Adult Patients Research Articles

Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy as a Supplementary Treatment for Patients with Mental and/or Substance Use Disorders: An Observational Study on Treatment Outcome

Abstract This study examines whether adult patients (n = 105) with mental and/or substance use disorders benefit from equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP)—therapy with horses—in addition to regular treatment. The study used an observational pre-post-study design with two measurement points. Treatment outcomes were measured using standardized self-report instruments reflecting psychological distress (Hopkins Symptom Checklist-10), self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale-5), quality of life (Quality of Life-5), and emotion regulation (sub-scale from the Severity Indices of Personality Problems-118). All outcome measurements found statistically significant pre-post improvements after the EFP treatment program. The findings suggest that EFP could be a beneficial supplementary treatment for a broad range of patients with mental and/or substance use disorders. However, this observational study cannot establish causation or eliminate confounding variables.

A Pilot Study on the Impact of Smoking on Adipose Derived Stem Cell Function in Burn Patients

Abstract Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have an important role in the modulation of burned tissue repair through the release of paracrine factors that stimulate the wound healing response. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that smoking status alters the profile of paracrine factors secreted from ADSCs isolated from damaged adipose tissue. Adipose tissue was collected from adult patients (N=8) with severe burn injuries (>20% total body surface area) at the index operation. ADSCs were extracted and cultured in vitro. Supernatants were harvested 30 hours after plating and used for cytokine determinations by Multiplex assay. Fluorescence activated single cell sorting (FACS) confirmed their phenotype with markers CD 90, CD 166, and CD 73. Univariate analyses were performed to compare the two cohorts (Smokers vs non smokers). Higher amounts of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 (p=0.03) and IL-10 (p=0.04) and pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha (p=0.03), IL-8, and IFN-gamma (p=0.03) were detected in burn patients who were current everyday smokers when compared to nonsmokers, or former smokers. No significant differences in supernatant concentrations of IL-17, IL-1 beta, TGF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-13 were observed (p>0.05). Mortality was higher in the smoker group when compared to non-smokers. The results from this study suggest that smoking status in patients with a major burn injury may alter the paracrine factors secreted from ADSCs, and on-going studies will increase sample size and refine experimental approach. Furthermore, these results support the need for studies examining the systemic effects of smoking status of patients suffering burn injuries impacts the wound healing.

Speech Perception in Noise After Cochlear Implantation for Single-Sided Deafness

ImportanceThere is a lack of high level of evidence studies comparing the effect of different treatment options for single-sided deafness (SSD).ObjectiveTo determine the effect of a cochlear implant (CI), bone conduction device (BCD), contralateral routing of signals hearing aid (CROS), and no treatment on speech perception in noise outcomes in patients with SSD.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsIn this single-center randomized clinical trial, adult patients with SSD were randomized into 3 groups: CI; a trial period with first a BCD on a headband and then a CROS; or a trial period with first a CROS and then a BCD on a headband. After the trial periods, patients opted for a BCD, CROS, or no treatment. Measurements were completed at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months of follow-up. Data were collected from July 2014 to October 2021, and data were analyzed from December 2022 to May 2023.InterventionsCI, BCD then CROS, or CROS then BCD.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was the speech reception threshold in noise (SRTn), measured with speech and noise from the front (S0N0), speech directed to the poor ear and noise to the better ear (SpeNbe), and vice versa (SbeNpe). The secondary outcome was disease-specific quality of life (QOL).ResultsOf 120 included patients, 60 (50.0%) were female, and the mean (SD) age at inclusion was 53.0 (12.1) years. At the start of follow-up, 28 patients received a CI, 25 a BCD, 34 a CROS, and 26 chose no treatment. At 24 months, the CI group had significantly better speech perception in noise scores than the BCD group (difference in SRTn: SbeNpe, −4.7 dB; 95% confidence interval, −6.6 to −3.0; SpeNbe, −2.2 dB; 95% confidence interval, −4.6 to −1.1), the CROS group (difference in SRTn: S0N0, −1.3 dB; 95% confidence interval, −1.7 to −0.2; SbeNpe, −5.3 dB; 95% confidence interval, −6.0 to −3.1), and the no treatment group (difference in SRTn: SpeNbe, −6.3 dB; 95% confidence interval, −7.5 to −4.9). Compared with the no treatment group, the BCD and CROS groups showed significantly better (difference in SRTn for SpeNbe, −4.1 dB [95% confidence interval, −5.2 to −1.5] and −4.1 dB [95% confidence interval, −6.1 to −3.3], respectively) or worse (difference for SbeNpe, 4.0 dB [95% confidence interval, 2.6 to 6.2] and 4.6 dB [95% confidence interval, 2.8 to 5.7], respectively) speech perception in noise. Self-reported speech perception abilities were significantly better for the CI group compared with the BCD, CROS, and no treatment groups.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this randomized clinical trial, the CI group outperformed the BCD, CROS, and no treatment groups in terms of speech perception in noise and disease-specific QOL in patients with SSD after 24 months of follow-up. These results indicate that patients with SSD can partially regain the advantages of binaural hearing after treatment.Trial Registrationtrialregister.nl Identifier: NL4457

