Developing realistic benchmarks for glaucoma care delivery.

Clinical Relevance: Realistic benchmarks can serve as comparators for optometrists wishing to engage in clinical practice audits of their glaucoma care.

Background: The iCareTrack study established the appropriateness of glaucoma care delivery through clinical record audits of Australian optometry practices. Benchmarks required for monitoring and improving glaucoma care delivery do not exist.

Clinical indicators for diabetic eyecare delivered by optometrists in Australia: a Delphi study.

Clinical Relevance: Valid and updated clinical indicators can serve as important tools in assessing and improving eyecare delivery.

Background: Indicators for diabetic eyecare in Australia were previously developed from guidelines published before 2013 and then used to assess the appropriateness of care delivery through a nationwide patient record card audit (the iCareTrack study). To reflect emerging evidence and contemporary practice, this study aimed to update clinical indicators for optometric care for people with type 2 diabetes in Australia.

Awareness and attitudes of elderly Southeast Asian adults towards telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

Introduction: We aimed to understand the awareness and attitudes of elderly Southeast Asians towards telehealth services during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in this study.

Methods: In this qualitative study, 78 individuals from Singapore (51.3% female, mean age 73.

Severity-of-Illness Scores and Discharge Disposition in Patients Admitted to Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals.

Background: After an intensive care unit (ICU) admission, nearly 20% of survivors of chronic critical illness require admission to a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) for continued subspecialty care. The effect of the burden of medical comorbidities on discharge disposition after LTACH admission remains unclear.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed involving patients with chronic critical illness who were discharged from the medical ICU and admitted to an LTACH between 2016 and 2018.

Predictors of pulmonary embolism in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Background: High venous thromboembolism (VTE) rates have been described in critically ill patients with COVID-19. We hypothesized that specific clinical characteristics may help differentiate hypoxic COVID-19 patients with and without a diagnosed pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: We performed a retrospective observational case-control study of 158 consecutive patients hospitalized in one of four Mount Sinai Hospitals with COVID-19 between March 1 and May 8, 2020, who received a Chest CT Pulmonary Angiogram (CTA) to diagnose a PE.

Developing refractive management recommendations for patients undergoing cataract surgery: A Delphi study.

Purpose: Currently, there are no UK optometric guidelines regarding the pre and postoperative refractive management of patients undergoing cataract surgery. This study used a Delphi method to gain consensus on best practice.

Methods: Eighteen recommendations targeted areas of concern/variability in advice that were highlighted in an earlier focus group study of refractive management for patients who had received cataract surgery.

Associations between age-related macular degeneration and sleep dysfunction: A systematic review.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration, a prevalent degenerative retinal disease, is associated with non-visual and psychosocial impairments that may affect sleep. In this systematic review, we evaluated associations between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and sleep, highlighted knowledge gaps and provided evidence-based recommendations to clinicians to enable holistic management of AMD patients.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central registries for papers published before May 2022.

A novel evidence-based predictor tool for hospitalization and length of stay: insights from COVID-19 patients in New York city.

Predictive models for key outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can optimize resource utilization and patient outcome. We aimed to design and internally validate a web-based calculator predictive of hospitalization and length of stay (LOS) in a large cohort of COVID-19-positive patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) in a New York City health system. The study cohort consisted of consecutive adult (> 18 years) patients presenting to the ED of Mount Sinai Health System hospitals between March 2020 and April 2020, diagnosed with COVID-19.

The incidence of falls after first and second eye cataract surgery: a longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: To compare fall incidence, and visual acuity and refractive status, before surgery and after first and second eye cataract surgery.

Design, Setting: Prospective observational study in eight tertiary referral ophthalmology clinics in public hospitals in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.

Participants: People aged 65 years or more referred for bilateral age-related cataract surgery during 2013-16, followed for maximum of 24 months after study entry or until six months after second eye surgery, whichever was shorter.

One year outcomes of atrial fibrillation ablation: Contemporary analysis of the United States Nationwide Readmission Database.

Background: Data on long-term outcomes of catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) in outside of clinical trials settings are sparse.

Objective: We aimed to assess outcomes and readmissions at 1 year following admission for CA for AF.

Methods: Utilizing the Nationwide Readmissions Database (2016-2018), we identified patients with CA among all patients with a primary admission diagnosis of AF, and a control group by propensity score match adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores, and the hospital characteristics.

Association between age-related sensory impairment with sarcopenia and its related components in older adults: a systematic review.

Sensory impairments and sarcopenia are both highly prevalent age-related conditions, with the former having been postulated to contribute to the pathogenesis of the latter condition. Confirming this hypothesis may therefore help to better inform strategies for early treatment and intervention of sarcopenia. We performed a systematic review of the current literature examining the relationships between four major sensory impairments [vision (VI), hearing (HI), smell (SI), and taste (TI)] with (i) sarcopenia; and (ii) its associated components (low handgrip strength, slow gait speed, and low muscle mass).

Level of appropriate primary diabetic eyecare delivered and achievable in optometry practices in Australia.

