ICU Admission Rate Research Articles

Preoperative Hemoglobin

Preoperative anemia has been associated with perioperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac surgery. Preoperative anemia is common in elderly hip fracture patients. The primary objective of the study was to explore the relationship between preoperative hemoglobin levels and postoperative major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in hip fracture patients over 80years. The retrospective study enrolled hip fracture patients over 80years from January 2015 to December 2021 in our center. The data were collected from the hospital's electronic database after approval by the ethics committee. The primary objective of the study was to investigate MACEs, and the secondary objectives included in-hospital mortality, delirium, acute renal failure, ICU admission rate, and transfusion (>2 U). 912 patients were entered for final analysis. Based on the restricted cubic spline, the risk of preoperative hemoglobin (<10g/DL) was associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. With univariable logistic analysis, a hemoglobin level <10g/DL was associated with increased MACEs [OR 1.769, 95% CI (1.074, 2.914), P = .025], in-hospital mortality [OR 2.709, 95% CI (1.215, 6.039), P = .015] and transfusion >2 U risk [OR 2.049, 95% CI (1.56, 2.69), P < .001]. Even after adjustment for confounding factors, MACEs [OR 1.790, 95% CI (1.073, 2.985), P = .026], in-hospital mortality [OR 2.81, 95% CI (1.214, 6.514), P = .016] and transfusion >2 U rate [OR 2.002, 95% CI (1.516, 2.65), P < .001] were still higher in the lower hemoglobin level cohort. Moreover, a log-rank test showed increased in-hospital mortality in the cohort with a preoperative hemoglobin level of <10g/DL. However, there was no difference in delirium, acute renal failure, and ICU admission rates. In conclusion, for hip fracture patients over 80years, preoperative hemoglobin levels <10g/DL might be associated with increased postoperative MACEs, in-hospital mortality, and transfusion >2 U.

Eosinophil recovery in hospitalized COVID-19 patients is associated with lower rates of ICU admission and in-hospital mortality: An observational cohort analysis

BackgroundAdmission eosinopenia (<100 cells/μL) is associated with poor clinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. However, the effects of eosinophil recovery (defined as reaching ≥50 eosinophils/μL) during hospitalization on COVID-19 outcomes have been inconsistent. MethodsThe study included 1,831 patients admitted to UCLA hospitals between February 2020 and February 2021 with PCR-confirmed COVID-19. Using competing risk regression and modeling eosinophil recovery as a time-dependent covariate, we evaluated the longitudinal relationship between eosinophil recovery and in-hospital outcomes including ICU admission, need for mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital mortality. All analyses were adjusted for covariates including age, BMI, tobacco smoke exposure, comorbidities known to be risk factors for COVID-19 mortality, and treatments including dexamethasone and remdesivir. ResultsEosinophil recovery was evaluated in patients with <50 eosinophils/μL on admission (n = 1282). These patients cumulatively amassed 11,633 hospital patient-days; 3,985 of those days qualified as eosinophil recovery events, which were represented by 781 patients achieving at least one instance of eosinophil recovery during hospitalization. Despite no significant difference in the rate of mechanical ventilation, eosinophil recoverers had significantly lower rates of in-hospital mortality (aHR: 0.44 [0.29, 0.65], P = 0.001) and ICU admission (aHR: 0.25 [0.11, 0.61], P = 0.002). ConclusionTrending eosinophil counts during hospitalization is simple and can be performed in resource-limited healthcare settings to track the inflammatory status of a patient. Lack of eosinophil recovery events can identify those at risk for future progression to severe COVID.

Does Geography Play a Role in the Receipt of End-of-Life Care for Advanced Cancer Patients? Evidence from an Australian Local Health District Population-Based Study.

Objectives: To assess the influence of geographic remoteness on health care utilization at end of life (EOL) by people with advanced cancer in a geographically diverse Australian local health district, using two objective measures of rurality and travel-time estimations to health care facilities. Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined the association between rurality (using the Modified Monash Model) and travel-time estimation, and demographic and clinical factors, with the receipt of >1 inpatient and outpatient health service in the last year of life in multivariate models. The study cohort comprised of 3546 patients with cancer, aged ≥18 years, who died in a public hospital between 2015 and 2019. Results: Compared with decedents from metropolitan areas, decedents from some rural areas had higher rates of emergency department visits (small rural towns: aRR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.07-1.57) and ICU admissions (large rural towns: aRR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.03-1.69), but lower rates of acute hospital admissions (large rural towns: aRR 0.83, 95% CI: 0.76-0.90), inpatient palliative care (PC) (regional centers: aRR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75-0.97), and inpatient radiotherapy (lowest in small rural towns: aRR 0.07, 95% CI: 0.03-0.18). Decedents from rural and regional centers had lower rates of outpatient chemotherapy and radiotherapy use, yet higher rates of outpatient cancer service utilization (p < 0.05). Shorter travel times (10-<30 minutes) were associated with higher rates of inpatient specialist PC (aRR 1.48, 95% CI: 1.09-1.98). Conclusions: Reporting on a series of inpatient and outpatient services used in the last year of life, measures of rurality and travel-time estimates can be useful tools to estimate geographic variation in EOL cancer care provision, with significant gaps uncovered in inpatient PC and outpatient service utilization in rural areas. Policies aimed at redistributing EOL resources in rural and regional communities to reduce travel times to health care facilities could help to reduce regional disparities and ensure equitable access to EOL care services.

