Numerous Complications (numerous + complications)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


The effect of depression on quality of life of patients with type II diabetes mellitus

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 2 2008
brahim Eren M.D.
Abstract Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a frequently encountered metabolic disease with chronic features and involves numerous complications throughout its course, which causes severe restriction and disability in an individual's life. It has been reported that the incidence of depression is higher in diabetic patients and that diabetes is one of the risk factors in the development of depression. It has also been reported that co-morbid psychiatric disorders cause further deterioration in the quality of life in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of depression on the quality of life in type II DM patients. Sixty patients (30 females and 30 males) with current major depressive episode diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria, and 48 type II DM patients (30 females and 18 males) without a major depressive episode (non-depressed group) were included in the study. All patients were evaluated with a semi-structured interview form to assess the clinical features of DM, Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HRSA), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), and the Turkish version of The World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF). The HRSD and HRSA scores in the depressed group were 24.87±4.83 and 21.07±5.44, respectively, whereas those in the non-depressed group were 7.83±3.92 and 6.88±3.43, respectively. The physical health, psychological health, social relationship, environmental and social pressure domain, general health-related quality of life, overall quality of life, and WHOQOL-BREF total scores were found significantly lower in the depressed group than the non-depressed group. There were significant negative correlations between HRSD and HRSA scores and physical health, psychological health, social relationship, environmental and social pressure domain, general health-related quality of life, overall quality of life, and WHOQOL-BREF total scores. Furthermore, there were significant negative correlations between the HbA1c level and physical health, social relationship, environmental domain, social pressure domain, general health-related quality of life, overall quality of life, and WHOQOL-BREF total scores. However, there was a significant positive correlation between the level of education and physical health, psychological health, social relationship, environmental social pressure domain, overall quality of life, and WHOQOL-BREF total scores. There were significant negative correlations between social relationship domain score, and age and duration of illness. Our study demonstrates that the presence of depression in type II DM further deteriorates the quality of life of the patients. Since treating depression would have a beneficial effect on the quality of life, clinicians should carefully assess for depression associated with type II DM. Depression and Anxiety 0:1,9, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Optimizing Coding and Reimbursement to Improve Management of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 11 2002
Howard Fillit MD
The objectives of this study were to review the diagnostic, International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), diagnosis related groups (DRGs), and common procedural terminology (CPT) coding and reimbursement issues (including Medicare Part B reimbursement for physicians) encountered in caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD); to review the implications of these policies for the long-term clinical management of the patient with ADRD; and to provide recommendations for promoting appropriate recognition and reimbursement for clinical services provided to ADRD patients. Relevant English-language articles identified from MEDLINE about ADRD prevalence estimates; disease morbidity and mortality; diagnostic coding practices for ADRD; and Medicare, Medicaid, and managed care organization data on diagnostic coding and reimbursement were reviewed. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is grossly undercoded. Few AD cases are recognized at an early stage. Only 13% of a group of patients receiving the AD therapy donepezil had AD as the primary diagnosis, and AD is rarely included as a primary or secondary DRG diagnosis when the condition precipitating admission to the hospital is caused by AD. In addition, AD is often not mentioned on death certificates, although it may be the proximate cause of death. There is only one ICD-9-CM code for AD,331.0,and no clinical modification codes, despite numerous complications that can be directly attributed to AD. Medicare carriers consider ICD-9 codes for senile dementia (290 series) to be mental health codes and pay them at a lower rate than medical codes. DRG coding is biased against recognition of ADRD as an acute, admitting diagnosis. The CPT code system is an impediment to quality of care for ADRD patients because the complex, time-intensive services ADRD patients require are not adequately, if at all, reimbursed. Also, physicians treating significant numbers of AD patients are at greater risk of audit if they submit a high frequency of complex codes. AD is grossly undercoded in acute hospital and outpatient care settings because of failure to diagnose, limitations of the coding system, and reimbursement issues. Such undercoding leads to a lack of recognition of the effect of AD and its complications on clinical care and impedes the development of better care management. We recommend continuing physician education on the importance of early diagnosis and care management of AD and its documentation through appropriate coding, expansion of the current ICD-9-CM codes for AD, more appropriate use of DRG coding for ADRD, recognition of the need for time-intensive services by ADRD patients that result in a higher frequency of use of complex CPT codes, and reimbursement for CPT codes that cover ADRD care management services. [source]


Surgical treatment of "terrible triad of the elbow": technique and outcome

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY, Issue 2 2010
Yu-xing Wang MD
Objective:, To describe the authors' surgical technique and to evaluate the final functional outcome of surgical treatment of the "terrible triad of the elbow". Methods:, Eight patients identified with "terrible triad" injury patterns, including posterior elbow dislocation, radial head fracture and coronoid fracture, were available for a minimum of 11 months follow-up. Evaluation of functional outcome was based on Mayo elbow performance, Broberg-Morrey scores, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Complications were also recorded. Results:, Five elbows redislocated while in a splint after manipulative reduction. Three had residual subluxation after operative treatment. The final mean extent of forearm movement was as follows: 21° of extension deficit (range, 5° to 45°), 126° of flexion (range, 110° to 140°), 75° of supination (range, 45° to 90°), and 71° of pronation (range, 30° to 90°). The mean Mayo, Broberg-Morrey, and DASH scores were 78.0 ± 13.4, 76.0 ± 14.0, and 28.0 ± 24.7, respectively. Conclusions:, When an elbow joint is affected by the terrible triad, it is very unstable and prone to numerous complications. With operative treatment, the surgeon should attempt to perform internal fixation of the coronoid fracture, to regain normal radiocapitellar contact (either by preserving the radial head with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) or by replacing it with a prosthesis), and to repair the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). Thus early functional recovery and a successful final functional outcome can be achieved. [source]


Definitions of the phenotypic manifestations of sickle cell disease,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Samir K. Ballas
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a pleiotropic genetic disorder of hemoglobin that has profound multiorgan effects. The low prevalence of SCD (,100,000/US) has limited progress in clinical, basic, and translational research. Lack of a large, readily accessible population for clinical studies has contributed to the absence of standard definitions and diagnostic criteria for the numerous complications of SCD and inadequate understanding of SCD pathophysiology. In 2005, the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Centers initiated a project to establish consensus definitions of the most frequently occurring complications. A group of clinicians and scientists with extensive expertise in research and treatment of SCD gathered to identify and categorize the most common complications. From this group, a formal writing team was formed that further reviewed the literature, sought specialist input, and produced definitions in a standard format. This article provides an overview of the process and describes 12 body system categories and the most prevalent or severe complications within these categories. A detailed Appendix provides standardized definitions for all complications identified within each system. This report proposes use of these definitions for studies of SCD complications, so future studies can be comparably robust and treatment efficacy measured. Use of these definitions will support greater accuracy in genotype,phenotype studies, thereby achieving a better understanding of SCD pathophysiology. This should nevertheless be viewed as a dynamic rather than final document; phenotype descriptions should be reevaluated and revised periodically to provide the most current standard definitions as etiologic factors are better understood, and new diagnostic options are developed. Am. J. Hematol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]