Chronic Lung Research Articles

Microplastics, as a risk factor in the development of interstitial lung disease- a preliminary study

Microplastic (MPs) pollution is a global concern that affects all living organisms, yet research on MP-related disorders in humans, including incidence and symptoms, remains limited. In this study, the presence, composition, and characterization of MPs in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), which reflects lung tissue, and blood were examined. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed to collect BAL samples from patients suspected of having interstitial lung disease (ILD) as well as from a control group. MPs were identified and measured using μ-Raman techniques.In BAL samples, the most common MPs color observed was grey/white, with sizes ranging from 4.19 to 792.00 μm. The particle shapes and polymer types identified included polyamide (PA), polyester (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyurethanes (PU). For blood samples, MPs were predominantly grey/white and blue, with sizes ranging from 13.14 to 20. 29 μm. The identified polymers in blood samples included polyamide (PA) and polyethylene (PE). MPs were detected in 10 out of 18 patients (55%) suspected of having ILD, with most of these patients presenting with the fibrotic type of the disease. In the control group, two patients whose BAL samples were positive for MPs were found to have chronic lung disease.This study is the first to explore the relationship between interstitial lung disease (ILD) and microplastics (MPs), revealing a tendency for the presence of MPs in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of ILD patients, particularly those with a fibrotic phenotype. Further research is needed to determine the cumulative effects of MPs on human health, especially concerning the respiratory system, which is highly exposed to environmental pollutants.

RSV Risk Profile in Hospitalized Adults and Comparison with Influenza and COVID-19 Controls in Valladolid, Spain, 2010-2022.

We aimed to describe the risk profile of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections among adults ≥ 60years in Valladolid from January 2010 to August 2022, and to compare them with influenza and COVID-19 controls. This was a retrospective cohort study of all laboratory-confirmed RSV infections identified in centralized microbiology database during a 12-year period. We analyzed risk factors for RSV hospitalization and severity (length of stay, intensive care unit admission, in-hospital death or readmission < 30days) and compared severity between RSV patients vs. influenza and COVID-19 controls using multivariable logistic regression models. We included 706 RSV patients (635 inpatients and 71 outpatients), and 598 influenza and 60 COVID-19 hospitalized controls with comparable sociodemographic profile. Among RSV patients, 96 (15%) had a subtype identified: 56% A, 42% B, and 2% A + B. Eighty-one percent of RSV patients had cardiovascular conditions, 65% endocrine/metabolic, 46% chronic lung, and 43% immunocompromising conditions. Thirty-six percent were coinfected (vs. 21% influenza and 20% COVID-19; p = < .0001 and 0.01). Ninety-two percent had signs of lower respiratory infection (vs. 85% influenza and 72% COVID-19, p = < .0001) and 27% cardiovascular signs (vs. 20% influenza and 8% COVID-19, p = 0.0031 and 0.0009). Laboratory parameters of anemia, inflammation, and hypoxemia were highest in RSV. Among RSV, being a previous smoker (adjustedOR 2.81 [95% CI 1.01, 7.82]), coinfection (4.34 [2.02, 9.34]), and having cardiovascular (3.79 [2.17, 6.62]), neurologic (2.20 [1.09, 4.46]), or chronic lung (1.93 [1.11, 3.38]) diseases were risks for hospitalization. Being resident in care institutions (1.68 [1.09, 2.61]) or having a coinfection (1.91[1.36, 2.69]) were risks for higher severity, while RSV subtype was not associated with severity. Whereas RSV and influenza patients did not show differences in severity, RSV patients had 68% (38-84%) lower odds of experiencing any severe outcome compared to COVID-19. RSV especially affects those with comorbidities, coinfections, and living in care institutions. RSV vaccination could have an important public health impact in this population.

