What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Large pericardial effusions (n=233). Primary outcome: Prevalence and causes of large pericardial effusions.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the prevalence and underlying etiologies of large pericardial effusions within a major academic medical center in South Africa.

January 14, 2005Epidemiology and InfectionOpen Access

Epidemiology of pericardial effusions at a large academic hospital in South Africa

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Key result

Tuberculous pericarditis was the leading cause of large pericardial effusions (69.5%), and 96.4% of the 84 HIV-positive patients had tuberculous pericarditis.

Population

233 consecutive patients presenting with large pericardial effusions at a single academic hospital in South…

Design

Cohort

Follow-up

1 year

Authors

HRHelmuth ReuterSouth African Medical Research Council LBLesley BurgessUniversity of London ADAnton DoubellGeneral Cardiology

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Supports TB-focused evaluation of large effusions in HIV-endemic regions; leaves open generalizability and causal inference from observational data.

Key Points

To evaluate the prevalence and underlying etiologies of large pericardial effusions within a major academic medical center in South Africa.
Assessed a cohort of 233 patients presenting with large pericardial effusions at an academic hospital in the Western Cape Province.
Performed diagnostic workups comprising HIV testing, blood cultures, biochemical panels, serology, and sputum smears and cultures.
Identified tuberculous pericardial effusions using standardized, predetermined diagnostic criteria.
Tuberculous pericarditis was the primary cause of effusion, diagnosed in 69.5% of patients (n=162/233).
HIV co-infection was identified in 36.1% of patients (n=84/233), with 96.4% of these HIV-positive individuals (n=81/84) having tuberculous pericarditis.
More than 65% of patients were aged 15 to 39 years, with HIV prevalence reaching 49.0% among unemployed individuals compared to 30.0% among employed individuals.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=233)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Population

233 consecutive patients presenting with large pericardial effusions at a single academic hospital in South Africa, mean age 38.0 years, 56.7% male.

Outcome

Prevalence and aetiology of large pericardial effusions

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of large pericardial effusions in South Africa, heavily confounded by HIV co-infection and socio-economic deprivation.

Limitations

Lack of a matched control group for assessing risk factors like smoking and alcohol abuse

Cite This Study

Reuter et al. (2005) conducted an observational in Large pericardial effusions (n=233). Tuberculous pericarditis was the leading cause of large pericardial effusions (69.5%), and 96.4% of the 84 HIV-positive patients had tuberculous pericarditis.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0d6427fb8c7be8ffba6a65 https://doi.org/10.1017/s0950268804003577

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Implication

Supports TB-focused evaluation of large effusions in HIV-endemic regions; leaves open generalizability and causal inference from observational data.

Epidemiology of pericardial effusions at a large academic hospital in South Africa

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Epidemiology of pericardial effusions at a large academic hospital in South Africa

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider