124 AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PREHABILITATION PILOT FOR FRAIL ADULTS UNDERGOING ELECTIVE ANTERIOR RESECTION AND HARTMANN’S REVERSAL SURGERIES IN AN IRISH ACUTE HOSPITAL

Background

Frailty affects 21.5% of individuals aged 65 and over in Ireland (TILDA, 2017).Timely interventions can limit or reverse the impacts of frailty. Local HIPE data from 2016-2020 highlighted correlations between increased average Length of Stay (aLOS) and median age (>65 years) for those undergoing elective Anterior Resections and Hartmann’s reversal surgeries. Prehabilitation aims to identify and manage modifiable risk factors that may impact on LOS, as well as optimise patients’ resilience and physiological reserves to reduce postoperative complications. Modifiable factors include pre-operative function, co-morbidities and post-operative delirium. In the Republic of Ireland, surgical interdisciplinary Prehabilitation services exist only in one hospital.

Methods

An interdisciplinary prehabilitation pilot for individuals undergoing elective colorectal surgeries was developed. Patients are referred from surgical clinics to Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy or Dietitian preoperatively. Interventions include respiratory optimisation, exercise prescription, discharge planning, equipment provision and pre-operative nutritional reviews.

Results

Three elective patients have completed the first phase of the pilot. Two underwent anterior resections and one underwent a Hartmann’s reversal. The LOS for each individual was 4 days respectively, 4 days under the KPIs. Patients received virtual assessment and individualised interventions including an interdisciplinary educational booklet. Interventions included: exercise programmes, nutritional support, discharge planning discussion and equipment as indicated. No post-operative complications were identified and no interim beds or home supports were required. Qualitative feedback surveys were completed by all participants. Subjective feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive.

Conclusion

Patients report feeling physically and psychologically better prepared for surgery with better knowledge of post-operative expectations. Patients are more proactive in their postoperative recovery meaning they can return home sooner. This pilot enhances evidence-based ERAS practice, improving the quality and safety of patients journey. Participants also had a 12 day cumulative reduction in aLOS with financial savings of €12000.

202 PATIENTS >65 YEARS ADMITTED WITH AN ACUTE SURGICAL PRESENTATION: REVIEW OF OUTCOME MEASURES FOLLOWING OFF-SITE GERIATRICIAN-LED REHABILITATION

Background

The most common causes for surgical admissions in our model 3 hospital are: (1) abdominal pathologies requiring conservative and/or operative management; (2) traumatic injuries leading to rib/sternal fractures; (3) Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). With life expectancy increasing, the number of older adults undergoing intra-abdominal surgery and presenting with traumatic injuries is increasing. This cohort often experience high levels of frailty and significant morbidity and mortality due to poor physiological reserves. Further functional decline post-admission causes higher rehabilitation needs with greater risk of requiring long-term care. Care of Older Person Services are under active development in our hospital. An off-site Geriatrician-led specialist rehabilitation unit was initially established for medical patients in 2015. Access was then made available to acute surgical patients in 2021.

Methods

A cross-site review of outcomes achieved by older adults who transferred from the acute surgical ward to specialist inpatient rehab unit was completed.

Results

Twenty-two patients utilised this pathway but unfortunately only data relating to sixteen individuals was available due to the HSE cyber-attack. 56.25% were male (n=9) and 43.75% (n=7) were female. Most common diagnosis included 31.25% (n=5) new TBI; 18.75% (n=3) post-abdominal surgery and 12.5% (n=2) rib fractures. The average Length of Stay (aLOS) in rehabilitation was 27 days. On average, post-operative patients had a lengthier aLOS (48 days) while new TBI had the shortest (18.5 days). Overall, 94% (n=15) returned home with 60% (n=9) requiring home supports. 100% (n=16) demonstrated improvements in both their Barthel scores and ‘Timed Up and Go’ scores. The average Berg score improved from high falls risk on admission to independent with assistive device. There was one instance of acute readmission post discharge home.

Conclusion

Specialist Geriatrician-led rehabilitation for surgical patients has demonstrated low rates of re-admission, improved function and reduced falls risk with 94% (n=15) of patients returning home.

Lawson Criterion for Ignition Exceeded in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion.

