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Biomedical subjects

J T van Eijk

Publications and source records attributed to J T van Eijk.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

'Numbness of the feet' is a poor indicator for polyneuropathy in Type 2 diabetic patients.

AIMS: To identify neuropathic sensory symptoms associated with a clinical neurological examination (CNE) and to investigate whether these symptoms could be used as a diagnostic or screening tool for diabetic polyneuropathy in general practice. METHODS: Five hundred and eighty-eight patients with Type 2 diabetes, recruited from 26 general practices in the Netherlands, underwent a CNE and completed a diabetes symptom checklist that included 10 items on neuropathic sensory symptoms. Linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between neuropathic symptoms and CNE. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were created to assess the diagnostic properties of neuropathic symptoms. RESULTS: In this population, with a mean age of 66.8 years, 32% were identified with diabetic polyneuropathy according to the CNE. Variables that showed the strongest association with CNE score were age (beta = 0.41), symptoms of sensory alteration (beta = 0.27), and the item 'numbness of the feet' (beta = 0.35) in particular. ROC curves showed that prediction of diabetic polyneuropathy from these symptoms was unsatisfying. The sensitivity and specificity of daily symptoms of 'numbness of the feet' were 28% and 93%, respectively, in patients <68 years, and 22% and 92%, respectively, in patients > or =68 years. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of neuropathic sensory symptoms is not useful as a diagnostic or even a screening tool in the assessment of diabetic neuropathy in daily practice. Therefore, the results reported in this paper mandate an annual foot examination by the general practitioner.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

The Dutch pressure sore assessment score or the Norton scale for identifying at-risk nursing home patients?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of a Dutch pressure sore risk assessment scale--the Centraal Begeleidingsorgaan voor de Intercollegiale Toetsing (CBO; National Organization for Quality Assurance in Hospitals) score--in the detection of patients at risk of developing pressure sores after admission to a nursing home. As the Norton score is the standard method of risk assessment, we also investigated which score (Norton or CBO) has the stronger relationship to the development of pressure sores. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort design. PATIENTS: 220 nursing home patients, 80 men, 140 women, mean age 79 years (standard deviation 3). MEASURES: Admission assessments for the presence of pressure sores, CBO and Norton scores, preventive measures and demographic characteristics. We made observations every week for 4 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Presence or absence of pressure sores. MAIN RESULTS: 54 patients (25%) developed a pressure sore. A significant, nonlinear relationship was found between the CBO score on admission and the development of pressure ulcers for the first 2 weeks after admission. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only mobility (odds ratio = 3.6, P = 0.0001) and mental state (odds ratio = 2.0, P = 0.03) showed a significant relationship with the development of pressure ulcers. The CBO score was no better in risk assessment than the Norton score. CONCLUSIONS: The CBO score can be used for assessment of the risk of developing pressure ulcers in the first 2 weeks after admission to a nursing home, but is no better than the Norton score. Since the Norton score is easier to use, it is slightly preferable for use in this setting. However, neither score is a good indicator of patients at risk. Physicians should not depend solely on risk scores when prescribing preventive measures.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Infantile colic: crying time reduction with a whey hydrolysate: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of whey hydrolysate formula in the treatment of infantile colic in a primary care setting in the Netherlands. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, parallel trial with a 1-week qualification period and a 1-week intervention period. Participants. Forty-three healthy, thriving, formula-fed infants, <6 months old, crying >3 hours per day on at least 3 days per week. Infants were randomized to whey hydrolysate formula (n = 23) or standard formula (n = 20). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Difference in duration of crying (minutes per day) between qualification week and intervention week. RESULTS: Analysis according to the intention to treat principle showed a difference in the decrease of crying duration of 63 minutes per day [95% confidence interval: 1-127 minutes per day] in favor of the whey hydrolysate formula. Five infants did not complete the trial. The scope of the study was not sufficient to expect significant differences in the subgroup analyses. CONCLUSIONS: An extensively hydrolyzed whey formula is effective in reducing the duration of crying in a primary care setting.

