Cox Proportional Hazards Analysis Research Articles

Prognostic Value of MRI Assessment of Residual Peritumoral Edema in Breast Cancer Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Peritumoral edema (PE) identified on T2-weighted breast MRI is a factor for poor prognosis in breast cancer. To assess the prognostic value of residual PE (rPE) in patients with PE positive breast cancer prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) who subsequently underwent curative surgery. Retrospective. In total, 128 patients with nonmetastatic invasive breast cancer who underwent breast MRI before and after NACT. Axial precontrast 2D fast spin echo T2W fat-suppressed sequence. Axial dynamic 3D gradient echo T1W fat-suppressed sequence. PE was diagnosed when a signal intensity as high as water was detected surrounding the tumor on a T2-weighted breast MRI. PE was qualitatively evaluated by three readers with more than 20 years of experience in interpreting breast field imaging findings. Residual cancer burden (RCB) were assessed post-NACT. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated as the endpoints of this study. Chi-square test; Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazard model. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Pre-PE was observed in 64 out of 128 patients. Of these, rPE was observed in 21. In the log-rank test, breast cancer with rPE had significantly worse RFS and OS than that without rPE. Cox proportional hazard analysis identified rPE as a significant prognostic factor for recurrence (hazard ratio, 11.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.05-43.8) and death (hazard ratio, 17.8; 95% CI, 3.30-96.3). Breast cancer with rPE had significant worse RFS and OS than that without rPE in RCB class II, and significant worse OS in pathological complete response, class I and class II in the log-rank test. rPE on a T2-weighted breast MRI was a significant factor for breast cancer recurrence and death in patients with pre-PE-positive breast cancer treated with NACT. Stage 2.

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) glycan isomer is predictive of HBsAg seroclearance in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Measurement of O-glycosylated middle hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg glycan isomer, HBsAgGi) has been developed to quantify hepatitis B virus (HBV) infectious virions and distinguish them from subviral particles. This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum HBsAg seroclearance and serum HBV virions measured by HBsAgGi in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Serum HBsAgGi levels were quantified in 232 treatment-naïve patients with CHB genotype C. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for factors associated with HBsAg seroclearance. Baseline HBsAgGi levels showed significant differences among HBV phenotypes. During a median follow-up period of 7.4years, 22 of the 232 patients achieved HBsAg seroclearance. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that quantitative HBsAg, nucleoside/nucleotide analog therapy during the follow-up period, and HBsAgGi levels were independent predictors of seroclearance. The adjusted HR indicated that the HBsAg seroclearance probability in patients with low HBsAgGi (≤3.5logng/mL) was over five times higher than that in patients with high HBsAgGi. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the 10-year probabilities of HBsAg seroclearance were 21.0% and 3.0% in patients with low and high HBsAgGi levels, respectively (p<0.001), and that patients with high HBsAgGi levels showed low seroclearance probabilities irrespective of the other predictors. Serum HBV infectious virion levels, measured using HBsAgGi, may be a novel predictor of HBsAg seroclearance.

ABCD2-I Score Predicts Unplanned Emergency Department Revisits within 72 Hours Due to Recurrent Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: the ABCD2 score is valuable for predicting early stroke recurrence after a transient ischemic attack (TIA), and Doppler ultrasound can aid in expediting stroke triage. The study aimed to investigate whether combining the ABCD2 score with carotid duplex results can enhance the identification of early acute ischemic stroke after TIA. Methods: we employed a retrospective cohort design for this study, enrolling patients diagnosed with TIA who were discharged from the emergency department (ED). The modified ABCD2-I (c50) score, which incorporates a Doppler ultrasound assessment of internal carotid artery stenosis &gt; 50%, was used to evaluate the risk of acute ischemic stroke within 72 h. Patients were categorized into three risk groups: low risk (with ABCD2 and ABCD2-I scores = 0–4), moderate risk (ABCD2 score = 4–5 and ABCD2-I score = 5–7), and high risk (ABCD2 score = 6–7 and ABCD2-I score = 8–9). Results: between 1 January 2014, and 31 December 2019, 1124 patients with new neurological deficits were screened, with 151 TIA patients discharged from the ED and included in the analysis. Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that patients in the high-risk group, as per the ABCD2-I (c50) score, were significantly associated with revisiting the ED within 72 h due to acute ischemic stroke (HR: 3.12, 95% CI: 1.31–7.41, p = 0.0102), while the ABCD2 alone did not show significant association (HR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.57–2.22, p = 0.7427). Conclusion: ABCD2-I (c50) scores effectively predict early acute ischemic stroke presentations to the ED within 72 h after TIA.

