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Hellström Schmidt S, Smedenmark J, Jeremiasen I, Sigurdsson B, Eklund EA, Pronk CJ. Overuse of EEG and ECG in children with breath-holding spells and its implication for the management of the spells. Acta Paediatr 2024; 113:317-326. [PMID: 37905418 DOI: 10.1111/apa.17020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
AIM Breath-holding spells (BHS) are common in children, but evidence-based clinical guidelines are lacking. We investigated a large population-based cohort of BHS patients, to propose a refined description of typical BHS and guidelines for its management. METHODS In a cross-sectional retrospective study, patients diagnosed with BHS in Southern Sweden 2004-2018 were recruited. Disease characteristics and diagnostic data were collected from patient medical records. RESULTS In total, 519 patients, mean age at diagnosis 19.8 ± 13.8 months with equal gender distribution, were included. In 48.3%, BHS had already been diagnosed after one spell. During spells, 78.0% of patients were unresponsive. For 71.5%, atonic, tonic, tonic-clonic or myoclonic seizures were reported, and 78.0% of patients had a spell lasting less than 1 min. Electroencephalography was conducted in 30.4% and Electrocardiography in 45.1%. Six children (3.8%) had a pathological electroencephalogram, four of which had concomitant epilepsy and only 0.9% of children had electrocardiogram findings suggesting pathology, none showing long QT syndrome. CONCLUSION Children with BHS were frequently subjected to unnecessary diagnostic interventions. We characterise a typical presentation of BHS and propose a management-algorithm, which is expected to reduce unnecessary usage of electroencephalography and electrocardiography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanna Hellström Schmidt
- Department of Paediatrics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Chilhood Cancer Center, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Julia Smedenmark
- Department of Paediatrics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ida Jeremiasen
- The Paediatric Heart Center, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Björn Sigurdsson
- Department of Paediatrics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Erik A Eklund
- Department of Paediatrics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Cornelis Jan Pronk
- Department of Paediatrics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Chilhood Cancer Center, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre Molecular Medicine and Division Molecular Haematology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Harris AR, Walker MJ, Gilbert F, McGivern P. Investigating the feasibility and ethical implications of phenotypic screening using stem cell-derived tissue models to detect and manage disease. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:1023-1032. [PMID: 35487211 PMCID: PMC9133639 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem-cell-derived tissue models generated from sick people are being used to understand human development and disease, drug development, and drug screening. However, it is possible to detect disease phenotypes before a patient displays symptoms, allowing for their use as a disease screening tool. This raises numerous issues, some of which can be addressed using similar approaches from genetic screenings, while others are unique. One issue is the relationship between disease disposition, biomarker detection, and patient symptoms and how tissue models could be used to define disease. Other issues include decisions of when to screen, what diseases to screen for, and what treatment options should be offered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander R Harris
- Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
| | - Mary Jean Walker
- Department of Politics, Media, and Philosophy, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Frederic Gilbert
- School of Humanities, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Patrick McGivern
- School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
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Bandovas JP, Leal B, Reis-de-Carvalho C, Sousa DC, Araújo JC, Peixoto P, Henriques SO, Vaz Carneiro A. Broadening risk factor or disease definition as a driver for overdiagnosis: A narrative review. J Intern Med 2022; 291:426-437. [PMID: 35253285 PMCID: PMC9314822 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Medical overuse-defined as the provision of health services for which potential harms exceed potential benefits-constitutes a paradigm of low-value care and is seen as a threat to the quality of care. Value in healthcare implies a precise definition of disease. However, defining a disease may not be straightforward since clinical data do not show discrete boundaries, calling for some clinical judgment. And, if in time a redefinition of disease is needed, it is important to recognize that it can induce overdiagnosis, the identification of medical conditions that would, otherwise, never cause any significant symptoms or lead to clinical harm. A classic example is the impact of recommendations from professional societies in the late 1990s, lowering the threshold for abnormal total cholesterol from 240 mg/dl to 200 mg/dl. Due to these changes in risk factor definition, literally overnight there were 42 million new cases eligible for treatment in the United States. The same happened with hypertension-using either the 2019 NICE guidelines or the 2018 ESC/ECC guidelines criteria for arterial hypertension, the proportion of people overdiagnosed with hypertension was calculated to be between 14% and 33%. In this review, we will start by discussing resource overuse. We then present the basis for disease definition and its conceptual problems. Finally, we will discuss the impact of changing risk factor/disease definitions in the prevalence of disease and its consequences in overdiagnosis and overtreatment (a problem particularly relevant when definitions are widened to include earlier or milder disease).
