Charlson Comorbidity Index Research Articles

Factors Affecting Treatment Persistence in Japanese Patients with Psoriasis Prescribed Biologics: A Real-World Study Using an Insurance Claim Database.

Poor persistence to biologics can result in suboptimal health outcomes and increased economic burden for chronic conditions, including psoriasis (PsO). In Japan, studies evaluating factors responsible for biologic treatment persistence in patients with PsO are limited. We assessed biologic treatment persistence (median treatment duration and overall treatment survival) and associated factors in patients with PsO in a real-world setting. This retrospective analysis of insurance claims records from the Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC) database included patients with PsO [International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code: L40.x] ≥ 18years of age who had received biologic treatment. Treatment persistence was analyzed using data from 2016 to 2020 by biologic class and by individual biologics (infliximab, adalimumab, ustekinumab, guselkumab, secukinumab, ixekizumab, and brodalumab) in bio-naïve (who initiate first biologic at index) and bio-experienced patients. Kaplan-Meier survival (treatment persistence), and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression (predictive factors) analyses were used. Overall, 1528 patients with PsO were included (mean age 47.4years). Infliximab had the longest median treatment duration (33.6months), while brodalumab had the shortest (9.7months) among biologics evaluated. Of the biologics evaluated, 1-year treatment survival was highest with guselkumab (83%), and lowest with brodalumab (45%). Bio-experienced patients showed slightly longer median treatment duration than bio-naïve patients (22.8 versus 18.1months). Factors predictive of treatment persistence were sex [male; hazard ratio (HR) 0.84, p = 0.016] and specific PsO diagnostic codes, such as L40.0 (PsO vulgaris; HR 0.69; p = 0.006), L40.1 (generalized pustular PsO; HR 0.75; p = 0.034), and L40.9 (PsO unspecified; HR 0.72; p = 0.001). Meanwhile, age and Charlson Comorbidity Index score were significantly associated with adalimumab and infliximab treatment persistence, respectively. Among biologics evaluated, infliximab had the longest median treatment duration, and guselkumab had the highest 1-year treatment survival. Sex and specific PsO diagnostic codes influenced overall treatment persistence. These findings could inform long-term treatment plans for PsO in real-world clinical settings.

Prolonged Hospital Stays in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) Patients: The Role of Comorbid Conditions

Background: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is a widely used treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but it is associated with frequent hospitalizations that can significantly impact patients' quality of life and increase healthcare costs. This study aimed to investigate the influence of comorbid conditions on the length of hospital stay (LOS) in CAPD patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on CAPD patients admitted to Dr. Kariadi General Hospital Semarang between January 1st, 2023, and December 31st, 2023. Data on demographics, comorbidities, and LOS were extracted from medical records. The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was used to assess comorbidity burden. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of prolonged LOS, defined as exceeding the median LOS. Results: The study included 52 CAPD patients with a median LOS of 18 days (range: 1-72 days). Patients with comorbidities had a significantly longer LOS compared to those without comorbidities (20.25 ± 12.88 days vs. 12.50 ± 3.63 days, p = 0.045). The presence of comorbidities was significantly associated with prolonged LOS (odds ratio [OR] 2.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-7.16, p = 0.023), as were older age (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09, p = 0.012) and peritonitis as the primary reason for hospitalization (OR 3.54, 95% CI 1.38-9.08, p = 0.008). Conclusion: Comorbid conditions are significant contributors to prolonged hospital stays in CAPD patients. These findings underscore the importance of effectively managing comorbidities in this population to optimize healthcare resource utilization and improve patient outcomes.

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic resection of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in late-elderly patients.

As the population ages, the number of elderly patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is increasing. We aimed to clarify the indications for endoscopic resection (ER) in late-elderly patients with ESCC in terms of life expectancy. Patients aged ≥75years who underwent ER for ESCC at our institution from January 2005 to December 2018 were enrolled. Clinical data, including the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA-PS), Charlson comorbidity index, and prognostic nutritional index (PNI), were collected at the time of ER. The main outcome measure was overall survival (OS). Two hundred eight consecutive patients were enrolled. The patients' median age was 78years (range, 75-89years). The 5-year follow-up rate was 88.5% (median follow-up period, 6.6years). The 5-year OS rate was 79.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 72.2-84.8), and 5-year net survival standardized for age, sex, and calendar year was 1.04 (95% CI, 0.98-1.09). In the multivariate analysis, an ASA-PS of 3 (hazard ratio, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.16-5.17) and PNI of <44.0 (hazard ratio, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.38-5.40) were independent prognostic factors. When neither of these factors was met, the 5-year OS rate was 87.8% (95% CI, 80.0-92.9), and 5-year net survival was 1.08 (95% CI, 1.02-1.14). ER for ESCC in late-elderly patients may improve life expectancy. ER is recommended in patients with a good ASA-PS and PNI.