The COVID-19 Infection Resulted Delayed Esophagogastroduodenoscopy in Patients Admitted with Variceal Bleeding: Hospital-Based Outcomes of a National Database.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, most healthcare services, including inpatient and outpatient procedures, got delayed. We reviewed the effect of COVID-19 infection on the timing of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in variceal bleeding patients and analyzed the complications of delayed EGD. Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2020, we identified patients admitted for variceal bleeding with COVID-19 infection. We performed a multivariable regression analysis and adjusted it for patient and hospital-related variables. The International Classification of Disease Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes were used for patient selection. We measured the effect of COVID-19 on the timing of EGD and further analyzed the effect of delayed EGD on hospital-based outcomes. A total of 49,675 patients diagnosed with variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding were analyzed, out of which 915 (1.84%) were COVID-19 positive. Variceal bleeding patients who were COVID-positive had a significantly lower rate of EGD performed within the first 24 h of admission (36.1% vs. 60.6% p = 0.001) compared to the patients who tested negative for COVID-19. The performance of EGD within 24 h of admission resulted in a decrease in all-cause mortality by 70% (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.30, 95% CI 0.12-0.76, p = 0.01) compared to EGD after 24 h. A significant decrease was noted in the odds of ICU admission rate (AOR 0.37, 95% CI 0.14-0.97, p = 0.04) in patients who got EGD within the first 24 h of admission. No difference in odds of sepsis (AOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.15-1.30, p = 0.14) and vasopressor use (AOR 0.34, 95% CI 0.04-2.87, p = 0.32) was seen in COVID positive vs. COVID negative group. The hospital mean length of stay (2.14 days, 95% CI 4.35-0.06, p = 0.06), mean total charges ($51,936, 95% CI $106,688-$2816, p = 0.06), and total cost (11,489$, 95% CI 30,380$-7402$, p = 0.23) was similar in both COVID-positive and -negative groups. In our study, we found that the presence of COVID-19 infection in variceal bleeding patients resulted in a significant delay in EGD compared to COVID-negative patients. This delay in EGD resulted in increased all-cause mortality and intensive care unit admissions.

Discontinuation of Antihypertensive Drug Use Compared to Continuation in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.

COVID-19 related mortality is about 2%, and it increases with comorbidities, like hypertension. Regarding management, there is debatable evidence about the benefits of continuation vs. discontinuation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEI/ARB). We performed a systematic review to assess the effects and safety of in-hospital discontinuation compared to continuation of ACEI/ARB in COVID-19 patients. We systematically searched on PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE from inception to June 19, 2021. We included observational studies and trials that compared the effects and safety of continuing ACEI/ARB compared to discontinuing it in COVID-19 patients. Effects sizes for dichotomous variables were expressed as risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals. For continuous variables, effects were expressed as mean difference (MD). We used random effect models with the inverse variance method. We assessed certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach. We included three open-label randomized controlled trials and five cohort studies. We found that the continuation group had lower risk of death compared with the discontinuation group only in the cohort group (RR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24-0.90), but not in the RCT group (RR: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.75-2.00). The ICU admission rate was significantly lower in the continuation group (RR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.31-0.68) in the cohort group, but not in RCT group (RR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.67-1.59). We did not find significant differences between groups regarding hospitalization length, hypotension, AKI needing renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilation, new or worsening heart failure, myocarditis, renal replacement therapy, arrhythmias, thromboembolic events and SOFA AUC. The GRADE approach revealed that the certainty ranged from moderate to high level. There is no significant difference in mortality and other outcomes between continuation and discontinuation groups.

Epidemiology and Post-Discharge Resource Utilization of Isolated Traumatic Brain Injury in Geriatric Patients.

