Burden of arrhythmias in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and its impact on mortality: a descriptive study from the National Inpatient Sample

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) accounts for significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. A limited but emerging literature has revealed increased risk of sudden cardiac death in patients with OSA. There is paucity of data on arrhythmia burden in patients with OSA, particularly in hospitalized patients.

Purpose

Therefore, we sought to study the prevalence of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias among hospitalized patients with OSA and examine its impact on sudden cardiac death and in-hospital mortality.

Methods

All patients over 18 years of age with OSA were extracted from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2009–10 using 9th revision of International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) code 327.23. Demographic data, hospital characteristics, comorbid conditions, and arrhythmia burden including different types of arrhythmia were identified. Clinical outcomes were in-hospital mortality, length of stay and sudden cardiac death. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the impact of arrhythmia on in-hospital mortality in patients with OSA. Hospital level discharge weights provided by NIS were used to obtain national estimates of OSA hospitalizations.

Results

OSA was prevalent in 2.8% (n=1,114,297) of all hospitalizations among which 20.1% had any arrhythmia (n=223,974). Patients with arrhythmia were older, more likely to be males, and had higher prevalence of risk factors and comorbid conditions except for chronic liver disease, and smoking (p<0.0001 for all). Arrhythmia burden analysis revealed increase prevalence of both atrial and ventricular arrhythmia in patients with OSA compared to general population. In-hospital mortality (3.48% vs 1.27%; p<0.0001), length of hospital stay (6.4±0.1 vs 5±0.1; p<0.001) and sudden cardiac death (1.34% vs 0.4%; p<0.0001) were higher in OSA patients with arrhythmia compared to OSA patients without arrhythmia. Presence of arrhythmia in OSA patients was associated with increased in-hospital mortality in both unadjusted [OR 2.79 (2.62–2.98); p<0.001] and multivariable model adjusted for all risk factors and comorbid conditions [OR 1.83 (1.69–1.98); p<0.001].

Conclusion

Arrhythmia burden was higher in patients with OSA compared to the general population. Presence of arrhythmia among OSA patients was independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality and longer hospital stays. Routine evaluation to assess arrhythmia burden in patients in OSA could be a potential target to decrease sudden cardiac death in this high risk population.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Srinivasan S, Raja N, Reddy E. P–077 Performance of the postwash total motile sperm count as a predictor of pregnancy at the time of intrauterine insemination

Study question

Is the performance of the postwash total motile sperm count a predictor of pregnancy at the time of intrauterine insemination?

Summary answer

The number of motile spermatozoa inseminated (NMSI) in IUI can be used to define clear range of pre /postwash sperm parameters.

What is known already

There is no consensus about the optimal number of motile spermatozoa inseminated (NMSI) required for a reasonable chance of pregnancy after IUI. A meta-analysis of 16 studies assessing NMSI and IUI outcomes, concluded that at cut-off levels between 0.8 and 5 million, defined as the ability to predict failure to become pregnant. The purpose of this study is to determine the range of NMSI as a predictor of success in IUI.

Study design, size, duration

This prospective study includes 60 patients who underwent semen analysis at an academic infertility centre (SRIHER) during the month of December 2020 and January 2021.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

A total of 60 infertile couples who underwent IUI at our academic centre were enrolled in our study. A detailed history and infertility work up was done before proceeding for IUI, as per the department protocol. The semen was prepared by discontinuous 2 layered density gradient method. The results were analyzed by patient factors including age, BMI, semen parameters, NMSI. The NMSI were divided into 4 groups: A (<1), B (1–4), C (5–9), D (>10).

