The Association between a Recorded Diagnosis of Obesity and Clinically Significant Weight Loss in the Primary Care Setting: A Nationwide Registry.

Introduction: Overweight and obesity (OW/OB) are underdiagnosed. The primary aim was to assess whether a diagnosis of OW/OB recorded by a primary care physician (PCP) is associated with clinically significant weight loss, compared to a missed diagnosis. The secondary aim was to investigate the association between OW/OB diagnosis and patient attendance at dietary consultations.

Serum Magnesium Is Associated with Long-Term Survival of Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients.

Background: Low serum magnesium (sMg) is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerotic disease.

Objective: To evaluate the association between sMg levels on admission and clinical outcomes in hospitalized non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients admitted to a single tertiary center with a primary diagnosis of NSTEMI.

Gastric cancer risk in the elderly is associated with omeprazole use and inversely associated with aspirin use.

Background: The association between long-term omeprazole use and gastric cancer (GC) risk is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of GC in elderly community-dwelling omeprazole chronic users with/without aspirin compared to non-users.

Methods: The registry of a large health management organization was searched for all community-dwelling members aged ≥65 years from January 2002 to December 2016.

Different effects of chronic omeprazole use on osteoporotic fractures rate in the elderly.

Aims: To investigate the potential association of chronic use of omeprazole with the occurrence of osteoporotic fractures (OF) in community-dwelling elderly subjects.

Methods: The cohort consisted of community-dwelling residents aged >65 years registered with a large health maintenance organization in Israel between January 2002 and December 2016. Data were retrospectively collected from the electronic medical files on demographics, parameters known to be associated with OF, diagnoses of osteoporotic hip, wrist, and vertebral fractures, and chronic use of omeprazole (>11 prescriptions/year).

Endothelial function predicts 5-year adverse outcome in patients hospitalized in an emergency department chest pain unit.

Background: Although endothelial function is a marker for cardiovascular risk, endothelial dysfunction assessment is not routinely used in daily clinical practice. A growing challenge has emerged in identifying patients prone to cardiovascular events. We aim to investigate whether abnormal endothelial function may be associated with adverse 5-year outcomes in patients presenting to a chest pain unit (CPU).

The Use of Brain Natriuretic Peptide as a Decision-supporting Tool in Hospitalized Patients.

Background: Most dyspneic patients in internal medicine departments have co-morbidities that interfere with the clinical diagnosis. The role of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels is well-established in the acute setting but not in hospitalized patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the additive value of BNP tests in patients with dyspnea admitted to medical wards who did not respond to initial treatment.

The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis-Calcium Score Improves Statin Treatment Allocation in Asymptomatic Adults.

Background: The current categorization of cardiovascular (CV) risk broadens the indications for statin therapy. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) identifies those who are most likely to benefit from primary prevention with statin therapy. The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis-calcium (MESA-C) includes CAC for CV risk stratification.

Pacing burden and clinical outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement-A real-world registry report.

Introduction: Conflicting data exist on the prognostic significance of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether PPM implantation after TAVR is associated with adverse outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a cohort comprised patients enrolled in a prospective registry between 2008 and 2019.

Association of Anemia with Dementia and Cognitive Decline among Community-Dwelling Elderly.

Introduction: The association of anemia with dementia in elders is controversial. We examined the potential association of anemia with dementia in a large population of elders.

Methods: Historical-prospective registry-based study.

Chronic omeprazole use in the elderly is associated with decreased risk of dementia and cognitive decline.

Background: The association between proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and increased risk of dementia is controversial.

Aim: Investigating this issue in a large population of community-dwelling elders.

Methods: Our database was retrospectively searched for all community-dwelling patients aged ≥65 years who newly diagnosed with dementia/cognitive decline (DCD) between January 2002 - December 2012.

Watch-PAT is Useful in the Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Early diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is critical. The WatchPAT (WP) device was shown to be accurate for the diagnosis of sleep apnea; however, studies using the WatchPAT device have thus far excluded patients with arrhythmias due to the potential effect of arrhythmias on the peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) amplitude and pulse rate changes.

Purpose: To examine the accuracy of the WP in detecting sleep apnea in patients with AF.

Use of proton pump inhibitors is associated with lower rates of first-time ischemic stroke in community-dwelling elderly.

Aim: Data on cardiovascular outcomes in elderly using proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are scant. We aimed to test the association between PPI use and the occurrence of first-time ischemic stroke (FTIS) among elderly.

Methods: The electronic database of a centrally located district branch of a large health maintenance organization in Israel was retrospectively screened (2002-2016) for community-dwelling individuals (≥65-95 years) for demographics and co-morbidities.

Pediatric reference values of TSH should be personalized according to BMI and ethnicity.

Objective: The need for personalization of the reference values of thyroid function tests has been previously suggested. We aimed at determining TSH reference values in a large cohort of children according to age, sex, BMI, and ethnicity.