Benchmark data on traumatic brain injury (TBI) are potentially confounded by morbidity and rehabilitation needs associated with coincident extracranial injuries. Using data on isolated head injuries from 13 trauma centers in Georgia over 3years, we studied the epidemiology and natural history of isolated TBI in geriatric vs non-geriatric patients in order to identify potential areas for quality improvement. We identified 8 512 patients, 3 895 of whom were geriatric. Geriatric patients had higher baseline comorbidity burden, mostly presented after ground level falls, had higher mortality despite equivalent ICU admission rates, and had higher rates of post-discharge resource utilization than non-geriatric counterparts. Geriatric patients are more likely to require post-discharge services and/or facility placement, regardless of pre-injury functional status. These data highlight the importance of streamlined protocols that place an early focus on post-discharge needs and goals of care, informed by cohort-specific prognosis data.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of glucocorticoids treatment in severe COVID-19: methylprednisolone versus dexamethasone

ObjectiveThe preferred agent of glucocorticoids in the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19 is still controversial. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of methylprednisolone and dexamethasone in the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19.MethodsBy searching the electronic literature database including PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science, the clinical studies comparing methylprednisolone and dexamethasone in the treatment of severe COVID-19 were selected according to the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. Relevant data were extracted and literature quality was assessed. The primary outcome was short-term mortality. The secondary outcomes were the rates of ICU admission and mechanical ventilation, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, hospital stay, and the incidence of severe adverse events. Statistical pooling applied the fixed or random effects model and reported as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.1.0.ResultsTwelve clinical studies were eligible, including three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nine non-RCTs. A total of 2506 patients with COVID-19 were analyzed, of which 1242 (49.6%) received methylprednisolone and 1264 (50.4%) received dexamethasone treatment. In general, the heterogeneity across studies was significant, and the equivalent doses of methylprednisolone were higher than that of dexamethasone. Our meta-analysis showed that methylprednisolone treatment in severe COVID-19 patients was related to significantly reduced plasma ferritin and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio compared with dexamethasone, and that no significant difference in other clinical outcomes between the two groups was found. However, subgroup analyses of RCTs demonstrated that methylprednisolone treatment was associated with reduced short-term mortality, and decreased CRP level compared with dexamethasone. Moreover, subgroup analyses observed that severe COVID-19 patients treated with a moderate dose (2 mg/kg/day) of methylprednisolone were related to a better prognosis than those treated with dexamethasone.ConclusionsThis study showed that compared with dexamethasone, methylprednisolone could reduce the systemic inflammatory response in severe COVID-19, and its effect was equivalent to that of dexamethasone on other clinical outcomes. It should be noted that the equivalent dose of methylprednisolone used was higher. Based on the evidence of subgroup analyses of RCTs, methylprednisolone, preferably at a moderate dose, has an advantage over dexamethasone in the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19.

Frequency of Diabetes Mellitus and Newly Diagnosed Hyperglycemia and Their Impacts on Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its associated morbidities are a great global concern. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes and high mortality in patients with COVID-19. Objectives: This study examined the frequency of DM, newly diagnosed hyperglycemia, and their impacts on hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods: This retrospective study examined 810 medical records of PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to Razi Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran. The clinical presentations, severity, and impacts of COVID-19 were compared between patients with and without DM. Disease severity was determined based on the NEWS2 scoring system. Results: This study included 810 medical records of COVID-19 patients, of whom 326 had pre-existing DM, and 484 were non-DM. The rates of diabetes and newly diagnosed hyperglycemia were 40.2% and 11.2%, respectively. The most common underlying diseases were hypertension (35.3%), ischemic heart disease (17.9%), and chronic kidney disease (11.9%), which were higher in people with diabetes than non-diabetics. The rate of acute kidney injury was higher in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics (30.7% vs. 19.2%; P &lt; 0.001) and in patients with severe COVID-19 than in those whose disease was not severe (27.8% vs. 21.5%; P = 0.04). The rates of severe COVID-19 (46.3% vs. 34.7%; P = 0.093), ICU admission (40.7% vs. 27.4%; P = 0.012), and mortality (18.5% vs. 10.5%; P = 0.079) were higher in patients with newly diagnosed hyperglycemia than in euglycemic patients. Conclusions: This study showed that COVID-19 infection is linked with newly diagnosed hyperglycemia and pre-existing DM, both associated with severe COVID-19, more need for ICU admission, and mortality.

