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Objective: Previous studies describing menses duration and heaviness of flow during the menopausal transition (MT) have been short in duration and limited to white women. We estimated the frequency of and risk factors for prolonged bleeding, spotting and heavy bleeding during the MT in an ethnically diverse population.Design: Prospective community-based cohort study.Setting Usa: southeastern Michigan, northern California and Los Angeles, California.Population: A total of 1320 midlife women who participated in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) Menstrual Calendar Substudy. Participants included African-American, white, Chinese, and Japanese women.Methods: Women completed daily menstrual calendars from 1996 to 2006, and provided information on hormone therapy, smoking and physical activity. Annual measures included height and weight. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable regression were used to analyse the data.Main Outcome Measures: Menses of 10+ days, spotting of 6+ days, heavy bleeding of 3+ days.Results: At least three occurrences of menses 10+ days was reported by 77.7% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 56.7-93.2), of 6+ days of spotting by 66.8% (95% CI 55.2-78.0) and of 3+ days of heavy bleeding by 34.5% (95% CI 30.2-39.2) of women. Menses of 10+ days, 6+ days of spotting, and 3+ days of heavy bleeding were associated with MT stage, uterine fibroids, hormone use and ethnicity. Body mass index was associated with 3+ days of heavy bleeding.Conclusions: These data provide clinicians and women with important information about the expected frequency of prolonged and heavy bleeding and spotting during the menopausal transition that may facilitate clinical decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Previous studies describing menses duration and heaviness of flow during the menopausal transition ( MT) have been short in duration and limited to white women. We estimated the frequency of and risk factors for prolonged bleeding, spotting and heavy bleeding during the MT in an ethnically diverse population. Design Prospective community-based cohort study. Setting USA: southeastern Michigan, northern California and Los Angeles, California. Population A total of 1320 midlife women who participated in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation ( SWAN) Menstrual Calendar Substudy. Participants included African-American, white, Chinese, and Japanese women. Methods Women completed daily menstrual calendars from 1996 to 2006, and provided information on hormone therapy, smoking and physical activity. Annual measures included height and weight. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable regression were used to analyse the data. Main outcome measures Menses of 10+ days, spotting of 6+ days, heavy bleeding of 3+ days. Results At least three occurrences of menses 10+ days was reported by 77.7% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 56.7-93.2), of 6+ days of spotting by 66.8% (95% CI 55.2-78.0) and of 3+ days of heavy bleeding by 34.5% (95% CI 30.2-39.2) of women. Menses of 10+ days, 6+ days of spotting, and 3+ days of heavy bleeding were associated with MT stage, uterine fibroids, hormone use and ethnicity. Body mass index was associated with 3+ days of heavy bleeding. Conclusions These data provide clinicians and women with important information about the expected frequency of prolonged and heavy bleeding and spotting during the menopausal transition that may facilitate clinical decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed, implemented, and evaluated a myocardial infarction (MI) adjudication protocol for cohort research of human immunodeficiency virus. Potential events were identified through the centralized Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems data repository using MI diagnoses and/or cardiac enzyme laboratory results (1995–2012). Sites assembled de-identified packets, including physician notes and results from electrocardiograms, procedures, and laboratory tests. Information pertaining to the specific antiretroviral medications used was redacted for blinded review. Two experts reviewed each packet, and a third review was conducted if discrepancies occurred. Reviewers categorized probable/definite MIs as primary or secondary and identified secondary causes of MIs. The positive predictive value and sensitivity for each identification/ascertainment method were calculated. Of the 1,119 potential events that were adjudicated, 294 (26%) were definite/probable MIs. Almost as many secondary (48%) as primary (52%) MIs occurred, often as the result of sepsis or cocaine use. Of the patients with adjudicated definite/probable MIs, 78% had elevated troponin concentrations (positive predictive value = 57%, 95% confidence interval: 52, 62); however, only 44% had clinical diagnoses of MI (positive predictive value = 45%, 95% confidence interval: 39, 51). We found that central adjudication is crucial and that clinical diagnoses alone are insufficient for ascertainment of MI. Over half of the events ultimately determined to be MIs were not identified by clinical diagnoses. Adjudication protocols used in traditional cardiovascular disease cohorts facilitate cross-cohort comparisons but do not address issues such as identifying secondary MIs that may be common in persons with human immunodeficiency virus. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents an account of an interactive case presentation, which illustrates the diagnosis and clinical implications of aortic valve sclerosis and the progression of sclerosis to significant stenosis, and its appropriate diagnosis and management.

A response from the authors of the article "Lessons learned from the design and implementation of myocardial infarction adjudication tailored for HIV clinical cohorts" in the 2014 issue is presented.