8 research outputs found
Therapeutic Strategies and Clinical Outcome in Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: A Multicenter Observational Study.
No full textPapillary thyroid microcarcinoma (MPTC) has an excellent prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the evolution of therapeutic strategies over time and the clinical outcome of MPTC.PURPOSE:
Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (MPTC) has an excellent prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the evolution of therapeutic strategies over time and the clinical outcome of MPTC.
METHODS:
In this retrospective multicenter observational study in a northwest Italian region, patients with intrathyroidal, unifocal tumor ≤1 cm in size, incidentally found at histology or preoperative cytology diagnosis, were included. Exclusion criteria were a previous head-and-neck irradiation and/or node metastases.
RESULTS:
From 1985 to 2012, 437 patients had an MPTC diagnosis, which was incidental in 85% and preoperative in 15%. Patients with a preoperative diagnosis were younger at the time of diagnosis (47.6 ± 12.7 years, p < 0.01) and had a larger tumor (7.0 ± 2.5 mm, p < 0.0001) than patients with an incidental diagnosis (age 52 ± 13.5 years, size 4.4 ± 2.8 mm), but there were no differences in clinical outcome between both groups. We observed a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in radioiodine remnant ablation during the years. TSH levels were: <0.1 mIU/l in 27.5%, 0.1-0.5 mlU/l in 33.7%, 0.5-2.5 mlU/l in 32.6%, 2.5-4.2 mlU/l in 3.9%, and >4.2 mlU/l in 2.3% of patients. Six patients (1.37%) had nodal recurrence; 5 of them were cured after therapy. MPTC-linked mortality was null.
CONCLUSIONS:
We confirmed the favorable clinical outcome of MPTC. Despite the reduction in radioiodine ablation, overtreatment of MPTC is still observed
Five-year longitudinal evaluation of quality of life in a cohort of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma
No full textDifferentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) generally has a favorable outcome. Thyroid disease, treatments, stress and comorbidity can compromise health-related quality of life (QoL) and indirectly weigh upon the outcome. From 2004 to 2008, we evaluated QoL longitudinally in 128 DTC subjects. During scheduled examinations, subjects were asked to undergo a semi-structured psychiatric interview and five rated inventories. The same examination was conducted in 219 subjects after surgery for benign thyroid pathology. Low scores represent a better QoL. DTC and control group subjects were similar in terms of age, male/female ratio, concomitant psychopharmacological treatments and frequency of psychiatric diseases. In DTC subjects Billewicz Scale (BS) scores showed an increasing trend over time, especially among females. The ad hoc Thyroid Questionnaire (TQ) scores were similar in both groups and did not change over time, but at the end of the study ad hoc TQ and BS were significantly related. Ad hoc TQ scores were also related to age on entry to the study. In both male and female DTC subjects, Hamilton’s tests for anxiety (HAM-A), but not for depression (HAM-D), showed an improving trend. At the end of the study, HAM-A and HAM-D scores were comparable to those of the control group. HAM-A and HAM-D were both positively correlated with the stage of cancer and the time between diagnosis and treatment. Only HAM-D correlated with age on entry to the study. Kellner Symptoms Questionnaire item scores were higher in DTC subjects than in controls. The change over time in the items including anxiety, somatization, depression, and hostility was significant. Somatization and hostility were more significantly reduced in DTC females than males. Hostility scores were significantly lower in DTC subjects than in controls at the end of the study. Somatization and depression were significantly related to staging on diagnosis and age on entry to the study. Our study confirms a wide variation of illness perception in DTC subjects, which is generally unrelated to the favorable clinical follow-up of the disease. Psychological evaluation during long-term follow-up improved QoL scores, which reached the same levels noted in subjects with a history of thyroid surgery for benign thyroid pathology. Our data indicate that special attention should be paid to QoL in older DTC subjects and those with more severe staging on diagnosis
Economic Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Italian NHS: Focus on Diabetes Mellitus
