| 1. |
- Ares-Blanco, S., et al.
(author)
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Clinical pathway of COVID-19 patients in primary health care in 30 European countries: Eurodata study
- 2023
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In: European Journal of General Practice. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1381-4788 .- 1751-1402. ; 29:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundMost COVID-19 patients were treated in primary health care (PHC) in Europe.ObjectivesTo demonstrate the scope of PHC workflow during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasising similarities and differences of patient's clinical pathways in Europe.MethodsDescriptive, cross-sectional study with data acquired through a semi-structured questionnaire in PHC in 30 European countries, created ad hoc and agreed upon among all researchers who participated in the study. GPs from each country answered the approved questionnaire. Main variable: PHC COVID-19 acute clinical pathway. All variables were collected from each country as of September 2020.ResultsCOVID-19 clinics in PHC facilities were organised in 8/30. Case detection and testing were performed in PHC in 27/30 countries. RT-PCR and lateral flow tests were performed in PHC in 23/30, free of charge with a medical prescription. Contact tracing was performed mainly by public health authorities. Mandatory isolation ranged from 5 to 14 days. Sick leave certification was given exclusively by GPs in 21/30 countries. Patient hotels or other resources to isolate patients were available in 12/30. Follow-up to monitor the symptoms and/or new complementary tests was made mainly by phone call (27/30). Chest X-ray and phlebotomy were performed in PHC in 18/30 and 23/30 countries, respectively. Oxygen and low-molecular-weight heparin were available in PHC (21/30).ConclusionIn Europe PHC participated in many steps to diagnose, treat and monitor COVID-19 patients. Differences among countries might be addressed at European level for the management of future pandemics.
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| 2. |
- Guisado-Clavero, M., et al.
(author)
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The role of primary health care in long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic in 30 European countries: a retrospective descriptive study (Eurodata study)
- 2023
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In: Primary Health Care Research and Development. - 1463-4236. ; 24
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and aim:Primary health care (PHC) supported long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in attending COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study is to describe the role of PHC in LTCFs in Europe during the early phase of the pandemic.Methods:Retrospective descriptive study from 30 European countries using data from September 2020 collected with an ad hoc semi-structured questionnaire. Related variables are SARS-CoV-2 testing, contact tracing, follow-up, additional testing, and patient care.Results:Twenty-six out of the 30 European countries had PHC involvement in LTCFs during the COVID-19 pandemic. PHC participated in initial medical care in 22 countries, while, in 15, PHC was responsible for SARS-CoV-2 test along with other institutions. Supervision of individuals in isolation was carried out mostly by LTCF staff, but physical examination or symptom's follow-up was performed mainly by PHC.Conclusion:PHC has participated in COVID-19 pandemic assistance in LTCFs in coordination with LTCF staff, public health officers, and hospitals.
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| 3. |
- Clevers, Egbert, et al.
(author)
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Health problems associated with irritable bowel syndrome: analysis of a primary care registry
- 2018
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In: Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. - : Wiley. - 0269-2813. ; 47:10, s. 1349-1357
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Associations between irritable bowel syndrome and other health problems have been described, but comprehensive reports are missing, especially in primary care. Aims: To investigate which health problems are associated with irritable bowel syndrome, how they cluster together and when they are typically diagnosed relative to irritable bowel syndrome. Methods: We used Intego, a general practice registry in Flanders, Belgium. Patients with an irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis (n=13701) were matched with controls without gastrointestinal diagnosis and controls with organic gastrointestinal disease. Long-term prevalences of 680 symptoms and diagnoses were compared between patients and controls. Results were summarised using functional enrichment analysis and visualised in a network and we calculated incidence rate ratios in the 10 years before and after the irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis for the network's key components. Results: Various symptoms and infections, but not neoplasms, were enriched in irritable bowel syndrome patients compared to both control groups. We characterised the comorbidities of irritable bowel syndrome as psychosocial health problems, urogenital symptoms and infections, musculoskeletal symptoms and other somatic symptoms. These had a uniform incidence in the years around the irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis, and did not structurally precede or follow irritable bowel syndrome. Conclusions: Irritable bowel syndrome shares long-term associations with psychosocial health problems, urogenital symptoms and infections, musculoskeletal symptoms and other somatic symptoms in primary care. Clinicians are encouraged to take comorbidities into account when diagnosing and managing irritable bowel syndrome, as this may have important treatment implications.
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| 4. |
- van Schalkwijk, D. B., et al.
(author)
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Dietary Medium Chain Fatty Acid Supplementation Leads to Reduced VLDL Lipolysis and Uptake Rates in Comparison to Linoleic Acid Supplementation
- 2014
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In: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 9:7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dietary medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) and linoleic acid follow different metabolic routes, and linoleic acid activates PPAR receptors. Both these mechanisms may modify lipoprotein and fatty acid metabolism after dietary intervention. Our objective was to investigate how dietary MCFA and linoleic acid supplementation and body fat distribution affect the fasting lipoprotein subclass profile, lipoprotein kinetics, and postprandial fatty acid kinetics. In a randomized double blind cross-over trial, 12 male subjects (age 51 +/- 7 years; BMI 28.5 +/- 0.8 kg/m(2)), were divided into 2 groups according to waist-hip ratio. They were supplemented with 60 grams/day MCFA (mainly C8:0, C10:0) or linoleic acid for three weeks, with a washout period of six weeks in between. Lipoprotein subclasses were measured using HPLC. Lipoprotein and fatty acid metabolism were studied using a combination of several stable isotope tracers. Lipoprotein and tracer data were analyzed using computational modeling. Lipoprotein subclass concentrations in the VLDL and LDL range were significantly higher after MCFA than after linoleic acid intervention. In addition, LDL subclass concentrations were higher in lower body obese individuals. Differences in VLDL metabolism were found to occur in lipoprotein lipolysis and uptake, not production; MCFAs were elongated intensively, in contrast to linoleic acid. Dietary MCFA supplementation led to a less favorable lipoprotein profile than linoleic acid supplementation. These differences were not due to elevated VLDL production, but rather to lower lipolysis and uptake rates.
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