Main results and the role of chance

The mean age of the infertile couples who underwent IUI was (28.2 ± 3.8) in females and (31.8 ± 3.8) in males respectively. The sperm parameters such as concentration (21.8 ± 14.8), motility (53.15 ± 13.22), morphology (2.43 ± 1.33) respectively. When the NMSI was group C (5–9 x 10 6) the pregnancy rate was 38.5% whereas the pregnancy rate was 37.5% in group D ( >10 x 10 6). In the other sub groups such as group A(<1 x 10 6) and group C (1–4 x 10 6) the pregnancy rate was 14.2% and 12.5% respectively.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Infertile men with Azoospermia, Men with Retrograde ejaculation, Testicular samples, Epididymal samples, Infected samples. All of the above samples were avoided. It cannot be used for counselling during the initial infertility workup, but only during/after the IUI procedure.

Wider implications of the findings: The results suggest that NMSI can be a predictor of success in IUI in patients who are < 30 years of age & ≥35 years, NMSI does not appear to be a useful. The effect of NMSI on pregnancy rate needs to evaluated on a larger scale .

Trial registration number

Not applicable

Relationship between online cognition and personality traits: A questionnaire based study of medical college students

Introduction

Current classification systems are not sure where to place the internet use disorder. Is it an addiction, an impulse control disorder, a consequence of another psychiatric morbidity or a consequence of personality trait/personality disorder?

Objectives

We intended to study which personality traits associated with online cognition may contribute towards Problematic internet use(PIU). We also analysed the relationship between number of hours of use/week of internet and PIU along with its relation with two ‘screening’ questions.

Methods

Online cognition scale and Abbreviated Eysenck Personality questionnaires were our measurements of choice in addition to demographic measures and some questions pertaining to online behaviour patterns.

Results

Total 163 responses were analysed. The demographic pools consisted mostly of young adults who had, on average, used the internet for 5.2 years at present rate of 21.81hours/week. We observed significantly higher mean OCS scores in men, in people who thought that the internet interfered with their lives and in those who felt the need to ‘cut-down’. A moderate positive and significant correlation was observed between hpurs/week of internet use and OCS scores. Also, significant positive correlation was observed between Neuroticism and OCS, impulsivity, and loneliness/depression scores. Significant negative correlations were observed between the Lie trait and impulse control. Neuroticism and Lie together contributed to 21.8% of variance in OCS scores.

Conclusions

Neuroticism and Lie traits (representing need for social acceptance) were found to the causing significamn varience in the OCS scores of the subjects. High number of hours/week use of internet was related to the feeling of ‘need to cut down use’.

Lifestyle Factors and Other Influences on Medical Students Choosing a Career in Emergency Medicine

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine which lifestyle factors influence medical students who choose a career in emergency medicine (EM).

METHODS

Final-year medical students from 10 medical schools were surveyed after the National Residency Match Program match but prior to graduation regarding preferred medical specialty and lifestyle preferences. Responses from students pursuing EM regarding importance of lifestyle factors were compared to students interested in other specialties.

RESULTS

A total of 453 of 1,575 invited medical students completed an electronic survey. EM was the third most preferred specialty. Students selecting EM were less likely to endorse "having control of work schedule" as being important (p < 0.005), but more likely to endorse "having time off work" as important (p < 0.05). When students were asked what specific factors were important in choosing a specialty, EM students differed from other students in the importance of flexible work schedule, time outside of work, and balance between work and personal life (p < 0.001). Fewer EM students endorsed that having a "low-stress work day" was an important consideration in their specialty choice (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study representing 10 medical schools, graduating medical students who prefer EM as opposed to other specialties exhibit differences in lifestyle factors deemed important when choosing a specialty as a physician. Further investigation regarding any potential link to these factors and career longevity is warranted.

Gastrointestinal side effects of upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery

In this chapter, we describe the gastrointestinal side effects of oesophagectomy, gastrectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy for cancer, with a focus on long-term functional impairments and their management. Improvements in upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery have led to a growing group of long-term survivors. The invasive nature of these surgeries profoundly alters the upper gastrointestinal anatomy, with lasting implications for long-term function, and how these impairments may be treated. Successfully maintaining a high quality of survivorship requires multidisciplinary approach, with survivorship care plans focused on function as much as the detection of recurrence.