COVID-19 vaccination and lethality reduction: a prospective observational study in Venezuela during the last two waves

BackgroundIn Venezuela, the predominant vaccines administered are BBIBP-CorV and Gam-COVID-Vac. Despite robust evidence from randomized clinical trials validating the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in mitigating hospitalization and mortality, there is still a lack of post-authorization safety studies conducted within this demographic population.MethodsA prospective observational study from October 5, 2021 to March 31, 2022 encompassed COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated patients from four sentinel hospitals in Venezuela. Patient lethality was predicted using Charlson Comorbidity index. Clinical outcomes were assessed through WHO’s COVID-19 Clinical Progression Scale.ResultsOut of the 175 patients assessed, 85 (48.6%) were vaccinated. The median Charlson Comorbidity index was 3 points, with no statistically significant differences observed between the groups (p = 0.2). A total of 50 (28.6%) patients died during the study period, with higher proportion of deaths in unvaccinated patients (35.6% vs. 21.2%, p = 0.035). Advanced age (OR = 1.043, 95% CI = 1.015–1.071, p = 0.002) was associated with increased death risk, whereas vaccination against COVID-19 (OR = 0.428, 95% CI = 0.185–0.99, p = 0.047), high oxygen saturation (OR = 0.964, 95% CI = 0.934–0.995, p = 0.024), and enoxaparin administration (OR = 0.292, 95% CI = 0.093–0.917, p = 0.035) were associated with decreased death risk.ConclusionDuring the third and fourth waves of the pandemic, COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a 57% reduction in lethality among patients in four public hospitals in Venezuela.

Association between gastroprotective agents and acute kidney injury in patients receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Analysis of a Japanese hospital-based database.

The concomitant use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) potentially increases the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the risk of AKI has not been comprehensively assessed for the concomitant use of NSAIDs with gastroprotective agents such as misoprostol and PPIs. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the use of various gastroprotective agents affects the risk of AKI in patients receiving NSAIDs. The data analyzed were obtained from the JMDC hospital-based administrative claims database between April 2014 and August 2022. Histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) were compared with PPIs or misoprostol in patients receiving NSAIDs. The primary outcome was the incidence of AKI. The covariates considered were age and sex, admission to intensive care unit, presence of comorbidities based on the modified Charlson Comorbidity Index, and use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, loop diuretics, other diuretics, and lithium. AKI was identified by changes in serum creatinine. The distribution of AKI was analyzed using the log-rank test, and estimates of the incidence of AKI were compared among the groups using a Cox proportional hazards model with time-varying variables. Models were adjusted using a doubly robust method that accounts for the inverse probability of treatment weighting at baseline while adjusting for covariates. After screening, 11,688 patients were eligible for inclusion (1729 for H2RAs, 368 for misoprostol, and 9591 for PPIs). AKI occurred in 0.5% of H2RA recipients and 1.1% of PPI recipients; no AKI was observed in the misoprostol group. Compared with H2RAs, the risk of AKI tended to be higher with PPIs (adjusted hazard ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval 0.92-3.63, p = 0.08). Compared with H2RAs, PPIs may increase the risk of AKI in patients receiving NSAIDs, although no statistically significant difference was observed. Further research is required to assess the risk trade-off with consideration of both peptic ulcer prevention and the increased risk of AKI in patients concurrently treated with NSAIDs and H2RAs, misoprostol, or PPIs.

Venous Thromboembolism in Outpatient Elective Foot and Ankle Procedure Patients Who Is at Risk?

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a rare but potentially serious complication following elective foot and ankle (F&A) procedures. The absence of guidelines for thromboprophylaxis in elective procedures underscores the importance of identifying patients at risk. This study aimed to identify key risk factors of VTE in patients who underwent elective foot and ankle (F&A) operations. Data was collected from the IBM MarketScan Database (2009-2019) for patients >18 years old without prior VTE who underwent elective F&A procedures. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on region of operation (forefoot, mid/hindfoot, lower leg/ankle). VTE incidence (including deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism) was recorded 30 and 90 days postprocedure. Risk factors for VTE were identified through multivariate logistic regression. Among the 301 256 patients who underwent elective F&A procedures, the overall 90-day incidence of VTE was 0.95%. The findings revealed that 31.9% of VTE incidents occurred within the first 2 weeks after operation, and 29.2% still occurred after 6 weeks. Analysis of the anatomical region of operation demonstrated that the lowest rate of 90-day VTE was amongst patients undergoing forefoot procedures (0.70%). There was a higher risk for VTE in patients undergoing midfoot/hindfoot procedures (1.22%, OR = 1.81) and lower leg/ankle procedures (1.76%, OR = 2.31). Additional risk factors for VTE included thrombophilia (4.02%, OR = 3.37), male sex (1.30%, OR = 1.47), increasing age (1.02% age 65+, OR = 1.41), and a high Charlson Comorbidity Index (1.12%, OR < 0.82 for scores <5). This study identifies the incidence and timing for VTE after elective F&A procedures. Furthermore, this study defines the risk factors associated with increased odds of VTE after elective F&A procedures. These findings are helpful in educating patients about a continued risk for VTE throughout the 90-day postoperative period and beyond. These results can also be utilized to stratify patients who need thromboprophylaxis based on the individual risk level. Level III: Retrospective cohort study.