Evaluating the Adequacy of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection As a Quality Measure: A Cross-Sectional Analysis at a Single Tertiary Care Center

IMPORTANCE: The current definition of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) may overestimate the true incidence of CLABSI as it is often unclear whether the bloodstream infection (BSI) is secondary to the central line or due to another infectious source. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the prevalence and outcomes of central CLABSI at our institution, to identify opportunities for improvement, appropriately direct efforts for infection reduction, and identify gaps in the CLABSI definition and its application as a quality measure. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective cross-sectional study of patients identified to have a CLABSI in the period 2018–2022 cared for at the value-based purchasing (VBP) units of a 1200-bed tertiary care hospital located in Cleveland, OH. Each CLABSI episode was assessed for relationship with central venous catheter (CVC), suspected secondary source of BSI, mortality associated with the CLABSI hospital encounter, and availability of infectious disease physician or primary physician documentation of infectious source. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: CLABSI episodes were classified as CVC related, CVC unrelated, and CVC relationship unclear. Mortality during the same encounter as the CLABSI event was assessed as an outcome measure. Descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS: A total of 340 CLABSI episodes occurred in adult patients in VBP units. Majority of the CLABSI, 77.5% (266), occurred in the ICU. Of the CLABSI analyzed, 31.5% (107) were classified as unrelated to the CVC; 25.0% (85) had an unclear source; 43% (148) were classified as CVC related. For CVC-related cases, Staphylococcus and Candida were the predominant organisms. For the CVC unrelated and unclear groups Enterococcus was most prevalent. The mortality rate was lowest among patients classified with a CVC-related BSI. The positive predictive value (PPV) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CLABSI definition to predict a true CVC-related infection was found to be 58.0%. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The definition of CLABSI as a surrogate for catheter-related BSI is inadequate, with a PPV of 58.0% (43.1–67.6%). Efforts should be redirected toward revising the CLABSI definition and possibly reevaluating its criteria. Resources should be assigned to further investigate and systematically prevent BSIs from secondary sources while adhering to existing CLABSI prevention bundles.

Early and Long-Term Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Surgery for Native and Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: The Role of Preoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, Neutrophil-to-Platelet Ratio, and Monocyte-to Lymphocyte Ratio