Colic↗
PubMed2000

Reproducibility, construct validity, and responsiveness of the "How Are You?" (HAY), a self-report quality of life questionnaire for children with asthma.

This study assesses the reproducibility, construct validity, and responsiveness of a new self-report quality of life questionnaire, the "How Are You?" (HAY), for 8-12-year-old children with asthma, which contains both a generic and a disease-specific part. Two hundred twenty-eight children with asthma completed the HAY and the Child Attitude Toward Illness Scale (CATIS), while their parents monitored the actual asthma status; 80 children were measured three times in order to assess reproducibility and responsiveness; 296 healthy children completed the generic section of the HAY. Significant differences were found between children with asthma and healthy children, and among asthmatic children differing in actual asthma status. Reproducibility was adequate and supportive evidence was found for construct validity. Responsiveness was demonstrated by significant score changes for most dimensions in clinically changed children. The HAY seems useful for both discriminative and evaluative research in children with asthma.

Asthma↗
PubMed1999

Reproducibility and biomarker-based validity and responsiveness of a food frequency questionnaire to estimate protein intake.

This study, conducted in the Netherlands in 1994-1996, assessed the reproducibility, validity, and responsiveness of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) used with older subjects with type 2 diabetes. During a period of 6 months, 93 subjects had a stable protein intake according to their urinary urea excretion (UUE). An FFQ was completed before and after this period. Reproducibility was evaluated on the basis of the correlation (0.80) between duplicate FFQ estimates of protein intake. At the group level, the smallest detectable difference was 3 g. For 354 subjects, average protein intake according to the FFQ was similar to that from UUE estimates. Validity was evaluated on the basis of the crude and deattenuated correlations, which were 0.31 and 0.39, respectively. The crude correlation was highest for former smokers (r = 0.39) and for patients with a higher body mass index (r = 0.37), and it was very low for current smokers (r = 0.14, p > 0.20). The correlation did not vary with age or gender. Responsiveness was judged on the crude correlation between changes in intake according to the FFQ and UUE; the correlation was 0.22 (n = 134). The responsiveness ratio was 0.73. The authors concluded that FFQ estimates are well reproducible. At the group level, protein intake was estimated correctly, whereas individual protein intake and changes in intake were reflected to a moderate extent only.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[The practice of systematic reviews. III. Evaluation of methodological quality of research studies].

The methodological quality of the primary studies included in a systematic review may influence its results and final conclusions. Methodological quality may be defined in various ways. Partially because of this there are many different assessment lists. The most important dimension of quality is internal validity, defined as the confidence that the design, performance and report of a trial prevent or reduce systematic errors (bias) in the outcomes. For only a limited number of internal validity items a relationship with bias has been proven in empirical studies: concealment of randomisation and blinding of patients and outcome assessors. Preferably, quality should be assessed by at least 2 assessors independently. There is no consensus whether assessment should be done blinded for authors, journal, results and conclusions. Internal validity can be incorporated into statistical pooling in various ways: as a selection criterion, to be used as weight or to hierarchically order studies in a presentation. Well-designed comparative studies are needed to provide clearer guidelines for methodological assessment in the future.

Bias↗
PubMed1999

[Systematic home screening for Chlamydia trachomatis infections of asymptomatic men and women in family practice by means of mail-in urine samples].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and determinants of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections among asymptomatic men and women in general practice. To determine participation rates in a systematic screening programme in general practice, using home obtained mailed urine samples. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: In 15 general practices in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, a sample of 11,005 persons (5541 women and 5464 men), aged 15-40 were invited to send in a urine sample and a completed questionnaire by mail. The urine samples were tested using the ligase chain reaction for DNA amplification. Patients diagnosed with CT were treated and partner notification was performed. RESULTS: 33% of invited males (1809/5464) and 50% of females (2751/5541) sent in the study material. Older patients participated more frequently than younger patients. Participation rates among persons with a Dutch background were higher than rates among persons from other ethnic groups. In 42 men and 79 women a CT infection was identified (2.3% and 2.9% respectively). Infections were more prevalent in patients from Surinam and the Dutch Antilles and in the age category 21-25 years. Type of health insurance as a proxy measure of socioeconomic status was not an indicator of infection. CONCLUSION: The participation in this systematic screening using mail-sent urine samples was 33% in men and 50% in women. The CT prevalences among asymptomatic men and women were 2.3% and 2.9% respectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Minor and major depression and the risk of death in older persons.

