Risk factors, medical

In principal, data on the epidemiology of anaphylaxis will help to identify causes, risk factors and circumstances of the reaction. It will support the medical commimity to develop measures for the protection of affected patients. A true incidence of anaphylaxis has not been established, reasons are diverse study designs and the fact that there has been no universal consensus as to the definition of anaphylaxis [ 1 ]. 

The reported risk factors for HIV-associated sensory neuropathy are varied and may have changed since the availability of HAART. In the pre-HAART era, age, nutritional deficiencies, alcohol exposure, higher HIV viral load, and low CD4 counts (Moyle and Sadler 1998 Childs et al. 1999), as well as mood, other neurologic disorders and functional abnormalities (Schifitto et al. 2002) were neuropathy risk factors. In the HAART era, the use of NRTI (Cherry et al. 2006 Pettersen et al. 2006) and exposure to protease inhibitor (PI) medication (Pettersen et al. 2006 Smyth et al. 2007) are considered additional risk factors. Although hepatitis C mono-infection has been associated with peripheral nerve disease, and there is... 

Patients should be classified as low-, moderate-, or at high-risk depending on their medical condition and presence of risk factors... 

A thorough medical history and physical exam are necessary to ascertain cardiovascular risk factors and to exclude non-ischemic... 

Given that VTE can be debilitating or fatal, it is important to treat it quickly and aggressively.8 On the other hand, because major bleeding induced by antithrombotic drugs can be equally harmful, it is important to avoid treatment when the diagnosis is not reasonably certain. Assessment of the patient s status should focus on the search for risk factors in the patient s medical history... 

Acute stroke is considered to be an acute medical emergency. Identification of the time and manner of stroke onset is an important determinant in treatment. The time the patient was last without symptoms is used as the time of stroke onset. Since patients typically do not experience pain, determining the onset time can be difficult. It is also important to document risk factors and previous functional status of the patient to assess current disability due to the stroke. 

Assess the patient s symptoms and history of exposure to risk factors. For new patients obtain a detailed medical history including ... 

The mean survival time of persons with AD is reported to be approximately 6 years from the onset of symptoms until death. However, age at diagnosis, severity of AD, and other medical conditions affect survival time.8 Although AD does not directly cause death, it is associated with an increase in various risk factors which often contribute to death such as senility, sepsis, stroke, pneumonia, dehydration, and decubitus ulcers. 

Assess for the safety of others and potential for violence. If accompanied by friends or family with whom the patient is living, ask them to remove from the home all guns, caustic chemicals, medications, and objects the person might use to harm self or others. Risk factors for suicide include severity of depression, feelings of hopelessness, comorbid personality disorder, and a history of a previous suicide attempt.19... 

Obtain a thorough medical and family history and carefully evaluate each patient s risk factors prior to prescribing contraceptives. 

This series of trials, and many more, has led to the dramatic change in how HRT is currently prescribed and greater understanding of the associated risks. HRT, once thought of as a cure-all for menopausal symptoms, is now a therapy that should be used only to reduce the frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause in women without risk factors for CHD or breast cancer. The changes that have occurred over the years in the use of HRT further support the importance of evidence-based practice and judicious medication use. 

HRT is indicated primarily for the relief of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms. It remains the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms and should be considered only in women experiencing those symptoms. Women with mild vasomotor symptoms may benefit from nonpharmacologic therapy alone however, many women will seek medical treatment for these symptoms. The benefits of HRT outweigh the risks in women who do not have CHD or CHD and breast cancer risk factors however, careful consideration should be given to alternative therapies for the relief of menopausal symptoms in women with these risks. Women should be involved in the decision and may choose to use HRT despite having some risk factors owing to the severity of their symptoms. Regardless of the situation, HRT should be prescribed at the lowest dose that relieves or reduces menopausal symptoms and should be recommended only for short-term use. Women should be reassessed every 6 to 12 months, and discontinuation of therapy should be considered. 

As the number of medications that a patient takes increases, so does the potential for DDIs. Disease severity, patient age, and organ dysfunction are all risk factors for increased DDIs. In general, DDIs can be broken down into two categories (1) pharmacokinetic interactions and (2) pharmacodynamic interactions. 

Non-infectious causes of meningitis include malignancy, medications, autoimmune disease (such as lupus), and trauma.8,9 The most common pathogens causing bacterial meningitis, by age group and other risk factors, are found in Table 67-1. 

A high index of suspicion should be maintained for patients at risk for CNS infections. Prompt recognition and diagnosis are essential so that antimicrobial therapy can be initiated as quickly as possible. A medical history (including risk factors for infection and history of possible recent exposures) and... 

In addition to medical and surgical management, non-pharmacologic interventions that reduce risk factors for developing osteomyelitis should be communicated to the patient. Examples include smoking cessation, weight-control, exercise, and good nutrition.2 Additionally, a diabetic patient... 

Review the patient s medical and social history. Was the patient exposed to clinical risk factors for lung cancer ... 

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