All-cause In-hospital Mortality Research Articles

Cardiovascular comorbidities and risk stratification in normotensive acute pulmonary embolism patients with right ventricular dysfunction and normal cardiac troponin: insights from a regional registry

Abstract Background Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) management guidelines categorize normotensive patients with right ventricle dysfunction (RVD) and normal cardiac troponin (cTn) as intermediate low risk. This study explores the prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities and their impact on risk stratification in this specific cohort. Purpose To investigate the characteristics of normotensive acute PE patients with RVD and normal cTn, emphasizing the role of pre-existing cardiovascular diseases in determining the intermediate-low risk status. Methods A total of 1675 PE patients from a regional registry were screened, excluding high-risk and intermediate-high-risk cases. Among the remaining 400 normotensive patients with RVD, 353 with echocardiography and normal cTn were included. Patients were categorized into low or intermediate-low risk based on RVD presence. Cardiovascular comorbidities were assessed, and logistic regression analyzed their association with intermediate-low risk. Results Intermediate-low-risk patients (n=137) exhibited significantly higher rates of chronic heart failure, arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation compared to low-risk patients (n=216). A substantial 77.4% of intermediate-low-risk patients had at least one cardiovascular comorbidity, significantly elevating the risk of RV dysfunction (adjusted OR 2.954, p<0.001). The all-cause hospital mortality was 5.1% in intermediate-low-risk and 1.4% in low-risk PE. Conclusions Normotensive acute PE patients with RVD and normal cTn are predominantly burdened with chronic cardiovascular conditions. The majority of intermediate-low-risk patients have at least one cardiovascular comorbidity, indicating an increased risk of death during hospitalization compared to low-risk patients. This study underscores the necessity for nuanced risk stratification considering pre-existing cardiovascular diseases for tailored and effective management. These findings have important implications for optimizing treatment strategies and improving outcomes in this high-risk population.

Statin use before acute coronary syndrome and coronary risk factors, clinical presentation, interventions, and outcomes: ACC-NCDR-CathPCI Registry in India

Abstract Background Statins are used for coronary artery disease (CAD) primary and secondary prevention. Limited studies on the association of statin use before acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with clinical presentation and outcomes are available. Purpose We compared statin-user and statin-naïve ACS patients for clinical and angiographic findings and in-hospital and 3-year outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods Successive patients with ACS who underwent PCI from Sep’17 to Dec’23 were enrolled in the ACC-NCDR-CathPCI registry in India. Details of risk factors, clinical presentation, coronary angiography, interventions and in-hospital were recorded. Follow-up data in a sub-cohort recruited from Apr’19 to Mar’22 were obtained for incident major cardiovascular events (MCE) (cardiovascular deaths, recurrent ACS, PCI and bypass surgery). Results 8296 ACS patients were enrolled; prior statin use was in 3149 (38%) and statin naïve were 5147 (62%). Statin-user vs statin-naïve patients were older (61.6+10 vs 59.7+11y), with more hypertension (60.1 vs 48.6%), diabetes (35.8 vs 31.8%), pre-existing CAD (PCI 20.9 vs 9.1%; CABG 5.0 vs 2.3%) and lower mean total, LDL, and NHDL cholesterol (p<0.001). Statin users had less ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (28.4% vs 45.2%), more non-STEMI (65.2 vs 50.8%), better LVEF (46.3+10 vs 44.5+10%), >2 coronary stents (35.5 vs 29.5%), lower mechanical circulatory support (2.2 vs 3.9%) and lower median hospitalization (66.1 vs 68.5h) (p<0.001). In statin-users incidence of in-hospital CAD deaths was 29 (0.92%) vs 78 (1.52%) (odds ratio, OR 0.61, 95% confidence intervals 0.39-0.93) and all-cause deaths 33 (1.05) vs 91(1.77%) (OR 0.59, 95%CI 0.39-0.88) (p<0.01). ORs attenuated following multivariate adjustments for risk factors, clinical presentation and interventions. In the follow up cohort (n=3813, high-intensity statins 99.6%), among baseline statin-users incident MCE was 98 (6.9%) vs 214 (8.9%) (hazard ratio, HR 0.76, 95%CI 0.59-0.97) and CVD deaths were in 46 (3.2%) vs 113 (4.7%) (HR 0.68, 95%CI 0.48-0.96) with attenuation following adjustment for baseline clinical variables and interventions. Conclusions Acute coronary syndrome patients taking pre-admission statins have significantly lower in-hospital and long-term cardiovascular and all-cause mortality following PCI.

Safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for pure aortic regurgitation; a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Although Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) has gained ground in the management of severe aortic stenosis (AS), evidence about its safety and efficacy for patients with pure native aortic regurgitation (AR) remains limited. Purpose The aim of the study is to systematically review and summarize available data regarding the safety and the outcomes of TAVI in pure AR. Methods This study was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. We systematically searched PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases from their inception to February 1, 2024, for studies assessing the characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing TAVI for pure AR. Primary endpoint of our systematic review and meta-analysis is the in-hospital, 30-days and 1-year mortality rates. Secondary endpoints comprised in-hospital stroke, major bleeding, and permanent pacemaker implantation (PPM) implantation. Endpoint definitions followed the Valve Academic Research Consortium 2 criteria. The cumulative incidence of primary and secondary endpoints and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. A random effects model (DerSimonian-Laird) was used to account for heterogeneity among the included studies. Results Our meta-analysis included a total of 22 studies and 6,710 patients undergoing TAVI for pure-AR. Our analysis showed that patients undergoing TAVI for pure AR had 3.4% (95% CI: 2%-4.7%), 7.9% (95% CI: 5.2%-10.6%) and 15.5% (95% CI: 9.9%-21.2%) in-hospital, 30-days and 1-year all-cause mortality. In-hospital stroke occurred in 1.9% (95% CI: 1.5%-2.2%) of the patients, while 4.9% (95% CI: 3.3%-6.6%) of the patients suffered from major bleeding events. Finally, considering the PPM implantation rates, patients had a 10.7% (95% CI: 7.4%-13.9%) in-hospital incidence. Conclusion Our systematic review and meta-analysis shows a promising safety profile for TAVI treating pure AR. It demonstrated relatively low in-hospital, 30-days and 1-year mortality incidence, comparable to the TAVI treating severe AS, according to the existing literature. Taking into consideration that TAVI for pure-AR might be the only therapeutic option for an increasing number of patients, further studies are needed to further assess the safety and efficacy of the procedure.TAVI for pure AR mortality rates

Safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with previous TAVI; a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) has gained ground in the management of severe aortic stenosis, even in low-surgical risk patients. However, TAVI prostheses, like bioprostheses, have a finite lifetime; thus, TAVI in patients with previous TAVI (TAVI-in-TAVI) rates are radically increased. Although data regarding TAVI indicate low mortality and stroke rates within the first year, TAVI-in-TAVI is less studied. Purpose The aim of the study is to systematically review and summarize available data regarding the safety and the outcomes of TAVI-in-TAVI. Methods This study was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. We systematically searched PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases from their inception to February 10, 2024, for studies assessing the characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing TAVI-in-TAVI. Primary endpoint of our systematic review and meta-analysis is the in-hospital, 30-days and 1-year mortality rates. Secondary endpoints comprised in-hospital, 30-days and 1-year stroke rates, in-hospital vascular complications, conversion to surgery, coronary compression or obstruction, and perforation with or without tamponade, and in-hospital and 30-days permanent pacemaker implantation (PPM) implantation. Endpoint definitions followed the Valve Academic Research Consortium 3 criteria. The cumulative incidence of primary and secondary endpoints and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. A random effects model (DerSimonian-Laird) was used to account for heterogeneity among the included studies. Results Our meta-analysis included a total of 5 studies and 2,145 patients undergoing TAVI-in-TAVI, 72.9% (N=1,564) of whom were treated with a balloon-expandable valve. Our analysis showed that patients undergoing TAVI-in-TAVI had 3.7% (95% CI: 1.6%-5.9%), 3.9% (95% CI: 3%-4.7%) and 12.5% (95% CI: 11%-14%) in-hospital, 30-days and 1-year all-cause mortality, while stroke occurred in 1.8% (95% CI: 1.2%-2.4%), 2.1% (95% CI: 1.4%-2.9%) and 3% (95% CI: 2.3%-3.8%) of the patients in-hospital, 30-days and 1-year, respectively. Notalby, conversion to surgery, coronary compression/obstruction and perforation with or without tamponade occurred in <1% of the patients, while 6.1% (95% CI: 2.2%-9.9%) of the patients had vascular complications during the procedure. Considering the PPM implantation rates, patients had a 1.8% (95% CI: 1.2%-2.4%) for in-hospital and a 6.8% (95% CI: 5.2%-8.3%) for 30-days incidence. Conclusion Our systematic review and meta-analysis is the first to present that TAVI-in-TAVI has an acceptable safety profile with relatively low in-hospital, 30-days and 1-year mortality and stroke rates, comparable to the native-valve-TAVI. Taking into consideration that TAVI-in-TAVI might be the only therapeutic approach for an increasing number of patients, further studies are warranted to further assess its safety and efficacy and to provide additional procedural techniques.TAVI-in-TAVI mortality rates

Prognostic significance of the estimated pulse wave velocity in critically ill patients with coronary heart disease