Clinical characteristics and impairment of activities of daily living among patients with myasthenia gravis with differing degrees of muscle weakness: a real-world study of patients in the US and five European countries

BackgroundReal-world data were employed to determine clinical characteristics of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) with differing degrees of muscle weakness, as defined using the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) classification system.MethodsData were drawn from the Adelphi MG Disease Specific Programme (DSP)™, a multinational (United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) survey completed by physicians and their patients with MG in 2020. The association between MGFA class and impairment in activities of daily living (ADL) was tested using linear regression adjusting for sex and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Bivariate comparisons were performed for each individual item. A range of other clinical characteristics were also explored according to MGFA class.ResultsAmong 1232 patients, those in MGFA class I had significantly lower ADL impairment versus class II or III/IV (adjusted for sex and Charlson Comorbidity Index) (p < 0.01). However, heterogeneity occurred within each MGFA class. Bulbar symptoms (impaired speech, difficulty swallowing, and/or difficulty chewing/choking on food) were reported in some class I patients (mild in 1.1–1.9% and moderate in 0.3–1.1% of patients) and class II patients (mild in 8.5–16.4%, moderate in 4.7–7.4%, and severe in 0.3–0.9% of patients), and shortness of breath was reported in some class I (mild in 0.5% of patients) and class II patients (mild in 9.8%, moderate in 4.8%, and severe in 0.3% of patients). Conversely, in 11.2–19.2% of class III/IV patients, bulbar symptoms and shortness of breath reported were only mild in severity. In line with this finding, despite significant correlations between MGFA class and several clinical characteristics, patients across every class were at risk of experiencing myasthenic crisis or hospitalization, experiencing comorbidities including anxiety and depression, and not being in remission.ConclusionsAlthough MGFA class correlates with greater ADL impairment and presence of other clinical characteristics, there is variability between patients in each class in terms of symptoms experienced, overall disease burden, and the precise nature of ADL impairment.

Sedentary Lifestyle Is a Modifiable Risk Factor for Cognitive Impairment in Patients on Dialysis and after Kidney Transplantation

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for cognitive impairment (CI), and this risk is the highest in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). As a multifactorial disease, CI may be influenced by several potentially modifiable lifestyle and behavioral factors that may reduce or increase the risk of dementia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between the known modifiable risk factors for dementia and the risk of CI in patients with ESKD treated with renal replacement therapy. The Charlson Comorbidity Index and the risk of CI in patients with ESKD were also assessed. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 225 consecutive patients with ESKD treated with different modalities of renal replacement therapy were assessed for cognitive decline using the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE III) test. Information was also collected on modifiable risk factors for dementia, medical history and demographics. Results: This study included 117 patients after kidney transplantation (KT) and 108 patients with ESKD undergoing peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis. The prevalence of modifiable risk factors for dementia differed between the groups; KT patients were more likely to be physically active, residing in cities with populations of less than 500,000 inhabitants, and were less likely to suffer from depression. Furthermore, the KT group had a lower Charlson Comorbidity Index score, indicating less severe comorbidities, and a lower risk of CI (3.6 ± 1.67 vs. 5.43 ± 2.37; p = 0.001). In both the KT and dialysis groups, patients with CI were more likely to have a sedentary lifestyle (45% vs. 9%, p = 0.001 and 88% vs. 48%, p = 0.001, respectively), whereas lower educational attainment and depression had a significant negative impact on ACE III test results, but only in KT patients. Finally, cognitive function in dialysis patients was negatively affected by social isolation and living in urban areas. Conclusions: Modifiable risk factors for dementia, particularly a sedentary lifestyle, are associated with a higher risk of CI in patients treated with different renal replacement therapy modalities. As CI is an irreversible condition, it is important to identify lifestyle-related factors that may lead to dementia in order to improve or maintain cognitive function in patients with ESKD.

