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Aileen M Davis,1–5 Marvilyn Palaganas,1 Linda C Li6,7 1Division of Health Care and Outcomes Research, 2Arthritis Community Research and Evaluation Unit, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, 3Department of Physical Therapy, Institute of Health Policy, 4Management and Evaluation, 5Institute of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, 6Arthritis Research Canada, Richmond, 7Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada Introduction: In North America, delivery of targeted exercise and education programs by health professionals for people with hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) poses challenges related to cost and access. Linking the wellness and health sectors could increase program availability. We evaluated if people with OA were willing to participate in programs delivered by trainers in community centers/gyms. Methods: We conducted an online survey of the general public in Canada over a period of 2 months. Participants included those aged ≥30 years with self-reported chronic OA-like knee or hip pain. We evaluated access to community/fitness centers, exercise frequency, interest in attending an evidence-based program twice a week for 6 weeks, and willingness to pay. Analyses included descriptive statistics with 95% confidence intervals and chi-square tests to evaluate factors associated with willingness to attend the program. Results: After removing duplicate records, 751 respondents completed the survey with 408 likely having hip and/or knee OA and never having received a joint replacement. These 408 respondents had an age range of 30 to ≥75 years and 86% were female. Of the 408, (63.7%) were between 45 and 64 years of age. Only two respondents reported that a community center was >1 hour away. One hundred and fifty-six (38%) reported a current membership, and 203 (50.4%) reported exercise 3 days/wk, 120 (29.8%)

BackgroundTanzania has made significant progress in improving access to HIV care and treatment. However, virologic suppression among people living with HIV (PLHIV) has not been fully realized. In March 2019, Tanzania introduced a World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended dolutegravir-based regimen as the default first-line regimen. Eighteen months later we investigated the HIV viral suppression rates and the factors associated with lack of viral suppression among PLHIV (children and adults) in Tanzania.MethodologyA cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to December 2020 among PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Tanzania. Whole blood samples, demographic data and clinical information were obtained from eligible adults (≥15 years) and children (< 15 years) attending thirty-six HIV care and treatment centres located in 22 regions of Tanzania mainland. A whole blood sample from each participant was processed into plasma and HIV viral load was estimated using real-time PCR. HIV viral suppression was defined at a cut-off of < 50 copies/mL as recommended by WHO. Analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics to establish the national representative prevalence of viral suppression, and logistic regression analyses to determine independent factors associated with non-suppression.ResultsA total of 2,039 PLHIV on ART were recruited; of these, adults and children were 57.5% (n = 1173) and 42.5% (n = 866), respectively. Among the adult population, the mean age and standard deviation (SD) was 42.1 ± 12.4 years, with 64.7% being female. Among children, the mean age and SD were 9.6 ± 3 years, and 53.2% were female. Overall viral suppression at < 50 copies/mL (undetectable) was achieved in 87.8% of adults and 74.4% of children. Adults and children on dolutegravir-based regimen recorded viral suppression rates of 89.7% and 85.1% respectively. Factors independently associated with lack of viral suppression status in the adult population were age and ART adherence while in the children population, the factors were sex, ART adherence, and current ART regimen (pConclusionDolutegravir-based regimens are promising to help attain epidemic control in Tanzania. More efforts especially on ART adherence are needed to attain optimal treatment outcomes for children and adults PLHIV in Tanzania.

Background: Five million people die every year from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally. In Tanzania, more than two-thirds of deaths are NCD-related. The country is investing in preventive and advocacy activities as well as interventions to reduce the burden. Of particular interest, the Ministry of Health (MoH) commemorates NCDs’ week using a multisectoral and multi-stakeholders’ approach. This paper highlights activities conducted during NCDs week with the aim of sharing lessons for other countries with similar context and burdens. Methods: A thorough review of official reports and the national strategic plans for NCDs was done including the 2020 and 2021 National NCDs’ week reports, the National Strategic Plan for NCDs 2015–2020, and the National NCDs agenda. Findings: NCDs week is commemorated annually throughout the country involving the five key activities. First, community awareness and participation are encouraged through media engagement and community-based preventive and advocacy activities. Second, physical activities and sports festivals are implemented with a focus on developing and renovating infrastructures for sports and recreation. Third, health education is provided in schools to promote healthy behaviors for secondary school adolescents in transition to adulthood. Fourth, health service provision and exhibitions are conducted involving screening for hypertension, diabetes, obesity, alcohol use, and physical activities. The targeted screening of NCDs identified 10% of individuals with at least one NCD in 2020. In 2021, a third of all screened individuals were newly diagnosed with hypertension, and 3% were found to have raised blood glucose levels. Fifth, the national NCDs scientific conferences conducted within the NCDs week provide an avenue for stakeholders to discuss scientific evidence related to NCDs and recommend strategies to mitigate NCDs burden. Conclusion: The initiation of NCDs week has been a cornerstone in advocating for NCDs control and prevention in the country. It has created awareness on NCDs, encourage healthy lifestyles and regular screening for NCDs. The multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral approaches have made the implementation of the mentioned activities feasible and impactful. This has set an example for the united efforts toward NCD control and prevention at national, regional, and global platforms while considering contextual factors during adoption and implementation.

