A primary care physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, has been indicted on several counts of sexual assault of veteran patients. Rajesh Motibhai Patel is accused of violating his patients’ constitutional right to bodily integrity while acting under color of law and of engaging in unwanted sexual contact.

According to US Attorney Ryan Buchanan, Patel allegedly “violated his oath to do no harm to patients under his care.” He allegedly sexually touched 4 female patients during routine examinations.

Patel’s alleged crimes were “horrific and unacceptable,” US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) press secretary Terrence Hayes said in a statement. “As soon as VA learned of these allegations, we removed this clinician from patient care and reassigned him to a role that had no patient interaction. Whenever a patient comes to VA, they deserve to know that they will be treated with care, compassion, and respect.”

The case is being investigated by the VA Office of Inspector General. Although Patel is only charged at present, not convicted, investigators believe he may have victimized other patients as well. Anyone with information is asked to call the VA-OIG tipline at (770) 758-6646.

A primary care physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, has been indicted on several counts of sexual assault of veteran patients. Rajesh Motibhai Patel is accused of violating his patients’ constitutional right to bodily integrity while acting under color of law and of engaging in unwanted sexual contact.

According to US Attorney Ryan Buchanan, Patel allegedly “violated his oath to do no harm to patients under his care.” He allegedly sexually touched 4 female patients during routine examinations.

Patel’s alleged crimes were “horrific and unacceptable,” US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) press secretary Terrence Hayes said in a statement. “As soon as VA learned of these allegations, we removed this clinician from patient care and reassigned him to a role that had no patient interaction. Whenever a patient comes to VA, they deserve to know that they will be treated with care, compassion, and respect.”

The case is being investigated by the VA Office of Inspector General. Although Patel is only charged at present, not convicted, investigators believe he may have victimized other patients as well. Anyone with information is asked to call the VA-OIG tipline at (770) 758-6646.

A primary care physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, has been indicted on several counts of sexual assault of veteran patients. Rajesh Motibhai Patel is accused of violating his patients’ constitutional right to bodily integrity while acting under color of law and of engaging in unwanted sexual contact.

According to US Attorney Ryan Buchanan, Patel allegedly “violated his oath to do no harm to patients under his care.” He allegedly sexually touched 4 female patients during routine examinations.

Patel’s alleged crimes were “horrific and unacceptable,” US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) press secretary Terrence Hayes said in a statement. “As soon as VA learned of these allegations, we removed this clinician from patient care and reassigned him to a role that had no patient interaction. Whenever a patient comes to VA, they deserve to know that they will be treated with care, compassion, and respect.”

The case is being investigated by the VA Office of Inspector General. Although Patel is only charged at present, not convicted, investigators believe he may have victimized other patients as well. Anyone with information is asked to call the VA-OIG tipline at (770) 758-6646.

The United States has often been described as a “melting pot,” defined as diverse cultures and ethnicities coming together to form the rich fabric of our nation. These days, it seems that our fabric is a bit frayed.

NY Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging) is dawning as a significant conversation. Each and every one of us is unique by age, gender, culture/ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, geographical location, race, and sexual identity – to name just a few aspects of our identity. Keeping these differences in mind, it is evident that none of us fits a “one size fits all” mold.

Some of these differences, such as cross-cultural cuisine and holidays, are enjoyed and celebrated as wonderful opportunities to learn from others, embrace our distinctions, and have them beneficially contribute to our lives. Other differences, however, are not understood or embraced and are, in fact, belittled and stigmatized. Sexual identity falls into this category. It behooves us as a country to become more aware and educated about this category in our identities, in order to understand it, quell our unfounded fear, learn to support one another, and improve our collective mental health.

Recent reports have shown that exposing students and teachers to sexual identity diversity education has sparked some backlash from parents and communities alike. Those opposed are citing concerns over introducing children to LGBTQ+ information, either embedded in the school curriculum or made available in school library reading materials. “Children should remain innocent” seems to be the message. Perhaps parents prefer to discuss this topic privately, at home. Either way, teaching about diversity does not damage one’s innocence or deprive parents of private conversations. In fact, it educates children by improving their awareness, tolerance, and acceptance of others’ differences, and can serve as a catalyst to further parental conversation.

There are kids everywhere who are starting to develop and understand their identities. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for them to know that whichever way they identify is okay, that they are not ‘weird’ or ‘different,’ but that in fact we are all different? Wouldn’t it be great for them to be able to explore and discuss their identities and journeys openly, and not have to hide for fear of retribution or bullying?

It is important for these children to know that they are not alone, that they have options, and that they don’t need to contemplate suicide because they believe that their identity makes them not worthy of being in this world.

Talking more openly about LGBTQ+ is an educational opportunity to improve understanding, tolerance, and acceptance. Starting the conversation early on in life can empower our youth by planting the seed that people are not “one size fits all,” which is the element responsible for our being unique and human. Diversity can be woven into the rich fabric that defines our nation, rather than be a factor that unravels it.

April was National Diversity Awareness Month and we took time to celebrate our country’s cultural melting pot. By embracing our differences, we can show our children and ourselves how to better navigate diversity, which can help us all fit in.

Dr. Jarkon is a psychiatrist and director of the Center for Behavioral Health at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, N.Y.

The United States has often been described as a “melting pot,” defined as diverse cultures and ethnicities coming together to form the rich fabric of our nation. These days, it seems that our fabric is a bit frayed.

NY Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging) is dawning as a significant conversation. Each and every one of us is unique by age, gender, culture/ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, geographical location, race, and sexual identity – to name just a few aspects of our identity. Keeping these differences in mind, it is evident that none of us fits a “one size fits all” mold.

Some of these differences, such as cross-cultural cuisine and holidays, are enjoyed and celebrated as wonderful opportunities to learn from others, embrace our distinctions, and have them beneficially contribute to our lives. Other differences, however, are not understood or embraced and are, in fact, belittled and stigmatized. Sexual identity falls into this category. It behooves us as a country to become more aware and educated about this category in our identities, in order to understand it, quell our unfounded fear, learn to support one another, and improve our collective mental health.

Recent reports have shown that exposing students and teachers to sexual identity diversity education has sparked some backlash from parents and communities alike. Those opposed are citing concerns over introducing children to LGBTQ+ information, either embedded in the school curriculum or made available in school library reading materials. “Children should remain innocent” seems to be the message. Perhaps parents prefer to discuss this topic privately, at home. Either way, teaching about diversity does not damage one’s innocence or deprive parents of private conversations. In fact, it educates children by improving their awareness, tolerance, and acceptance of others’ differences, and can serve as a catalyst to further parental conversation.

There are kids everywhere who are starting to develop and understand their identities. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for them to know that whichever way they identify is okay, that they are not ‘weird’ or ‘different,’ but that in fact we are all different? Wouldn’t it be great for them to be able to explore and discuss their identities and journeys openly, and not have to hide for fear of retribution or bullying?

It is important for these children to know that they are not alone, that they have options, and that they don’t need to contemplate suicide because they believe that their identity makes them not worthy of being in this world.

Talking more openly about LGBTQ+ is an educational opportunity to improve understanding, tolerance, and acceptance. Starting the conversation early on in life can empower our youth by planting the seed that people are not “one size fits all,” which is the element responsible for our being unique and human. Diversity can be woven into the rich fabric that defines our nation, rather than be a factor that unravels it.

April was National Diversity Awareness Month and we took time to celebrate our country’s cultural melting pot. By embracing our differences, we can show our children and ourselves how to better navigate diversity, which can help us all fit in.

Dr. Jarkon is a psychiatrist and director of the Center for Behavioral Health at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, N.Y.

The United States has often been described as a “melting pot,” defined as diverse cultures and ethnicities coming together to form the rich fabric of our nation. These days, it seems that our fabric is a bit frayed.

NY Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging) is dawning as a significant conversation. Each and every one of us is unique by age, gender, culture/ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, geographical location, race, and sexual identity – to name just a few aspects of our identity. Keeping these differences in mind, it is evident that none of us fits a “one size fits all” mold.

Some of these differences, such as cross-cultural cuisine and holidays, are enjoyed and celebrated as wonderful opportunities to learn from others, embrace our distinctions, and have them beneficially contribute to our lives. Other differences, however, are not understood or embraced and are, in fact, belittled and stigmatized. Sexual identity falls into this category. It behooves us as a country to become more aware and educated about this category in our identities, in order to understand it, quell our unfounded fear, learn to support one another, and improve our collective mental health.

Recent reports have shown that exposing students and teachers to sexual identity diversity education has sparked some backlash from parents and communities alike. Those opposed are citing concerns over introducing children to LGBTQ+ information, either embedded in the school curriculum or made available in school library reading materials. “Children should remain innocent” seems to be the message. Perhaps parents prefer to discuss this topic privately, at home. Either way, teaching about diversity does not damage one’s innocence or deprive parents of private conversations. In fact, it educates children by improving their awareness, tolerance, and acceptance of others’ differences, and can serve as a catalyst to further parental conversation.

There are kids everywhere who are starting to develop and understand their identities. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for them to know that whichever way they identify is okay, that they are not ‘weird’ or ‘different,’ but that in fact we are all different? Wouldn’t it be great for them to be able to explore and discuss their identities and journeys openly, and not have to hide for fear of retribution or bullying?

It is important for these children to know that they are not alone, that they have options, and that they don’t need to contemplate suicide because they believe that their identity makes them not worthy of being in this world.

Talking more openly about LGBTQ+ is an educational opportunity to improve understanding, tolerance, and acceptance. Starting the conversation early on in life can empower our youth by planting the seed that people are not “one size fits all,” which is the element responsible for our being unique and human. Diversity can be woven into the rich fabric that defines our nation, rather than be a factor that unravels it.

April was National Diversity Awareness Month and we took time to celebrate our country’s cultural melting pot. By embracing our differences, we can show our children and ourselves how to better navigate diversity, which can help us all fit in.

Dr. Jarkon is a psychiatrist and director of the Center for Behavioral Health at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, N.Y.

A recent Swedish study found that both abdominal and general obesity were independently associated with respiratory illnesses, including asthma and self-reported chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Relationships between respiratory conditions with characterized obesity types in adults were assessed using self-report surveys from participants originally enrolled in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) investigating asthma, allergy, and risk factors. The Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) III provides a second follow-up substudy of ECRHS focused on two forms of obesity associated with respiratory illnesses.

Obesity is a characteristic risk factor linked to respiratory ailments such as asthma and COPD. High body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) provide quantitative measurements for defining conditions of comprehensive general and abdominal obesity, respectively.

Although both types of obesity have been associated with asthma incidence, studies on their independent impact on this disease have been limited. Previous reports on abdominal obesity associated with asthma have been inconsistent when considering sexes in the analysis. Additionally, COPD and related outcomes differed between abdominal and general obesity, indicating a need to discover whether self-reported WC abdominal obesity and BMI-based general obesity are independently associated with respiratory symptoms, early- and late-onset asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, rhinitis, and sex, Marta A. Kisiel, MD, PhD, of the department of environmental and occupational medicine, Uppsala University, Sweden, and colleagues write.

In a prospective study published in the journal Respiratory Medicine, the researchers report on a cross-sectional investigation of responses to a questionnaire similar to one utilized 10 years earlier in the RHINE II study. Questions required simple yes/no responses that covered asthma, respiratory symptoms, allergic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, and COPD. Additional requested information included age of asthma onset, potential confounding variables of age, smoking, physical activity, and highest education level, weight and height for BMI calculation, and WC measurement with instructions and a provided tape measure.

The population of the RHINE III study conducted from 2010 to 2012 was composed of 12,290 participants (53% response frequency) obtained from a total of seven research centers located in five northern European countries. Obesity categorization classified 1,837 (6.7%) participants as generally obese based on a high BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² and 4,261 (34.7%) as abdominally obese by WC measurements of ≥ 102 cm for men and ≥ 88 cm for women. Of the 4,261 total participants, 1,669 met both general and abdominal obesity criteria. Mean age was in the low 50s range and the obese population consisted of more women than men.

Simple linear regression revealed that BMI and WC were highly correlated, and both were associated with tested respiratory conditions when adjusted for confounding variables. Differences with respect to WC and BMI were independently associated with most of the examined respiratory conditions when WC was adjusted for BMI and vice versa. Neither early-onset asthma nor allergic rhinitis were associated with WC, BMI, or abdominal or general obesity.

A significantly high proportion of individuals with general and abdominal obesity experienced a variety of defined respiratory symptoms, and asthma, chronic bronchitis, or COPD. An independent association of abdominal obesity (with or without general obesity) was found to occur with respiratory symptoms, asthma, late-onset asthma, and chronic bronchitis.

After adjusting for abdominal obesity, general obesity showed an independent and significant association with respiratory symptoms, asthma, adult-onset asthma, and COPD. An analysis stratified by sex indicated a significant association of abdominal and general obesity with asthma in women presented as an odds ratio of 1.56 (95% confidence interval, 1.30-1.87) and 1.95 (95% CI, 1.56-2.43), respectively, compared with men, with an OR of 1.22 (95% CI, 0.97-3.17) and 1.28 (95% CI, 0.97-1.68), respectively. The association of abdominal and general obesity with COPD was also stronger in women, compared with men.

The researchers conclude that “both general and abdominal obesity [were], independent of each other, associated with respiratory symptoms in adults.” There is also a distinct difference between women and men for the association of self-reported asthma and COPD with abdominal and general obesity.

The large randomly selected sample size of participants from research centers located in five northern European countries was considered a major strength of this study as it permitted simultaneous adjustment for multiple potential confounders. Several limitations were acknowledged, including absence of data on obstructive respiratory disease severity, WC measurements not being performed by trained staff, and self-reported height and weight measurements.

