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Biomedical subjects

Erik Folch

Publications and source records attributed to Erik Folch.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Comorbidity and mortality in COPD-related hospitalizations in the United States, 1979 to 2001.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: COPD is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the United States, yet little is known about the prevalence of comorbid conditions and mortality in hospitalized patients with COPD. DESIGN: From the National Hospital Discharge Survey, 1979 to 2001, we evaluated whether or not COPD in adults > or = 25 years old is associated with increased prevalence and in-hospital mortality of several comorbidities. RESULTS: During 1979 to 2001, there were an estimated total of 47,404,700 hospital discharges (8.5% of all hospitalizations in adults > 25 years old) of patients with COPD; 37,540,374 discharges (79.2%) were made with COPD as a secondary diagnosis, and 9,864,278 discharges (20.8%) were made with COPD as the primary diagnosis. The prevalence and in-hospital mortality for pneumonia, congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, thoracic malignancies, and respiratory failure were larger in hospital discharges with any mention of COPD. CONCLUSIONS: In a nationally representative sample of hospitalizations, any mention of COPD in the discharge diagnosis is associated with higher hospitalization prevalence and in-hospital mortality from other comorbidities. These results highlight the fact that the burden of disease associated with COPD is likely underestimated.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Infectious diseases, non-zero-sum thinking, and the developing world.

Despite some improvements in the health status of the world during the last few decades, major obstacles remain. Improvements in health outcomes have not been shared equally among countries and poverty is clearly the main reason. Infectious diseases, which remain the major cause of death worldwide, are an incalculable source of human misery and economic loss. In fact, 25% of all deaths and 30% of the global burden of disease are attributed to infectious diseases. Unfortunately, more than 95% of these deaths, most of which are preventable, occur in the developing world, where poverty is widespread. The 3 major infectious disease killers in these countries are HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. The principles of social justice and health as a human right in the developing world have been advocated as the main justification for health assistance from rich to poor countries. Although we do not disagree with this, we argue that a strategy that emphasizes the shared benefit to rich and poor countries would facilitate this process. We propose that the accomplishment of these challenging tasks should be viewed from the perspective of game theory, where the interests of the parties (in this case rich and poor countries) overlap. As the world becomes increasingly integrated, economic development in resource-poor countries will increase the opportunities for richer countries to profit from investment in the developing world. Global health has political and international security implications for the developed world, as well. In view of the current health status of the developing world, we are not playing a game but facing a matter of life and death. "When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot become manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied" --Herophilus, 325 BCE (Physician to Alexander the Great). The purpose of this article is to address the relationship between health, poverty, and development in the context of game theory. We will focus on the link between economic inequalities and health outcomes, exclusively concentrating our analysis on the impact of infectious diseases. Subsequently, we will outline the game, the players, and the potential win-win outcomes that may potentially result.

Communicable Diseases↗
PubMed2002

Diagnosis of diffuse CD8+ lymphocytosis syndrome in HIV-infected patients.

The diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome (DILS) in HIV-infected persons is characterized by a persistent circulating CD8+ lymphocytosis. Certain HIV-infected persons appear to respond to their infection by developing an oligoclonal expansion of CD8+ lymphocytes. These cells infiltrate multiple organs, but the salivary glands and the lung constitute the major sites involved in this process. This infiltrative process resembles in many aspects a Sjögren-like syndrome, owing to the visceral lymphocytic infiltration. Unilateral parotid gland enlargement in a patient with HIV infection should prompt clinicians to suspect DILS. In addition, clinicians should be aware that the pulmonary process associated with DILS may mimic clinically and radiographically the pneumonic process caused by Pneumocystis carinii. Other manifestations of DILS to consider include a severe form of peripheral neuropathy; lymphocytic infiltration of the liver, evident as hepatitis; myositis; and lymphocytic interstitial nephritis.

CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