Browsing by Author "Šablinskis, Kristaps"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage and Factors Influencing Vaccine Hesitancy among Patients with Inborn Errors of Immunity in Latvia: A Mixed-Methods Study
    (2023-10-25) Lucāne, Zane; Kursīte, Mirdza; Šablinskis, Kristaps; Gailīte, Linda; Kurjāne, Nataļja; Department of Biology and Microbiology; Department of Public Health and Epidemiology; Department of Internal Diseases; Scientific Laboratory of Molecular Genetics
    Background: The European Society for Immunodeficiencies recommends that all patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) without contraindications should receive SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The aim of this study was to investigate the reasons that discourage IEI patients from receiving the recommended vaccination and to assess vaccination coverage among IEI patients in Latvia. Methods: In this multicenter mixed-methods study, the vaccination status of all patients with IEI within two tertiary centers in Latvia was reviewed using electronic health records. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 IEI patients who did not undergo vaccination, and a thematic analysis was performed. Results: A total of 341 patients (49.3% female; median age 19.7 years (IQR:17)) were included in the quantitative part. The proportion of fully vaccinated individuals aged ≥ 12 years was 66.8%–70.9% with patients with selective IgA deficiency and 58.8% with other IEI (χ² = 14.12, p < 0.001). The proportion of fully vaccinated individuals aged 5–11 years was 11.1%. Age was associated with vaccination status: younger patients were found to have a significantly lower likelihood of receiving vaccination (U = 8585, p < 0.001). The five main themes identified were as follows: (1) fear and uncertainty; (2) risk and benefit assessment: COVID-19 vaccine—is it worth it? (3) external influences: the dark horse of the decision-making—people around us; (4) individuals against the system; and (5) beliefs about vaccination and COVID-19. Under-representation of certain IEI groups and recall bias are possible limitations of this study. Conclusions: While most reasons for hesitancy were similar to those previously described in the general population, disease-specific concerns were also identified.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Transcatheter vs. surgical closure of atrial septal defects in adults
    (2018-02) Rudzītis, Ainars; Šablinskis, Kristaps; Luriņa, Baiba; Cgojeva-Sproge, Irina; Grave, Aļona; Dombrovskis, Andis; Stradiņš, Peteris; Erglis, Andrejs; Rīga Stradiņš University
    Percutaneous transcatheter device closure of secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) has now largely replaced surgical closure in most centres. The aim of this study was to compare results of transcatheter and surgical ASD closure in adults in Latvia during the years 2002-2014 and to analyse long-term outcomes of transcatheter closure. We analysed data from 334 patients with secundum ASD who underwent ASD closure in Pauls Stradiņč Clinical University Hospital. Patients were included into device or surgical closure groups. In the device group, three follow-ups were made 1, 6, and 12 months after the procedure. No follow-up data were available for surgical arm patients beyond their hospitalisation period. The mean age of patients was 45.3 ± 19.9 years for the device group and 40.0 ± 16.9 years for the surgical group (p = 0.023). The mean secundum ASD size in the device and surgical groups was 14.2 ± 5.6 mm and 28.7 ± 10.0 mm, respectively (p < 0.001). No differences were observed regarding procedure success rates: 99.2% in the device group and 100% in the surgical group (p = 0.451). Periprocedural complications generally were more common in the surgical closure group. The study results show a successful introduction of the percutaneous ASD closure method in Latvia with good early and late outcomes and without significant differences in procedure success rate compared to surgical closure.