Risk factors and incidence of new-onset heart failure with conventional pacemaker implant: A nationwide study

BackgroundStudies have shown that the risk of new-onset heart failure (HF) is higher post-implant for patients receiving right ventricular pacing. ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate incidence, risk factors and implications for long-term prognosis of new-onset HF in patients after pacemaker-implant. MethodsPatients without preexisting HF who received a pacemaker in Sweden during the period 2005-2020 were identified via the nationwide Pacemaker Registry. Data was crossmatched with the population registry and national disease registries. Primary outcome was new-onset HF within 5 years, and a risk score for this was developed and validated.. ResultsIn all, 65579 patients met the inclusion criteria (10351 single chamber ventricular and 55228 dual chamber pacemakers). 13792 (21.0%) patients were diagnosed with HF within five years post-implant. Of these, 6244 (45.3%) were hospitalized for HF. Patients with new-onset heart failure were more likely to die within five years (41.2% vs. 19.7%, p<0.0001). Risk factors for new-onset HF included increasing age, male sex, hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, chronic lung- and kidney disease, ischemic heart disease, and AV block. In a combined score using these variables, patients in the highest risk-score quartile had a hazard ratio of 5.36 [4.91-5.86] (p<0.001) and an absolute risk of 32% for developing HF. ConclusionPacemaker therapy is associated with >20% risk of new-onset HF within five years, and we identified nine risk factors associated with the diagnosis of new-onset HF. The proposed score based on these variables can be used to identify patients at high risk for new-onset heart failure.

THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A LUNGS IN ACTION COMMUNITY EXERCISE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOLLOWING REHABILITATION

INTRODUCTION AND AIM Lungs in Action (LIA), a signature program of Lung Foundation Australia (LFA) is a community exercise program for people with chronic lung and cardiac conditions. Facilitated by Exercise Physiologists, Physiotherapists and Fitness Instructors, LIA supports patients to maintain the benefits achieved in pulmonary or cardiac rehabilitation. This research aimed to determine the holistic health benefits of participation in LIA through a national participant evaluation, concurrently with functional outcome measures over a 3-month period. METHODS A convenience sample of LIA participants completed an online health questionnaire (Qualtrics) that incorporated the EQ-5D-5L Health Questionnaire, demographics and structured health and wellbeing questions at baseline. A follow-up health questionnaire was undertaken 3-months post baseline. Concurrently, LIA Instructors conducted functional assessments of muscular strength (30sec Sit to Stand (30STS)), mobility, and balance (Timed Up and Go (TUG)) at baseline and 3-months post, to assess if physiological adaptations were evident. RESULTS 108 LIA participants (60±8 years; F=72) consented to complete the baseline questionnaire with n=61 (60±7 years; F=41) completing the 3-month post questionnaire. There were significant improvements in EQ-5D-5L anxiety domain (MD±SD; 0.18±0.22; p=0.04) and overall health rating (EQ-VAS) (MD±SD; 5.62±2.72; p=0.02). 74 participants (60±7 years; F=52) who attended an average of 11±6 classes over the 3-month interval, completed functional testing at both timepoints. There was a significant decrease in time to complete the TUG (MD±SD; -0.81±1.41 sec; p&amp;lt;0.0001) and increase in repetitions for the 30sSTS (MD±SD; 1.68±2.76 reps; p&amp;lt;0.0001). CONCLUSION Results indicate an increase in functional capacity, overall health, and a decrease in anxiety over the 3-month period. These benefits may relate to improved independence and activities of daily living.

Outcomes for Pediatric Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Patients Who Undergo Tracheostomy Placement: A Pediatric Health Information System Database Cohort Study, 2009-2020.

