Higher All-cause Mortality Research Articles

Mitral Valve Repair in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Long-Term Outcomes and Cardiac Remodeling

Objectives: Literature examining mitral valve repair (MVr) outcomes on CKD patients is largely limited to short term outcomes and percutaneous approaches. This study is the first to present long-term outcomes of mortality and morbidity with paired cardiac remodelling data on CKD patients undergoing surgical MVr.Design: A retrospective, observational, comparative study.Setting: Single-center university hospital.Participants: Patients with varying stages of CKD undergoing MVr from 2004-2018.Interventions: Patients were grouped by estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) rate and followed for a maximum of 15 years. Long term outcomes and measures of cardiac remodelling were then compared between the groups.Measurements and Main Results: The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included measures of postoperative morbidity and cardiac remodelling. Every 10 unit increase in eGFR was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality at 5 years (HR 0.81 95% CI 0.67-0.98) p=0.028), 10 years (HR 0.82 CI 0.72-0.94 p=0.004), and at 15 years (HR 0.78 CI 0.69-0.88 p<0.001) Moderate CKD group had a significantly higher rates of all-cause mortality at 15 years (HR 3.38 CI 1.28-8.98 p=0.014). eGFR was a significant predictor for residual moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) at 1 year (HR 0.74 CI 0.57-0.96 p=0.024). There was positive cardiac remodelling following MVr for CKD patients with significant reduction in LV size and LA volume.Conclusions: In patients with CKD undergoing MVr, eGFR is a predictor of decreased long-term survival and residual MR at 1 year. Further investigation is required for optimizing postoperative outcomes in this patient population.

Change Over Time in Pre–End-Stage Renal Disease 24-Hour Urine Creatinine as Muscle Mass Surrogate and Post–End-Stage Renal Disease Mortality

Loss of muscle mass and sarcopenia are common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and sarcopenia can worsen insidiously in patients with advancing CKD. The temporal dynamics of sarcopenia in patients with progressive loss of kidney function, and its association with future outcomes, is unclear. In a contemporary national cohort of incident ESRD US veterans, we selected 661 patients who had at least 2 24-hour urine creatinine (24hrUC) measurements, a surrogate of muscle mass, performed during the 3-year prelude period prior to ESRD transition. We estimated 24hrUC slopes in mixed effects models. To assess the temporal dynamics of pre-ESRD changes in 24hrUC and its association with changing eGFR, we separately fitted in mixed effects models a penalized spline regression of 24hrUC on time and on eGFR. We examined the association of 24hrUC slopes with postdialysis all-cause mortality using Cox models adjusted for confounders. The mean slope of 24hrUC versus time was -78mg/year (95% confidence interval: -102 to -54), with a steeper decline noted in the last year prior to ESRD. More severe decreases in 24hrUC were associated with higher all-cause mortality: a 100mg/year decrease in 24hrUC was associated with a multivariable adjusted death hazard ratio of 1.41 (95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.98, P=.05). Patients with advanced CKD lose a substantial proportion of their muscle mass each year during pre-ESRD prelude. Loss of muscle mass accelerates near ESRD transition, and more loss of muscle mass is associated with higher mortality after ESRD transition.

Fatty liver index is an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality and major cardiovascular events in type 1 diabetes: an 11-year observational study

BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), identified by the Fatty Liver Index (FLI), is associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. Whether this also applies to type 1 diabetes (T1D) has not been yet reported.MethodsWe prospectively observed 774 subjects with type 1 diabetes (males 52%, 30.3 ± 11.1 years old, diabetes duration (DD) 18.5 ± 11.6 years, HbA1c 7.8 ± 1.2%) to assess the associations between FLI (based on BMI, waist circumference, gamma-glutamyl transferase and triglycerides) and all-cause death and first CV events.ResultsOver a median 11-year follow-up, 57 subjects died (7.4%) and 49 CV events (6.7%) occurred among 736 individuals with retrievable incidence data. At baseline, FLI was < 30 in 515 subjects (66.5%), 30–59 in 169 (21.8%), and ≥ 60 in 90 (11.6%). Mortality increased steeply with FLI: 3.9, 10.1, 22.2% (p < 0.0001). In unadjusted Cox analysis, compared to FLI < 30, risk of death increased in FLI 30–59 (HR 2.85, 95% CI 1.49–5.45, p = 0.002) and FLI ≥ 60 (6.07, 3.27–11.29, p < 0.0001). Adjusting for Steno Type 1 Risk Engine (ST1-RE; based on age, sex, DD, systolic BP, LDL cholesterol, HbA1c, albuminuria, eGFR, smoking and exercise), HR was 1.52 (0.78–2.97) for FLI 30–59 and 3.04 (1.59–5.82, p = 0.001) for FLI ≥ 60. Inclusion of prior CV events slightly modified HRs. FLI impact was confirmed upon adjustment for EURODIAB Risk Engine (EURO-RE; based on age, HbA1c, waist-to-hip ratio, albuminuria and HDL cholesterol): FLI 30–59: HR 1.24, 0.62–2.48; FLI ≥ 60: 2.54, 1.30–4.95, p = 0.007), even after inclusion of prior CVD. CV events incidence increased with FLI: 3.5, 10.5, 17.2% (p < 0.0001). In unadjusted Cox, HR was 3.24 (1.65–6.34, p = 0.001) for FLI 30–59 and 5.41 (2.70–10.83, p < 0.0001) for FLI ≥ 60. After adjustment for ST1-RE or EURO-RE, FLI ≥ 60 remained statistically associated with risk of incident CV events, with trivial modification with prior CVD inclusion.ConclusionsThis observational prospective study shows that FLI is associated with higher all-cause mortality and increased risk of incident CV events in type 1 diabetes.

The prognostic value of the stress hyperglycemia ratio for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes or prediabetes: insights from NHANES 2005–2018

BackgroundThe Stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) is a novel marker reflecting the true acute hyperglycemia status and is associated with clinical adverse events. The relationship between SHR and mortality in patients with diabetes or prediabetes is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of the SHR for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes or prediabetes.MethodsThis study included 11,160 patients diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–2018). The study endpoints were all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, and morality data were extracted from the National Death Index (NDI) up to December 31, 2019. Patients were divided into SHR quartiles. Cox proportion hazards regression was applied to determine the prognostic value of SHR. Model 1 was not adjusted for any covariates. Model 2 was adjusted for age, sex, and race. Model 3 was adjusted for age, sex, race, BMI, smoking status, alcohol use, hypertension, CHD, CKD, anemia, and TG.ResultsDuring a mean follow-up of 84.9 months, a total of 1538 all-cause deaths and 410 cardiovascular deaths were recorded. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed the lowest all-cause mortality incidence was in quartile 3 (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that, compared to the 1st quartile, the 4th quartile was associated with higher all-cause mortality (model 1: HR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.74–10.7, P = 0.226; model 2: HR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.03-1.49, P = 0.026; model 3: HR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.08–1.57, P = 0.006). The 3rd quartile was associated with lower cardiovascular mortality than quartile 1 (model 1: HR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.32–0.69, P < 0.001; model 2: HR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.45–0.96, P = 0.032; model 3: HR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.46–0.99, P = 0.049). There was a U-shaped association between SHR and all-cause mortality and an L-shaped association between SHR and cardiovascular mortality, with inflection points of SHR for poor prognosis of 0.87 and 0.93, respectively.ConclusionSHR is related to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes or prediabetes. SHR may have predictive value in those patients.

Association of pulmonary hypertension with the outcome in patients undergoing edge-to-edge mitral valve repair

ObjectivesThe association of pulmonary hypertension (PH) with the outcome after mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) focusing on the new ESC/ERS guidelines definition for PH.BackgroundPH is frequently found in patients with...