In-hospital survival of critically ill COVID-19 patients treated with glucocorticoids: a multicenter real-world data study

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a major challenge to healthcare systems globally. Millions of people have been infected, and millions of deaths have been reported worldwide. Glucocorticoids have attracted worldwide attention for their potential efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19. Various glucocorticoids with different dosages and treatment durations have been studied in patients with different severities, with a suitable dosage and treatment duration not yet defined. This study aimed to investigate whether in-hospital survival differs between critically ill patients treated with low-dose glucocorticoids, high-dose glucocorticoids or no glucocorticoids. All critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit of the Charité Hospital—Universitätsmedizin Berlin between February 2020 and December 2021 with COVID-19 pneumonia receiving supplemental oxygen were eligible to participate in this multicenter real-world data study. Patients were retrospectively assigned to one of three groups: the high corticosteroid dose (HighC) group (receiving 6 mg parenteral dexamethasone or an equivalent corticosteroid dosage for ten days), the low corticosteroid dose (LowC) group (receiving less than 6 mg parenteral dexamethasone or an equivalent corticosteroid dosage for ten days), or the no corticosteroid (NoC) group. Overall survival and risk effects were compared among groups within the total observation period, as well as at 35 days after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Adjusted multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to compare the risk of death between the treatment groups. Out of 1561 critically ill COVID-19 patients, 1014 were included in the baseline analysis. In the survival study, 1009 patients were assigned to the NoC (n = 346), HighC (n = 552), or LowC group (n = 111). The baseline characteristics were balanced between groups, except for age, BMI, APACHE II score, SOFA and SAPS II. While the 35-day survival did not show any differences, a landmark analysis of the patients surviving beyond 35 days revealed differences between groups. The restricted mean survival time was 112 days in the LowC group [95% CI: 97 – 128], 133 days in the HighC group [95% CI: 124 – 141] and 144 days in the NoC group [95% CI: 121 – 167]. The multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis indicated that, regardless of age, sex, health status or invasive oxygenation, a low-dose treatment increased the hazard of death of critically ill COVID-19 patients by a factor of 2.09 ([95% CI: 0.99, 4.4], p = 0.05) and a high-dose corticosteroid treatment increased the risk by a factor of 1.07 ([95% CI: 0.53, 2.15], p = 0.85) compared to no treatment with glucocorticoids. The analysis reveals that corticosteroid treatment does not influence the survival of critically ill COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit within 35 days. Our evaluations further suggest that regardless of ventilation status, the decision-making process for administering corticosteroid therapy should account for the individual severity of the illness.

Identifying patients with reduced risk of recurrences after ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation

Abstract Background Catheter ablation (CA) is a well-established treatment option for recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF), and has shown to outperform antiarrhythmic drugs in prevention of AF recurrences in numerous studies. However, up to 50% of patients with persistent AF (peAF) will experience recurrences after first-time CA. Improving treatment for these patients involves, choosing the right patients for the ablation procedure, optimizing the timing of the procedure, and using the most effective ablation strategy. This will benefit not only the patients, but also target recourse use in the healthcare system. Purpose To identify characteristics and comorbidities of patients with peAF associated with a reduced risk of recurrence after CA. Additionally, to investigate the optimal timing and ablation strategy. Methods This observational cohort study was conducted using real-life data from the Danish healthcare registries. All patients with peAF, &amp;gt;18 years of age, who were assigned to first-time AF ablation, were included within the study period from January 1st 2010 to December 31st 2018. A composite endpoint for AF recurrences was defined as either AF admission, electric cardioversion, use of antiarrhythmic drugs or re-ablation after a 3-month blanking period. We followed the patients in the registries for up to 5 years. A Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to identify specific patient characteristics, comorbidities, timing of ablation and ablation strategy associated with reduced risk of AF recurrences after ablation. Results The study cohort consisted of 2,123 patients with peAF undergoing first-time CA. Median age was 63 years [IQR: 56.10;68.90], 77.7% were male, and mean BMI was 28.40 (SD: 4.97). Mean diagnosis-to-ablation-time (DAT) was 3.56 years (SD: 4.25) and mean follow-up time was 928.3 days (SD: 829.62). Most prevalent co-morbidities were hypertension (59.1%), ischemic heart disease (16.9%), and heart failure (HF) (27.7%) (Table 1). Patients characterized by male sex (HR: 0.80, 95% CI 0.69-0.93), age 60-70 (HR: 0.79, 95% CI 0.67-0.93), and absence of co-morbidities such as HF (HR: 0.81, 95% CI 0.70-0.94) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (HR: 0.58, 95% CI 0.44-0-75), were observed with a significantly reduced relative risk of recurrent AF. Short DAT(&amp;lt;1 year) was associated with a 24% lower risk of recurrence compared to longer (&amp;gt;2 years). Furthermore, PVI Plus (additional ablation to PVI) was not significantly associated with a reduced risk of recurrences (HR: 1.10, 95% CI 0,92-1.31) (Figure 1). Conclusion To obtain rhythm control for patients with peAF is a great challenge. This observational study with more than 2,000 patients, identifies patients most likely to benefit from CA. Lower recurrence rates were observed in younger patients (&amp;lt;70 years), absence of especially HF and COPD, and early ablation (&amp;lt;1 year). Notably, PVI plus did not reduce the risk of recurrences.