SIMULTANEOUS VERSUS STAGED TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY FOLLOWING ACETABULAR FRACTURE FIXATION: A COMPARISON OF OUTCOMES

Acetabular fractures present a challenge. Anatomical reduction can be achieved by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). However, in elderly patients with complex fracture patterns and osteoporotic bone stock, “fix and replace” has become an option in the management of these injuries. This involves ORIF of the acetabulum to enable insertion of a press fit cup and subsequent cemented femoral stem at the index surgery.A Retrospective analysis of all operatively managed acetabular fractures by a regional Pelvic and Acetabular Trauma service (01/01/2018-30/05/2023) STATA used for analysis. 34 patients undergoing “fix and replace” surgery. Of the 133 patients managed with ORIF, 21 subsequently required Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA). Mean follow up was 2.7 years versus 5.1. There was no statistical significance between the two groups with regards to BMI or sex. Mean age in the “fix and replace” group was 68 compared to 48 in the ORIF and subsequent THA group. This reached statistical significance between the two groups (p=0.001).ASA and Charlson Comorbidity Index (3 and 3 in “fix and replace” and 2 and 1.2 in ORIF to THA group) and Charlson Comorbidity Index both were statistically significantly different (p=0.006 and p=0.027, respectively). High energy mechanism of injury accounted for 56% of the “fix and replace” group compared to 48% in the ORIF to THA. 74% of “fix and replace” were associated fractures compared to 53% of ORIF to THA. Wait to surgery was 3 days for “fix and replace” while 186 days was the mean wait time from listing to THA for the ORIF to THA group. Complication rate was 41% versus 43% in the two groups. 14% in the ORIF to THA group developed PJI versus 6% in “fix and replace”.Fix and replace allows early mobilisation in frailer, elderly patients. Our results show fewer returns to theatre and less PJI in patients having arthroplasty as part of “fix and replace” than subsequent to Open reduction internal fixation.

Revision surgery for chronic pyogenic spondylitis: analysis of a monocenter cohort with a minimum 1 year follow-up

Objective. To analyze the structure of complications and follow-up results of revision surgeries in patients operated on for chronic nonspecific spondylitis (CNS).Material and Methods. Revision interventions due to the development of complications corresponding to type IIIB according to Clavien – Dindo classification were performed in 78 patients (mean age 58 years 6 months ± 11 years 2 months) with CNS who had previously undergone reconstructive surgery on the spine. The timing of complications was analyzed according to Prinz classification. The structure of complications and factors potentially influencing their development were evaluated. Predictors of infectious and orthopedic complications were differentiated. Follow-up period was at least 1 year (M ± m = 3 years 3 months ± 1 year 2 months). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, version 22.0.Results. The estimated frequency of Clavien – Dindo grade IIIB complications after surgical treatment of CNS was 11.3 %. In 44 (56.4 %) of 78 cases, indications for revision surgery were due to infectious complications, and in 34 (43.6 %) – to orthopedic complications. The Charlson comorbidity index was 4.5 ± 1.8 with no intergroup differences between infectious and orthopedic complications (p = 0.052). The duration of primary interventions (p &lt; 0.001) and blood loss (p = 0.010) were higher in patients with infectious complications. The average preoperative ODI was 48.3 ± 13, with a higher value in the infectious complications group (F = 5.146, p = 0.026). The timing of complications and the location of primary reconstruction influenced both the ODI score (F = 6.622, p &lt; 0.001) and the type of complications (Pearson’s χ2 = 14.224, p = 0.014). The patient age had no effect on the location of complications (p = 0.349, F value = 1.137). Preoperative neurologic deficit was noted in 23 patients, regression was recorded in 11 cases, including complete in 6 and within the same functional class in 5 cases. The complication rate in the long-term period after revision surgery was 14.1 %.Conclusion. Infectious complications of primary interventions in patients with chronic nonspecific spondylitis prevail over orthopedic ones. Significant predictors of the development of complications are the patient age &gt; 55 years, the Charlson comorbidity index &gt; 3, duration of surgery &gt; 2 hours 30 minutes, and blood loss volume &gt; 250 ml.