Impact of Total Ischemic Time on Clinical Outcome in Stemi Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) represents a critical condition requiring prompt treatment to minimize myocardial damage. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred reperfusion strategy, with the total ischemic time (TIT) being a crucial determinant of clinical outcomes. Despite the recognized importance of minimizing door-to-balloon (DTB) time, the impact of TIT on STEMI outcomes necessitates further exploration. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between TIT and clinical outcomes in STEMI patients undergoing PCI, specifically focusing on all-cause mortality, re-hospitalization, and revascularization rates. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted at the cardiology ward of Lady Reading Hospital from May 2023 to October 2023. Ninety patients diagnosed with STEMI and undergoing PCI were enrolled. Patients were excluded if they had a history of cardiac surgeries or a DTB time &gt;90 minutes. TIT was categorized into ≤120 minutes (Group A) and &gt;120 minutes (Group B). Clinical outcomes assessed at 6 months post-PCI included all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, re-hospitalization, and revascularization. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, employing Chi-Square tests for categorical variables, with a p-value ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Among the participants, Group A (TIT ≤ 120 mins) comprised 33 patients, while Group B (TIT &gt; 120 mins) included 57 patients. Increased TIT was associated with higher rates of all-cause mortality (21.1% in Group B vs. 6.1% in Group A, p=0.05), re-hospitalization (22.8% vs. 6.1%, p=0.04), and revascularization (29.8% vs. 12.1%, p=0.05). Cardiac mortality was also higher in Group B (10.5%) compared to Group A (3.0%), though this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.20). Conclusion: The study highlights the significant impact of TIT on the prognosis of STEMI patients undergoing PCI. Shorter TIT is associated with markedly better clinical outcomes, emphasizing the need for healthcare systems to adopt strategies that reduce both pre-hospital and in-hospital delays.

Association of congestive heart failure with mortality in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis: a cohort study.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a risk factor for congestive heart failure (CHF). Evidence is lacking regarding the relationship between CHF and mortality among American adults with RA. We aimed to investigate the relationship between CHF and mortality in patients with RA. We extracted the corresponding data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database and calculated the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CIs between CHF and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer by using a Cox proportional risk model. A total of 2045 participants with a mean age of 60.32 ± 13.96years were included; 57.60% were female. During a median follow-up period of 109months, there were 602 deaths. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared with participants who are non-CHF, those with CHF had 60% (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.27-2.01) and 110% (1.45, 1.45 to 3.06) higher all-cause mortality and CVD mortality, respectively. Furthermore, a significant association between CHF and all-cause mortality can also be observed in female individuals and those aged 65 and above. There was no significant association between CHF and cancer mortality. In this cohort study of US adults with RA, CHF was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause or CVD-related death. This finding underscores the importance of CHF in the management of patients with RA and may provide future information on maintaining the health status of patients with RA. Key messages • The study findings demonstrate a significant increase in overall mortality and cardiovascular mortality among individuals with RA who develop CHF. • This knowledge can assist healthcare professionals in identifying high-risk patients who could benefit from targeted monitoring and early intervention to prevent or manage CHF.

Contribution of County Characteristics to Disparities in Rural Mortality After Cancer Diagnosis

IntroductionRural disparities in cancer outcomes have been widely evaluated, but limited evidence is available to describe what characteristics of rural environments contribute to the increased risk of poor outcomes. Therefore, this manuscript sought to assess the mediating effects of county characteristics on the relationship between urban/rural status and mortality among patients with cancer, characterize county profiles, and determine at-risk county profiles alongside rural settings. MethodsPatients diagnosed with cancer between 2000 and 2016 were assessed using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data linked to the 2010 Rural-Urban Commuting Codes and 2010 County Health Rankings (CHR). There were 757,655 patients representing 596 counties (of 3143 in the US) and 12 states. Mediation analyses, conducted in 2023, estimated the direct contribution of rurality to five-year all-cause survival and the contribution of the rural effect indirectly through CHR domains. Latent class analysis and survival models identified county groupings and estimated the hazard of mortality associated with class membership. ResultsRankings for premature death, clinical care, and physical environment resulted in rural patients having 17.9%-20.2% less survival time compared to urban patients. Of this, 4.1%-12.6% of the total excess risk was mediated by these characteristics. Patients living in rural and high-risk county classes saw higher all-cause mortality than those in urban-lower risk counties (HR, 1.04, 95%CI 1.01-1.08 and 1.07, 95%CI, 1.03-1.11). ConclusionsCounties with poorer health rankings had increased mortality risks regardless of rurality; however, the poor rankings, notably health behaviors and social & economic factors, elevated the risk for rural counties.

