Obesity Management Education Needs Among General Internists: A Survey

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine self-reported knowledge, attitudes, prior experience, and perceived needs for the management of overweight and obese patients within a General Internal Medicine Practice.

Patients and Methods

An emailed cross-sectional survey was sent between June 20, 2019 and September 12, 2019 to 194 healthcare workers (93 primary care providers (PCPs) and 101 nurses) which focused on management of patients with weight issues.

Results

In total, 80 of the eligible 194 participants completed the survey (nurses = 42, PCPs = 38). Up to 87% were white, 74.7% female (74.7%). Most of the responders were either in the age group of 30’s (30%) or 50’s (30%). Among the responders, 48.8% reported some type of specialty training in weight management since their medical training with lectures being the most common form of training (36%). When asked about their interest in either weight management training or strategies to initiate weight conversations, 79% of the respondents reported an interest in education on weight management or strategies to initiate weight conversations, while 65.8% indicated they would be interested in both topics.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that healthcare workers have a self-reported need for further training in management of overweight and obese patients, irrespective of previous training in this area.

Clinical course of adrenal myelolipoma: A long-term longitudinal follow-up study

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to describe clinical course of myelolipoma and to identify predictors of tumour growth and need for surgery.

DESIGN

A retrospective study.

PATIENTS

Consecutive patients with myelolipoma.

RESULTS

A total of 321 myelolipomas (median size, 2.3 cm) were diagnosed in 305 patients at median age of 63 years (range, 25-87). Median follow-up was 54 months. Most myelolipomas were incidentally detected (86%), whereas 9% were discovered during cancer staging and 5% during workup of mass effect symptoms. Thirty-seven (12%) patients underwent adrenalectomy. Compared to myelolipomas <6 cm, tumours ≥6 cm were more likely to be bilateral (21% vs 3%, P < .0001), cause mass effect symptoms (32% vs 0%, P < .0001), have haemorrhagic changes (14% vs 1%, P < .0001) and undergo adrenalectomy (52% vs 5%, P < .0001). Among patients with ≥6 months of imaging follow-up, median size change was 0 mm (-10, 115) and median growth rate was 0 mm/y (-6, 14). Compared to <1 cm growth, ≥1 cm growth correlated with larger initial size (3.6 vs 2.3 cm, P = .02), haemorrhagic changes (12% vs 2%, P = .007) and adrenalectomy (35% vs 8%, P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Most myelolipomas are incidentally discovered on cross-sectional imaging. Myelolipomas ≥6 are more likely to cause mass effect symptoms, have haemorrhagic changes and undergo resection. Tumour growth ≥1 cm is associated with larger myelolipoma and haemorrhagic changes. Adrenalectomy should be considered in symptomatic patients with large tumours and when there is evidence of haemorrhage or tumour growth.

SAT-170 Clinical Course of Adrenal Myelolipoma: A Long-Term Longitudinal Follow-Up Study

Myelolipoma is the second most common adrenal tumor. Yet, systematic approach to these tumors remains poorly defined. Thus, we aimed to describe natural history of myelolipoma and to identify predictors of tumor growth and need for surgery. We conducted a retrospective longitudinal follow-up study of consecutive patients with myelolipoma. A total of 321 myelolipomas (median size, 2.3 cm [range, 0.5-18.0]) were diagnosed in 305 patients at median age of 63 years (25-87). Most myelolipomas were discovered incidentally (86.6%), whereas others were discovered on imaging done for cancer staging (8.8%) or during workup of mass effect symptoms (4.6%). Median duration of follow-up was 54 months (range, 0.03-267). Compared with myelolipomas &lt;6 cm, tumors ≥6 cm were more likely to be right-sided (59% vs 41%, P=0.02), bilateral (21% vs 3%, P &lt;.0001), cause mass effects symptoms (32% vs 0%, P&lt;.0001), have radiographic hemorrhagic changes (14% vs 1%, P&lt;.0001), and undergo adrenalectomy (52% vs 5%, P&lt;.0001). There was no difference in sex or age at diagnosis between the groups. Hemorrhagic changes were noted in 9 (3.0%) patients with median tumor size of 7.0 cm (range, 1.8-18.0). Concomitant adrenal hormone excess was diagnosed in 12/126 (9.5%) patients. Primary aldosteronism was noted in 9 patients: due to concomitant ipsilateral (n=3) or contralateral adrenocortical adenoma (n=3), or bilateral idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia (n=3). Autonomous cortisol excess was noted in 3 patients: due to concomitant contralateral (n=2) or ipsilateral adrenocortical adenoma (n=1). Of 162 patients with ≥6 months of imaging follow-up, tumor size change ranged from -10 to 115 mm (median, 0 mm) and tumor growth rate ranged from -5.6 to 140 mm/year (median, 0 mm/year). Tumor growth ≥1.0 cm (n=26, 16.0%) was associated with larger initial tumor size (3.6 vs 2.3 cm, P=0.02) and hemorrhagic changes on imaging (12% vs 2%, P=0.007), compared with &lt;1 cm size change. Myelolipomas with ≥1.0 cm growth were more likely to undergo adrenalectomy (35% vs 8%, P&lt;.0001). Among 37 (12%) patients that underwent adrenalectomy for myelolipoma, surgical indications included: large tumor size/tumor growth (32%), diagnostic surgery (27%), mass effect symptoms (14%), concomitant ipsilateral tumor leading to hormonal excess (11%), acute hemorrhage (8%), and concomitant resection during non-adrenal surgery (8%). In conclusion, most myelolipomas are discovered incidentally, whereas myelolipomas ≥6 are more likely to cause mass effect symptoms, have radiographic hemorrhagic changes, and more commonly undergo resection. Hormonal excess is rare and is usually attributed to concomitant adrenocortical adenoma or hyperplasia. Tumor growth ≥1.0 cm is associated with larger myelolipoma and presence of hemorrhagic changes. Surgical resection should be considered in symptomatic patients with large tumors, evidence of hemorrhage, or tumor growth.

Low-Renin Hypertension

Low-renin hypertension affects 30% of hypertensive patients. Primary hyperaldosteronism presents with low renin and aldosterone excess. Low-renin, low-aldosterone hypertension represents a wide spectrum of disorders that includes essential low-renin hypertension, hereditary forms of hypertension, and hypertension secondary to endogenous or exogenous factors. This review addresses the different conditions that present with low-renin hypertension, discussing an appropriate diagnostic approach and highlighting the genetic subtypes within familial forms.