BACKGROUND: The association between depression and mortality in older community-dwelling populations is still unresolved. This study determined the effect of both minor and major depression on mortality and examined the role of confounding and explanatory variables on this relationship. METHODS: A cohort of 3056 men and women from the Netherlands aged 55 to 85 years were followed up for 4 years. Major depression was defined according to DSM-III criteria by means of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Minor depression was defined as clinically relevant depression (defined by a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression score > or = 16) not fulfilling diagnostic criteria for major depression. RESULTS: After adjustment for confounding variables (sociodemographics, health status), men with minor depression had a 1.80-fold higher risk of death (95% confidence interval, 1.35-2.39) during follow-up than nondepressed men. In women, minor depression did not significantly increase the mortality risk. Irrespective of sex, major depression was associated with a 1.83-fold higher mortality risk (95% confidence interval, 1.09-3.10) after adjustment for sociodemographics and health status. Health behaviors such as smoking and physical inactivity explained only a small part of the excess mortality risk associated with depression. CONCLUSION: Even after adjustment for sociodemographics, health status, and health behaviors, minor depression in older men and major depression in both older men and women increase the risk of dying.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

The Nottingham Health Profile: score distribution, internal consistency and validity in asthma and COPD patients.

This cross-sectional study among patients with asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in general practice examined the psychometric properties of the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). From 380 asthma patients and 170 COPD patients, data were obtained on the NHP, subjective measurements (i.e. sleep disturbances, problems in performing household activities, dyspnoea) and more objective measurements (peak expiratory flow rate, consultation rate, comorbidity). These data were used to compute score distributions, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha-coefficient) and construct validity. Score distributions were very skewed, with more than 50% of the patients achieving the best score. The internal consistency was moderate in the asthma group (mean alpha = 0.68) and acceptable in the COPD group (mean alpha = 0.74). Acceptable construct validity was found in both groups. Correlations between the NHP and the subjective measurements were, in general, statistically significant and higher than between the NHP and the more objective measurements. In conclusion, acceptable internal consistency and construct validity implies that the NHP can be used in cross-sectional studies concerning asthma and COPD patients in general practice, and in studies comparing these patients with other patient populations. Further research on the responsiveness of the NHP is needed to justify its use in longitudinal studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Metabolic control and morbidity of type 2 diabetic patients in a general practice network.

METHODS: Glycaemic control and the prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, and micro- and macrovascular morbidity was examined in 637 Type 2 diabetic patients in general practice, of whom 405 consented to undergo a more extensive examination. RESULTS: In these 405 patients, HbA1c was > or = 7% in 56.6%, and hypertension and dyslipidaemia were found in 59.8% and 46.5% of the patients, respectively. The level of cardiovascular risk factors was acceptable, according to the European guidelines, in the following proportions of patients: BMI 45.0%; total cholesterol 69.1%; HDL-cholesterol 68.1%; triglycerides 67.8%; current blood pressure 89.8%; and smoking 21.0%. Retinopathy was present in 12.5% and microalbuminuria in 27.0% of the patients. In all 637 patients, the prevalence of angina pectoris was 17.7%, of myocardial infarction 11.4% and of congestive heart failure 10.7%. CONCLUSION: The care for Type 2 diabetic patients needs improvement and should focus on cardiovascular risk factors as much as on glycaemic control.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