Assessing cardiac resynchronization therapy response in heart failure patients: a comparative analysis of efficacy and outcomes between transvenous and epicardial leads

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an effective treatment for selected heart failure (HF) patients. Although transvenous implantation is the standard method, it is not feasible in some patients, so the epicardial lead emerges as an alternative. We aim to compare CRT response, procedure-related complications, and the occurrence of clinical outcomes between patients with transvenous and epicardial leads. In a single-center retrospective study, we enrolled consecutive HF patients submitted to CRT implantation with a defibrillator between 2013 and 2022. Clinical response was defined as an improvement of at least one of the New York Heart Association classes with no occurrence of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization in the first year of follow-up. Echocardiographic response was attained with an increase in left ventricular ejection fraction 10% or a reduction of left ventricular end-diastolic volume &gt;15% at 6-12 months after CRT implantation. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (cardiovascular mortality and HF hospitalization) and all-cause mortality were evaluated. From a total of 149 patients, 38% (n=57) received an epicardial lead. Clinical (63% versus 60%, p=0.679) and echocardiographic (63% versus 60%, p=0.679) responses were similar between the transvenous and epicardial groups. Patients in the transvenous group had a shorter hospital stay (2 versus 7 days, p&lt;0.001). Procedure-related complications were comparable between groups (24% versus 28%, p=0.572), but left ventricular lead-related complications were more frequent in the transvenous group (14% versus 2%). During a median follow-up of 4.7 years, the rate of MACE was 30% (n=44), with no differences in both groups (p=0.591), neither regarding HF hospitalization (p=0.917) nor cardiovascular mortality (p=0.060). Nevertheless, the epicardial group had a higher rate of all-cause mortality (35% versus 20%, p=0.005), the majority occurring during long-term follow-up (&gt;12 months), with no deaths in the postoperative period. Considering the comparable rates of CRT response, procedure-related complications, and MACE between groups, we conclude that epicardial lead is a feasible alternative for CRT when transvenous lead implantation is not possible. The occurrence of a higher number of all-cause deaths in epicardial patients in the long-term follow-up was mainly due to infectious complications (unrelated to the lead) and the progression of oncological/chronic diseases.

Fragmented QRS complex could predict all-cause mortality in patients with connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension.

To investigate the prognostic impact and pathophysiological characteristics of fragmented QRS complex (fQRS) on patients with connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH). This was a multicentre retrospective study recruiting 141 patients with CTD-PAH diagnosed by right heart catheterization (114 cases in the discovery cohort and 27 cases in the validation cohort). fQRS and ST-T change were detected on conventional 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Patients were followed up every 3 months to update their status and the primary end point was all-cause death. Clinical information and ECG characteristics were compared between survival and death groups and Kaplan-Meier curve was used for survival analysis. There were significant differences in age, gender, 6-min walk distance, NT-proBNP, WHO class, presence of fQRS and presence of ST-T change in inferior leads between survival group and death group. Inferior fQRS and ST-T change were significantly associated with right ventricular (RV) dilatation and reduced RV ejection fraction (RVEF). Kaplan-Meier curve showed that all-cause mortality was higher in CTD-PAH with fQRS (p= 0.003) and inferior ST-T change (p= 0.012). Low- and intermediate-risk CTD-PAH with inferior ST-T change had higher all-cause mortality (p= 0.005). The prognostic value of fQRS and inferior ST-T change was validated in external validation cohort. The presence of inferior fQRS and ST-T change could predict poor prognosis in CTD-PAH. NCT05980728, https://clinicaltrials.gov.

(294) Revisiting Risk of Testosterone Therapy: Assessing the Impact of Supratherapeutic Levels on MACE and Mortality