The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

A recent Swedish study found that both abdominal and general obesity were independently associated with respiratory illnesses, including asthma and self-reported chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Relationships between respiratory conditions with characterized obesity types in adults were assessed using self-report surveys from participants originally enrolled in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) investigating asthma, allergy, and risk factors. The Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) III provides a second follow-up substudy of ECRHS focused on two forms of obesity associated with respiratory illnesses.

Obesity is a characteristic risk factor linked to respiratory ailments such as asthma and COPD. High body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) provide quantitative measurements for defining conditions of comprehensive general and abdominal obesity, respectively.

Although both types of obesity have been associated with asthma incidence, studies on their independent impact on this disease have been limited. Previous reports on abdominal obesity associated with asthma have been inconsistent when considering sexes in the analysis. Additionally, COPD and related outcomes differed between abdominal and general obesity, indicating a need to discover whether self-reported WC abdominal obesity and BMI-based general obesity are independently associated with respiratory symptoms, early- and late-onset asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, rhinitis, and sex, Marta A. Kisiel, MD, PhD, of the department of environmental and occupational medicine, Uppsala University, Sweden, and colleagues write.

In a prospective study published in the journal Respiratory Medicine, the researchers report on a cross-sectional investigation of responses to a questionnaire similar to one utilized 10 years earlier in the RHINE II study. Questions required simple yes/no responses that covered asthma, respiratory symptoms, allergic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, and COPD. Additional requested information included age of asthma onset, potential confounding variables of age, smoking, physical activity, and highest education level, weight and height for BMI calculation, and WC measurement with instructions and a provided tape measure.

The population of the RHINE III study conducted from 2010 to 2012 was composed of 12,290 participants (53% response frequency) obtained from a total of seven research centers located in five northern European countries. Obesity categorization classified 1,837 (6.7%) participants as generally obese based on a high BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² and 4,261 (34.7%) as abdominally obese by WC measurements of ≥ 102 cm for men and ≥ 88 cm for women. Of the 4,261 total participants, 1,669 met both general and abdominal obesity criteria. Mean age was in the low 50s range and the obese population consisted of more women than men.

Simple linear regression revealed that BMI and WC were highly correlated, and both were associated with tested respiratory conditions when adjusted for confounding variables. Differences with respect to WC and BMI were independently associated with most of the examined respiratory conditions when WC was adjusted for BMI and vice versa. Neither early-onset asthma nor allergic rhinitis were associated with WC, BMI, or abdominal or general obesity.

A significantly high proportion of individuals with general and abdominal obesity experienced a variety of defined respiratory symptoms, and asthma, chronic bronchitis, or COPD. An independent association of abdominal obesity (with or without general obesity) was found to occur with respiratory symptoms, asthma, late-onset asthma, and chronic bronchitis.

After adjusting for abdominal obesity, general obesity showed an independent and significant association with respiratory symptoms, asthma, adult-onset asthma, and COPD. An analysis stratified by sex indicated a significant association of abdominal and general obesity with asthma in women presented as an odds ratio of 1.56 (95% confidence interval, 1.30-1.87) and 1.95 (95% CI, 1.56-2.43), respectively, compared with men, with an OR of 1.22 (95% CI, 0.97-3.17) and 1.28 (95% CI, 0.97-1.68), respectively. The association of abdominal and general obesity with COPD was also stronger in women, compared with men.

The researchers conclude that “both general and abdominal obesity [were], independent of each other, associated with respiratory symptoms in adults.” There is also a distinct difference between women and men for the association of self-reported asthma and COPD with abdominal and general obesity.

The large randomly selected sample size of participants from research centers located in five northern European countries was considered a major strength of this study as it permitted simultaneous adjustment for multiple potential confounders. Several limitations were acknowledged, including absence of data on obstructive respiratory disease severity, WC measurements not being performed by trained staff, and self-reported height and weight measurements.

The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

A recent Swedish study found that both abdominal and general obesity were independently associated with respiratory illnesses, including asthma and self-reported chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Relationships between respiratory conditions with characterized obesity types in adults were assessed using self-report surveys from participants originally enrolled in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) investigating asthma, allergy, and risk factors. The Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) III provides a second follow-up substudy of ECRHS focused on two forms of obesity associated with respiratory illnesses.

Obesity is a characteristic risk factor linked to respiratory ailments such as asthma and COPD. High body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) provide quantitative measurements for defining conditions of comprehensive general and abdominal obesity, respectively.

Although both types of obesity have been associated with asthma incidence, studies on their independent impact on this disease have been limited. Previous reports on abdominal obesity associated with asthma have been inconsistent when considering sexes in the analysis. Additionally, COPD and related outcomes differed between abdominal and general obesity, indicating a need to discover whether self-reported WC abdominal obesity and BMI-based general obesity are independently associated with respiratory symptoms, early- and late-onset asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, rhinitis, and sex, Marta A. Kisiel, MD, PhD, of the department of environmental and occupational medicine, Uppsala University, Sweden, and colleagues write.

In a prospective study published in the journal Respiratory Medicine, the researchers report on a cross-sectional investigation of responses to a questionnaire similar to one utilized 10 years earlier in the RHINE II study. Questions required simple yes/no responses that covered asthma, respiratory symptoms, allergic rhinitis, chronic bronchitis, and COPD. Additional requested information included age of asthma onset, potential confounding variables of age, smoking, physical activity, and highest education level, weight and height for BMI calculation, and WC measurement with instructions and a provided tape measure.

The population of the RHINE III study conducted from 2010 to 2012 was composed of 12,290 participants (53% response frequency) obtained from a total of seven research centers located in five northern European countries. Obesity categorization classified 1,837 (6.7%) participants as generally obese based on a high BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² and 4,261 (34.7%) as abdominally obese by WC measurements of ≥ 102 cm for men and ≥ 88 cm for women. Of the 4,261 total participants, 1,669 met both general and abdominal obesity criteria. Mean age was in the low 50s range and the obese population consisted of more women than men.

Simple linear regression revealed that BMI and WC were highly correlated, and both were associated with tested respiratory conditions when adjusted for confounding variables. Differences with respect to WC and BMI were independently associated with most of the examined respiratory conditions when WC was adjusted for BMI and vice versa. Neither early-onset asthma nor allergic rhinitis were associated with WC, BMI, or abdominal or general obesity.

A significantly high proportion of individuals with general and abdominal obesity experienced a variety of defined respiratory symptoms, and asthma, chronic bronchitis, or COPD. An independent association of abdominal obesity (with or without general obesity) was found to occur with respiratory symptoms, asthma, late-onset asthma, and chronic bronchitis.

After adjusting for abdominal obesity, general obesity showed an independent and significant association with respiratory symptoms, asthma, adult-onset asthma, and COPD. An analysis stratified by sex indicated a significant association of abdominal and general obesity with asthma in women presented as an odds ratio of 1.56 (95% confidence interval, 1.30-1.87) and 1.95 (95% CI, 1.56-2.43), respectively, compared with men, with an OR of 1.22 (95% CI, 0.97-3.17) and 1.28 (95% CI, 0.97-1.68), respectively. The association of abdominal and general obesity with COPD was also stronger in women, compared with men.

The researchers conclude that “both general and abdominal obesity [were], independent of each other, associated with respiratory symptoms in adults.” There is also a distinct difference between women and men for the association of self-reported asthma and COPD with abdominal and general obesity.

The large randomly selected sample size of participants from research centers located in five northern European countries was considered a major strength of this study as it permitted simultaneous adjustment for multiple potential confounders. Several limitations were acknowledged, including absence of data on obstructive respiratory disease severity, WC measurements not being performed by trained staff, and self-reported height and weight measurements.

The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

To see the harmful effects of climate change firsthand, you need look no farther than the nearest pulmonary clinic.

The causes and effects are unmistakable: pollen storms leading to allergy sufferers flooding into allergists’ offices; rising air pollution levels increasing risk for obstructive airway diseases, cardiopulmonary complications, and non–small cell lung cancer; melting snowpacks and atmospheric rivers inundating neighborhoods and leaving moldy debris and incipient fungal infections in their wake.

“The reason why we think climate change is going to change the type of disease patterns and the severity of illness that we see in patients with respiratory diseases is that it changes a lot of the environment as well as the exposures,” said Bathmapriya Balakrishnan, BMedSci, BMBS, from the section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine in the department of medicine at West Virginia University, Morgantown.

“What we’re going to see is not just new diseases but also exacerbation of chronic diseases, things like asthma [and] COPD. And there’s also concern that patients who are otherwise healthy, because they now have more exposures that are due to climate change, can then develop these diseases,” she said in an interview.

Ms. Balakrishnan is the lead author of a comprehensive, evidence-based review focused on the effects of climate change and air pollution across the spectrum of pulmonary disorders. The review is published online ahead of print in the journal Chest.

“As pulmonologists, understanding and improving awareness of the adverse effects of climate change and air pollution are crucial steps. To inform health care providers of evidence-based methods and improve patient counselling, further research regarding measures that limit exposure is needed. Empowering patients with resources to monitor air quality and minimize exposure is a key preventative measure for decreasing morbidity and mortality while improving quality of  life,” Ms. Balakrishnan and colleagues write.

Similarly, in a statement on the effects of climate change on respiratory health, the American Public Health Association succinctly summarized the problem: “Warmer temperatures lead to an increase in pollutants and allergens. Poor air quality leads to reduced lung function, increased risk of asthma complications, heart attacks, heart failure, and death. Air pollution and allergens are the main exposures affecting lung and heart health in this changing climate.”
 

Early spring

Stanley Fineman, MD, MBA, a past president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology and an allergist in private practice in Atlanta, has seen firsthand how global warming and an earlier start to spring allergy season is affecting his patients.

“The season, at least in our area metro Atlanta, started earlier and has been lasting longer. The pollen counts are very high,” he told this news organization.

“In February we started seeing pollen counts over 1,000 [grams per cubic meter], which is unheard of, and in March about half the days we counted levels that were over 1,000, which is also unheard of. In April it was over 1,000 almost half the days.”

Dr. Fineman and colleagues both in Atlanta and across the country have reported sharp increases in the proportion of new adult patients and in existing patients who have experienced exacerbation of previously mild disease.

“Probably what’s happened is that they may have had some allergic sensitivity that resulted in milder manifestations, but this year they’re getting major manifestations,” Dr. Fineman said.

In a 2014 article in the journal European Respiratory Review, Gennaro D’Amato, MD, from High Speciality Hospital Antonio Cardarelli, Naples, Italy, and colleagues outlined the main effects of climate on pollen levels: “1) an increase in plant growth and faster plant growth; 2) an increase in the amount of pollen produced by each plant; 3) an increase in the amount of allergenic proteins contained in pollen; 4) an increase in the start time of plant growth and, therefore, the start of pollen production; 5) an earlier and longer pollen season; 6) change in the geospatial distribution of pollen, that is plant ranges and long-distance atmospheric transport moving polewards,” they write.
 

Bad air

In addition to pollen, the ambient air in many places is increasingly becoming saturated with bioallergenic proteins such as bacteria, viruses, animal dander, insects, molds, and plant species, Ms. Balakrishnan and colleagues noted, adding that “atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide have also been found to increase pollen productivity. These changes result in greater over-the-counter medication use, emergency department visits, and outpatient visits for respiratory illnesses.”

The rash of violent storms that has washed over much of the United States in recent months is also likely to increase the incidence of so-called “thunderstorm asthma,” caused when large quantities of respirable particulate matter are released before or during a thunderstorm.

Air pollution from the burning of carbon-based fuels and from wildfires sparked by hotter and drier conditions increase airborne particulate matter that can seriously exacerbate asthma, COPD, and other obstructive airway conditions.

In addition, as previously reported by Medscape, exposure to particulate matter has been implicated as a possible cause of non–small cell lung cancer in persons who have never smoked.
 

Critical care challenges

Among the myriad other effects of climate change postulated in evidence enumerated by Ms. Balakrishnan and colleagues are chest infections and pleural diseases, such as aspergillosis infections that occur after catastrophic flooding; increased incidence of Mycobacterium avium complex infections and hypersensitivity pneumonitis; increased demands on critical care specialists from natural disasters; pollution-induced cardiac arrest; and heat prostration and heat stroke from increasingly prevalent heat waves.

The reviewers also examined evidence suggesting links between climate change and pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease, sleep disorders, and occupational pulmonary disorders.
 

Power to the patients

“Pulmonologists should counsel patients on ways to minimize outdoor and indoor pollution, using tight-fitting respirators and home air-purifying systems without encroaching on patients’ beliefs and choices,” the authors advise.

“Empowering patients with resources to monitor air quality daily, in inclement weather, and during disasters would help minimize exposure and thus improve overall health. The pulmonologist can play an important role in emphasizing the impact of climate change on pulmonary disorders during patient care encounters,” they write.

Ms. Balakrishan adds that another important mitigation measure that can be taken today is education.

“In medical school we don’t really learn about the impact of climate change – at least in my generation of physicians, climate change or global warming weren’t part of the medical curriculum – but now I think that there’s a lot of advocacy work being done by medical students who actually want more education on climate change and its effects on pulmonary diseases,” she said.

The study by Ms. Balakrishnan and colleagues was unfunded. Ms. Balakrishnan reports no relevant financial relationships. Co-author Mary-Beth Scholand, MD, has received personal fees from serving on advisory boards and speakers bureaus for Genentech, Boehringer Ingelheim, Veracyte, and United Therapeutics. Co-author Sean Callahan, MD, has received personal fees for serving on advisory boards for Gilead and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr. Fineman reports no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

To see the harmful effects of climate change firsthand, you need look no farther than the nearest pulmonary clinic.