Abstract Background The estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) has emerged as an alternative measurement of arterial stiffness which has been suggested as a potential marker for mortality and cardiovascular risk. Nonetheless, its prognostic significance in critically ill patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) remains uncertain. Methods Patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) were grouped into quartiles according to the ePWV levels. We conducted logistic and Cox regression analyses to examine the association between ePWV and both in-hospital and 1-year all-cause mortality among critically ill patients with CHD. Additionally, we employed restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis to explore the relationship between ePWV as a continuous variable and mortality. Results A total of 11001 patients (men: 63.6%, age: 71.94 [IQR: 62.69-81.31]) were included in this study. In-hospital mortality and 1-year mortality rates were 9.1% and 25.1%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression models demonstrated that ePWV was independently associated with an elevated risk of in-hospital mortality (OR 1.27; 95%CI [1.14-1.41]; p<0.001) and 1-year mortality (OR 1.49; 95% CI [1.38-1.60]; p<0.001]. The restricted cubic splines regression model revealed a linear relationship between ePWV and both in-hospital and 1-year mortality (p for non-linearity = 0.098 and p for non-linearity = 0.156, respectively). Conclusion Our findings indicate a linear association between ePWV levels and short- and long-term mortality in critically ill patients with CHD.

Time taken for cardiology care and one-year results for primary care physicians' referrals for cardiology consultation in heart failure patients: clinical implications for heart failure management

Abstract Background and Purpose The clinical trajectory of patients with heart failure (HF) is characterised by frequent episodes of decompensation requiring urgent medical assistance, hospitalisations, and an increased risk of mortality. HF clinical guidelines recommend early visits by health professionals after hospital discharge, yet little evidence exists regarding the associations between delayed medical attention and outcomes in HF patients. To assess the clinical impact of the time taken to receive cardiology care for referrals from primary care physicians (PCPs) to a cardiology department in HF patients, we selected 6,859 HF patients who visited the cardiology service at least once between 2010 and 2021. Methods Using an interrupted time series regression model, we analysed the impact of integrating e-consultations into the healthcare model (implemented in 2013) and evaluated the time taken to receive cardiology care, as well as all-cause, cardiovascular (CV), and HF-related hospital admissions and mortality. The primary objective of this analysis was to examine the associations between delays in cardiology care following a PCP referral and 1-year outcomes (HF-related, cardiovascular, and total hospitalisations; and HF-related, cardiovascular, and total mortality). Results Almost 50% were women, and the mean age was 77.8 years. Arterial hypertension (79.6%), diabetes (34%), atrial fibrillation (51.4%), ischemic heart disease (20.4%), and cerebrovascular disease were the most prevalent comorbidities. The mean time from PCP referral to cardiology consultation in the overall population was 22.3 days: <8 days in 53.9%, 8-14 days in 17.1%, 15-30 days in 15.9%, and >30 days in 13.0% of patients, respectively. One year after cardiology consultation, 68.6% of patients required assistance in an Emergency Department; 22.5% were hospitalised for any cause, 14.9% for cardiovascular reasons, and 9.2% for HF-related issues. Moreover, total mortality at 1-year was 8.6%, comprising 4.3% cardiovascular mortality and 1.3% HF-related deaths. Multivariate analysis of the relationship between the time taken to receive cardiology care and 1-year outcomes revealed a significant increased risk associated with a longer delay in cardiology assistance, particularly evident in the subgroup of patients with previous hospital admissions due to worsening HF (see Table). Conclusions Throughout the follow-up period, a reduced time taken to receive care was independently associated with better 1-year outcomes. We believe that our experience can contribute to the development of a more efficient ambulatory care pathway for HF patients, especially those at high risk, such as those with a history of hospitalisation due to worsening events. Our findings further support the clinical guideline recommendation for early contact by health professionals following hospital discharge, extending it to include PCP referrals for cardiology consultations.

Impact of a clinician-to-clinician electronic consultation program in heart failure patients with previous hospitalization. Implications for heart failure multidisciplinary management