PO-02-173 TRENDS IN COVID-19 AND ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: A NATIONAL INPATIENT SAMPLE TREND FROM 2020

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in the United States. Concomitant Covid-19 infection and the outcomes of AF are unknown. The study's goals were to analyze the outcomes of AF during the Covid-19 pandemic. We conducted a retrospective cohort study based on the 2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) of Adults (>18 years) hospitalized for AF as the primary admitting diagnosis based on the ICD-10 codes and stratified these groups into concomitant covid-19 infection vs. non-covid-19 infection. All-cause mortality was our primary outcome, while the rate of ICU admission, length of stay, hospital charges were our secondary outcomes. Temporal trends were assessed using logistic regression. In 2020, there were 1,994,985 admissions for atrial fibrillation, out of whom 104,495 (5.3%) had concomitant Covid-19. In the 104,495 AF admissions with covid-19, the mean age was 75y and 56.8% were males. Our results, image 1, showed AF with and without concomitant Covid-19 had similar rates of comorbid conditions including HTN, DM, OSA, CAD. HFrEF, and ESRD. AF patients with Covid-19 infection had a lower prevalence of smoking (31.83% vs. 39.4%, p<.001) and alcohol use (2% vs. 4.2%, p<.001). AF patients from both groups had similar rates of stroke (1.6% vs. 1.0%, p<.001). New AF patients with concomitant Covid-19 had worsening in-hospital outcomes such as shock (12.8% vs. 3.7%, p<.001), admission to the ICU (18.1% vs. 6.4%, p<0.001), higher all-cause mortality (21.8% vs. 3.9%, p<0.001), a longer length of stay (9.96 days vs 6.08 days, p<.001), and total hospital costs ($114,387 vs. $85,830, p<.0001). The incidence of AF catheter ablation on initial hospital admission for AF Covid-19 was lower compared to the AF non-covid-19 patients (.08% vs. 1.39%, p<.001). In 2020, Covid-19 infection was an independent predictor of higher all-cause mortality, length of stay, and costs in patients admitted for atrial fibrillation. In addition, these patients were less likely to get catheter ablation on hospital admission.

Maternal risk factors and outcome associated with COVID-19 disease in COVID-19 RT PCR positive pregnancy in a tertiary care hospital

Background and Objectives: Most of the published literature related to COVID-19 and pregnancy comes from China and other developed countries. There is a paucity of studies in India. The study was done in a dedicated COVID-19 tertiary care hospital which alone caters to the entire population of the Cuddalore district. The study will add to evidence about clinical manifestation in pregnant females that will help the physicians involved in patient care to take rational and timely decisions regarding the management of cases. Therefore, the research was designed to study clinical manifestations and maternal risk factors and outcome of COVID-19 positive pregnant females in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: The data for this study will be collected from the patient admitted to Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, Annamalai University, Chidambaram during the period August 2020 to October 2022. The data for this study will be collected from the patient admitted to Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, Annamalai University, Chidambaram during the period August 2020 to October 2022. Results: 200 antental and postnatal were included in the study. Among those in post-natal period, 61.1% had LSCS and 38.9% had normal delivery. 5.4% had preterm labour, 5.4 % had PPROM and 1.2% had PPH. 0.5% participants had ARDS and 2.5% had pneumonia. Maternal oxygen requirement was 16.5% in antenatal period and 83.5% were in postnatal period during the study. 3% participants had an abortion and 5% had IUD. The mean serum ferritin level was found to be significantly higher among those without pregnancy related complications than those with at least one complication. Conclusion: a rapid increase of CS was observed, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, most likely due to lack of knowledge and robust recommendations. Preterm birth rates were elevated, with iatrogenic reasons potentially involved. While pregnant women have an increased risk for ICU admission and mechanical ventilation, the mortality trend was not clearly elucidated. Outcomes, maternal ICU admission and mechanical ventilation rates were found relatively lower.

Effect of Plasma Exchange Treatment in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Acute Pancreatitis.

Background and Objectives: To describe the clinical and biological characteristics of patients with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) and to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in the management of HTG-AP. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 81 HTG-AP patients (30 treated with TPE and 51 treated conventionally). The main outcome was a decrease in serum triglyceride levels (<11.3 mmol/L) within 48 h of hospitalization. Results: The mean age of participants was 45.3 ± 8.7 years, and 82.7% were male. Abdominal pain was the most frequent clinical sign (100%), followed by dyspepsia (87.7%), nausea or vomiting (72.8%), and a bloated stomach (61.7%). The HTG-AP patients treated with TPE had significantly lower calcemia and creatinemia levels but higher triglyceride levels than those who received conservative treatment. They also had more severe diseases than those treated conservatively. All patients in the TPE group were admitted to the ICU, whereas the ICU admission rate in the non-TPE group was 5.9%. The TPE patients were more likely to experience a rapid decrease in triglyceride levels within 48 h of treatment than those treated conventionally (73.3% vs. 49.0%, p = 0.03, respectively). The decrease in triglyceride levels did not depend on the age, gender, or comorbidities of the HTG-AP patients or the severity of disease. However, TPE and early treatment in the first 12 h of disease onset were effective in rapidly reducing serum triglyceride levels (adjusted OR = 3.00, p = 0.04 and aOR = 7.98, p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions: This report demonstrates the effectiveness of early TPE in reducing triglyceride levels among HTG-AP patients. More randomized clinical trials studies with a large sample size and post-discharge follow-up are needed to confirm the effectiveness of TPE methods in managing HTG-AP.