Right atrial endomysial fibrosis is associated with higher POAF-burden

Abstract Background Atrial endomysial fibrosis, rather than overall connective tissue content, determines the complexity of conduction in human atrial fibrillation (AF). Moreover, the AF-specific blood biomarker BMP10 is associated with atrial endomysial fibrosis, but not overall connective tissue content. It is unclear whether pre-operative atrial endomysial fibrosis predicts post-operative AF (POAF) incidence and burden. Objective To determine the predictive value of atrial fibrosis for early and late POAF burden. Methods Patients with and without AF history were included in the RACE V tissue bank study (n=134). Post-operative rhythm was monitored continuously for 2.5 years with implantable loop recorders. Late POAF-burden was investigated following a 90-day blanking period. Left (n=89) and/or right (n=92) atrial appendage biopsies (LAA/RAA) were snap-frozen and histologically investigated following WGA-staining. Results Logistic regression, corrected for age, sex and AF history, showed that left (st.β = 0.54 [0.23-0.85], p=0.001) and right (st.β=0.35 [0.07-0.64], p=0.017) atrial endomysial fibrosis were associated with early POAF burden in the blanking period. Only right atrial endomysial fibrosis, however, predicted late POAF-burden (st.β=0.44 [-], p=0.009). Adjusted Cox proportional hazards analyses indicated that patients in the highest tertile of right atrial endomysial fibrosis, in particular, are at risk for late POAF (HR T3 vs T1: 2.47 [1.18-5.17], p=0.016, Fig 1). Overall connective tissue content in both atria was not associated with POAF-burden. Conclusion Patients with higher levels of right atrial endomysial fibrosis are at risk for developing late POAF with a higher POAF-burden.Figure 1

#2414 Hypertension resolution after kidney transplantation is associated with better kidney transplant outcomes in patients with pre-transplant hypertension

Abstract Background and Aims Hypertension is prevalent in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), and kidney transplantation (KT) can potentially improve hypertension. Although hypertension is expected to be resolved after KT in many recipients with pre-transplant hypertension, little is known about the hypertension resolution rate and its prognostic role in KT outcomes. Method We retrospectively identified KT recipients (between 2006 and 2015) who had pre-transplant hypertension using Health Insurance Review &amp; Assessment Service and Korea National Health Insurance System. The recipients were categorized into two groups based on their post-KT hypertension status: “persistent hypertension” and “resolved hypertension”. Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed to assess the risk of death-censored graft failure and all-cause mortality with adjusting various clinical, immunological risk factors, and socioeconomic status. Results Among 11,342 KT recipients with pre-transplant hypertension, 8,233 (73%) remained hypertensive, while 3,109 (27%) experienced hypertension resolution after KT. Recipients with resolved hypertension had lower rates of delayed graft function and major comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and stroke compared to recipients who remained hypertensive. After adjusting for multiple covariates, the resolved hypertension group had 0.59-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49–0.73) lower risk for graft failure and 0.59-fold (95% CI 0.48–0.73) lower risk for all-cause mortality compared to the persistent hypertension group. Subgroup analyses revealed that the protective effect of resolved hypertension on graft survival was more pronounced in females (P for interaction = 0.045), and on overall survival was weaker in recipients with diabetes (P for interaction = 0.033). Conclusion A significant proportion of patients experienced hypertension resolution after KT, which is associated with improved graft survival and overall patient survival. The post-KT hypertension status can be used as a prognostic indicator for predicting better outcomes in KT recipients with pre-transplant hypertension.

