TASK DEFINITION: Given a passage with a context and an answer, construct a question on the basis of the information present in the passage. Construct the question in such a way that (i) it is unambiguous, (ii) it is answerable from the passage, (iii) its answer is unique (iv) it answer uses text phrases from the passage. Avoid creating questions that (i) can't be answered correctly without actually understanding the passage and (ii) uses the same words or phrases given in the passage.
PROBLEM: Context: Tissue factor (TF) contributes to thrombosis following plaque disruption in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Aim of the study was to investigate the impact of plasma TF activity on prognosis in patients with ACS.', 'One-hundred seventy-four patients with unstable Angina pectoris (uAP) and 112 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were included with a mean follow up time of 3.26 years. On admission, plasma TF activity was assessed. Patients were categorized into 2 groups: a high-TF activity group with TF >24 pmol/L and low TF activity group with TF ≤ 24 pmol/L. Fifteen cardiovascular deaths occurred in the uAP group and 16 in the AMI group. In AMI TF activity was 24,9 ± 2,78 pmol/l (mean ± SEM) in survivors and 40,9 ± 7,96 pmol/l in nonsurvivors (P = 0.024). In uAP no differences were observed (25.0 ± 8.04 pmol/L nonsurvivors vs. 25.7 ± 2.14 pmol/L survivors; P = 0.586). Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival at 3.26 years regarding TF activity in AMI were 81.3% and 92.2% with an hazard ratio of 3.02 (95% CI [1.05-8.79], P = 0.03). The Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for correlates of age and risk factors showed that plasma TF activity was an independent correlate of survival (hazard ratio 9.27, 95% CI [1.24-69.12], P = 0.03). In an additional group of patients with uAP and AMI, we identified circulating microparticles as the prevailing reservoir of plasma TF activity in acute coronary syndromes.
Answer: Systemic TF activity in AMI has an unfavorable prognostic value and as a marker for dysregulated coagulation may add to predict the atherothrombotic risk.

SOLUTION: Does plasma TF activity predict cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction?

PROBLEM: Context: Anemia is an established adverse risk factor in cardiovascular disease. However, the effect of preoperative anemia is not well defined in heart surgery. This study evaluates the effect of preoperative anemia on early clinical outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.', 'A retrospective, observational, cohort study of prospectively collected data was undertaken on 7,738 consecutive patients undergoing heart surgery between April 2003 and February 2009. Of these, 1,856 patients with preoperative anemia were compared to 5,882 patients without anemia (control group). According to the World Health Organization, anemia was defined as hemoglobin level\u2009<\u200913 g/dl for men and <12 g/dl for women. Selection bias not controlled by multivariable methods was assessed with propensity-adjustment method.', 'Overall mortality was 2.1%. Preoperative anemia was associated with tripling in the risk of death (4.6% vs 1.5%, p\u2009<\u20090.0001) and postoperative renal dysfunction (18.5% vs 6.5%, p\u2009<\u20090.0001). There was also a significant difference between the anemic and non-anemic group in the risk of postoperative stroke (1.9% vs 1.1%, p\u2009=\u20090.008), atrial fibrillation (36.7% vs 33%, p\u2009=\u20090.003) and length of hospital stay\u2009>\u20097 days (54% vs 36.7%, p\u2009<\u20090.0001). In propensity-adjusted, multivariable logistic regression, preoperative anemia was an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02 to 2.03), postoperative renal dysfunction (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.1) and length of hospital stay\u2009>\u20097 days (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.47).
Answer: In patients undergoing heart surgery, preoperative anemia is associated with an increased risk of mortality and postoperative morbidity.

SOLUTION: Does preoperative anemia increase mortality and postoperative morbidity after cardiac surgery?

PROBLEM: Context: Fragility fractures are a major health care problem worldwide. Both hip and non-hip fractures are associated with excess mortality in the years following the fracture. Residents of long-term nursing homes represent a special high-risk group for poor outcomes. Orthogeriatric co-management models of care have shown in multiple studies to have medical as well as economic advantages, but their impact on this high-risk group has not been well studied.', 'We studied the outcome of long-term care residents with hip and non-hip fractures admitted to a geriatric fracture center.', 'The study design is a single center, prospective cohort study at a level-I trauma center in Austria running a geriatric fracture center. The cohort included all fragility fracture patients aged over 70 admitted from a long-term care residence from May 2009 to November 2011. The data set consisted of 265 patients; the mean age was 86.8\xa0±\xa06.7\xa0years, and 80\xa0% were female. The mean follow-up after the index fracture was 789\xa0days, with a range from 1 to 1842\xa0days. Basic clinical and demographic data were collected at hospital admission. Functional status and mobility were assessed during follow-up at 3, 6, and 12\xa0months. Additional outcome data regarding readmissions for new fractures were obtained from the hospital information database; mortality was crosschecked with the death registry from the governmental institute of epidemiology.', '187 (70.6\xa0%) patients died during the follow-up period, with 78 patients (29.4\xa0%) dying in the first year. The mean life expectancy after the index fracture was 527 (±431) days. Differences in mortality rates between hip and non-hip fracture patients were not statistically significant. Compared to reported mortality rates in the literature, hip fracture patients in this orthogeriatric-comanaged cohort had a significantly reduced one-year mortality [OR of 0.57 (95\xa0% CI 0.31-0.85)]. After adjustment for confounders, only older age (OR 1.091; p\xa0=\xa00.013; CI 1.019-1.169) and a lower Parker Mobility Scale (PMS) (OR 0.737; p\xa0=\xa00.022; CI 0.568-0.957) remained as independent predictors. During follow-up, 62 patients (23.4\xa0%) sustained at least one subsequent fracture, and 10 patients (3.4\xa0%) experienced multiple fractures; 29 patients (10.9\xa0%) experienced an additional fracture within the first year. Nearly, half (47.1\xa0%) regained their pre-fracture mobility based on the PMS.
Answer: Despite the generally poor outcomes for fragility fracture patients residing in long-term care facilities, orthogeriatric co-management appears to improve the outcome of high-risk fragility fracture patients. One-year mortality was 29.4 % in this cohort, significantly lower than in comparable trials. Orthogeriatric co-management may also have positive impacts on both functional outcome and the risk of subsequent fractures.

SOLUTION:
Does orthogeriatric co-management improve the outcome of long-term care residents with fragility fractures?