Biomedical subjects

Lisa Sullivan

Publications and source records attributed to Lisa Sullivan.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

How do treatment repeaters use the drug treatment system? An analysis of injection drug users in Massachusetts.

This study explored common drug treatment utilization patterns in the first four types of treatments entered by injection drug users (IDUs) with multiple admissions. A Massachusetts longitudinal database with all entries to all licensed drug treatment programs was used. Treatment repeaters' admission patterns varied considerably. For the years 1997-2001, there were 2,500-3,000 IDUs new to the system each year who became treatment repeaters and who had more than 250 utilization patterns. Only approximately half of these repeaters followed the 10 most common utilization patterns. The most common pattern (for 30% of the population each year) was only entering detoxification two to four times; the only other common pattern (involving 4-8% of the population) was having entered methadone maintenance twice or having entered detoxification then methadone maintenance. Studies are needed to identify the extent to which the absence of a systematic pattern is caused by client, payment, or treatment setting and systems issues. A key implication is the need to develop policies that provide support for states to develop continuum-of-care models for their drug treatment systems.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Psychosocial correlates of pregnant women's attitudes toward prenatal maternal serum screening and invasive diagnostic testing: beyond traditional risk status.

This study examined whether psychosocial variables predict pregnant women's attitudes toward maternal serum screening and invasive diagnostic testing, beyond the influence of traditional obstetric risk status (based on advanced maternal age, history of genetic disorders, etc.). In a sample of 612 pregnant women (66.5% high risk, 33.5% low risk) we assessed responses to hypothetical scenarios of invasive testing following normal or abnormal maternal serum screening. We also assessed psychosocial variables stemming from the theory of planned behavior (e.g., knowledge, concern for fetus, attitudes toward termination, health locus of control). Overall, two thirds of the women would want serum screening. Follow-up invasive diagnostic testing would be sought by 37.2% of the women after a negative screening, and by 75.0% after a positive screening. As expected, traditional risk status predicted desire for screening and also invasive testing following either a negative or positive screen. Yet, controlling for risk status, many psychosocial variables predicted a women's interest in screening and in invasive testing: more knowledge about prenatal testing, concern about fetal health, willingness to terminate a pregnancy, and an internal or medical profession health locus of control. We conclude that psychosocial variables influence women's desire for screening or invasive testing beyond traditional risk status.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Pregnancy loss rates after midtrimester amniocentesis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to quantify the contemporary procedure-related loss rate after midtrimester amniocentesis using a database generated from patients who were recruited to the First And Second Trimester Evaluation of Risk for Aneuploidy trial. METHODS: A total of 35,003 unselected patients from the general population with viable singleton pregnancies were enrolled in the First And Second Trimester Evaluation of Risk for Aneuploidy trial between 10 3/7 and 13 6/7 weeks gestation and followed up prospectively for complete pregnancy outcome information. Patients who either did (study group, n=3,096) or did not (control group, n=31,907) undergo midtrimester amniocentesis were identified from the database. The rate of fetal loss less than 24 weeks of gestation was compared between the two groups, and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS: The spontaneous fetal loss rate less than 24 weeks of gestation in the study group was 1.0% and was not statistically different from the background 0.94% rate seen in the control group (P=.74, 95% confidence interval -0.26%, 0.49%). The procedure-related loss rate after amniocentesis was 0.06% (1.0% minus the background rate of 0.94%). Women undergoing amniocentesis were 1.1 times more likely to have a spontaneous loss (95% confidence interval 0.7-1.5). CONCLUSION: The procedure-related fetal loss rate after midtrimester amniocentesis performed on patients in a contemporary prospective clinical trial was 0.06%. There was no significant difference in loss rates between those undergoing amniocentesis and those not undergoing amniocentesis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