Does Increased Schedule Flexibility Lead to Change? A National Survey of Program Directors on 2017 Work Hours Requirements

BACKGROUND

The learning and working environment for resident physicians shifted dramatically over the past two decades, with increased focus on work hours, resident wellness, and patient safety. Following two multi-center randomized trials comparing 16-h work limits for PGY-1 trainees to more flexible rules, the ACGME implemented new flexible work hours standards in 2017.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine program directors' (PDs) support for the work hour changes and programmatic response.

DESIGN

In 2017, US Internal Medicine PDs were surveyed about their degree of support for extension of PGY-1 work hour limits, whether they adopted the new maximum continuous work hours permitted, and reasons for their decisions.

KEY RESULTS

The response rate was 70% (266/379). Fifty-seven percent of PDs (n = 151) somewhat/strongly support the new work hour rules for PGY-1 residents, while only 25% of programs (N = 66) introduced work periods greater than 16-h on any rotation. Higher rates of adopting change were seen in PDs who strongly/somewhat supported the change (56/151 [37%], P < 0.001), had tenure of 6+ years (33/93 [35%], P = 0.005), were of non-general internal medicine subspecialty (30/80 [38%], P = 0.003), at university-based programs (35/101 [35%], P = 0.009), and with increasing number of approved positions (< 38, 10/63 [16%]; 38-58, 13/69 [19%]; 59-100, 15/64 [23%]; > 100, 28/68 [41%], P = 0.005). Areas with the greatest influence for PDs not extending work hours were the 16-h rule working well (56%) and risk to PGY1 well-being (47%).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the majority of PDs support the ACGME 2017 work hours rules, only 25% of programs made immediate changes to extend hours. These data reveal that complex, often competing, forces influence PDs' decisions to change trainee schedules.

Preoperative anthropomorphic radiographic measurements can predict postoperative pancreatic fistula formation following pancreatoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pancreatic fistulae (POPF) are a major contributing factor to pancreatoduodenectomy-associated morbidity. Established risk calculators mostly rely on subjective or intraoperative assessments. We hypothesized that various objective preoperatively determined computed tomography (CT) measurements could predict POPF as well as validated models and allow for more informed operative consent in high-risk patients.

METHODS

Patients undergoing elective pancreatoduodenectomies between January 2013 and April 2018 were identified in a prospective database. Comparative statistical analyses and multivariable logistic regression models were generated to predict POPF development. Model performance was tested with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. Pancreatic neck attenuation (Hounsfield units) was measured in triplicate by pancreatic protocol CT (venous phase, coronal plane) anterior to the portal vein. A pancreatic density index (PDI) was created to adjust for differences in contrast timing by dividing the mean of these measurements by the portal vein attenuation. Total areas of subcutaneous fat and skeletal muscle were calculated at the L3 vertebral level on axial CT. Pancreatic duct (PD) diameter was determined by CT.

RESULTS

In the study period 220 patients had elective pancreatoduodenectomies with 35 (16%) developing a POPF of any grade. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that demographics (age, sex, and race) were not associated with POPF, yet patients resected for pancreatic adenocarcinoma or chronic pancreatitis were less likely to develop a POPF (10 vs. 24%; p = 0.004). ROC curves were created using various combinations of gland texture, body mass index, skeletal muscle index, sarcopenia, PDI, PD diameter, and subcutaneous fat area indexed for height (SFI). A model replacing gland texture with SFI and PDI (AUC 0.844) had similar predictive performance as the established model (p = 0.169).

CONCLUSION

A combination of preoperative objective CT measurements can adequately predict POPF and is comparable to established models relying on subjective intraoperative variables. Validation in a larger dataset would allow for better preoperative stratification of high-risk patients and improve informed consent among this patient population.

SAT0434 MINIMAL CLINICALLY IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE IN OUTCOME MEASURES FOR USE IN CLINICAL CARE AND PRAGMATIC TRIALS IN PsA

Background:

While several outcome measures have been studied for use in clinical studies of psoriatic arthritis, little is known about thresholds of meaning such as minimal clinically important improvement (MCII).