#2338 Potassium-competitive acid blocker use is associated with a lower risk of renal function deterioration compared to proton pump inhibitor use

Abstract Background and Aims Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are commonly used drugs worldwide and have been linked to worsening renal function and incident chronic kidney disease. Recently, potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CAB) have emerged as alternative gastric acid-reducing agents with a comparable effect as PPIs. However, little is known about the renal safety of P-CAB. We aimed to compare the renal outcomes of patients treated with P-CAB and those treated with PPI. Method We retrospectively identified all patients who were prescribed P-CAB (tegoprazan) or PPI (esomeprazole) for 30 days or more in outpatient clinics of a tertiary care center between 2019 and 2023. Longitudinal serum creatinine data and various demographic and clinical variables were collected. Renal outcomes were defined as creatinine doubling or decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 30%. Patients with baseline eGFR &amp;lt; 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 and those who do not have sufficient creatinine measures to assess renal outcomes were excluded. Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed for renal outcomes with adjustment of multiple clinical covariates. Results Among 8 436 patients with a mean followup of 21 months, 2 214 and 6 222 patients were treated with P-CAB and PPI, respectively, for esophageal and gastric diseases. P-CAB group showed lower rates of creatinine doubling (Log-rank P = 0.001) and decline of eGFR (Log-rank P = 0.001) compared to PPI group. P-CAB use was associated with a 0.50-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33–0.75) lower risk for creatinine doubling and 0.58-fold (95% CI 0.42–0.81) lower risk for eGFR decline in unadjusted analysis. After adjusting multiple covariates including baseline eGFR, prescription days, major comorbidities, and concomitant use of other medications, hazard ratios for creatinine doubling and eGFR decline were 0.64 (95% CI 0.42–0.98) and 0.73 (95% CI 0.53–1.02), respectively. Conclusion Use of P-CAB is associated with a lower risk for renal function deterioration compared to PPI. Given the renal safety concerns of PPIs, using P-CAB could be a relatively safer strategy for preserving kidney function in patients who need long-term gastric acid suppression. Further studies with a larger cohort incorporating other P-CABs are required to validate this finding.

#963 Discrepancy between actual and estimated urine creatinine excretion predicts mortality in chronic kidney disease: from the KNOW-CKD study

Abstract Background and Aims Urine creatinine excretion is a surrogate marker of muscle mass and low urine creatinine excretion is a predictor of poor clinical outcome. There are several methods to estimate urine creatinine excretion. However, little is known about the clinical implication of discrepancy between actual and estimated urine creatinine excretion in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study is to investigate the association between actual and estimated urine creatinine excretion discrepancy and mortality in CKD. Method This study analysed 1805 participants from the KNOW-CKD cohort. They underwent 24-hr urine collection and measured urine creatinine excretion at baseline. Their estimated urine creatinine excretion was calculated by Joachim's method. Discrepancy between actual and estimated urine creatinine excretion (dUCr) was defined as actual urine creatinine excretion minus estimated urine creatinine excretion. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to their tertile of dUCr. The study endpoint was all-cause death. Results During a follow-up of 13 062 person-years (median 8.0 years), 151 patients (8.4%) died, with a corresponding death rate of 11.6 (95% CI 9.9-13.6) per 1000 patients-years. 86 (14.4%), 41 (6.8%) and 24 (3.4%) patients from each 1st to 3rd tertile of dUCr died (P &amp;lt; 0.001). In multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, there was a graded association of dUCr with all-cause mortality. The adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) of 2nd and 3rd tertile were 0.58 (0.39-0.86) and 0.36 (0.22-0.58) compared with the 1st tertile. Conclusion Higher discrepancy between actual and estimated urine creatinine excretion is associated with lower risk of mortality in predialysis CKD patients. This association was independent of various conventional and CKD-related risk factors.

#619 Serum aldosterone to potassium ratio and hyperkalemia risk in patients with chronic kidney disease

