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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1984

Acute severe asthma. A prospective study of the precipitating factors in 40 children.

A prospective study was undertaken to determine the factors precipitating acute severe asthma in children attending the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town. A comparison in terms of recent exposure to possible precipitating factors was made between 40 known asthmatics presenting with acute severe asthma and 40 known asthmatics who were clinically well. Exposure to known allergens had occurred in 7 cases. The time of onset of symptoms bore no relationship to meteorological changes in temperature, humidity or average pressure. Drug compliance in both groups was of the order of 50%. The majority of severe asthma attacks were associated with infection of the respiratory tract. The importance of infection as a precipitating factor in a severe asthma attack is discussed with reference to the cholinergic, adrenergic and immunological mechanisms.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Nocturnal angina: precipitating factors in patients with coronary artery disease and those with variant angina.

Factors precipitating nocturnal myocardial ischaemia were investigated in 10 patients with frequent daytime and nocturnal angina pectoris. Eight patients had fixed obstructive coronary artery disease or a low exercise threshold or both before the onset of ischaemia. Two patients had variant angina with normal coronary arteries and negative exercise tests. During sleep the electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, electro-oculogram, electromyogram, chest wall movements, nasal airflow, and oxygen saturation were continuously measured. Forty two episodes of transient ST segment depression were recorded in the eight patients with coronary artery disease and 26 episodes of ST segment depression and elevation in the two patients with variant angina and normal coronary arteries. All episodes of ST segment depression in the former group of patients were preceded by an increase in heart rate as a result of arousal and lightening of sleep, bodily movements, rapid eye movement sleep, or sleep apnoea (one episode). In contrast, in the variant angina group no increase in heart rate, arousal, or apnoea preceded 23 of the 26 episodes of ST segment change. Thus increase in myocardial oxygen demand was important in precipitating nocturnal angina in patients with coronary artery disease and reduced coronary reserve. In the patients with coronary spasm these factors did not often precede the onset of nocturnal myocardial ischaemia.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Precipitating factors of asthma.

Asthma is characterised by bronchial hyperresponsiveness. This feature of the asthmatic diathesis predisposes patients to wheezing in response to a number of different factors. These precipitating factors include specific allergen acting via sensitised mediator cells through an IgE-dependent mechanism. There are irritants which may work through a non-specific manner, or stimuli such as exercise and hyperventilation, which probably also act through mediator release via a non-IgE-dependent manner. The mechanism whereby physical stimuli such as exercise induce bronchoconstriction is of interest, because it increases the context in which the mast cell may participate in acute asthmatic bronchoconstriction. Respiratory infections also commonly provoke asthma, especially in infants and may, indeed, precipitate the asthmatic state itself. Finally, drugs can often trigger asthma attacks and the mechanisms of asthma precipitated by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin have been the subject of recent research.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1976

Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux: incidence and precipitating factors.

The incidence and precipitating factors associated with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux were evaluated by a questionnaire in 446 hospitalized and 558 nonhospitalized subjects. Of 385 control subjects 7% experienced heartburn daily, 14% noted heartburn weekly, and 15% experienced it once a month, giving a total of 36% of subjects having heartburn at least monthly. Daily heartburn occurred at a significantly greater (P less than 0.05) rate for 246 medical inpatients (14%) and for 121 patients seen in outpatient gastroenterological clinic (15%). Pregnant women seen in uncomplicated obstetrical clinic had symptoms of significantly greater (P less than 0.01) incidence: daily (25%) and at least once monthly (52%). Age, sex, or hospitalization did not significantly affect incidence. Fried foods, "spicy" foods, and alcohol were the most common precipitating factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Precipitating factors in patients with repetitive exacerbation of chronic left heart failure].