To describe the epidemiology, surgical complications, and long-term outcomes after tracheostomy in pediatric oncology and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients in U.S. Children's Hospitals. Retrospective cohort from the Pediatric Health information System (PHIS) database, 2009-2020. The PHIS dataset incorporates data from 48 pediatric hospitals in the Children's Hospital Association. Patients 0-21 years old with an oncologic diagnosis and/or underwent HSCT, received a tracheostomy, and were discharged from hospital between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2020. None. There were 1061 patients included in the dataset, and 217 (20.5%) had undergone HSCT. The annual prevalence in tracheostomy usage did not change over the study period. The majority of patients (62.2%) underwent tracheostomy early (< 30 d) in the admission and those who underwent the procedure later (> 90 d) had a significant increase in mortality (52.6% vs. 17.6%; p < 0.001) and mechanical ventilation (MV) at discharge (51.9% vs. 24.5%; p < 0.001) compared with the early tracheostomy patients. Complications reported included tracheostomy site bleeding (< 1%) and infection (24%). The overall rate of MV at discharge was 32.6% and significantly associated with chronic lung (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.54; 95% CI, 1.03-2.32) and acute lung disease (OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.19-3.98). The overall rate of mortality was 19.6% within the cohort and significantly associated with HSCT (OR, 5.45; 95% CI, 3.88-7.70), diagnosis of sepsis (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.28-3.41), and requirement for renal replacement therapy (OR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.58-4,83). This study demonstrated a static prevalence of tracheostomy placement in the cohort population relative to the increasing trends in other reported groups. Regardless of underlying diagnosis, the study patients incurred substantial morbidity and mortality. However, tracheostomy specific complication rates were comparable with that of the general pediatric population and were not associated with increased odds of mortality within this population.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection and Apnea Risk As Criteria for Hospitalization in Full Term Healthy Infants.

Introduction Apnea is recognized as a serious and potentially life-threatening complication associated with Respiratory Syncope Virus (RSV). The literature reports a wide range of apnea rates for infants with comorbid factors. Prematurity and young chronological age have been historically associated with the risk of apnea in hospitalized infants. Few studies have specifically examined the risk of apnea in healthy infants presenting to the emergency department. Methods This is a retrospective review of infants diagnosed with RSV using a PCR assay. Patients were divided into "mild" and "severe" cohorts based on symptoms at presentation. This study occurred in the NYU Langone Long Island (NYULI) pediatric emergency department (ED), a midsize academic hospital in the Northeast United States. The study included infants <6 months of age, born full term without comorbid conditions such as chronic lung or cardiac conditions, seen in NYULI ED over three consecutive RSV seasons (2017-2020). The primary outcome was the risk of apneic events. Secondary outcomes included hospital admission, ICU admission, length of stay, and supplemental oxygen support. Results The risk of apnea was <2%, regardless of disease severity. There were no significant differences in demographics between mild and severe disease. Cohorts differed significantly in the number of hospitalizations (41 milds vs. 132 severe), ICU admissions (2 milds vs. 27 severe), need for oxygen support (17 milds vs. 92 severe), hospital readmissions (2 milds vs. 42 severe), and length of stay (2 days milds vs. 3 days severe). Conclusions Apnea does not pose a significant risk for healthy full-term infants with RSV disease of any severity. The decision to admit this population to the hospital should be based on clinical presentation and not solely on the perceived risk of apnea.

Risk factors and prognostic implications for new-onset heart failure with ventricular pacing - a nationwide study