Objectives:

To investigate the distribution of scores for candidate outcome measures for pragmatic trials in PsA and to calculate the MCII for each outcome measure.

Methods:

We performed a longitudinal cohort study within the Psoriatic Arthritis Research Consortium (PARC), a multi-center study based in the US. Patients completed validated PROs (patient reported outcomes) and rheumatologists completed skin, joint, enthesis and dactylitis scores at therapy initiation and follow up 12-16 weeks later. In addition, patients completed a global assessment of response at the follow up visit, categorizing their status as improved, stayed the same, or worsened and then ratied the importance of the change on a scale from 0-7.1We then calculated and plotted the change in each of the following measures: Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data (RAPID3), clinical Disease Activity of Psoriatic Arthritis (cDAPSA), Patient Reported Outcome Measure Information System (PROMIS) Global Health short form (10a) physical health (PH) subscore, patient pain assessment, patient global assessment (0-10 NRS), and physician global assessments (0-10 NRS) of the joints and overall. We calculated the MCII as the mean change in score (with 95% confidence interval) among patients who reported improvement and rated the level of improvement as “almost none/hardly at all” or “a little important.” Additionally, we calculated Spearman’s correlation coefficients between the measures and the global assessment of response.

Results:

Among 148 unique patients, 233 therapy change visits were eligible for analysis. The average age was 52.5 years, 52% were female and mean BMI was 29.6. Baseline RAPID3 was 11.1 (SD 6), cDAPSA 17.9 (SD 13.9), PROMIS PH 42 (SD 8), patient global 4.2 (SD 2.5), TJC 5.9 (SD 7.5), and SJC 2.9 (SD 4.5). TNFi comprised 61% of drug initiations, 21% were IL17i and the remainder were other biologics and oral systemic therapies. At follow up, 63 (27%) patients rated themselves as improved whereas 103 (44%) stayed the same and 67 (29%) reported worsening. The mean change in each measure by patient-reported response (improved, stayed the same, or worsened) are shown in Figures 1A & B. In general, the mean score increased from ‘improved’ to ‘worsened’ as expected (with the exception of PROMIS PH which declines given a different direction of scoring). The MCII for each measure was as follows: RAPID3 -1.8 (-4.1 to 0.5), Patient Global -0.6 (-1.6 to 0.4), Physician Global -1 (-1.9 to -0.1), cDAPSA -5.7 (-9.8 to -1.7), and PROMIS PH 1.9 (-2.1 to 5.8). Correlation for each measure with the global assessment of response were: RAPID3 0.48, Patient Global 0.37, Physician Global 0.39, cDAPSA 0.51, and PROMIS PH 0.39.

Figure 1

A. Distribution of change (median, IQR) in RAPID3, Physician Global, Patient Global, PROMIS10a physical therapy by patient reported response.

Conclusion:

This is the first study to test thresholds of meaning for these particular measures in PsA. The MCII values are relatively low for all outcome measures. This may be related to the relatively low disease activity at baseline but is consistent with patients seen in clinical practice initiating therapy.2

References:

[1]Ward MM et al. J Clinical Epi 2014;2Ward MM et al. J Clinical Epi 2015

Figure 2

B. Distribution of change (median, IQR) in clinical DAPSA by patient reported response.

Disclosure of Interests:

Alexis Ogdie Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Novartis, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Corrona, Janssen, Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, M Elaine Husni Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Regeneron, and UCB, Jose Scher Consultant of: Novartis, Janssen, UCB, Sanofi., Ethan Craig: None declared, Soumya Reddy Grant/research support from: Amgen

Celgene

Abbvie, Consultant of: Amgen

Pfizer

Novartis

Jaansen

UCB, Jessica A. Walsh Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Pfizer, Janssen, Consultant of: AbbVie, Novartis, Eli Lilly and Company, UCB

Specialty and Lifestyle Preference Changes during Medical School

PURPOSE

Medical student specialty choices have significant downstream effects on the availability of physicians and, ultimately, the effectiveness of health systems. This study investigated how medical student specialty preferences change over time in relation to their demographics and lifestyle preferences.