Abstract Background and Aims Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) have demonstrated efficacy in improving outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, these medications have also been associated with the development of hyperkalemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of serum aldosterone to potassium ratio to the risk of the development of hyperkalemia in CKD patients receiving ACEIs or ARBs. Method Between January 2017 and December 2021, 186 patients with CKD 3-4 (estimated glomerular filtration rate, eGFR, of 15-59 ml/min/1.73 m2) who were receiving an ACEI or an ARB for at least 3 months and had serum aldosterone and potassium measured simultaneously were analyzed. Serum aldosterone to potassium (Aldo/K) ratio was calculated (ng/ml per mmol/l) and patients were divided into two groups according to the median value of serum Aldo/K ratio above or below 2.42. Follow-up serum potassium concentrations were measured every 2 to 3 months. The primary outcome was the occurrence of hyperkalemia (defined as serum potassium level &amp;gt; 5.5 mEq/l). Incidence rates for hyperkalemic events were computed as the ratio of the total number of hyperkalemic events to the total patient-time at risk. In addition, the times from the index date to the first occurrence of hyperkalemia for were computed. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify patients at the risk of the occurrence of hyperkalemia. Results During a median follow-up period of 3.1 years, 2505 times of serum potassium were measured (mean ± standard deviation number of annual potassium measurements per patient, 4.5 ± 1.7 measurements/year per patient). A total of 144 hyperkalemic events in 81 patients (43.5%) were identified, yielding an incidence rate of 24.6 per 100 person-years (95% confidence intervals [CIs] 20.4–28.8). The incidence of hyperkalemic events was significantly higher in patients with low serum Aldo/K ratio than in those with high serum Aldo/K ratio (35.8 events/100 patient-years, 95% CI 28.9‒42.7 events/100 patient-years vs. 12.9 events/100 patient-years, 95% CI 8.8‒17.0 events/100 patient-years, p &amp;lt; 0.001). In multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, diabetes mellitus (Hazard ratio [HR], 1.842; 95% CI, 1.046-3.243; P=0.034), prior history of hyperkalemia (HR, 2.288; 95% CI, 1.372-3.815; P=0.002), low baseline eGFR (HR, 0.973; 95% CI, 0.948-0.998; P=0.037) and a low serum Aldo/K ratio (HR, 3.654; 95% CI, 2.066-6.463; P &amp;lt; 0.001) were predictors of subsequent development of hyperkalemia. Conclusion This study revealed that low serum Aldo/K ratio ( &amp;lt; 2.42) was strongly associated with the occurrence of hyperkalemia in CKD patients receiving ACEIs or ARBs, suggesting that the identification of patients at a risk for subsequent hyperkalemia could be made by measuring serum aldosterone and potassium levels simultaneously on these drugs.

#553 Renal tubular damage is an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a community-based population: the Takahata Study

Abstract Background and Aims Renal tubulointerstitial damage is a risk for renal failure. However, the association between renal tubulointerstitial damage and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population remains unclear. In this prospective cohort study, we examined this point using urinary β2-microglobulin/creatinine ratio (UBCR) as a marker of renal tubulointerstitial damage in the general Japanese population. Methods We examined the association between UBCR values at entry and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality during the follow-up period (median 9.2 years) in 3 427 residents (mean age 62.5 years, 45.1% male, mean eGFR 81.6 ml/min/1.73 m², ≥1+ protein 4.4%) of Takahata Town in Japan. Results Study participants were divided into two groups (low &amp;lt; 300 μg/gCre, high ≥300 μg/gCre) based on UBCR at entry. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly higher incidence of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the high UBCR group (Log-rank P &amp;lt; 0.01). A multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis adjusted for age, sex, eGFR, urinary protein level, comorbidities, smoking status, and other background factors showed a hazard ratio of 1.47 (95% CI 1.09-2.00, P = 0.01) for all-cause mortality and a hazard ratio of 1.82 (95% CI 1.06-3.12, P = 0.03) for cardiovascular death in the high-UBCR group. The addition of high UBCR to conventional risk factors, including eGFR and urinary protein level, significantly improved the net reclassification improvement (NRI) for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Conclusions UBCR, a marker of tubulointerstitial damage, was identified as a risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in the general population independent of eGFR and urinary protein levels.

#2415 Estimated glomerular filtration rate thresholds associated with poor long-term outcomes in older patients with diabetes