Association of Upon-Diagnosis Blood Eosinophilic Count with Frequency and Severity of Annual Exacerbation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Prospective Longitudinal Analysis.

There is a controversy regarding the relationship between blood eosinophil count and COPD exacerbation. We aimed to determine whether peripheral eosinophils upon COPD diagnosis could affect the frequency and severity of annual acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). This prospective study was conducted on 973 newly diagnosed COPD patients who were under 1-year follow-up in a pulmonology center in Iran. The Cox proportional model, polynomial regression, and receiver operator characteristic curves were conducted to evaluate the impact of the eosinophil levels on AECOPD. A linear regression model was conducted to evaluate the continuous association of eosinophilic count with AECOPDs. Patients with eosinophil >200 cells/microliter were higher pack-year smokers with more pulmonary hypertension prevalence compared to COPD patients with <200 cells/microliter. There was a positive correlation between the eosinophilic count and the frequency of AECOPDs. Eosinophil >900 cells/microliter and eosinophil >600 cells/microliter had a sensitivity of 71.1% and 64.3%, respectively, in predicting the occurrence of more than one AECOPD. Eosinophilic count cutoff of 800 cells/microliter had the highest Youden index with sensitivity and specificity of 80.2% and 76.6%, respectively, for incident AECOPD in newly diagnosed patients. Using a linear model, increasing 180 cells/microliter in serum eosinophils was associated with further exacerbation. Evaluating gender, BMI, smoking pack-year, FEV1/FVC, CAT score, GOLD score, pulmonary hypertension, annual influenza, pneumococcal vaccinations, leukocytosis, and blood eosinophils, only blood eosinophils (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.44; 95% confidence interval = 1.33-2.15; p value = 0.03) and GOLD score (HR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.30-1.52; p value = 0.03) were found as independent risk factors of AECOPD >3 episodes/year. Requirement for ICU admission, invasive ventilation, and mortality rate due to AECOPDs was similar between eosinophilic and noneosinophilic groups. Eosinophilia upon COPD diagnosis is a factor of recurrent AECOPDs. To reduce the risk of AECOPDs and the burden of disease, clinicians may consider inhaler corticosteroids and domiciliary oxygen with a lower threshold for eosinophilic-COPD patients regardless of their clinical status.

Antihistamines as an early treatment for Covid-19

BackgroundInfection with SARs-COV-2 results in COVID-19 disease.Between March 2020 and August 2021, 468 COVID-19 patients confirmed by PCR or antigen test, in Yepes, Spain, received early treatment with antihistamines, adding azithromycin in selected cases. The primary endpoint is the hospitalization rate of COVID-19 patients, and the secondary endpoints are ICU admission and mortality rates. All endpoints are compared with the official Spanish rates during the time period of the study.There were 20 hospital admissions (hospitalization rate 4,3%), 5 ICU admissions (ICU admission rate 1,1%) and 3 deaths (fatality rate of 0,6%). No patients in the study required follow up treatment, which suggest they did not develop long COVID. Results from this retrospective trail indicate that early treatment of SARS-COV-2 positive patients with antihistamines may reduce the odds of hospitalization (OR: 0.490, CI: 0.313–0.767, p-value: 0.001). Randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to further evaluate the effects of early antihistamine treatment of SARS-CoV-2 patients to prevent hospitalization, ICU admission, mortality and long-covid.