METHOD

Students from ten medical schools were surveyed at matriculation (2012) and graduation (2016). The two surveys included questions about specialty and lifestyle preferences, demographics, educational background, and indebtedness. Student data from 2012 to 2016 were paired together and grouped into those whose specialty preferences remained constant or switched.

RESULTS

Response rates in 2012 and 2016 were 65% (997/1530) and 50% (788/1575), respectively. Fourth-year students ranked "enjoying the type of work I am doing" as less important to a good physician lifestyle than did first-year students (from 59.6 to 39.7%). The lifestyle factors "having control of work schedule" and "having enough time off work" were ranked as more important to fourth-year students than first-year students (from 15.6 to 18.2% and 14.8 to 31.9%, respectively). The paired dataset included 19% of eligible students (237/1226). Demographic and lifestyle factors were not significantly associated with specialty preference switching. Additionally, no significant association existed between changing lifestyle preferences and switching specialty preference (p = 0.85).

CONCLUSIONS

During the course of medical school, lifestyle preferences became more focused on day-to-day factors and less on deeper motivational factors. Neither demographics nor lifestyle preferences appear to relate to a student's decision to switch specialty preference during medical school. These findings represent an important step in uncovering causes of specialty preference trends.

P1460Seismocardiographic measurement of systolic time intervals in left ventricular dysfunction: validation with transthoracic echo

Background

Systolic time intervals (STI) measured using Transthoracic Echo (TTE) have been shown to be sensitive indicators of contractile performance, but TTE is limited to a hospital setting. Recent advances in technology have enabled the simultaneous measurement of Electrocardiograms (ECG) and Seismocardiograms (SCG) using wearable devices. However, the use SCG to measure STIs has not been validated in a mobile setting, or on pathological subjects.

Purpose

To test the validity of an automated algorithm for measuring STIs using a wearable device recording ECG and SCG, in subjects with varying degrees of left ventricular dysfunction.

Methods

179 Patients with suspected left ventricular dysfunction were assessed using TTE performed by a Cardiologist. Patients were simultaneously fitted with a novel wearable device worn on a chest strap, recording SCG and single-lead ECG data, while the cardiologist measured the pre-ejection period (PEP) and left ventricular ejection time (LVET) with the patient in a supine position. Of these subjects 29 (16.2%) were diagnosed with Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and 109 (60.8%) had Ischemic Heart disease.

The SCG and ECG data recorded on the wearable device was then analysed using a peak-detection algorithm, which detected the Q,R,S points on the ECG, and then determined the 4 most prominent peaks in the SCG signal corresponding to each R-peak. Heart rate, patient's age, gender and SCG time intervals were then used in a DecisionTree algorithm to determine the values of PEP and LVET, which were were then compared against those determined by the cardiologist using TTE.

Results

The correlation coefficient (r2) between PEP calculated using TTE, and the values obtained from the algorithm analyzing SCG data was 0.92 while the mean error was 7.47%. The r2 between the LVET calculated using the TTE and the algorithm was 0.75, while the mean error was 8.53% (p-value<0.001 for all cases).

Results All Subjects With IHD Without IHD With DCM Without DCM Number of Subjects 178 109 69 29 149 PEP (r2) 0.92 0.89 0.94 0.88 0.91 PEP (% age error) 7.47 7.50 7.42 6.99 7.56 LVET (r2) 0.75 0.81 0.66 0.55 0.83 LVET (% age error) 8.53 6.69 11.4 20.42 6.16 DCM, Dilate Cardiomyopathy; IHD, Ischemic Heart Disease.

ECG + SCG signals for a DCM patient

Conclusion

The algorithm-derived STIs measured by SCG correlate well with those measured by TTE across most patient groups, including those with Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Ischemic Heart Disease, opening prospects for continuous remote monitoring of STIs in a mobile setting.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Fourth Frontier Technologies