The causes and effects are unmistakable: pollen storms leading to allergy sufferers flooding into allergists’ offices; rising air pollution levels increasing risk for obstructive airway diseases, cardiopulmonary complications, and non–small cell lung cancer; melting snowpacks and atmospheric rivers inundating neighborhoods and leaving moldy debris and incipient fungal infections in their wake.

“The reason why we think climate change is going to change the type of disease patterns and the severity of illness that we see in patients with respiratory diseases is that it changes a lot of the environment as well as the exposures,” said Bathmapriya Balakrishnan, BMedSci, BMBS, from the section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine in the department of medicine at West Virginia University, Morgantown.

“What we’re going to see is not just new diseases but also exacerbation of chronic diseases, things like asthma [and] COPD. And there’s also concern that patients who are otherwise healthy, because they now have more exposures that are due to climate change, can then develop these diseases,” she said in an interview.

Ms. Balakrishnan is the lead author of a comprehensive, evidence-based review focused on the effects of climate change and air pollution across the spectrum of pulmonary disorders. The review is published online ahead of print in the journal Chest.

“As pulmonologists, understanding and improving awareness of the adverse effects of climate change and air pollution are crucial steps. To inform health care providers of evidence-based methods and improve patient counselling, further research regarding measures that limit exposure is needed. Empowering patients with resources to monitor air quality and minimize exposure is a key preventative measure for decreasing morbidity and mortality while improving quality of  life,” Ms. Balakrishnan and colleagues write.

Similarly, in a statement on the effects of climate change on respiratory health, the American Public Health Association succinctly summarized the problem: “Warmer temperatures lead to an increase in pollutants and allergens. Poor air quality leads to reduced lung function, increased risk of asthma complications, heart attacks, heart failure, and death. Air pollution and allergens are the main exposures affecting lung and heart health in this changing climate.”
 

Early spring

Stanley Fineman, MD, MBA, a past president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology and an allergist in private practice in Atlanta, has seen firsthand how global warming and an earlier start to spring allergy season is affecting his patients.

“The season, at least in our area metro Atlanta, started earlier and has been lasting longer. The pollen counts are very high,” he told this news organization.

“In February we started seeing pollen counts over 1,000 [grams per cubic meter], which is unheard of, and in March about half the days we counted levels that were over 1,000, which is also unheard of. In April it was over 1,000 almost half the days.”

Dr. Fineman and colleagues both in Atlanta and across the country have reported sharp increases in the proportion of new adult patients and in existing patients who have experienced exacerbation of previously mild disease.

“Probably what’s happened is that they may have had some allergic sensitivity that resulted in milder manifestations, but this year they’re getting major manifestations,” Dr. Fineman said.

In a 2014 article in the journal European Respiratory Review, Gennaro D’Amato, MD, from High Speciality Hospital Antonio Cardarelli, Naples, Italy, and colleagues outlined the main effects of climate on pollen levels: “1) an increase in plant growth and faster plant growth; 2) an increase in the amount of pollen produced by each plant; 3) an increase in the amount of allergenic proteins contained in pollen; 4) an increase in the start time of plant growth and, therefore, the start of pollen production; 5) an earlier and longer pollen season; 6) change in the geospatial distribution of pollen, that is plant ranges and long-distance atmospheric transport moving polewards,” they write.
 

Bad air

In addition to pollen, the ambient air in many places is increasingly becoming saturated with bioallergenic proteins such as bacteria, viruses, animal dander, insects, molds, and plant species, Ms. Balakrishnan and colleagues noted, adding that “atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide have also been found to increase pollen productivity. These changes result in greater over-the-counter medication use, emergency department visits, and outpatient visits for respiratory illnesses.”

The rash of violent storms that has washed over much of the United States in recent months is also likely to increase the incidence of so-called “thunderstorm asthma,” caused when large quantities of respirable particulate matter are released before or during a thunderstorm.

Air pollution from the burning of carbon-based fuels and from wildfires sparked by hotter and drier conditions increase airborne particulate matter that can seriously exacerbate asthma, COPD, and other obstructive airway conditions.

In addition, as previously reported by Medscape, exposure to particulate matter has been implicated as a possible cause of non–small cell lung cancer in persons who have never smoked.
 

Critical care challenges

Among the myriad other effects of climate change postulated in evidence enumerated by Ms. Balakrishnan and colleagues are chest infections and pleural diseases, such as aspergillosis infections that occur after catastrophic flooding; increased incidence of Mycobacterium avium complex infections and hypersensitivity pneumonitis; increased demands on critical care specialists from natural disasters; pollution-induced cardiac arrest; and heat prostration and heat stroke from increasingly prevalent heat waves.

The reviewers also examined evidence suggesting links between climate change and pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease, sleep disorders, and occupational pulmonary disorders.
 

Power to the patients

“Pulmonologists should counsel patients on ways to minimize outdoor and indoor pollution, using tight-fitting respirators and home air-purifying systems without encroaching on patients’ beliefs and choices,” the authors advise.

“Empowering patients with resources to monitor air quality daily, in inclement weather, and during disasters would help minimize exposure and thus improve overall health. The pulmonologist can play an important role in emphasizing the impact of climate change on pulmonary disorders during patient care encounters,” they write.

Ms. Balakrishan adds that another important mitigation measure that can be taken today is education.

“In medical school we don’t really learn about the impact of climate change – at least in my generation of physicians, climate change or global warming weren’t part of the medical curriculum – but now I think that there’s a lot of advocacy work being done by medical students who actually want more education on climate change and its effects on pulmonary diseases,” she said.

The study by Ms. Balakrishnan and colleagues was unfunded. Ms. Balakrishnan reports no relevant financial relationships. Co-author Mary-Beth Scholand, MD, has received personal fees from serving on advisory boards and speakers bureaus for Genentech, Boehringer Ingelheim, Veracyte, and United Therapeutics. Co-author Sean Callahan, MD, has received personal fees for serving on advisory boards for Gilead and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr. Fineman reports no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

To see the harmful effects of climate change firsthand, you need look no farther than the nearest pulmonary clinic.

The causes and effects are unmistakable: pollen storms leading to allergy sufferers flooding into allergists’ offices; rising air pollution levels increasing risk for obstructive airway diseases, cardiopulmonary complications, and non–small cell lung cancer; melting snowpacks and atmospheric rivers inundating neighborhoods and leaving moldy debris and incipient fungal infections in their wake.

“The reason why we think climate change is going to change the type of disease patterns and the severity of illness that we see in patients with respiratory diseases is that it changes a lot of the environment as well as the exposures,” said Bathmapriya Balakrishnan, BMedSci, BMBS, from the section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine in the department of medicine at West Virginia University, Morgantown.

“What we’re going to see is not just new diseases but also exacerbation of chronic diseases, things like asthma [and] COPD. And there’s also concern that patients who are otherwise healthy, because they now have more exposures that are due to climate change, can then develop these diseases,” she said in an interview.

Ms. Balakrishnan is the lead author of a comprehensive, evidence-based review focused on the effects of climate change and air pollution across the spectrum of pulmonary disorders. The review is published online ahead of print in the journal Chest.

“As pulmonologists, understanding and improving awareness of the adverse effects of climate change and air pollution are crucial steps. To inform health care providers of evidence-based methods and improve patient counselling, further research regarding measures that limit exposure is needed. Empowering patients with resources to monitor air quality and minimize exposure is a key preventative measure for decreasing morbidity and mortality while improving quality of  life,” Ms. Balakrishnan and colleagues write.

Similarly, in a statement on the effects of climate change on respiratory health, the American Public Health Association succinctly summarized the problem: “Warmer temperatures lead to an increase in pollutants and allergens. Poor air quality leads to reduced lung function, increased risk of asthma complications, heart attacks, heart failure, and death. Air pollution and allergens are the main exposures affecting lung and heart health in this changing climate.”
 

Early spring

Stanley Fineman, MD, MBA, a past president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology and an allergist in private practice in Atlanta, has seen firsthand how global warming and an earlier start to spring allergy season is affecting his patients.

“The season, at least in our area metro Atlanta, started earlier and has been lasting longer. The pollen counts are very high,” he told this news organization.

“In February we started seeing pollen counts over 1,000 [grams per cubic meter], which is unheard of, and in March about half the days we counted levels that were over 1,000, which is also unheard of. In April it was over 1,000 almost half the days.”

Dr. Fineman and colleagues both in Atlanta and across the country have reported sharp increases in the proportion of new adult patients and in existing patients who have experienced exacerbation of previously mild disease.

“Probably what’s happened is that they may have had some allergic sensitivity that resulted in milder manifestations, but this year they’re getting major manifestations,” Dr. Fineman said.

In a 2014 article in the journal European Respiratory Review, Gennaro D’Amato, MD, from High Speciality Hospital Antonio Cardarelli, Naples, Italy, and colleagues outlined the main effects of climate on pollen levels: “1) an increase in plant growth and faster plant growth; 2) an increase in the amount of pollen produced by each plant; 3) an increase in the amount of allergenic proteins contained in pollen; 4) an increase in the start time of plant growth and, therefore, the start of pollen production; 5) an earlier and longer pollen season; 6) change in the geospatial distribution of pollen, that is plant ranges and long-distance atmospheric transport moving polewards,” they write.
 

Bad air

In addition to pollen, the ambient air in many places is increasingly becoming saturated with bioallergenic proteins such as bacteria, viruses, animal dander, insects, molds, and plant species, Ms. Balakrishnan and colleagues noted, adding that “atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide have also been found to increase pollen productivity. These changes result in greater over-the-counter medication use, emergency department visits, and outpatient visits for respiratory illnesses.”

The rash of violent storms that has washed over much of the United States in recent months is also likely to increase the incidence of so-called “thunderstorm asthma,” caused when large quantities of respirable particulate matter are released before or during a thunderstorm.

Air pollution from the burning of carbon-based fuels and from wildfires sparked by hotter and drier conditions increase airborne particulate matter that can seriously exacerbate asthma, COPD, and other obstructive airway conditions.

In addition, as previously reported by Medscape, exposure to particulate matter has been implicated as a possible cause of non–small cell lung cancer in persons who have never smoked.
 

Critical care challenges

Among the myriad other effects of climate change postulated in evidence enumerated by Ms. Balakrishnan and colleagues are chest infections and pleural diseases, such as aspergillosis infections that occur after catastrophic flooding; increased incidence of Mycobacterium avium complex infections and hypersensitivity pneumonitis; increased demands on critical care specialists from natural disasters; pollution-induced cardiac arrest; and heat prostration and heat stroke from increasingly prevalent heat waves.

The reviewers also examined evidence suggesting links between climate change and pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease, sleep disorders, and occupational pulmonary disorders.
 

Power to the patients

“Pulmonologists should counsel patients on ways to minimize outdoor and indoor pollution, using tight-fitting respirators and home air-purifying systems without encroaching on patients’ beliefs and choices,” the authors advise.

“Empowering patients with resources to monitor air quality daily, in inclement weather, and during disasters would help minimize exposure and thus improve overall health. The pulmonologist can play an important role in emphasizing the impact of climate change on pulmonary disorders during patient care encounters,” they write.

Ms. Balakrishan adds that another important mitigation measure that can be taken today is education.

“In medical school we don’t really learn about the impact of climate change – at least in my generation of physicians, climate change or global warming weren’t part of the medical curriculum – but now I think that there’s a lot of advocacy work being done by medical students who actually want more education on climate change and its effects on pulmonary diseases,” she said.

The study by Ms. Balakrishnan and colleagues was unfunded. Ms. Balakrishnan reports no relevant financial relationships. Co-author Mary-Beth Scholand, MD, has received personal fees from serving on advisory boards and speakers bureaus for Genentech, Boehringer Ingelheim, Veracyte, and United Therapeutics. Co-author Sean Callahan, MD, has received personal fees for serving on advisory boards for Gilead and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr. Fineman reports no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Dysphagia treatment may be a way to reduce risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, according to Yoshitaka Oku, MD, of Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya, Japan.

Gastroesophageal regurgitation disease (GERD) is known to be associated with exacerbations in COPD, but previous studies have shown little impact of standard GERD therapy on COPD exacerbations. However, additional research indicates that delayed swallowing contributes to COPD exacerbations, as reported in a research review.

In an article published recently in Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, Dr. Oku hypothesized that swallowing abnormalities are a confounding factor in the association between GERD and COPD exacerbation, and that counteracting swallowing disorders may reduce COPD exacerbations.

Swallowing disorder (dysphagia) is a common comorbidity in patients with COPD and has been reported at a 17%-20% greater prevalence in those with COPD, compared with controls, the researchers said.

Patients with COPD have altered swallowing behavior because of several factors, including decreased maximal laryngeal elevation, Dr. Oku said. Individuals with COPD “are also prone to laryngeal penetration and aspiration when swallowing large volumes of liquid and tend to follow an inspiratory-swallow-expiratory (I-SW-E) pattern when swallowing large volumes,” he explained.

Dr. Oku conducted prospective studies to investigate the impact of breathing-swallowing discoordination on COPD exacerbation. He found that discoordination in swallowing patterns and the inability to produce airway protective mechanism (such as the I-SW-E pattern) may contribute to more frequent aspirations and more frequent exacerbations.

Dr. Oku also examined whether CPAP and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) might affect breathing-swallowing coordination in healthy controls and patients with COPD. They found a decrease in breathing-swallowing coordination with CPAP, but not BiPAP, in both controls and stable COPD patients. “During BiPAP, a brief negative flow associated with relaxation of the pharyngeal constrictor muscle triggers inspiratory support, which results in the SW-I pattern,” Dr. Oku noted.