BackgroundThe emergence of HIV drug resistance mutations (DRMs) is of significant threat to achieving viral suppression (VS) in the quest to achieve global elimination targets. We hereby report virologic outcomes and patterns of acquired DRMs and its associated factors among adolescents and young adults (AYA) from a broader HIV drug resistance surveillance conducted in Tanzania.MethodsData of AYA was extracted from a cross-sectional study conducted in 36 selected facilities using a two-stage cluster sampling design. Dried blood spot (DBS) samples were collected and samples with a viral load (VL) ≥1000 copies/mL underwent genotyping for the HIV-1 pol gene. Stanford HIV database algorithm predicted acquired DRMs, Fisher's exact test and multivariable logistic regression assessed factors associated with DRMs and VS, respectively.FindingsWe analyzed data of 578 AYA on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 9-15 and ≥ 36 months; among them, 91.5% and 88.2% had VS (VLConclusionsVS amongst AYA is lower than the third UNAIDs target. Additionally, a high prevalence of ADR and high levels of circulating clinically relevant DRMs may compromise the long-term VS in AYA. Furthermore, the first VL result of ≥1000copies/ml after ART initiation is a significant risk factor for developing DRMs. Thus, strict VL monitoring for early identification of treatment failure and genotypic testing during any ART switch is recommended to improve treatment outcomes for AYA.

Objective: To assess rates of overweight/obesity and related health behaviors among rural and urban children using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).Methods: Data were drawn from the 2003-2004 and 2005-2006 NHANES surveys regarding demographic characteristics, weight status, dietary behaviors and physical activity behaviors.Results: Significantly more rural children were found to be obese than urban children. Health behavior differences to explain this differential obesity rate were primarily not significant, but multivariate analyses indicate that for rural children meeting physical activity recommendations is protective and engaging in more than 2 hr/day of electronic entertainment promotes obesity.Conclusions: There are modifiable health behavior differences between rural and urban children which may account for the significantly higher obesity rates among rural children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CONTEXT: The chiropractic profession is the largest, most established complementary and alternative medical (CAM) profession in the United States. The use of unconventional healthcare in the United States has increased in recent years, yet little is known about the market for specific CAM professions such as chiropractic. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the market for US chiropractors between 1996 and 2005. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We conducted a descriptive study of the chiropractic profession from 1996 to 2005 using data from the Medical Expenditure Survey, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The amount and proportion of outpatient healthcare expenditures on chiropractic care in the United States, total chiropractors, number of chiropractors per adult population (>18 years), graduates from chiropractic schools, and professional income of chiropractors. RESULTS: From 1996 to 2005 the proportion of outpatient US healthcare expenditures spent on chiropractic care increased from 2.15% to 3.26%. The total number of US chiropractors increased from 43 663 to 52 687 in 2004, but growth slowed between 2002 and 2004, resulting in a decrease in the number of chiropractors per 10000 US adults. Between academic years 1996 and 2001, chiropractic schools graduated about 3700 students each year; however, between 2001 and 2003, the annual number of chiropractic graduates decreased by 28%. Between 1998 and 2005, the inflation-adjusted median self-reported annual income of employed chiropractors fell from $76598 to $67200. CONCLUSION: From 1996 to 2005, relative expenditures on chiropractic care increased; however, the number of chiropractic graduates, the rate of growth of chiropractors, and the incomes of chiropractors have declined. Future research is needed to investigate why national expenditures on chiropractic care have increased despite an apparent decrease in the supply of US chiropractors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Increased wait times for total joint arthroplasty (TJA) are a concern nationally and provincially. Additionally, the number of patients requiring revision of their initial TJA is increasing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the wait times and impact of waiting for revision TJA.Methods: We followed 127 revision hip arthroplasty patients (mean age 68 y) prospectively while they waited for surgery. We collected Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (pain, stiffness and physical function) data at the decision for surgery and at 6-month intervals until surgery.Results: The mean wait time for surgery was 123.8 days (mean wait times for individual surgeons ranged from 7 to 213 d). Of the patients, 106 waited < 6 months, 12 waited 6-12 months and 9 waited > 12 months. Wait times evaluated up to 6 months, 6-12 months or > 12 months demonstrated significant increases in pain (F = 7.12, p = 0.01), with a mean change of 2.6 points when patients waited > 6 months. Physical disability increased (F = 4.61, p = 0.01), with a mean change of 5.1 points when the wait time was 6-12 months and 8.8 points when the wait time was > 12 months.Conclusion: Waiting > 6 months for revision hip arthroplasty resulted in significant increases in pain and physical disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the measurement properties of a new osteoarthritis (OA) pain measure.Methods: The new tool, comprised of 12 questions on