The effect of protein restriction on albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: A randomized trial was conducted to assess whether protein restriction helps to delay the onset of renal disorders in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: Included in the trial were 121 type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria or at least detectable albuminuria, or diabetes of duration > or =5 years. The experimental (39 male/19 female) and control group (35 male/28 female) received counselling on protein restriction and the usual dietary advice, respectively. The outcome measure was albuminuria (mg/24 h). Results. After 6 months in experimental and control groups the change in protein intake was -0.05+/-0.21 and +0.03+/-0.19 g/kg (P = 0.02), and in albuminuria -14% and +11% (P = 0.01), respectively. After 12 months, the differences between the experimental and the control group with respect to both protein intake and albuminuria had decreased. At 6 and 12 months, respectively, albuminuria was 28% (P<0.001) and 18% (P = 0.08) lower in the experimental than the control group. The effect in normoalbuminuric patients did not differ from that in microalbuminuric patients. In the experimental group, blood pressure, HbA1c and body weight decreased; in the control group, such decreases were less or absent. Dose-response analysis showed that a 0.10 g/kg change at 6 months in the intake of protein, of animal protein in particular, was related to an 11.1% change in albuminuria (P<0.005). Combining the intakes at 6 and 12 months suggested a percentage change of 9.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial protein restriction in primary care, type 2 diabetic patients with no nephropathy is barely feasible. However, even a small reduction has a substantial and potentially beneficial effect on albuminuria.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Mailed, home-obtained urine specimens: a reliable screening approach for detecting asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis infections.

The use of mailed, home-obtained urine specimens could facilitate screening programs for the detection of asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Since transport time could have an adverse effect on the sensitivity of C. trachomatis detection by PCR, the influence of DNA degradation on amplification was monitored over the course of 1 week. Therefore, urine specimens were aliquoted on the day of collection or arrival. Two groups of urine specimens were investigated. Group I contains first-void C. trachomatis-positive and -negative urine samples. DNA degradation was monitored in group I samples for 7 days at room temperature (RT) and at 4 degrees C by amplifying different lengths of the human beta-globin gene and the C. trachomatis plasmid target. DNA degradation was observed only for the larger human beta-globin fragments at days 5 to 7 at RT. In contrast, at 4 degrees C all targets could be amplified. Urine specimens were also frozen and thawed before aliquoting to mimic freezing during transport. This resulted in a lower sensitivity for the detection of C. trachomatis after thawing and 3 to 4 days at RT. In addition, mailed, home-obtained C. trachomatis-positive urine specimens (group II) were analyzed for 7 days after arrival by two commercially available C. trachomatis detection systems (PCR and ligase chain reaction [LCR]). The C. trachomatis plasmid target in mailed, home-obtained urine specimens could be amplified by both PCR and LCR after 1 week of storage and/or transport at RT. In conclusion, our findings indicate that mailed, home-obtained urine specimens are suitable for the sensitive detection of asymptomatic C. trachomatis infections by amplification methods, even if the transport time is up to 1 week at RT. These findings support the feasibility and validity of screening programs based on mailed, home-obtained urine specimens. Larger studies should be initiated to confirm our results.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Social network, social support, and loneliness in older persons with different chronic diseases.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines whether patterns of social network size, functional social support, and loneliness are different for older persons with different types of chronic diseases. METHODS: In a community-based sample of 2,788 men and women age 55 to 85 years participating in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, chronic diseases status, social network size, support exchanges, and loneliness were assessed. RESULTS: Social network size and emotional support exchanges were not associated with disease status. The only differences between healthy and chronically ill people were found for receipt of instrumental support and loneliness. Disease characteristics played a differential role: greater feelings of loneliness were mainly found for persons with lung disease or arthritis, and receiving more instrumental support was mainly found for persons with arthritis or stroke. DISCUSSION: The specifics of a disease appear to play a (small) role in the receipt of instrumental support and feelings of loneliness of chronically ill older persons.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Exploring the effect of depression on physical disability: longitudinal evidence from the established populations for epidemiologic studies of the elderly.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effect of depression on the incidence of physical disability and the role of confounding and explanatory variables in this relationship. METHODS: A cohort of 6247 subjects 65 years and older who were initially free of disability was followed up for 6 years. Baseline depression was assessed by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Disability in mobility and disability in activities of daily living were measured annually. RESULTS: Compared with the 5751 nondepressed subjects, the 496 depressed subjects had a relative risk (95% confidence interval) of 1.67 (1.44, 1.95) and 1.73 (1.54, 1.94) for incident disability in activities of daily living and mobility, respectively. Adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics and baseline chronic conditions reduced the risks to 1.39 (1.18, 1.63) and 1.45 (1.29, 1.93), respectively. Less physical activity and fewer social contacts among depressed persons further explained part of their increased disability risk. CONCLUSIONS: Depression in older persons may increase the risk for incident disability. This excess risk is partly explained by depressed persons' decreased physical activity and social interaction. The role of other factors (e.g., biological mechanisms) should be examined.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1999

