Disease-Related Malnutrition and Sarcopenia Predict Worse Outcome in Medical Inpatients: A Cohort Study.

(1) Background: Both sarcopenia and disease-related malnutrition (DRM) are unfortunately underdiagnosed and undertreated in our Western hospitals, which could lead to worse clinical outcomes. Our objectives included to determine the impact of low muscle mass (MM) and strength, and also DRM and sarcopenia, on clinical outcomes (length of stay, death, readmissions at three months, and quality of life). (2) Methodology: Prospective cohort study in medical inpatients.

A Prospective Study of Adherence and Virologic Failure in HIV-Infected Patients: Role of a Single Determination of Plasma Levels of Antiretroviral Medications.

This study explores the contribution of a single determination of plasma levels for measuring adherence by means of forecasting virologic failure. Adherence was measured by questionnaires, punctuality at appointments to withdraw drugs, and plasma levels. Virologic failure was considered when 2 detectable consecutive viral loads were observed in 2 consecutive determinations with at least 1 month between them.

[Factors predicting lack of adherence to highly active antiretroviral treatment].

Introduction: Knowledge of adherence to highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) and the variables associated with poor compliance is useful for the follow-up of HIV infected patients.

Patients, Material And Methods: Patients were consecutively recruited from the HIV outpatient clinics of the Hospitals of Leon and El Bierzo from January to June 2000. Patients were considered non-adherent to treatment if they failed to take 10% or more of their prescribed total dose of at least one drug during the 4 days before the interview, or if they had accumulated a delay of more than 9 days over the previous 3 months in picking up their prescribed drugs from the hospital pharmacy.