Vitamin D on COVID-19 Patients During the Pandemic, 2022. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Numerous connections between the level of vitamin D (Vit-D) and the novel coronavirus disease -19 (COVID-19) have surfaced during the pandemic. So, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the effect of Vit-D deficiency and its supplementation on the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients. We looked for relevant articles in Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web Science, PubMed, and EBSCO up until the end of 2022. The Open Meta Analyst software was used to analyze the extracted data. We classified them into two main categories based on their objectives. First, the studies that evaluated the effects of Vit-D deficiency in patients, and lastly, the studies that evaluated Vit-D as a supplement, both on mortality rate, hospitalization duration, ICU admission rate, and mechanical ventilation rate. A total of 8001 COVID-19 patients from 42 studies were included. A high serum Vit-D concentration compared to those with lower levels was associated with a significantly lower mortality rate (RR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.11: 2.02, p = 0.01). According to the estimated effect of 18 studies, those who took Vit-D supplements had a significantly lower mortality rate, hospitalization duration, ICU admission rate, and mechanical ventilation rate than those who did not. The group receiving Vit-D doses between 50 000 to 100 000 IU had a significantly better clinical outcome compared to lower and higher doses. COVID-19 patients with normal Vit-D levels had significantly lower death rates than those with hypovitaminosis. Vit-D supplements in COVID-19 significantly improved clinical outcomes. Vit-D supplementation between 50 000 to 100 000 IU, in patients with COVID-19 significantly outperformed other doses in terms of mortality.

The prevalence of symptoms and its correlation with sex in polish COVID-19 adult patients: Cross-sectional online open survey.

The understanding and treatment of COVID-19 has improved rapidly since December 2019 when SARS-CoV-2 was sequenced. However most papers on its symptomatology focus on hospitalized patients and address only a limited number of major presentations. Although differences depending on sex of COVID-19 patients have been previously confirmed (higher ICU admission and higher death rate for men), no publication has focused on sex-related differences in COVID-19 symptomatology. The aim of the study was to present a reliable list of COVID-19 symptoms and identify any differences in symptom prevalence depending on sex. A sample of Polish patients suffering from COVID-19 were surveyed using a cross-sectional anonymous online survey in Polish available on a web-based surveying platform (Survey Monkey). The survey included 20 questions asking about COVID-19 symptoms, days of occurrence (from day 1 until day 14 and "15 days or more") and patient characteristics including sex, age, height, weight, place of residence and type of therapy received during COVID-19. The survey was made available during the third COVID-19 wave in Poland. The link to the survey was distributed across social networks. Participation was open to anyone willing, without any incentives. The data was analyzed statistically. Survey responses were collected from 2,408 participants (56.9% women) aged 18-90 (42 ± 12), 84.7% living in cities, who took part in the study between December 2020 and February 2021. Out of 54 predefined symptoms, the three most prevalent were fatigue (reported by 87.61% respondents), anosmia (73.74%) and headache (69.89%). Women were found to be more symptomatic than men, 31 symptoms occurred more often in women (including anosmia, headache and myalgias, p < 0.05). Subfebrility, fever and hemoptysis were more prevalent in men. Twelve symptoms (incl. hypothermia, sneezing and nausea) lasted longer in women than men (p < 0.05). Fatigue, cough, nasal dryness, xerostomia and polydipsia were the longest lasting symptoms of COVID-19 (lasted over 14 days). Our study presents a wide range of symptoms, which may enable better recognition of COVID-19, especially in an outpatient setting. Understanding these differences in the symptomatology of community and hospitalized patients may help diagnose and treat patients faster and more accurately. Our findings also confirmed differences in symptomatology of COVID-19 between men and women, which may lay the foundation for a better understanding of the different courses of this disease in the sexes. Further studies are necessary to understand whether a different presentation correlates with a different outcome.

COVID-19 and obstetric outcomes: a single-center retrospective experience in a predominantly Black population

Objective This retrospective, single-center case series was designed to characterize the effects of perinatal COVID-19 diagnosis on obstetric and neonatal outcomes in a predominantly high-risk, urban Black population. Study Design Data were collected via retrospective chart review on all COVID-19-positive obstetric patients and their neonates who presented to the University of Chicago Medical Center between March 2020 and November 2020, before the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine. Patient demographics, delivery outcomes, COVID-19 symptoms, treatment, and outcomes were analyzed. Results A total of 56 COVID-19-positive obstetric patients were included in the study, of which four were lost to follow-up before delivery. The median age of patients was 27 years (IQR 23, 32), with 73.2% publicly insured and 66.1% Black. Patients had a median body mass index (BMI) of 31.6 kg/m2 (IQR 25.9, 35.5). 3.6% of patients had chronic hypertension, 12.5% had diabetes, and 16.1% had asthma. Perinatal complications were common. Twenty-six patients (50.0%) had a diagnosis of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP). 28.8% had gestational hypertension, and 21.2% had preeclampsia (with and without severe features). The rate of maternal ICU admission was 3.6%. Furthermore, 23.5% of patients delivered preterm (<37 weeks gestation), and 50.9% of infants were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Conclusion In our study of a predominantly Black, publicly-insured, unvaccinated group of COVID-19-positive pregnant patients, we found high rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm delivery, and NICU admission compared to rates reported in existing literature before widespread vaccine availability. Our findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, irrespective of maternal disease severity, may exacerbate existing obstetric health disparities by disproportionately impacting Black, publicly insured patients. Larger comparative studies are needed to better characterize possible racial and socioeconomic disparities in obstetric outcomes in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. These studies should examine the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, as well as potential associations between adverse perinatal outcomes and disparities in access to care, COVID-19 vaccination, and other social determinants of health amongst more vulnerable populations infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy.

