INTRODUCTION The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the association of three different clinical score systems with the mortality in hip fracture patients. METHODS A literature search was conducted on November 13, 2011 using PubMed and Embase. The search yielded 315 publications which were reviewed on the basis of the inclusion criteria. RESULTS Thirteen studies were included for further...

BACKGROUND This retrospective study investigated the association between the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score and the survival of patients with stage IIIB-IV (advanced, non-resectable) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who also did not have gene mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). METHODS The records of 165 patients (28-80 y, median...

BACKGROUND A score based on serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and HDL cholesterol was positively associated with death from cancer, circulatory disease, and all-cause mortality. We replicated this in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), a US nationally representative survey conducted between 1988-1994...

INTRODUCTION Partial nephrectomy is the gold standard for treatment of small renal masses. Our study compares outcomes for obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥30) and healthy (BMI <30) patients undergoing laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) with the intention of defining preoperative risk factors for complications and renal insufficiency in the obese. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a retrosp...

BACKGROUND The Charlson Score is a particularly popular form of comorbidity adjustment in claims data analysis. However, the effects of certain implementation decisions have not been empirically examined. OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of alternative data sources and lookback periods on the performance of Charlson scores in the prediction of mortality following hospitalization. SUBJECTS...

Postsurgical chemotherapy is guideline-recommended therapy for stage III colon cancer patients. Factors associated with patients not receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were identified in numerous studies; comorbidity was recognized as an important factor besides patient's age. We assessed the association between comorbidity and the use of adjuvant chemotherapy and type of chemotherapy regimen. Sta...

The management of localized prostate cancer continues to be an area of tremendous controversy. In 1 of the only clinical trials supporting an aggressive approach, an overall survival benefit for radical prostatectomy versus watchful waiting was limited to men aged <65 years at diagnosis and could be demonstrated only after 10 years of follow-up. In addition, a small minority of the men were dia...