Inpatient Burden Research Articles

P-1194. Comparison of COVID-19 inpatient burden in hospitalized children age < 5 years, by SARS-CoV-2 variant

Abstract Background COVID-19 disease severity has fluctuated with emergence of variants. To investigate disease severity in children, we analyzed clinical resource utilization among children hospitalized for COVID-19 during different variant periods in the United States. Methods We constructed a cohort of children age < 5 years hospitalized for COVID-19 (ICD-10-CM code U07.1 “COVID-19”) using PINC AI Healthcare Data, a hospital-based real world data source from the United States. Hospitalizations in pre-Delta (April - June 2021), Delta (July - December 2021) or Omicron (January 2022 – July 2023) variant periods were included. We examined pre-existing conditions, hospitalization length of stay (LOS), supplemental oxygen (O2), admission to and number of days in the intensive care unit (ICU) and receipt of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). P-values for 3-way comparisons were calculated using Chi-square tests for proportions and Kruskal-Wallis for medians. Results Of 10,316 children hospitalized for COVID-19, the majority occurred in the Omicron period (n=7,767, 75%) followed by Delta (2,241; 22%) and pre-Delta (308; 3%) periods (Table 1). The age, sex, race and ethnicity distribution of cases was similar between Delta and Omicron eras. Rheumatologic and other inflammatory conditions were more prevalent during pre-Delta; otherwise, the prevalence of pre-existing health conditions was generally similar across each variant wave (Table 2). Among the following outcomes, there were no significant differences across the variants: supplemental O2 (13% pre-Delta, 16% Delta, 18% Omicron, p = 0.06), LOS (median 2 days), proportion requiring ICU care (20-21%, p = 0.77), days in ICU care (median 1 pre-Delta, 2 Delta and Omicron) and proportion requiring IMV (6-8%, p = 0.35) (Table 3). Deaths were more common in the Delta (0.9%) than pre-Delta (0.7%) or Omicron (0.4%) eras. Conclusion Similar disease severity was observed among children age < 5 years hospitalized for COVID-19 during pre-Delta, Delta and Omicron periods. Although in-hospital death was more common with Delta, Omicron led to increased hospitalizations, highlighting the importance of continued preventative measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection in children, including routine immunization. Disclosures Kathleen M. Andersen, PhD MSc, Pfizer Inc.: Employee|Pfizer Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Thomas M. Porter, MPH, Pfizer Inc.: Employee|Pfizer Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Maya Reimbaeva, MS, Pfizer Inc.: Employee|Pfizer Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Maria McColgan, MD, Pfizer Inc.: Employee|Pfizer Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Santiago M.C. Lopez, MD, Pfizer Inc.: Employee|Pfizer Inc.: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company)

Cervical balloon catheter versus Dilapan-S for outpatient cervical ripening: A randomized controlled trial.

As induction of labor increases in the United States, safe, effective outpatient cervical ripening has been explored as a method to decrease the inpatient time burden. The most effective method of outpatient mechanical cervical ripening remains unclear. To evaluate if Dilapan-S is non-inferior to cervical balloon for outpatient cervical ripening (CR) based on change in Bishop score. This was a single-blind, randomized controlled trial at a single tertiary hospital. Term patients, both nulliparous and multiparous, aged 18-50 with a singleton, cephalic fetus and no prior c-section who were scheduled for outpatient CR per pre-existing hospital policy were eligible. Participants were randomized to single balloon cervical ripening with a Cook catheter with 60mL in the intrauterine balloon or placement of 3 to 5 Dilapan-S hydroscopic dilators and were then discharged home. On return to the hospital, the CR agent was removed, a blinded cervical exam performed, and participants completed a satisfaction survey. Further induction proceeded per their obstetrical provider. The primary outcome was change in Bishop score. Secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction, mode of delivery, induction time, adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes and a cervical ripening failure composite (failure to place randomized cervical ripening agent, prelabor rupture of membranes prior to scheduled return to hospital, significant vaginal bleeding, or need for further cervical ripening after the initial agent is removed) .We had 80% power to show non-inferiority in change in Bishop score with a margin of 2 and standard deviation of 3. From May 2022 to June 2023, 80 participants were randomized with no difference in baseline demographic data, starting dilation, or Bishop score. 70% of participants in each arm were nulliparous. There was no difference in change in Bishop score between Dilapan-S and cervical balloon (median change 3 (interquartile range (IQR) 2-5) vs 3 (IQR2-4.5) respectively, p=0.91). There was no difference in time to delivery, mode of delivery, or maternal or neonatal outcomes. Participants randomized to Dilapan-S were more satisfied with their experience (satisfaction scale 0-10, median 9 (IQR 8-10) vs 8 (IQR 5-9), p<0.01) and were less likely to experience cervical ripening failure (7(17.5%) vs 18(45%), p<0.01) compared to participants who were randomized to cervical balloon. Dilapan-S was non-inferior to cervical balloon catheter for outpatient cervical ripening based on change in Bishop score. Participants were more satisfied with Dilapan-S and less likely to experience cervical ripening failure compared to a cervical catheter with single balloon inflation.

