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Rao A, MacNeill SJ, van de Luijtgaarden MWM, Chesnaye NC, Drechsler C, Wanner C, Torino C, Postorino M, Szymczak M, Evans M, Dekker FW, Jager KJ, Ben-Shlomo Y, Caskey FJ. Using datasets to ascertain the generalisability of clinical cohorts: the example of European QUALity Study on the treatment of advanced chronic kidney disease (EQUAL). Nephrol Dial Transplant 2021; 37:540-547. [PMID: 33426560 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfab002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cohort studies are among the most robust of observational studies but have issues with external validity. This study assesses threats to external validity (generalisability) in the European QUALity (EQUAL) study, a cohort study of people over 65 years with stage 4/5 chronic kidney disease. METHODS Patients meeting the EQUAL inclusion criteria were identified in The Health Improvement Network database and stratified into those attending renal units (secondary care cohort-SCC) and not (primary care cohort-PCC). Survival, progression to renal replacement therapy (RRT), and hospitalisation were compared. RESULTS The analysis included 250, 633, and 2,464 patients in EQUAL, PCC, and SCC. EQUAL had a higher proportion of men in comparison to PCC and SCC (60.0% vs. 34.8% vs. 51.4%). Increasing age (≥85 years odds ratio (OR) 0.25 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15-0.40)) and comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥ 4 OR 0.69 (CI 0.52-0.91)) were associated with non-participation in EQUAL. EQUAL had a higher proportion of patients starting RRT at 1 year compared to SCC (8.1% vs. 2.1%%, p < 0.001). Patients in the PCC and SCC had increased risk of Hospitalisation (incidence rate ratio=1.76 (95% CI 1.27-2.47) & 2.13 (95% CI 1.59-2.86)) and mortality at one year (hazard ratio=3.48 (95% CI 2.1-5.7) & 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.7)) compared to EQUAL. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence of how participants in a cohort study can differ from the broader population of patients, which is essential when considering external validity and applying to local practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirudh Rao
- Department of Nephrology, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Moniek W M van de Luijtgaarden
- ERA-EDTA Registry, Department of Medical Informatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicholas C Chesnaye
- ERA-EDTA Registry, Department of Medical Informatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Christiane Drechsler
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Chistoph Wanner
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Torino
- Clinical Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, CNR-IFC, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Maurizio Postorino
- Clinical Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, CNR-IFC, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Maciej Szymczak
- Department of Nephrology and Transplantation Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland
| | - Marie Evans
- Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Friedo W Dekker
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kitty J Jager
- ERA-EDTA Registry, Department of Medical Informatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Fergus J Caskey
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol.,North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol
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Lau A, Tarlo SM. Update on the Management of Occupational Asthma and Work-Exacerbated Asthma. ALLERGY, ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH 2019; 11:188-200. [PMID: 30661311 PMCID: PMC6340795 DOI: 10.4168/aair.2019.11.2.188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Work-related asthma is the most common occupational lung disease encountered in clinical practice. In adult asthmatics, work-relatedness can account for 15%-33% of cases, but delays in diagnosis remain common and lead to worse outcomes. Accurate diagnosis of asthma is the first step to managing occupational asthma, which can be sensitizer-induced or irritant-induced asthma. While latency has traditionally been recognized as a hallmark of sensitizer-induced asthma and rapid-onset a defining feature of irritant-induced asthma (as in Reactive Airway Dysfunction Syndrome), there is epidemiological evidence for irritant-induced asthma with latency from chronic moderate exposure. Diagnostic testing while the patient is still in the workplace significantly improves sensitivity. While specific inhalational challenges remain the gold-standard for the diagnosis of occupational asthma, they are not available outside of specialized centers. Commonly available tests including bronchoprovocation challenges and peak flow monitoring are important tools for practicing clinicians. Management of sensitizer-induced occupational asthma is notable for the central importance of removal from the causative agent: ideally, removal of the culprit agent; but if not feasible, this may require changes in the work process or ultimately, removal of the worker from the workplace. While workers' compensation programs may reduce income loss, these are not universal and there can be significant socio-economic impact from work-related asthma. Primary prevention remains the preferred method of reducing the burden of occupational asthma, which may include modification to work processes, better worker education and substitution of sensitizing agents from the workplace with safer compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambrose Lau
- Respiratory Division, Department of Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital and St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susan M Tarlo
- Respiratory Division, Department of Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital and St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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