Publications by authors named "Gordon Chu"

Background: Mislabelled penicillin allergies are associated with a myriad of adverse outcomes and development of anti-microbial resistance. With the overwhelming need for specialist allergy services, pharmacist initiatives such as the Hong Kong Penicillin Allergy Pharmacist Initiative (HK-PAPI) have been advocated. However, evidence of their effectiveness, safety and impact on health-related quality-of-life (HR-QoL) are lacking.

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Background: The patterns of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) selection and switching to a different oral anticoagulant (OAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are unknown.

Objectives: To describe temporal patterns in first DOAC prescriptions, estimate the incidence, and identify predictors of switching to a different OAC within 1 year in OAC-naive AF patients.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, using a near-nationwide prescription registry (IQVIA, the Netherlands), we determined the number of patients per month initiated on each DOAC and identified predictors of switching within 1 year with robust Poisson regression.

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 For most patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF), direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are preferred over vitamin K antagonists. However, there is concern that the lack of monitoring may impair therapy adherence and therefore the anticoagulant effect.  To assess 1-year DOAC nonadherence in patients with AF and a treatment indication of at least 1 year in the Dutch health care setting, and to identify predictors of nonadherence.

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Background And Aims: Cancer provides challenges to the continuity of anticoagulant treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), e.g. through cancer-related surgery or complications.

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Background: Cancer is suggested to confer thromboembolic and bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objectives: We aimed to describe current anticoagulant practice in patients with AF and active cancer, present incidences of thromboembolic and bleeding complications, and evaluate the association between cancer type or anticoagulant management strategy with AF-related complications.

Methods: This retrospective study identified patients with AF and active cancer in 2 hospitals between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2017.

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Background: Whereas accumulating studies on patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) report high incidences of thrombotic complications, large studies on clinically relevant thrombosis in patients with other respiratory tract infections are lacking. How this high risk in COVID-19 patients compares to those observed in hospitalized patients with other viral pneumonias such as influenza is unknown.

Objectives: To assess the incidence of venous and arterial thrombotic complications in hospitalized patients with influenza as opposed to that observed in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

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Objectives: Current international guidelines advocate the application of bleeding risk scores only to identify modifiable risk factors, but not to withhold treatment in patients at high risk of bleeding. VTE-BLEED (ActiVe cancer, male with uncontrolled hyperTension, anaEmia, history of BLeeding, agE and rEnal Dysfunction) is a simple bleeding risk score that predicts major bleeding (MB) in patients with venous thromboembolism, but has never been evaluated in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We sought to evaluate VTE-BLEED in patients with AF included in the Randomised Evaluation of Long-term anticoagulant therapY (RE-LY) trial, to assess whether score classes (high vs low bleeding risk) interact with the tested dabigatran doses (150 vs 110 mg twice daily), and to investigate whether dose reductions based on this interaction might help to lower the incidence of the composite outcome MB, stroke/systemic embolism or death.

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Introduction: Anticoagulation therapy is pivotal in the management of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF). Prospective registries, containing longitudinal data are lacking with detailed information on anticoagulant therapy, treatment adherence and AF-related adverse events in practice-based patient cohorts, in particular for non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOAC). With the creation of DUTCH-AF, a nationwide longitudinal AF registry, we aim to provide clinical data and answer questions on the (anticoagulant) management over time and of the clinical course of patients with newly diagnosed AF in routine clinical care.

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An increasing body of evidence suggests an association between cancer and atrial fibrillation (AF). The exact magnitude and underlying mechanism of this association are however unclear. Cancer-related inflammation, anti-cancer treatment and other cancer-related comorbidities are proposed to affect atrial remodelling, increasing the susceptibility of cancer patients for developing AF.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study was conducted to analyze bicycle spoke injuries (BSI) in children under 9 years old, aiming to understand injury patterns and follow-up care in emergency departments.
  • Out of 141 patients, 23% had fractures, with significant differences in follow-up times for those with fractures compared to soft tissue injuries and minor abrasions.
  • No clinical signs predicted fractures, but factors like triage category and swelling indicated a need for more outpatient visits, highlighting the necessity for standard x-ray examinations for proper management.
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Study Design: A case report of pyogenic intradural abscess is described.

Objectives: The rarity of the presentation and its successful management are discussed.

Summary Of Background Data: Intradural abscesses are exceptionally rare.

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