Abstract Background Studies have shown that the incidence of new-onset heart failure (HF) is higher for patients receiving pacemaker therapy with traditional right ventricular pacing, compared to age matched controls. Conduction system pacing may overcome this, but is more expensive and technically challenging. Objectives To investigate risk factors and implications for long-term prognosis of new-onset HF in patients after pacemaker-implant, with the aim of identifying patients at high risk already prior to device implant. Methods All patients without preexisting HF, who received a pacemaker with a right ventricular lead in Sweden during the period 2005-2020, were identified via the nationwide Pacemaker Registry. Data was crossmatched with the population registry and national disease registries. Outcome was new-onset HF within 5 years post-implant, HF hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Results In all, 65579 patients met the inclusion criteria (10351 single chamber ventricular and 55228 dual chamber pacemakers). 13792 (21.0%) patients were diagnosed with HF within five years post-implant. Of these, 6244 (45.3%) were hospitalized for HF (see Figure 1). Patients with heart failure were older (80.6 vs. 76.7 years, p&amp;lt;0.001), had a higher burden of comorbidities, and were more likely to die within five years compared to those without HF (41.2% vs. 19.7%, p&amp;lt;0.001). Independent risk factors with more than 25% increased odds ratio for developing heart failure within 5 years included increasing age, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, chronic lung- and kidney disease, ischemic heart disease, and AV block. A combined score using these variables was strongly associated with increased risk of both HF-hospitalization (OR 1.48 [1.46-1.51], p&amp;lt;0.0001) and 5-year mortality (OR 1.81[1.77-1.98], p&amp;lt;0.0001). There was a progressively increasing risk proportional to the summed score. Patients with at least five points on the score had &amp;gt;25% risk of new-onset heart failure within five years, and patients with at least seven points had &amp;gt;25% risk of new-onset heart failure within two years. In figure 2 we present a suggested score model, based on the results. Conclusions Pacemaker therapy with a lead in the right ventricle was associated with &amp;gt;20% risk of new-onset HF within five years. This in turn was associated with higher risk of death. Based on clinical risk factors, our proposed score can be used to identify patients at high risk for new-onset heart failure. These patients may be eligible for conduction system pacing or resynchronisation therapy. Randomized trials are needed to determine if a score-based pacing strategy (right ventricular or conduction system pacing) approach results in better clinical outcome, and if it is cost-effective.Included patients and risk of HF hosp.Decision algorithm based on results

Abstract 13406: Surveillance Bias: Inpatient Outcomes of Heart Failure in Substance Users as an Example

Introduction: Substance use (SU), including opioid, methamphetamine, and cocaine use, is not infrequent among those with heart failure (HF). We aimed to characterize substance use among patients with heart failure and its association with inpatient outcomes. Methods: We used the Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) for 2019 for our retrospective study. First, we extracted all cases older than 18 years that included a primary diagnosis of HF. Appropriate survey and domain analyses were applied to obtain national estimates using SAS 9.4. Results: We identified 1,318,006 discharges with a primary diagnosis of HF. SU was present in 5% of the study cohort (n= 57,395 cases). Patients with SU were younger than those without SU (mean age 55 years vs. 72 years, p&lt;0.001) and fewer women (29% vs. 49%, p&lt;0.001). Patients with SU had a higher prevalence of underlying hypertension, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and chronic lung and liver disease, but a lower prevalence of malignancy, dementia, end-stage renal disease, diabetes, and cerebrovascular disease (p&lt;0.001). Substance users had significantly lower inpatient mortality (1.4% vs. 2.9%, p&lt;0.001), but higher leaving against medical advice (AMA) (8% vs. 1%, p&lt;0.001), length of stay (mean 9 days vs. 8 days, p&lt;0.001), and all-cause 30-day readmission rates (58% vs. 46%, p&lt;0.001). Even after adjusting for age, gender, and comorbidities, the presence of SU continued to be associated with lower inpatient mortality compared to those without SU (OR 0.81 [0.73-0.90]). In this case, mortality rates are calculated based on discharge-level records rather than patient-level records. This leads to a dilution of the inpatient mortality rate because drug users who have multiple readmissions contribute more to the denominator. After excluding patients who left AMA or had readmission in the same year, SU was not associated with any favorable outcome (OR 1 [0.90-1.12]). Conclusions: While administrative data offers opportunities to study clinical outcomes, understanding how data is created and analyzed is key. Because the NRD database is built based on discharge-level rather than patient-level records, this is an example of how these calculations can introduce bias.