PubMed2005

Metabolic syndrome as a precursor of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has not been well defined in persons with the metabolic syndrome (at least 3 of the following: abdominal adiposity, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, hypertension, and impaired fasting glucose). The objective was to investigate risk for CVD, CHD, and T2DM according to metabolic syndrome traits. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study followed a cohort of 3323 middle-aged adults for the development of new CVD, CHD, and T2DM over an 8-year period. In persons without CVD or T2DM at baseline, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (> or =3 of 5 traits) was 26.8% in men and 16.6% in women. There were 174 incident cases of CVD, 107 of CHD, and 178 of T2DM. In men, the metabolic syndrome age-adjusted relative risk (RR) and 95% CIs were RR=2.88 (95% CI 1.99 to 4.16) for CVD, RR=2.54 (95% CI 1.62 to 3.98) for CHD, and RR=6.92 (95% CI 4.47 to 10.81) for T2DM. Event rates and RRs were lower in women for CVD (RR=2.25, 95% CI 1.31 to 3.88) and CHD (RR=1.54, 95% CI 0.68 to 3.53), but they were similar for T2DM (RR=6.90, 95% CI 4.34 to 10.94). Population-attributable risk estimates associated with metabolic syndrome for CVD, CHD, and T2DM were 34%, 29%, and 62% in men and 16%, 8%, 47% in women. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic syndrome is common and is associated with an increased risk for CVD and T2DM in both sexes. The metabolic syndrome accounts for up to one third of CVD in men and approximately half of new T2DM over 8 years of follow-up.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia: baseline results from the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) schizophrenia trial and comparison with national estimates from NHANES III.

UNLABELLED: One important risk factor for cardiovascular disease is the metabolic syndrome (MS), yet limited data exist on its prevalence in US patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Using baseline data from the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) Schizophrenia Trial, assessment of MS prevalence was performed based on National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria, and also using a fasting glucose threshold of 100 mg/dl (AHA). Subjects with sufficient anthropometric data, data on use of antihypertensives, hypoglycemic medications or insulin, and fasting glucose and lipid values >8 h from last meal were included in the analysis. Comparative analyses were performed using a randomly selected sample from NHANES III matched 1:1 on the basis of age, gender and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Of 1460 CATIE baseline subjects, 689 met analysis criteria. MS prevalence was 40.9% and 42.7%, respectively using the NCEP and AHA derived criteria. In females it was 51.6% and 54.2% using the NCEP and AHA criteria, compared to 36.0% (p = .0002) and 36.6% (p = .0003), respectively for males. 73.4% of all females (including nonfasting subjects) met the waist circumference criterion compared to 36.6% of males. In a logistic regression model with age, race and ethnicity as covariates, CATIE males were 138% more likely to have MS than the NHANES matched sample, and CATIE females 251% more likely than their NHANES counterparts. Even when controlling for differences in body mass index, CATIE males were still 85% more likely to have MS than the NHANES male sample, and CATIE females 137% more likely to have MS than females in NHANES. CONCLUSIONS: The metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent in US schizophrenia patients and represents an enormous source of cardiovascular risk, especially for women. Clinical attention must be given to monitoring for this syndrome, and minimizing metabolic risks associated with antipsychotic treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Quad screen as a predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of second-trimester levels of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), unconjugated estriol (uE3), and inhibin A (the quad screen) on obstetric complications by using a large, prospectively collected database (the FASTER database). METHODS: The FASTER trial was a multicenter study that evaluated first- and second-trimester screening programs for aneuploidy in women with singleton pregnancies. As part of this trial, patients had a quad screen drawn at 15-18 6/7 weeks. We analyzed the data to identify associations between the quad screen markers and preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia, and fetal loss. Our analysis was performed by evaluating the performance characteristics of quad screen markers individually and in combination. Crude and adjusted effects were estimated by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Patients with fetal anomalies were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: We analyzed data from 33,145 pregnancies. We identified numerous associations between the markers and the adverse outcomes. There was a relatively low, but often significant, risk of having an adverse pregnancy complication if a patient had a single abnormal marker. However, the risk of having an adverse outcome increased significantly if a patient had 2 or more abnormal markers. The sensitivity and positive predictive values using combinations of markers is relatively low, although superior to using individual markers. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that components of the quad screen may prove useful in predicting adverse obstetric outcomes. We also showed that the total number and specific combinations of abnormal markers are most useful in predicting the risk of adverse perinatal outcome.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