MP06-14 QUALITY METRICS FOR PATIENTS REQUIRING URGENT SURGICAL INTERVENTION - COMPARING A FREESTANDING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TO A HOSPITAL-BASED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP06-14 QUALITY METRICS FOR PATIENTS REQUIRING URGENT SURGICAL INTERVENTION - COMPARING A FREESTANDING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TO A HOSPITAL-BASED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT Ginnie Jeng, Alexa Meyer, Adam Hass, Eric Cruzen, Yves Duroseau, and Lee Richstone Ginnie JengGinnie Jeng More articles by this author , Alexa MeyerAlexa Meyer More articles by this author , Adam HassAdam Hass More articles by this author , Eric CruzenEric Cruzen More articles by this author , Yves DuroseauYves Duroseau More articles by this author , and Lee RichstoneLee Richstone More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003217.14AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of freestanding emergency departments (EDs) affiliated and located near existing hospital-based EDs. Given freestanding EDs do not have in-house surgical specialty providers, the purpose of this study was to determine whether differences exist in the quality of care and clinical outcomes of patients presenting to freestanding versus hospital-based EDs for urgent surgical conditions. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients that presented to Lenox Health Greenwich Village (freestanding) and Lenox Hill Hospital (hospital-based) EDs in New York City between 01/2019 and 02/2021 with urgent surgical conditions was performed. Data collected include patient demographics, ED and procedure time data, principal diagnosis and procedure, and post-operative data. Statistical analyses include Mann-Whitney test, Chi square test, COX regression, and logistic regression, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: 1220 patient were included in this study, with 356 presenting to freestanding and 864 to hospital-based ED for surgically urgent conditions, including testicular torsion (Table 1). Median times from ED arrival to surgical intervention were 14.7 hours in freestanding and 12.7 hours in hospital-based ED (p=0.073). Factors associated with significantly longer time intervals include African American race (HR=0.75, 95% CI: 0.57-0.90), Medicaid (HR=0.80, 95% CI: 0.68-0.95), and Medicare (HR=0.63, 95% CI: 0.49-0.81). Patients who presented to freestanding ED had significantly shorter ED length of stay (p<0.0001) and more accurate ED diagnoses (p=0.022). There were no statistical differences in ICU admission (p=0.188), post-operative complication (p=0.957), 30-day readmission (p=0.256), and mortality rates (p=0.524) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Within our system, the quality of care and clinical outcomes of patients requiring urgent surgical intervention are comparable for those presenting to a freestanding ED versus a hospital-based ED. Thus, freestanding EDs in an urban environment may be beneficial for both patients and health care facilities. However, differences in care across race and insurance group must be further explored. Source of Funding: None © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e58 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Ginnie Jeng More articles by this author Alexa Meyer More articles by this author Adam Hass More articles by this author Eric Cruzen More articles by this author Yves Duroseau More articles by this author Lee Richstone More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

334 In-hospital Resource Utilization among Traumatic Brain Injury Patients Presenting With Alcohol and Drug Use: A TRACK-TBI Study

