Hypokalemia is not an isolated disease but an associated finding in a number of different diseases. It is also a commonly neglected condition among patients with acute acetaminophen overdose.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) have shown promising results in decreasing the incidence and the severity of ischemic stroke in populations at risk and in improving ischemic stroke outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Hypertension and ischemic heart disease (IHD) are among the most prevalent modifiable risk factors for stroke. Clinical trial evidence suggests that antihypertensive medications are recommended for prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke in hypertensive and normotensive patients.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to analyze and evaluate the utilization of antihypertensive medication for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) survivors in relation to recent recommendations and guidelines and to compare their use among patients with or without IHD.
METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients with AIS/TIA attending the hospital from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, different classes of antihypertensive medications, and different antihypertensive combinations prescribed to AIS/TIA survivors were analyzed among patients with and without IHD. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program version 15 was used for data analysis.
RESULTS: In all, 383 AIS/TIA survivors were studied, of which 66 (19.5%) had a documented history of IHD. Three quarters (n = 260; 76.9%) of AIS or TIA survivors received antihypertensive medication, mostly as monotherapy, at discharge. The majority of patients (n = 201, 59.5%) were prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs). Patients with IHD were significantly prescribed more β-blockers than patients without IHD (P = .003). A history of hypertension, a history of diabetes mellitus, and age were significantly associated with prescription of antihypertensive medications at discharge (P < .001, P < .001, and P < .001, respectively).
CONCLUSION: Patterns of antihypertensive therapy were commonly but not adequately consistent with international guidelines. Screening stroke survivors for blood pressure control, initiating appropriate antihypertensive medications, and decreasing the number of untreated patients might help reduce the risk of recurrent strokes and increase survival.
The objectives of this study were to determine the risk factors and life stressors that are prevalent among the acetaminophen deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) cases, to identify gender differences in the associated factors, and to determine the prevalence of psychiatric diagnosis and the patterns and types of psychotherapeutic interventions provided by psychiatrists.
Intravenous N-acetylcysteine (IV-NAC) is widely recognized as the antidote of choice for acetaminophen overdose. However, its use is not without adverse drug reactions (ADR) that might affect therapeutic outcome or lead to treatment delay.