Abstract Background and Aims Considering the natural decline of GFR with renal senescence, an age-adjusted estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)-based chronic kidney disease (CKD) definition was recently proposed, which has been supported by that mortality risks start to increase at GFR &amp;lt;45 mL/min/1.73 m2 in older adults (≥65 years). However, the eGFR threshold for mortality and kidney outcomes in older patients with diabetes was less understood. We aimed to evaluate eGFR levels that raise the risk of mortality or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in older patients with diabetes. Method Older adult patients (≥65 years) with type 2 diabetes who visited our outpatient diabetes center during 2009 were retrospectively identified and followed up until 2017. Patients were categorized into four groups per their CKD-EPI equation-based eGFR: ≥60, 45–59, 30–44, and 15–29 mL/min/1.73 m2. Cox proportional hazard analysis for all-cause mortality and competing-risk analysis for ESKD (with a competing event of pre-ESKD death) were performed. Results Among 3,065 patients, 19%, 8%, and 2% of patients had eGFR 45–59, 30–44, and 15–29 mL/min/1.73 m2 at baseline, respectively. After adjusting various clinical covariates, including blood pressure, diabetes duration, urine albumin/creatinine ratio, HbA1c, serum cholesterol levels, and major comorbidities, patients with eGFR 30–44 and 15–29 mL/min/1.73 m2 had 1.51-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17–1.95, P &amp;lt; 0.001) and 2.66-fold (95% CI 1.87–3.79, P &amp;lt; 0.001) higher risks of mortality, respectively, whereas patients with eGFR 45–59 mL/min/1.73 m2 had a comparable risk (1.18, 95% CI 0.96–1.45, P = 0.127) to those with eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Substitution hazard ratios for ESKD were 2.29 (95% CI 1.41–3.71, P = 0.001), 5.25 (95% CI 3.27–8.41, P &amp;lt; 0.001), and 16.74 (95% CI 9.73–28.80, P &amp;lt; 0.001) in patients with eGFR 45–59, 30–44, 15–29 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. In a subgroup of patients 75 or older (n = 800), patients with eGFR 45–59 mL/min/1.73 m2 exhibited comparable risks for both ESKD and mortality. Conclusion Reduced eGFR &amp;lt; 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 predicted an increased risk of ESKD in older patients with diabetes, suggesting that the current traditional eGFR threshold appears feasible. Thus, some high-risk individuals may be missed if age-adapted eGFR criteria with a lower eGFR threshold than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 are universally applied for older adults ≥65 years.

Predictors of HIV Viral Load Suppression After Enhanced Adherence Counseling, Nekemte, Ethiopia.

Enhanced adherence counseling refers to the counseling intervention for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) patients with an elevated viral load result, a viral load of > 1000 copies/ml, on a routine or need-based viral load test. The Federal Ministry of Health, Ethiopia, has launched routine viral load testing and enhanced adherence counseling since 2016 for high-viral load people living with HIV, which is applicable throughout the country for all health facilities providing HIV care and treatment. Our study aimed to assess viral load suppression after enhanced adherence counseling and its predictors among high viral load people living with HIV who were on antiretroviral therapy. We conducted a health facility-based retrospective follow-up study among 352 HIV-infected high-viral load people enrolled in enhanced adherence counseling from July 2018 to June 2021 in Nekemte town public health facilities. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to identify independent predictors. The overall 65.1% of 352 persons on antiretroviral treatment achieved HIV viral load suppression after enhanced adherence counseling, (15.01 per 100 person months (95% CI13.02-16.99)). The median time to viral load suppression was 5 months. Age ≥ 15 years (AHR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.11-3.57), no history of opportunistic infection (AHR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.18-3.41), and not using substances (AHR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.19-5.14) were more likely to have viral load suppressed, while having an initial viral load count greater than 50,000 RNA copies/ml (AHR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.37-0.85) were less likely to have viral load suppressed after enhanced adherence counseling. Age, history of opportunistic infections, substance use, and an initial viral load count > 50,000 RNA copies/mL were significant predictors of viral load suppression. Enrolling all high-viral-load patients in enhanced adherence counseling is recommended for viral load suppression.

Triglyceride-glucose index predicts all-cause mortality, but not cardiovascular mortality, in rural Northeast Chinese patients with metabolic syndrome: a community-based retrospective cohort study

BackgroundMetabolic syndrome (MetS) includes a group of metabolic irregularities, including insulin resistance (IR), atherogenic dyslipidemia, central obesity, and hypertension. Consistent evidence supports IR and ongoing low-grade inflammation as the main contributors to MetS pathogenesis. However, the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and mortality in people with MetS remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to examine the correlation between the baseline TyG index and all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in rural Northeast Chinese individuals with MetS.MethodsFor the Northeast China Rural Cardiovascular Health Study, 3918 participants (mean age, 55 ± 10; 62.4% women) with MetS at baseline were enrolled in 2012–2013 and followed up from 2015 to 2017. The TyG index was calculated using the equation TyG index = ln [fasting TG (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2] and subdivided into tertiles [Q1(< 8.92); Q2 (8.92–9.36); Q3 (≥ 9.36)]. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were developed to examine the correlations between mortality and the baseline TyG index.ResultsDuring a median of 4.66 years of follow-up, 196 (5.0%) all-cause deaths and 108 (2.8%) CV disease-related deaths occurred. The incidence of all-cause mortality was significantly different among TyG index tertiles of the overall population (P = 0.045). Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality in rural Chinese patients with a higher TyG index (log-rank P < 0.05). After adjusting for possible confounders, Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that the TyG index could effectively predict all-cause mortality (HR for the third vs. first tertile of TyG was 1.441 [95% confidence interval, 1.009–2.059]), but not CV mortality, in rural Chinese patients with MetS.ConclusionsThe TyG index is an effective predictor of all-cause mortality in rural Chinese patients with MetS. This indicates that the TyG index may be useful for identifying rural Chinese individuals with MetS at a high risk of death.

