Heart outside the chest

“Coração fora do peito” is a popular Portuguese expression that literally means “heart outside the chest”, but in this case it does not refer to a figure of speech. An 86-year-old male patient presented to his family physician due to pacemaker (PM) exteriorization with one week of evolution, without pain or fever.The patient has a…

Impact on food noise after initiating semaglutide treatment: results from a US survey (INFORM)

Food noise refers to obsessive and intrusive thoughts about food and poses a significant challenge for individuals striving to manage their weight. This cognitive and emotional distraction can lead to overeating and hindering of a healthy lifestyle implementation, including weight management efforts. The effectiveness of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, in promoting weight reduction in…

Prognostic Factors in Older Adults Presenting with Arrhythmias and Conduction Disorders in the Emergency Department

Cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disorders are life-threatening emergencies, especially in older adults. Early recognition and rapid management are essential, relying on an initial evaluation that identifies patients at highest risk of adverse outcomes.This study aimed to determine the predictors of in-hospital mortality among patients aged 65 years and older admitted to the emergency department for…

The Silent Stumble: Association Between Objective Sensory Impairment and Fall History Among Elderly Residents in Singapore Rental Housing

Falls cause significant morbidity among Singaporean seniors. In low-income populations lacking access to sensory aids, the contribution of undetected hearing and vision impairments to fall risk requires investigation.To investigate associations between vision/hearing screening outcomes and self-reported falls among rental-flat seniors, adjusting for age, gender, and dizziness.In October 2025, 147 Toa Payoh rental-flat residents (mean age:64.0±10.8) underwent…

Persistent Headaches: When Obstructive Hydrocephalus Hides in Plain Sight

Chronic headaches are a frequent presentation in general practice and are usually benign, but atypical or refractory forms may conceal a serious intracranial disorder. Diagnostic difficulty increases when initial investigations are non-contributive or when MRI is contraindicated. This case illustrates such a challenge: progressively worsening headaches with transient neurological symptoms ultimately revealing a periaqueductal tumor…

Profound Bilateral Hearing Loss in a Low-Risk Newborn: A Case Reflection from Primary Care

In primary care, universal newborn hearing screening is a key preventive service that allows early detection of hearing loss, even in infants without risk factors. Early identification and prompt referral are essential for optimal language, cognitive, and long-term outcomes. This case report outlines the evaluation and coordinated management of a term newborn diagnosed with bilateral…

Debureaucratization in Primary Care Consultations

Introduction: Excessive bureaucracy in primary care can lead to dissatisfaction among patients and healthcare professionals, reducing the efficiency and quality of care. This study evaluates the impact of a debureaucratization intervention in primary care.The main objective of the study is to assess the impact of a debureaucratization intervention in primary care on the efficiency and…

Collaborative Evaluation of Primary Care Research Projects: A Winning Approach?

The Réseau de recherche en soins primaires de l’Université de Montréal (RRSPUM) is a research network created to strengthen collaboration between researchers and the 21 university family medicine groups (GMFUs) to produce knowledge applicable to primary care. However, projects submitted to GMFUs are not always feasible within their clinical realities or aligned with their priorities.…

“Getting Ready’’ for my GAP consultation!

In Quebec (Canada), the Primary Care Access Point (Guichet d’accès à la première ligne – GAP) enables patients without a family physician to access primary care for non-urgent concerns. However, GAP consultations pose several challenges: clinicians are unfamiliar to patients, many of whom present complex needs, and appointment times are short. These conditions can create…