Abstract Background A clinician-to-clinician electronic consultation (e-consultation) programme may not only improve the accessibility to care but may also impact patient outcomes, particularly in heart failure (HF) patients with a previous episode of hospitalization (HFH), group of patients associated with a worse outcome. Purpose To evaluate the impact of an outpatient care management programme that includes a clinician-to-clinician e-consultation on delay time in care, hospital admissions, and mortality in a high-risk group of patients with heart failure (HF) and previous episodes of HF hospitalization (HFH). Materials and methods We selected 6444 HF patients who visited the cardiology service at least once between 2010 and 2021. Of these, 4146 were attended in e-consultation, and 2230 had previous HFH (Fig 1a). Using an interrupted time series regression model, we analysed the impact of incorporating e-consultation into the healthcare model in the group of patients with HFH and evaluated the elapsed time to cardiology care, HF, cardiovascular (CV), and all-cause hospital admissions and mortality, calculating the incidence relative risk (iRR). We performed a multivariate logistic regression for each of these outcomes in both groups. Results Patients with HFH had a higher prevalence of men (P < 0.001) but had a similar age (P = 0.267) compared to patients without HFH. Patients with HFH had a higher prevalence of diabetes (P < 0.001), ischaemic heart disease (P = 0.036), and peripheral arterial disease (P = 0.008) (Fig 1b). In the group of patients with HFH, the introduction of e-consult substantially decreased waiting times to cardiology care (8.6 [8.7] vs. 55.4 [79.9] days, P < 0.001) (Fig 2a). In that group of patients, after e-consult implantation, hospital admissions for HF were reduced (iRR [95%CI]: 0.837 [0.840–0.833]), 0.900 [0.862–0.949] for CV and 0.699 [0.678–0.726] for all-cause hospitalizations (Fig 2b). There was also lower mortality (iRR [95%CI]: 0.715 [0.657–0.798] due to HF, 0.737 [0.764–0.706] for CV and 0.687 [0.652–0.718] for all-cause) (Fig 2c). The improved outcomes after e-consultation implementation were significantly higher in the group of patients with previous HFH. The multivariate analyses showed a higher risk of hospitalizations in men, patients with HFH, and those who required more emergency department assistance (Fig 2d). Conclusions In patients with HFH, an outpatient care programme that includes an e-consultation significantly reduced waiting times to cardiology care and was safe, with a lower rate of hospital admissions and mortality in the first year. Our results may have implications for optimize the heart failure care organization.Figure 1Figure 2

The value of Age-adjusted Charlson and Elixhauser-Van Walraven comorbidity index in predicting prognosis for patients undergoing heart valve surgery

ObjectiveThis study aims to compare the efficacy of the Age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (ACCI) and the Elixhauser-Van Walraven Comorbidity Index (ECI-VW) in predicting mortality risk among patients undergoing heart valve surgery.MethodsClinical data were extracted from the INSPIRE Database using R language. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve was employed to assess the predictive accuracy of ACCI and ECI-VW for in-hospital all-cause mortality and post-surgical all-cause mortality at 7 and 28 days. Subgroup analysis was conducted to validate the application efficacy, and the optimal cutoff value was identified.ResultsThe study included 996 patients, with 931 survivors and 65 cases of in-hospital all-cause mortality. The area under the curve (AUC) for ACCI in predicting in-hospital all-cause mortality was 0.658 (95% CI: 0.584, 0.732), while the AUC for ECI-vw in predicting the same outcome was 0.663 (95% CI: 0.584, 0.741). For predicting all-cause mortality within 7 days post-surgery, the AUC of ACCI was 0.680 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.56), and for ECI-vw, it was 0.532 (95% CI: 0.353, 0.712). Regarding the prediction of all-cause mortality within 28 days after surgery, the AUC for ACCI was 0.724 (95% CI: 0.622, 0.827), and for ECI-vw, it was 0.653 (95% CI: 0.538, 0.69). Patients were categorized into two groups based on the ACCI cutoff value of 3.5, including Group 1 (ACCI < 3.5 points, 823 cases) and Group 2 (ACCI > 3.5 points, 173 cases). The overall survival rate for these two patient groups was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, revealing that the 28-day postoperative survival rate for patients in Group 1 was significantly higher than that for patients in Group 2 (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsACCI demonstrates significant predictive value for in-hospital all-cause mortality within 28 days following cardiac valve disease surgery. Patients presenting with an ACCI greater than 3.5 exhibit an increased risk of mortality within 28 days post-surgery compared to those with an ACCI less than 3.5. This finding suggests that the ACCI can serve as a preliminary tool for assessing the prognosis of patients undergoing this type of surgical intervention.

Longitudinal assessment of the impact of prevalent diabetes on hospital admissions and mortality in the general population: a prospective population-based study with 19 years of follow-up

