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It's Best to Test in Hospital: Improved Testing Rates with Immediate Postpartum Diabetes Testing in Patients with Gestational Diabetes in a Community-Academic Medical Center.1 week agoImmediate postpartum diabetes (IPD) testing on day 1 or 2 shows similar diagnostic value to testing at 4 to 12 weeks' postpartum and achieves higher completion rates. Our institution implemented IPD testing on December 1, 2023, before the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' endorsement, to compare pre and postimplementation testing rates and to assess associated maternal and neonatal outcomes.
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) who delivered at our community-academic medical center before (September 1, 2022-November 15, 2023) and after (December 1, 2023-October 31, 2024) IPD implementation. The preimplementation group underwent outpatient testing 4 to 12 weeks' postpartum. The postimplementation group was tested in-hospital 1 or 2 days' postpartum. Both groups received a 2-h our glucose challenge test. Electronic medical records were queried for demographics, medical and obstetric history, GDM information, and postpartum diabetes testing results. Completion rates, maternal, and neonatal factors were compared across and within cohorts using chi-square tests and t-tests.
Across 155 patients (63 preimplementation, 92 postimplementation), baseline characteristics were similar, excluding age. Testing completion increased nearly 5-fold postimplementation (14.3% [9/63] vs. 68.5% [63/92], p < 0.01). In the postimplementation group, 49% of tested patients had abnormal results (43% impaired glucose metabolism, 6% overt diabetes). Non-English speakers and those with a postpartum length of stay > 1 day were more likely to be tested (22.2 vs. 3.45%, p = 0.02; 98.4 vs. 48.3%, p < 0.01). Neonates in the tested group had a lower mean birth weight (3,137.1 ± 665.1 vs. 3,374.4 ± 484.7 g; p = 0.05), longer nursery stay (2.55 ± 2.2 vs. 1.83 ± 0.69 days; p = 0.03), and more neonatal intensive care unit admissions (20.63 vs. 0%; p = 0.01).
IPD testing dramatically improved testing and identified a high prevalence of persistent dysglycemia immediately postpartum. Hospital systems should consider implementing this practice change to improve testing rates and early intervention in postpartum care of patients with GDM.
· IPD testing is a feasible and replicable practice.. · IPD testing increased rates nearly 5-fold compared with traditional timing.. · Persistent dysglycemia was identifiable immediately postpartum.. · Longer hospital stays increased the likelihood of testing.. · In-hospital testing may reduce language barriers..DiabetesAccess -
Outcomes and factors associated with medical treatment failure in patients with spinal epidural abscess: A 14-year experience.1 week agoThe optimal therapeutic approach for treating spinal epidural abscesses (SEAs) is not well defined. This study aimed to describe the failure rate of medical management and identify factors associated with failure.
We conducted a single-centre retrospective cohort including all adult patients diagnosed with SEA between 2009 and 2022. The primary endpoint was a composite of in-hospital mortality and motor neurological sequelae at discharge.
Among 76 patients, 22.4% (n = 17) received initial intervention, while 77.6% (n = 59) received medical management. Among medically managed patients, 42.5% (n = 25) experienced treatment failure, and 27.1% (n = 16) required salvage surgery. Factors associated with treatment failure included diabetes mellitus (32.0% vs 8.8%, p = 0.040), an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) greater than 75 mm/h (66.7% vs 31.0%, p = 0.021), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (28.0% vs 0%, p < 0.001) and anterior epidural involvement (91.3% vs 60.6%, p = 0.014). Although patients initially treated surgically had significant worse neurological motor situation at presentation than those managed medically (ASIA A or B 20.0% vs 3.4%), the primary endpoint occurred more frequently in patients with failure of initial medical treatment than in those initially operated (65.0% vs 35.3%, p = 0.035). SEA-related mortality was also higher among those with medical treatment failure (16.0% vs 0%, p = 0.038).
