R, Surmont F

Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Bronchodilators (BDs) are the cornerstone of COPD treatment. However, their underuse has been reported in real-life studies. PUMA is a primary-care study from Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela and Uruguay that could help understand the BD use in terms of frequency for long-acting (LA-BD) and short-acting (SA-BD) BDs alone or associated with corticosteroids (CS), and the use as-needed or on regular basis.
METHODS: This is a multicentre, multinational, cross-sectional, non-interventional study including no randomised primary-care centres from each country (total 57 centres) without connection with respiratory specialists. Subjects attending routine visits, at-risk for COPD (≥40 years, current or former smokers or exposed to biomass) completed a questionnaire and performed spirometry. COPD was defined as post-BD FEV1/FVC<0.70 and by the lower limit of normal (LLN). Prior physician diagnosis of emphysema, chronic bronchitis or COPD was also determined.
RESULTS: 1743 patients were interviewed, 1540 completed spirometry, 309 had COPD by post-BD FEV1/FVC<0.70, 226 by LLN, and 102 had prior medical diagnosis. A total of 77/309 COPD patients by spirometry (24.9%) used BD (3.6% LA-BDs), 15.2% used BD + CS (13.6% LA-BD + CS). Among these patients, SA-BDs (monotherapy) were the most commonly used medication both as-needed (4.5%) and on a regular basis (17.5%). Similar findings were observed using the LLN criteria. In those with prior medical diagnosis, 66/102 (64.7%) used BDs (9.8% LA-BD), and 25.6% used BD + CS (13.6% LA-BD + CS); among them SA-BDs were the most commonly medication used as-needed (9%) and on a regular basis (48.1%). Having health insurance with medication coverage increased the use of BDs.
CONCLUSIONS: Up to 60% of COPD patients by spirometry and 10% of those with prior medical diagnosis attending a primary care sample of four Latin American countries did not use BDs. LA-BDs are widely underused on a regular-basis (2.6% and 8.3% of patients with spirometric and medical-diagnosis, respectively) This represents a considerable gap between guideline recommendations and BD prescribing pattern in these centres.

PMID: 27113029 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]