Cost and Inpatient Burden of Mandible Fracture Management: A 14-Year Analysis.

To evaluate characteristics associated with increased cost and length of hospitalization of mandible fracture management. Retrospective chart review. Demographics, injury mechanism, associated injuries, treatment information, and associated costs were collected for all patients treated for mandible fracture treated at a single institution over a 14-year period. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify the patient and fracture characteristics associated with increased cost and length of hospitalization. We identified 552 patients with 834 mandible fractures from 2008 to 2022. Patients' mean age was 40 years, 67% were male, and 38% Caucasian. The median cost of treatment, adjusted for inflation, was $8,869.49, and median length of stay (LOS) was 3.0 days. Associated cranial/intracranial injury, transfer presentation, increased facial fractures, and traffic-related injuries resulted in a significant increase in both cost and LOS. LOS had a significant impact on cost, while age also significantly increased LOS for patients with mandible fractures. This study represents one of the largest comprehensive databases of mandible fractures and one of the first to provide a descriptive cost and inpatient burden analysis of mandible fracture management. To improve outcomes and reduce hospital cost and inpatient burden, protocols should be implemented to identify and mitigate factors that we identified as contributing to increased cost and length of hospitalization. This study represents one of the largest reviews of cost and inpatient burden of mandible fractures. We found that presentation via transfer, traffic-related injuries, and more facial fractures were associated with significantly higher cost and longer length of hospitalization. 4 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Anticholinergic burden and frailty in older inpatients: insights from analysis of admission and discharge medicines using four anticholinergic scales

BackgroundExposure to high anticholinergic burden is associated with adverse outcomes in older adults. Older adults with frailty have greater vulnerability to adverse anticholinergic effects. There is limited data on anticholinergic burden in hospitalised older adults with frailty particularly, in New Zealand. This study aimed to (i) examine exposure to anticholinergic medicines in older inpatients using multiple scales, and (ii) describe the association of patient factors such as frailty with anticholinergic exposure.MethodsWe reviewed admission and discharge medicines of 222 older patients (≥ 65 years) in a New Zealand hospital. Sociodemographic, diagnostic and medication data were collected from electronic health records. Anticholinergic burden was quantified using the Anticholinergic Burden Classification (ABC), Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale (ACB), Anticholinergic Risk Scale (ARS), and Drug Burden Index (DBI). Frailty was assessed using frailty index (FI) and the Hospital Frailty Risk score (HFRS); higher scores indicate higher frailty. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine patient factors associated with anticholinergic burden.ResultsDepending on the scale used, the mean anticholinergic burden ranged from 0.65 to 1.83 on admission and 0.59 to 1.40 at discharge, with 32–74% of the patients on admission and 25–65% at discharge prescribed at least one anticholinergic medicine. About 1 in 3 patients had high anticholinergic burden on admission and discharge. On admission, being frail (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 5.16, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.57, 16.97), having history of readmission (AOR 4.96, CI 1.58, 15.59), and higher number of medicines [AOR range 1.18 CI 1.10, 1.26 (ARS scale) to 1.25 CI 1.15, 1.36 (DBI scale)] were associated with higher odds of anticholinergic exposure. At discharge, pre-frail (DBI scale: AOR = 6.58, CI 1.71–25.32) and frail patients (ACB scale: AOR = 5.73, CI 1.66, 19.70) and those with higher number of medicines [AOR range 1.18 CI 1.09, 1.29 (ARS scale) to 1.33 CI 1.20, 1.49 (DBI scale)] had higher odds of anticholinergic exposure.ConclusionA reduction in the anticholinergic burden from admission to discharge was observed in the study population yet, one-third of the study cohort were discharged with high anticholinergic medicines. Enhancing hospital prescribers’ and pharmacists’ awareness about anticholinergic burden and targeted interventions such as in-hospital deprescribing are needed to reduce high anticholinergic exposure in acute setting.