Background/Objectives: Previous studies evaluated the prognostic role of hematological parameters in predicting outcome in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). However, only a few studies evaluated the role of hematological parameters in patients undergoing surgery for IE. The aim of this study was to review our 20-year experience with the treatment of native (NVE) and prosthetic (PVE) valve endocarditis and to evaluate the role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), neutrophil-to-platelet ratio (NPR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil-to monocyte ratio (NMR), and systemic inflammatory index (SII) on early and long-term outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for NVE and PVE. Methods: All adult patients undergoing surgery for NVE and PVE at our institution between January 2001 and December 2022 were included in the study. Preoperative NLR, NPR, PLR, MLR, NMR, and SII were calculated using hemograms with complete blood count. Results: During the study period, 503 patients, 371 (74%) males, median age 65 (52–73) years, underwent surgery for NVE (n = 337, 67%) or PVE (n = 166, 33%). Patients with PVE had significantly more aortic annulus abscess (95 (57%) vs. 51 (15%); p < 0.001), longer CPB (180 (131–235) vs. 105 (84–145) min; p < 0.001) and aortic cross-clamping times (129 (96–175) vs. 82 (64–114) min; p < 0.001), and received more aortic homografts (47 (28%) vs. 28 (9%); p < 0.001) and postoperative pacemaker implantation (25 (15%) vs. 20 (6%); p < 0.001 compared to patients with NVE. Preoperative NLR was 3.7 (2.4–6.1), NPR was 23 (16–37), PLR was 159 (106–210), NMR was 8.4 (6.6–12), MRL was 0.41 (0.29–0.62], and SII was 790 (485–1396). NLR, NPR, and MLR were significantly lower in patients with NVE compared to patients with PVE and in survivors compared to non-survivors. Overall mean survival time was 12.2 ± 0.5 years, with patients with NVE having better early and late survival compared to patients with PVE. Patients with preoperative NLR < 3.8, NPR < 30.9, and MLR < 0.4 had significantly better mean survival time compared to patients with preoperative NLR > 3.8, NPR > 30.9, and MLR > 0.4, respectively. Conclusions: In patients undergoing surgery for IE, preoperative higher NLR, NPR, and MLR are associated with increased early and long-term mortality.

Latent Variable Analysis of Demographic and Clinical Drivers of Care Intensity Before Palliative Care Consultation Among Older Adult Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

Latent Variable Analysis of Demographic and Clinical Drivers of Care Intensity Before Palliative Care Consultation Among Older Adult Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

Progress and Outcomes of Intraoperative Nerve Monitoring During Thyroidectomy

ImportanceIntraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) is not considered standard of care during thyroidectomy, and guidelines are vague about its use in the absence of strong evidence of superiority over visualization of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) alone.ObjectiveTo characterize patterns of IONM use during thyroidectomy in the US and evaluate the association of IONM with postoperative outcomes.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study used the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) thyroidectomy data from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2022. A nationally representative sample included adult patients without poorly differentiated thyroid cancer who underwent thyroidectomy at multiple centers. Data were collected from the time of surgery until 30 postoperative days through January 31, 2023.ExposureIONM during thyroidectomy.Main Outcomes and MeasuresPrevalence of IONM during thyroidectomy and postoperative outcomes including RLN injury, hypocalcemia, and neck hematoma.ResultsA total of 44 265 patients undergoing thyroidectomy were included (77.2% female; mean [SD] age, 51.8 [15.2] years), with 30 633 (69.2%) using IONM. Common indications for surgery in the cohort were goiter (35.3%) and a single nodule or neoplasm (39.2%). The prevalence of IONM increased from 62.5% in 2016 to 75.9% in 2022. RLN injury occurred in 6.0% of cases. On propensity score–matched analyses, IONM was associated with decreased odds of RLN injury overall (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99) and decreased odds among patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (AOR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.99). IONM was not associated with postoperative hypocalcemia (AOR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.99-1.00) or neck hematoma (AOR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.99-1.00).Conclusions and RelevanceThis cohort study found that IONM during thyroidectomy has become routine, and use has increased over the last 7 years. IONM was associated with a slightly decreased odds of RLN injury, but no difference in hypocalcemia or neck hematoma. Although IONM use is widespread, further research is needed to identify patients who would benefit the most from this technology.

Evaluation of the predictive value of CSF-restricted oligoclonal bands on residual disability and risk of relapse in adult patients with MOGAD: MOGADOC study.