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Affiliation(s)
- João Pedro Bandovas
- Department of General Surgery, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Beatriz Leal
- Department of Anesthestics, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Catarina Reis-de-Carvalho
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - David Cordeiro Sousa
- Vision Sciences Study Center, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,Vitreoretinal Unit, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - João Cruz Araújo
- Family Medicine Department, Unidade de Saúde Familiar Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Pedro Peixoto
- Department of Family Medicine, Unidade de Saúde Familiar do Mar, Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal
| | | | - António Vaz Carneiro
- Institute for Evidence Based Healthcare, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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Tikkinen KAO, Rutanen J, Frances A, Perry BL, Dennis BB, Agarwal A, Maqbool A, Ebrahim S, Leinonen JS, Järvinen TLN, Guyatt GH. Public, health professional and legislator perspectives on the concept of psychiatric disease: a population-based survey. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e024265. [PMID: 31167856 PMCID: PMC6561450 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess which mental health-related states of being are perceived as diseases by psychiatrists, non-psychiatric physicians, nurses, parliament members and laypeople. DESIGN AND SETTING A population-based, mailed survey in Finland. PARTICIPANTS Respondents from a random sample of 3000 laypeople, 1500 physicians, 1500 nurses and all 200 members of the parliament (MPs) of Finland. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES Respondents' perspectives on 20 mental health-related states of being as diseases, measuring the extent of agreement with the claim: '[This state of being] is a disease'. RESULTS Of the 6200 people approached, we received 3259 eligible responses (53%). Two conditions (schizophrenia and autism) were considered to be diseases by at least 75% and two states (grief and homosexuality) were considered not to be diseases by at least 75% in each group. A majority (at least 50% in each group) considered seven states as diseases (anorexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bulimia, depression, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder and personality disorder) and three not to be diseases (absence of sexual desire, premature ejaculation and transsexualism). In six states, there was a wide divergence of opinion (alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling addiction, insomnia, social anxiety disorder and work exhaustion). Psychiatrists were significantly more inclined to considering states of being as diseases relative to other groups, followed by non-psychiatric physicians, nurses, MPs and laypeople. CONCLUSIONS Respondents agreed that some conditions, such as schizophrenia and autism, are diseases and other states, such as grief and homosexuality, are not; for others, there was considerable disagreement. Psychiatrists are more inclined to consider mental health-related states of being as diseases compared with other physicians, who, in turn, are more inclined than other constituencies. Understanding notions of disease may underlie important debates in public policy and practice in areas of mental health and behaviour, and have implications for resource allocation and stigma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari A O Tikkinen
- Departments of Urology and Public Health, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jarno Rutanen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Allen Frances
- Department of Psychiatry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brea L Perry
- Department of Sociology, Indiana University Network Science Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Brittany B Dennis
- Department of Medicine, St George's University of London, London, UK
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arnav Agarwal
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amna Maqbool
- Faculty of Dentistry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shanil Ebrahim
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Systematic Overviews Through Advancing Research Technology (SORT), Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Janne S Leinonen
- Services for Citizens Division, State Treasury, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teppo L N Järvinen
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gordon H Guyatt
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Livingstone-Banks J. The case for a meta-nosological investigation of pragmatic disease definition and classification. J Eval Clin Pract 2018; 24:1013-1018. [PMID: 30066390 DOI: 10.1111/jep.13012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Nosology is the science of defining and classifying diseases. Meta-nosology is the study of how we do this, on what principles nosological practices are based, the quality of the resulting medical taxonomy, and primarily whether/how diseases can be defined better than they are now. In modern Western medicine, there are a wide variety of ways in which diseases are defined and categorized. Examples include by the symptoms they present with (syndromic), their underlying causes (etiological), the biological mechanisms involved (pathogenetic), available treatments, historical precedent, and through diagnostic exclusion. Here, I explore the hypothesis that how we define diseases has an impact on how (and how effectively) we research and treat them. I explore the philosophical implications of this thesis and suggest a direction that the underlying metaphysics of disease definition might follow. I conclude that further research is warranted into whether our current disease definitions could be improved upon.
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Abstract
The therapeutic approach in multiple sclerosis (MS) requires a personalized medicine frame beyond the precision medicine concept, which is not currently implementable due to the lack of robust biomarkers and detailed understanding of MS pathogenesis. Personalized medicine demands a patient-focused approach, with disease taxonomy informed by characterization of pathophysiological processes. Important questions concerning MS taxonomy are: when does MS begin? When does the progressive phase begin? Is MS really two or three diseases? Does a therapeutic window truly exist? Newer evidence points to a disease spectrum and a therapeutic lag of several years for benefits to be observed from disease-modifying therapy. For personalized treatment, it is important to ascertain disease stage and any worsening of focal inflammatory lesions over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin Giovannoni
- Blizard Institute, Barts & The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
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