INTRODUCTION: Premorbid alcohol and drug use is frequently seen in traumatic brain injury (TBI), yet in-hospital resource utilization in this population has not been thoroughly studied. METHODS: The multicenter TRACK-TBI database was queried for patients with blood alcohol content (BAC, positive ≥0.08), cannabinoid (THC), and hard drug (cocaine, amphetamines, PCP, MDMA) screening at presentation. Patient demographics, presenting GCS, ICU admission, ventilator time, number of head CTs, ICP monitor placement, and length of stay (LOS) were analyzed after stratifying by substance use. RESULTS: Of 2032 TRACK-TBI subjects, 1448 (71.3%) had BAC screening, 891 (43.8%) had THC screening, and 891 (43.8%) had hard drug screening. BAC+ patients (n = 370 [25.6%]) had lower presenting GCS (11.5 ± 4.7 v. 12.7 ± 3.9, p&lt;0.001) as did THC+ patients (n = 136 [15.3%], 10.9 ± 4.7 v. 12.6 ± 4.0, p &lt; 0.001), although hard drug+ patients (n = 82 [9.2%]) did not (p = 0.119). BAC+ and hard drug+ patients had higher positive head CT rates (p &lt; 0.001 and p = 0.034, respectively), although THC+ patients did not (p = 0.248). All substance use groups were more likely to be admitted to ICU but did not have more ICU days on average. Hard drug+ patients were more likely to require ICP monitor placement (27% v. 14%, p = 0.003) despite having similar presenting GCS. BAC+ patients had significantly more CTs performed (p = 0.007). Only hard drug+ patients required more ventilator days (p = 0.04). LOS was significantly longer for THC+ and hard drug+ patients (mean 10.8 v. 8.1 d, p = 0.035 and 11.5 v. 8.2 d, p = 0.017, respectively) but not BAC+ patients. On multivariate analysis, THC+ (aHR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.04-1.40, p = 0.012) and moderate GCS BAC+ patients (aHR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.20-2.31, p = 0.002) had higher number of head CTs performed. CONCLUSIONS: Substance use associated with TBI is correlated with greater ICU admission rates and imaging resource utilization.

Renal‑rotation techniques in retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy for giant pheochromocytomas: a clinical intervention study with historical controls

BackgroundDealing with the giant pheochromocytomas (maximum diameter ≥ 6 cm) has long been a tough challenge for urologists. We introduced a new retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy method modified with renal-rotation techniques to treat giant pheochromocytomas.Methods28 diagnosed patients were prospectively recruited as the intervention group. Meanwhile, by referring to the historical records in our database, matched patients who had undergone routine retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (RA), transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (TA), or open adrenalectomy (OA) for giant pheochromocytomas were selected as controls. Perioperative and follow-up data were collected for comparative assessment.ResultsAmong all the groups, the intervention group had the minimal bleeding volume (28.93 ± 25.94 ml, p < 0.05), the least intraoperative blood pressure variation (59.11 ± 25.68 mmHg, p < 0.05), the shortest operation time (115.32 ± 30.69 min, p < 0.05), the lowest postoperative ICU admission rates (7.14%, p < 0.05), and shortest drainage time length (2.57 ± 0.50 days, p < 0.05). Besides, compared with TA and OA groups, intervention group was also characterized by lower pain scores (3.21 ± 0.63, p < 0.05), less postoperative complications (p < 0.05), earlier diet initiation time (1.32 ± 0.48 postoperative days, p < 0.05) and ambulation time (2.68 ± 0.48 postoperative days, p < 0.05). Follow-up blood pressure and metanephrine and normetanephrine levels in all intervention group patients remained normal.ConclusionCompared with RA, TA, and OA, retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy with renal-rotation techniques is a more feasible, efficient, and secure surgical treatment for giant pheochromocytomas.Trial registrationThis study has been prospectively registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry website (ChiCTR2200059953, date of first registration: 14/05/2022).

Is the risk for COVID-19 outcomes the same for all patients with chronic kidney disease? A retrospective study

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged at the end of 2019 and quickly spread worldwide. Among the various comorbidities associated with severe disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been identified as one of the leading conditions. However, it is not yet clear whether all stages of CKD pose the same risk for severe COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the impact of different stages of CKD on the clinical characteristics, disease progression, and outcomes of COVID-19.&#x0D; Methods. This retrospective study focused on CKD patients who were admitted with COVID-19. We analyzed various factors including demographic data, comorbidities, symptoms, physical findings, laboratory test results, length of hospital stay, and in-hospital outcomes. These factors were evaluated based on the different stages of CKD.&#x0D; Results. A total of 284 CKD patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated and compared to 395 COVID-19 patients with normal kidney function. Among the CKD patients, 86 were receiving dialysis. We observed significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, D-dimer, and ferritin, as well as a significantly lower lymphocyte count, in the CKD groups compared to the control group. There were significant differences among the CKD groups in terms of biochemical markers, duration of hospital stay, rates of ICU admission, and mortality. However, we did not find significant differences between dialysis and non-dialysis CKD patients regarding the length of hospital stay, need for ICU admission, and number of deceased patients.&#x0D; Conclusions. The presence and severity of CKD should be considered crucial factors for predicting the risk of COVID-19. Patients with late-stage CKD who are hospitalized with COVID-19 require increased awareness and close monitoring to reduce rates of ICU admission and mortality.