Monitoring treatment outcomes in patients with chronic disease: lessons from tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS care and treatment programmes

Glycemic control monitoring in patients with tuberculosis and diabetes: a descriptive study from programmatic setting in Tamil Nadu, India

Background: India’s national tuberculosis (TB) programme recommends that among patients with diabetes mellitus and TB, fasting blood glucose (FBG) be recorded at baseline, the end of intensive phase and the end of continuation phase of TB treatment. We conducted this operational research in select districts of Tamil Nadu, India, in 2016 to determine the availability of blood glucose records and glycemic control status during TB treatment.

Methods: This was a descriptive study involving secondary programme data. Glycemic control during TB treatment was ‘optimal’ if both baseline and end of intensive phase FBG (during TB treatment) were <130 mg/dl. In the absence of FBG, we used random blood glucose (RBG), with <180 mg/dl as the cut off.

Results: Of 438 patients, FBG at baseline, the end of intensive phase and the end of continuation phase were each available in <20%. Glycemic control status was known for 94% (412/438) patients at baseline and for 91% (400/438) during TB treatment. Among those with known glycemic status, glycemic control was not optimal in 77% of patients (316/412) at baseline and in 84% (337/400) during TB treatment. The proportion of patients with unfavourable TB treatment outcomes at the end of intensive phase was 11% (46/438) and at the end of continuation phase was 5% (21/438). We decided against assessing factors associated with glycemic control during TB treatment and association between glycemic control and TB treatment outcomes because glycemic control assessment, if any, was based mostly on RBG values.

Conclusion: Among patients with diabetes and tuberculosis, recording of FBG during tuberculosis treatment requires urgent attention.

Transfer of primary care patients receiving chronic care: the next step in the continuum of care

The burden of chronic conditions is increasing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries. Chronic conditions require long-term and continuous care, including for patients transferring between facilities. Patient transfer is particularly important in the context of health service decentralization, which has led to increasing numbers of primary care facilities at which patients can access care, and high levels of migration, which suggest that patients might require care at multiple facilities. This article provides a critical review of existing evidence regarding transfer of stable patients receiving primary care for chronic conditions. Patient transfer has received limited consideration in people living with HIV, with growing concern that patients who transfer are at risk of poor outcomes; this appears similar for people with TB, although studies are few. There are minimal data on transfer of patients with non-communicable diseases, including diabetes. Patient transfer for chronic conditions has thus received surprisingly little attention from researchers; considering the potential risks, more research is urgently required regarding reasons for and outcomes of transfers, transfer processes and interventions to optimize transfers, for different chronic conditions. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of health systems to facilitate successful transfers, and this issue requires increased attention from researchers and policy-makers.

Management of nursing care in HIV/AIDS from a palliative and hospital perspective

OBJECTIVES

To understand the meaning attributed by the nurse to the management of nursing care to the person hospitalized due to clinical complications caused by AIDS; to analyze actions related to palliative care; and to construct a theoretical matrix regarding the management of nursing care.

METHOD

Qualitative, exploratory research, guided by the Grounded Theory. Seven nurses and ten nursing technicians were interviewed between May and September 2015, in a university hospital, located in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

RESULTS

Five categories that covered the profile of the hospitalized person, palliative care, intervening conditions for care management, the need for professional qualification, and other aspects to better organize and manage care, including conflict management arose.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

The theoretical matrix values the quality of life, the need to understand the flow of care to avoid readmissions and not adherence to medications, requiring new research in the area, such as implementation.

Effect of chronic disease self-management program on the quality of life of HIV-infected men who have sex with men: An empirical study in Shanghai, China

OBJECTIVES

The HIV/AIDS epidemic rages on in China, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM with HIV/AIDS also tend to have poorer quality of life than other members of the population. A major contributor to these issues is the huge gap between the increasing demand of MSM for medical services and the availability of such services; their current needs cannot be met only with the services of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The aim of the present study was to examine the quality of life of MSM with HIV/AIDS in Shanghai, as well as determine whether it is influenced by chronic disease self-management (CDSM).