How valid is fasting plasma glucose as a parameter of glycemic control in non-insulin-using patients with type 2 diabetes?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of fasting blood glucose as a parameter for glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients not using insulin. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In 1,020 type 2 diabetic patients treated with diet or oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs), measurements of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1c were taken. In 617 patients, the measurement could be repeated after 3 months. Cross-sectional correlation coefficients were calculated for the association between HbA1c and FPG. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC)-curve analyses were applied to examine the performance of FPG as a diagnostic test for HbA1c. Longitudinally, the change in FPG was compared with the change in HbA1c, with both correlation measures and ROC curve analyses. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients between HbA1c and FPG and between FPG change and HbA1c change were 0.77 and 0.65, respectively. ROC curve analysis showed that HbA1c is difficult to predict from FPG values: 66% of the patients with good HbA1c (< 7.0%) were identified as such by FPG values < 7.8 mmol/l. As a test for HbA1c change, FPG change performed moderately: the highest combined values of sensitivity and specificity (87.7 and 57%, respectively) were reached at a cutoff point of zero in the range of FPG change values. CONCLUSIONS: FPG and HbA1c values that do not correspond are not rare in type 2 diabetic patients on diet or OHA treatment. HbA1c is difficult to predict from FPG values, and even more difficult is the prediction of HbA1c changes from FPG changes.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1998

Effectiveness of treatments for infantile colic: systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of diets, drug treatment, and behavioural interventions on infantile colic in trials with crying or the presence of colic as the primary outcome measure. DATA SOURCES: Controlled clinical trials identified by a highly sensitive search strategy in Medline (1966-96), Embase (1986-95), and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, in combination with reference checking for further relevant publications. Keywords were crying and colic. STUDY SELECTION: Two independent assessors selected controlled trials with interventions lasting at least 3 days that included infants younger than 6 months who cried excessively. DATA SYNTHESIS: Methodological quality was assessed by two assessors independently with a quality assessment scale (range 0-5). Effect sizes were calculated as percentage success. Effect sizes of trials using identical interventions were pooled using a random effects model. RESULTS: 27 controlled trials were identified. Elimination of cows' milk protein was effective when substituted by hypoallergenic formula milks (effect size 0.22 (95% confidence interval 0.09 to 0.34)). The effectiveness of substitution by soy formula milks was unclear when only trials of good methodological quality were considered. The benefit of eliminating cows' milk protein was not restricted to highly selected populations. Dicyclomine was effective (effect size 0.46 (0.33 to 0.60)), but serious side effects have been reported. The advice to reduce stimulation was beneficial (effect size 0.48 (0.23 to 0.74)), whereas the advice to increase carrying and holding seemed not to reduce crying. No benefit was shown for simethicone. Uncertainty remained about the effectiveness of low lactose formula milks. CONCLUSIONS: Infantile colic should preferably be treated by advising carers to reduce stimulation and with a one week trial of a hypoallergenic formula milk.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Managing patients with irritable bowel syndrome in general practice. How to promote and reinforce self-care activities.

In this paper the development and implementation of a set of guidelines for the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients in primary care is presented. The guidelines are based on the knowledge that has emerged from research in the past decade on factors that influence the course and prognosis of IBS. These include lifestyle factors, avoidance behaviour and reaction patterns from family and friends. The guidelines contain elements of psychotherapeutic techniques that have been found to be successful in outpatients with IBS. They comprise instructions to promote and reinforce self-care activities. The guidelines have been applied in daily practice by a group of Dutch general practitioners and various aspects of the feasibility of the guidelines are discussed.

Colonic Diseases, Functional↗