Dr. Oku also wrote that interferential current stimulation (IFC) has been used to stimulate muscles. Studies of transcutaneous electrical sensory stimulation using IFC (IFC-TESS) as an intervention to improve swallowing have shown some success, and also may improve airway protection.

“However, its safety and efficacy in patients with COPD remains unknown,” he wrote. Dr. Oku conducted a study of stable COPD patients and found that repeated salivary swallow test (RSST) scores improved significantly after an IFC-TESS intervention.

Breathing-swallowing discoordination may be an early indicator of swallowing disorder in COPD, and interventions can improve these disorders, Dr. Oku added. However, more research is needed to explore whether interventions to improve dysphagia reduce the frequency of exacerbations in COPD patients, he concluded.

The study was supported by a grant from JSPS KAKENHI. Dr. Oku serves as a senior managing director at EuSense Medical Co.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Dysphagia treatment may be a way to reduce risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, according to Yoshitaka Oku, MD, of Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya, Japan.

Gastroesophageal regurgitation disease (GERD) is known to be associated with exacerbations in COPD, but previous studies have shown little impact of standard GERD therapy on COPD exacerbations. However, additional research indicates that delayed swallowing contributes to COPD exacerbations, as reported in a research review.

In an article published recently in Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, Dr. Oku hypothesized that swallowing abnormalities are a confounding factor in the association between GERD and COPD exacerbation, and that counteracting swallowing disorders may reduce COPD exacerbations.

Swallowing disorder (dysphagia) is a common comorbidity in patients with COPD and has been reported at a 17%-20% greater prevalence in those with COPD, compared with controls, the researchers said.

Patients with COPD have altered swallowing behavior because of several factors, including decreased maximal laryngeal elevation, Dr. Oku said. Individuals with COPD “are also prone to laryngeal penetration and aspiration when swallowing large volumes of liquid and tend to follow an inspiratory-swallow-expiratory (I-SW-E) pattern when swallowing large volumes,” he explained.

Dr. Oku conducted prospective studies to investigate the impact of breathing-swallowing discoordination on COPD exacerbation. He found that discoordination in swallowing patterns and the inability to produce airway protective mechanism (such as the I-SW-E pattern) may contribute to more frequent aspirations and more frequent exacerbations.

Dr. Oku also examined whether CPAP and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) might affect breathing-swallowing coordination in healthy controls and patients with COPD. They found a decrease in breathing-swallowing coordination with CPAP, but not BiPAP, in both controls and stable COPD patients. “During BiPAP, a brief negative flow associated with relaxation of the pharyngeal constrictor muscle triggers inspiratory support, which results in the SW-I pattern,” Dr. Oku noted.

Dr. Oku also wrote that interferential current stimulation (IFC) has been used to stimulate muscles. Studies of transcutaneous electrical sensory stimulation using IFC (IFC-TESS) as an intervention to improve swallowing have shown some success, and also may improve airway protection.

“However, its safety and efficacy in patients with COPD remains unknown,” he wrote. Dr. Oku conducted a study of stable COPD patients and found that repeated salivary swallow test (RSST) scores improved significantly after an IFC-TESS intervention.

Breathing-swallowing discoordination may be an early indicator of swallowing disorder in COPD, and interventions can improve these disorders, Dr. Oku added. However, more research is needed to explore whether interventions to improve dysphagia reduce the frequency of exacerbations in COPD patients, he concluded.

The study was supported by a grant from JSPS KAKENHI. Dr. Oku serves as a senior managing director at EuSense Medical Co.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Dysphagia treatment may be a way to reduce risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, according to Yoshitaka Oku, MD, of Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya, Japan.

Gastroesophageal regurgitation disease (GERD) is known to be associated with exacerbations in COPD, but previous studies have shown little impact of standard GERD therapy on COPD exacerbations. However, additional research indicates that delayed swallowing contributes to COPD exacerbations, as reported in a research review.

In an article published recently in Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, Dr. Oku hypothesized that swallowing abnormalities are a confounding factor in the association between GERD and COPD exacerbation, and that counteracting swallowing disorders may reduce COPD exacerbations.

Swallowing disorder (dysphagia) is a common comorbidity in patients with COPD and has been reported at a 17%-20% greater prevalence in those with COPD, compared with controls, the researchers said.

Patients with COPD have altered swallowing behavior because of several factors, including decreased maximal laryngeal elevation, Dr. Oku said. Individuals with COPD “are also prone to laryngeal penetration and aspiration when swallowing large volumes of liquid and tend to follow an inspiratory-swallow-expiratory (I-SW-E) pattern when swallowing large volumes,” he explained.

Dr. Oku conducted prospective studies to investigate the impact of breathing-swallowing discoordination on COPD exacerbation. He found that discoordination in swallowing patterns and the inability to produce airway protective mechanism (such as the I-SW-E pattern) may contribute to more frequent aspirations and more frequent exacerbations.

Dr. Oku also examined whether CPAP and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) might affect breathing-swallowing coordination in healthy controls and patients with COPD. They found a decrease in breathing-swallowing coordination with CPAP, but not BiPAP, in both controls and stable COPD patients. “During BiPAP, a brief negative flow associated with relaxation of the pharyngeal constrictor muscle triggers inspiratory support, which results in the SW-I pattern,” Dr. Oku noted.

Dr. Oku also wrote that interferential current stimulation (IFC) has been used to stimulate muscles. Studies of transcutaneous electrical sensory stimulation using IFC (IFC-TESS) as an intervention to improve swallowing have shown some success, and also may improve airway protection.

“However, its safety and efficacy in patients with COPD remains unknown,” he wrote. Dr. Oku conducted a study of stable COPD patients and found that repeated salivary swallow test (RSST) scores improved significantly after an IFC-TESS intervention.

Breathing-swallowing discoordination may be an early indicator of swallowing disorder in COPD, and interventions can improve these disorders, Dr. Oku added. However, more research is needed to explore whether interventions to improve dysphagia reduce the frequency of exacerbations in COPD patients, he concluded.

The study was supported by a grant from JSPS KAKENHI. Dr. Oku serves as a senior managing director at EuSense Medical Co.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

In case anybody hasn’t noticed, the good ole days are long gone in which pediatric patients with mental health challenges could be simply referred out to be promptly assessed and treated by specialists. Due to a shortage of psychiatrists coupled with large increases in the number of youth presenting with emotional-behavioral difficulties, primary care clinicians are now called upon to fill in much of this gap, with professional organizations like the AAP articulating that mental health treatment, within reason, is squarely in the primary care clinician’s “lane” and scope of treatment.¹

Dr. Rettew

To meet this need, new models of integrated or collaborative care between primary care and mental health clinicians have been attempted and tested. While these initiatives have certainly been a welcome advance to many pediatricians, the large numbers of different models and initiatives out there have made for a rather confusing landscape that many busy primary care clinicians have found difficult to navigate.

In an attempt to offer some guidance on the subject, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recently published a clinical update on pediatric collaborative care.² The report is rich with resources and ideas. One of the main points of the document is that there are different levels of integration that exist. Kind of like the situation with recycling and household waste reduction, it is possible to make valuable improvements at any level of participation, although evidence suggests that more extensive efforts offer the most benefits. At one end of the spectrum, psychiatrists and primary care clinicians maintain separate practices and medical records and occasionally discuss mutual patients. Middle levels may include “colocation” with mental health and primary care professionals sharing a building and/or being part of the same overall system but continuing to work mainly independently. At the highest levels of integration, there is a coordinated and collaborative team that supports an intentional system of care with consistent communication about individual patients and general workflows. These approaches vary in the amount that the following four core areas of integrated care are incorporated.

• Direct service. Many integrated care initiatives heavily rely on the services of an on-site mental health care manager or behavioral health consultant who can provide a number of important functions such as overseeing of the integrated care program, conducting brief therapy with youth and parents, overseeing mental health screenings at the clinic, and providing general mental health promotion guidance.
• Care coordination. Helping patients and families find needed mental health, social services, and educational resources is a key component of integrated care. This task can fall to the practice’s behavioral health consultant, if there is one, but more general care coordinators can also be trained for this important role. The University of Washington’s Center for Advancing Integrated Mental Health Solutions has some published guidelines in this area.³
• Consultation. More advanced integrated care models often have established relationships to specific child psychiatric clinicians who are able to meet with the primary care team to discuss cases and general approaches to various problems. Alternatively, a number of states have implemented what are called Child Psychiatry Access Programs that give primary care clinicians a phone number to an organization (often affiliated with an academic medical center) that can provide quick and even immediate access to a child psychiatry provider for specific questions. Recent federal grants have led to many if not most states now having one of these programs in place, and a website listing these programs and their contact information is available.⁴
• Education. As mental health training was traditionally not part of a typical pediatrics residency, there have been a number of strategies introduced to help primary care clinicians increase their proficiency and comfort level when it comes to assessing and treating emotional-behavioral problems. These include specific conferences, online programs, and case-based training through mechanisms like the ECHO program.^5,6 The AAP itself has released a number of toolkits and training materials related to mental health care that are available.⁷

The report also outlines some obstacles that continue to get in the way of more extensive integrative care efforts. Chief among them are financial concerns, including how to pay for what often are traditionally nonbillable efforts, particularly those that involve the communication of two expensive health care professionals. Some improvements have been made, however, such as the creation of some relatively new codes (such as 99451 and 99452) that can be submitted by both a primary care and mental health professional when there is a consultation that occurs that does not involve an actual face-to-face encounter.

One area that, in my view, has not received the level of attention it deserves when it comes to integrated care is the degree to which these programs have the potential not only to improve the care of children and adolescents already struggling with mental health challenges but also to serve as a powerful prevention tool to lower the risk of being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder in the future and generally to improve levels of well-being. Thus far, however, research on various integrated programs has shown promising results that indicate that overall care for patients with mental health challenges improves.⁸ Further, when it comes to costs, there is some evidence to suggest that some of the biggest financial gains associated with integrated care has to do with reduced nonpsychiatric medical expenses of patients.⁹ This, then, suggests that practices that participate in capitated or accountable care organization structures could particularly benefit both clinically and financially from these collaborations.

If your practice has been challenged with the level of mental health care you are now expected to provide and has been contemplating even some small moves toward integrated care, now may the time to put those thoughts into action.

References

1. Foy JM et al. American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement. Mental health competencies for pediatric practice. Pediatrics. 2019;144(5):e20192757.

2. AACAP Committee on Collaborative and Integrated Care and AACAP Committee on Quality Issues. Clinical update: Collaborative mental health care for children and adolescents in pediatric primary care. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2023;62(2):91-119.

3. Behavioral health care managers. AIMS Center, University of Washington. Accessed May 5, 2023. Available at https://aims.uw.edu/online-bhcm-modules.

4. National Network of Child Psychiatry Access Programs. Accessed May 5, 2023. Available at https://www.nncpap.org/.

5. Project Echo Programs. Accessed May 5, 2023. https://hsc.unm.edu/echo.

6. Project TEACH. Accessed May 5, 2023. https://projectteachny.org.

7. Earls MF et al. Addressing mental health concerns in pediatrics: A practical resource toolkit for clinicians, 2nd edition. Itasca, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2021.

8. Asarnow JR et al. Integrated medical-behavioral care compared with usual primary care for child and adolescent behavioral health: A meta analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2015;169(10):929-37.

9. Unutzer J et al. Long-term costs effects of collaborative care for late-life depression. Am J Manag Care. 2008.14(2):95-100.
 

Dr. Rettew is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with Lane County Behavioral Health in Eugene, Ore., and Oregon Health & Science University, Portland. His latest book is “Parenting Made Complicated: What Science Really Knows about the Greatest Debates of Early Childhood.” You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook @PediPsych.

In case anybody hasn’t noticed, the good ole days are long gone in which pediatric patients with mental health challenges could be simply referred out to be promptly assessed and treated by specialists. Due to a shortage of psychiatrists coupled with large increases in the number of youth presenting with emotional-behavioral difficulties, primary care clinicians are now called upon to fill in much of this gap, with professional organizations like the AAP articulating that mental health treatment, within reason, is squarely in the primary care clinician’s “lane” and scope of treatment.¹

Dr. Rettew

To meet this need, new models of integrated or collaborative care between primary care and mental health clinicians have been attempted and tested. While these initiatives have certainly been a welcome advance to many pediatricians, the large numbers of different models and initiatives out there have made for a rather confusing landscape that many busy primary care clinicians have found difficult to navigate.

In an attempt to offer some guidance on the subject, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recently published a clinical update on pediatric collaborative care.² The report is rich with resources and ideas. One of the main points of the document is that there are different levels of integration that exist. Kind of like the situation with recycling and household waste reduction, it is possible to make valuable improvements at any level of participation, although evidence suggests that more extensive efforts offer the most benefits. At one end of the spectrum, psychiatrists and primary care clinicians maintain separate practices and medical records and occasionally discuss mutual patients. Middle levels may include “colocation” with mental health and primary care professionals sharing a building and/or being part of the same overall system but continuing to work mainly independently. At the highest levels of integration, there is a coordinated and collaborative team that supports an intentional system of care with consistent communication about individual patients and general workflows. These approaches vary in the amount that the following four core areas of integrated care are incorporated.