METHODS

We conducted a pre-post study to evaluate the effect of CDSM on participants' quality of life. Four hundred twenty participants were assigned to either the CDSM group (n = 210) or the control group (n = 210). We collected data on quality of life (using the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey [MOS-HIV]) and various psychological and behavioral variables via interviewer-administered questionnaires.

RESULTS

The physical and mental health summary scores of the MOS-HIV were 53.7 and 49.9, respectively. The CDSM group showed a significant improvement in quality of life and a significant decrease in the proportion of participants with anxiety symptoms (from 38.6% to 22.6%). Furthermore, the frequency of condom use increased from 43.3% to 47.3%.

CONCLUSION

MSM with HIV generally had low quality of life in Shanghai. The CDSM program might help promote the quality of life of MSM while helping them practice healthy behaviors.

Hypertension and Pre-Hypertension Among Iranian Adults Population: a Meta-Analysis of Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This meta-analysis and systematic review was conducted to evaluate hypertension and prehypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in Iranian adults population.

RECENT FINDINGS

In this study, six international and national databases were searched from inception until August 30, 2018. Forty-eight studies performed on 417,392 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Based on the results of random effect method (95% CI), the overall prevalence of pre-hypertension, hypertension, awareness, treatment, and control were 31.6% (95% CI 24.9, 38.3; I2 = 99.7%), 20.4% (95% CI 16.5, 24.4; I2 = 99.9%), 49.3% (95% CI 44.8, 53.8; I2 = 98.5%), 44.8% (95% CI 28.3, 61.2; I2 = 99.9%), 37.4% (95% CI 29.0, 45.8; I2 = 99.3%), respectively. Considering the increasing prevalence of pre-hypertension, hypertension, as well as more than half of the participants were unaware of their disease and were not treated, the results of the present study can help policy-makers to increase hypertension awareness, control, and treatment, especially in high-risk individuals.

Effect of cardio-metabolic risk factors on all-cause mortality among HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy in Malawi: A prospective cohort study

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among people living with HIV is elevated due to persistent inflammation, hypertension and diabetes comorbidity, lifestyle factors and exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Data from Africa on how CVD risk affects morbidity and mortality among ART patients are lacking. We explored the effect of CVD risk factors and the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) on medium-term ART outcomes.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of standardized ART outcomes (Dead, Alive on ART, stopped ART, Defaulted and Transferred out) was conducted from July 2014—December 2016 among patients on ART at a rural and an urban HIV clinic in Zomba district, Malawi. The primary outcome was Dead. Active defaulter tracing was not done and patients who transferred out and defaulted were excluded from the analysis. At enrolment, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia were diagnosed, lifestyle data collected and the FRS was determined. Cox-regression analysis was used to determine independent risk factors for the outcome Dead.

Results

Of 933 patients enrolled, median age was 42 years (IQR: 35–50), 72% were female, 24% had hypertension, 4% had diabetes and 15.8% had elevated total cholesterol. The median follow up time was 2.4 years. Twenty (2.1%) patients died, 50 (5.4%) defaulted, 63 (6.8%) transferred out and 800 (85.7%) were alive on ART care (81.7% urban vs. 89.9% rural). In multivariable survival analysis, male gender (aHR = 3.28; 95%CI: 1.33–8.07, p = 0.01) and total/HDL cholesterol ratio (aHR = 5.77, 95%CI: 1.21–27.32; p = 0.03) were significantly associated with mortality. There was no significant association between mortality and hypertension, body mass index, central obesity, diabetes, FRS, physical inactivity, smoking at enrolment, ART regimen and WHO disease stage.

Conclusions

Medium-term all-cause mortality among ART patients was associated with male gender and elevated total/HDL cholesterol ratio.