Design: A population-based cohort study.

Statins and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are Associated with Longer Survival in Nursing Home Residents.

Background: Statins and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have beneficial effects on health outcomes in the general population. Their effect on survival in debilitated nursing home residents is unknown.

Objectives: To assess the relationships between statins, SSRIs, and survival of nursing home residents.

Detecting central sleep apnea in adult patients using WatchPAT-a multicenter validation study.

Study Objectives: To assess the accuracy of WatchPAT (WP-Itamar-Medical, Caesarea, Israel) enhanced with a novel systolic upstroke analysis coupled with respiratory movement analysis derived from a dedicated snoring and body position (SBP) sensor, to enable automated algorithmic differentiation between central sleep apnea (CSA) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) compared with simultaneous in-lab sleep studies with polysomnography (PSG).

Methods: Eighty-four patients with suspected sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) underwent simultaneous WP and PSG studies in 11 sleep centers. PSG scoring was blinded to the automatically analyzed WP data.

Risk of mortality and level of serum alanine aminotransferase among community-dwelling elderly in Israel.

Background: Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels below and above the reference range have been found to serve as a marker of liver injury and to predict all-cause mortality. The need to adjust the reference range by age, sex, or other parameters remains unclear. The current reference range of serum ALT in Israel is 0-34 IU/l for women and 0-45 IU/l for men.

Negative temporal artery biopsy: predictive factors for giant cell arteritis diagnosis and alternate diagnoses of patients without arteritis.

To investigate whether among patients with a negative temporal artery biopsy (TAB) there are clinical features that may differentiate between patients with an eventual diagnosis of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and those without arteritis, and to assess the eventual diagnoses of patients without arteritis. Retrospective analysis of patients with a negative TAB performed between 1/1/2000 and 31/12/2015. Information collected included baseline clinical and laboratory data.

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Predicts Cardiovascular Events in Hypertensive Patients With Coronary Artery Calcifications.

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for CV events. Our aim was to estimate the relative CV risk of LVH in the presence of CAC.

Bone Age Assessments by Quantitative Ultrasound (SonicBone) and Hand X-ray Based Methods are Comparable.

Background: Bone maturation is currently assessed by subjective and automated radiography.

Objectives: To evaluate the concordance and reproducibility of a quantitative ultrasound (QUS) based device versus X-ray based methods.

Methods: The study population comprised 150 children, 76 males, 4-17 years of age.

Effect of supplemented intake of omega-3 fatty acids on arrhythmias in patients with ICD: fish oil therapy may reduce ventricular arrhythmia.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fish oils, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on ventricular tachyarrhythmic episodes (VTEs) in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recipients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: One hundred five ICD recipients with ischemic cardiomyopathy received 3.6 g of EPA and DHA and placebo for 6 months, each at a random order, with a 4-month washout period between treatments.

Endothelial function predicts 1-year adverse clinical outcome in patients hospitalized in the emergency department chest pain unit.

Background: Endothelial function is a marker for cardiovascular risk. Thus, abnormal endothelial function may be associated with adverse 1-year outcome in patients presenting to the emergency department chest pain unit (CPU).

Methods: Following endothelial function testing, using EndoPAT 2000 in 300 consecutive subjects with chest pain and no history of coronary artery disease (CAD) presenting to CPU, patients underwent coronary computerized tomographic angiography (CCTA) or single-photon emission computed tomography according to availability.

Risk factors for severe cranial ischaemic events in patients with giant cell arteritis.

Objectives: Cranial ischaemic events constitute a significant component in the clinical spectrum of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Our aim was to investigate whether cardiovascular risk factors, specific medications and baseline clinical features are associated with the development of severe cranial ischaemic events in GCA patients.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of GCA patients.

Association between mortality and blood pressure variability in hypertensive and normotensive elders: A cohort study.

To evaluate the association between blood pressure variability (BPV) and mortality in the elderly, all blood pressure measurements recorded in a cohort of individuals 65 years and older were collected and the association between BPV coefficient of variation (BPV divided by mean arterial pressure) was calculated. Mortality during a 10-year period was compared between BPV coefficient of variation quartiles. Overall, 39 502 individuals 65 years and older were included in the analysis, of which 31 737 (80.

Association of glycated hemoglobin with hemoglobin levels in elderly nondiabetic subjects.

Background: Glycated hemoglobin (HgbA1C) is being increasingly used for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus due to its high availability and reproducibility. Several studies have shown that HgbA1C levels may be affected by levels of hemoglobin and nutritional factors associated with anemia, such as vitamin B12 and iron deficiency. However, none included elderly subjects.

Factors associated with suitability of empiric antibiotic therapy in hospitalized patients with bloodstream infections.

Background: Bacteremia is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Initiation of inadequate empiric antibiotic therapy is associated with a worse outcome. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and the factors associated with inappropriate empiric antibiotic therapy in patients hospitalized with bacteremia.