• Direct service. Many integrated care initiatives heavily rely on the services of an on-site mental health care manager or behavioral health consultant who can provide a number of important functions such as overseeing of the integrated care program, conducting brief therapy with youth and parents, overseeing mental health screenings at the clinic, and providing general mental health promotion guidance.
• Care coordination. Helping patients and families find needed mental health, social services, and educational resources is a key component of integrated care. This task can fall to the practice’s behavioral health consultant, if there is one, but more general care coordinators can also be trained for this important role. The University of Washington’s Center for Advancing Integrated Mental Health Solutions has some published guidelines in this area.³
• Consultation. More advanced integrated care models often have established relationships to specific child psychiatric clinicians who are able to meet with the primary care team to discuss cases and general approaches to various problems. Alternatively, a number of states have implemented what are called Child Psychiatry Access Programs that give primary care clinicians a phone number to an organization (often affiliated with an academic medical center) that can provide quick and even immediate access to a child psychiatry provider for specific questions. Recent federal grants have led to many if not most states now having one of these programs in place, and a website listing these programs and their contact information is available.⁴
• Education. As mental health training was traditionally not part of a typical pediatrics residency, there have been a number of strategies introduced to help primary care clinicians increase their proficiency and comfort level when it comes to assessing and treating emotional-behavioral problems. These include specific conferences, online programs, and case-based training through mechanisms like the ECHO program.^5,6 The AAP itself has released a number of toolkits and training materials related to mental health care that are available.⁷

The report also outlines some obstacles that continue to get in the way of more extensive integrative care efforts. Chief among them are financial concerns, including how to pay for what often are traditionally nonbillable efforts, particularly those that involve the communication of two expensive health care professionals. Some improvements have been made, however, such as the creation of some relatively new codes (such as 99451 and 99452) that can be submitted by both a primary care and mental health professional when there is a consultation that occurs that does not involve an actual face-to-face encounter.

One area that, in my view, has not received the level of attention it deserves when it comes to integrated care is the degree to which these programs have the potential not only to improve the care of children and adolescents already struggling with mental health challenges but also to serve as a powerful prevention tool to lower the risk of being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder in the future and generally to improve levels of well-being. Thus far, however, research on various integrated programs has shown promising results that indicate that overall care for patients with mental health challenges improves.⁸ Further, when it comes to costs, there is some evidence to suggest that some of the biggest financial gains associated with integrated care has to do with reduced nonpsychiatric medical expenses of patients.⁹ This, then, suggests that practices that participate in capitated or accountable care organization structures could particularly benefit both clinically and financially from these collaborations.

If your practice has been challenged with the level of mental health care you are now expected to provide and has been contemplating even some small moves toward integrated care, now may the time to put those thoughts into action.

References

1. Foy JM et al. American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement. Mental health competencies for pediatric practice. Pediatrics. 2019;144(5):e20192757.

2. AACAP Committee on Collaborative and Integrated Care and AACAP Committee on Quality Issues. Clinical update: Collaborative mental health care for children and adolescents in pediatric primary care. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2023;62(2):91-119.

3. Behavioral health care managers. AIMS Center, University of Washington. Accessed May 5, 2023. Available at https://aims.uw.edu/online-bhcm-modules.

4. National Network of Child Psychiatry Access Programs. Accessed May 5, 2023. Available at https://www.nncpap.org/.

5. Project Echo Programs. Accessed May 5, 2023. https://hsc.unm.edu/echo.

6. Project TEACH. Accessed May 5, 2023. https://projectteachny.org.

7. Earls MF et al. Addressing mental health concerns in pediatrics: A practical resource toolkit for clinicians, 2nd edition. Itasca, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2021.

8. Asarnow JR et al. Integrated medical-behavioral care compared with usual primary care for child and adolescent behavioral health: A meta analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2015;169(10):929-37.

9. Unutzer J et al. Long-term costs effects of collaborative care for late-life depression. Am J Manag Care. 2008.14(2):95-100.
 

Dr. Rettew is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with Lane County Behavioral Health in Eugene, Ore., and Oregon Health & Science University, Portland. His latest book is “Parenting Made Complicated: What Science Really Knows about the Greatest Debates of Early Childhood.” You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook @PediPsych.

In case anybody hasn’t noticed, the good ole days are long gone in which pediatric patients with mental health challenges could be simply referred out to be promptly assessed and treated by specialists. Due to a shortage of psychiatrists coupled with large increases in the number of youth presenting with emotional-behavioral difficulties, primary care clinicians are now called upon to fill in much of this gap, with professional organizations like the AAP articulating that mental health treatment, within reason, is squarely in the primary care clinician’s “lane” and scope of treatment.¹

Dr. Rettew

To meet this need, new models of integrated or collaborative care between primary care and mental health clinicians have been attempted and tested. While these initiatives have certainly been a welcome advance to many pediatricians, the large numbers of different models and initiatives out there have made for a rather confusing landscape that many busy primary care clinicians have found difficult to navigate.

In an attempt to offer some guidance on the subject, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recently published a clinical update on pediatric collaborative care.² The report is rich with resources and ideas. One of the main points of the document is that there are different levels of integration that exist. Kind of like the situation with recycling and household waste reduction, it is possible to make valuable improvements at any level of participation, although evidence suggests that more extensive efforts offer the most benefits. At one end of the spectrum, psychiatrists and primary care clinicians maintain separate practices and medical records and occasionally discuss mutual patients. Middle levels may include “colocation” with mental health and primary care professionals sharing a building and/or being part of the same overall system but continuing to work mainly independently. At the highest levels of integration, there is a coordinated and collaborative team that supports an intentional system of care with consistent communication about individual patients and general workflows. These approaches vary in the amount that the following four core areas of integrated care are incorporated.

• Direct service. Many integrated care initiatives heavily rely on the services of an on-site mental health care manager or behavioral health consultant who can provide a number of important functions such as overseeing of the integrated care program, conducting brief therapy with youth and parents, overseeing mental health screenings at the clinic, and providing general mental health promotion guidance.
• Care coordination. Helping patients and families find needed mental health, social services, and educational resources is a key component of integrated care. This task can fall to the practice’s behavioral health consultant, if there is one, but more general care coordinators can also be trained for this important role. The University of Washington’s Center for Advancing Integrated Mental Health Solutions has some published guidelines in this area.³
• Consultation. More advanced integrated care models often have established relationships to specific child psychiatric clinicians who are able to meet with the primary care team to discuss cases and general approaches to various problems. Alternatively, a number of states have implemented what are called Child Psychiatry Access Programs that give primary care clinicians a phone number to an organization (often affiliated with an academic medical center) that can provide quick and even immediate access to a child psychiatry provider for specific questions. Recent federal grants have led to many if not most states now having one of these programs in place, and a website listing these programs and their contact information is available.⁴
• Education. As mental health training was traditionally not part of a typical pediatrics residency, there have been a number of strategies introduced to help primary care clinicians increase their proficiency and comfort level when it comes to assessing and treating emotional-behavioral problems. These include specific conferences, online programs, and case-based training through mechanisms like the ECHO program.^5,6 The AAP itself has released a number of toolkits and training materials related to mental health care that are available.⁷

The report also outlines some obstacles that continue to get in the way of more extensive integrative care efforts. Chief among them are financial concerns, including how to pay for what often are traditionally nonbillable efforts, particularly those that involve the communication of two expensive health care professionals. Some improvements have been made, however, such as the creation of some relatively new codes (such as 99451 and 99452) that can be submitted by both a primary care and mental health professional when there is a consultation that occurs that does not involve an actual face-to-face encounter.

One area that, in my view, has not received the level of attention it deserves when it comes to integrated care is the degree to which these programs have the potential not only to improve the care of children and adolescents already struggling with mental health challenges but also to serve as a powerful prevention tool to lower the risk of being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder in the future and generally to improve levels of well-being. Thus far, however, research on various integrated programs has shown promising results that indicate that overall care for patients with mental health challenges improves.⁸ Further, when it comes to costs, there is some evidence to suggest that some of the biggest financial gains associated with integrated care has to do with reduced nonpsychiatric medical expenses of patients.⁹ This, then, suggests that practices that participate in capitated or accountable care organization structures could particularly benefit both clinically and financially from these collaborations.

If your practice has been challenged with the level of mental health care you are now expected to provide and has been contemplating even some small moves toward integrated care, now may the time to put those thoughts into action.

References

1. Foy JM et al. American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement. Mental health competencies for pediatric practice. Pediatrics. 2019;144(5):e20192757.

2. AACAP Committee on Collaborative and Integrated Care and AACAP Committee on Quality Issues. Clinical update: Collaborative mental health care for children and adolescents in pediatric primary care. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2023;62(2):91-119.

3. Behavioral health care managers. AIMS Center, University of Washington. Accessed May 5, 2023. Available at https://aims.uw.edu/online-bhcm-modules.

4. National Network of Child Psychiatry Access Programs. Accessed May 5, 2023. Available at https://www.nncpap.org/.

5. Project Echo Programs. Accessed May 5, 2023. https://hsc.unm.edu/echo.

6. Project TEACH. Accessed May 5, 2023. https://projectteachny.org.

7. Earls MF et al. Addressing mental health concerns in pediatrics: A practical resource toolkit for clinicians, 2nd edition. Itasca, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2021.

8. Asarnow JR et al. Integrated medical-behavioral care compared with usual primary care for child and adolescent behavioral health: A meta analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2015;169(10):929-37.

9. Unutzer J et al. Long-term costs effects of collaborative care for late-life depression. Am J Manag Care. 2008.14(2):95-100.
 

Dr. Rettew is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with Lane County Behavioral Health in Eugene, Ore., and Oregon Health & Science University, Portland. His latest book is “Parenting Made Complicated: What Science Really Knows about the Greatest Debates of Early Childhood.” You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook @PediPsych.

SEATTLE – Taking sulfonylureas sold as “street Valium” can lead to severe hypoglycemia that may result in emergency department visits, the latest of a handful of case reports suggest.

“Physicians should be aware of this possibility and consider intentional or unintentional sulfonylurea abuse, with or without other drugs,” Amanda McKenna, MD, a first-year endocrinology fellow at the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla., and colleagues say in a poster presented at the annual scientific & clinical congress of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.

The new case, seen in Florida, involves a 33-year-old man with a history of narcotic dependence and anxiety but not diabetes. At the time of presentation, the patient was unconscious and diaphoretic. The patient’s blood glucose level was 18 mg/dL. He had purchased two unmarked, light blue pills on the street which he thought were Valiums but turned out to be glyburide.

Sulfonylureas have no potential for abuse, but they physically resemble Valiums and are easier for illicit drug dealers to obtain because they’re not a controlled substance, and they can be sold for considerably more money, Dr. McKenna said in an interview.

“He thought he was getting Valium, but what he really purchased was glyburide. ... When he took it, he developed sweating and weakness. He probably thought he was having a bad trip, but it was really low blood sugar,” she said.
 

Similar cases go back nearly two decades

Similar cases have been reported as far back as 2004 in different parts of the United States. A 2004 article reports five cases in which people in San Francisco were “admitted to the hospital for hypoglycemia as a result of a drug purchased on the streets as a presumed benzodiazepine.”

Two more cases of “glyburide poisoning by ingestion of ‘street Valium,’ ” also from San Francisco, were reported in 2012. And in another case presented at the 2022 Endocrine Society meeting, sulfonylurea had been cut with cocaine, presumably to increase the volume.

The lead author of the 2012 article, Craig Smollin, MD, medical director of the California Poison Control System, San Francisco Division, and professor of emergency medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, told this news organization that his team has seen “a handful of cases over the years” but that “it is hard to say how common it is because hypoglycemia is common in this patient population for a variety of reasons.”
 

Persistent hypoglycemia led to the source

In the current case, paramedics treated the patient with D50W, and his blood glucose level increased from 18 mg/dL to 109 mg/dL. He regained consciousness but then developed recurrent hypoglycemia, and his blood glucose level dropped back to 15 mg/dL in the ED. Urine toxicology results were positive for benzodiazepines, cannabis, and cocaine.

Laboratory results showed elevations in levels of insulin (47.4 mIU/mL), C-peptide (5.4 ng/mL), and glucose (44 mg/dL). He was again treated with D50W, and his blood glucose level returned to normal over 20 hours. Once alert and oriented, he reported no personal or family history of diabetes. A 72-hour fast showed no evidence of insulinoma. A sulfonylurea screen was positive for glyburide. He was discharged home in stable condition. How many more cases have been missed?

Dr. McKenna pointed out that a typical urine toxicology screen for drugs wouldn’t detect a sulfonylurea. “The screen for hypoglycemic agents is a blood test, not a urine screen, so it’s completely different in the workup, and you really have to be thinking about that. It typically takes a while to come back,” she said.

She added that if the hypoglycemia resolves and testing isn’t conducted, the cause of the low blood sugar level might be missed. “If the hypoglycemia doesn’t persist, the [ED] physician wouldn’t consult endocrine. ... Is this happening more than we think?”
 

Ocreotide: A ‘unique antidote’

In their article, Dr. Smollin and colleagues describe the use of ocreotide, a long-acting somatostatin agonist that reverses the insulin-releasing effect of sulfonylureas on pancreatic beta cells, resulting in diminished insulin secretion. Unlike glucose supplementation, ocreotide doesn’t stimulate additional insulin release. It is of longer duration than glucagon, the authors say.

“The management of sulfonylurea overdose includes administration of glucose but also may include the use of octreotide, a unique antidote for sulfonylurea induced hypoglycemia,” Dr. Smollin said.

However, he also cautioned, “there is a broad differential diagnosis for hypoglycemia, and clinicians must consider many alternative diagnoses.”

Dr. McKenna and Dr. Smollin have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

SEATTLE – Taking sulfonylureas sold as “street Valium” can lead to severe hypoglycemia that may result in emergency department visits, the latest of a handful of case reports suggest.

“Physicians should be aware of this possibility and consider intentional or unintentional sulfonylurea abuse, with or without other drugs,” Amanda McKenna, MD, a first-year endocrinology fellow at the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla., and colleagues say in a poster presented at the annual scientific & clinical congress of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.