A randomized controlled trial to enhance antiretroviral therapy adherence in patients with a history of alcohol problems.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of an individualized multicomponent intervention to promote adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a cohort of HIV-infected individuals with a history of alcohol problems. DESIGN: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare the usual medical follow-up with an adherence intervention. SETTING: The principal enrolment site was Boston Medical Center, a private, not-for-profit, academic medical institution. SUBJECTS: HIV-infected patients with a history of alcohol problems on ART. A total of 151 were enrolled and 141 (93%) were assessed at follow-up. INTERVENTION: A nurse, trained in motivational interviewing, completed the following over 3 months in four encounters: addressed alcohol problems; provided a watch with a programmable timer to facilitate pill taking; enhanced perception of treatment efficacy; and delivered individually tailored assistance to facilitate medication use. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prior 30-day adherence > or =95%, prior 3-day adherence of 100%, CD4 cell count, HIV RNA and alcohol consumption, each at both short- and long-term follow-up. RESULTS: At follow-up, no significant differences in medication adherence, CD4 cell count, HIV RNA or alcohol consumption were found (all P values >0.25). CONCLUSIONS: A multicomponent intervention to enhance adherence among HIV-infected individuals with a history of alcohol problems was not associated with changes in medication adherence, alcohol consumption or markers of HIV disease progression. The failure to change adherence in a group at high risk for poor adherence, despite utilizing an intensive individual-focused patient intervention, supports the idea of addressing medication adherence with supervised medication delivery or markedly simplified dosing regimens.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Relations of serum uric acid to longitudinal blood pressure tracking and hypertension incidence.

Serum uric acid (UA) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension. We investigated the relationship of serum UA to hypertension incidence and blood pressure (BP) progression in 3329 Framingham Study participants (mean age 48.7 years; 55.6% women) free of hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart failure, renal failure, or gout. At follow-up 4 years from baseline, 458 persons (13.8%) had developed hypertension, and 1201 persons (36.1%) had experienced progression to a higher BP stage. Age- and sex-adjusted rates of hypertension incidence increased progressively from 9.8% for the lowest quartile to 15.6% for the top quartile of serum UA; BP progression rates increased from 32.8% (lowest quartile) to 39.6% (top quartile). In multivariable analyses adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, smoking, alcohol intake, serum creatinine, proteinuria, glomerular filtration rate, baseline BP, and interim weight change, a 1 SD higher serum UA was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 1.33) for developing hypertension, and an OR of 1.11 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.23) for BP progression. In analyses of a subsample of 3157 individuals not on antihypertensive treatment at the follow-up examination, serum UA was positively associated with changes in systolic (P=0.02) and diastolic pressure 4 years later (P=0.04). In summary, serum UA level was an independent predictor of hypertension incidence and longitudinal BP progression at short-term follow-up in our community-based sample.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Concept and usefulness of cardiovascular risk profiles.