The precipitating factors of repetitive exacerbation were investigated in 110 consecutive patients with chronic left heart failure admitted due to acute exacerbation more than twice to the medical emergency ward of National Cardiovascular Center from January, 1992 to December, 1996. The controls were 189 consecutive patients with chronic left heart failure admitted to the ward due to acute exacerbation only once during the same period. Excessive intake of water or sodium, overwork and infection were common precipitating factors in the first decompensation of left heart failure, but the former two factors became less common with repeated admission. Patient mistakes such as excessive intake of water or sodium, overwork and noncompliance with medications, and new onset arrhythmias were common precipitating factors in patients (n = 13) admitted to the ward more than four times. Infection was a common precipitating factor (63%) in patients with a time interval between readmission and the last discharge of longer than 2 years. Despite repeated admission, infection was a common precipitating factor in patients with valvular heart disease (n = 31), patient mistakes were common in heart disease with left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 20), and infection and new onset arrhythmias were common in dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 28) and old myocardial infarction (n = 31). Patient mistakes and new onset arrhythmias were the common factors that led to repetitive exacerbation of left heart failure, and precipitating factors were characterized by the etiology of left heart failure.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Prevention of relapse in patients with congestive heart failure: the role of precipitating factors.

Relapse of congestive heart failure (CHF) frequently occurs and has serious consequences in terms of morbidity, mortality, and health care expenditure. Many studies have investigated the aetiological and prognostic factors of CHF, but there are only limited data on the role of precipitating factors that trigger relapse of CHF. Knowledge of potential precipitating factors may help to optimise treatment and provide guidance for patients with CHF. The literature was reviewed to identify factors that may influence haemodynamic homeostasis in CHF. Precipitating factors that may offer opportunities for preventing relapse of CHF were selected. Potential precipitating factors are discussed in relation to the pathophysiology of CHF: alcohol, smoking, psychological stress, uncontrolled hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial ischaemia, poor treatment compliance, and inappropriate medical treatment. Poor treatment compliance in particular is frequently encountered in patients with CHF. Furthermore, studies of medical treatment under everyday circumstances indicate that some aspects of the management of CHF can be improved. In conclusion, the identification of precipitating factors for relapse of CHF may strongly contribute to optimal treatment. Improvement of treatment compliance and optimalisation of medical treatment may offer important possibilities to clinicians to reduce the number of relapses in patients with CHF.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1996

Precipitating factors for delirium in hospitalized elderly persons. Predictive model and interrelationship with baseline vulnerability.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively develop and validate a predictive model for delirium based on precipitating factors during hospitalization, and to examine the interrelationship of precipitating factors and baseline vulnerability. DESIGN: Two prospective cohort studies, in tandem. SETTING: General medical wards, university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: For the development cohort, 196 patients aged 70 years and older with no delirium at baseline, and for the validation cohort, 312 comparable patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: New-onset delirium by hospital day 9, defined by the Confusion Assessment Method diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Delirium developed in 35 patients (18%) in the development cohort. Five independent precipitating factors for delirium were identified; use of physical restraints (adjusted relative risk [RR], 4.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5 to 7.9), malnutrition (RR, 4.0; 95% CI, 2.2 to 7.4), more than three medications added (RR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.6 to 5.4), use of bladder catheter (RR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.7), and any iatrogenic event (RR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.2). Each precipitating factor preceded the onset of delirium by more than 24 hours. A risk stratification system was developed by adding 1 point for each factor present. Rates of delirium for low-risk (0 points), intermediate-risk (1 to 2 points), and high-risk groups (> or equal to 3 points) were 3%, 20%, and 59%, respectively (P < .001). The corresponding rates in the validation cohort, in which 47 patients (15%) developed delirium, were 4%, 20%, and 35%, respectively (P < .001). When precipitating and baseline factors were analyzed in cross-stratified format, delirium rates increased progressively from low-risk to high-risk groups in all directions (double-gradient phenomenon). The contributions of baseline and precipitating factors were documented to be independent and statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: A simple predictive model based on the presence of five precipitating factors can be used to identify elderly medical patients at high risk for delirium. Precipitating and baseline vulnerability factors are highly interrelated and contribute to delirium in independent substantive, and cumulative ways.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Systemic necrotizing angiitis with asthma: causes and precipitating factors in 43 cases.