The new case, seen in Florida, involves a 33-year-old man with a history of narcotic dependence and anxiety but not diabetes. At the time of presentation, the patient was unconscious and diaphoretic. The patient’s blood glucose level was 18 mg/dL. He had purchased two unmarked, light blue pills on the street which he thought were Valiums but turned out to be glyburide.

Sulfonylureas have no potential for abuse, but they physically resemble Valiums and are easier for illicit drug dealers to obtain because they’re not a controlled substance, and they can be sold for considerably more money, Dr. McKenna said in an interview.

“He thought he was getting Valium, but what he really purchased was glyburide. ... When he took it, he developed sweating and weakness. He probably thought he was having a bad trip, but it was really low blood sugar,” she said.
 

Similar cases go back nearly two decades

Similar cases have been reported as far back as 2004 in different parts of the United States. A 2004 article reports five cases in which people in San Francisco were “admitted to the hospital for hypoglycemia as a result of a drug purchased on the streets as a presumed benzodiazepine.”

Two more cases of “glyburide poisoning by ingestion of ‘street Valium,’ ” also from San Francisco, were reported in 2012. And in another case presented at the 2022 Endocrine Society meeting, sulfonylurea had been cut with cocaine, presumably to increase the volume.

The lead author of the 2012 article, Craig Smollin, MD, medical director of the California Poison Control System, San Francisco Division, and professor of emergency medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, told this news organization that his team has seen “a handful of cases over the years” but that “it is hard to say how common it is because hypoglycemia is common in this patient population for a variety of reasons.”
 

Persistent hypoglycemia led to the source

In the current case, paramedics treated the patient with D50W, and his blood glucose level increased from 18 mg/dL to 109 mg/dL. He regained consciousness but then developed recurrent hypoglycemia, and his blood glucose level dropped back to 15 mg/dL in the ED. Urine toxicology results were positive for benzodiazepines, cannabis, and cocaine.

Laboratory results showed elevations in levels of insulin (47.4 mIU/mL), C-peptide (5.4 ng/mL), and glucose (44 mg/dL). He was again treated with D50W, and his blood glucose level returned to normal over 20 hours. Once alert and oriented, he reported no personal or family history of diabetes. A 72-hour fast showed no evidence of insulinoma. A sulfonylurea screen was positive for glyburide. He was discharged home in stable condition. How many more cases have been missed?

Dr. McKenna pointed out that a typical urine toxicology screen for drugs wouldn’t detect a sulfonylurea. “The screen for hypoglycemic agents is a blood test, not a urine screen, so it’s completely different in the workup, and you really have to be thinking about that. It typically takes a while to come back,” she said.

She added that if the hypoglycemia resolves and testing isn’t conducted, the cause of the low blood sugar level might be missed. “If the hypoglycemia doesn’t persist, the [ED] physician wouldn’t consult endocrine. ... Is this happening more than we think?”
 

Ocreotide: A ‘unique antidote’

In their article, Dr. Smollin and colleagues describe the use of ocreotide, a long-acting somatostatin agonist that reverses the insulin-releasing effect of sulfonylureas on pancreatic beta cells, resulting in diminished insulin secretion. Unlike glucose supplementation, ocreotide doesn’t stimulate additional insulin release. It is of longer duration than glucagon, the authors say.

“The management of sulfonylurea overdose includes administration of glucose but also may include the use of octreotide, a unique antidote for sulfonylurea induced hypoglycemia,” Dr. Smollin said.

However, he also cautioned, “there is a broad differential diagnosis for hypoglycemia, and clinicians must consider many alternative diagnoses.”

Dr. McKenna and Dr. Smollin have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

SEATTLE – Taking sulfonylureas sold as “street Valium” can lead to severe hypoglycemia that may result in emergency department visits, the latest of a handful of case reports suggest.

“Physicians should be aware of this possibility and consider intentional or unintentional sulfonylurea abuse, with or without other drugs,” Amanda McKenna, MD, a first-year endocrinology fellow at the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla., and colleagues say in a poster presented at the annual scientific & clinical congress of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology.

The new case, seen in Florida, involves a 33-year-old man with a history of narcotic dependence and anxiety but not diabetes. At the time of presentation, the patient was unconscious and diaphoretic. The patient’s blood glucose level was 18 mg/dL. He had purchased two unmarked, light blue pills on the street which he thought were Valiums but turned out to be glyburide.

Sulfonylureas have no potential for abuse, but they physically resemble Valiums and are easier for illicit drug dealers to obtain because they’re not a controlled substance, and they can be sold for considerably more money, Dr. McKenna said in an interview.

“He thought he was getting Valium, but what he really purchased was glyburide. ... When he took it, he developed sweating and weakness. He probably thought he was having a bad trip, but it was really low blood sugar,” she said.
 

Similar cases go back nearly two decades

Similar cases have been reported as far back as 2004 in different parts of the United States. A 2004 article reports five cases in which people in San Francisco were “admitted to the hospital for hypoglycemia as a result of a drug purchased on the streets as a presumed benzodiazepine.”

Two more cases of “glyburide poisoning by ingestion of ‘street Valium,’ ” also from San Francisco, were reported in 2012. And in another case presented at the 2022 Endocrine Society meeting, sulfonylurea had been cut with cocaine, presumably to increase the volume.

The lead author of the 2012 article, Craig Smollin, MD, medical director of the California Poison Control System, San Francisco Division, and professor of emergency medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, told this news organization that his team has seen “a handful of cases over the years” but that “it is hard to say how common it is because hypoglycemia is common in this patient population for a variety of reasons.”
 

Persistent hypoglycemia led to the source

In the current case, paramedics treated the patient with D50W, and his blood glucose level increased from 18 mg/dL to 109 mg/dL. He regained consciousness but then developed recurrent hypoglycemia, and his blood glucose level dropped back to 15 mg/dL in the ED. Urine toxicology results were positive for benzodiazepines, cannabis, and cocaine.

Laboratory results showed elevations in levels of insulin (47.4 mIU/mL), C-peptide (5.4 ng/mL), and glucose (44 mg/dL). He was again treated with D50W, and his blood glucose level returned to normal over 20 hours. Once alert and oriented, he reported no personal or family history of diabetes. A 72-hour fast showed no evidence of insulinoma. A sulfonylurea screen was positive for glyburide. He was discharged home in stable condition. How many more cases have been missed?

Dr. McKenna pointed out that a typical urine toxicology screen for drugs wouldn’t detect a sulfonylurea. “The screen for hypoglycemic agents is a blood test, not a urine screen, so it’s completely different in the workup, and you really have to be thinking about that. It typically takes a while to come back,” she said.

She added that if the hypoglycemia resolves and testing isn’t conducted, the cause of the low blood sugar level might be missed. “If the hypoglycemia doesn’t persist, the [ED] physician wouldn’t consult endocrine. ... Is this happening more than we think?”
 

Ocreotide: A ‘unique antidote’

In their article, Dr. Smollin and colleagues describe the use of ocreotide, a long-acting somatostatin agonist that reverses the insulin-releasing effect of sulfonylureas on pancreatic beta cells, resulting in diminished insulin secretion. Unlike glucose supplementation, ocreotide doesn’t stimulate additional insulin release. It is of longer duration than glucagon, the authors say.

“The management of sulfonylurea overdose includes administration of glucose but also may include the use of octreotide, a unique antidote for sulfonylurea induced hypoglycemia,” Dr. Smollin said.

However, he also cautioned, “there is a broad differential diagnosis for hypoglycemia, and clinicians must consider many alternative diagnoses.”

Dr. McKenna and Dr. Smollin have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

Canadian family physicians’ increased use of virtual care during the first years of the pandemic was not associated with increased emergency department use among patients, a new analysis of data from Ontario suggests.

In a cross-sectional study that included almost 14,000 family physicians and almost 13 million patients in Ontario, an adjusted analysis indicated that patients with physicians who provided more than 20% of care virtually had lower rates of ED visits, compared with patients whose physicians provided the least virtual care.

“I was surprised to see that ED visit volumes in fall 2021 were below prepandemic levels,” study author Tara Kiran, MD, who practices family medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital of the University of Toronto, told this news organization.

“At that time, there was a lot in the news about how our EDs were overcrowded and an assumption that this related to higher visit volumes. But our data [suggest] there were other factors at play, including strains in staffing in the ED, hospital inpatient units, and in long-term care.” Dr. Kiran is also the Fidani chair in improvement and innovation and vice-chair of quality and innovation at the department of family and community medicine of the University of Toronto.

The study was published online in JAMA Network Open.
 

Embrace of telehealth

The investigators analyzed administrative data from Ontario for 13,820 family physicians (mean age, 50 years; 51.5% men) and 12,951,063 patients (mean age, 42.6 years; 51.8% women) under their care.

The family physicians had at least one primary care visit claim between Feb. 1 and Oct. 31, 2021. The researchers categorized the physicians by the percentage of total visits they delivered virtually (via telephone or video) during the study period, as follows: 0% (100% in person), greater than 0%-20%, greater than 20%-40%, greater than 40%-60%, greater than 60%-80%, greater than 80% to less than 100%, or 100%.

The percentage of virtual primary care visits peaked at 82% in the first 2 weeks of the pandemic and decreased to 49% by October 2021. ED visit rates decreased at the start of the pandemic and remained lower than in 2019 throughout the study period.

Most physicians provided between 40% and 80% of care virtually. A greater percentage of those who provided more than 80% of care virtually were aged 65 years or older, were women, and practiced in large cities.

Patient comorbidity and morbidity were similar across all categories of virtual care use. The mean number of ED visits was highest among patients whose physicians provided only in-person care (470.3 per 1,000 patients) and was lowest among those whose physicians provided greater than 0% to less than 100% of care virtually (242 per 1,000 patients).

After adjustment for patient characteristics, patients of physicians who provided more than 20% of care virtually had lower rates of ED visits, compared with patients of physicians who provided the least virtual care (for example, greater than 80% to less than 100% versus 0%-20% virtual visits in big cities; relative rate, 0.77). This pattern was consistent across all rurality of practice categories and after adjustment for 2019 ED visit rates.

The investigators observed a gradient in urban areas. Patients of physicians who provided the highest level of virtual care had the lowest ED visit rates.
 

Investigating virtual modalities

Some policymakers worried that inappropriate use of virtual care was leading to an increase in ED use. “Findings of this study refute this hypothesis,” the authors write. Increases in ED use seemed to coincide with decreases in COVID-19 cases, not with increases in virtual primary care visits.

Furthermore, at the population level, patients who were cared for by physicians who provided a high percentage of virtual care did not have a higher rate of ED visits, compared with those cared for by physicians who provided the lowest levels of virtual care.

During the pandemic, the switch to virtual care worked well for some of Dr. Kiran’s patients. It was more convenient, because they didn’t have to take time off work, travel to and from the clinic, find and pay for parking, or wait in the clinic before the appointment, she said.

But for others, “virtual care really didn’t work well,” she said. “This was particularly true for people who didn’t have a regular working phone, who didn’t have a private space to take calls, who weren’t fluent in English, and who were hard of hearing or had severe mental illness that resulted in paranoid thoughts.”

Clinicians also may have had different comfort levels and preferences regarding virtual visits, Dr. Kiran hypothesized. Some found it convenient and efficient, whereas others may have found it cumbersome and inefficient. “I personally find it harder to build relationships with patients when I use virtual care,” she said. “I experience more joy in work with in-person visits, but other clinicians may feel differently.”

Dr. Kiran and her colleagues are conducting a public engagement initiative called OurCare to understand public perspectives on the future of primary care. “As part of that work, we want to understand what virtual modalities are most important to the public and how the public thinks these should be integrated into primary care.”

Virtual care can support access, patient-centered care, and equity in primary care, Dr. Kiran added. “Ideally, it should be integrated into an existing relationship with a family physician and be a complement to in-person visits.”
 

The right dose?

In an accompanying editorial, Jesse M. Pines, MD, chief of clinical innovation at U.S. Acute Care Solutions, Canton, Ohio, writes, “There is no convincing mechanism consistent with the data for the observed outcome of lower ED use at higher telehealth use.”

Additional research is needed, he notes, to answer the “Goldilocks question” – that is, what amount of telehealth optimizes its benefits while minimizing potential problems?

“The right dose of telehealth needs to balance (1) concerns by payers and policymakers that it will increase cost and cause unintended consequences (for example, misdiagnosis or duplicative care) and (2) the desire of its proponents who want to allow clinicians to use it as they see fit, with few restrictions,” writes Dr. Pines.

“Future research would ideally use more robust research design,” he suggested. “For example, randomized trials could test different doses of telehealth, or mixed-methods studies could help elucidate how telehealth may be changing clinical management or care-seeking behavior.”
 

Equitable reimbursement needed

Priya Nori, MD, associate professor of infectious diseases at Montefiore Health System and associate professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, both in New York, said, “I agree with their conclusions and am reassured about telehealth as a durable form of health care delivery.”

Large, population-level studies such as this one might persuade legislators to require equitable reimbursement for in-person and virtual visits “so providers have comparable incentives to provide both types of care,” she said. “Although only primary care was addressed in the study, I believe that virtual care is here to stay and can be applied to primary care, subspecialty care, and other services, like antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention, et cetera. We need to embrace it.”

A similar study should be conducted in the United States, along with additional research “to ensure that visits done by telephone have similar outcomes as those done by video, as not all communities have adequate internet access or video conferencing technology,” said Dr. Nori.

