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Background: Patients with cirrhosis and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) present dilemma whether dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) should be used. Methods: Electronic medical records between 2001–2013 were retrieved from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients were excluded for missing information, age <20 years old, history of AMI, liver transplant, autoimmune disease, coagulopathy, taking DAPT 3 months before index date, follow-up <3 months, anticoagulation user, without DAPT, and events of myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic stroke, major bleeding, and heart failure within 3-month of enrollment. Primary outcomes were 1-year all-cause mortality, recurrent MI, major bleeding, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Results: A total of 150,887 patients with AMI retrieved. After exclusion criteria and propensity score-matching, 914 cirrhotic and 3,656 non-cirrhotic patients with AMI on DAPT were studied. During 1-year follow-up, there was significantly increased mortality in cirrhotic patients compared to non-cirrhotic patients (HR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.28–1.74). There was significantly decreased recurrent MI in cirrhotic patients compared to non-cirrhotic patients (subdistribution HR [SHR] = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.54–0.92). However, non-significantly increased major bleeding (SHR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.87–1.73) and significantly increased gastrointestinal bleeding (SHR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.31–1.70). Conclusions: In cirrhotic patients with AMI, DAPT offers benefit with decreased recurrent MI at the expense of increased gastrointestinal bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have evaluated whether people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at an increased risk of stroke in an Asian population. We investigated the association between HIV infection and the risk of developing stroke by age, calendar year of HIV diagnosis, and follow-up duration in Taiwan. Methods: Using the claims data of a universal health insurance program, we identified 5,961 patients with HIV and 23,844 matched non-HIV subjects without previous stroke from 1998 to 2005 and followed them up until the end of 2011 to measure the incidence of stroke. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for potential confounders were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), with the non-HIV group as reference. Results: During a median follow-up of 8 years, the incidence rates for total, ischemic, and hemorrhagic stroke per 1000 person-years were 2.12, 1.22, and 0.60, respectively, in patients with HIV infection, and 1.98, 1.14, and 0.54, respectively, in the comparison group. HIV infection was associated with an elevated risk of developing total stroke (adjusted HR [95% CI], 1.57 [1.15–2.14]) and ischemic stroke (1.91 [1.25–2.91]) in patients aged less than 45 years, but no association was observed in other age groups (P for interaction with age, p = 0.048 and 0.024, respectively). Patients diagnosed with HIV infection in 1998–1999 had a greater HR for total stroke and ischemic stroke than those diagnosed in 2000–2002 and 2003–2005 (P for interaction, for total stroke p = 0.034, for ischemic stroke p = 0.056). The HRs did not differ by follow-up duration. Conclusions: HIV infection among a young age group is associated with increased risk of developing overall and ischemic stroke. The findings highlight the importance of screening and correcting risk factors for young stroke prevention immediately and aggressively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Continuity of care is considered to be an important principle of stroke care; however, few analyses of empirically related outcomes have been reported. Objective: This study examined the correlation between the continuity of care for outpatients after a stroke event and the survival of stroke patients over the year following hospital discharge. Research design: Data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database were used in this study. We defined stroke as the ICD-9-CM codes 430 to 437, and all patients were followed up regarding their survival for at least one year. The modified modified continuity index (MMCI) was used as the indicator of continuity of care. Cox proportional hazard models with robust sandwich variance estimates were employed to analyze the correlation between continuity of care and stroke-related death. Results: A total of 9,252 stroke patients were included in the analysis. Those patients who had a high and a completed COC had a higher percentage of survival (97.25% and 95.39%) compared to the other two groups. After controlling for other variables, compared with the low-level continuity of care group, the moderate-level, high-level and completed continuity of care groups still showed a significantly lower risk of death HR (95% CI) were: 0.63 (0.49–0.80), 0.56 (0.40–0.79) and 0.50 (0.39–0.63), respectively. Conclusion: Continuity of care may increase the survival among stroke patients and therefore plays an important role in management of stroke after survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Abortion is legal in India and medication abortion (MA) using a combined regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol is the preferred method. Users increasingly purchase MA kits directly from pharmacies, in some cases experiencing perceived complications and approaching a facility for care. We present findings of a qualitative research tracing the decision-making pathway(s) of MA users in Uttar Pradesh, India, to help understand knowledge and behaviour gaps, and recommend ways to improve the overall quality of care at these service delivery points. Methods: Forty in-depth interviews were conducted with recent MA users (20 each of clinic and pharmacy clients) across three districts. Providers were purposively selected in collaboration with an international organization selling MA kits, using their list of pharmacies and clinics. MA users were identified from the clients of the selected providers, and additionally through the snow ball method. Interviews were conducted in Hindi with verbal informed consent in a private place convenient to the respondent. Transcripts were translated to English and analysed thematically. Results: Users first sought MA kits at pharmacies out of convenience, low cost and customer anonymity. Men often purchased kits for their partners and trusted the chemist for guidance on dosage, progression and side effects. For side effects or other concerns after using an MA kit, users first visited their neighbourhood doctor or traditional practitioner. These providers either attempted to treat the issue and failed, or directly advised her to consult a gynaecologist. The final point of care was gynaecologists, preferably female private practitioners with their own clinics. They diagnosed most abortion-related cases as incomplete abortions, emptying the uterus using the dilation and curettage method. Comparatively low cost and convenience made users inclined towards repeat use of MA. Conclusion: There are information gaps at various stages in the MA pathway that need to be addressed. Large scale public information programmes are required on safe abortion care- when is it legal, where to obtain MA, dosage, side effects and signs of possible complications. Pharmacists could be trained or incentivized to improve their quality of care to facilitate adequate exchange of information on MA. Since, for most couples, the male partner purchases MA, information approaches or tools are needed that pharmacists can give men to share directly with the MA user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The crushed-tablet rivaroxaban concentration has been previously reported to be lower than the non-crushed concentration. However, the rivaroxaban concentration of fine granules has not yet been investigated. The anticoagulation intensity of rivaroxaban with fine granules, tablets, and crushed tablets was compared in acute stroke patients to assess the efficacy of each form. Methods and findings: Hospitalized patients over 75 years old with acute stroke who started taking rivaroxaban from April 2012 to September 2017 were included. Blood samples were drawn just before and 4 hours after taking rivaroxaban on a median of 5 days after treatment initiation for concentration measurements (C0h, C4h) based on an anti-factor Xa chromogenic assay. Of 114 patients (49 female, 83±5 years old), 97 had ischemic strokes, 9 had transient ischemic attacks, and 8 had intracerebral hemorrhages. Rivaroxaban was administered a median of 7 days after onset. Of these, 38 patients were given the 15 mg dose, and 76 were given the 10 mg dose. In the 15 mg dose group, C0h was significantly higher in the fine granule group than in the crushed tablet group, with no significant difference compared to the tablet group [C0h: 27.6±6.8 vs 4.0±4.1 (P = 0.01) vs. 33.3±25.2 ng/ml, (P = 0.51), respectively], as was C4h [223.0±66.6 vs 103.0±79.5 (P = 0.02) vs. 229.5±121.6 ng/ml (P = 0.88)]. In the 10 mg dose group, C0h was significantly higher in the fine granule group than in the crushed tablet group and comparable to that in the tablet group [23.2±7.9 vs 7.5±6.2 (P<0.01) vs 19.0±15.8 ng/ml, (P = 0.35)], as was C4h [150.7±85.4 vs 85.1±46.8 (P<0.01) vs 189.8±92.7 ng/ml (P = 0.18)]. Conclusions: The rivaroxaban concentration with fine granules was consistent with that in the tablet group and higher than that in the crushed tablet group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]