Abstract Introduction The benefits and risks of testosterone therapy (TT) have been a subject of long-standing debate. The recent TRAVERSE trial demonstrated that men who received TT did not show an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) or mortality. However, it is essential to note that the median post-treatment testosterone levels were found to be less than 400ng/dL. Therefore, our investigation aims to assess whether supra-therapeutic T levels (&amp;gt;1000ng/dL) are associated with an elevated risk of MACE and/or mortality. Objective To use data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2016 to determine whether supratherapeutic testosterone levels (&amp;gt; 1000 ng/dL) are associated with higher rates of all-cause mortality or MACE. Additionally, to determine whether there was a higher rate of MACE among patients who died. Methods We collected data from the NHANES 2011-2016 Continuous Files and linked them to the National Death Index (NDI) through 2019. The NHANES is a national survey run by the Center for Disease Control that assesses the health status of United States residents by sampling of populations across the country. The survey collects socio-demographic data, lab values, dietary health, clinical variables and body measurements. NDI is a centralized database of United States death record information on file in state vital statistics offices. We included male participants aged 18 years and older with data on total testosterone and who were eligible for mortality data. We compared participants with testosterone &amp;gt; 1000 ng/dL against those with &amp;lt;1000 ng/dL, with the assumption that those &amp;gt; 1000 ng/dL had supratherapeutic levels of testosterone from testosterone therapy. Our primary outcome was mortality, with secondary outcomes of mortality due to MACE. We additionally analyzed association with MACE as the primary cause of mortality among participants who had died. MACE was determined by those who were categorized as dying of “diseases of the heart” or “cerebrovascular diseases.” We used binary logistic regression and controlled for age, race, body mass index, and history of myocardial infarction. Statistical significance was assessed at p&amp;lt;0.05. All analyses were performed on STATA MP 17. Results We identified 7,790 males aged 18 or older with mortality data. Of those, 7,715 had testosterone &amp;lt;1000 and 75 men had testosterone &amp;gt; 1000. Among all patients in our cohort, 643 died of all causes, and 199 died of MACE. In the multivariable logistic regression adjusted for potentially confounding variables, we found testosterone &amp;gt;1000 was associated with all-cause mortality (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.29-5.20, p=0.007). There was no association with mortality from MACE in either all participants (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.08-4.45, p=0.615) or among those who died (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.03-2.17, p=0.221). Conclusions Supratherapeutic levels of testosterone are associated with all-cause mortality by 2019 in NHANES participants from 2011-2016. There were no associations with MACE in this population, although overall numbers of death from MACE were low in this data set. Future studies should examine longitudinal data across a greater duration and consider non-fatal MACE events in men who achieve supra-therapeutic levels on TT. Disclosure No.

Patient-Prosthesis Mismatch After Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: Analysis of the PARTNER Trials

BackgroundOur objective was to compare the impact of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) for 2 years after surgical aortic valve replacement within the prospective, randomized Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves (PARTNER) trials. MethodsSurgical aortic valve replacement patients from the PARTNER 1, 2, and 3 trials were included. PPM was classified as moderate (indexed effective orifice area ≤0.85 cm2/m2) or severe (indexed effective orifice area ≤0.65 cm2/m2). The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause death and heart failure rehospitalization at 2 years. ResultsBy the predicted PPM method (PPMP), 59.1% had no PPM, 38.8% moderate PPM, and 2.1% severe PPM; whereas by the measured PPM method (PPMM), 42.4% had no PPM, 36.0% moderate, and 21.6% severe. Patients with no PPMP (23.6%) had a lower rate of the primary endpoint compared with patients with moderate (28.2%, P = .03) or severe PPMP (38.8%, P = .02). Using the PPMM method, there was no difference between the no (17.7%) and moderate PPMM groups (21.1%) in the primary outcome (P = .16). However, those with no PPMM or moderate PPMM were improved compared with severe PPMM (27.4%, P < .001 and P = .02, respectively). ConclusionsSevere PPM analyzed by PPMP was only 2.1% for surgical aortic valve replacement patients. The PPMM method overestimated the incidence of severe PPM relative to PPMP, but was also associated with worse outcome. There was higher all-cause mortality in patients with severe PPM, thus surgical techniques to minimize PPM remain critical.

Combined effects of vitamin D deficiency and systemic inflammation on all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality in older adults