The study was supported by ICES and grants from Ontario Health, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Health Systems Research Program of Ontario MOH. Dr. Kiran, Dr. Pines, and Dr. Nori have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Canadian family physicians’ increased use of virtual care during the first years of the pandemic was not associated with increased emergency department use among patients, a new analysis of data from Ontario suggests.

In a cross-sectional study that included almost 14,000 family physicians and almost 13 million patients in Ontario, an adjusted analysis indicated that patients with physicians who provided more than 20% of care virtually had lower rates of ED visits, compared with patients whose physicians provided the least virtual care.

“I was surprised to see that ED visit volumes in fall 2021 were below prepandemic levels,” study author Tara Kiran, MD, who practices family medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital of the University of Toronto, told this news organization.

“At that time, there was a lot in the news about how our EDs were overcrowded and an assumption that this related to higher visit volumes. But our data [suggest] there were other factors at play, including strains in staffing in the ED, hospital inpatient units, and in long-term care.” Dr. Kiran is also the Fidani chair in improvement and innovation and vice-chair of quality and innovation at the department of family and community medicine of the University of Toronto.

The study was published online in JAMA Network Open.
 

Embrace of telehealth

The investigators analyzed administrative data from Ontario for 13,820 family physicians (mean age, 50 years; 51.5% men) and 12,951,063 patients (mean age, 42.6 years; 51.8% women) under their care.

The family physicians had at least one primary care visit claim between Feb. 1 and Oct. 31, 2021. The researchers categorized the physicians by the percentage of total visits they delivered virtually (via telephone or video) during the study period, as follows: 0% (100% in person), greater than 0%-20%, greater than 20%-40%, greater than 40%-60%, greater than 60%-80%, greater than 80% to less than 100%, or 100%.

The percentage of virtual primary care visits peaked at 82% in the first 2 weeks of the pandemic and decreased to 49% by October 2021. ED visit rates decreased at the start of the pandemic and remained lower than in 2019 throughout the study period.

Most physicians provided between 40% and 80% of care virtually. A greater percentage of those who provided more than 80% of care virtually were aged 65 years or older, were women, and practiced in large cities.

Patient comorbidity and morbidity were similar across all categories of virtual care use. The mean number of ED visits was highest among patients whose physicians provided only in-person care (470.3 per 1,000 patients) and was lowest among those whose physicians provided greater than 0% to less than 100% of care virtually (242 per 1,000 patients).

After adjustment for patient characteristics, patients of physicians who provided more than 20% of care virtually had lower rates of ED visits, compared with patients of physicians who provided the least virtual care (for example, greater than 80% to less than 100% versus 0%-20% virtual visits in big cities; relative rate, 0.77). This pattern was consistent across all rurality of practice categories and after adjustment for 2019 ED visit rates.

The investigators observed a gradient in urban areas. Patients of physicians who provided the highest level of virtual care had the lowest ED visit rates.
 

Investigating virtual modalities

Some policymakers worried that inappropriate use of virtual care was leading to an increase in ED use. “Findings of this study refute this hypothesis,” the authors write. Increases in ED use seemed to coincide with decreases in COVID-19 cases, not with increases in virtual primary care visits.

Furthermore, at the population level, patients who were cared for by physicians who provided a high percentage of virtual care did not have a higher rate of ED visits, compared with those cared for by physicians who provided the lowest levels of virtual care.

During the pandemic, the switch to virtual care worked well for some of Dr. Kiran’s patients. It was more convenient, because they didn’t have to take time off work, travel to and from the clinic, find and pay for parking, or wait in the clinic before the appointment, she said.

But for others, “virtual care really didn’t work well,” she said. “This was particularly true for people who didn’t have a regular working phone, who didn’t have a private space to take calls, who weren’t fluent in English, and who were hard of hearing or had severe mental illness that resulted in paranoid thoughts.”

Clinicians also may have had different comfort levels and preferences regarding virtual visits, Dr. Kiran hypothesized. Some found it convenient and efficient, whereas others may have found it cumbersome and inefficient. “I personally find it harder to build relationships with patients when I use virtual care,” she said. “I experience more joy in work with in-person visits, but other clinicians may feel differently.”

Dr. Kiran and her colleagues are conducting a public engagement initiative called OurCare to understand public perspectives on the future of primary care. “As part of that work, we want to understand what virtual modalities are most important to the public and how the public thinks these should be integrated into primary care.”

Virtual care can support access, patient-centered care, and equity in primary care, Dr. Kiran added. “Ideally, it should be integrated into an existing relationship with a family physician and be a complement to in-person visits.”
 

The right dose?

In an accompanying editorial, Jesse M. Pines, MD, chief of clinical innovation at U.S. Acute Care Solutions, Canton, Ohio, writes, “There is no convincing mechanism consistent with the data for the observed outcome of lower ED use at higher telehealth use.”

Additional research is needed, he notes, to answer the “Goldilocks question” – that is, what amount of telehealth optimizes its benefits while minimizing potential problems?

“The right dose of telehealth needs to balance (1) concerns by payers and policymakers that it will increase cost and cause unintended consequences (for example, misdiagnosis or duplicative care) and (2) the desire of its proponents who want to allow clinicians to use it as they see fit, with few restrictions,” writes Dr. Pines.

“Future research would ideally use more robust research design,” he suggested. “For example, randomized trials could test different doses of telehealth, or mixed-methods studies could help elucidate how telehealth may be changing clinical management or care-seeking behavior.”
 

Equitable reimbursement needed

Priya Nori, MD, associate professor of infectious diseases at Montefiore Health System and associate professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, both in New York, said, “I agree with their conclusions and am reassured about telehealth as a durable form of health care delivery.”

Large, population-level studies such as this one might persuade legislators to require equitable reimbursement for in-person and virtual visits “so providers have comparable incentives to provide both types of care,” she said. “Although only primary care was addressed in the study, I believe that virtual care is here to stay and can be applied to primary care, subspecialty care, and other services, like antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention, et cetera. We need to embrace it.”

A similar study should be conducted in the United States, along with additional research “to ensure that visits done by telephone have similar outcomes as those done by video, as not all communities have adequate internet access or video conferencing technology,” said Dr. Nori.

The study was supported by ICES and grants from Ontario Health, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Health Systems Research Program of Ontario MOH. Dr. Kiran, Dr. Pines, and Dr. Nori have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Canadian family physicians’ increased use of virtual care during the first years of the pandemic was not associated with increased emergency department use among patients, a new analysis of data from Ontario suggests.

In a cross-sectional study that included almost 14,000 family physicians and almost 13 million patients in Ontario, an adjusted analysis indicated that patients with physicians who provided more than 20% of care virtually had lower rates of ED visits, compared with patients whose physicians provided the least virtual care.

“I was surprised to see that ED visit volumes in fall 2021 were below prepandemic levels,” study author Tara Kiran, MD, who practices family medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital of the University of Toronto, told this news organization.

“At that time, there was a lot in the news about how our EDs were overcrowded and an assumption that this related to higher visit volumes. But our data [suggest] there were other factors at play, including strains in staffing in the ED, hospital inpatient units, and in long-term care.” Dr. Kiran is also the Fidani chair in improvement and innovation and vice-chair of quality and innovation at the department of family and community medicine of the University of Toronto.

The study was published online in JAMA Network Open.
 

Embrace of telehealth

The investigators analyzed administrative data from Ontario for 13,820 family physicians (mean age, 50 years; 51.5% men) and 12,951,063 patients (mean age, 42.6 years; 51.8% women) under their care.

The family physicians had at least one primary care visit claim between Feb. 1 and Oct. 31, 2021. The researchers categorized the physicians by the percentage of total visits they delivered virtually (via telephone or video) during the study period, as follows: 0% (100% in person), greater than 0%-20%, greater than 20%-40%, greater than 40%-60%, greater than 60%-80%, greater than 80% to less than 100%, or 100%.

The percentage of virtual primary care visits peaked at 82% in the first 2 weeks of the pandemic and decreased to 49% by October 2021. ED visit rates decreased at the start of the pandemic and remained lower than in 2019 throughout the study period.

Most physicians provided between 40% and 80% of care virtually. A greater percentage of those who provided more than 80% of care virtually were aged 65 years or older, were women, and practiced in large cities.

Patient comorbidity and morbidity were similar across all categories of virtual care use. The mean number of ED visits was highest among patients whose physicians provided only in-person care (470.3 per 1,000 patients) and was lowest among those whose physicians provided greater than 0% to less than 100% of care virtually (242 per 1,000 patients).

After adjustment for patient characteristics, patients of physicians who provided more than 20% of care virtually had lower rates of ED visits, compared with patients of physicians who provided the least virtual care (for example, greater than 80% to less than 100% versus 0%-20% virtual visits in big cities; relative rate, 0.77). This pattern was consistent across all rurality of practice categories and after adjustment for 2019 ED visit rates.

The investigators observed a gradient in urban areas. Patients of physicians who provided the highest level of virtual care had the lowest ED visit rates.
 

Investigating virtual modalities

Some policymakers worried that inappropriate use of virtual care was leading to an increase in ED use. “Findings of this study refute this hypothesis,” the authors write. Increases in ED use seemed to coincide with decreases in COVID-19 cases, not with increases in virtual primary care visits.

Furthermore, at the population level, patients who were cared for by physicians who provided a high percentage of virtual care did not have a higher rate of ED visits, compared with those cared for by physicians who provided the lowest levels of virtual care.

During the pandemic, the switch to virtual care worked well for some of Dr. Kiran’s patients. It was more convenient, because they didn’t have to take time off work, travel to and from the clinic, find and pay for parking, or wait in the clinic before the appointment, she said.

But for others, “virtual care really didn’t work well,” she said. “This was particularly true for people who didn’t have a regular working phone, who didn’t have a private space to take calls, who weren’t fluent in English, and who were hard of hearing or had severe mental illness that resulted in paranoid thoughts.”

Clinicians also may have had different comfort levels and preferences regarding virtual visits, Dr. Kiran hypothesized. Some found it convenient and efficient, whereas others may have found it cumbersome and inefficient. “I personally find it harder to build relationships with patients when I use virtual care,” she said. “I experience more joy in work with in-person visits, but other clinicians may feel differently.”

Dr. Kiran and her colleagues are conducting a public engagement initiative called OurCare to understand public perspectives on the future of primary care. “As part of that work, we want to understand what virtual modalities are most important to the public and how the public thinks these should be integrated into primary care.”

Virtual care can support access, patient-centered care, and equity in primary care, Dr. Kiran added. “Ideally, it should be integrated into an existing relationship with a family physician and be a complement to in-person visits.”
 

The right dose?

In an accompanying editorial, Jesse M. Pines, MD, chief of clinical innovation at U.S. Acute Care Solutions, Canton, Ohio, writes, “There is no convincing mechanism consistent with the data for the observed outcome of lower ED use at higher telehealth use.”

Additional research is needed, he notes, to answer the “Goldilocks question” – that is, what amount of telehealth optimizes its benefits while minimizing potential problems?

“The right dose of telehealth needs to balance (1) concerns by payers and policymakers that it will increase cost and cause unintended consequences (for example, misdiagnosis or duplicative care) and (2) the desire of its proponents who want to allow clinicians to use it as they see fit, with few restrictions,” writes Dr. Pines.

“Future research would ideally use more robust research design,” he suggested. “For example, randomized trials could test different doses of telehealth, or mixed-methods studies could help elucidate how telehealth may be changing clinical management or care-seeking behavior.”
 

Equitable reimbursement needed

Priya Nori, MD, associate professor of infectious diseases at Montefiore Health System and associate professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, both in New York, said, “I agree with their conclusions and am reassured about telehealth as a durable form of health care delivery.”

Large, population-level studies such as this one might persuade legislators to require equitable reimbursement for in-person and virtual visits “so providers have comparable incentives to provide both types of care,” she said. “Although only primary care was addressed in the study, I believe that virtual care is here to stay and can be applied to primary care, subspecialty care, and other services, like antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention, et cetera. We need to embrace it.”

A similar study should be conducted in the United States, along with additional research “to ensure that visits done by telephone have similar outcomes as those done by video, as not all communities have adequate internet access or video conferencing technology,” said Dr. Nori.

The study was supported by ICES and grants from Ontario Health, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Health Systems Research Program of Ontario MOH. Dr. Kiran, Dr. Pines, and Dr. Nori have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

WASHINGTON – Congenital diaphragmatic hernia affects many areas of pediatrics. In a trio of posters presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting, researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia addressed initial ventilation and infant outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit, prenatal brain immaturity and later cognitive development, and antibiotic use.

Initial ventilation mode shows little impact on NICU outcomes

In one study, K. Taylor Wild, MD, and colleagues investigated whether high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) as an initial mode of ventilation in the delivery room improved gas exchange and neonatal ICU (NICU) outcomes in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), compared with conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV). In 2019, HFOV became standard practice at CHOP.

The researchers reviewed data on infants with severe CDH who were born at CHOP between 2014 and 2022. Of these, 75 were placed on HFOV and 114 on CMV. The mean gestational age at birth in both groups was approximately 38 weeks, and the mean birth weight was approximately 3 kg.

Compared with CMV, use of HFOV in the delivery room was associated with significantly higher pH (7.05 vs. 7.16, P = .03) and significantly lower CO₂ (85.2 vs. 64.5, P = .005). However, after adjusting for CDH severity, no significant differences appeared in length of stay and overall survival to discharge. The higher rates of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use in the HFOV group, compared with the CMV group (48% vs. 29.9%), may reflect more severe disease, the researchers noted.
 

Prenatal brain immaturity associates with developmental delay

In a second study, Sandy Johng, MD, and colleagues found a significant association between prenatal brain immaturity in babies with CDH and developmental scores at age 12 months and older. The researchers reviewed data from a single-center patient registry for 48 infants for whom prenatal neuroimaging results were available. Based on the imaging, a fetal Total Maturation Score (fTMS) was generated and used as a measure of prenatal brain immaturity.