No full textEnrico Torre,1 Giorgio Lorenzo Colombo,2 Sergio Di Matteo,3 Chiara Martinotti,3 Maria Chiara Valentino,3 Alberto Rebora,1 Francesca Cecoli,1 Eleonora Monti,1 Marco Galimberti,4 Paolo Di Bartolo,5 Germano Gaggioli,6 Giacomo Matteo Bruno2 1Endocrinology Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases Unit - ASL3, Genoa, Italy; 2Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; 3S.A.V.E. Studi Analisi Valutazioni Economiche S.r.l., Health Economics & Outcomes Research, Milan, Italy; 4DP Trade SA, Lugano, Switzerland; 5Diabetes Center of Ravenna, Romagna Diabetes Clinical Network, Romagna Local Health Authority, Ravenna, Italy; 6Cardiology Unit Villascassi Hospital - ASL3, Genoa, ItalyCorrespondence: Giorgio Lorenzo ColomboDepartment of Drug Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyEmail [email protected]: In Italy, the adoption of a total lockdown has generated almost total suspension of outpatient visits except for emergencies. Even after lockdown, the pandemic fear created additional barriers to access the health services. The aim of our study is to evaluate the economic impact of the lockdown for COVID-19 on public health in Italy, focusing on its effects on diabetic population.Materials and Methods: We analyzed the impact of the lockdown on excess mortality and morbidity in the Italian diabetic population during 2020. The analysis was divided into several steps: a quantification of specialist visit reduction, the calculation of excess mortality in the diabetic population, the economic evaluation of the slowdown in the use of innovative diabetic therapies. Furthermore, the impact of the lockdown on the reduction of procedures and follow-up visits in diabetic population was evaluated. The overall impact of the pandemic and lockdown effects on costs and quality of life was then calculated.Results: During 2020, a drop of 28% in patient access has been observed. Diabetic patients recorded a twice higher mortality value compared to general population (20.4% vs 10.2%). The analysis of market data revealed a slowdown in consumption of new antidiabetic therapies (− 14%, 27% vs 41%). We estimated an expense of € 26.6 million for NHS and a loss of 257 utilities in diabetic population due to the missed benefits related to slowdown in innovative antidiabetic drugs use and non-optimal follow-up and control of diabetes complications. In simulation scenarios, we also estimated an overall expenditure ranging from € 38.7 to 94.0 million and a loss of 294– 836 utilities.Conclusion: Diabetic population paid a high tribute to pandemic and lockdown, both in terms of number of deaths and burden of diabetic complications, together with an overall deterioration of quality of life.Keywords: COVID-19, diabetes type II, diabetic complications, quality of life, economic impac
Metabolic and cardiovascular risk in patients with a history of differentiated thyroid carcinoma: A case-controlled cohort study
No full textAbstract Hyperthyroidism seems to increase metabolic and cardiovascular risk, while the effects of sub-clinical hyperthyroidism are controversial. We evaluated metabolic and cardiovascular parameters in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients with suppressed thyrotropin (TSH) due to levo-thyroxine (L-T4) therapy. We studied DTC patients and, as a control group, patients with a history of surgery for non-malignant thyroid pathology. Significantly higher insulin and lower HDL-cholesterol levels were recorded in DTC subjects. In both groups, insulin levels were significantly related with body mass index (BMI) but not with age or L-T4 dosage. In DTC patients, a significant negative correlation was seen between HDL-cholesterol and BMI or L-T4 dosage. In both groups, intima-media thickness (IMT) correlated positively with age, BMI, glucose levels and systolic blood pressure. In DTC patients, increased IMT was significantly correlated with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), cholesterol and triglycerides. In DTC patients, C-reactive protein correlated positively with insulin, insulin resistance, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure, and negatively with HDL-cholesterol. In both DTC and control subjects, fibrinogen correlated positively with age, BMI, increased IMT, HbA1c and systolic blood pressure. In DTC subjects, plasma fibrinogen concentrations correlated positively with insulin resistance, cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, and negatively with TSH levels. Our data confirm that the favorable evolution of DTC can be impaired by a high incidence of abnormal metabolic and cardiovascular data that are, at least in part, related to L-T4 therapy. These findings underline the need for adequate L-T4 titration.</p
Serum osteoprotegerin and soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand levels in patients with a history of differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a case-controlled cohort study
No full textPrevalence and risk factors of glomerular hyperfiltration in adults with type 2 diabetes: A population-based study