Failure of medical management of SEA was common and could lead to worse outcomes. Diabetes mellitus, ESR greater than 75 mm/h, MRSA, and ventral epidural involvement were associated with failure. Initial surgery might be considered for low operative risk patients in the presence of these factors. Prospective trials are needed to better guide initial management strategies.DiabetesAccessCare/ManagementAdvocacy -
Association between coronavirus disease 2019 and new-onset autoimmune diseases during the early phase of the pandemic.1 week agoEmerging evidence suggests that viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2, may trigger autoimmunity. This study investigated the risk of developing autoimmune diseases following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using sequence symmetry analysis. We utilized nationwide population-based data from South Korea by linking the National Health Insurance Service database with the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Agency COVID-19 registry. This study included 2,678 patients with COVID-19 and 92,725 patients without COVID-19 identified between 01/10/2020 and 30/06/2021, during the early phase of the pandemic. Both groups consisted of individuals who were diagnosed with autoimmune diseases within 180 days before or after the index date. We calculated the adjusted sequence ratio (aSR) to compare the incidence of autoimmune diseases within 180 days before and from 14 to 180 days after the index date (the COVID-19 diagnosis date for the COVID-19 group and the first medical visit for the non-COVID-19 group). The differences in autoimmune disease incidence between the groups were evaluated using the ratio of aSR (RaSR). The incidence of newly diagnosed autoimmune diseases-Behcet's disease (RaSR, 2.03), ankylosing spondylitis (2.04), ulcerative colitis (1.15), Crohn's disease (2.22), psoriasis (1.27), type 1 diabetes mellitus (1.61), and Graves' disease (1.14)-was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group than in the non-COVID-19 group after the index date. Subgroup analysis comparing patients with non-severe COVID-19 with those without COVID-19 yielded consistent findings. Furthermore, the incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases was higher in the non-severe COVID-19 group after the index date (RaSR, 1.29). These findings reinforce growing evidence that COVID-19 could induce autoimmunity and increase the risk of developing autoimmune diseases. Therefore, clinicians should remain vigilant for potential autoimmune complications in patients with a history of COVID-19 when clinically indicated.DiabetesChronic respiratory diseaseDiabetes type 1AccessAdvocacy
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The Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment among Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Cross-sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.1 week agoCognitive impairment, affecting people's ability to manage chronic diseases and perform daily tasks, is a growing global public health concern. No related research has been conducted in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.
This study aims to determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment and its associated factors among hemodialysis patients living in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia.
A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among 210 hemodialysis patients in three dialysis centers in the region using an interview questionnaire and the patients' medical files. Data on sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and dialysis-related characteristics as well as the mini-mental state examination were obtained.
The participants' median age was 58 years, 56.2% were males, and the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 29.5%. The factors associated with cognitive impairment were female sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =2.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-6.43; P = 0.035), inability to read and write (AOR = 12.44; 95% CI: 3.45-44.84; P < 0.001), diabetes (AOR = 3.29; 95% CI: 1.28-8.47; P = 0.013), and moderate anemia (AOR = 3.44; 95% CI: 1.00-11.82; P = 0.050).
Cognitive impairment is prevalent among hemodialysis patients. Early detection and management of cognitive impairment among hemodialysis patients are highly recommended, particularly for those with the four mentioned factors.DiabetesMental HealthAccessCare/ManagementAdvocacy -
A Mixed-method Study on Psychosocial Barriers and Challenges Experienced by Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis Patients and their Caregivers through the Course of Diagnosis and Treatment in Chengalpattu District.1 week agoWith one-third of the world's drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) cases, India is one of the nations with the highest number of patients. Limited treatment options, long duration of treatment, and associated toxicity adversely impact the physical and mental well-being of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients.
The study describes the challenges and psychosocial barriers faced by MDR-TB patients and their caregivers throughout the diagnosis and treatment process.
A mixed-method study was conducted among MDR-TB patients who are currently under treatment in Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts. A semistructured pretested questionnaire that had both quantitative and qualitative parts was used.
More than half of the patients (55.8%) had type II Diabetes Mellitus. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 showed that 69.2% of the respondents had mild depressive symptoms. The challenges faced by the caregivers were: 19.2% felt an emotional rollercoaster, 32.8% had a financial burden, 25% had stress.
In light of the identified challenges among the patients and caregivers of MDR-TB such as emotional and financial strain, stigma along with smoking and alcohol abuse, it is essential to address the above issues through multifaceted and integrated approach.DiabetesMental HealthAccess -
Fragility Analysis of Cardiovascular Outcomes with Finerenone in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease.1 week agoFinerenone, a selective nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, has been shown to reduce cardiovascular (CV) and kidney events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to quantify the robustness of its CV benefits in phase 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using fragility metrics coupled with conventional clinical effect measures.