BackgroundHospitalization indicates the presence of severe disease and constitutes a leading cost in health care. We aimed to prospectively assess if prevalent diabetes mellitus contributes to excess all-cause and cause-specific hospital admissions and mortality at the population level.MethodsWe used a Swedish prospective population-based cohort, including 25,642 individuals of whom 4.2% had prevalent diabetes at baseline (mean age 61.2 ± 6.8 years, age range 44.8–73.4 years). We compared the number of hospitalizations and mortality classified according to the main chapters of the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) during follow-up using nationwide inpatient registries, comparing individuals with and without prevalent diabetes, using multivariate adjusted negative binomial regression (incidence rate ratio, IRR) and Cox regression, respectively.ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 19 years, 18,904 subjects were hospitalized at least once [median 3 (IQR 2–6)] and 6767 (26.4%) individuals died. Overall, subjects with diabetes were hospitalized (IRR 1.83, p < 0.001) more often, and had a higher incidence rate of hospital admissions due to endocrine diseases (IRR 14.6, p < 0.001), dermatological diseases (IRR 3.7, p < 0.001), injuries and poisoning (IRR 2.7, p < 0.001), infectious diseases (IRR 2.5, p < 0.001), psychiatric diseases (IRR 2.0, p < 0.001), but also cardiovascular, hematological, genitourinary, neurologic and respiratory diseases compared with non-diabetic individuals. No difference was observed for hospital admissions due to cancer or musculoskeletal disorders. All-cause mortality was higher (HR 1.77, p < 0.001) in individuals with diabetes, with disease-specific mortality being significant only for cardiovascular and endocrine disease-related death.ConclusionsAt the population level, prevalent diabetes increased the hospitalization burden longitudinally due to diseases of most of the ICD-10 main chapters, except for cancer and musculoskeletal disorders. These novel findings challenge the current view on the spectrum of prevalent diabetes-related conditions and may have implications for screening and treatment strategies in diabetes.Permission of graphical illustrationsSource: Pixabay.com. No permission or acknowledgement is required.

Evaluating the Impact and Financial Implications of Immediate versus Delayed Stenting Strategies in High Thrombus Burden Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

The efficacy of delayed stenting strategies in the management of high thrombus burden acute myocardial infarction remains uncertain. We aimed to compare the therapeutic effects and financial implications of immediate and delayed stenting strategies in patients with acute myocardial infarction and high thrombus burden treated at our institution. This was a retrospective analysis of 158 patients who underwent intracoronary thrombus aspiration for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College between 2013 and 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: immediate stenting (immediate group; n = 101) and delayed stenting (delayed group; n = 57), based on the timing of the stenting procedure. Propensity score matching was performed to minimize confounding bias. Therapeutic effects and cost of treatment were compared between the two groups. After propensity score matching (n = 52 for each group), there were no significant differences in terms of baseline clinical characteristics, characteristics of vascular lesions (number of diseased vessels, culprit vessels, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) thrombus grade, proximal coronary artery lesion), the incidence of no-reflow/slow flow during the first surgery, or the use of antiplatelet drugs, intraprocedural anticoagulants, intracoronary drugs, and tirofiban. There were no significant between-group differences in terms of in-hospital all-cause mortality, in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events, or hospitalization costs. However, peak creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) levels were significantly lower in the delayed group. For patients with STEMI undergoing emergency thrombus aspiration, a delayed stenting strategy appears to be non-inferior to immediate stenting strategy in terms of clinical efficacy and hospitalization costs, and may reduce the extent of myocardial injury. Delayed stenting strategy may allow for a more individualized surgical approach based on assessment of thrombus burden and lesion complexity.

Subcutaneous fast-acting insulin analogues ± long-acting insulin vs IV insulin infusion in DKA: updated meta-analysis of randomised trials.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is often treated with intravenous regular insulin infusion (IVRII). Subcutaneous fast-acting insulin analogues (FAIAs); either alone or combined with subcutaneous long-acting insulin (LAI); might be useful to treat DKA. Our meta-analysis updated on their benefits and safety in DKA. We searched major electronic databases for randomised trials on subcutaneous FAIAs ± subcutaneous LAI vs IVRII in DKA. Primary outcomes were all-cause in-hospital mortality, time to resolution of DKA and hyperglycemia, in-hospital DKA recurrence and hospital readmission for DKA post-discharge. Secondary outcomes included resource utilisation and patient satisfaction. Safety outcomes were adverse events. Reviewers assessed risk of bias and quality of evidence using GRADE. We performed a priori subgroup and trial sequential analyses on primary outcomes. Seven trials enrolled 351 mainly adult patients (255/351) with mild to moderate DKA. No trials studied subcutaneous FAIA and subcutaneous LAI. Their risk of bias was high or unclear in several domains. No all-cause in-hospital mortality and DKA recurrence were reported. No trial investigated hospital readmission for DKA post-discharge. There was no difference in mean time to resolution of DKA (mean difference = -0.70, 95% CI -2.18 to 0.79 h, p = 0.36) or hyperglycemia [blood glucose < 250 mg/dL (13.9 mmol/L)] (mean difference = -0.17, 95% CI -1.10 to 0.76 h, p = 0.72) between subcutaneous FAIA and IVRII groups. There were largely no subgroup effects. Both groups had similar secondary outcomes. Hypoglycemia was the most common adverse event. Quality of evidence was low to very-low for all outcomes. The only possible trial sequential analysis for time to resolution of DKA was inconclusive. There was low- to very-low quality evidence that subcutaneous FAIA did not affect patient-centered outcomes in mainly adult patients with mild to moderate DKA compared to IVRII.