Despite major advances in the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the past century, it remains a serious clinical and public health problem. Multivariable risk factor analysis is now commonly performed to identify high-risk candidates for CVD who need preventive measures and to seek out clues to the pathogenesis of the disease. The set of risk factors used for the former is constrained by practical considerations, and the set of risk factors used for the latter is constrained by the hypothesis being tested. This report reviews the evolution and usefulness of multivariable risk functions crafted for estimating risk of clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis and for gaining insights into their pathogenesis. Decades of evaluation of CVD risk factors by the Framingham Study led to the conclusion that CVD risk evaluation is most fruitfully appraised from the multivariable risk posed by a set of established risk factors. Such assessment is essential because risk factors seldom occur in isolation, and the risk associated with each varies widely depending on the burden of associated risk factors. About half the CVD in the general population arises from the segment with multiple marginal risk factor abnormalities. Although disease-specific profiles are available, a multivariable risk formulation for coronary disease comprised of age, sex, the total/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, systolic blood pressure, glucose intolerance, cigarette smoking, and electrocardiography-left ventricular hypertrophy is also predictive of peripheral artery disease, heart failure, and stroke because of shared risk factors. Correcting risk factors for any particular CVD has the potential to protect against > or =1 of the others. Multivariable risk stratification is now recognized as essential in efficiently identifying likely candidates for CVD and quantifying the hazard.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Labor induction in women with an unfavorable Bishop score: randomized controlled trial of intrauterine Foley catheter with concurrent oxytocin infusion versus Foley catheter with extra-amniotic saline infusion with concurrent oxytocin infusion.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to determine whether the addition of extra-amniotic saline infusion improves the efficacy of the Foley catheter in women undergoing cervical ripening and induction of labor with an unfavorable cervical examination. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred consenting women with a Bishop score less than 5 with singleton gestation, intact membranes, vertex presentation, who required induction of labor were randomly assigned to 2 groups: Foley alone (Foley, n=49) or to the Foley catheter with extra-amniotic saline infusion (EASI, 30 mL of NS per hour infused through the distal port of the Foley, n=51). All women received concurrent dilute oxytocin infusion per protocol. The primary analysis was intent to treat. Nonparametric tests were used as indicated. RESULTS: At randomization, the groups were well balanced for potential confounders including: parity, gestational age, prior cesarean delivery, preeclampsia, mean dilation, effacement, and Bishop score. There were no differences between the groups for time to delivery (Foley 17.7 +/- 10.5 hours vs EASI 17.4 +/- 11.7 hours, P=.9), the proportion of women delivered before 24 hours (Foley 41/49 [84%] vs EASI 39/51 [77%], P=.37) or cesarean rates (Foley 9/49 [17.7%] vs EASI 9/51 [18.4%], P=.92). There were also no differences in complications, including chorioamnionitis, endometritis, and neonatal morbidity. CONCLUSION: EASI does not increase the efficacy of cervical ripening and induction of labor with a Foley catheter and concurrent oxytocin infusion.

Administration, Intravaginal↗

PubMed2004

Relations of plasma homocysteine to left ventricular structure and function: the Framingham Heart Study.

AIMS: Hyperhomocysteinaemia is a risk factor for congestive heart failure, especially in women. We investigated if homocysteine promotes left ventricular (LV) remodelling. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined cross-sectional relations of plasma total homocysteine to echocardiographic LV structure and function in 2697 Framingham Heart Study participants (mean age 58 years, 58% women) free of heart failure and previous myocardial infarction. Adjusting for age and height, plasma homocysteine was positively related to LV mass, wall thickness, and relative wall thickness in women (p=0.0004-0.04), but not in men (p=0.28-0.68). Adjusting additionally for other clinical covariates, the relations of plasma homocysteine to LV mass and wall thickness in women remained statistically significant, but the relation to relative wall thickness became of borderline significance (1.92 g, 0.01 cm, and 0.29% increase, respectively, for a 1-SD increase in ln[homocysteine], p=0.01-0.08). LV mass and wall thickness were higher in the fourth quartile of plasma homocysteine compared to the lower three in all models in women (p=0.0003-0.02), but not in men (p=0.25-0.78). Plasma homocysteine was not related to left atrial size or LV fractional shortening in either sex. CONCLUSION: In our community-based sample, plasma homocysteine was directly related to LV mass and wall thickness in women but not in men.