Estimating the Population Newly Eligible for the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine

Recommendations for adult pneumococcal vaccination in the U.S. were revised in 2022 after the introduction of 15- and 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15 and PCV20) to call for routine PCV use among immunocompetent adults with risk conditions aged 19-64 years. The present study estimated the size of this newly recommended population. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Optum de-identified electronic health record (EHR) dataset. Patients who were active in the EHR between January 2016 and June 2021 and had ≥1 condition included in the current pneumococcal recommendation without an immunocompromising condition were included. Data were weighted to account for potential differences between the EHR and U.S. Data analyses were conducted in 2022. Of 45.6 million adults aged 19-64 years in the database, 12.5 million met inclusion criteria and had ≥1 qualifying condition, primarily smoking, with chronic lung disease/asthma and/or diabetes also common. After weighting, the U.S. population aged 19-64 years newly eligible for PCVs was approximately 56 million. Approximately one in four U.S. adults aged <65 years is now recommended to receive PCV15 or PCV20, which highlights the need for providers to assess vaccination status, administer the vaccine, or refer patients as appropriate, as well as the need for tools to facilitate patient identification and vaccination.

Post-tuberculosis lung disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The burden of chronic airway diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), continues to increase, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD) is characterized by chronic lung changes after the "cure" of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), which may be associated with the pathogenesis of COPD. However, data on its prevalence, clinical manifestations, computed tomography features, patterns of lung function impairment, and influencing factors are limited. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying PTLD remain to be elucidated. This review summarizes the recent advances in PTLD and TB-associated COPD. Research is urgently needed both for the prevention and management of PTLD.

Cardiovascular events in delayed presentation of HIV: the prospective PISCIS cohort study.

People with HIV (PWH) have a higher cardiovascular risk than the general population. It remains unclear, however, whether the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is higher in late HIV presenters (LP; CD4 ≤ 350 cells/μL at HIV diagnosis) compared to PWH diagnosed early. We aimed to assess the rates of incident cardiovascular events (CVEs) following ART initiation among LP compared to non-LP. From the prospective, multicentre PISCIS cohort, we included all adult people with HIV (PWH) initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 2005 and 2019 without prior CVE. Additional data were extracted from public health registries. The primary outcome was the incidence of first CVE (ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular, or peripheral vascular disease). The secondary outcome was all-cause mortality after the first CVE. We used Poisson regression. We included 3,317 PWH [26 589.1 person/years (PY)]: 1761 LP and 1556 non-LP. Overall, 163 (4.9%) experienced a CVE [IR 6.1/1000PY (95%CI: 5.3-7.1)]: 105 (6.0%) LP vs. 58 (3.7%) non-LP. No differences were observed in the multivariate analysis adjusting for age, transmission mode, comorbidities, and calendar time, regardless of CD4 at ART initiation [aIRR 0.92 (0.62-1.36) and 0.84 (0.56-1.26) in LP with CD4 count <200 and 200- ≤ 350 cells/μL, respectively, compared to non-LP]. Overall mortality was 8.5% in LP versus 2.3% in non-LP (p < 0.001). Mortality after the CVE was 31/163 (19.0%), with no differences between groups [aMRR 1.24 (0.45-3.44)]. Women vs. MSM and individuals with chronic lung and liver disease experienced particularly high mortality after the CVE [aMRR 5.89 (1.35-25.60), 5.06 (1.61-15.91), and 3.49 (1.08-11.26), respectively]. Sensitivity analyses including only PWH surviving the first 2 years yielded similar results. CVD remains a common cause of morbidity and mortality among PWH. LP without prior CVD did not exhibit an increased long-term risk of CVE compared with non-LP. Identifying traditional cardiovascular risk factors is essential for CVD risk reduction in this population.

Pneumococcal Endocarditis, Rare but Not Forgotten

Pneumococcal endocarditis incidence has significantly decreased since the advent of antibiotics but remains a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in high-risk groups, such as those with heart disease, chronic lung and liver disease, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and immunosuppression. We present a unique case of pneumococcal endocarditis with no clinical stigmata of infective endocarditis that manifested with acute hypoxic respiratory failure and severe aortic regurgitation. A large vegetation on the aortic valve was noted during surgery, with negative blood cultures and aortic valve tissue cultures but positive Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on the aortic valve.