Clinical Relevance: Current levels of appropriateness for primary diabetic eyecare delivered by Australian optometrists are presented along with realistic targets (benchmarks) for quality improvement. The demonstrated methods can be used in practice evaluation and benchmarking of other clinical practice areas and settings.

Background: To examine the appropriateness of diabetic eye-care delivery and establish achievable benchmarks of care (ABCs) for optometry practices in Australia.

The appropriateness of and barriers to glaucoma care delivery by Australian optometrists.

Clinical Relevance: Establishing the level of appropriateness and barriers to glaucoma care delivery by Australian optometrists are important first steps in developing tailored interventions aimed at improving glaucoma care delivery.

Background: To determine the appropriateness of and barriers to glaucoma care by optometrists.

Methods: A mixed method study was conducted.

Feasibility of Implementing Recommendations to Reduce Fall Risk in Older People: A Delphi Study.

Significance: This study provides guidance for the implementation of recommendations for falls prevention in optometry practice, through synthesis with the optometrists' viewpoint as a major stakeholder. Educators and clinicians can adopt the revised recommendations and associated implementation strategies in this research for successful integration into optometric practice.

Purpose: Recommendations for optometrists to help prevent falls in older patients were published in 2019 by Optometry Australia.

Temporal Trends in Characteristics and Outcomes Associated With In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A 20-Year Analysis (1999-2018).

Background Despite advances in resuscitation medicine, the burden of in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) remains substantial. The impact of these advances and changes in resuscitation guidelines on IHCA survival remains poorly defined. To better characterize evolving patient characteristics and temporal trends in the nature and outcomes of IHCA, we undertook a 20-year analysis of a national database.

The longitudinal psychological, physical activity, and financial impact of a COVID-19 lockdown on older adults in Singapore: The PIONEER-COVID population-based study.

Background: Several countries have implemented 'lockdown' measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Aims: To examine the psychological, physical activity (PA), and financial impact of a 2-month COVID-19 lockdown on older adults aged ≥60 years in Singapore, and to identify factors associated with adverse lockdown-related outcomes.

Method: We interviewed 496 community-dwelling adults (mean age [standard deviation]: 73.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 among multiethnic elderly Asian residents in Singapore: a mixed-methods study.

Introduction: We investigated the knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) towards coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its related preventive measures in Singaporeans aged ≥60 years.

Methods: This was a population-based, cross-sectional, mixed-methods study (13 May 2020-9 June 2020) of participants aged ≥ 60 years. Self-reported KAP about ten symptoms and six government-endorsed preventive measures related to COVID-19 were evaluated.

Asthma and COVID-19: lessons learned and questions that remain.

Introduction: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. As a disease of the respiratory tract, the site of entry for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, there may be an important interplay between asthma and COVID-19 disease.

Areas Covered: We report asthma prevalence among hospitalized cohorts with COVID-19.

Identifying the content for an item bank and computerized adaptive testing system to measure the impact of age-related macular degeneration on health-related quality of life.

Purpose: We are developing an age-related macular degeneration (AMD) health-related quality of life (HRQoL) item bank, applicable to Western and Asian populations. We report primarily on content generation and refinement, but also compare the HRQoL issues reported in our study with Western studies and current AMD-HRQoL questionnaires.

Methods: In this cross-sectional, qualitative study of AMD patients attending the Singapore National Eye Centre (May-December 2019), items/domains were generated from: (1) AMD-specific questionnaires; (2) published articles; (3) focus groups/semi-structured interviews with AMD patients (n = 27); and (4) written feedback from retinal experts.

Systematic review of diabetic eye disease practice guidelines: more applicability, transparency and development rigor are needed.

Objectives: To assess the quality of diabetic eye disease clinical practice guidelines.

Study Design And Setting: A systematic search of diabetic eye disease guidelines was conducted on six online databases and guideline repositories. Four reviewers independently rated quality using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument.

Prevalence, Associated Factors and Health-related Quality of Life of Dual Sensory Impairment in Residential Care Facilities in Singapore.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of dual sensory impairment (DSI), its associated factors and relationship with health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in residential care facilities (RCF) in Singapore.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 123 residents aged ≥40 years from six RCFs, conducted between 2016 and 2018. DSI was defined as concomitant presenting visual acuity (better-eye) >0.

Incidence and Predictors of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Sarcoidosis: A Nationwide Analysis.

Objectives: This study sought to identify electrocardiographic (ECG) and clinical predictors of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in sarcoidosis.

Background: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of death in cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and may be the earliest manifestation of disease. Widespread or repeated advanced imaging is a challenging solution to this problem.

Impact of corticosteroids in hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

Background: Corticosteroids are a potential therapeutic agent for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The RECOVERY (Randomised Trials in COVID-19 Therapy) trial provided data on the mortality benefits of corticosteroids. The study aimed to determine the association between corticosteroid use on mortality and infection rates and to define subgroups who may benefit from corticosteroids in a real-world setting.