Faculty Bibliography
Searched for:
school:SOM
Department/Unit:Population Health
Total Results:
12781
"To speak of death is to invite it": Provider perceptions of palliative care for cardiovascular patients in Western Kenya
CONTEXT/BACKGROUND:Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally and a significant health burden in Kenya. Despite improved outcomes in CVD, palliative care has limited implementation for CVD in low- and middle-income countries. This may be partly due to providers' perceptions of palliative care and end-of-life decision-making for CVD patients. OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:Our goal was to explore providers' perceptions of palliative care for CVD in Western Kenya in order to inform its implementation. METHODS:We conducted eight focus group discussions as well as five key informant interviews. These were conducted by moderators using structured question guides. Qualitative analysis was performed using the constant comparative method. A coding scheme was developed and agreed upon by consensus by two investigators, each of whom then independently coded each transcript. Relationships between codes were formulated and codes were grouped into distinct themes. New codes were iteratively added with successive focus group or interview until thematic saturation was reached. RESULTS:Four major themes emerged to explain the complexities of integrating of palliative care for CVD patients in Kenya: (1) stigma of discussing death and dying, (2) mismatch between patient and clinician perceptions of disease severity, (3) the effects of poverty on care, and (4) challenges in training and practice environments. All clinicians expressed a need for integrating palliative care for patients with CVD. CONCLUSIONS:These results suggest attainable interventions supported by local providers can help improve CVD care and quality of life for patients living with advanced heart disease in low-resource settings worldwide.
PMID: 32437947
ISSN: 1873-6513
CID: 4444602
Reactions to the National Academies/Royal Society Report on Heritable Human Genome Editing
In September 2020, a detailed report on Heritable Human Genome Editing was published. The report offers a translational pathway for the limited approval of germline editing under limited circumstances and assuming various criteria have been met. In this perspective, some three dozen experts from the fields of genome editing, medicine, bioethics, law, and related fields offer their candid reactions to the National Academies/Royal Society report, highlighting areas of support, omissions, disagreements, and priorities moving forward.
PMID: 33095048
ISSN: 2573-1602
CID: 4679172
Exploring patient and provider perspectives on the intersection between fertility, genetics, and family building
OBJECTIVE:Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients have distinct medical and psychosocial needs and fertility is a key concern. Early age of onset is a risk factor for hereditary cancer and AYAs are more likely to experience reduced fertility. This has implications for future family building decisions and fertility preservation (FP) and genetic testing/counseling (GT/GC) education. METHODS:Patients diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 18 and 39 and health care providers (HCPs) who treat AYA cancer patients were recruited from a single institution. Qualitative interviews explored AYA patients' and HCPs' concerns regarding their experiences discussing genetics and FP. RESULTS:The majority of patients (n = 17) were female (59%), and the majority of HCPs (n = 18) were male (67%). Overall, participants had differing perceptions of FP and GT/GC-related information provided during the clinical visit. Patients indicated initiating the conversation about FP and did not recall HCPs discussing GT/GC with them. HCPs indicated patients were often overwhelmed with too much information and comprehension of this discussion is limited. HCPs also felt patients' emotions/beliefs determined their information-seeking behavior specific to FP and GT/GC. Participants felt educational materials should be developed and delivered in a video format depicting a patient-provider interaction or patient testimonial. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:AYA patients are often overwhelmed by a cancer diagnosis; the complexity/volume of information regarding FP and GT/GC may hinder understanding and decision-making about family building. Educational materials that help patients understand what questions to ask HCPs about FP and GT/GC should be developed to improve knowledge, psychosocial well-being, and future family building decisions.