Cardiac Volume↗

PubMed2004

Single versus weekly courses of antenatal corticosteroids in preterm premature rupture of membranes.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of weekly courses of antenatal corticosteroids compared with a single course in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM). METHODS: A planned secondary analysis of women with preterm PROM who participated in a multicenter, randomized trial of weekly courses of antenatal corticosteroids versus single-course therapy was performed. After their first course of standard antenatal steroid therapy, administered between 24 to 32-6/7 weeks of gestation, consenting women were randomly assigned to receive betamethasone versus placebo injections weekly until 34-0/7 weeks of gestation. Maternal and neonatal morbidities were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Of the 161 women with preterm PROM, 81 women were assigned to receive weekly courses of steroids and 80 to the single-course group. There were no significant differences in composite morbidity between the groups (27 [34.2%] of 81 patients versus 33 [41.8%] of 80 patients, P =.41). Chorioamnionitis was higher in patients who received weekly courses of antenatal steroids (39 [49.4%] of 81 patients versus 25 [31.7%] of 80 patients, P =.04). CONCLUSION: Weekly courses of antenatal steroids in women with preterm PROM did not improve neonatal outcomes beyond that achieved with single-course therapy and was associated with an increased risk of chorioamnionitis. Antenatal steroid therapy should not be routinely repeated in patients with preterm PROM. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The significant effect of diabetes duration on coronary heart disease mortality: the Framingham Heart Study.

OBJECTIVE: The risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in type 2 diabetes is two- to threefold higher than in the general population, but the effect of diabetes duration on CHD risk has not been well characterized. We hypothesized that duration of diabetes is an important predictor of incident CHD among people with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The duration of diabetes (fasting glucose > or =126 mg/dl, random glucose > or =200 mg/dl, or use of an oral hypoglycemic agent or insulin) was assessed in participants with diabetes in the original and offspring cohorts of the Framingham Heart Study. Only subjects with diabetes diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 74 years, without a history of ketoacidosis, and free of cardiovascular disease at the baseline evaluation were included. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratio of incident CHD events and mortality over a 12-year follow-up period; models were adjusted for known CHD risk factors. RESULTS: Among 588 person-exams with diabetes (mean age 58 +/- 9 years, 56% men), there were 86 CHD events, including 36 deaths. After adjustment for age, sex, and CHD risk factors, the risk of CHD was 1.38 times higher for each 10-year increase in duration of diabetes (95% CI 0.99-1.92), and the risk for CHD death was 1.86 times higher (1.17-2.93) for the same increase in duration of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Duration of diabetes increases the risk of CHD death independent of coexisting risk factors. Further research is necessary to understand the pathophysiology of this increased risk.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Plasma homocysteine, hypertension incidence, and blood pressure tracking: the Framingham Heart Study.

Plasma homocysteine is cross-sectionally associated with blood pressure in large, community-based studies. It is unknown whether elevated plasma homocysteine predicts hypertension incidence. We investigated the relations of baseline plasma total homocysteine levels to hypertension incidence and blood pressure tracking in 2104 Framingham Heart Study participants (mean age, 57 years; 58% women), who were free of hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, or renal failure at baseline. Baseline mean+/-SD plasma homocysteine was 10.1+/-3.7 micromol/L. On follow-up 4 years from baseline, 360 persons (17.1%) had developed hypertension, and 878 persons (41.7%) had progressed to a higher blood pressure stage. In unadjusted analyses, a 1-SD higher log homocysteine value was associated with increased odds of developing hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05 to 1.32) and increased odds of blood pressure progression (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.27). The relations of plasma homocysteine to the incidence of hypertension or blood pressure progression were statistically nonsignificant in age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression models (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.11 and OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.16, respectively) and in multivariable models adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, interim weight change, smoking, serum creatinine, baseline blood pressure, and blood pressure category (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.81 to 1.06 and OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.97 to 1.18, respectively). In conclusion, we found no major relation of baseline plasma homocysteine levels to hypertension incidence or longitudinal blood pressure progression in a large, community-based cohort of nonhypertensive individuals after adjustment for age, sex, and other important covariates.