Clinical characteristics with inflammation profiling of long COVID and association with 1-year recovery following hospitalisation in the UK: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

No effective pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions exist for patients with long COVID. We aimed to describe recovery 1 year after hospital discharge for COVID-19, identify factors associated with patient-perceived recovery, and identify potential therapeutic targets by describing the underlying inflammatory profiles of the previously described recovery clusters at 5 months after hospital discharge.

METHODS

The Post-hospitalisation COVID-19 study (PHOSP-COVID) is a prospective, longitudinal cohort study recruiting adults (aged ≥18 years) discharged from hospital with COVID-19 across the UK. Recovery was assessed using patient-reported outcome measures, physical performance, and organ function at 5 months and 1 year after hospital discharge, and stratified by both patient-perceived recovery and recovery cluster. Hierarchical logistic regression modelling was performed for patient-perceived recovery at 1 year. Cluster analysis was done using the clustering large applications k-medoids approach using clinical outcomes at 5 months. Inflammatory protein profiling was analysed from plasma at the 5-month visit. This study is registered on the ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN10980107, and recruitment is ongoing.

FINDINGS

2320 participants discharged from hospital between March 7, 2020, and April 18, 2021, were assessed at 5 months after discharge and 807 (32·7%) participants completed both the 5-month and 1-year visits. 279 (35·6%) of these 807 patients were women and 505 (64·4%) were men, with a mean age of 58·7 (SD 12·5) years, and 224 (27·8%) had received invasive mechanical ventilation (WHO class 7-9). The proportion of patients reporting full recovery was unchanged between 5 months (501 [25·5%] of 1965) and 1 year (232 [28·9%] of 804). Factors associated with being less likely to report full recovery at 1 year were female sex (odds ratio 0·68 [95% CI 0·46-0·99]), obesity (0·50 [0·34-0·74]) and invasive mechanical ventilation (0·42 [0·23-0·76]). Cluster analysis (n=1636) corroborated the previously reported four clusters: very severe, severe, moderate with cognitive impairment, and mild, relating to the severity of physical health, mental health, and cognitive impairment at 5 months. We found increased inflammatory mediators of tissue damage and repair in both the very severe and the moderate with cognitive impairment clusters compared with the mild cluster, including IL-6 concentration, which was increased in both comparisons (n=626 participants). We found a substantial deficit in median EQ-5D-5L utility index from before COVID-19 (retrospective assessment; 0·88 [IQR 0·74-1·00]), at 5 months (0·74 [0·64-0·88]) to 1 year (0·75 [0·62-0·88]), with minimal improvements across all outcome measures at 1 year after discharge in the whole cohort and within each of the four clusters.

INTERPRETATION

The sequelae of a hospital admission with COVID-19 were substantial 1 year after discharge across a range of health domains, with the minority in our cohort feeling fully recovered. Patient-perceived health-related quality of life was reduced at 1 year compared with before hospital admission. Systematic inflammation and obesity are potential treatable traits that warrant further investigation in clinical trials.

FUNDING

UK Research and Innovation and National Institute for Health Research.

Parent-infant interaction in the NICU: Challenges in measurement

BACKGROUND

Parent-infant interaction is poorly understood among high-risk dyads in NICU settings. No parent-infant interaction measures are specifically designed for preterm infants within the NICU nor account for the education NICU parents receive to tailor their interactions based on the infant's cues.

AIM

To improve our understanding of a measure of parent-infant interaction in the NICU, we investigated relationships between parent-infant interaction scores on the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale (NCAFS) and 1) socio-demographic and medical factors, 2) parent mental health and confidence, and 3) enhanced parental education (delivered as part of the Supporting and Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences program) on tailoring interactions based on the infant's cues.

METHOD

Twenty-six preterm infants (born ≤32 weeks) had a video recorded oral feeding conducted by a parent in the NICU when the infant was 34-48 weeks postmenstrual age. A certified evaluator scored parent-infant interaction from the videos using the NCAFS.

RESULTS

Seventeen (65 %) parent-infant dyads scored below the 10th percentile on the total NCAFS score. Despite it being well-understood that parent-infant interaction is related to sociodemographic factors and parental mental health, there were no relationships between these factors and NCAFS scores in this study. Dyads who received enhanced parent education (n = 15) had lower NCAFS scores than dyads receiving usual care (n = 11) (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

It remains unclear if the standard measure of parent-infant interaction, NCAFS, captured positive and negative interactions in context of assessment of a high-risk dyad within the NICU setting. The utility of the NCAFS with preterm infants in the NICU was not supported by this study.