BackgroundVitamin D deficiency and systemic inflammation share common pathological mechanisms in muscle loss, cardio-pulmonary function decline, and abnormal metabolism, which are linked to chronic conditions, senescence, and early mortality. However, their combined effect on mortality in older adults has not been well established. This study longitudinal aimed to explore the independent and combined associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with mortality risk in Chinese community-based older people.Methods3072 older adults (86.07 ± 11.87 years, 54.52% female) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2012–2018) were enrolled. Baseline 25(OH)D and hs-CRP levels were collected, and survival information was recorded in the 2014 and 2018 follow-up waves. Cox proportional hazard regressions were conducted to explore the associations between 25(OH)D, hs-CRP, and mortality. Demographic characteristics, health behaviors, and chronic disease biomarkers were adjusted.ResultsDuring 10,622.3 person-years of follow-up (median: 3.51 years), 1321 older adults died, including 448 deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increased mortality risk was associated with lower 25(OH)D and higher hs-CRP quantiles, even after adjusting for each other and multiple covariates (all P-trend < 0.05). In combined analyses, the highest all-cause mortality (HR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.73 ~ 2.56), CVD mortality (HR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.64 ~ 3.21), and non-CVD mortality (HR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.79 ~ 2.49) were obtained in participants with both 25(OH)D deficiency (< 50 nmol/L) and high hs-CRP (≥ 3.0 mg/L), respectively. We observed significant additive interactions of 25(OH)D and hs-CRP on all-cause mortality and non-CVD mortality (RERIS>0).ConclusionsLow 25(OH)D and high hs-CRP, both independently and jointly, increase mortality risk in Chinese community-dwelling older adults. Thus, priority should be given to early detection and appropriate intervention in older individuals with combined vitamin D deficiency and systemic inflammation. Molecular mechanisms of related adverse health effect are worthy of further investigation.

Self-Reported Health as Predictor of Allostatic Load and All-Cause Mortality: Findings From the Lolland-Falster Health Study.

Objectives: The aim was to determine the association between self-reported health (SRH), allostatic load (AL) and mortality. Methods: Data derived from the Lolland-Falster Health Study undertaken in Denmark from 2016-2020 (n = 14,104). Median follow-up time for death was 4.6years where 456 participants died. SRH was assessed with a single question and AL by an index of ten biomarkers. Multinomial regression analysis were used to examine the association between SRH and AL, and Cox regression to explore the association between SRH, AL and mortality. Results: The risk of high AL increased by decreasing level of SRH. The ratio of relative risk (RRR) of having medium vs. low AL was 1.58 (1.11-2.23) in women reporting poor/very poor SRH as compared with very good SRH. For men it was 1.84 (1.20-2.81). For high vs. low AL, the RRR was 2.43 (1.66-3.56) in women and 2.96 (1.87-4.70) in men. The hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality increased by decreasing SRH. For poor/very poor vs. very good SRH, the HR was 6.31 (2.84-13.99) in women and 3.92 (2.12-7.25) in men. Conclusion: Single-item SRH was able to predict risk of high AL and all-cause mortality.

A high consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with higher total mortality in an adult Mediterranean population

Background & AimsThe consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) has been associated with higher all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, although this association has not been sufficiently investigated in Mediterranean populations. We aimed to evaluate the association between UPF consumption and all-cause, CVD and cancer mortality in an adult population in Spain. MethodsWe analysed data from 1,538 participants aged 20 years and above in the Valencia Nutrition Survey in 1995. Diet was assessed at baseline using a validated food frequency questionnaire and the consumption of UPF was calculated using the NOVA system. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, and presence of diseases was also collected at baseline. Cause of death was ascertained during an 18-year follow-up period. We used Cox regression and competing risk models as proposed by Fine and Gray's to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). ResultsAfter 18 years of follow-up, we documented 312 deaths (36.5% of CVD and 25.6% of cancer). Compared with participants in the lowest tertile of UPF consumption, those in the highest tertile showed 40% higher risk of all-cause mortality, HR 1.40 (95%CI: 1.04-1.90), and evidence of a higher CVD mortality, HR 1.39 (95%CI: 0.80-2.41) and of cancer mortality, HR 1.53 (95%CI: 0.83-2.82). ConclusionsThis study suggests that a high UPF consumption is associated with a higher all-cause mortality in a Mediterranean population after a long follow-up period. Considering the increase in UPF consumption and their detrimental health effects on mortality, these results should be confirmed by other studies in other populations.