We systematically searched MEDLINE and Scopus (from inception to June 2025) for phase 3 or 4 placebo-controlled RCTs of finerenone in T2DM and CKD reporting dichotomous CV outcomes. Three trials were included: FIDELIO-DKD, FIGARO-DKD, and the pooled FIDELITY analysis. We extracted hazard ratios (HRs), absolute risk reduction (ARR), relative risk reduction (RRR), number needed to treat (NNT), fragility index (FI), reverse fragility index (RFI), fragility quotient (FQ), and reverse fragility quotient (RFQ) for the primary composite CV outcome (CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction [MI], non-fatal stroke, heart failure hospitalization [HFH]) and individual components. The primary composite outcome was significantly reduced in FIDELIO-DKD (HR 0.86, NNT 56; FI 4, FQ 0.0007) and FIDELITY (HR 0.86, NNT 59; FI 38, FQ 0.002), but not FIGARO-DKD (HR 0.87; RFI 7, RFQ 0.0009). Among individual outcomes, HFH showed the most consistent and robust benefit (FIDELITY HR 0.78, NNT 91; FI 23, FQ 0.001). Effects on CV death, MI, and stroke were numerically favorable but statistically non-significant, with low RFIs (mostly 1-3, and up to 9).
Finerenone significantly reduces HF hospitalization and modestly improves composite CV outcomes in T2DM with CKD, but effects on CV death, MI, and stroke are fragile. Combining fragility metrics with standard efficacy measures offers a clearer view of the reliability of trial results.DiabetesDiabetes type 2Care/Management -
Prevalence and risk factors of shoulder stiffness after rotator cuff repair: a meta-analysis.1 week agoThis meta-analysis aims to determine the prevalence of postoperative shoulder stiffness (PSS) after rotator cuff repair surgery and to explore its potential risk factors.
Search the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to July 1, 2025, for all studies reporting the prevalence of PSS after rotator cuff repair surgery and its associated risk factors. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 15.0 software.
Eight cohort studies involving 21,033 patients were included. The pooled prevalence of postoperative shoulder stiffness (PSS) after rotator cuff repair was 17% (95% CI: 9%-24%), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 98.2%). Subgroup analysis by continent showed variation in reported prevalence estimates across regions, although these findings should be interpreted cautiously because some subgroups were based on a limited number of studies. Additional subgroup analyses according to sample size, publication year, and mean age were conducted to explore heterogeneity. In the sample size subgroup analysis, the pooled prevalence was 14% (95% CI: 2%-25%) in studies with a sample size ≥ 300 and 18% (95% CI: 15%-21%) in studies with a sample size < 300, with lower heterogeneity in the latter subgroup. By contrast, subgroup analyses by publication year and mean age did not materially reduce heterogeneity. In pooled analyses of adjusted effect estimates, age < 50 years (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03-1.15), female sex (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.03-2.68), and diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.75-4.26) were associated with PSS; however, the effect size for age < 50 years was small.
PSS after rotator cuff repair is not uncommon, but the pooled prevalence should be interpreted cautiously because of substantial heterogeneity and inconsistent diagnostic definitions across studies. Female sex and diabetes mellitus may be associated with PSS, whereas the clinical relevance of the association with age < 50 years appears limited. Further high-quality prospective studies are required.DiabetesCare/Management -
Geographic disparities and methodological quality of type 2 diabetes prediction models: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 97 models.1 week agoAccurate risk prediction is essential for targeted prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the global applicability and methodological rigor of existing prediction models remain uncertain.
To systematically review and meta-analyze the geographic distribution, methodological quality, and predictive performance of all published T2DM risk prediction models.
PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP were searched from inception to December 2025 (eAppendix S1 in the Supplement).
Studies that developed or validated a multivariable prediction model for incident T2DM in general adult populations and reported at least one performance measure.
Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias using the PROBAST tool. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool C-statistics. Heterogeneity was explored via subgroup analyses and meta-regression. The study followed TRIPOD-SRMA and PRISMA reporting guidelines.
The primary outcome was the geographic origin of models. Secondary outcomes included pooled measures of discrimination (C-statistic/AUC) stratified by region and an overall assessment of methodological quality (PROBAST).
A total of 65 studies comprising 97 distinct prediction models were included (eTable 1). Geographic distribution was highly skewed, with 70.1% of models developed in Asian populations (China: 47.4%; Japan: 13.4%; South Korea: 9.3%), while only 7.2% originated from the US and 4.1% from Europe. Logistic regression was used in 97.9% of models. External validation was performed for only 21 models (21.6%). According to PROBAST, 91.8% of models were at high risk of bias (eTable 2), primarily due to inadequate handling of missing data, lack of external validation, and poor calibration reporting. Meta-analysis revealed wide variation in discrimination by geographic region (eTable 7). US-based models achieved the highest pooled AUC (0.97; 95% CI, 0.94-0.99), but this finding is likely influenced by overfitting, small sample bias, and publication bias (see Discussion). European models showed a pooled AUC of 0.84 (0.81-0.87), while Chinese models showed the lowest performance (AUC, 0.79; 0.76-0.82). Due to very high heterogeneity (I² > 80% in most regions), these pooled estimates should be interpreted as descriptive summaries rather than precise estimates of true regional performance. Performance was lowest in prediabetic cohorts (AUC, 0.72; 0.68-0.76); however, this finding is preliminary due to the limited number of models and high heterogeneity. Funnel plot asymmetry suggested potential publication bias (Egger's test p=0.03); The most frequently included predictors were age (69.1%), body mass index (64.9%), family history of diabetes (44.3%), and waist circumference (39.2%) (eFigure 4 and eTable 3).