The clinical course of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is variable. However, robust markers of poor outcome and/or relapse risk are still missing. To evaluate the frequency of cerebrospinal fluid-restricted oligoclonal bands (CSF-OCB) in a national cohort of adult MOGAD patients and to assess their prognostic value for the risk of relapse and severity. We included MOGAD adult patients fulfilling the MOGAD 2023 criteria who underwent CSF analysis at maximum 3 months from onset. Data from 190 patients were collected. We found the presence of CSF-OCB in 32 patients (16.8%). Positive and negative CSF-OCB patients were similar for median age at onset, sex, clinical presentation, severity at onset, and residual disability. Relapses were more frequent in the CSF-OCB+ group (p = 0.049), particularly within the first year of follow-up (p = 0.007). Although CSF-OCB+ was more frequently associated with imaging features suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS) (p = 0.014), 78% of these patients fulfilled the 2023 supportive features and 65% experienced lesion vanishing at follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We found a higher risk of relapse in MOGAD with CSF-OCB particularly during the first year. Close attention is recommended regarding the risk of misdiagnosis with MS.

Presence of Children in Household Is Associated With Increased Health-Related Social Need Burden

INTRODUCTION Health-related social needs (HRSNs) are critical determinants of well-being. Children’s HRSNs are largely defined by the social status and needs of their households and caregivers. The increasing practice of HRSN screening may offer an opportunity to better assess the risks facing households with children and the risks facing pediatric patients. This study compared HRSNs between households with children and those without children. METHODS Adult primary care patients in Indianapolis, Indiana, completed an in-person survey between January 2022 and June 2023. The survey was comprised of instruments that measured HRSNs and identified the number of children living in their household. X2, t tests, and a series of negative binomial regressions compared the self-reported occurrence of 5 HRSNs among respondents with and without children. RESULTS Those with children in the household tended to be female, younger, and from racial and ethnic minority groups. The average number of HRSNs was higher for those with child in the household (1.9 vs 1.6; P = .004). Controlling for other factors, each additional child aged under 1 year increased the average number of HRSNs by 24.3% (incident rate ratio, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03–1.33; P = .014), and with each additional child aged 1 to 4 years, the average number of HRSNs increased by 17.7% (incident rate ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01–1.25; P = .036). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that HRSN questionnaires completed by adults, if combined with household composition information, could be a supplementary path for health care organizations to identify the needs of pediatric patients or better understand overall needs facing their adult patients.

Potential profiling of social alienation in older female patients with stress urinary incontinence

BackgroundWith the global trend of aging, stress urinary incontinence is becoming more common in older adults, which may have some impact on patients' quality of life. Social alienation can generate negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, and morbid stigma, and reduce patients' quality of life. However, the current status of social alienation is different among different older adult female patients with stress urinary incontinence. Therefore, this study categorizes older adult female stress urinary incontinence patients through potential analysis to understand the category characteristics of social alienation level of older adult female stress urinary incontinence patients, and explores the influencing factors of social alienation level of different categories of older adult female stress urinary incontinence patients, which can provide a reference to personalized intervention programs for the characteristics of social alienation of older adult female stress urinary incontinence in the future.MethodA convenience sampling method was used to select 365 cases of older adult female stress urinary incontinence patients from March 2023 to April 2024 in three communities in Jinzhou City. The General Information Questionnaire, the Family Care Index Scale, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the General Alienation Scale were used to conduct the survey.ResultsA total of 365 respondents were included, and three potential categories of social alienation were finally identified, namely, low social alienation (29.0%), medium social alienation-self alienation (49.4%), and high social alienation (21.6%). The results of multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that occupational status, marital status, whether living alone, place of residence, BMI, whether other chronic diseases, level of narrative disorders, and level of family care were the influencing factors of social alienation in older adult female patients with stress urinary incontinence (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe social alienation of older adult female patients with stress urinary incontinence is characterized by a significant number of categories, and healthcare professionals can identify the characteristics and influencing factors of each category at an early stage, which can provide a basis for the development of targeted clinical interventions to help patients reduce the level of social alienation.