Evaluation and validation of neutrophil to albumin ratio as a promising prognostic marker for all-cause mortality in patients with cancer: a multicenter cohort study

ObjectivesThe practicality and effectiveness of using the prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-albumin ratio (NAR) in evaluating patients with cancer remain unclear, and research is needed to fully understand its potential application in the cancer population. MethodsThe Kaplan–Meier method was used for survival analysis, and the log-rank test was employed for comparison. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the prognostic biomarkers, and Logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between NAR and 90-day outcomes and cachexia. ResultsThe study included 14 682 patients with cancer, divided into discovery (6592 patients), internal validation (2820 patients), and external validation groups (5270 patients). Patients with high NAR had higher all-cause mortality than those with low NAR in the discovery (50.15% versus 69.29%, P < 0.001), internal validation (54.18% versus 70.91%, P < 0.001), and external validation cohorts (40.60% versus 66.68%, P < 0.001). In the discovery cohort, high NAR was observed to be independently associated with all-cause mortality in patients (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.12–1.19; P < 0.001). Moreover, we validated the promising prognostic value of NAR as a predictor of survival in patients with cancer through internal validation (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.16–1.27, P < 0.001) and external validation cohorts (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.21–1.34, P < 0.001). Additionally, in the subgroup analysis by tumor type, high NAR was identified as a risk factor for most cancers, except for breast cancer. ConclusionsThis study showed that NAR is a feasible and promising biomarker for predicting prognosis and cancer cachexia in cancer patients.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Endemic Mycoses After Solid Organ Transplantation: A Comprehensive Review.

Geographically endemic fungi can cause significant disease among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. We provide an update on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and outcomes of 5 endemic mycoses in SOT recipients. Multiple databases were reviewed from inception through May 2023 using key words for endemic fungi (eg, coccidioidomycosis or Coccidioides, histoplasmosis or Histoplasma, etc). We included adult SOT recipients and publications in English or with English translation. Among 16 cohort studies that reported on blastomycosis (n = 3), coccidioidomycosis (n = 5), histoplasmosis (n = 4), and various endemic mycoses (n = 4), the incidence rates varied, as follows: coccidioidomycosis, 1.2%-5.8%; blastomycosis, 0.14%-0.99%; and histoplasmosis, 0.4%-1.1%. There were 204 reports describing 268 unique cases of endemic mycoses, including 172 histoplasmosis, 31 blastomycosis, 34 coccidioidomycosis, 6 paracoccidioidomycosis, and 25 talaromycosis cases. The majority of patients were male (176 of 261 [67.4%]). Transplanted allografts were mostly kidney (192 of 268 [71.6%]), followed by liver (n = 39 [14.6%]), heart (n = 18 [6.7%]), lung (n = 13 [4.9%]), and combined kidney-liver and kidney-pancreas (n = 6 [2.7%]). In all 5 endemic mycoses, most patients presented with fever (162 of 232 [69.8%]) and disseminated disease (179 of 268 [66.8%]). Cytopenias were frequently reported for histoplasmosis (71 of 91 [78.0%]), coccidioidomycosis (8 of 11 [72.7%]) and talaromycosis (7 of 8 [87.5%]). Graft loss was reported in 12 of 136 patients (8.8%). Death from all-causes was reported in 71 of 267 (26.6%); half of the deaths (n = 34 [50%]) were related to the underlying mycoses. Endemic mycoses commonly present with fever, cytopenias and disseminated disease in SOT recipients. There is a relatively high all-cause mortality rate, including many deaths that were attributed to endemic mycoses.

Prognostic implications of the arginine metabolism in patients at nutritional risk: A secondary analysis of the randomized EFFORT trial

BackgroundArginine, a conditionally essential amino acid, is key component in metabolic pathways including immune regulation and protein synthesis. Depletion of arginine contributes to worse outcomes in severely ill and surgical patient populations. We assessed prognostic implications of arginine levels and its metabolites and ratios in polymorbid medical inpatients at nutritional risk regarding clinical outcomes and treatment response. MethodsWithin this secondary analysis of the randomized controlled Effect of early nutritionalsupporton Frailty, Functional Outcomes, and Recovery of malnourished medical inpatients Trial (EFFORT), we investigated the association of arginine, its metabolites and ratios (i.e., ADMA and SDMA, ratios of arginine/ADMA, arginine/ornithine, and global arginine bioavailability ratio) measured on hospital admission with short-term and long-term mortality by means of regression analysis. ResultsAmong the 231 patients with available measurements, low arginine levels ≤90.05 μmol/l (n=86; 37%) were associated with higher all-cause mortality at 30 days (primary endpoint, adjusted HR 3.27, 95% CI 1.86 to 5.75, p<0.001) and at 5 years (adjusted HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.12, p=0.020). Arginine metabolites and ratios were also associated with adverse outcome, but had lower prognostic value. There was, however, no evidence that treatment response was influenced by admission arginine levels. ConclusionThis secondary analysis focusing on medical inpatients at nutritional risk confirms a strong association of low plasma arginine levels and worse clinical courses. The potential effects of arginine-enriched nutritional supplements should be investigated in this population of patients. Clinical Trial Registrationclinicaltrials.gov as NCT02517476 (registered 7 August 2015)