Serum albumin level is associated with mortality and hospital stays: A real-world data analysis

Background & AimsThe value of serum albumin might be underestimated, especially in cancer patients. We thus aimed to evaluate the association between serum albumin level at hospital admission and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with cancer. MethodsThis is a retrospective, cross-sectional, and real-world data analysis. Hospitalized adult patients with malignant cancer were recruited from two tertiary hospitals. Serum level of albumin, which was measured within 24 hours after hospital admission, was the exposure. Length of hospital stays (LOS) was the primary and all-cause in-hospital mortality was the secondary outcomes. Other information, including age, sex, types of cancer, history of hypertension and diabetes, surgery, blood routine test, liver and renal function, and dietary intake, were also abstracted from medical records. ResultsA total number of 5,187 adult patients with cancer (2,949 were men and 2,238 women; average age 61.6±12.4 years and average albumin 40.3±5.2 g/L) were included. The prevalence of hypoalbuminemia was 12.2% (634/5,187). Older patients, patients with liver injury, anemia, and with high level of WBC were positively, while those with overweight and high level of total triglycerides, were negatively associated with hypoalbuminemia. After adjustment of covariates, hypoalbuminemia was significantly associated with longer LOS in the current study. The increase of 5 g/L in serum level of albumin could result in 1.09 days (95%CI: -1.38, -0.80 days) shorter in LOS. The increase of 5 g/L in serum level of albumin was also associated with 45% lower in risk of mortality (OR=0.55; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.7) after fully adjustment. ConclusionsSerum albumin level at admission was associated with both LOS and mortality in patients with malignant cancer.

Prognostic value of elevated transaminase levels as predictors of adverse outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Aim. To assess the prevalence of elevated serum liver transaminases (LTs), including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT), and their impact on in-hospital and long-term mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Materials and methods. The prospective observational study included 416 consecutive AMI patients (median age 65 years, 40.9% female, 46.9% with ST elevation) without prior liver diseases, who underwent coronary angiography within 24 hours after hospitalization. AST and ALT levels were measured upon admission. LTs were considered as abnormal when their levels exceeded the local upper limit of normal. Clinical endpoints were all-cause in-hospital and 18-month mortality. Associations between clinical endpoints and various risk factors, including LT levels, were assessed by the multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results. Elevated LT levels were seen in 28.6% of AMI patients: an isolated increase in ALT was noted in 17.8% of patients, while an isolated increase in AST was registered in 25% of cases. In-hospital and 18-month mortality was 5.8 and 11.3%, respectively. Abnormal LT levels were associated with the presence of ST elevation (odds ratio (OR) 1.873, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.218–2.881, p = 0.004), lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure (OR 0.993, 95% CI 0.986–1.0, p = 0.04 and 0.979, 95% CI 0.964–0.994, p = 0.007, respectively), higher Killip class (OR 1.510, 95% CI 1.142–1.999, p = 0.004), and higher creatinine level (OR 1.010, 95% CI 1.003–1.016, p = 0.004). In the multivariate analysis, elevated LT levels were independently associated with in-hospital and 18-month mortality (OR 3.607, 95% CI 1.199–10.848, p = 0.022 and 2.182, 95% CI 1.011–4.708, p = 0.047, respectively).Conclusion. Elevated LT levels were present in about a third of patients with AMI. They were associated with specific clinical, biological, and prognostic features, including in-hospital and long-term mortality in AMI patients.

Efficacy of endoscopic vacuum therapy in esophageal luminal defects: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Endoscopic vacuum-assisted closure (EVAC) is a novel technique used to repair esophageal perforation and leaks. Varying data have been reported on the overall success rate of EVAC. We aimed to conduct a metanalysis of the available data on the clinical success rate of EVAC. Electronic databases were searched for publications addressing the efficacy of EVAC in esophageal luminal defects. Pooling was conducted using both fixed and random-effects models. The overall clinical success of EVAC therapy was considered the primary outcome, whereas, overall complication rates, need for adjunct therapy, and mortality were considered secondary outcomes. In total, 366 patients were included in the study. On pooled analysis, the mean age was 66 years with 68.32% of patients being men. Overall pooled clinical success rate of EVAC therapy was 87.95%. Upon subgroup analysis, the pooled clinical success rate of postsurgical anastomotic leak and transmural esophageal perforation were found to be 86.57% and 88.89%, respectively. The all-cause hospital mortality was 14% and 4.2% in patients with esophageal perforation and EVAC, respectively. This study demonstrates that EVAC therapy has a high overall clinical success rate, with low mortality. EVAC therapy seems to be a promising procedure with excellent outcomes in patients with luminal esophageal defects.

Characteristics and In-Hospital Outcomes of Patients With Myocardial Infarction With Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries - Insights From the Real-World JAMIR Database.