POS0939 BIMEKIZUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE NON-RADIOGRAPHIC AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS: 24-WEEK EFFICACY & SAFETY FROM BE MOBILE 1, A PHASE 3, MULTICENTRE, RANDOMISED, PLACEBO‑CONTROLLED STUDY

Background

Bimekizumab (BKZ) is a monoclonal IgG1 antibody that selectively inhibits IL-17F in addition to IL-17A. BKZ has shown rapid and sustained efficacy and was well tolerated up to 156 weeks (wks) in a phase 2b study in patients (pts) with active ankylosing spondylitis.1,2

Objectives

To assess efficacy and safety of BKZ vs placebo (PBO) in pts with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) up to Wk 24 in the ongoing pivotal phase 3 study, BE MOBILE 1.

Methods

BE MOBILE 1 (NCT03928704) comprises a 16-wk double-blind, PBO-controlled period and 36-wk maintenance period. Pts were aged ≥18 yrs, had BASDAI ≥4 and spinal pain ≥4 at BL, and sacroiliitis on MRI and/or elevated CRP at screening. Pts were randomised 1:1, BKZ 160 mg Q4W:PBO. From Wk 16, all pts received BKZ 160 mg Q4W. Primary and secondary efficacy endpoints were assessed at Wk 16.

Results

Of 254 randomised pts (BKZ: 128; PBO: 126), 244 (96.1%) completed Wk 16, 240 (94.5%) Wk 24. BL characteristics were comparable between groups: mean age 39.4 yrs, symptom duration 9.0 yrs; 54.3% pts male, 77.6% HLA-B27+, 10.6% TNFi-experienced. At Wk 16, the primary (ASAS40: 47.7% BKZ vs 21.4% PBO; p<0.001) and all ranked secondary endpoints were met (Table 1). Responses were rapid with BKZ, including in PBO pts who switched to BKZ at Wk 16, and increased to Wk 24 (Figure 1; Table 1). Substantial reductions of hs-CRP by Wk 2 and MRI SIJ inflammation by Wk 16 were achieved with BKZ vs PBO (Table 1). At Wk 24, >50% of pts initially randomised to BKZ had achieved ASDAS <2.1 (Figure 1).

Table 1.

Efficacy at Wks 16 and 24

BLWk 16Wk 24PBO N=126BKZ 160 mg Q4W N=128PBO N=126BKZ 160 mg Q4W N=128p valuePBO→BKZ 160 mg Q4W N=126BKZ 160 mg Q4W N=128Ranked endpoints in hierarchical orderASAS40* [NRI] n (%)--27 (21.4)61 (47.7)<0.00159 (46.8)67 (52.3)BASDAI CfB† [MI] mean (SE)6.7 (0.1)6.9 (0.1)–1.5 (0.2)–3.1 (0.2)<0.001–3.2 (0.2)–3.4 (0.2)ASAS20† [NRI] n (%)--48 (38.1)88 (68.8)<0.00187 (69.0)96 (75.0)ASAS PR† [NRI] n (%)--9 (7.1)33 (25.8)<0.00135 (27.8)37 (28.9)ASDAS-MI† [NRI] n (%)--9 (7.1)35 (27.3)<0.00137 (29.4)41 (32.0)ASAS 5/6† [NRI] n (%)--21 (16.7)49 (38.3)<0.00151 (40.5)57 (44.5)BASFI CfB† [MI] mean (SE)5.3 (0.2)5.5 (0.2)–1.0 (0.2)–2.5 (0.2)<0.001–2.3 (0.2)–2.8 (0.2)Nocturnal spinal pain CfB† [MI] mean (SE)6.7 (0.2)6.9 (0.2)–1.7 (0.2)–3.6 (0.3)<0.001–3.5 (0.2)–4.0 (0.3)ASQoL CfB† [MI] mean (SE)9.4 (0.4)9.5 (0.4)–2.5 (0.4)–5.2 (0.4)<0.001–4.8 (0.4)–5.7 (0.4)SF-36 PCS CfB† [MI] mean (SE)33.6 (0.8)33.3 (0.7)5.5 (0.7)9.5 (0.7)<0.00110.1 (0.8)10.6 (0.8)Other endpointsdEnthesitis-free state†a [NRI] n (%)--22 (23.9)b48 (51.1)c-40 (43.5)b45 (47.9)cASAS40 in TNFi-experienced [NRI] n (%)--2 (11.8)e6 (60.0)f---ASDAS-CRP CfB [MI] mean (SE)3.7 (0.1)3.8 (0.1)–0.6 (0.1)–1.5 (0.1)-–1.5 (0.1)–1.6 (0.1)hs-CRP, mg/L [MI] geometric mean (median)5.0 (6.5)4.6 (6.1)3.8 (4.1)2.0 (1.8)-2.3 (2.6)1.9 (1.8)MRI spine Berlin CfBg [OC] mean (SD)1.9 (3.2)h1.6 (2.9)i–0.1 (1.7)j–0.7 (2.2)k---SPARCC MRI SIJ score CfBg [OC] mean (SD)10.5 (13.8)l8.5 (10.3)m–1.5 (9.2)n–6.3 (10.0)o---