Racial disparities in length of hospitalization and systemic medication utilization in patients with psoriasis.

The growing evidence of chronic inflammation and sequelae caused by psoriasis indicates the need for systemic treatment, including biologics and conventional treatments like methotrexate. However, unconscious racial bias may lead to discrepancies in systemic medication prescription. Racial identity is also suspected to affect comorbidity and hospitalization rates in patients with psoriasis. This study examines the impact of race on hospitalization duration and systemic medication prescription patterns in patients with psoriasis in the United States in 2020. The 2020 Healthcare Cost and Utilization (HCUP) National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was used, with inpatient admissions over the age of 17 with an ICD-10-coded psoriasis diagnosis included. Patient demographics and hospital characteristics were compared between "non-white" and "white" patients, with white patients as the reference group. The primary outcome, systemic medication prescription, was evaluated using logistic regression models, producing an odds ratio and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). The secondary outcome, length of stay, was evaluated using negative binomial regression models to approximate the incident rate ratio and 95% CI. 1,802,720 patients with psoriasis were included in this study. Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, and Native American patients with psoriasis had significantly lower odds of systemic medication prescription than white patients with psoriasis. All non-white racial identities were found to have significantly longer estimated lengths of stay compared to white patients with psoriasis. Disparities in the medication of choice for psoriasis treatment can lead to increased inpatient burden with longer lengths of stay for non-white patients.

Safety of Outpatient Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analyses.

Due to rapidly rising health care costs, leveraging outpatient surgery to reduce hospital inpatient burden is being explored. This study provides a systematic review of the literature on outpatient anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) with pooled analysis to determine its safety and feasibility. Embase (Elsevier), MEDLINE (National Library of Medicine), CINAHL (EBSCO), and the Cochrane Library (Wiley) were searched on 8 April 2024 for articles mentioning the following search concepts: (1) ambulatory; (2) outpatient; and (3) ALIF surgery. Included studies had (1) patients undergoing outpatient ALIF; (2) an inpatient control group; (3) a sample size of ≥5 in each cohort; and (4) a population aged ≥18 years. Outcome data were extracted from studies meeting inclusion criteria, and Newcastle-Ottawa scores were assigned to included studies lacking a prospective, randomized design. Fixed and random effects models were used to establish ORs and mean difference with 95% CIs for each outcome. Pooled analysis included results from 4 studies. A total of 2070 patients underwent outpatient ALIF and 12,554 underwent inpatient ALIF. The results showed that compared with inpatient ALIF, outpatient ALIF resulted in a statistically significant decrease in postoperative adverse events (OR -0.89, 95% CI [-1.69, -0.09], I 2 = 54.88%, P = 0.03), comparable readmission rates (OR 0.02, 95% CI [-0.16, 0.20], I 2 = 0%, P = 0.816), and nearly statistically significant decrease in reoperation rates (OR -0.41, 95% CI [-0.83, -0.00], I 2 = 0%, P = 0.05). These meta-analyses suggest that outpatient ALIF is associated with a statistically significant decrease in postoperative adverse events without a significant difference in hospital readmission or reoperation rates. These results suggest that in carefully selected patients, outpatient ALIF is safe and feasible. This study is limited by pooled analysis of retrospective data. This systematic review contributes to the assessment of the safety of outpatient ALIF spine surgery.

Inpatient Burden and Outcomes of Neutropenic Fever in Cancer Patients: A Study Using the National Inpatient Database Sample from 2016- 2020

Inpatient Burden and Outcomes of Neutropenic Fever in Cancer Patients: A Study Using the National Inpatient Database Sample from 2016- 2020