In-hospital outcomes of septal myectomy vs. alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with outflow tract obstruction: An update and insights from the national inpatient sample from 2011 to 2019.

Septal Myectomy (SM) and Alcohol Septal Ablation (ASA) improve symptoms in patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy with outflow tract obstruction (oHCM). However, outcomes data in this population is predominantly from specialized centers. The National Inpatient Database was queried from 2011 to 2019 for relevant international classification of diseases (ICD)-9 and -10 diagnostic and procedural codes. We compared baseline characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of patients with oHCM who underwent SM vs ASA. A p-value < 0.001 was considered statistically significant. We identified 15,119 patients with oHCM who underwent septal reduction therapies, of whom 57.4% underwent SM, and 42.6% underwent ASA. Patients who underwent SM had higher all-cause mortality (OR: 1.8 (1.3-2.5)), post-procedure ischemic stroke (OR: 2.3 (1.7-3.2)), acute kidney injury (OR: 1.4 (1.2-1.7)), vascular complications (OR: 3.6 (2.3-5.3)), ventricular septal defect (OR: 4.4 (3.2-6.1)), cardiogenic shock (OR: 1.7 (1.3-2.3)), sepsis (OR: 3.2 (1.9-5.4)), and left bundle branch block (OR: 3.5 (3-4)), compared to ASA. Patients who underwent ASA had higher post-procedure complete heart block (OR: 1.3 (1.1-1.4)), right bundle branch block (OR: 6.3 (5-7.7)), ventricular tachycardia (OR: 2.2 (1.9-2.6)), supraventricular tachycardia (OR: 1.6 (1.4-2)), and more commonly required pacemaker insertion (OR: 1.4 (1.3-1.7)) (p < 0.001 for all) compared to SM. This nationwide analysis evidenced that patients undergoing SM had higher in-hospital mortality and periprocedural complications than ASA; however, those undergoing ASA had more post-procedure conduction abnormalities and pacemaker implantation. The implications of these findings warrant further investigation regarding patient selection strategies for these therapies.

Coronary Slow-Flow Phenomenon in Takotsubo Syndrome: The Prevalence, Clinical Determinants, and Long-Term Prognostic Impact.

Patients with takotsubo syndrome (TTS) may present coronary slow flow (CSF) in angiography performed in the acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, the detailed clinical relevance and its long-term impact remain poorly understood. Among 7771 MI patients hospitalized between 2012 and 2019, TTS was identified in 82 (1.1%) subjects. The epicardial blood flow was assessed with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) scale and corrected TIMI frame count (TFC), whereas myocardial perfusion with TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG). CSF was defined as TIMI-2 or corrected TFC > 27 frames in at least one epicardial vessel. CSF was identified in 33 (40.2%) TTS patients. In the CSF-TTS versus normal-flow-TTS group, lower values of left ventricular ejection fraction on admission (33.5 (25-40) vs. 40 (35-45)%, p = 0.019), more frequent midventricular TTS (27.3 vs. 8.2%, p = 0.020) and the coexistence of both physical and emotional triggers (9.1 vs. 0%, p = 0.032) were noted. Within a median observation of 55 months, higher all-cause mortality was found in CSF-TTS compared with normal-flow TTS (30.3 vs. 10.2%, p = 0.024). CSF was identified as an independent predictor of long-term mortality (hazard ratio 10.09, 95% confidence interval 2.12-48.00, p = 0.004). CSF identified in two-fifths of TTS patients was associated with unfavorable long-term outcomes.