Maintenance of statin use over 3 years following acute coronary syndromes: a national data linkage study (ANZACS-QI-2)
Authors: Grey C et al.
Summary:
This study linked national hospitalisation, mortality and pharmaceutical
dispensing data for 11,348 patients aged 35–84 years discharged from a public hospital
with an acute coronary syndrome in New Zealand in 2007. Patients were followed for
3 years, to describe patterns of statin use and predictors of poor maintenance. Within
90 days of discharge, 83% had received a statin. The proportions of patients who were
adequately maintained on a statin (MPR ≥80%) were 69% in year 1 of follow-up, 67%
in year 2 and 66% in year 3. Patients taking statins prior to admission and those who
underwent a coronary procedure were 20–50% more likely to have a MPR ≥80% over
3 years than others. Patients aged 35–45 years and those of Māori or Pacific ethnicity were
13–25% less likely to have a MPR ≥80% than those aged 55–64 years and Europeans.
Reference: Heart 2014;100(10):770-4
Abstract
Ukaipō niho: the place of nurturing for oral health
Authors: Broughton JR et al.
Summary:
This paper reports on oral health-related characteristics, beliefs and
behaviours among 222 pregnant Māori women participating in a randomised controlled
trial of an intervention to prevent early childhood caries among Māori children. The
women were randomly allocated to Intervention or Delayed groups. There were no
systematic differences between these groups at baseline, other than those in the Delayed
group being slightly older, on average. Around 37.0% were expecting their first child.
Most reported good health; 43.6% were current smokers, and 26.4% had never smoked.
Current use of alcohol was reported by 8.2%. Almost all were dentate, and 57.7%
described their oral health as fair or poor. Toothache in the previous year was reported
by 1 in 6 respondents; 33.8% reported being uncomfortable about the appearance of
their teeth, and 27.7% reported difficulty in eating. Use of dental services was relatively
low and symptom-related; 78.9% needed to see a dentist. Overall, most of the sample
believed that it was important to avoid sweet foods, visit dentists and to brush the teeth,
while about half thought that using fluoride toothpaste and using floss were important.
Drinking fluoridated water was considered to be important by 38.2% of the women. There
was evidence of oral health-related fatalism: 74.2% believed that most people usually get
dental problems; 58.6% believed that most people will need extractions at some stage
and that most children eventually get dental caries.
Reference: N Z Dent J 2014;110(1):18-23
Abstract