Causes and precipitating factors for systemic necrotizing angiitis (NA) with asthma were sought in 43 patients, focusing on a history of vaccination and desensitization. Mean age of patients was 43.2 years. Diagnosis was based on histopathologic findings in 25 patients, arteriography in 2, and clinical criteria in 16. History of allergic manifestations (asthma, rhinitis, eczema, urticaria) was present in the family of 19 patients. Forty-two patients presented with asthma before development of NA and 23 of them were treated with steroids. Nineteen subjects gave a history of desensitization and 5 of vaccination in the 4 weeks preceding the disease. The main symptoms of NA were asthma in 43, fever in 25, weight loss in 31, peripheral neuropathy in 29, cutaneous signs in 25, digestive signs in 16 (abdominal pain, digestive bleeding, bowel perforation), noninfectious pneumopathy with pulmonary infiltrates in 33. Eosinophilia was 8,212 +/- 6,214/mm3. Antigen HBs was found in 2 of 30 patients. Prognosis of NA with asthma was good in 15 patients who recovered completely from the disease. Seven patients died and the other patients improved but remained under treatment. The survival curve showed that 75% of patients were alive after 60 months. Our findings suggest that different causes can be considered responsible for NA, and that, in cases of NA with asthma, there is reason to consider vaccination and desensitization as precipitating factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

An intercultural assessment of the type, intensity and number of crisis precipitating factors in three cultures: United States, Brazil and Taiwan.

The precipitating factors of crisis have cultural interpretations that make diagnostic criteria and intervention methods ethnologically different. The crisis precipitating factors of individuals seeking intervention in the Republic of China (Taiwan), Brazil and the United States (U.S.) were investigated toward the end of isolating correlates and discrepancies of ethnic-related precipitants of crisis. The primary objective of the study was to influence crisis intervention in the profession of nursing from the almost universally utilized Western Model, to one that takes cultural uniqueness into account. Stressors and stressor intensities which lead to help-seeking behavior of clients in selected crisis intervention facilities in the three countries were identified. A 60 question instrument ranked client responses according to Axis 4 of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-III of the American Psychiatric Association (APA, 1980; 1986). Each item also reflected one of four Human Response Patterns of the North American Nursing Diagnostic Association (NANDA) taxonomy, which was utilized as a clustering device in data analysis. Somatization versus psychologization of crisis precipitating factors was also measured through the NANDA categories. A convenience sample of 30 subjects were queried in each country by nurse interviewers. Data analysis through ANOVA showed cultural uniqueness and mutuality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Facial pain. IV. A prospective study of 1052 patients with a view of: precipitating factors, associated symptoms, objective psychiatric and neurological symptoms.

In a prospective material of 1052 patients the precipitating factors, associated symptoms, psychological and neurological deficits have been examined. Mastication and talking are the most frequently occurring precipitating factors, 76% as regards Neuralgia, with typical starting difficulties. As regards Non-neuralgiform Pain 24%, with precipitation late in the masticatory process. There were trigger zones in 50% of the cases of Typical Trigeminal Neuralgia and in 9% of the patients with Non-neuralgiform Pain. In a series of cases the jaw joint is perceived as a trigger zone. Cold precipitates pain in 48%-39%. Other precipitating factors are much more rare--psychological stress in 15% of the patients with Non-neuralgiform Pain, however. "Vegetative" associated symptoms were relatively frequent, lacrimation occurred in 31% of the cases of Typical Trigeminal Neuralgia and in 20% of the cases of Non-neuralgiform Pain. Rhinorrhea and salivation were less frequent. In terms of figures migrainoid associated symptoms had no connection with vegetative associated symptoms or with pain in the eye. In 11% of the patients pain occurred most frequently during the night and in 20% the frequency of pain was the same day and night. About 1/3 of the patients with Neuralgia experienced seasonal variations. Tenderness of foramina is a symptom of no significance. Very few patients had primary sensory loss. No eye or ear symptoms have been found which may be referred to as the patho-anatomical basis of the pain. About 1/3 of the patients with Non-neuralgiform Pain had psychological symptoms whereas hardly any patients with Neuralgia had them. MMPI test performed on a small matched material showed no difference between Neuralgia and Non-neuralgiform Pain. In material B an examination has been made of the jaw joint arthrosis symptoms. A restriction of the diagnosis of arthrosis has had the effect that it must be recognized that patients with facial pain do not have the high frequency of jaw joint diseases previously assumed. As was also the case in a series of normal material previously published, between 1, 5 and 1, 3 of the patients with Neuralgia had jaw joint arthrosis which was due to old age. This study has not revealed any connection between previous diseases, the onset of pain, the character and course of the pain, the character of the attack, the localization of pain, precipitating factors, associated symptoms and symptoms of loss on the one hand and the patho-anatomical substratum on the other.

