{"title":"The Undiagnosed Diseases Network: Characteristics of solvable applicants and diagnostic suggestions for nonaccepted ones","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.gim.2024.101203","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Can certain characteristics identify as solvable some undiagnosed patients who seek extensive evaluation and thorough record review, such as by the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN)?</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>The UDN is a national research resource to solve medical mysteries through team science. Applicants provide informed consent to access to their medical records. After review, expert panels assess if applicants meet inclusion and exclusion criteria to select participants. When not accepting applicants, UDN experts may offer suggestions for diagnostic efforts. Using minimal information from initial applications, we compare features in applicants who are not accepted with those who are accepted and either solved or still not solved by the UDN. The diagnostic suggestions offered to nonaccepted applicants and their clinicians were tallied.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Nonaccepted applicants were more often female, older at first symptoms and application, and longer in review compared with accepted applicants. The accepted and successfully diagnosed applicants were younger, shorter in review time, more often non-White, of Hispanic ethnicity, and presenting with nervous system features. Half of nonaccepted applicants were given suggestions for further local diagnostic evaluation. A few seemed to have 2 major diagnoses or a provocative environmental exposure history.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Comprehensive UDN record review generates possibly helpful advice.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":12717,"journal":{"name":"Genetics in Medicine","volume":"26 10","pages":"Article 101203"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Genetics in Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1098360024001370","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"GENETICS & HEREDITY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
Can certain characteristics identify as solvable some undiagnosed patients who seek extensive evaluation and thorough record review, such as by the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN)?
Methods
The UDN is a national research resource to solve medical mysteries through team science. Applicants provide informed consent to access to their medical records. After review, expert panels assess if applicants meet inclusion and exclusion criteria to select participants. When not accepting applicants, UDN experts may offer suggestions for diagnostic efforts. Using minimal information from initial applications, we compare features in applicants who are not accepted with those who are accepted and either solved or still not solved by the UDN. The diagnostic suggestions offered to nonaccepted applicants and their clinicians were tallied.
Results
Nonaccepted applicants were more often female, older at first symptoms and application, and longer in review compared with accepted applicants. The accepted and successfully diagnosed applicants were younger, shorter in review time, more often non-White, of Hispanic ethnicity, and presenting with nervous system features. Half of nonaccepted applicants were given suggestions for further local diagnostic evaluation. A few seemed to have 2 major diagnoses or a provocative environmental exposure history.
Conclusion
Comprehensive UDN record review generates possibly helpful advice.
期刊介绍:
Genetics in Medicine (GIM) is the official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. The journal''s mission is to enhance the knowledge, understanding, and practice of medical genetics and genomics through publications in clinical and laboratory genetics and genomics, including ethical, legal, and social issues as well as public health.
GIM encourages research that combats racism, includes diverse populations and is written by authors from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.