תוצאת חיפוש

Prevalence of Medical Complaints in the Community-Dwelling Elderly

J. Gindin, M. Geitzn, M. Dushenat, H. Siboni, D. Goldstein, Z. Shapira, N. Konstantin, A. Wurm, A. Goldsmid, E. Hay-Am

Geriatric Institute of Education and Research, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot; Pharmacology Dept., Kupat Holim Klalit, Tel Aviv and Central District; and Kupat Holim Klalit, Rishon LeZion

We assessed the prevalence of self-reported medical complaints among the community-dwelling elderly receiving regular medication, and determined associations between health and sociodemographic variables, and the prevalence of complaints.

The study included 170 patients, 60-90 years of age, living at home. Participants were recruited from the 3 main primary care clinics in Rishon LeZion. All were receiving chronic medication and were followed-up utilizing a long-term medication card. Data were gathered in interviews held in patients' homes using a structured questionnaire which included sociodemographics, diseases and medication, mental state assessment by Katzman's score, and a list of 15 medical complaints common among the aged. Relations to age, gender, education, living arrangements, number of diseases and number of medications per patient were determined.

Mean age of participants was 73.2±6.0 years and they suffered an average of 4.07±2.16 diseases and took 5.10±2.83 types of drugs. The most prevalent complaints were: weakness and fatigue (65.0%), agitation and restlessness (56.4%), dry mouth (45.6%), constipation (43.6%) and dizziness (43.2%). The number of diseases, gender, education and age had the strongest associations with the prevalence of specific complaints, as well as their total number. The association between number of medications and mean number of complaints was of borderline significance.

Abnormal Liver Function Tests in the Primary Care Setting

Shlomo Vinker, Sasson Nakar, Emanuel Nir, Eitan Hyam, Michael A. Weingarten

Dept. of Family Medicine, Rabin Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine; Tel Aviv University; and General Sick Fund, Central District

Results of laboratory tests ordered during a primary care encounter may reveal findings of abnormal liver function tests, including elevated liver enzymes, hyperbilirubinemia, hypoalbuminemia or abnormal coagulation tests. The object of this study was to describe the spectrum of these liver function test (LFT) abnormalities in primary care.

Results of all laboratory tests ordered during 10 months in an urban primary care clinic were retrospectively reviewed and the medical charts of patients with abnormal LFTs were studied. In 217/1088 (20%) of the tests at least 1 LFT abnormality was found in 156 patients. New diagnoses were made in 104 patients. The main diagnostic groups were: non-alcoholic fatty liver changes, Gilbert's disease, acute infectious hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease and cirrhosis and hepatotoxic drug injury. In 60 patients the physician classified the abnormality as negligible and not associated with significant disease. However, an abnormal test that had been ordered for evaluation of a specific complaint, was indeed likely to represent significant disease (X²=29.5, p<0.001). We conclude that finding abnormalities in liver function tests is common in the primary care clinic but does not often indicate significant liver disease.

Urgent, Unscheduled Self-Referrals by Ambulatory Patients

S. Vinker, S. Nakar, Z. Alon, H. Abu-Amar, G. Sadovsky, E. Hyam

General Sick Fund, Central District and Dept. of Family Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Direct self-referral to a consultant is common in the Israeli health system. Yet patients' reasons for their urgent, unscheduled self-referrals for ambulatory consultations (UUSR) have not been explored. We studied such consultations in an urban multi-disciplinary consultation center serving a population of approximately 100,000. Over a 3-month period such consultations in ophthalmology, ear-nose-and-throat and dermatology clinics were treated by a duty family physician (FP). The FP was instructed to focus on the urgent complaint and either to give definitive treatment and schedule a consultation when needed, or refer the patient for immediate specialist consultation. Patients treated by the FP were asked to fill an anonymous questionnaire, which 347/645 (55.4%) did.

Among the reasons for UUSR were that the patient thought that his/her complaints should be treated by a consultant (29%), the patient was sent by the FP without a consultation note (13.9%), the FP was not available (10.4%), or the patient wished to see the consultant for a second opinion (8.2%). In only 7.8% had the patient noted that his complaint needed urgent consultation. Duration of complaints, but not prior efforts to schedule a consultation, were associated with different reasons for asking for an UUSR. For various reasons patients preferred an UUSR rather than seeing their own FP. Patients' opinions regarding self-referrals are important in planning primary care facilities and FP training.

Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in the Primary Care Setting

Shlomo Vinker, Sasson Nakar, Sergei Finkel, Emanuel Nir, Eitan Hyam

Family Medicine Dept., Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University; and Shaaraim Clinic, General Sick Fund, Rehovot; Central Cinical Laboratories, and District Medical Director, Central District of the General Sick Fund

The use of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) to prevent thromboembolism has been widespread in recent years. The concept of high- and low-intensity regimens has facilitated treatment for many, and has lowered the hazards of overly intense anticoagulation. However, a significant proportion of patients suited to the low intensity regimen are not being treated. It is not clear whether its wider use is limited by continued debate, lack of resources, lack of expertise, or other causes. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 32 patients treated with OAT administered in the primary care setting. The average age was 66±11 years (range 34-84). 9 were treated with high-intensity OAT: 8 due to artificial heart valves, and 1 due to a hypercoagulable syndrome with recurrent thromboembolism. 23 were treated with low-intensity OAT, 17 of whom had atrial fibrillation. 11 were also being treated continuously with other medication which interacted with OAT or interfered with other coagulation pathways. Such medication included: aspirin, dipyridamole, amiodarone, bezafibrate and allopurinol. Of 414 coagulation tests, 57% and 65% were in the therapeutic range in the high- and low-intensity OAT groups, respectively. There was no major bleeding event, but in 2 of 8 who bled, gastrointestinal bleeding led to hospitalization. Treatment was discontinued in 1 patient because of difficulties in achieving target INR, and in the 2 hospitalized for bleeding. The percentages of test results in, above and below the therapeutic range were similar to those in other large series, for both intensity regimens. We found that a significant proportion of patients were under chronic treatment with other medication which interacted with OAT. To estimate the rate of complications in primary care OAT, larger series are needed. We conclude that OAT can be given and monitored by the family physician, and that awareness of long and short term drug interactions with OAT is mandatory.