NODESAFE Nomogram: A Novel Score System to Predict Lymph Node Involvement at the Time of Nephrectomy or Nodal Recurrence in Nonmetastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

ObjectiveWe sought to develop a preoperative nomogram called NODESAFE (NODE SAFEty) to predict nodal involvement (NI) at time of surgery or subsequent follow up in localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC), as the role of lymphadenectomy in localized RCC remains controversial. MethodsWe conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis of RCC patients who underwent primary surgical resection. Patients with clinical metastasis at presentation were excluded. NI was defined as presence of histological RCC with lymphadenectomy at time of surgery, or subsequent development histologically proven NI. The dataset was divided into training (70%) and testing subsets to facilitate model evaluation which was constructed through a stepwise multivariable logistic regression (MLR) model. Accuracy was tested with receiver operator characteristic estimated area under the curve (AUC). ResultsTotal 3308 patients (2221 [67.1%] male) met inclusion criteria. During follow-up 25 patients (0.76 %) experienced nodal recurrence, and 22/25 were preoperatively classified as cN0. In our cohort, 112 (3.4%) patients had clinical lymphadenopathy preoperatively (cN1), and 34/112 were pN1. The following covariates were found to be statically significant on a MLR model: hypertension (Odds ratio [OR] 3.35, < 0.001), Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥ 5 (OR 1.93 P = .025), tumor size ≥ 6 cm (OR 2.63, P = .001), tumor necrosis at CT scan (OR 1.83, P = .036), cN1 (OR 5.59, P < .001) and CRP ≥ 8.5 mg/L (1.96, P = .018). Testing the prediction performance of the model in the validation set AUC of the model was 0.89. NODESAFE demonstrated a sensitivity of 83.9%, specificity of 86.1% and 99.1% negative predictive values using a 4% threshold probability. ConclusionCombining clinical features, serum biomarkers and radiographic findings, we developed a model capable of predicting NI with high degree of accuracy. NODESAFE may refine clinical decision making with respect to the performance of lymphadenectomy at the time of surgery, postsurgical surveillance, and spur consideration for adjuvant therapy.

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Acute Care Utilization in Washington State Medicaid: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Neighborhood disadvantage has been associated with potentially preventable acute care utilization among Medicare beneficiaries, but this association has not been studied in a Medicaid population, which is important for informing more equitable care and policies for this population. To describe the association between Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and acute care utilization (including potentially preventable utilization) among Medicaid beneficiaries in Washington State. Retrospective cohort study of 100% Medicaid claims. Mixed effects logistic regression was applied to estimate the association between state-level ADI decile and acute care utilization, adjusting for age, sex, self-identified race and ethnicity, Charlson Comorbidity Index, primary spoken language, individual Federal Poverty Level, homelessness, and rurality. Standard errors were clustered at the Census block group level. 1.5 million unique adult Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled for at least 11months of a calendar year during the period 2017-2021. Binary measures denoting receipt of ED visits, low-acuity ED visits, hospitalizations in a calendar year. Increasing levels of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage (by ADI decile) were associated with greater odds of any ED visits (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.07), low-acuity ED visits (aOR 1.08, CI 1.08-1.08), and any hospitalizations (aOR 1.02, CI 1.02-1.02). Among Medicaid beneficiaries, greater neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with increased acute care utilization, including potentially preventable utilization. These findings signal potential barriers to outpatient care access that could be amenable to future intervention by health systems and payers.

Unlocking the Potential of Computed Tomography-Guided Tracers in Pinpointing Lung Lesions during Surgery: A Collaborative Multi-Institutional Journey.

Background: Multiple techniques exist for the preoperative localization of small, deeply located solid or subsolid pulmonary nodules to guide limited thoracoscopic resection. This study aims to conduct a multi-institutional comparison of three different tomography-guided tracers' methods. Methods: A retrospective multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted. All patients suitable for CT-guided tracers with microcoil (GROUP1, n = 58), hook wire (GROUP2, n = 86), or bioabsorbable hydrogel plug (GROUP3, n = 33) were scheduled for video-assisted thoracoscopic wedge resection. Outcome variables: successful nodule localization, safety, and the feasibility of the tracers' placement. A χ2 test or Fisher's test for expected numbers less than five and a Kruskal-Wallis test were used to analyze the categorical and continuous variables, respectively. For the power calculations, we used G*Power version 3.1.9.6. Results: One hundred seventy-seven patients underwent the localization and resection of 177 nodules detected with three different CT-guided tracers. A significant difference was recorded for cancer history (p = 0.030), respiratory function, Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.018), lesion type (p < 0.0001), distance from pleura surface (p < 0.0001), and time between preoperative CT-guided tracers and surgical procedures (p < 0.0001). Four post-procedural complications were recorded and in GROUP2, four cases of tracer dislocations occurred. Finally, hook wire group was associated with the shortest surgical time (93 min, p = 0.001). Conclusions: All methods were feasible and efficient, resulting in a 100% success rate for the microcoils and the bioabsorbable hydrogel plugs and a 94.2% success rate for the hook wires. Our results highlight the need to choose a technique that is less stressful for the patient and helps the surgeon by extending the approach to deep nodules and resecting over the course of several days from deployment.

Risk-Specific Training Cohorts to Address Class Imbalance in Surgical Risk Prediction.

