 |
|
This Week in JAMA
JAMA. 2005;293:1297.
Regional Variations in Treatment Intensity of AMI
Regional variations in treatment intensity of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) exist, but there has been little exploration of any long-term clinical implications. Stukel and colleagues (SEE ARTICLE) evaluated patient characteristics in a cohort of Medicare beneficiaries with a first AMI and assessed whether patients who resided in regions with higher rates of cardiac catheterization or medical management had better long-term survival than patients residing in regions with less intensive treatment patterns. They found that in regions with greater cardiac catheterization capacity, patients were more likely to receive invasive treatment and less medical management, regardless of clinical indication or risk profile. However, intensive medical management was associated with a survival benefit, with little or no additional benefit from increased invasive treatment. In a commentary, Rathore and colleagues (SEE ARTICLE) discuss purported benefits and potential limitations of regionalized care for acute coronary syndromes.
Vitamin E Effects on Cardiac Events and Cancer
Experimental and epidemiological data suggest vitamin E supplementation may protect against cardiovascular events and cancer, but short-term clinical trials have failed to demonstrate benefit. HOPE (Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation) and HOPE-TOO (HOPE–The Ongoing Outcomes) investigators (SEE ARTICLE) report results from both trials in which patients with diabetes or vascular disease were randomly assigned to take daily vitamin E (400 IU) or placebo. The mean duration of follow-up was 7.2 years. The investigators found that vitamin E did not significantly reduce the rates of cancer incidence, cancer death, or cardiovascular events. In a subgroup analysis, vitamin E was associated with an increased risk of heart failure. In an editorial, Brown and Crowley (SEE ARTICLE) discuss the implications of these and other randomized trial results for counseling patients about antioxidant vitamin use.
Inappropriate Medication Use in Europe
Although inappropriate medication use among elderly patients in the United States has been studied and strategies to reduce risk instituted, little is known about the prevalence of inappropriate medication use in Europe. Fialová and colleagues examined data from elderly home care patients in 8 European nations, applied expert criteria to identify potentially inappropriate medication use, and determined associated patient-related characteristics. The authors found that 19.8% of patients used at least 1 inappropriate medication, but there was substantial variation among countries. Associated factors included patient’s low economic status, polypharmacy, anxiolytic drug use, and depression.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Error Reporting and Disclosure Systems
Mandatory error reporting systems for hospitals and other health care settings are controversial. Weissman and colleagues surveyed chief executive and chief operating officers (CEOs/COOs) at 203 randomly selected hospitals in 6 states to determine the CEOs/COOs’ perceptions of and attitudes toward mandatory reporting. The CEOs/COOs were concerned that mandatory reporting would discourage event reporting to internal hospital systems, would increase the risk of lawsuits, and would have no effect or a negative effect on patient safety. A majority of CEOs/COOs favored confidential reporting. Responding to hypothetical vignettes, almost all would report serious injuries to a state system, but far fewer would report injuries of moderate or minor severity.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Medical News & Perspectives
New findings show that breast tumors that have a "gene signature" reflecting activity of a number of genes involved in wound healing are more likely to progress and result in poorer clinical outcomes.
(SEE ARTICLE)
RNA Interference
Contempo Updates
RNA interference, a gene-silencing mechanism present in mammalian cells, may have therapeutic potential.
(SEE ARTICLE)
CLINICIAN’S CORNER
Dealing With Conflict
Perspectives on Care at the Close of Life
Back and Arnold examine conflicts that can arise in the care of seriously ill patients and strategies for conflict resolution, in their discussion of Mrs B, an 84-year-old woman with advanced dementia and aspiration pneumonia.
(SEE ARTICLE)
JAMA Patient Page
For your patients: Information about palliative care.
(SEE ARTICLE)
|