Few studies have investigated the clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) using real-world databases in the coronary intervention era. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 22,236 patients (mean [±SD] age 68±13 years, 23.4% female) enrolled in the Japan Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (JAMIR) between 2011 and 2016. Based on urgent coronary angiography findings, 286 (1.3%) patients were diagnosed as MINOCA, and the remaining 21,950 (98.7%) as MI with obstructive coronary artery disease (MI-CAD). MINOCA patients were characterized by younger age, fewer coronary risk factors, lower rate of ST-elevation myocardial infarction, lower Killip classification, and lower peak creatinine phosphokinase levels than MI-CAD patients. In-hospital all-cause mortality did not differ between the MINOCA and MI-CAD groups (5.2% vs. 5.7%, respectively; P=0.82). Comparing cause-specific mortality, non-cardiac mortality was higher in the MINOCA than MI-CAD group (4.2% vs. 1.6%; P<0.01). Importantly, non-cardiac death was more prevalent among elderly (≥65 years) than younger (<65 years) patients in the MI-CAD group, whereas this trend was not observed in the MINOCA group. Analysis of the real-world JAMIR database revealed a relatively high prevalence of non-cardiac death among MINOCA patients, underscoring the need for comprehensive management to improve disease prognosis, particularly in younger patients.

Advanced lung cancer inflammation index is associated with mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure.

Nutrition and inflammation status play a vital role in the prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF). This study aimed to investigate the association between the advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI), a novel composite indicator of inflammation and nutrition, and short-term mortality among critically ill patients with HF. This retrospective study included 548 critically ill patients with HF from the MIMIC-IV database. ALI was computed using body mass index, serum albumin and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. The primary endpoint was all-cause in-hospital mortality, and the secondary endpoint was 90day mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis with long-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to assess the relationship between baseline ALI and short-term mortality risk. The incremental predictive ability of ALI was evaluated by C-statistic, continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). The average age of 548 patients was 72.2 (61.9, 82.1) years, with 60% being male. Sixty-three patients (11.5%) died in the hospital, and 114 patients (20.8%)died within 90days of intensive care unit admission. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the cumulative incidences of both in-hospital and 90day mortality were significantly higher in patients with lower ALI (log-rank test, in-hospital mortality: P<0.001; 90day mortality: P<0.001). The adjusted Cox proportional hazard model revealed that ALI was inversely associated with both in-hospital and 90day mortality after adjusting for confounders [hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval) (CI): 0.97 (0.94, 0.99), P=0.035; HR (95% CI): 0.62 (0.39, 0.99), P=0.046]. A linear relationship was observed between ALI and in-hospital mortality (P for non-linearity=0.211). The addition of ALI significantly improved the prognostic ability of GWTG-HF score in the in-hospital mortality [C-statistic improved from 0.62 to 0.68, P=0.001; continuous NRI (95% CI): 0.44 (0.20, 0.67), P<0.001; IDI (95% CI): 0.03 (0.01, 0.04), P<0.001] and 90day mortality [C-statistic improved from 0.63 to 0.70, P<0.001; continuous NRI (95% CI): 0.31 (0.11, 0.50), P=0.002; IDI (95% CI): 0.01 (0.00, 0.02), P=0.034]. Subgroup analysis revealed stronger correlations between ALI and in-hospital mortality in males and patients aged over 65years (interaction P=0.031 and 0.010, respectively). The C-statistic of in-hospital mortality in patients over 65years was 0.66 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.74). ALI at baseline can independently predict the risk of short-term mortality in critically ill patients with HF, with lower ALI significantly associated with higher mortality. Further large prospective research with extended follow-up periods is necessary to validate the findings of this study.

Surviving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO): The roles of severity scores and post-operative lactate clearance

BackgroundThis study investigated the association of the Survival After VA-ECMO (SAVE) score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and post-cannulation lactate levels with mortality among patients treated with veno-arterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for refractory cardiogenic shock (CS). MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of adult patients who underwent peripheral VA-ECMO cannulation from January 2018 to September 2022 at a quaternary care center. All-cause in-hospital mortality was assessed and compared to predicted mortality by SAVE and SOFA scores prior to cannulation, with adjusted odds ratio of risk factors for mortality identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Additionally, the prognostic value of 8-h post-cannulation serum lactate levels was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Kaplan Meier analysis of 30-day survival. Results244 patients were included in final analysis. All-cause in-hospital mortality was 70 %, and 54 % of patients died while on ECMO or within 24 h of decannulation. Pre-cannulation SAVE score (OR 0.93 per unit increase, 95 % CI 0.86–0.99, p = 0.008), SOFA score (OR 1.54 per unit increase, 95 % CI 1.32–1.75), and 8-h post-cannulation lactate levels (OR 1.20 per mmol/L increase, 95 % CI 1.04–1.36, p = 0.008) were independently associated with all-cause in-hospital mortality.8-h post-cannulation lactate levels ≥5.3 mmol/L demonstrated high specificity for in-hospital mortality (90.0 %), while levels ≥7.8 mmol/L were demonstrated high specificity for VA-ECMO death (91.1 %). These thresholds were significantly associated with 30-day all-cause mortality (p < 0.001). ConclusionPre-cannulation SAVE and SOFA scores are useful prognostic tools in patients with CS. 8-h post-cannulation serum lactate levels are a pragmatic biomarker and can further assist in prognostication of patients on VA-ECMO, and the cutoffs of 5.3 mmol/L and 7.8 mmol/L have high specificity for all-cause mortality and VA-ECMO mortality, respectively. The development of accurate prognostic tools is critical in managing and optimizing care for patients with CS.