Temporal and regional trends in Canada for the epidemiology and management of diabetic foot ulcers.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common downstream consequence of diabetes and pose significant concern to the health of affected individuals. There are currently limited data available that detail the epidemiology and inpatient burden of DFUs in Canada. This study aims to provide updated data on the epidemiological and economic burden of DFUs in Canada between 2015 and 2019. Using the Canadian Institute for Health Information Patient Cost Estimator the authors estimated, as the primary outcome, the number of DFU inpatient cases in Canada, the associated financial burden of these admissions on the Canadian healthcare system, physician compensation, and average patient length of hospitalisation. This analysis covered 12 Canadian jurisdictions and was stratified by age, sex, province and geographical region. The secondary outcome was to highlight temporal trends in the public health burden of DFUs by computing the average annual percentage change (AAPC; the weighted average of several annual percentage changes over multiple years) using Joinpoint (Surveillance Research Program National Cancer Institute, US) regression analysis. The total number of cases, average length of hospitalisation and physician costs across Canada were highest for patients over ≥60 years of age. By region, the total number of cases and standardised physician costs were highest in Central Canada, followed by Western Canada, and subsequently Eastern and Northern Canada. In 2019, there were >1800 patients with DFUs admitted to Canadian acute care hospitals. Despite having the lowest number of inpatient admissions, Northern Canada had the highest associated inpatient costs, followed by Central, then Western and, lastly, Eastern Canada. Overall, mean inpatient costs remained stable over time across all age groups (AAPC 0.61; 95% confidence interval: -1.87-3.15), with an average cost of >$10,000 CAD per case. Average physician cost across all jurisdictions was approximately $1000 CAD per case, with the mean hospitalisation time being nine days. The findings of this study emphasise the dynamic nature of the economic and epidemiological DFU burden in Canada, underscoring the need for targeted interventions, multidisciplinary care and evidence-based resource allocation for the optimal management of diabetes and DFUs.

Inpatient Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection and Influenza in Children Younger Than 5 Years in Japan, 2011-2022: A Database Study.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus are major viral etiologies of pediatric lower respiratory tract infection, but comparative data on inpatient burden are lacking. Using a large-scale health claims database in Japan, we identified patients under 5 years of age with a confirmed RSV or influenza diagnosis as an outpatient or inpatient between 2011 and 2022. Hospitalization rate, inpatient characteristics, various in-hospital outcomes/complications, and healthcare resource utilization were described. A total of 176,911 RSV-confirmed outpatients, 153,383 influenza-confirmed outpatients, 90,413 RSV-confirmed hospitalizations, and 11,186 influenza-confirmed hospitalizations were identified. Among outpatients, 24.7% of RSV infection and 2.8% of influenza cases required hospitalization within 1 week. There was no co-morbidities/prematurity for 95.0% of RSV hospitalizations and 96.5% of influenza hospitalizations. Proportions of in-hospital outcomes/complications were (RSV infection vs. influenza): oxygen use 47.6% vs. 14.8%, mechanical ventilation 2.1% vs. 0.7%, pneumonia 33.6% vs. 12.8%, otitis media 7.7% vs. 2.3%, febrile seizure 1.5% vs. 34.4%, encephalitis/encephalopathy 0.1% vs. 0.5%, myocarditis < 0.1% vs. 0.6%, antibiotics prescription 48.0% vs. 24.4%. The mean inpatient stay was 6.1 vs. 4.3 days at direct medical costs of 435,744 vs. 315,809 JPY/patient. These trends held true in age-stratified data. In-hospital death occurred in 31 RSV infection and 6 influenza cases. Although both infections resulted in substantial burden, RSV infection led to more frequent hospitalizations, worse in-hospital outcomes, longer inpatient stays, higher medical costs, and more frequent antibiotics prescription compared to influenza. Most RSV hospitalizations occurred among healthy term children, emphasizing the need for prevention measures in all children.

Atrial Fibrillation in young patients: Insights from the National Inpatient Sample

Abstract Background The burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) in young patients is not well characterized. We aimed to study trends in AF burden and management over time in patients aged 18-45 years. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of all primary AF hospitalizations in patients 18-45 years of age using the United States National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data from 01/01/2008 to 12/31/2019. We collected data on clinical and socioeconomic features including demographics, comorbidities, ZIP Code income, resource utilization, and various clinical outcomes. Quartile classification of the median household income of the zip code of the patient’s residence was used to classify socioeconomic status. Results The rate of AF hospitalizations decreased over time from 18.7 per 100,000 in 2008 to 13.0 per 100,000 in 2019 (p&amp;lt;0.001) (Figure 1). AF hospitalizations were higher amongst males compared to females (24.0 vs. 7.5 per 100,000), and higher in black patients compared to other ethnicities (20.4 for black vs. 15.6 for white vs. 8.5 Hispanic per 100,000) (Figure 2). The utilization of electrical cardioversion increased from 17.6% in 2008 to 21.9% in 2019 (p&amp;lt;0.001), and the utilization of catheter ablation decreased from 7.1% in 2008 to 4.3% in 2019 (p&amp;lt;0.001) (Figure 1). Men were more likely to undergo electrical cardioversion than women (20.1% vs. 14.8%, p &amp;lt;0.001). White patients were more likely to undergo electrical cardioversion (20.8% vs. 14.3%) and catheter ablation (6.1% vs. 3.3%, p &amp;lt;0.001) compared to black patients. Patients in the highest socioeconomic status quartile were more likely to undergo electrical cardioversion (21.9% vs. 16.4%, p&amp;lt;0.001) and catheter ablation (8.0% vs. 3.7%, p&amp;lt;0.001) compared to patients in the lowest socioeconomic status quartile. Conclusions We found significant differences in inpatient AF burden across different patient populations. We identified differences in inpatient AF management based on sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Further research is needed to better understand these differences, their impact on clinical outcomes, and strategies to improve healthcare disparities.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients With Juvenile Dermatomyositis in China: A Multicenter Study.