T2DM prediction models exhibit striking geographic inequity and poor methodological quality, with over 90% at high risk of bias. The substantial variation in performance by region and the lack of external validation critically limit their global clinical utility. These findings underscore an urgent need for rigorous external validation in diverse populations and de novo model development in under-represented regions, guided by PROBAST and TRIPOD standards.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.DiabetesDiabetes type 2Care/Management -
Lipemic anterior chamber mimicking uveitis in severe hypertriglyceridemia a case report and literature review.1 week agoDiffuse milky-white exudation (lipemic aqueous humor) in the anterior chamber is a rare ocular manifestation associated with metabolic disease-related microvascular dysfunction. Early-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by severe metabolic disturbances (e.g., dyslipidemia) and early microvascular injury. We report a young female with poorly controlled hyperglycemia/hyperlipidemia presenting with pseudouveitis and marked milky-white anterior chamber exudation (lipemic aqueous humor), initially mimicking a corneal disorder.
A 33-year-old woman with 5-year type 2 diabetes (poor glycemic control), dyslipidemia, chronic sleep disturbances, and a high-fat/high-sugar diet developed acute left-eye pain, photophobia, and decreased vision during menstruation following travel-related fatigue. Slit-lamp examination showed massive homogeneous milky-white anterior chamber exudation (corneal porcelain-like appearance), and B-scan ultrasonography was unremarkable. Fasting blood tests revealed markedly elevated fasting glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. She was diagnosed with pseudouveitis with anterior chamber lipid-protein exudation, and symptoms improved rapidly within 12 h of intensive topical/periocular corticosteroid therapy; intraocular inflammation largely resolved by day 6, with residual posterior synechiae.
Early-onset type 2 diabetes patients are prone to metabolic dysregulation under physiological/metabolic stress. Persistent hyperglycemia/hyperlipidemia may compromise microvascular integrity and increase permeability, potentially leading to lipid-protein leakage into the anterior chamber (lipemic aqueous humor)-a hypothetical association due to lack of aqueous humor biochemical analysis. This milky exudate is easily misdiagnosed as infectious keratitis, especially with normal B-scan findings. Meticulous slit-lamp examination, adjunctive AS-OCT/UBM, and systemic metabolic evaluation are crucial for accurate diagnosis. Clinicians should promptly assess serum glucose/lipid levels in young patients with milky anterior chamber opacities to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions.DiabetesDiabetes type 2Care/Management -
Difference in risk profiles for pulmonary hypertension between non-elderly and elderly patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.1 week agoPulmonary hypertension (PH) is highly prevalent and associated with increased mortality in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). This study aimed to explore the disparities in the prevalence, risk factors, and prognostic impacts of PH between non-elderly and elderly MHD patients.
This study included 179 MHD patients with complete clinical records. All patients were evaluated using Doppler echocardiography, and PH was defined as a pulmonary artery systolic pressure > 35 mmHg.
The prevalence rates of PH were 24.8% in non-elderly patients and 33.8% in elderly patients. Serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was a predominant risk factor for PH in hemodialysis patients. A lower ratio of uric acid to high-density lipoprotein (UHR) was associated with PH among non-elderly patients, whereas diabetes mellitus served as a specific risk factor for elderly patients. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of these risk factors identified in non-elderly and elderly patients were 0.86 (bootstrap 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78-0.93) and 0.90 (bootstrap 95% CI 0.82-0.97), respectively. During a median follow-up duration of 32.90 (4.00-61.50) months, the presence of PH notably elevated the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalization in both non-elderly and elderly patients. Meanwhile, it significantly augmented the risk of all-cause hospitalization (HR: 2.24, 95% CI 1.26-3.98, P = 0.006) in the non-elderly.
Distinct risk profiles for PH were identified between non-elderly and elderly MHD patients, offering valuable clinical data for the development of early detection and prevention strategies based on age stratification.DiabetesCare/Management