Arousal↗
PubMed1997

Precipitating factors and life events in serious suicide attempts among youths aged 13 through 24 years.

OBJECTIVE: Precipitating factors and life events associated with medically serious suicide attempts were examined in young people making serious suicide attempts and control subjects. METHOD: Using a case-control design, the authors contrasted 129 young people making serious suicide attempts with 153 randomly selected community controls on a series of life event occurrences within the preceding year. Precipitating factors for serious suicide attempts were also examined. RESULTS: The most common precipitants of serious suicide attempts were relationship breakdowns, other interpersonal problems, and financial difficulties. However, one third of those attempting suicide were unable to describe any precipitating factor. Individuals who made serious suicide attempts had elevated rates of life events which were associated principally with interpersonal difficulties, work issues, financial difficulties, and legal problems. When due allowance was made for intercorrelations between life event measures and antecedent social, family, and personality factors, interpersonal losses and conflicts and legal problems remained significant risk factors for serious suicide attempts. CONCLUSIONS: Important proximal occurrences for serious suicide attempts among young people include a series of life events associated principally with interpersonal conflicts, relationship difficulties, and legal problems.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Exogenous precipitating factors in stroke.

We studied in 300 stroke patients (100 carotid ischemic, 100 vertebrobasilar ischemic, and 100 hemorrhagic) the precipitating factors (PF) of stroke. Precipitating factors were observed in 63.7% of cases. Of the 407 PF found in the whole sample, 60% occurred 24 hours before stroke, and 40%-2-3 days before it. The most frequently met PF were: physical effort (32.3%), extreme temperature (29%), psychic trauma (23.3%), and head and body positions that may unfavourably influence cerebral circulation (23%). These PF were usually observed in associations. The differences regarding the PF incidence in the 3 stroke types were not statistically significant.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Stress as a precipitating factor in migraine].

Stress is the precipitating factor in migraine which is most commonly recognized by patients. There are many affected who describe headaches brought on by stressful situations and events, although they also speak of the onset of their attacks during the period of calm immediately after such moments of stress. There are however few objective works in the literature which study the relationship between stress and migraine. In the present work we review that literature which does exist concerning such a relationship.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Precipitating factors leading to decompensation of heart failure. Traits among urban blacks.

Potential precipitating factors that led to cardiac decompensation and subsequent hospital admission for heart failure were examined in 101 patients in a large public hospital serving a predominantly working-class minority population. Ninety-seven percent of patients were black; their age was 59 +/- 14 years (mean +/- SD); on average, they were hospitalized three times in the preceding year for problems related to their heart failure. Potential precipitating factors for decompensated heart failure were identified in 93% of patients. Lack of adherence to the prescribed medical regimen was the most commonly identified causative factor and was noted in 64% of the cases; noncompliance with diet amounted to 22%, with drugs to 6%, and with the combination of drugs and diet to 37%. Other factors also related to hospitalization were cardiac arrhythmias (29%), emotional/environmental issues (26%), inadequately conceived drug therapy (17%), pulmonary infections (12%), and thyrotoxicosis (1%). Thus, the key preventive measure necessary in at least two thirds of patients centered around better adherence to drug and/or diet regimen, highlighting the precept that better patient education is mandatory if we are to minimize the number of hospital admissions for decompensated heart failure.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of external precipitating factors and peripheral neuropathy on the development and outcome of diabetic foot ulcers.