Long-term sleep apnea CPAP via tracheostomy in children with tracheomalacia: 20-year experience.

Children with severe tracheobronchomalacia may need placements of tracheostomies and long-term mechanical ventilation. Due to financial constraints, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines commonly used to treat obstructive sleep apnea in adults have been utilized to deliver positive distending pressure to such children at our institution for more than 20 years with favorable outcomes. We, therefore, reported our experience with 15 children using this machine. This is a retrospective study during 2001-2021. Fifteen children, 9 boys, aged ranged 3 months-5.6 years, were discharged home with CPAP via tracheostomies. All had co-morbidities including gastroesophageal reflux (n = 9, 60%), neuromuscular disorders (n = 6, 40%), genetic abnormalities (n = 6, 40%), cardiac diseases (n = 4, 27%) and chronic lungs (n = 3, 20%). Eight (53%) children were aged less than 1 year old. The smallest child was aged 3 months old, weighing 4.9 kg. All caregivers were relatives and non-medical health professionals. The 1-month and 1-year readmission rates were 13% and 66% respectively. No factor-associated unfavorable outcomes were statistically identified. No complications related to CPAP malfunction were found. Five (33%) were weaned off CPAP, and 3 died (2 from sepsis and 1 from a sudden unknown cause). We first reported the use of sleep apnea CPAP via tracheostomy in children with severe tracheomalacia. In limited-resource countries, this simple device may be another option for long-term invasive ventilatory support. The CPAP use in children with tracheobronchomalacia requires adequately trained caregivers.

Classification of COVID-19 associated symptomatology using machine learning

The health situation caused by the SARS-Cov2 coronavirus, posed major challenges for the scientific community. Advances in artificial intelligence are a very useful resource, but it is important to determine which symptoms presented by positive cases of infection are the best predictors. A machine learning approach was used with data from 5,434 people, with eleven symptoms: breathing problems, dry cough, sore throat, running nose, history of asthma, chronic lung, headache, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and fever. Based on public data from Kaggle with WHO standardized symptoms. A model was developed to detect COVID-19 positive cases using a simple machine learning model. The results of 4 loss functions and by SHAP values, were compared. The best loss function was Binary Cross Entropy, with a single hidden layer configuration with 10 neurons, achieving an F1 score of 0.98 and the model was rated with an area under the curve of 0.99 aucROC.

Clinical and Echocardiographic Predictors of Recovery of Moderate-to-severe Sepsis-associated Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with significant short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. In critically ill patients with sepsis, AKI tends to be more severe, more likely to require kidney replacement therapy (KRT), with less chance of recovery. Consequently, critically ill patients with sepsis-associated AKI (SA-AKI) have extended intensive care unit (ICU) stays and higher mortality rates. This study evaluated the predictive value of clinical and transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) parameters for recovery from moderate-to-severe SA-AKI in critically ill patients. This single-center historical cohort study was conducted at a tertiary academic medical center. We analyzed the data of all adults (age ≥18 years) admitted to the ICU at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, from June 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020. We included all patients who developed sepsis within the initial 24 h of their ICU stay. We identified 2919 eligible septic patients with available TTE, among which 1431 patients (49%) had moderate-to-severe SA-AKI. The mean age of the patients was 68 ± 15 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1. The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus and chronic lung and kidney diseases. Clinical predictors associated with SA-AKI non-recovery were the presence of stage III AKI (HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.1, p = 0.03) and utilization of kidney replacement therapy (KRT) (HR 6.8, 95% CI 3.6-12.4, p = 0.01). On the other hand, higher TAPSE was the only TTE variable associated with SA-AKI recovery (HR 1.1; 95% CI 1.08-1.15; p = 0.01). Our data from a single-center provide new information on the clinical (AKI stage, utilization of KRT, BMI, and peak serum creatinine) and echocardiographic features (TAPSE) associated with improved recovery in SA-AKI. There is a definite knowledge gap in the current literature regarding optimizing recovery in moderate-to-severe SA-AKI. Larger, multi-center studies are required to confirm these findings.