Machine learning tools are increasingly deployed for risk prediction and clinical decision support in surgery. Class imbalance adversely impacts predictive performance, especially for low-incidence complications. To evaluate risk-prediction model performance when trained on risk-specific cohorts. This cross-sectional study performed from February 2024 to July 2024 deployed a deep learning model, which generated risk scores for common postoperative complications. A total of 109 445 inpatient operations performed at 2 University of Florida Health hospitals from June 1, 2014, to May 5, 2021 were examined. The model was trained de novo on separate cohorts for high-risk, medium-risk, and low-risk Common Procedure Terminology codes defined empirically by incidence of 5 postoperative complications: (1) in-hospital mortality; (2) prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay (≥48 hours); (3) prolonged mechanical ventilation (≥48 hours); (4) sepsis; and (5) acute kidney injury (AKI). Low-risk and high-risk cutoffs for complications were defined by the lower-third and upper-third prevalence in the dataset, except for mortality, cutoffs for which were set at 1% or less and greater than 3%, respectively. Model performance metrics were assessed for each risk-specific cohort alongside the baseline model. Metrics included area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC), F1 scores, and accuracy for each model. A total of 109 445 inpatient operations were examined among patients treated at 2 University of Florida Health hospitals in Gainesville (77 921 procedures [71.2%]) and Jacksonville (31 524 procedures [28.8%]). Median (IQR) patient age was 58 (43-68) years, and median (IQR) Charlson Comorbidity Index score was 2 (0-4). Among 109 445 operations, 55 646 patients were male (50.8%), and 66 495 patients (60.8%) underwent a nonemergent, inpatient operation. Training on the high-risk cohort had variable impact on AUROC, but significantly improved AUPRC (as assessed by nonoverlapping 95% confidence intervals) for predicting mortality (0.53; 95% CI, 0.43-0.64), AKI (0.61; 95% CI, 0.58-0.65), and prolonged ICU stay (0.91; 95% CI, 0.89-0.92). It also significantly improved F1 score for mortality (0.42; 95% CI, 0.36-0.49), prolonged mechanical ventilation (0.55; 95% CI, 0.52-0.58), sepsis (0.46; 95% CI, 0.43-0.49), and AKI (0.57; 95% CI, 0.54-0.59). After controlling for baseline model performance on high-risk cohorts, AUPRC increased significantly for in-hospital mortality only (0.53; 95% CI, 0.42-0.65 vs 0.29; 95% CI, 0.21-0.40). In this cross-sectional study, by training separate models using a priori knowledge for procedure-specific risk classes, improved performance in standard evaluation metrics was observed, especially for low-prevalence complications like in-hospital mortality. Used cautiously, this approach may represent an optimal training strategy for surgical risk-prediction models.

Endophthalmitis Rates following Secondary Intraocular Lens Surgeries: An 11-year Medicare Fee-For-Service Analysis.

To assess postoperative endophthalmitis (POE) rates and risk factors after secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for preoperative aphakia and IOL exchange combined with or without vitrectomy. Medicare fee for service (FFS) beneficiaries, United States. Retrospective study. Medicare FFS beneficiaries who underwent IOL exchange or secondary IOL implantation for preoperative aphakia between January 1, 2011 - November 19, 2022 were identified. POE rates were calculated overall and separately for each surgical category - secondary IOL for aphakia versus IOL exchange, with subsets for concurrent anterior or posterior vitrectomy. Multi-variate analysis of potential risk factors was implemented. 97,152 patients were included. The 42-day POE rates for secondary IOL implantation for aphakia and for IOL exchange were 0.35% and 0.28% overall, 0.31% and 0.30% when combined with posterior vitrectomy, and 0.84% and 0.42% with anterior vitrectomy. The risk of POE increased when secondary IOL surgery was combined with anterior vitrectomy compared to no vitrectomy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.849; p<0.001) and with higher Charlson comorbidity indexes compared to 0: 1-2 (aOR 1.495; p=0.01), 3-4 (aOR 1.591; p=0.01), 5-6 (aOR 1.617; p=0.046), ≥7 (aOR 3.290; p<0.001). Risk was decreased for IOL exchange compared to secondary IOL implantation for preoperative aphakia (aOR 0.783; p=0.04). The overall POE rate for all secondary IOL surgeries was 0.31% during the 11-year period. We hypothesize that absence of the posterior capsular barrier would explain the higher POE rates compared with cataract surgery, especially if a concurrent vitrectomy was performed with the secondary IOL procedure.

Short- and long-term outcomes in critically ill patients with primary glomerular disease: a case‒control study.