Physical Restraint in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Cross-Sectional, Observational Study in China.

Research data on the extent of and protocols related to physical restraint (PR) in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are scarce. Most previous studies in China on this topic have focused on the prevalence, reasons, and background of PR use among adult patients. This study was designed to delineate the application of PR and the factors associated with PR use in PICUs in China. A cross-sectional study was conducted in one PICU at West China Hospital, Sichuan University, from January 2020 to December 2020. A total of 1,086 pediatric patients in the PICU were included in this study. Data collection was performed over 11 months, utilizing PR observation forms and patient records. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to obtain the data, and logistic regression models were used to analyze the independent risk factors for PR. Of the 1,086 participants, 750 (69.1%) experienced being restrained, and 83.5% of the restrained participants who were pediatric patients were restrained for more than 50% of their time during their PICU stay. The results of logistic regression analysis identified age (1-6 years: OR = 2.090, 95% CI [1.508, 2.897], p < .001; 7-17 years: OR = 0.523, 95% CI [0.358, 0.765], p = .001), use of mechanical ventilation (OR = 2.126, 95% CI [1.480, 3.055], p < .001), use of drainage tubes (OR = 1.916, 95% CI [1.445, 2.541], p < .001), and sedation (OR = 1.494, 95% CI [1.101, 2.026], p = .010) as significantly correlated with the use of PR in the PICU. For the 750 patients who experienced being restrained, PR initiation was documented with a written medical order, and in 604 cases (80.5%), the restraints were removed without similar documentation. The use of PR is common in PICUs in China, with more than half of pediatric patients being restrained during their stay. Age, mechanical ventilation, use of drainage tubes, and use of sedative drugs were identified as significantly associated with PR use. Developing standardized procedures/guidelines for PR use in Chinese PICUs and enhancing medical staff education on PR practices are imperative.

Prediction of tuberculosis-specific mortality for older adult patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

BackgroundThis study aims to identify risk factors associated with tuberculosis-specific mortality (TSM) in older adult patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and to develop a competing risk nomogram for TSM prediction.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study and randomly selected 528 older adult pulmonary TB patients hospitalized in designated hospitals in Henan Province between January 2015 and December 2020. The cumulative incidence function (CIF) was calculated for both TSM and non-tuberculosis-specific mortality (non-TSM). A Fine and Gray proportional subdistribution hazards model and a competing risk nomogram were developed to predict TSM in older adult patients.ResultsThe 5-year cumulative incidence functions (CIFs) for TSM and non-TSM were 9.7 and 9.4%, respectively. The Fine and Gray model identified advanced age, retreatment status, chest X-rays (CXR) cavities, and hypoalbuminemia as independent risk factors for TSM. The competing risk nomogram for TSM showed good calibration and excellent discriminative ability, achieving a concordance index (c-index) of 0.844 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.830–0.857).ConclusionThe Fine and Gray model provided an accurate evaluation of risk factors associated with TSM. The competing risk nomogram, developed using the Fine and Gray model, provided accurate and personalized predictions of TSM.

Impact of Fluconazole Resistance on the Outcomes of Patients With Candida parapsilosis Bloodstream Infections: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

