Epidemiological Study

This observational study focuses on children under 18 years of age with tracheostomies who are followed at the Long-Term Intensive Care Unit (LIVA) at Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden. It aims to determine how often tracheostomy-related airway complications are asymptomatic or linked to symptoms detected through surveillance airway endoscopy. Additionally, the study evaluates how accurately caregivers and pediatricians can identify symptoms related to serious airway complications. Children scheduled for regular surveillance airway endoscopy under anesthesia as part of their follow-up at LIVA will be included. Upon admission, caregivers complete a questionnaire about possible symptoms of airway complications. The child then undergoes a physical exam and medical history review by a pediatrician following a set protocol. An ENT surgeon, unaware of the questionnaire and pediatrician exam results, performs the airway endoscopy to identify complications. During the study, researchers will compare caregiver and pediatrician reports with findings from airway endoscopy to assess symptom reliability. The main measurements include the proportion of patients with serious tracheostomy airway complications who show no symptoms before endoscopy. The study spans two years, with ongoing surveillance and the collection of data on symptoms and complications. Ethical approval has been obtained to conduct this research.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Denmark, often developing slowly without symptoms. This trial evaluates a complex intervention designed to improve how general practitioners (GPs) use prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests in line with national guidelines. The goal is to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment caused by unnecessary PSA testing, by promoting evidence-based practice among GPs in quality clusters. The intervention involves a cluster package including a pre-recorded podcast for GPs, a two-hour cluster meeting with educational material and group discussions, and two sets of hand-outs to support GPs in their clinics. Quality clusters are randomized to either receive this intervention over six months or act as a control group, which will be offered the intervention afterward. Participants, who are quality clusters of GPs, will be involved in cluster meetings and use the provided materials. Researchers will measure changes in PSA testing frequency among men during the six-month intervention period, as well as variations between GPs. The study includes assessments of PSA test use before and after the intervention to evaluate its impact on clinical practice.

Researchers are evaluating the efficacy and safety of biological agents in patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), a condition that often affects people with severe bronchial asthma. The study follows guidelines from ISHAM for ABPA diagnosis and treatment, aiming to understand how biologics can impact this condition. This is a prospective, multicenter observational cohort study sponsored by Qianfoshan Hospital. Participants receive standard medical treatment consisting of oral prednisone with a tapering dose over several weeks, with or without oral voriconazole. Some patients also receive biological agents combined with this standard therapy for at least four months, following GINA2025 guidelines. The biologics are given alongside existing asthma treatments, such as inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists. The study compares groups receiving biologics plus standard treatment versus standard treatment alone. During the study, researchers monitor participants for one to two years, assessing the number of exacerbations, hospitalizations, time to first exacerbation, remission rates, glucocorticoid use, asthma control, and various immune markers such as serum IgE and eosinophil counts. Safety and overall mortality are also tracked. This extensive follow-up includes measuring treatment responses at eight weeks and ongoing assessments to evaluate long-term effects and disease control.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a sudden and severe lung injury that leads to acute respiratory failure, affecting around 3 million people worldwide each year and accounting for about 10% of intensive care unit admissions. Because there are no specific drug treatments available, mechanical ventilation is the main method used to support patients. This study aims to identify and analyze factors that predict outcomes for patients with ARDS to help improve their prognosis and reduce poor outcomes. This is an observational study where patients with ARDS or at high risk for ARDS are monitored without any investigational treatment intervention. The study observes various clinical measures daily, including chest CT scans, complete blood counts, arterial blood gases, and records fluid balance and mechanical ventilation data continuously after intubation. The study collects detailed health data to better understand ARDS progression and outcomes. Participants will be closely monitored through daily scans, blood tests, and respiratory assessments after enrollment. The main outcomes being measured are mortality rates at 28 and 60 days after diagnosis of ARDS. Monitoring includes continuous mechanical ventilation data and fluid balance whenever changes occur. The study involves informed consent and follows patients during their critical illness to gather real-world information on respiratory failure outcomes.

Researchers are evaluating an artificial intelligence (AI) model designed to help doctors predict patient diagnoses and outcomes, such as survival and length of hospital stay. This prospective study uses real-time, multimodal health data from hospital electronic health records, including labs, vital signs, medical history, and imaging. The goal is to improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis and treatment in real-world hospital settings, enhancing patient care. The study involves patients admitted to various hospital departments, including ICU, general wards, emergency, and outpatient services. The AI system integrates multiple types of patient data to support clinical decision-making while patients continue to receive standard examinations and care. This observational study follows patients to compare the AI model's performance with standard practice over time. Participants will be tracked using electronic health records and hospital data to assess outcomes such as diagnostic accuracy, hospital resource use, and adverse event rates over one year. Researchers will measure improvements in hospital efficiency, patient outcomes, and population health impact. The study aims to provide real-world evidence of how AI may assist medical decision-making across hospital settings.