The influence of external precipitating factors and the presence of peripheral neuropathy on the development and outcome of foot ulcers were evaluated in 314 consecutive diabetic patients. All patients were treated by the same foot care team. Each patient was represented by one ulcer, and primary healing was defined as intact skin for at least six months. External precipitating factors were identifiable in 264 of 314 patients. The most common factors were ill fitting shoes/socks, acute mechanical trauma, stress ulcer, and paronychia. The highest primary healing rates were seen in lesions caused by paronychia (84%) and stress ulcer (76%). Clinical signs of sensory and muscular disturbances were seen in the majority of patients (96%). Sensory neuropathy, evaluated with a biothesiometer, was more common among patients who had had amputations or, died subsequently compared to those who healed. This study suggests that a majority of diabetic foot ulcers might have been prevented, since a precipitating external factor was identified in four of five patients, stressing the importance of preventive foot care.

Amputation, Surgical↗
PubMed1993

Migraine and tension-type headache in a general population: precipitating factors, female hormones, sleep pattern and relation to lifestyle.

In a cross-sectional epidemiological study of headache disorders information on precipitating factors, age at onset, influence of menstruation and pregnancy and use of oral contraceptives was collected. The presence of migraine and tension-type headache was ascertained by a clinical interview and examination using the operational diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society. The prevalence of migraine and tension-type headache was also analysed in relation to variables of lifestyle: physical activity, smoking, consumption of coffee, alcohol intake and sleep pattern. In both migraine and tension-type headache, the most conspicuous precipitating factor was stress and mental tension. Other common precipitants were alcohol, weather changes and menstruation. Disappearance or substantial improvement of the headache during pregnancy was more frequent in migraineurs than in tension-type headache sufferers. The age at onset of both migraine and tension-type headache differs between men and women. Female hormones may be an important factor responsible for the sex difference of headache disorders. The level of physical activity showed no association with migraine, but a significantly higher prevalence of tension-type headache in men with exclusively sedentary activity emerged. Smoking, coffee and alcohol consumption showed no significant associations with the headache disorders. Sleep pattern was significantly associated with migraine and tension-type headache in both univariate and multivariate analyses. In conclusion, migraine and tension-type headache seem to be different with regard to a number of endogenous and exogenous factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A preliminary study of filariasis related acute adenolymphangitis with special reference to precipitating factors and treatment modalities.

Episodic adenolymphangitis (ADL) is one of the important clinical manifestations of lymphatic filariasis. Recurrent ADLs contribute to the progress of the disease and also have important socioeconomic implications since they cause significant loss of man days. The present study was conducted in order to identify the precipitating factors responsible for ADL attacks and also to examine the different modalities of treatment. Sixty-five individuals with filariasis related ADL attacks, who are residents of Alleppey district (endemic for Brugia malayi) were studied. All efforts were taken to identify the precipitating factors for ADLs in these individuals. They were hospitalized for a period of five days or more. All of them received symptomatic antipyretic/antiinflammatory therapy and topical antibiotic/antifungal treatment of the affected limbs. They were then randomly allocated to one of the following four regimens: group I - symptomatic alone; group II - symptomatic plus antibiotics; group III - symptomatic followed by diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) and group IV - symptomatic plus antibiotic followed by DEC. Patients in groups III and IV received DEC every three months up to one year. There was a significant relationship between the number of ADL attacks and the grade of edema. Presence of focus of infection in the affected limb could be identified in 28 of the 65 patients. In the majority of patients (48) response to treatment was rapid (resolution in less than five days). Neither antibiotics nor DEC (given at intervals of three months) appeared to alter the frequency of ADL attacks. On the otherhand simple hygienic measures combined with good foot care and local antibiotic/antifungal cream application (where required), were effective in reducing the number of ADL attacks.

Adolescent↗