Effectiveness and Safety of Cefiderocol in Clinical Practice for Treatment of Patients with Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections: US Interim Results of the PROVE Study.

The international PROVE retrospective chart-review study aims to assess the real-world effectiveness and safety of cefiderocol for treatment of patients with carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections. US centers selected hospitalized patients receiving their first cefiderocol treatment for ≥72hours for a Gram-negative bacterial infection (November 2020-March 2023). Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, hospitalization, course of infection, antibiotic use, clinical cure (excluding patients with a relapse/reinfection), clinical response at the end of treatment, microbiology, in-hospital all-cause mortality (IH-ACM) at Day 30, and safety were analyzed using descriptive statistics. This interim analysis included 244 patients. The most frequent infection sites were respiratory tract (55.7%), skin and skin structure (16.8%), and blood (9.8%). The median duration of cefiderocol use was 12 days (interquartile range 8-18.5). Clinical cure was reported for 64.8% (158/244) of patients, clinical response for 74.2% (181/244), and 9.4% (23/244) had relapse/reinfection; 30-day IH-ACM was 18.4% (45/244). Of 82 patients with monomicrobial Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, 64.6% (n = 53) and 74.4% (n = 61) had clinical cure and clinical response, respectively, and 30-day IH-ACM was 25.6%. Among 43 patients with monomicrobial Acinetobacter baumannii infections, 60.5% (n = 26) and 74.4% (n = 32) had clinical cure and clinical response, respectively, and 30-day IH-ACM was 18.6%. Five patients experienced six adverse drug reactions (one serious event: interstitial nephritis/acute kidney injury), and cefiderocol was discontinued in two cases. Cefiderocol had similar clinical cure and response rates to previous retrospective studies and lower mortality. Cefiderocol was well tolerated in real-world settings in critically ill US patients with problematic Gram-negative pathogens.

Impacto del sexo en los resultados hospitalarios y a largo plazo tras el implante percutáneo de válvula aórtica: un análisis del registro español de TAVI

Introduction and objectives: Impact of gender on long-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains uncertain. We aimed to investigate gender-specific differences in TAVI and its impact on outcomes.Methods: This analysis used data from the prospective Spanish TAVI registry, which included consecutive TAVI patients treated in 46 Spanish centers from 2009 to 2021. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 12 months. Secondary endpoints included in-hospital and 30-day mortality and TAVI-related complications. Adjusted logistic and Cox regression analyses were performed.Results: The study included 12 253 consecutive TAVI patients with a mean age of 81.2 ± 6.4 years. Women (53.9%) were older, and had a higher STS-PROM score (7.0 ± 7.0 vs 6.2 ± 6.7; P < .001) than men. Overall, the TAVI-related complication rate was similar between women and men, with specific gender-related complications. While women more frequently developed in-hospital vascular complications (13.6% vs 9.8%; P < .001) and cardiac tamponade (1.5% vs 0.6%; P = .009), men showed a higher incidence of permanent pacemaker implantation (14.5% vs 17.4%; P = .009). There was no difference in all-cause mortality either in hospital (3.6% vs 3.6%, adjusted OR, 1.01; 95%CI, 0.83-1.23; P = .902), at 30 days (4.2% vs 4.2%, adjusted OR, 0.90; 95%CI, 0.65-1.25; P = .564) or at 1 year (11% vs 13%, adjusted HR, 0.94; 95%CI, 0.80-1.11; P = .60).Conclusions: Women treated with TAVI are older and have more comorbidities than men, leading to distinct complications between genders. Nevertheless, all-cause mortality in the short-term and at 1-year was similar between men and women.

TCT-58 Use of Intravascular Ultrasound During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Does Not Reduce All-Cause In-Hospital Mortality but Doubles the Cost, With Higher Use in Privately Insured Patients

TCT-58 Use of Intravascular Ultrasound During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Does Not Reduce All-Cause In-Hospital Mortality but Doubles the Cost, With Higher Use in Privately Insured Patients