Low health literacy levels in patients with chronic retinal disease

Background

A patient’s health literacy is fundamental for navigating the health system and managing disease. This study aimed to compare the health literacy levels of patients with chronic retinal disease in Denmark.

Methods

This cross-sectional questionnaire study used the validated HLS-EU-Q16 questionnaire to determine the health literacy of 225 patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME) or retinal vein occlusion (RVO), receiving intravitreal treatment at the retinal clinic, Zealand University Hospital, Denmark. Patients were consecutively included as participants for the study. All patients had the option of having the survey read aloud to them.

Results

Health literacy levels between the patient groups did not differ significantly, however, the proportion of patients with poor health literacy was high—65% of AMD patients, 73% of DME patients, and 63% of patients with RVO.

Conclusions

Low health literacy of patients with retinal disease signify a need for more health literacy research in the field of retinal diseases, to secure that patients have the timely and appropriate knowledge and competencies to manage their condition.

[Parinaud syndrome caused by corpus pineale tumour in a 14-year-old boy]

Parinaud syndrome (PS) can manifest in a pineal tumour. Major components of PS include restriction of gazing upwards, light-near dissociation and convergence retraction nystagmus. A 14-year-old boy presented with diplopia and restricted ability to gaze upwards. The objective examination revealed signs, which were compatible with the major manifestations of PS. A magnetic resonance scan (MRI) of cerebrum indicated pinealoma, and a pathological examination identified the lesion as a germ cell carcinoma. The patient received chemotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery. The ophthalmic symptoms improved, and a follow-up MRI demonstrated complete regression of the tumour.

[Parinaud syndrome caused by corpus pineale tumour in a 14-year-old boy]

Parinaud syndrome (PS) can manifest in a pineal tumour. Major components of PS include restriction of gazing upwards, light-near dissociation and convergence retraction nystagmus. A 14-year-old boy presented with diplopia and restricted ability to gaze upwards. The objective examination revealed signs, which were compatible with the major manifestations of PS. A magnetic resonance scan (MRI) of cerebrum indicated pinealoma, and a pathological examination identified the lesion as a germ cell carcinoma. The patient received chemotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery. The ophthalmic symptoms improved, and a follow-up MRI demonstrated complete regression of the tumour.

The impact of patients' involvement in cooking on their mortality and morbidity: a 19-year follow-up of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the impact of involvement in cooking on long-term morbidity and mortality among patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

DESIGN AND SUBJECTS

Data are from the population-based study Diabetes Care in General Practice. In baseline questionnaires, 1348 patients newly diagnosed with T2DM gave information on how frequently they consumed a warm main meal and how often they cooked it themselves. The selected patients were followed up for 19 years in the Danish National Patient Registry and the Danish Register of Causes of Death.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

This study analysed the association between involvement in cooking and each of seven pre-specified outcomes was analysed in Cox regression models with stepwise adjustment for possible confounders and mediators.

RESULTS

92% of the patients with T2DM consumed a warm main meal ≥ five times per week. Among these, women who cooked for themselves less than once a week had a higher risk of diabetes-related deaths (HR 1.86 [95% CI 1.03-3.35], p = 0.039) and stroke (HR 2.47 [95% CI 1.08-5.65], p = 0.033), after adjustment for confounders. For men, infrequent cooking was not related to increased risk for the outcomes investigated.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients newly diagnosed with T2DM and with a regular intake of warm main meals, infrequent involvement in cooking was associated with an increased risk of diabetes-related death and stroke for women, but not for men. General practitioners should pay special attention to managing diabetes treatment in female patients newly diagnosed with T2DM who report infrequent involvement in cooking.