Randomised set. *Primary endpoint; †Secondary endpoint; aMASES=0 in pts with BL MASES >0; bn=92; cn=94; dNominal p values not shown; en=17; fn=10; gIn pts in MRI sub-study; hn=65; in=75; jn=58; kn=73; ln=68; mn=79; nn=60; on=77.

Over 16 wks, 80/128 (62.5%) pts had ≥1 TEAE on BKZ vs 71/126 (56.3%) on PBO; most frequent were nasopharyngitis (BKZ: 9.4%; PBO: 4.8%), upper respiratory tract infection (BKZ: 7.0%; PBO: 7.1%) and oral candidiasis (BKZ: 3.1%; PBO: 0%). No systemic candidiasis was observed. Up to 16 wks, incidence of SAEs was low (BKZ: 0.0%; PBO: 0.8%); no MACE or deaths were reported; 0 IBD cases occurred in pts on BKZ vs 1 (0.8%) in a pt on PBO.

Conclusion

Dual inhibition of IL-17A and IL-17F with BKZ in pts with active nr-axSpA resulted in rapid, clinically relevant improvements in efficacy outcomes vs PBO. No new safety signals were observed.1,2

References

[1]van der Heijde D. Ann Rheum Dis 2020;79:595–604;

[2]Gensler L. Arthritis Rheumatol 2021;73(suppl 10):0491.

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by UCB Pharma. Editorial services were provided by Costello Medical.

Disclosure of Interests

Atul Deodhar Speakers bureau: Janssen, Novartis, and Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Aurinia, BMS, Celgene, Eli Lilly, GSK, Janssen, MoonLake, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, GSK, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma, Désirée van der Heijde Consultant of: AbbVie, Bayer, BMS, Cyxone, Eisai, Galapagos, Gilead, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma, Employee of: Imaging Rheumatology BV (Director), Lianne S. Gensler Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, GSK, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma, Huji Xu: None declared, Karl Gaffney Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Novartis, UCB Pharma, Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Novartis, and UCB Pharma, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Gilead, Eli Lilly, Novartis, and UCB Pharma, Hiroaki Dobashi Speakers bureau: BMS, Chugai, Eli Lilly, GSK, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB Pharma, Walter P Maksymowych Consultant of: AbbVie, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Janssen, Novartis and Pfizer, Employee of: Chief Medical Officer for CARE Arthritis, Martin Rudwaleit Speakers bureau: AbbVie, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chugai, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma, Paid instructor for: Janssen, Novartis, and UCB Pharma, Consultant of: AbbVie, Novartis, and UCB Pharma, Marina Magrey Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB Pharma, Grant/research support from: AbbVie and UCB Pharma, Dirk Elewaut Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Novartis and UCB Pharma, Consultant of: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Novartis and UCB Pharma, Marga Oortgiesen Employee of: Employee of UCB Pharma, Carmen Fleurinck Employee of: Employee of UCB Pharma, Alicia Ellis Employee of: Employee of UCB Pharma, Thomas Vaux Employee of: Employee of UCB Pharma, julie smith Employee of: Employee of UCB Pharma, Xenofon Baraliakos Speakers bureau: AbbVie, BMS, Chugai, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma, Paid instructor for: AbbVie, BMS, Chugai, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma, Consultant of: AbbVie, BMS, Chugai, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma

POS0173 DATA-DRIVEN MRI DEFINITIONS FOR ACTIVE AND STRUCTURAL SACROILIAC JOINT LESIONS IN JUVENILE SPONDYLOARTHRITIS TYPICAL OF AXIAL DISEASE

Background

For classification in juvenile spondyloarthritis (JSpA), it is important to develop cut-offs for active and structural lesions typical of axial disease on MRI that are readily and consistently interpreted. Since the maturing sacroiliac joint (SIJ) looks different from the adult SIJ, the criteria developed for positive MRI in adults may not be applicable in JSpA.

Objectives

As part of a study developing classification criteria for axial disease in JSpA, we aimed to determine quantitative SIJ imaging lesion cut-offs for inflammatory and structural lesions typical of axial JSpA using majority imaging expert decision as the reference criterion.

Methods

Subjects were a retrospective cohort of children with SpA who met the provisional Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization criteria for enthesitis/spondylitis-related juvenile idiopathic arthritis or had a rheumatologist JSpA diagnosis. All subjects had symptom onset prior to age 18 years and underwent MRI as part of a diagnostic evaluation for axial disease. To enable SIJ quadrant-based scoring, all MRIs included semi-coronal slices through the cartilaginous part of the joint on fluid sensitive sequences and on T1-weighted sequences for the assessment of inflammation and structural lesions, respectively. MRIs were reviewed by 6 musculoskeletal imaging experts who were blinded to clinical details. MRI evaluation of the SIJ was based on standardized lesion definitions that were decided by consensus of the central imaging team and represented a mix of definitions from ASAS and the Juvenile Arthritis MRI Score Outcome Measures in Rheumatology working group. Using a web-based interface, raters globally assessed the presence or absence of lesions typical of axial SpA and performed SIJ quadrant or joint based scoring. Lesion scores were generated by averaging the scores of all raters. Sensitivity and specificity of lesion cut-offs were calculated using rater majority (≥4/6 raters) on a global assessment of the presence/absence of active or structural lesions typical of axial SpA with high confidence (confidence of ±3 or stronger on confidence scale from -5, “Definitely No”, to +5, “Definitely Yes”) as the reference standard.

Results

Imaging from 243 subjects, 61% male, median age 14.9 years, had sequences available for detailed MRI scoring. Active inflammatory lesion typical of axial disease in JSpA was defined as bone marrow edema (BME) in at least 3 SIJ quadrants (sensitivity 98.6%, specificity 96.5%). For structural lesion typical of axial JSpA, the optimal cut-off was erosion in at least 3 quadrants or at least one of the following lesions in at least 2 SIJ quadrants: sclerosis, fat lesion, backfill, ankylosis (sensitivity 98.6%, specificity 95.5%).

Conclusion

We propose data-driven cut-offs for active inflammatory and structural lesions on MRI typical of axial disease in JSpA that have high specificity and sensitivity using central imaging global assessment as the reference standard.

Table 1.

Performance of cut-offs for inflammatory and structural lesions of axial disease

Cut-offs for number of SIJ quadrants (any location)Sensitivity (95% CI)Specificity (95% CI)Definite active lesionBME score ≥2100 (95.0-100)93.5 (88.7-96.7)BME score ≥398.6 (92.5-100)96.5 (92.5-98.7)BME, same location on ≥3 consecutive slices88.6 (78.7-94.9)98.8 (95.8-99.9)Definite structural lesionErosion ≥295.7 (88-99.1)96.8 (92.7-99)Erosion, same location on ≥2 consecutive slices94.3 (86-98.4)98.1 (94.5-99.6)Erosion ≥391.4 (82.3-96.8)98.7 (95.4-99.8)Sclerosis ≥262.9 (50.5-74.1)98.1 (94.5-99.6)Fat lesion ≥222.9 (13.7-34.4%)98.7 (95.4-99.8%)Backfill ≥220 (11.4-31.3)100 (97.7-100)Ankylosis ≥21.3 (0.2-4.7)100 (94.9-100)ANY of the following in ≥2 SIJ quadrants: erosion, sclerosis, fat lesion, backfill, ankylosis98.6 (92.3-100)93.6 (88.5-96.9)Erosion ≥3 quadrants OR ≥2 quadrants of at least one of the following lesions: sclerosis, fat, backfill, ankylosis98.6 (92.3-100.0)95.5 (91.0-98.2)