PMID: 31982959
ISSN: 1433-7339
CID: 4293792
High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I and T for Cardiovascular Risk Stratification in Adults With Diabetes [Letter]
PMCID:7510022
PMID: 32788284
ISSN: 1935-5548
CID: 5585782
Acceleration of kidney function decline after incident hospitalization with cardiovascular disease: the Stockholm CREAtinine Measurements (SCREAM) project
AIMS:The cardiorenal syndrome refers to a bidirectional relationship between the kidney and the heart. However, epidemiological evidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression is actually scarce. METHODS AND RESULTS:). CONCLUSIONS:Incident hospitalization with cardiac diseases (i.e. HF and CHD) was significantly associated with a subsequent acceleration of eGFR decline.
PMID: 32683762
ISSN: 1879-0844
CID: 5585752
Urologic Services in Public Hospitals Suffered a Greater Detriment Than Private Hospitals During the Battle of COVID-19 [Letter]
PMCID:7367783
PMID: 32687841
ISSN: 1527-9995
CID: 4593942
Two-drug fixed-dose combinations of blood pressure-lowering drugs as WHO essential medicines: An overview of efficacy, safety, and cost
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the world's leading cause of death. High blood pressure (BP) is the leading global risk factor for all-cause preventable morbidity and mortality. Globally, only about 14% of patients achieve BP control to systolic BP <140 mm Hg and diastolic BP <90 mm Hg. Most patients (>60%) require two or more drugs to achieve BP control, yet poor adherence to therapy is a major barrier to achieving this control. Fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) of BP-lowering drugs are one means to improve BP control through greater adherence and efficacy, with favorable safety and cost profiles. The authors present a review of the supporting data from a successful application to the World Health Organization (WHO) for the inclusion of FDCs of two BP-lowering drugs on the 21st WHO Essential Medicines List. The authors discuss the efficacy and safety of FDCs of two BP-lowering drugs for the management of hypertension in adults, relevant hypertension guideline recommendations, and the estimated cost of such therapies.
PMID: 32815663
ISSN: 1751-7176
CID: 4567082
Serially assessed bisphenol A and phthalate exposure and association with kidney function in children with chronic kidney disease in the US and Canada: A longitudinal cohort study
BACKGROUND:Exposure to environmental chemicals may be a modifiable risk factor for progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of serially assessed exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates on measures of kidney function, tubular injury, and oxidative stress over time in a cohort of children with CKD. METHODS AND FINDINGS/RESULTS:Samples were collected between 2005 and 2015 from 618 children and adolescents enrolled in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children study, an observational cohort study of pediatric CKD patients from the US and Canada. Most study participants were male (63.8%) and white (58.3%), and participants had a median age of 11.0 years (interquartile range 7.6 to 14.6) at the baseline visit. In urine samples collected serially over an average of 3.0 years (standard deviation [SD] 1.6), concentrations of BPA, phthalic acid (PA), and phthalate metabolites were measured as well as biomarkers of tubular injury (kidney injury molecule-1 [KIM-1] and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin [NGAL]) and oxidative stress (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG] and F2-isoprostane). Clinical renal function measures included estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), proteinuria, and blood pressure. Linear mixed models were fit to estimate the associations between urinary concentrations of 6 chemical exposure measures (i.e., BPA, PA, and 4 phthalate metabolite groups) and clinical renal outcomes and urinary concentrations of KIM-1, NGAL, 8-OHdG, and F2-isoprostane controlling for sex, age, race/ethnicity, glomerular status, birth weight, premature birth, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use, angiotensin receptor blocker use, BMI z-score for age and sex, and urinary creatinine. Urinary concentrations of BPA, PA, and phthalate metabolites were positively associated with urinary KIM-1, NGAL, 8-OHdG, and F2-isoprostane levels over time. For example, a 1-SD increase in ∑di-n-octyl phthalate metabolites was associated with increases in NGAL (β = 0.13 [95% CI: 0.05, 0.21], p = 0.001), KIM-1 (β = 0.30 [95% CI: 0.21, 0.40], p < 0.001), 8-OHdG (β = 0.10 [95% CI: 0.06, 0.13], p < 0.001), and F2-isoprostane (β = 0.13 [95% CI: 0.01, 0.25], p = 0.04) over time. BPA and phthalate metabolites were not associated with eGFR, proteinuria, or blood pressure, but PA was associated with lower eGFR over time. For a 1-SD increase in ln-transformed PA, there was an average decrease in eGFR of 0.38 ml/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI: -0.75, -0.01; p = 0.04). Limitations of this study included utilization of spot urine samples for exposure assessment of non-persistent compounds and lack of specific information on potential sources of exposure. CONCLUSIONS:Although BPA and phthalate metabolites were not associated with clinical renal endpoints such as eGFR or proteinuria, there was a consistent pattern of increased tubular injury and oxidative stress over time, which have been shown to affect renal function in the long term. This raises concerns about the potential for clinically significant changes in renal function in relation to exposure to common environmental toxicants at current levels.
