Saadiq, Rayya A.

Ramadan is the Islamic holy month when Muslims around the world fast from dawn to sunset. This 30-day pattern of intermittent diurnal fasting can have a significant physiologic impact on the body. Importantly, oral intake is forbidden during this time, and many patients do not wish to take medications. From a clinical perspective, this potentially impacts healthcare delivery and chronic disease states. Despite these important changes, awareness of individual patient practices remains limited among healthcare providers in North America, which may worsen health disparities in Muslim patients. A fundamental understanding of the cultural and physiological implications of fasting during Ramadan can improve cultural competence and patient outcomes. In this paper, we review the physiologic changes during fasting, medical exemptions to fasting, and special considerations for the care of Muslim patients with chronic conditions who may fast during Ramadan.

Background: Active malignancy accounts for 20% of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the community and is the second leading cause of death among cancer patients. Rivaroxaban offers a convenient alternative to conventional anticoagulation for VTE in cancer patients but its efficacy and safety for this group of patients is not well documented. Patients and Methods: All patients with cancer-associated deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), enrolled into Mayo Rochester Thrombophilia Clinic Direct Oral Anticoagulants Registry between November 1, 2012 and April 30, 2015, were followed prospectively to provide an estimate of the efficacy and safety of this form of therapy. Follow up was obtained in person or by mailed or telephone survey. Results: Out of the 377 patients in the registry, 118 (31%) patients (51% female, mean age 66±10 years) had active malignancy related VTE (62% DVT, 24% PE, and 14% DVT/PE) treated with rivaroxaban. The most common malignancies in this group were: gastrointestinal (20%), lung (13%) and ovary/uterine (13%). Over the follow up period, the VTE recurrence rate was 3.3% (2 DVT and 2 PE; of these, 2 occurred during periprocedural interruptions of anticoagulation); and the major bleeding rate was 3%. There were 26 deaths (22%), none related to VTE or bleeding. The main reasons for choosing rivaroxaban were lower cost compared to LMWH, no need for injections, and the lack of food/drug interactions. Conclusions: These data support that rivaroxaban may provide a safe, effective, and convenient alternative treatment option to standard therapy for cancer related VTE treatment.

Background: Testicular vein thrombosis (TVT) is not currently well-described in the literature. A better understanding of the natural history of TVT will allow for development of optimal management strategies for this little known entity. Methods: The goal of this project was to compare TVT with ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) and lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Patients with TVT, OVT, or DVT between 1995 and 2015 were identified and a chart review was performed. Results: A total of 39 patients with TVT occurring between 1995 and 2015 were identified and compared with 35 patients with OVT and 114 randomly chosen DVT patients. Mean duration of follow-up was 2.9 years (range 0-16.1). Patient demographics can be seen in table 1. Cancer-related (p-value=<0.0001) and idiopathic thrombosis (p-value=0.01) rates were significantly different among the groups. Recurrence rates were similar between TVT and OVT (4.2 vs. 3 per 100 patient-years, p-value = 0.9) as well as TVT and DVT (4.2 vs 2.2 recurrences per 100 patient-years, p-value= 0.37). There were 25 deaths (22%) in DVT patients, 9 (26%) in OVT patients, and 12 (31%) in TVT patients (p-value= 0.541). There was one major bleeding event in both an OVT patient and a TVT patient. Conclusion: Etiology of TVT differs from that of OVT and DVT, specifically in cancer-related and idiopathic thrombosis rate. Our data supports a similar rate of recurrent venous thromboembolism and death in TVT as compared with DVT and OVT.

Calf muscle pump (CMP) promotes venous return from the lower extremity and contributes to preload and cardiac output. Impaired CMP function may reflect a measure of frailty or cumulative disease burden or may impede cardiac function. The study objective was to test the hypothesis that impaired CMP negatively impacts survival. Consecutive adult patients who underwent venous strain gauge plethysmography at the Mayo Clinic Gonda Vascular Laboratory (January 1, 1998 – December 31, 2011) were assessed for overall survival. Patients with venous incompetence, venous obstruction or unilateral calf pump dysfunction were excluded. Risk of mortality was assessed with Cox proportional hazard ratios and after adjusting for Charlson Comorbidity Index variables. Over the study period, 2728 patients were included in the analysis. Compared to patients with normal CMP, those with impaired CMP were older ( p < 0.001), predominantly female ( p = 0.01) and had higher mean Charlson scores ( p < 0.001). Patients with impaired CMP had a higher mortality rate at 5 (8.9% vs 2.4%), 10 (17.5% vs 5.9%), and 15 years (22.8% vs 8.3%) compared to those with normal CMP ( p < 0.001 for each comparison). Of patients with heart failure, those with impaired CMP had worse survival at each 5-year increment compared to those with normal CMP ( p < 0.05 at each increment). In conclusion, impaired CMP appears to be an independent predictor of poor outcomes after adjusting for variables within the Charlson Comorbidity Index. The association between impaired CMP, heart failure, and mortality may represent a negative impact on circulatory function or a surrogate measure of frailty.