Results from the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III (BSID-III) – a composite of cognitive, motor, and language scores – were available for 26 neonates at ages 12 months and under as well as at 12 months and older.

In a linear regression model, the researchers found a significant association between difference in fTMS and BSID-III composite language scores in infants 12 months and older. After adjusting for ECMO treatment, an increase in fTMS of one unit was associated with a 6.5-point increase in language scores at age 12 months and older (P < .01). No significant differences were observed between fTMS difference and language scores in infants under 12 months, or in cognitive or motor scores at any age, the researchers noted. The findings were limited by the small sample size, but the study is the first to show an association between prenatal imaging and neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants with CDH. Results suggest that the risk for neurodevelopmental impairment in this population may start in utero, the researchers concluded.
 

Antibiotic use stays stable

In a third study, Sabrina Flohr, MPH, and colleagues reviewed antibiotic use among infants with CDH who are at increased risk for infection. In many cases, distinguishing between infection and inherent clinical illness is challenging and may lead to unnecessarily high rates of antibiotic use, the researchers noted.

They reviewed data from 381 infants with CDH born at CHOP between January 2013 and November 2022 who were treated and survived in the NICU. Overall, 97.1% of the newborns received antibiotics for a median of 13 days. Nearly two-thirds (63.5%) received antibiotics in the first 72 hours, and 98.1% received them after 72 hours. Ampicillin and gentamicin were the antibiotics used most often in the first 72 hours (approximately 50% for both). After 72 hours, the most commonly used antibiotics were cefazolin (91.6%), vancomycin (67.7%), and cefepime (65.7%).

The results show that antibiotic use among newborns with CDH did not change significantly over time, and the choices of later antibiotics likely reflect perioperative prophylaxis and broad-spectrum treatment, the researchers noted.
 

Studies show larger trends

“These are three interesting studies regarding congenital diaphragmatic hernia from a center that does a high volume of repairs,” said Tim Joos, MD, a Seattle-based clinician with a combination internal medicine/pediatrics practice, in an interview.

“Each individual case can be consuming, but it is important to look for an aggregate of cases to see the larger trends in practices and outcomes,” said Dr. Joos, who was not involved in any of the studies.

The findings of the ventilation study surprised Dr. Joos. “Although high-frequency oscillatory ventilation improves initial gas exchange in the delivery room, compared with conventional mechanical ventilation, it was not associated with any larger NICU outcome,” he said. “This surprised me because my intuition would be that the HFOV would lead to less barotrauma and therefore better outcomes with the underformed lungs associated with this disorder.”

The imaging study demonstrates the need for more research on the association between CDH and neurologic outcomes, said Dr. Joos.

“Prenatal neuroimaging that shows delayed maturation with congenital diaphragmatic hernia correlates with lower language scores in early childhood, and suggests that this may be a predictor of neurologic outcome independent of the postnatal course,” he said.

Data from the antibiotics study reflect current trends, said Dr. Joos. “Antibiotics use is extremely common during the postnatal course of CDH and surgical repair,” he said. “The choice of antibiotics mirrors what we see in other neonatal conditions with regard to treatment for possible early neonatal sepsis, postsurgical prophylaxis, and later broad-spectrum empiric coverage,” he noted.

“I look forward to more studies to come out of large-volume centers like CHOP or aggregated results from many centers to help figure out best practices for this rare but very complicated and often devastating malformation,” he said.

The three posters received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. Dr. Joos had no financial conflicts to disclose, but he serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Pediatric News.

WASHINGTON – Congenital diaphragmatic hernia affects many areas of pediatrics. In a trio of posters presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting, researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia addressed initial ventilation and infant outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit, prenatal brain immaturity and later cognitive development, and antibiotic use.

Initial ventilation mode shows little impact on NICU outcomes

In one study, K. Taylor Wild, MD, and colleagues investigated whether high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) as an initial mode of ventilation in the delivery room improved gas exchange and neonatal ICU (NICU) outcomes in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), compared with conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV). In 2019, HFOV became standard practice at CHOP.

The researchers reviewed data on infants with severe CDH who were born at CHOP between 2014 and 2022. Of these, 75 were placed on HFOV and 114 on CMV. The mean gestational age at birth in both groups was approximately 38 weeks, and the mean birth weight was approximately 3 kg.

Compared with CMV, use of HFOV in the delivery room was associated with significantly higher pH (7.05 vs. 7.16, P = .03) and significantly lower CO₂ (85.2 vs. 64.5, P = .005). However, after adjusting for CDH severity, no significant differences appeared in length of stay and overall survival to discharge. The higher rates of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use in the HFOV group, compared with the CMV group (48% vs. 29.9%), may reflect more severe disease, the researchers noted.
 

Prenatal brain immaturity associates with developmental delay

In a second study, Sandy Johng, MD, and colleagues found a significant association between prenatal brain immaturity in babies with CDH and developmental scores at age 12 months and older. The researchers reviewed data from a single-center patient registry for 48 infants for whom prenatal neuroimaging results were available. Based on the imaging, a fetal Total Maturation Score (fTMS) was generated and used as a measure of prenatal brain immaturity.

Results from the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III (BSID-III) – a composite of cognitive, motor, and language scores – were available for 26 neonates at ages 12 months and under as well as at 12 months and older.

In a linear regression model, the researchers found a significant association between difference in fTMS and BSID-III composite language scores in infants 12 months and older. After adjusting for ECMO treatment, an increase in fTMS of one unit was associated with a 6.5-point increase in language scores at age 12 months and older (P < .01). No significant differences were observed between fTMS difference and language scores in infants under 12 months, or in cognitive or motor scores at any age, the researchers noted. The findings were limited by the small sample size, but the study is the first to show an association between prenatal imaging and neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants with CDH. Results suggest that the risk for neurodevelopmental impairment in this population may start in utero, the researchers concluded.
 

Antibiotic use stays stable

In a third study, Sabrina Flohr, MPH, and colleagues reviewed antibiotic use among infants with CDH who are at increased risk for infection. In many cases, distinguishing between infection and inherent clinical illness is challenging and may lead to unnecessarily high rates of antibiotic use, the researchers noted.

They reviewed data from 381 infants with CDH born at CHOP between January 2013 and November 2022 who were treated and survived in the NICU. Overall, 97.1% of the newborns received antibiotics for a median of 13 days. Nearly two-thirds (63.5%) received antibiotics in the first 72 hours, and 98.1% received them after 72 hours. Ampicillin and gentamicin were the antibiotics used most often in the first 72 hours (approximately 50% for both). After 72 hours, the most commonly used antibiotics were cefazolin (91.6%), vancomycin (67.7%), and cefepime (65.7%).

The results show that antibiotic use among newborns with CDH did not change significantly over time, and the choices of later antibiotics likely reflect perioperative prophylaxis and broad-spectrum treatment, the researchers noted.
 

Studies show larger trends

“These are three interesting studies regarding congenital diaphragmatic hernia from a center that does a high volume of repairs,” said Tim Joos, MD, a Seattle-based clinician with a combination internal medicine/pediatrics practice, in an interview.

“Each individual case can be consuming, but it is important to look for an aggregate of cases to see the larger trends in practices and outcomes,” said Dr. Joos, who was not involved in any of the studies.

The findings of the ventilation study surprised Dr. Joos. “Although high-frequency oscillatory ventilation improves initial gas exchange in the delivery room, compared with conventional mechanical ventilation, it was not associated with any larger NICU outcome,” he said. “This surprised me because my intuition would be that the HFOV would lead to less barotrauma and therefore better outcomes with the underformed lungs associated with this disorder.”

The imaging study demonstrates the need for more research on the association between CDH and neurologic outcomes, said Dr. Joos.

“Prenatal neuroimaging that shows delayed maturation with congenital diaphragmatic hernia correlates with lower language scores in early childhood, and suggests that this may be a predictor of neurologic outcome independent of the postnatal course,” he said.

Data from the antibiotics study reflect current trends, said Dr. Joos. “Antibiotics use is extremely common during the postnatal course of CDH and surgical repair,” he said. “The choice of antibiotics mirrors what we see in other neonatal conditions with regard to treatment for possible early neonatal sepsis, postsurgical prophylaxis, and later broad-spectrum empiric coverage,” he noted.

“I look forward to more studies to come out of large-volume centers like CHOP or aggregated results from many centers to help figure out best practices for this rare but very complicated and often devastating malformation,” he said.

The three posters received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. Dr. Joos had no financial conflicts to disclose, but he serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Pediatric News.

WASHINGTON – Congenital diaphragmatic hernia affects many areas of pediatrics. In a trio of posters presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting, researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia addressed initial ventilation and infant outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit, prenatal brain immaturity and later cognitive development, and antibiotic use.

Initial ventilation mode shows little impact on NICU outcomes

In one study, K. Taylor Wild, MD, and colleagues investigated whether high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) as an initial mode of ventilation in the delivery room improved gas exchange and neonatal ICU (NICU) outcomes in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), compared with conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV). In 2019, HFOV became standard practice at CHOP.

The researchers reviewed data on infants with severe CDH who were born at CHOP between 2014 and 2022. Of these, 75 were placed on HFOV and 114 on CMV. The mean gestational age at birth in both groups was approximately 38 weeks, and the mean birth weight was approximately 3 kg.

Compared with CMV, use of HFOV in the delivery room was associated with significantly higher pH (7.05 vs. 7.16, P = .03) and significantly lower CO₂ (85.2 vs. 64.5, P = .005). However, after adjusting for CDH severity, no significant differences appeared in length of stay and overall survival to discharge. The higher rates of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use in the HFOV group, compared with the CMV group (48% vs. 29.9%), may reflect more severe disease, the researchers noted.
 

Prenatal brain immaturity associates with developmental delay

In a second study, Sandy Johng, MD, and colleagues found a significant association between prenatal brain immaturity in babies with CDH and developmental scores at age 12 months and older. The researchers reviewed data from a single-center patient registry for 48 infants for whom prenatal neuroimaging results were available. Based on the imaging, a fetal Total Maturation Score (fTMS) was generated and used as a measure of prenatal brain immaturity.

Results from the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III (BSID-III) – a composite of cognitive, motor, and language scores – were available for 26 neonates at ages 12 months and under as well as at 12 months and older.

In a linear regression model, the researchers found a significant association between difference in fTMS and BSID-III composite language scores in infants 12 months and older. After adjusting for ECMO treatment, an increase in fTMS of one unit was associated with a 6.5-point increase in language scores at age 12 months and older (P < .01). No significant differences were observed between fTMS difference and language scores in infants under 12 months, or in cognitive or motor scores at any age, the researchers noted. The findings were limited by the small sample size, but the study is the first to show an association between prenatal imaging and neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants with CDH. Results suggest that the risk for neurodevelopmental impairment in this population may start in utero, the researchers concluded.
 

Antibiotic use stays stable

In a third study, Sabrina Flohr, MPH, and colleagues reviewed antibiotic use among infants with CDH who are at increased risk for infection. In many cases, distinguishing between infection and inherent clinical illness is challenging and may lead to unnecessarily high rates of antibiotic use, the researchers noted.

They reviewed data from 381 infants with CDH born at CHOP between January 2013 and November 2022 who were treated and survived in the NICU. Overall, 97.1% of the newborns received antibiotics for a median of 13 days. Nearly two-thirds (63.5%) received antibiotics in the first 72 hours, and 98.1% received them after 72 hours. Ampicillin and gentamicin were the antibiotics used most often in the first 72 hours (approximately 50% for both). After 72 hours, the most commonly used antibiotics were cefazolin (91.6%), vancomycin (67.7%), and cefepime (65.7%).

The results show that antibiotic use among newborns with CDH did not change significantly over time, and the choices of later antibiotics likely reflect perioperative prophylaxis and broad-spectrum treatment, the researchers noted.
 

Studies show larger trends

“These are three interesting studies regarding congenital diaphragmatic hernia from a center that does a high volume of repairs,” said Tim Joos, MD, a Seattle-based clinician with a combination internal medicine/pediatrics practice, in an interview.

“Each individual case can be consuming, but it is important to look for an aggregate of cases to see the larger trends in practices and outcomes,” said Dr. Joos, who was not involved in any of the studies.

The findings of the ventilation study surprised Dr. Joos. “Although high-frequency oscillatory ventilation improves initial gas exchange in the delivery room, compared with conventional mechanical ventilation, it was not associated with any larger NICU outcome,” he said. “This surprised me because my intuition would be that the HFOV would lead to less barotrauma and therefore better outcomes with the underformed lungs associated with this disorder.”

The imaging study demonstrates the need for more research on the association between CDH and neurologic outcomes, said Dr. Joos.

“Prenatal neuroimaging that shows delayed maturation with congenital diaphragmatic hernia correlates with lower language scores in early childhood, and suggests that this may be a predictor of neurologic outcome independent of the postnatal course,” he said.

Data from the antibiotics study reflect current trends, said Dr. Joos. “Antibiotics use is extremely common during the postnatal course of CDH and surgical repair,” he said. “The choice of antibiotics mirrors what we see in other neonatal conditions with regard to treatment for possible early neonatal sepsis, postsurgical prophylaxis, and later broad-spectrum empiric coverage,” he noted.

“I look forward to more studies to come out of large-volume centers like CHOP or aggregated results from many centers to help figure out best practices for this rare but very complicated and often devastating malformation,” he said.

The three posters received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. Dr. Joos had no financial conflicts to disclose, but he serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Pediatric News.