This study assesses the impact of fluconazole resistance on 30-day all-cause mortality and 1-year recurrence in patients with Candida parapsilosis bloodstream infections (BSI). A multicenter retrospective study was performed at 3 hospitals in Italy and Spain between 2018 and 2022. Adult patients with positive blood cultures for C. parapsilosis who received appropriate targeted therapy with either echinocandins or fluconazole were included. Among 457 patients, 196 (42.9%) had fluconazole-resistant C. parapsilosis (FLZR-CP) BSI and 261 (57.1%) had fluconazole-susceptible C. parapsilosis (FLZS-CP) BSI. All FLZR-CP patients received targeted echinocandins, while FLZS-CP patients received either echinocandins (60.5%) or fluconazole (39.5%). Unadjusted 30-day all-cause mortality rates were 28.6% for FLZR-CP and 28.4% for FLZS-CP (log-rank test, P = .998). In multivariable analysis, increased mortality was associated with age (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.03 per year; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.05; P = .0005), solid tumor (aHR 1.91; 95% CI, 1.06-3.46; P = .0302), previous antifungal treatment (aHR 1.84; 95% CI, 1.12-3.10; P = .0192), and septic shock (aHR 2.39; 95% CI, 1.42-4.06; P = .0010), but not fluconazole resistance (aHR 1.00; 95% CI, .62-1.63; P = .9864) nor the type of initial antifungal therapy (aHR 1.46; 95% CI, .69-3.06; P = .3202). Propensity score-matched analysis showed no 30-day all-cause mortality difference between echinocandin-treated FLZR-CP and fluconazole-treated FLZS-CP patients (HR 0.81; 95% CI, .37-1.75; P = .5915). However, a higher 1-year recurrence risk was observed in FLZR-CP patients (odds ratio, 7.37; 95% CI, 2.11-25.80; P = .0018). Our results suggest that fluconazole resistance is not associated with a higher mortality risk in patients with C. parapsilosis BSI, though 1-year recurrence rates were higher in the FLZR-CP group.

Ocrelizumab dose selection for treatment of pediatric relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis: results of the OPERETTA I study

BackgroundThe presented study identified the appropriate ocrelizumab dosing regimen for patients with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS).MethodsPatients with POMS aged 10–17 years were enrolled into cohort 1 (body weight [BW] < 40 kg, ocrelizumab 300 mg) and cohort 2 (BW ≥ 40 kg, ocrelizumab 600 mg) during a 24-week dose-exploration period (DEP), followed by an optional ocrelizumab (given every 24 weeks) extension period. Primary endpoints: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics (CD19+ B-cell count); secondary endpoint: safety; exploratory endpoints: MRI activity, protocol-defined relapses, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score change.ResultsA total of 23 patients (cohort 1: n = 6, age 10–12 years, BW 27.0–39.0 kg; cohort 2: n = 17, age 11–17 years, BW 42.1–108.4 kg) were enrolled. Median treatment duration was 120 (range, 24–193) weeks at the primary analysis cutoff (October 5, 2023). Overall, the pharmacokinetic data were within the range observed at 600 mg in adult patients with MS; however, the exposure at 300 mg in patients < 40 kg was lower than with 600 mg in patients ≥ 40 kg. Shifting the cutoff to 35 kg would provide better exposure to patients with 35–40 kg body weight. Sustained, near-complete B-cell depletion was observed. The safety profile was consistent with that in adults. EDSS scores remained stable; no clinical relapses were observed.ConclusionA dosing regimen of 300 mg ocrelizumab for patients < 35 kg, and 600 mg for patients ≥ 35 kg (every 24 weeks), was selected for the phase 3 OPERETTA II trial (NCT05123703).Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04075266.

The variable relationship between the National Early Warning Score on admission to hospital, the primary discharge diagnosis, and in-hospital mortality.

Patients with an elevated admission National Early Warning Score (NEWS) are more likely to die while in hospital. However, it is not known if this increased mortality risk is the same for all diagnoses. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the increased risk of in-hospital mortality associated with an elevated NEWS and different primary discharge diagnoses in unselected emergency admissions to a UK university teaching hospital. A non-interventional observational study of 122,321 consecutive, unselected, adult patients with complete data admitted as an emergency between 2014 and 2022. The overall in-hospital mortality was 4.3%. Eighty diagnostic groupings accounted for 85.8% of all admissions and 89.4% of all in-hospital deaths. Depending on diagnostic grouping, the risk of mortality associated with an admission NEWS ≥ 3 ranged from 2.3- to 100-fold. For example, the in-hospital mortality of COPD patients increased from 1.9% for those with admission NEWS < 3 to 35.6% for those with NEWS ≥ 3, for chest pain mortality increased from 0.1 to 3.9%, and for patients with an opiate overdose from 0.2 to 7.7%. Conversely, for admission NEWS < 3, aspiration pneumonia and intracranial hemorrhage had in-hospital mortalities of 13.7% and 12.1%, respectively. There is enormous variation in the mortality risk associated with an increased admission NEWS in different commonly encountered diagnoses. Therefore, the mortality risk of some 'low risk' conditions can be dramatically increased if their admission NEWS is elevated, whereas some 'high risk' conditions are still likely to die even if their admission NEWS is low.