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare but chronic autoimmune disease with systemic nonsuppurative inflammation. Many studies have focused on the clinical characteristics and therapy of JDM. Whereas a few studies have reported the epidemiological characteristics and social burden of patients with JDM internationally, no study has been performed in China to date. This study was based on the Futang Updating Medical Records (FUTURE) database. Data were extracted from registry information in inpatient medical records. The epidemiological characteristics and economic burden of Chinese patients with JDM were analyzed. A total of 1164 patients with JDM from 24 hospitals were enrolled from January 2016 to December 2021. The ratio of boys to girls was 1:1.23, and half were between 6 and 12 years old. Over half (n = 629) were admitted to the hospital at least twice for intensive treatment. In total, 20.02% of patients with JDM had lung involvement and 2.23% experienced subcutaneous calcification. The median number days of hospitalization was 10 (IQR 6-14), whereas the median hospitalization expense was US $2370.50 (IQR 1373.70- 3541.90). Lung involvement was the most frequent complication, causing high inpatient burden, length of stay, and expense. Nearly 17% of patients with JDM were admitted to the hospital as emergencies, suggesting a severe disease activity stage requiring urgent treatment. No deaths occurred in our study. In our study, we analyzed the epidemiological characteristics and social burden of patients with JDM in China, contributing to the enhanced comprehension and effective management of JDM in the country.

Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health–related hospitalization rate of youth in Canada: an interrupted time series analysis

Introduction This study evaluated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on temporal trends in mental health and addiction–related inpatient hospitalization rates among youth (aged 10–17 years) in Canadian provinces and territories (excluding Quebec) from 1 April 2018 to 5 March 2022. Methods We conducted an interrupted time series analysis across three periods: T0 (pre-pandemic: 1 April 2018 to 15 March 2020); T1 (early pandemic: 15 March 2020 to 5 July 2020); and T2 (later pandemic: 6 July 2020 to 5 March 2022). Results Pre-pandemic mental health and addiction–related hospitalization rates had significant regional variability, with weekly rates from 6.27 to 85.59 events per 100 000 persons in Manitoba and the territories combined, respectively. During T1, the national (excluding Quebec) weekly hospitalization rate decreased from a pre-pandemic level of 12.82 (95% CI: 12.14 to 13.50) to 5.11 (95% CI: 3.80 to 6.41) events per 100 000 persons. There was no statistically significant change in the mental health and addiction– related hospitalization rate across provinces and territories in T2 compared to T0. However, there was a significant increase in the rate of self-harm–related hospitalizations among females Canada-wide and in most provinces during this period. Conclusion Although several Canadian studies have reported increases in mental health and addiction–related outpatient and emergency department visits among youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, this did not correspond to an increase in the inpatient hospital burden, with the notable exception of self-harm among young females.

Clinical and economic inpatient burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in children < 2 years of age in Germany, 2014-2019: a retrospective health claims analysis.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause for severe lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children < 2 years of age in Germany - though little is known about the clinical and economic burden of RSV in children with and without risk factors per month of life. In a retrospective health claims analysis, we identified RSV inpatient cases between 2014 and 2019. We assessed incidence rates, mortality rate, healthcare resource utilization, associated direct costs per case and excess costs for 30, 90 and 365 days after hospital admission matched to a control group. The outcomes are reported separately for the first and second year of life (i.e., for infants and toddlers) and were stratified by month of life, preterm and risk status (i.e., presence of underlying disease: chronic respiratory or cardiac disease, immunosuppression, neurological diseases, diabetes, conditions originating in the perinatal period). RSV-attributable hospital incidence rate was higher in infants (30.25/1,000) than toddlers (14.52/1,000), highest in the first three months of life (44.21/1,000), in infants born preterm (64.76/1,000) or with any underlying disease (54.85/1,000). Mortality rate was also higher for infants (0.08/1,000) than toddlers (0.04/1,000). Mean 30-day excess costs ranged from 2,953 € for infants born full-term at no risk, hospitalized for 5 days, to 6,694 € for infants born extremely premature, hospitalized for 7 days. In Germany, the clinical and economic burden of RSV is substantial, especially in the most vulnerable population, that is, very young infants, those born premature and/or those with an underlying disease.

Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health-related hospitalization rate of youth in Canada: an interrupted time series analysis.

This study evaluated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on temporal trends in mental health and addiction-related inpatient hospitalization rates among youth (aged 10-17 years) in Canadian provinces and territories (excluding Quebec) from 1 April 2018 to 5 March 2022. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis across three periods: T0 (pre-pandemic: 1 April 2018 to 15 March 2020); T1 (early pandemic: 15 March 2020 to 5 July 2020); and T2 (later pandemic: 6 July 2020 to 5 March 2022). Pre-pandemic mental health and addiction-related hospitalization rates had significant regional variability, with weekly rates from 6.27 to 85.59 events per 100 000 persons in Manitoba and the territories combined, respectively. During T1, the national (excluding Quebec) weekly hospitalization rate decreased from a pre-pandemic level of 12.82 (95% CI: 12.14 to 13.50) to 5.11 (95% CI: 3.80 to 6.41) events per 100 000 persons. There was no statistically significant change in the mental health and addiction- related hospitalization rate across provinces and territories in T2 compared to T0. However, there was a significant increase in the rate of self-harm-related hospitalizations among females Canada-wide and in most provinces during this period. Although several Canadian studies have reported increases in mental health and addiction-related outpatient and emergency department visits among youth during the COVID-19 pandemic, this did not correspond to an increase in the inpatient hospital burden, with the notable exception of self-harm among young females.

Inpatient burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Switzerland, 2003 to 2021: an analysis of administrative data.

BackgroundRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infections and hospitalisations in infants (age < 1 year) and young children. Little is known on RSV epidemiology and related inpatient healthcare resource use (HCRU) in Switzerland.AimTo explore RSV-related hospitalisations, inpatient HCRU and medical costs in all age groups, and risk factors for infant hospitalisations in Switzerland.MethodsWe used national hospital registry data from 2003 to 2021 identifying RSV cases with ICD-10-GM codes, and described demographic characteristics, HCRU and associated medical costs of RSV inpatients. The effect of risk factors on infant hospitalisation was estimated with logistic regression.ResultsWe observed a general increase and biannual pattern in RSV hospitalisations between 2003/04 and 2018/19, with 3,575 hospitalisations in 2018/19 and 2,487 in 2019/20 before numbers declined in 2020/21 (n = 902). Around two thirds of all hospitalisations occurred in infants. Mean (median) age was 118 (85) days in hospitalised infants and 74 (77) years in hospitalised adult patients (> 18 years); 7.2% of cases required intensive care unit stay. Mean inpatient medical costs were estimated at EUR 8,046. Most (90.8%) hospitalised infants with RSV were born after 35 weeks of gestation without bronchopulmonary dysplasia or congenital heart disease. Low birth weight, gestational age and congenital disorders were associated with a higher risk for hospitalisation.ConclusionsRSV leads to a substantial number of hospitalisations and peaks in hospital capacity utilisation. Measures to protect all infants from an RSV hospitalisation are essential in addressing this public health challenge.

Polyfracture and Cranial Injuries Drive the Cost and Inpatient Burden of Zygoma Fractures.

Facial trauma makes up a significant number of emergency room visits, with morbidity costs in excess of 1 billion dollars each year. Few studies have evaluated the economic outcomes of management and inpatient burden of facial trauma, most focusing solely on the mandible and isolated midface fractures. The authors aim to evaluate characteristics associated with increased cost and length of hospitalization of zygoma fracture management. Cross-sectional study. Level 1-trauma academic medical center. Patients with zygoma fractures who presented to our institution from 2008 to 2021. Demographics, injury mechanisms, associated injuries, treatment information, and associated costs were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the patient and fracture characteristics associated with increased cost and length of hospitalization. Our 14-year experience identified 689 patients with zygoma fractures who presented from 2008 to 2021. Seventy percent were male, and 40% occurred in Caucasian patients. The mean cost, adjusted for inflation, was $21,799.34, and the mean length of hospitalization was 5.5 days. Four or more fractures, associated cranial or intracranial injuries, and length of stay were associated with significantly higher cost, and 4 or more fractures, associated cranial or intracranial injuries, and female gender were associated with significantly longer length of hospitalization. This study represents one of the largest comprehensive databases of zygoma fractures and one of the first to provide a descriptive cost and inpatient burden analysis. To improve outcomes and reduce hospital cost and inpatient burden, protocols should be implemented to address the factors that the authors identified as contributing to increased cost and length of hospitalization.