Glomerular diseases, encompassing primary and secondary forms, pose significant morbidity and mortality risks. Despite their impact, little is known about critically ill patients with primary glomerulopathy admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). We conducted a case‒control study of patients with primary glomerulopathy using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were collected. Logistic regression and mediation analysis were performed to identify predictors of hospital and long-term mortality. Among 50,920 patients, 307 with primary glomerulopathy were included. Infectious and cardiovascular-related causes were the main reasons for ICU admission, with sepsis being diagnosed in more than half of the patients during their ICU stay. The hospital mortality rate was similar to that of the control group, with a long-term mortality rate of 29.0% three years post-ICU discharge. Reduced urine output and serum albumin were identified as independent predictors of hospital mortality, while serum albumin and the Charlson comorbidity index were significantly associated with long-term mortality. Notably, although acute kidney injury was frequent, it was not significantly associated with mortality. Additionally, reduced urine output mediates nearly 25% of the association between serum albumin and hospital mortality. Critically ill patients with primary glomerulopathy exhibit unique characteristics and outcomes. Although hospital mortality was comparable to that of the control group, long-term mortality remained high. The serum albumin concentration and Charlson Comorbidity Index score emerged as robust predictors of long-term mortality, highlighting the importance of comprehensive risk assessment in this population. The lack of an association between acute kidney injury and mortality suggests the need for further research to understand the complex interplay of factors influencing outcomes in this patient population.

Clinical outcomes and emergence of resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections treated with ceftolozane-tazobactam versus ceftazidime-avibactam.

Few studies compare outcomes of patients with difficult-to-treat resistance (DTR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections treated with ceftolozane-tazobactam versus ceftazidime-avibactam. A multicenter prospective study was conducted of unique patients with DTR P. aeruginosa infections from 2018 to 2023 receiving >72 h of ceftolozane-tazobactam or ceftazidime-avibactam, with confirmation that the P. aeruginosa isolate was susceptible to the agent administered by broth microdilution. Inverse probability weighting (IPW) incorporating propensity scores was utilized to ensure balanced baseline characteristics. Regression performed on the post-IPW group determined 30-day mortality and subsequent emergence of resistance (i.e., ≥4-fold increase in MIC) to the initial treatment (i.e., ceftolozane-tazobactam or ceftazidime-avibactam). Among 186 eligible patients, 102 (55%) received ceftolozane-tazobactam and 84 (45%) received ceftazidime-avibactam. In the post-IPW cohort, balance was achieved across all variables [e.g., demographics, severity of illness, severe immunocompromise, Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥5, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), source of infection, combination therapy]. Thirty-day mortality was similar between the ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam groups [21% vs 17%; adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.01 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.90-1.14)]. Emergence of resistance was higher in the ceftolozane-tazobactam group [38% vs 25%; aOR: 1.89 (95% CI: 0.98-4.88)], but did not achieve statistical significance. Prolonged treatment durations and use of CRRT were associated with increased emergence of resistance (both P = 0.04). Although the survival of patients with DTR P. aeruginosa infections appears similar regardless of whether ceftolozane-tazobactam or ceftazidime-avibactam is prescribed, the emergence of resistance may be more concerning with the former. Plausible mechanistic explanations support these findings. Modifiable risk factors were identified that may mitigate this risk.

Perioperative Complications and In-Hospital Mortality in Paraplegic Radical Cystectomy Patients.

The aim of this study was to test for the association between paraplegia and perioperative complications as well as in-hospital mortality after radical cystectomy (RC) for non-metastatic bladder cancer. Perioperative complications and in-hospital mortality were tabulated in RC patients with or without paraplegia in the National Inpatient Sample (2000-2019). Of 25,527 RC patients, 185 (0.7%) were paraplegic. Paraplegic RC patients were younger (≤70years of age; 75 vs. 53%), more frequently female (28 vs. 19%), and more frequently harbored Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3 (56 vs. 18%). Of paraplegic vs. non-paraplegic RC patients, 141 versus 15,112 (76 vs. 60%) experienced overall complications, 38 versus 2794 (21 vs. 11%) pulmonary complications, 36 versus 3525 (19 vs. 14%) genitourinary complications, 33 versus 3087 (18 vs. 12%) intraoperative complications, 21 versus 1035 (11 vs. 4%) infections, and 17 versus 1343 (9 vs. 5%) wound complications, while 62 versus 6267 (34 vs. 25%) received blood transfusions, 47 versus 3044 (25 vs. 12%) received critical care therapy (CCT), and intrahospital mortality was recorded in 13 versus 456 (7.0 vs. 1.8%) patients. In multivariable logistic regression models, paraplegic status independently predicted higher overall CCT use (odds ratio [OR] 2.1, p<0.001) as well as fourfold higher in-hospital mortality (p<0.001), higher infection rate (OR 2.5, p<0.001), higher blood transfusion rate (OR 1.45, p=0.009), and higher intraoperative (OR 1.56, p=0.02), wound (OR 1.89, p=0.01), and pulmonary (OR 1.72, p=0.004) complication rates. Paraplegic patients contemplating RC should be counseled about fourfold higher risk of in-hospital mortality and higher rates of other untoward effects.