Superiority of high sensitivity cardiac troponin I over NT-proBNP and adiponectin for 7-year mortality in stable patients receiving haemodialysis

Patients on haemodialysis (HD) have high mortality risk, and prognostic values of the major cardiovascular biomarkers cardiac troponin I (cTnI), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and adiponectin should be ascertained over longer follow-up periods using higher-sensitivity assays, which we undertook. In 221 HD patients, levels of high-sensitivity (hs)-cTnI, NT-proBNP, and adiponectin, were measured using high-sensitivity assays, and their associations with all-cause mortality (ACM) and cardiovascular mortality (CVM) were prospectively investigated for 7 years. Higher hs-cTnI and NT-proBNP levels were significant risk factors for ACM and CVM in the Kaplan–Meier analysis. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses in a model including hs-cTnI and NT-proBNP identified log hs-cTnI, but not log NT-proBNP, as an independent risk factor for ACM (HR 2.12, P < 0.02) and CVM (HR 4.48, P < 0.0005). Stepwise analyses identified a high hs-cTnI tertile as a risk factor for ACM (HR 2.31, P < 0.01) and CVM (HR 6.70, P < 0.001). The addition of hs-cTnI to a model including age, CRP, DM, and NT-proBNP significantly improved the discrimination of ACM and CVM each over 7 years. Conclusively, hs-cTnI was superior to NT-proBNP and adiponectin in predicting ACM and CVM over 7 years in HD patients, suggesting the significance of baseline hs-cTnI measurements in long-term management.

The landscape of etiological patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in Thailand.

Thailand is among countries with the highest global incidence and mortality rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). While viral hepatitis and liver fluke infections have been associated with HCC and iCCA, respectively, other environmental risk factors, overall risk factor commonality and combinatorial roles, and effects on survival have not been systematically examined. We conducted a TIGER-LC consortium-based population study covering all high-incidence areas of both malignancies across Thailand: 837 HCC, 1474 iCCA, and 1112 controls (2011-2019) were comprehensively queried on lifelong environmental exposures, lifestyle, and medical history. Multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to evaluate risk factors and associated survival patterns. Our models identified shared risk factors between HCC and iCCA, such as viral hepatitis infection, liver fluke infection, and diabetes, including novel and shared associations of agricultural pesticide exposure (OR range of 1.50; 95% CI: 1.06-2.11 to 2.91; 95% CI: 1.82-4.63) along with vulnerable sources of drinking water. Most patients had multiple risk factors, magnifying their risk considerably. Patients with lower risk levels had better survival in both HCC (HR 0.78; 95% CI: 0.64-0.96) and iCCA (HR 0.84; 95% CI: 0.70-0.99). Risk factor co-exposures and their common associations with HCC and iCCA in Thailand emphasize the importance for future prevention and control measures, especially in its large agricultural sector. The observed mortality patterns suggest ways to stratify patients for anticipated survivorship and develop plans to support medical care of longer-term survivors, including behavioral changes to reduce exposures.

Association between red cell distribution width and all-cause mortality in patients with breast cancer: A retrospective analysis using MIMIC-IV 2.0.

Investigating the association between red cell distribution width (RDW) and all-cause mortality in patients with breast cancer, to evaluate the potential clinical prognostic value of RDW. Based on the RDW index, patients with breast cancer in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) database were categorized into quartiles. The primary outcomes included in-hospital mortality from all causes during the first six months, the first year, and the first three years. Cox hazards regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were developed to investigate the effects of RDW on primary outcomes. The study included 939 patients (female). The 6-month, 1-year, and 3-year mortality rates were 14.0%, 21.4%, and 28.4%, respectively. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses demonstrated that RDW exhibited an autonomous association with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. After adjusting for confounders, higher RDW quartiles were significantly associated with 6-month mortality (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 3.197; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.745-5.762; P < 0.001), 1-year mortality (adjusted HR, 2.978; 95% CI, 1.867-4.748; P < 0.001), and 3-year mortality (adjusted HR, 2.526; 95% CI, 1.701-3.750; P < 0.001). The RCS curves demonstrated that high RDW (> 14.6) was associated with a greater risk of all-cause mortality. Subgroup analyses revealed no statistically significant differences in the interactions between the subgroups. The study revealed a highly pronounced relationship between RDW and overall mortality, indicating its potential as an autonomous prognostic factor for increased mortality among patients with breast cancer.