Real-world utilization of SARS-CoV-2 serological testing in RNA positive patients across the United States.

As diagnostic tests for COVID-19 were broadly deployed under Emergency Use Authorization, there emerged a need to understand the real-world utilization and performance of serological testing across the United States. Six health systems contributed electronic health records and/or claims data, jointly developed a master protocol, and used it to execute the analysis in parallel. We used descriptive statistics to examine demographic, clinical, and geographic characteristics of serology testing among patients with RNA positive for SARS-CoV-2. Across datasets, we observed 930,669 individuals with positive RNA for SARS-CoV-2. Of these, 35,806 (4%) were serotested within 90 days; 15% of which occurred <14 days from the RNA positive test. The proportion of people with a history of cardiovascular disease, obesity, chronic lung, or kidney disease; or presenting with shortness of breath or pneumonia appeared higher among those serotested compared to those who were not. Even in a population of people with active infection, race/ethnicity data were largely missing (>30%) in some datasets-limiting our ability to examine differences in serological testing by race. In datasets where race/ethnicity information was available, we observed a greater distribution of White individuals among those serotested; however, the time between RNA and serology tests appeared shorter in Black compared to White individuals. Test manufacturer data was available in half of the datasets contributing to the analysis. Our results inform the underlying context of serotesting during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and differences observed between claims and EHR data sources-a critical first step to understanding the real-world accuracy of serological tests. Incomplete reporting of race/ethnicity data and a limited ability to link test manufacturer data, lab results, and clinical data challenge the ability to assess the real-world performance of SARS-CoV-2 tests in different contexts and the overall U.S. response to current and future disease pandemics.

Clinical Outcome of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Patients with Primary Antibody Deficiencies.

In 2019, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, caused a worldwide pandemic, affecting more than 630 million individuals and causing 6.5 million deaths. In the general population, poorer outcomes have been associated with older age, chronic lung and cardiovascular diseases, and lymphopenia, highlighting the important role of cellular immunity in the immune response against SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 variants may have a significant impact on disease severity. There is a significant overlap with complications commonly found in inborn errors of immunity (IEI), such as primary antibody deficiencies. The results of various studies have provided ambiguous findings. Several studies identified risk factors in the general population with a minor impact on SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, other studies have found a significant contribution of underlying immunodeficiency and immune-system dysregulation to the disease course. This ambiguity probably reflects the demographic differences and viral evolution. Impaired antibody production was associated with prolonged viral shedding, suggesting a critical role of humoral immunity in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection. This may explain the poorer outcomes in primary antibody deficiencies compared to other IEIs. Understanding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathogenesis and identifying risk factors may help us identify patients at high risk of severe COVID-19 for whom preventive measures should be introduced.

Serum Calcium, Magnesium and Creactive protein levels in female Metabolic Syndrome patients

Background: Metabolic syndrome (Mets) is a risk factor for cardiovascular, chronic lung, liver and kidney diseases. Hypercalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) produce various complications such as cardiac arrythmia, renal stones, atherosclerosis, Diabetes Mellitus, Obesity etc. Some researchers suggested that hypercalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia and elevated CRP occur in Metabolic syndrome patients. Objectives: To measure serum calcium, magnesium and CRP levels in Metabolic syndrome patients. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted from March 2019 to July 2020 in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University(BSMMU), Shahbag, Dhaka. For this study, 30 female metabolic syndrome patients aged 25 to 45 year, from the Outpatient department of Endocrinology of BSMMU were selected. For comparison, 30 age and gender matched apparently healthy female subjects were control. Serum calcium and magnesium were measured by Colorimetric method and serum CRP was measured by Immunoturbidimetric method. Independent sample‘t’ test was performed for serum calcium and Mann-Whitney U test was performed for serum magnesium and CRP. Results: Mean serum calcium (p £0.05 and median value of serum CRP (p £0.01) were significantly higher, median value of serum magnesium was lower (p&gt;0.05) but not significant in Metabolic syndrome patients than that of control. Conclusion: This study may conclude that elevated serum calcium and CRP levels are associated with metabolic syndrome patients. J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2022, June; 17(1): 14-20