constant vs intermittent pain was administered by phone to 100 subjects aged 40+ years with hip or knee OA, followed by three global hip/knee questions, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) pain subscale, the symptom subscales of the Hip Disability and OA Outcome Score (HOOS) or Knee Injury and OA Outcome Score (KOOS), and the limitation dimension of the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI). Test-retest reliability was assessed by re-administration after 48-96h. Item response distributions, inter-item correlations, item-total correlations and Cronbach's alpha were assessed. Principle component analysis was performed and test-retest reliability was assessed by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).Results: There was good distribution of response options across all items. The mean intensity was higher for intermittent vs constant pain, indicating subjects could distinguish the two concepts. Inter-item correlations ranged from 0.37 to 0.76 indicating no item redundancy. One item, predictability of pain, was removed from subsequent analyses as correlations with other items and item-total correlations were low. The 11-item scale had a corrected inter-item correlation range of 0.54-0.81 with Cronbach's alpha of 0.93 for the combined sample. Principle components analysis demonstrated factorial complexity. As such, scoring was based on the summing of individual items. Test-retest reliability was excellent (ICC 0.85). The measure was significantly correlated with each of the other measures [Spearman correlations -0.60 (KOOS symptoms) to 0.81 (WOMAC pain scale)], except the LLFDI, where correlations were low.Conclusions: Preliminary psychometric testing suggests this OA pain measure is reliable and valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about factors that might predict functional outcome following revision hip arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of pain and physical function at two years following revision total hip arthroplasty and to evaluate whether the time that the patient waited for the surgery and whether the patient had complications were significant predictors of outcome.Methods: One hundred and twenty-six patients (126 hips) were entered prospectively into the study when their name was placed on the waiting list for surgery. Baseline measures included demographic factors, comorbidities, and the responses to the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) questionnaires. Follow-up was carried out at six-month intervals while the patient was waiting for the surgery; within one week prior to the surgery; and at six, twelve, and twenty-four months after the surgery. Patient age and gender, the preoperative WOMAC pain and function scores, the physical and mental component scores of the SF-36, comorbidities, the number of revisions, bilateral joint replacement, and the severity of the revision were evaluated as possible predictors of ultimate pain and function as measured with the WOMAC instrument.Results: The mean age of the patients was 68.6 years. Improvement in WOMAC pain and function scores plateaued at six months. The mean pain score (and standard deviation) improved from 9.4 +/- 4.1 points preoperatively to 3.9 +/- 3.9 points at six months postoperatively, and the mean function score improved from 35.4 +/- 14.1 to 19.1 +/- 13.2 points. Preoperative pain (p = 0.002) and comorbidity (p = 0.02) were significant predictors of pain at two years. There was a trend toward preoperative function predicting function at twenty-four months (p = 0.07). There was no significant deterioration in the WOMAC pain or function score while the patients waited for surgery. Twenty-eight patients had complications. When the time that the patient waited for the surgery and complications were added to the models, only complications were found to be predictive of outcome (p = 0.04 for pain and p = 0.05 for function). Four patients required repeat revision during the follow-up period.Conclusions: Patients with better preoperative pain scores and fewer comorbidities have better outcomes following revision total hip arthroplasty. Although the time that the patient waited for the revision was not predictive of the ultimate WOMAC pain and function scores, we believe that performing revision arthroplasty before the patient has substantial functional compromise potentially improves the outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving treatment from a rheumatology-trained primary therapist and to assess the feasibility of the research protocol.Method: The experimental (E) group received treatment from a primary therapist in addition to their overall medical care. The usual care (UC) group continued receiving usual medical care. The first 10 patients completed the Health Assessment Questionnaire, a pain visual analogue scale, and the Arthritis Community Research and Evaluation Unit RA Knowledge Questionnaire. Patients were classified as clinical responders if they showed 20% improvement in two-thirds of core measures between baseline and 6 months. Baseline assessment was performed immediately prior to randomization. All patients completed the EuroQol and a monthly health resource use questionnaire.Results: A trend towards improvement was found in the E group (n = 11) in all clinical measures at discharge (approximately 6 weeks from baseline) and 6 months from baseline. In contrast, the UC group (n = 13) showed a slight deterioration in pain (at 6 weeks) and in disease-specific knowledge (at 6 months). Three of six patients in the E group and one of four patients in the UC group met the criteria of clinical responders.Conclusions: The study suggests an improvement trend in patient outcomes after treatment from a primary therapist and that the study protocol is feasible for a full-scale clinical trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]