Midlife baseline prostate-specific antigen, velocity, and doubling time association with lethal prostate cancer and mortality.

Midlife baseline prostate-specific antigen (MB PSA), defined as a single PSA value measured between 40-59 years of age, has been proposed as a tool that can limit potential harms of PSA screening. This study aimed to examine the ability of MB PSA versus PSA doubling time (PSADT) and PSA velocity (PSAV) in assessing the likelihood of developing of lethal prostate cancer (PCa) in a diverse and contemporary North American population. Men 40-59 years old, who received their first PSA between the years 1995 and 2019, were included. For MB PSA values, the first PSA test result was included. For PSADT, the first two PSA test results were included. For PSAV, the first three PSA test results within 30 months were included. Selection criteria resulted in a total of 77,594 patients with at least two PSA test results and 11,634 patients with at least three PSA test results. Multivariable Fine-Gray regression was used to examine the impact of the value of the PSA testing methods on the development of lethal PCa (defined as death from PCa or development of metastatic disease either at diagnosis or during follow-up). Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic/area under the curve (AUC) at 5, 10, and 15 years were plotted. In the main cohort, patients were most frequently in the 50-54 age category (32.8%), had a Charlson comorbidity index of 0 (70.5%), and were White (63.2%). Of these, 9.3% had the midlife baseline PSA in the top 10th percentile, and 0.4% had a PSADT 0-6 months. Lethal PCa was diagnosed in 593 (0.8%) patients. The median (interquartile range) time to lethal PCa was 8.6 (3.2-14.9) years. In the main cohort, MB PSA and PSADT showed significant associations with the occurrence of lethal PCa, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 6.10 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.85-7.68) and HR of 2.20 (95% CI, 1.07-4.54) for patients in the top 10th percentile MB PSA group and in the PSADT between 0 to <6 months group, respectively. In patients with three PSA results available, MB PSA and PSAV showed significant associations with the occurrence of lethal PCa, with a HR of 3.95 (95% CI, 2.29-6.79) and 3.57 (95% CI, 2.17-5.86) for patients in the top 10th percentile MB PSA group and in the in the PSAV >0.4 ng/mL/year group, respectively. PSADT and PSAV did not exhibit higher AUCs than MB PSA in assessing the likelihood of lethal PCa. Specifically, they were 0.818 and 0.708 at 10 and 15 years, respectively, for the PSADT; 0.862 and 0.756 at 10 and 15 years, respectively, for the PSAV; and 0.868 and 0.762 at 10 and 15 years, respectively, for the MB PSA (all p>.05). The study findings are that PSAV or PSADT were not superior to midlife baseline in assessing the likelihood of developing lethal PCa. This suggests that these variables may not have practical use in enhancing PSA screening strategies in a clinical setting.

Comparative analysis of scoring systems for predicting mortality in Fournier gangrene: single center, 15years experience.

To compare 5 published scoring systems (Fournier gangrene severity index [FGSI], Uludag FGSI [UFGSI], age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index [ACCI] and the Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) and the Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing fasciitis (LRINEC) scores and to evaluate risk factors for outcome prediction in patients with Fournier gangrene (FG). Between 2010 and 2024, 311 patients were included in the study. The data of 276 survivors and 55 non-survivors were compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine which of the 5 scoring systems calculated according to demographic, laboratory and clinical data predicted mortality better. In addition, a cut-off value for these scoring systems was determined by ROC analysis. The mortality rate was 17.6% in FG patients. In all 5 scoring systems, univariate analyses showed higher values in non-survivor patients, while UFGSI and FGSI scoring systems were superior to other scoring systems in multivariate analyses (p < 0.001). ROC analysis using mortality-based sensitivity and specificity revealed that the optimal cut-off values for FGSI, UFGSI, ACCI, SOFA and LRINEC should be equal to or higher than 10, 12, 4, 2 and 8, respectively. UFGSI and FGSI scores had the highest AUC values among all scores. This was followed by ACCI, qSOFAand LRINEC. For a UFGSI score ≥ 12, the sensitivity was 84%, specificity 97%, PPV 85% and NPV 97%. Among the scoring systems used to predict mortality, UFGSI was the most accurate, while LRINEC was the least accurate.