Blood Pressure↗

PubMed2003

[Coronary risk estimation in Spain using a calibrated Framingham function].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The Framingham coronary heart disease (CHD) functions overestimate the risk of CHD in countries with a low incidence. Consequently, these functions should be calibrated for the purpose of primary prevention. Calibrated Framingham function charts of overall CHD risk for the Spanish population are presented. Patients and methods. The Framingham functions were calibrated by substituting the prevalence of CHD risk factors and incidence found in Framingham with the same values for Spain. The Framingham function that included high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was used. The 10-year probability of developing a CHD event was estimated for several combinations of risk factors and HDL levels ranging from 35 to 59 mg/dl. Color-coded charts were prepared that show the exact probability of CHD corresponding to each combination of risk factors, shown in separate cells on the chart. RESULTS: The event rate and prevalence of CHD risk factors differed considerably between Girona and Framingham. HDL < 35 mg/dL increased risk by approximately 50% and HDL > 60 mg/dL reduced it by 50%. The proportion of cells in which the 10-year probability of developing a CHD event was > 9% was 2.3 times higher and that of cells with a probability > 19% was 13 times lower in the chart calibrated for Spain than in the original Framingham charts. CONCLUSIONS: The calibrated Framingham function may help to more accurately estimate the overall risk of CHD in the Spanish population for primary prevention purposes. The calibrated function should be validated, and the development of functions for the Spanish population should be promoted.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2002

Overweight and obesity as determinants of cardiovascular risk: the Framingham experience.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, no single investigation concerning the long-term effects of overweight status on the risk for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular sequelae has been reported. METHODS: Relations between categories of body mass index (BMI), cardiovascular disease risk factors, and vascular disease end points were examined prospectively in Framingham Heart Study participants aged 35 to 75 years, who were followed up to 44 years. The primary outcome was new cardiovascular disease, which included angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, or stroke. Analyses compared overweight (BMI [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters], 25.0-29.9) and obese persons (BMI > or =30) to a referent group of normal-weight persons (BMI, 18.5-24.9). RESULTS: The age-adjusted relative risk (RR) for new hypertension was highly associated with overweight status (men: RR, 1.46; women: RR, 1.75). New hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus were less highly associated with excess adiposity. The age-adjusted RR (confidence interval [CI]) for cardiovascular disease was increased among those who were overweight (men: 1.21 [1.05-1.40]; women: 1.20 [1.03-1.41]) and the obese (men: 1.46 [1.20-1.77]; women: 1.64 [1.37-1.98]). High population attributable risks were related to excess weight (BMI > or =25) for the outcomes hypertension (26% men; 28% women), angina pectoris (26% men; 22% women), and coronary heart disease (23% men; 15% women). CONCLUSIONS: The overweight category is associated with increased relative and population attributable risk for hypertension and cardiovascular sequelae. Interventions to reduce adiposity and avoid excess weight may have large effects on the development of risk factors and cardiovascular disease at an individual and population level.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

New norms for a new generation: cognitive performance in the framingham offspring cohort.

A previous publication presented normative data on neuropsychological tests stratified by age, gender, and education based on the Original Cohort of the Framingham Heart Study. Many contemporary investigations include subject samples with higher levels of education, a factor known to affect cognitive performance. Secular change in education prompted the reexamination of norms in the children of the Original Cohort. The study population consisted of 853 men and 988 women from the Offspring Study, free of clinical neurological disease, who underwent a neuropsychological examination, which included tests given to their parents in 1974 to 1976 as well as additional newer tests to provide a more comprehensive battery. The Offspring population overall was more evenly distributed by gender and better educated. Their performance on cognitive tests was superior to that of the Original Cohort. Multivariable analyses revealed that more years of education explained only a part of the cohort differences. These findings suggest that continued surveillance of each generation is necessary to document the impact that unique social and economic variables have on cognitive function. Here, the authors provide updated normative data.

Adult Children↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Using evidence-based practice to develop a protocol for postoperative surgical intensive care unit patients.

Sixty adult postoperative patients from the surgical intensive care unit with core temperatures <35.4 degrees C, as measured by a pulmonary artery catheter, were randomly assigned to one of three treatment options for hypothermia. Results of this study confirmed findings in the literature that forced warm air generated quickest rewarming times. A rewarming protocol for hypothermic patients was developed and implemented. Performance improvement activity demonstrated high compliance rates with nurses using the rewarming protocol.

Aged↗