The study focuses on patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), a key part of modern healthcare that provides specialized care for critically ill individuals. It aims to analyze how patient outcomes and mortality rates have changed over time from 1991 to 2026 at the Hospital Universitario Getafe's 18-bed medical-surgical ICU. The research highlights the evolution of intensive care practices, particularly regarding mechanical ventilation and its impact on patient survival. This is an observational study that does not involve specific treatments or interventions. Instead, it reviews data collected over several decades, including changes in ICU management strategies, respiratory support techniques, and other critical care practices. The study covers various outcomes such as use of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU and hospital stay, and complications during ICU admission. Participants will have their medical records and outcomes analyzed retrospectively without additional procedures or interventions. Researchers will measure ICU mortality at 180 days as the primary outcome and also examine hospital mortality, 28-day mortality, mechanical ventilation use, length of stay, and complications over the same period. The study spans from patients admitted since 1991 through to 2026, providing a long-term view of ICU patient care evolution and outcomes.

Researchers are developing and managing the AnovaOS Network Powered Patient Registry to collect real-world patient data across various diseases globally. This registry aims to capture meaningful clinical information on diagnosis, infection course, treatments, and outcomes to enhance understanding and support future clinical trials and observational studies. The registry serves as a resource to better understand, prevent, diagnose, and treat diverse health conditions. Participants' data will be gathered through this registry, which can also be used to recruit individuals for clinical trials and observational studies on promising therapies. The registry collects ongoing information on patients' health status and treatments, enabling long-term monitoring and analysis. This observational study does not involve administering treatments but focuses on data collection and management. Participants will provide information through questionnaires or instruments, either personally or via an informed proxy, with an expected follow-up once per year. The research team will assess natural history, clinical effectiveness, safety, and quality of care over a period of five years. The registry includes patients with a wide range of conditions, and participation requires informed consent and the ability to complete follow-up data collection.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause progressive and irreversible joint damage, often linked to personal or family history of psoriasis. This research aims to follow patients with recent peripheral arthritis attributed to PsA to describe the severity of joint damage over 5 and 10 years and identify factors like genetic, environmental, clinical, and treatment-related influences that predict this damage. The study will create a unique long-term database to better understand the disease and guide new treatment targets and assessments. This is a prospective national study involving 425 patients across 30 centers, followed for 10 years after experiencing their first episode of peripheral arthritis within the past year. Standardized visits will collect clinical information, patient-reported outcomes, lab tests, and samples including plasma, serum, urine, RNA, and DNA. Imaging assessments such as X-rays, ultrasounds, and MRI will be performed at different times. No treatment decisions will be made during these visits as it is an observational study. Participants will attend regular scheduled visits over the 10-year period where various clinical and laboratory data will be gathered. Researchers will monitor joint damage through X-rays at 5 and 10 years, assessing erosions, joint space narrowing, and periostitic lesions. The study will also collect patient-reported outcomes and biological samples to support multiple research projects. Participation requires informed consent and affiliation to a social security system, with safety and language ability monitored throughout.

Researchers are collecting various biological samples, such as blood, urine, body fluids, skin swabs, and skin biopsies, to support medical research conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Vaccine Research Center. The samples help study infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis, immune system responses, and the development of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. The study includes children from 3 years old and adults, including healthy volunteers and those with infections or allergic or autoimmune conditions. Specimens are collected through standard blood draws (phlebotomy) or apheresis, which involves removing blood, separating desired components like plasma or white blood cells, and returning the rest to the participant. The apheresis procedure takes about 1 to 3 hours with the participant reclining. Samples may also include mucosal secretions, skin swabs, and biopsies. Collection can occur at clinic visits, outside labs, or at home, with shipments sent to the research center. Participants may donate samples once or repeatedly over a 1-year enrollment period, which can be extended. Participants undergo sample collection and provide basic medical and demographic information linked to their samples by ID number only. The study monitors safety during procedures and collects data on participant identity proof and consent. There are no specific study endpoints as samples support various research projects. Participation can last a year or more, with ongoing review by an ethics committee. The primary outcome measured is the successful collection of samples for research use.

This research aims to create a comprehensive registry of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Argentina, including both children and adults. The registry collects detailed demographic, clinical, and diagnostic information from routine medical care to better understand IBD in this population. It also evaluates safety aspects, such as infections, access to healthcare, and treatment effectiveness, including complications like flares, hospitalizations, and surgeries. The registry is observational, involving no experimental treatments or interventions. It is coordinated by multiple committees overseeing administration, scientific initiatives, and methodological support. Physicians across Argentina who manage IBD patients contribute data through a secure web platform. Participation is voluntary for both doctors and patients, with ethical approval and informed consent processes in place to protect patient privacy. Participants contribute data during routine clinical visits, which are uploaded and monitored centrally to ensure quality and completeness. Researchers analyze information on demographics, treatment safety, and clinical outcomes. The registry supports ongoing research projects to address important regional questions on IBD. Participation duration and follow-up depend on routine care, with data collection continuing over time to support epidemiological studies.