Background: Isolation measures used to contain epidemics generate social interaction restrictions and impose changes in routines of the public that increase negative psychological outcomes. Anxiety and depression are the most common symptoms. Objective: To evaluate the mental health of the Brazilian population during the SARs-CoV-2 pandemic and its relationship with demographic and health characteristics. Methods: Adults from all Brazilian States participated (n = 12,196; women: 69.8%, mean age = 35.2 years). The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, and the Impact of Event Scale–revised were used (online survey). Data validity and reliability were verified by confirmatory factor analysis and ordinal alpha coefficient. The probability of presenting psychological symptoms was calculated by multiple logistic regression and odds ratio (OR) (0 = without symptoms, 1 = with mild, moderate, and severe levels of symptoms). Results: High prevalence of depression (61.3%), anxiety (44.2%), stress (50.8%), and psychological impact (54.9%) due to the isolation experienced from the pandemic was found. Younger individuals (OR = 1.58–3.58), those that felt unsafe (OR = 1.75–2.92), with a previous diagnosis of mental health (OR = 1.72–2.64) and/or had general health problems before the pandemic (OR = 1.17–1.51), who noticed changes in their mental state due to the pandemic context (OR = 2.53–9.07), and excessively exposed to the news (OR = 1.19–2.18) were at increased risk of developing symptoms. Women (OR = 1.35–1.65) and those with lower economic status (OR = 1.38–2.69) were more likely to develop psychological symptoms. Lower educational levels increased the likelihood of depressive (OR = 1.03–1.34) and intrusive symptoms (OR = 1.09–1.51). Conclusions: The pandemic and related factors can have a high impact on the mental health of the population. Demographic characteristics can influence the occurrence of psychological symptoms.

AbstractBackgroundLow molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is the guideline‐endorsed treatment for cancer‐associated venous thromboembolism (cVTE). Study objectives were to compare the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban and enoxaparin in cVTE.MethodsUsing a cohort study design, consecutive patients with cVTE (3/1/2013‐7/31/2016), enrolled in the Mayo Thrombophilia Clinic Direct Oral Anticoagulants Registry, were compared to contemporary cancer patients receiving enoxaparin. The cumulative incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence, major and clinically relevant non‐major bleeding, and survival were assessed at 3 and 12 months.ResultsNinety‐eight patients received rivaroxaban (51% female, mean age 63 ± 12 years) and 168 enoxaparin (34.5% female, mean age 62 ± 15 years). The most common cancers included gastrointestinal/pancreatic, genitourinary and hematologic cancers. More than half of patients had pulmonary emboli at presentation. More than half had metastases, and two‐thirds were receiving chemotherapy. At 3 months, there were no differences in VTE recurrence (rivaroxaban 1.0% vs enoxaparin 4.2%; P = .15), major bleeding (rivaroxaban 5.1% vs enoxaparin 3.6%; P = .55), or all‐cause mortality (rivaroxaban 4.1% vs enoxaparin 8.9%; P = .14). At 12 months, these outcomes did not differ by treatment strategy.ConclusionThe results of this “real‐world” experience with cVTE suggest that rivaroxaban may offer a safe and effective alternative to LMWH.

AbstractPurposeTesticular vein thrombosis (TVT) etiology, recurrence, and survival were compared with lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in order to determine whether treatment guidelines for DVT could be applied to TVT.Patients and MethodsAn inception cohort of patients with confirmed TVT (January 1995‐October 2015) was compared to a control group of patients with lower extremity DVT matched by age, gender, and diagnosis date.ResultsThirty‐nine men with TVT were identified; 15 (38%) with isolated TVT. Left testicular vein was affected in 77% patients; there were no cases of bilateral TVT. Cancer was over twofold more common in TVT patients (59% vs 28%, P = .01). Most cancers (78%) involved organs in proximity to the testicular vein. Although TVT patients were less frequently treated with anticoagulants (49% vs 97%, P = .0001), recurrence rates were similar to DVT group (TVT 4.2 vs DVT 1.1 per 100 patient‐years, P = .11). Despite higher cancer prevalence, survival rates were similar between groups (31% vs 28%; P = .34). Major bleeding events were rare (one patient per group).ConclusionsIdentifying TVT should prompt a search for a regional malignancy. Despite the high cancer prevalence and low utilization of anticoagulants, recurrent venous thrombosis and mortality rates are similar to DVT patients.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening for all persons aged 13 to 64 years who present to a health care provider. We sought to improve adherence to the CDC guidelines on the Internal Medicine Resident Hospital Service. We surveyed residents about the CDC guidelines, sent email reminders, provided education, and engaged them in friendly competition. Credit for guideline adherence was awarded if an offer of HIV screening was documented at admission, if a screening test was performed, or if a notation in the resident sign out sheet indicated why screening was not performed. We examined HIV screening of a postintervention group of patients admitted between August 8, 2012, and June 30, 2013, and compared them to a preintervention group admitted between August 1, 2011, and June 30, 2012. Postintervention offers of HIV screening increased significantly (7.9% [44/559] vs 55.5% [300/541]; P<.001), as did documentation of residents' contemplation of screening (8.9% [50/559] vs 67.5% [365/541]; P<.001). A significantly higher proportion of HIV screening tests was ordered postintervention (7.7% [43/559] vs 44.4% [240/541]; P<.001). Monthly HIV screening documentation ranged from 0% (0/53) to 17% (9/53) preintervention, whereas it ranged from 30.6% (11/36) to 100% (62/62) postintervention. HIV screening adherence can be improved through resident education, friendly competition, and system reminders. Barriers to achieving sustained adherence to the CDC guidelines include a heterogeneous patient population and provider discomfort with the subject.