The Discovery of Oral Cancer Prognostic Factor Ranking Using Association Rule Mining.

A 5-year survival rate is a predictor for the assessment of oral cancer prognosis. The purpose of this study is to analyze oral cancer data to discover and rank the prognostic factors associated with oral cancer 5-year survival using the association rule mining (ARM) technique. This study is a retrospective analysis of 897 oral cancer patients from a regional cancer center between 2011 and 2017. The 5-year survival rate was assessed. The multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to determine prognostic factors. ARM was applied to clinicopathologic and treatment modalities data to identify and rank the prognostic factors associated with oral cancer 5-year survival. The 5-year overall survival rate was 35.1%. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that tumor (T) stage, lymph node metastasis, surgical margin, extranodal extension, recurrence, and distant metastasis of tumor were significantly associated with overall survival rate (p < 0.05). The top associated death within 5 years rule was positive extranodal extension, followed by positive perineural and lymphovascular invasion, with confidence levels of 0.808, 0.808, and 0.804, respectively. This study has shown that extranodal extension, and perineural and lymphovascular invasion were the top ranking and major deadly prognostic factors affecting the 5-year survival of oral cancer.

The predictive value of free thyroxine combined with tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis for poor prognosis in patients with IgA nephropathy.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the most common type of glomerulonephritis, has great individual differences in prognosis. Many studies showed the relationship between thyroid hormones and chronic kidney disease. However, the relationship between free thyroxine (FT4), as a thyroid hormone, and IgAN is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of FT4 on IgAN prognosis. This retrospective study involved 223 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN. The renal composite outcomes were defined as: (1) ESRD, defined as eGFR < 15 ml/(min·1.73 m2) or initiation of renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, renal transplantation); (2) serum creatinine doubled from baseline; (3) eGFR decreased by more than 50% from baseline. The predictive value was determined by the area under the curve (AUC). Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses assessed renal progression and prognosis. After 38 (26-54) months of follow-up, 23 patients (10.3%) experienced renal composite outcomes. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the renal survival rate of the IgAN patients with FT4<15.18pmol/L was lower than that with FT4≥15.18pmol/L (P < 0. 001). Multivariate Cox regression model analysis showed that FT4 was a protective factor for poor prognosis of IgAN patients, whether as a continuous variable or a categorical variable (HR 0.68, 95%CI 0.51-0.90, P =0.007; HR 0.04, 95%CI 0.01-0.20, P <0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that FT4 combined with t score had a high predictive value for poor prognosis of IgAN patients (AUC=0.881, P<0.001). FT4 was a protective factor for IgAN. In addition, FT4 combined with tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis had a high predictive value for poor prognosis of IgAN.

Contact aspiration for basilar artery occlusion safely reduces the puncture-to-recanalization time

ObjectiveEffective thrombectomies in the posterior circulation remain controversial. Previous reports have demonstrated the superiority of contact aspiration in anterior circulation. Aspiration catheters and stent retrievers are often used alone on a global scale, while combined techniques are commonly used in Japan. This study evaluated the effect of first-line contact aspiration with other strategies for the treatment of basilar artery occlusion. MethodsThe primary outcome was the frequency of the first-pass effect, and the secondary outcome was the time from puncture to the first-pass effect. A multicenter observational registry including 16 Japanese stroke centers was used. Between December 2013 and February 2021, enrolled patients underwent endovascular thrombectomy for basilar artery occlusion. The efficacy of contact aspiration compared to other methods (including stent retrievers and combined techniques) was evaluated. ResultsEighty-four patients were included, all of whom had achieved effective recanalization. Twenty-six patients were treated with contact aspiration, 13 with combined technique, and 45 with stent retrievers. The two groups: contact aspiration and non-contact aspiration, had different backgrounds. Both had similar frequencies of effective recanalization and first-pass effects. The contact aspiration group experienced better functional outcomes without statistical significance, while this strategy was significantly associated with a shorter puncture-to-recanalization time (38 vs. 55 minutes, P=0.036). In particular, in the 55 patients with the first-pass effect, multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that contact aspiration was significantly associated with a shorter time from puncture to first-pass effect, independent of age and etiology of large-artery atherosclerosis (hazard ratio 2.02, 95% confidence intervals 1.10–3.69, P=0.023). ConclusionThis study suggested that contact aspiration for basilar artery occlusion may shorten the puncture-to-first-pass effect, compared to stent retrievers and combined techniques.