Association between abatacept exposure levels and infection occurrence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: post hoc analysis of the AVERT-2 study

ObjectiveTo determine if higher serum exposure during subcutaneous (SC) abatacept treatment was associated with an increased infection risk in adult patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsData from AVERT-2 (Assessing Very Early Rheumatoid arthritis Treatment-2,NCT02504268), a randomized, placebo-controlled study in anticitrullinated protein antibody– positive patients with early RA, were analyzed. A post hoc population pharmacokinetic (PPK) analysis was performed. Association between steady-state abatacept concentration exposures (steady-state time-averaged serum concentration, steady-state trough serum concentration, steady-state maximum serum concentration) and first infection was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier plots of probability versus time on treatment and Cox proportional-hazards models.ResultsPK of SC abatacept was defined as a linear 2-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination; higher body weight was the only covariate with a clinically relevant effect in the final PPK model. Infections occurred in 330/693 (47.6%; 11/693 [1.6%] serious infections) patients treated with abatacept+methotrexate (MTX) and 134/301 (44.5%; 4/301 [1.3%] serious infections), with abatacept placebo+MTX. Exposure–response analysis demonstrated no exposure relationship for an increased risk of first infection with concomitant use of MTX and glucocorticoids during the induction period, baseline glucocorticoid use, or higher than median body weight at baseline (&gt; 70 kg).ConclusionThis exposure–response analysis of AVERT-2 showed no increase in the risk of first infection, regardless of abatacept exposure level in patients with RA treated with SC abatacept. Similarly, no effect on the risk of first infection was found for concomitant MTX and glucocorticoid use in patients with RA treated with SC abatacept+MTX.

Reduction of vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury with montelukast.

Vancomycin ranks amongst the most utilized antimicrobial agents in the treatment of serious β-lactam-resistant Gram-positive infections, but its use has been associated with nephrotoxicity. Reduction of acute kidney injury (AKI) has been reported in pre-clinical models with adjuvant montelukast. The purpose of the study was to ascertain if montelukast was associated with a reduction in the prevalence of vancomycin-associated AKI. In this retrospective cohort study, adult patients who received intravenous vancomycin between January 2020 to January 2024 were examined. The RIFLE criteria was employed in identifying cases of AKI. Additionally, a pre-clinical vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity model was established to provide insights into possible renal protective mechanisms. Patients receiving montelukast (n = 110) were compared to the control (n = 330); of which AKI was observed in 3 of 110 (2.7%) versus 35 of 330 (10.6%), respectively (P=0.01). A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that weight (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.006 to 1.03; P-=0.005) and intensive care unit admission (OR: 6.88; 95% CI: 2.96 to 18.8; P<0.001) were independently associated with AKI, while montelukast (OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.77; P=0.03) and male gender were protective (OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.85; P=0.02). Our in vitro model also revealed that adjuvant montelukast can reduce injury to proximal tubule cells through activation of the p62/KEAP-1/HO-1 antioxidant pathway. Our study suggests that montelukast during vancomycin therapy may be protective against AKI, which may reduce patient harm and hospitalization costs. Further studies are warranted to validate our findings prospectively.