251. Clinical Features and Outcomes of Pneumothorax and Pneumomediastinum in COVID-19

Abstract Background Pneumothorax (PTX) and pneumomediastinum (PM) have been reported among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. It can occur among patients breathing spontaneously or as a result of barotrauma from invasive positive-pressure ventilation or from medical procedures. We aim to study the clinical features and outcomes of pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum within 48 hours of hospitalization among COVID-19 patients. Methods We conducted a multicenter retrospective study among the hospitalized adults with COVID-19 who had pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum within 48 hrs. of admission between November 2020 and December 2021. Cases were identified using ICD 10 codes. Electronic medical records were reviewed after Institutional Board approval. Results We identified a total of 21 patients, 12 (57%) only had PTX, 6 (28%) only had PM, and 3(14%) had both. Mean age for the cohort was 57 yrs, 13 (62%) were females, and 14 (67%) were whites. Chronic lung and end-stage renal diseases were noted among 9 (43%) patients followed by obesity in 9 (43%) and diabetes in 4 (19%). A total of 12 (57%) patients have smoked tobacco. At the time of hospitalization, 12 (57%) patients had oxygen saturation ≤94% and 9 (43%) had ≤90%. PTX and PM on admission chest x-ray were noted in 12(57%) and 4 (19%) respectively. 3 (14%) developed them after intubating and/ or after BiPAP. Patients were treated with steroids (90%), remdesivir (62%), interleukin-6 inhibitors (24%), and convalescent plasma (9%). Chest tube was placed in 7 (33%) patients and thoravent in 1 (5%) patient. Complications were septic shock (14%) and deep venous thrombosis (10%). There were 4(19%) deaths. Conclusion Spontaneous PTX can be a presenting sign for COVID-19. We noted higher complications and mortality among the COVID-19 patients with PTX and PM than reported in literature. Clinicians should be aware of this potential occurrence, requiring close monitoring and aggressive management. Larger studies can further validate the findings of our study. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Sleep-related breathing disorder in non-infectious pulmonary complications after pediatric allogeneic stem cell transplantation

BackgroundChronic lung problems are a rare but serious complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We studied clinical phenotypes and polysomnography appearance of breathing abnormality in late onset non-infectious pulmonary complications (NIPS).MethodsWe reviewed Finnish national reference database between the years 1999 and 2016. We identified 12 children with most severely decreased pulmonary function and performed polysomnography and 24 aged-matched controls out of 325 performed pediatric allogeneic HSCTs.ResultsAll patients with NIPS had severely decreased pulmonary function already at 6 months post HSCT with median FEV1 value 42% (interquartile range (IQR) 30–52%) of predicted normal values. Seven children had obstructive and five children more restrictive lung function. Children with obstructive lung function showed laborious breathing (7/7), decreased oxygenation and ventilation-to-perfusion mismatch (6/7), or REM-sleep-related hypoventilation (4/7) on polysomnography. Children with restrictive lung function (5/12) did not show sleep-related breathing disorder.ConclusionsChildren going through allogeneic HSCT who develop severe chronic obstructive lung function are more likely to present with sleep-related hypoxia and hypoventilation than children with restrictive lung function.ImpactChildren with severe obstructive lung function and chronic lung graft-versus-host disease following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are more likely to present with sleep-related mild hypoxia and hypoventilation than children with restrictive lung disease.To our knowledge there are no reports on sleep-related breathing disorders and ventilatory function measured by polysomnography in children with pulmonary complications after allogeneic HSCT.Polysomnography may add to the differential diagnostics between patients with BOS and other non-infectious pulmonary complications.