Determining the cut-off value for the Minimal Documentation System (MIDOS2) screening tool to initiate specialized palliative care based on patient’s subjective need for palliative support and symptom burden in inpatients with advanced cancer

PurposeThe Minimal Documentation System (MIDOS2) is recommended as a systematic screening tool for assessing symptom burden and patient needs in advanced cancer patients. Given the absence of an optimal weighting of individual symptoms and a corresponding cut-off value, this study aims to determine a threshold based on inpatient’s subjective need for palliative support. Additionally, we investigate the correlation between symptom burden and subjective need for palliative support collected through a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) with survival duration of less or more than one year.MethodsInpatients diagnosed with advanced solid cancer completed an electronic PROM, which included the MIDOS2 questionnaire among other tools. Differences in symptom burden were analysed between patients expressing subjective need for palliative support and those with survival of less or more than one year using ANOVA, Mann–Whitney-U Test, logistic regression, Pearson and Spearman correlation tests. Cut-off analyses were performed using a ROC curve. Youden-Index, sensitivity, and specificity measures were used as well.ResultsBetween April 2020 and March 2021, 265 inpatients were included in the study. Using a ROC curve, the MIDOS2 analysis resulted in an Area under the curve (AUC) of 0.732, a corresponding cut-off value of eight points, a sensitivity of 76.36% and a specificity of 62.98% in assessing the subjective need for palliative support. The MIDOS2, with double weighting of the significant symptoms, showed a cut-off value of 14 points, achieving a sensitivity of 78.18% and a specificity of 72.38%. A total of 55 patients (20.8%) expressed a need for support from the palliative care team. This need was independent of the oncological tumour entity and increased among patients with a survival of less than one year. These patients reported significantly poorer physical (p < 0.001) or mental (p < 0.001) condition. Additionally, they reported higher intensities of pain (p = 0.002), depressive symptoms (p < 0.001), weakness (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and tiredness (p < 0.001).ConclusionUsing the established MIDOS2 cut-off value with an adjusted double weighting in our study, a large proportion of inpatients may be accurately referred to SPC based on their subjective need for palliative support. Additionally, subjective reports of poor general, mental, and physical condition, as well as pain, depressive symptoms, weakness, anxiety, and tiredness, increase the subjective need for palliative support, particularly in patients with a survival prognosis of less than one year.

Human metapneumovirus infection is associated with a substantial morbidity and mortality burden in adult inpatients

BackgroundHuman metapneumovirus (hMPV) is one of the leading respiratory viruses. This prospective observational study aimed to describe the clinical features and the outcomes of hMPV-associated lower respiratory tract infections in adult inpatients. MethodsConsecutive adult patients admitted to one of the 31 participating centers with an acute lower respiratory tract infection and a respiratory multiplex PCR positive for hMPV were included. A primary composite end point of complicated course (hospital death and/or the need for invasive mechanical ventilation) was used. ResultsBetween March 2018 and May 2019, 208 patients were included. The median age was 74 [62–84] years. Ninety-seven (47 %) patients were men, 187 (90 %) had at least one coexisting illness, and 67 (31 %) were immunocompromised. Median time between first symptoms and hospital admission was 3 [2–7] days. The two most frequent symptoms were dyspnea (86 %) and cough (85 %). The three most frequent clinical diagnoses were pneumonia (42 %), acute bronchitis (20 %) and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (16 %). Among the 52 (25 %) patients who had a lung CT-scan, the most frequent abnormality was ground glass opacity (41 %). While over four-fifths of patients (81 %) received empirical antibiotic therapy, a bacterial coinfection was diagnosed in 61 (29 %) patients. Mixed flora (16 %) and enterobacteria (5 %) were the predominant documentations. The composite criterion of complicated course was assessable in 202 (97 %) patients, and present in 37 (18 %) of them. In the subpopulation of pneumonia patients (42 %), we observed a more complicated course in those with a bacterial coinfection (8/24, 33 %) as compared to those without (5/60, 8 %) (p = 0.02). Sixty (29 %) patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. Among them, 23 (38 %) patients required invasive mechanical ventilation. In multivariable analysis, tachycardia and alteration of consciousness were identified as risk factors for complicated course. ConclusionhMPV-associated lower respiratory tract infections in adult inpatients mostly involved elderly people with pre-existing conditions. Bacterial coinfection was present in nearly 30 % of the patients. The need for mechanical ventilation and/or the hospital death were observed in almost 20 % of the patients.