PMCID:7556524
PMID: 33052911
ISSN: 1549-1676
CID: 4641512
Global injury morbidity and mortality from 1990 to 2017: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
BACKGROUND:Past research in population health trends has shown that injuries form a substantial burden of population health loss. Regular updates to injury burden assessments are critical. We report Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 Study estimates on morbidity and mortality for all injuries. METHODS:We reviewed results for injuries from the GBD 2017 study. GBD 2017 measured injury-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) using the Cause of Death Ensemble model. To measure non-fatal injuries, GBD 2017 modelled injury-specific incidence and converted this to prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs). YLLs and YLDs were summed to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). FINDINGS:In 1990, there were 4 260 493 (4 085 700 to 4 396 138) injury deaths, which increased to 4 484 722 (4 332 010 to 4 585 554) deaths in 2017, while age-standardised mortality decreased from 1079 (1073 to 1086) to 738 (730 to 745) per 100 000. In 1990, there were 354 064 302 (95% uncertainty interval: 338 174 876 to 371 610 802) new cases of injury globally, which increased to 520 710 288 (493 430 247 to 547 988 635) new cases in 2017. During this time, age-standardised incidence decreased non-significantly from 6824 (6534 to 7147) to 6763 (6412 to 7118) per 100 000. Between 1990 and 2017, age-standardised DALYs decreased from 4947 (4655 to 5233) per 100 000 to 3267 (3058 to 3505). INTERPRETATION:Injuries are an important cause of health loss globally, though mortality has declined between 1990 and 2017. Future research in injury burden should focus on prevention in high-burden populations, improving data collection and ensuring access to medical care.
PMID: 32332142
ISSN: 1475-5785
CID: 5831962
Social-Environmental Resilience, PrEP Uptake, and Viral Suppression among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men and Young Black Transgender Women: the Neighborhoods and Networks (N2) Study in Chicago
Young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) and young black transgender women (TGW) have experienced a stark disparity in HIV prevention and care. Resilience, collective resources to adapt stressors or adversities, may improve HIV prevention and care outcomes. The present study investigated the association of resilience-based factors with PrEP uptake and viral suppression from a socioecological perspective among YBMSM and young black TGW. Data were from the baseline cycle of the Neighborhoods and Networks (N2) Study, an ongoing cohort study of 16-34-year-old YBMSM and young black TGW in Chicago (n = 324). Confidant network-level and neighborhood affiliation variables were created to measure the social-environmental context of resilience. All analyses were stratified by participants' HIV status (184 HIV-negative participants and 140 HIV-positive participants). Among HIV-negative participants, having a parental figure within an individual's confidant network was significantly associated with a greater likelihood of PrEP use. Among HIV-positive participants, confidant network members' awareness of an individual's HIV status was associated with viral suppression. Social support resources from confidant networks could improve HIV prevention and care engagement among YBMSM and young black TGW. Understanding the social and environmental contexts of resilience resource is critical for HIV prevention and care engagement.
PMID: 32468507
ISSN: 1468-2869
CID: 4473512