Approaches to Improve the Surveillance, Monitoring, and Management of Noncommunicable Diseases in HIV-Infected Persons: Viewpoint

Low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) are undergoing an epidemiological transition, in which the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is rising and mortality will shift from infectious diseases to NCDs. Specifically, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, renal diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancer are becoming more prevalent. In some regions, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, the dual HIV and NCD epidemics will pose challenges because their joint burden will have adverse effects on the quality of life and will likely increase global inequities. Given the austere clinical infrastructure in many LMICs, innovative models of care delivery are needed to provide comprehensive care in resource-limited settings. Improved data collection and surveillance of NCDs among HIV-infected persons in LMICs are necessary to inform integrated NCD-HIV prevention, care, and treatment models that are effective across a range of geographic settings. These efforts will preserve the considerable investments that have been made to prevent the number of lives lost to HIV, promote healthy aging of persons living with HIV, and contribute to meeting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Management of tuberculosis by healthcare practitioners in Pakistan: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To assess the quality of tuberculosis (TB) care in Pakistan, through determining comparison of healthcare practitioners' knowledge and practices to national and international TB care guidelines.

METHODS

Studies reporting on knowledge, attitudes and practices of public and private practitioners with TB patients were selected through searching electronic databases and grey literature.

FINDINGS

Of 1458 reports, 20 full-texts were assessed, of which 11 met the eligibility and quality criteria; all studies focused on private sector care. Heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. In 3 of 4 studies, over 50% of practitioners correctly identified a cough as the main TB symptom. However, 4 out of 6 studies showed practitioners' compliance to be low (under 50%) for the use of sputum microscopy in diagnosis. The poorest quality care occurred in the later stages of treatment, with low compliance in prescribing practices for continuation-phase care and in monitoring and recording treatment progress, the latter of which is particularly critical for treatment success.

CONCLUSION

TB care was variable and generally inadequate, with both a lack of knowledge and a small 'know-do' gap evident-practitioners did not use methods that they know they should use. A lack of recent evidence found suggests that the quality of current practices may not be fully captured and further research is needed, especially on non-allopathic, rural and public-sector contexts. Improved training of practitioners, greater availability of recommended diagnostic tools and expansion of public-private partnerships are suggestions for improving the quality of TB care in Pakistan.

Alarmingly high prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension in North India-results from a large cross-sectional STEPS survey

OBJECTIVES

The study was primarily aimed at estimating the prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension and the risk factors of hypertension in the North Indian state of Punjab. It also aimed at assessing the magnitude of undiagnosed cases of hypertension in the community and ascertaining the blood pressure control status of those on treatment.

METHODS

A non-communicable disease risk factor survey (based on WHO-STEPS approach) was done in the state of Punjab, India in a multistage stratified sample of 5127 individuals. The study subjects were administered the WHO STEPS-questionnaire and also underwent anthropometric and blood pressure measurements.

RESULTS

Overall prevalence of HTN among the study participants was found out to be 40.1% (95% CI: 38.8-41.5%) whereas prevalence of pre-hypertension, isolated diastolic and isolated systolic hypertension were 40.8% (39.5-42.2%), 9.2% (8.4-10.0%) and 6.5% (5.9-7.2%) respectively. Age group (45-69 years), male gender, social group, marital status, alcohol use, obesity and salt intake (> = 5 gms/day) were the risk factors significantly associated with HTN. Among all persons with HTN, only 30.1% were known case of HTN or on treatment, among whom nearly 61% had controlled blood pressure. Patients with uncontrolled BP were more frequently male, obese patients, with sedentary lifestyle and patients with diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

The study reported alarmingly high prevalence of hypertension, especially of undiagnosed or untreated cases amongst the adult population, a significant proportion of whom have uncontrolled blood pressure levels. This indicates the need for systematic screening and awareness program to identify the undiagnosed cases in the community and offer early treatment and regular follow up.