No full textAims: Glomerular hyperfiltration characterises the earliest stage of diabetic nephropathy and predicts adverse kidney and cardiovascular outcomes. We aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of glomerular hyperfiltration in a population-based contemporary cohort of individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Materials and methods: The prevalence of unequivocal glomerular hyperfiltration (defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate >120 mL/min/1.73 m(2) ) and its associated risk factors were identified in a cohort of 202,068 adult patients with T2D receiving specialist care in 2021-2022, whose center-aggregated data were automatically extracted from electronic medical records of 75 diabetes clinics in Italy. Results: Glomerular hyperfiltration was identified in 1262 (0.6%) participants. The prevalence of glomerular hyperfiltration varied widely across centers (0%-3.4%) and correlated with mean center age, HbA(1c) , body mass index (BMI), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Patients in centers with high glomerular hyperfiltration prevalence (>0.8%) were more often men and had lower age and BMI, but more frequent albuminuria and worse glucose, lipid, and blood pressure control, compared with low-normal prevalence centers. Conclusions: Unequivocal glomerular hyperfiltration can be identified in up to 3.4% of patients receiving up-to-date specialist diabetes care. Glomerular hyperfiltration prevalence varies across centers and substantially increases with suboptimal control of metabolic risk factors, which would require improved management to mitigate the negative health consequences of this pathological condition
Clinical Features, Cardiovascular Risk Profile, and Therapeutic Trajectories of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Candidate for Oral Semaglutide Therapy in the Italian Specialist Care
No full textIntroduction: This study aimed to address therapeutic inertia in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by investigating the potential of early treatment with oral semaglutide. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2021 and April 2022 among specialists treating individuals with T2D. A scientific committee designed a data collection form covering demographics, cardiovascular risk, glucose control metrics, ongoing therapies, and physician judgments on treatment appropriateness. Participants completed anonymous patient questionnaires reflecting routine clinical encounters. The preferred therapeutic regimen for each patient was also identified. Results: The analysis was conducted on 4449 patients initiating oral semaglutide. The population had a relatively short disease duration (42% 60% of patients, and more often than sitagliptin or empagliflozin. Conclusion: The study supports the potential of early implementation of oral semaglutide as a strategy to overcome therapeutic inertia and enhance T2D management
Effects on the incidence of cardiovascular events of the addition of pioglitazone versus sulfonylureas in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin (TOSCA.IT): a randomised, multicentre trial
No full textBACKGROUND:
The best treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes in whom treatment with metformin alone fails to achieve adequate glycaemic control is debated. We aimed to compare the long-term effects of pioglitazone versus sulfonylureas, given in addition to metformin, on cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes.
METHODS:
TOSCA.IT was a multicentre, randomised, pragmatic clinical trial, in which patients aged 50-75 years with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin monotherapy (2-3 g per day) were recruited from 57 diabetes clinics in Italy. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1), by permuted blocks randomisation (block size 10), stratified by site and previous cardiovascular events, to add-on pioglitazone (15-45 mg) or a sulfonylurea (5-15 mg glibenclamide, 2-6 mg glimepiride, or 30-120 mg gliclazide, in accordance with local practice). The trial was unblinded, but event adjudicators were unaware of treatment assignment. The primary outcome, assessed with a Cox proportional-hazards model, was a composite of first occurrence of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, or urgent coronary revascularisation, assessed in the modified intention-to-treat population (all randomly assigned participants with baseline data available and without any protocol violations in relation to inclusion or exclusion criteria). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00700856.
FINDINGS:
Between Sept 18, 2008, and Jan 15, 2014, 3028 patients were randomly assigned and included in the analyses. 1535 were assigned to pioglitazone and 1493 to sulfonylureas (glibenclamide 24 [2%], glimepiride 723 [48%], gliclazide 745 [50%]). At baseline, 335 (11%) participants had a previous cardiovascular event. The study was stopped early on the basis of a futility analysis after a median follow-up of 57·3 months. The primary outcome occurred in 105 patients (1·5 per 100 person-years) who were given pioglitazone and 108 (1·5 per 100 person-years) who were given sulfonylureas (hazard ratio 0·96, 95% CI 0·74-1·26, p=0·79). Fewer patients had hypoglycaemias in the pioglitazone group than in the sulfonylureas group (148 [10%] vs 508 [34%], p<0·0001). Moderate weight gain (less than 2 kg, on average) occurred in both groups. Rates of heart failure, bladder cancer, and fractures were not significantly different between treatment groups.
INTERPRETATION:
In this long-term, pragmatic trial, incidence of cardiovascular events was similar with sulfonylureas (mostly glimepiride and gliclazide) and pioglitazone as add-on treatments to metformin. Both of these widely available and affordable treatments are suitable options with respect to efficacy and adverse events, although pioglitazone was associated with fewer hypoglycaemia events