A 10-Year Risk Assessment and Primary Prevention Study of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Among Adult Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), primarily driven by atherosclerosis, are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) poses a significant public health challenge. To estimate the 10-year ASCVD risk among adults in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, and identify prevalent risk factors such as age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, cholesterol, and preventive medication use. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 58,743 adults aged 35–75 years from the Al-Ahsa Health Cluster. The ASCVD risk was calculated using the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations. Statistical analysis identified predictors of high ASCVD risk. Results: Most participants (76.3%) were at low ASCVD risk (≤10%), 13.3% at borderline to intermediate risk (10–19%), and 10.4% at high risk (≥20%). Smoking, diabetes (39.6%), hypertension (40.8%), and male gender were key predictors of high ASCVD risk. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) was protective, reducing ASCVD risk by 3%. Among high-risk individuals, 29.7% used aspirin, and 58.3% used statins. Conclusions: While most adults in Al-Ahsa are at low ASCVD risk, a significant portion remains at elevated risk. Modifiable risk factors, including smoking, diabetes, and hypertension, combined with statin and aspirin adherence, highlight critical areas for targeted interventions to reduce the ASCVD burden in this population.

Comparison of Referral Rates and Costs Using Fibrosis-4 and Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) Testing Strategies for Initial Evaluation of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) in a Veteran Population.

Global metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) prevalence is estimated at 30% and projected to reach 55.7% by 2040. In the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system, an estimated 1.8 million veterans have metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Adult patients at risk for MASLD in a VA healthcare system underwent Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF®) testing. Referral rates and cost savings were compared among 6 noninvasive testing (NIT) strategies using these 2 tests independently or sequentially at various cutoffs. Enrolled patients (N = 254) had a mean age of 65.3 ± 9.3 years and mean body mass index (BMI) of 31.7 ± 6, 87.4% male: 78.3% were non-Hispanic/Latino, and 96.5% had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Among the 6 evaluated strategies, using FIB-4 followed by ELF at a 9.8 cutoff yielded the highest proportion of patients retained in primary care without need of referral to hepatology clinic (165/227; 72.7%), and was associated with the lowest costs ($407.62). Compared to the FIB-4 only strategy, FIB-4/ELF with a 9.8 cutoff strategy resulted in 26% fewer referrals and 8.47% lower costs. In the subgroup of patients with BMI >32, there were 25.17% fewer referrals and costs were 8.31% lower. Our study suggests that sequential use of ELF with a 9.8 cutoff following indeterminate FIB-4 tests results in lower referral rates and lower care costs in a veteran population at risk of MASLD. Adding ELF as a sequential test after indeterminate FIB-4 might help reduce the number of referrals and overall cost of care.

The neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio as a risk factor for all-cause mortality among individuals with resolved HBV infection: evidence from the NHANES 1999–2018

BackgroundInflammation is a critical component in the process of resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) serves as a sensitive indicator of systemic inflammation and immune activation. Our study aimed to investigate the correlation between elevated NLR levels and the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with resolved HBV infection. Additionally, we evaluated the potential mediating effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on this correlation.MethodsOur study enrolled 1,146 adult patients with resolved HBV infection from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2018. We utilized the Restricted Cubic Splines (RCS) and Maximum Selection Rank Statistical Method (MSRSM) to analyze the relationship between the NLR and the risk of all-cause mortality. The impact of NLR was evaluated using a weighted multivariate Cox regression model, and the model’s predictive accuracy was assessed using time-dependent Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. An intermediary analysis was conducted to explore the potential influence of DM on the observed relationship.ResultsDuring follow-up period of 103.54 ± 4.90 months, we recorded 207 deaths among the study participants. The analysis using the RCS method revealed a significant positive correlation between the NLR and the risk of all-cause mortality. Those with elevated NLR levels faced a substantially higher mortality risk compared to those with lower levels, as indicated by a Hazard Ratio (HR) of 1.84, with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) of 1.17 to 2.89 (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The predictive accuracy of the model was substantial, as evidenced by the Area Under the Curve (AUC) for ROC curves at 3, 5, and 10 years, which were 0.873, 0.870, and 0.862, respectively. Furthermore, mediation analysis indicated that DM significantly influenced the relationship between the NLR and mortality, with a mediation effect of 6.57% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.64 to 15%; p = 0.02).ConclusionElevated NLR is significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients with resolved HBV infection. Concurrently, DM acts as a partial mediator of this association.