Disclosure of Interests

Pamela F. Weiss Consultant of: Pfizer

Novartis

Biogen

Lilly

(All <$5K in the past fiscal year), Timothy G. Brandon: None declared, Amita Aggarwal: None declared, Ruben Burgos-Vargas Speakers bureau: Not in the last three years.

Novartis, Consultant of: Not in the last four years.

BMS, Lilly, Novartis, Robert A. Colbert: None declared, Gerd Horneff Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Novartis, Janssen, Chugai, Abbvie, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Novartis, MSD, Chugai, Roche, Abbvie, Rik Joos Speakers bureau: Galapagos, Pfizer, AbbVie, Novartis, Amgen, BMS, Lilly, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, AbbVie, Roche, Ronald Laxer Consultant of: Abbvie, Novartis, Sobi, Sanofi, Eli Lilly Canada, Eli Lilly, Kirsten Minden Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Novartis, Consultant of: Pfizer, Novartis, Angelo Ravelli Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Novartis, SOBI, Angelini, Reckitt-Benkiser, Roche, Pfizer, Alexion, Grant/research support from: Novartis, Pfizer, Nicolino Ruperto Speakers bureau: NR has received honoraria for consultancies or speaker bureaus from the following pharmaceutical companies in the past 3 years: 2 Bridge, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Aurinia, Bayer, Brystol Myers and Squibb, Celgene, inMed, Cambridge Healthcare Research, Domain Therapeutic, EMD Serono, Glaxo Smith Kline, Idorsia, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sobi, UCB., Consultant of: NR has received honoraria for consultancies or speaker bureaus from the following pharmaceutical companies in the past 3 years: 2 Bridge, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Aurinia, Bayer, Brystol Myers and Squibb, Celgene, inMed, Cambridge Healthcare Research, Domain Therapeutic, EMD Serono, Glaxo Smith Kline, Idorsia, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Sobi, UCB., Grant/research support from: The IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini (IGG), where NR works as full-time public employee has received contributions from the following industries in the last 3 years: Bristol Myers and Squibb, Eli-Lilly, F Hoffmann-La Roche, Novartis, Pfizer, Sobi. This funding has been reinvested for the research activities of the hospital in a fully independent manner, without any commitment with third parties., Judith Smith Consultant of: Consulting panel of pediatric rheumatologists identifying issues in juvenile spondyloarthritis for Novartis. Paid < $5000, Matthew L. Stoll Consultant of: Currently consulting for Novartis, Shirley ML Tse: None declared, Filip van den Bosch Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Paid instructor for: Amgen, Eli Lilly, Consultant of: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Robert G Lambert Paid instructor for: Novartis, Consultant of: CARE Arthritis, Calyx, Image Analysis Group, Novartis, David M. Biko Employee of: Merck (1998-2000), Nancy A. Chauvin Employee of: Forest Pharmaceuticals - Research scientist (1996) and Novartis - Pharmaceutical sales representative (1997), Michael L. Francavilla: None declared, Jacob L Jaremko: None declared, Nele Herregods: None declared, Ozgur Kasapcopur Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Abbvie, Novartis and Roche, Mehmet YILDIZ: None declared, Alison M. Hendry: None declared, Walter P Maksymowych Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB Pharma, Consultant of: AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB Pharma, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Novartis, Pfizer

Does perceived stress mediate the relationship between financial status, depression, and anxiety in caregivers at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD)?

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): National Institutes of Health National Institute of Nursing Research

Background/Introduction

Caregivers are at high risk of anxiety and depression, and caregiver mental health is linked to higher CVD risk in caregivers over their non-caregiving peers. Most research focuses on caregiver burden as a primary cause for caregiver’s emotional distress, such as anxiety and depression. Other stressors like financial burden are less emphasized, despite widespread documentation of financial burden as a key social determinant of health. We hypothesize financial status predicts anxiety and depression through perceived stress.

