This week Amol and Nathan discuss two studies:
A multi-centre, prospective study evaluated the physical and mental health status of caregivers for patients discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU). Using hospital data and self-administered questionnaires, the study found most caregivers of critically ill patients are at high risk for depression, anxiety and poor mental health. Nathan and Amol discuss the public policy implications of these results.
Evidence of airway obstruction seen on pulmonary function tests (PFT) is one of the main criteria for making a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, among people who smoke, some do not have significant airflow obstruction on PFT yet report symptoms suggestive of COPD. A multi-centre, observational study found that symptomatic smokers with normal lung function experienced more exacerbations than asymptomatic smokers with mild to moderately abnormal lung function. Amol and Nathan discuss the possible hypotheses this research generates.
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The Papers
1. Caregiver burden: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1511160?rss=mostEmailed
2. Symptoms of people who smoke: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1505971#t=abstract
Good Stuff
1. White coat: http://www.physiciansweekly.com/mystery-solved-keep-your-white-coats/
2. Doxorubicin cardiomyopathy: http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v22/n5/full/nm.4087.html
Music Credits (Creative Commons)
In your Robotic Heart – Nicolai Heidlas https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas/in-your-robotic-heart
Drive – Nicolai Heidlas https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas/drive-fresh-upbeat-pop-background-music
Vintage Dream – Nicolai Heidlas https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas/vintage-dream-loungejazzy-background-music
All tracks have been modified for the purposes of this podcast.