Trends in inpatient burden from pressure injuries in the United States: Cross-sectional study National Inpatient Sample 2009-2019.

Pressure injuries are a significant comorbidity and lead to increased overall healthcare costs. Several European and global studies have assessed the burden of pressure injuries; however, no comprehensive analysis has been completed in the United States. In this study, we investigated the trends in the burden of pressure injuries among hospitalised adults in the United States from 2009 to 2019, stratified by sociodemographic subgroups. The length of admission, total cost of hospitalisation, and sociodemographic data was extracted from the National Inpatient Sample provided by the Healthcare Cost and Utilisation Project, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Overall, the annual prevalence of pressure injuries and annual mean hospitalisation cost increased ($69,499.29 to $102,939.14), while annual mean length of stay decreased (11.14-9.90 days). Among all races, minority groups had higher average cost and length of hospitalisation. Our findings suggest that while the length of hospitalisation is decreasing, hospital costs and prevalence are rising. In addition, differing trends among racial groups exist with decreasing prevalence in White patients. Further studies and targeted interventions are needed to address these differences, as well as discrepancies in racial groups.

Inpatient burden and clinical outcomes of cytokine release syndrome in patients with cancer: A National Inpatient Sample study.

11067 Background: Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a potentially life-threatening complication commonly seen in patients receiving chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, allogeneic stem cell transplant, or immunotherapies. This study aims to evaluate the inpatient burden outcomes of CRS leading to hospitalization in patients diagnosed with cancer. Methods: Hospitalizations for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) were identified using ICD-10 coding from the 2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS), the largest all-payer inpatient database in the US. Only CRS patients with a co-diagnosis of cancer (identified using the Clinical Classification Software (CCS) coding) were included in this study. The underlying severity of illness index was used to verify CRS grading. Sampling weights were applied to generate nationally representative estimates. Results: In 2020, there were 4,765 hospitalizations coded with CRS. 27.2% of these admissions had a co-diagnosis of cancer (n=1,295) and were included in the final analysis. The top co-diagnoses in the patients with CRS without cancer were COVID-19 infection and sepsis. Hematologic malignancies had the highest incidence amongst cancer types (75.7%), the distribution was as follows: 29.6% with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 19.9% with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 12.8% with multiple myeloma, 12.2% with acute myeloid leukemia, and 7.7% with mantle cell lymphoma. The most common procedures in oncology patients hospitalized with CRS were CAR-T cell therapy (29.3%), chemotherapy (28.6%), stem cell transplant (8.5%), or Blinatumomab bispecific antibody (5.4%). 11.4% of patients with CRS received tocilizumab. Of those that received tocilizumab, 10% were CRS grade 2, 56.7% were grade 3, 33.3% were grade 4. 51.7% of tocilizumab was given in the first 48 hours of admission. A minority of CRS patients required critical care interventions: 12.0% requiring intubation, 5.8% requiring vasopressor support, and 2.7% received dialysis. Overall, 10.4% of all oncology admissions with CRS resulted in death during hospitalization (n=135). Of these deaths, 92.6% were in the extreme severity of illness and 63.0% were CRS grade 4. Those with CRS who died during hospitalization had a significantly longer length of stay (24.6 vs 13.6 days, p&lt;0.001). The overall median hospital charges of a CRS-related admission were $531,692. Conclusions: This study represents the inpatient burden of CRS-related admissions in patients diagnosed with cancer. CRS admissions are commonly seen in patients with hematologic malignancies, those undergoing CAR-T cell or immunotherapies (bispecific antibodies). CRS poses a significant healthcare burden, with average hospital charges being greater than 0.5 million US dollars per admission. About 1 in 10 patients with CRS died during hospitalization with higher mortality likely with severe CRS grades and longer length of stay.