Purpose

To identify the relationship between financial status and caregiver anxiety and depression and determine if it is mediated by perceived stress.

Methods

We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Rural Intervention for Caregiver’s Heart Health study. Anxiety was assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory – Anxiety subscale (range 0 -3.5) and depression was assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire –9 (range 0 - 27). Financial status was measured with one item that asked participants to rank their financial situation by level of comfort (not enough to make ends meet, enough to make ends meet, and comfortable), and perceived stress measured with Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale – 4. Analysis was performed separately for the two mental health outcomes using OLS regression and, to test mediation, the PROCESS macro for SPSS and the bootstrapping procedure with 5,000 samples. We included age, gender, marital status, number of people in the household, body mass index, smoking status, and caregiver burden as covariates.

Results

Of the 287 participants, average age was 54 ± 13; 76% were female, 95.8% were Caucasian, and 70.4% were married. Controlling for covariates, caregivers with not enough to make ends meet reported substantially greater depressive symptoms (b=2.22, 95% CI = 0.48 – 3.96) and marginally greater anxiety (b=0.23, 95% CI = -0.02 – 0.47) compared to caregivers who were financially comfortable. These associations were not mediated by perceived stress as hypothesized.

Conclusions

Among caregivers who are at risk for CVD, financial status was important in reporting both depression and to a lesser extent, anxiety however perceived stress does not mediate this relationship. This is interesting as perceived stress is often a target for interventions that focus on reducing depression and anxiety in this population however our analysis emphasizes the importance of financial status alone. When designing interventions to reduce the CVD risk factors of anxiety and depression, more attention should be paid to relieving financial burden.

Effects of heart failure and diabetes on invasive biomarkers of skeletal muscle wasting

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Muscle wasting is common in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic heart failure (HF), which exacerbates cachexia and poor quality of life. However, a gap in clinical translation remains as the mechanisms underlying muscle wasting in DM and HF remain poorly validated, with most evidence assumed from experimental small-animal models.

Purpose

Validate if markers of muscle wasting (e.g., autophagy, proteolysis, myogenesis) were correlated to muscle phenotype and clinical indices in humans with DM and HF.

Method

Male patients with DM (n=4), HF (n=4; NYHA=2), DMHF (n=7; NYHA=2) were included. DM was classified as a HbA1c level ≥48mmol/mol and HF classified as a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%, with patients on optimised medication. Muscle biopsies of pectoralis major were excised during routine pacemaker surgery and frozen at -80°C for both histological and gene expression analysis. Muscle samples were sectioned, stained, and imaged for fibre cross-sectional area and fibre type. RT-PCR gene expression was conducted for markers of muscle regeneration (myod, myogenin), protein degradation (myostatin and autophagy-related LC3B, ATG7, CTSL), and anabolic signalling (IGF-1). Statistical analysis included ANOVAs and correlation analysis to identify relationships between variables. Values of p&lt;0.05 were accepted as significant.

Results

Groups (DM, HF, DMHF) were not different (P&gt;0.05) in relation to age (79±9, 72±8, 72±10 years) or BMI (24.5±3.6, 28.5±4.2, 29.5±6.0) respectively. Fibre size or fibre type were not different (P&gt;0.05) between groups. In line with this, gene expression for markers of myogenesis and anabolism as well as myostatin were not different (P&gt;0.05) between groups, but a trend in downregulation of the proteolytic autophagy-related genes (LC3B, ATG7, CTSL) in DMHF vs DM or HF was found on average by 21, 36, and 30% respectively. Autophagy-related genes LC3B, ATG7, CTSL were positively correlated (P&lt;0.05) to type IIa fibre numerical density (R=0.82, 0.86, 0.89) and LVEF (R=0.85, 0.92, 0.83), respectively.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that gene expression of autophagy could represent a robust marker of muscle wasting and cardiac dysfunction in humans with DM and HF. Muscle biopsies from patients with DM and HF identified the proteolytic system of autophagy, important for cellular homeostasis, may be inhibited and this was correlated to fibre phenotype and LVEF. However, the process of muscle wasting in DM and HF within the clinical setting may not necessarily reflect those reported in animal models given various other markers were not changed.

Addressing child undernutrition in Tanzania with the ASTUTE program

BACKGROUND

Optimal infant and young child feeding practices (IYCFP) reduce childhood stunting and are associated with additional health benefits. In Tanzania, IYCFP are far from optimal where 32% of children under the age of 5 years are stunted. The purpose of this study was to examine whether behavior change communication focused on reducing child undernutrition was associated with improved IYCFP in Tanzania.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was administered to approximately 10,000 households with children under the age of 2 at baseline and endline. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between exposure to behavior change communication and timely initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, continued breastfeeding at one year, timely complementary feeding (CF), minimum meal frequency (MMF), minimum dietary diversity (MDD), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD).

RESULTS

Mothers who heard a radio spot about IYCFP were more likely than mothers who had not heard a radio spot about IYCFP to begin complementary foods at six months. Their children were also more likely to achieve MMF, MDD, and MAD with odds ratios of 2.227 (p = 0.0061), 1.222 (p = 0.0454), 1.618 (p =  < .0001), and 1.511 (p = 0.0002), respectively. Mothers who saw a TV spot about IYCFP were more likely to have greater odds of knowing when to begin complementary feeding, feeding their child a minimally diverse diet (4 food groups or more), and serving a minimum acceptable diet with odds ratios of 1.335 (p = 0.0081), 1.360 (p = 0.0003), and 1.268 (p = 0.0156), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Exposure to behavior change communication in Tanzania was generally associated with some increased knowledge of optimal IYCFP as well as practicing IYCF behaviors. Behavior change communication planners and implementers may want to consider conducting similar campaigns as an important component of behavior change to reduce undernutrition and poor health outcomes in developing settings.

Changes to objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) at Australian medical schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION

Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) are used to assess clinical skills. We investigated how exit OSCEs changed in Australian medical schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The lead ACCLAiM assessment academic from 12 eligible Australian medical school members of the Australian Collaboration for Clinical Assessment in Medicine (ACCLAiM) received a 45-item semi-structured online questionnaire.

RESULTS

All schools (12/12) responded. Exit OSCEs were not used by one school in 2019, and 3/11 schools in 2020. Of eight remaining schools, four reduced station numbers and testing time. The minimum OSCE testing time decreased from 64 min in 2019 to 54 min in 2020. Other modifications included: a completely online 'e-OSCE' (n = 1); hybrid delivery (n = 4); stations using: videos of patient encounters (n = 3), telephone calls (n = 2), skill completion without face-to-face patient encounters (n = 3). The proportion of stations involving physical examination reduced from 33% to 17%. Fewer examiners were required, and university faculty staff formed a higher proportion of examiners.

CONCLUSIONS

All schools changed their OSCEs in 2020 in response to COVID-19. Modifications varied from reducing station numbers and changing delivery methods to removing OSCE and complete assessment re-structuring. Several innovative methods of OSCE delivery were implemented to preserve OSCE validity and reliability whilst balancing feasibility.

Social determinants of health influence disease activity and functional disability in Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

BACKGROUND

Social determinants of health (SDH) greatly influence outcomes during the first year of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis, a disease similar to polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA). We investigated the correlation of community poverty level and other SDH with the persistence of moderate to severe disease activity and functional disability over the first year of treatment in pJIA patients enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry.

METHODS

In this cohort study, unadjusted and adjusted generalized linear mixed effects models analyzed the effect of community poverty and other SDH on disease activity, using the clinical Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score-10, and disability, using the Child Health Assessment Questionnaire, measured at baseline, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS

One thousand six hundred eighty-four patients were identified. High community poverty (≥20% living below the federal poverty level) was associated with increased odds of functional disability (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.28-2.60) but was not statistically significant after adjustment (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 0.81-1.86) and was not associated with increased disease activity. Non-white race/ethnicity was associated with higher disease activity (aOR 2.48, 95% CI: 1.41-4.36). Lower self-reported household income was associated with higher disease activity and persistent functional disability. Public insurance (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.06-2.29) and low family education (aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.14-3.12) was associated with persistent functional disability.

CONCLUSION

High community poverty level was associated with persistent functional disability in unadjusted analysis but not with persistent moderate to high disease activity. Race/ethnicity and other SDH were associated with persistent disease activity and functional disability.