Serum albumin and risk of venous thromboembolism

The association between lactate dehydrogenase to serum albumin ratio and in-hospital mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV database

Background

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and albumin (ALB) were found to be significantly correlated with mortality in pulmonary embolism (PE) patients. However, data regarding the LDH/ALB ratio (LAR) in patients with acute PE are scanty. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between LAR and the risk of mortality in patients with acute PE.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with acute PE represented in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and calibration curve were used to assess the accuracy of the LAR for predicting mortality in patients with acute PE. We utilized Cox regression analysis to determine adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Survival curves were used to evaluate a connection between the LAR and prognosis in patients with acute PE.

Results

The study comprised 581 patients, and the 30-day all-cause mortality rate was 7.7%. We observed a higher LAR in the non-survival group compared to the surviving group (21.24 ± 21.22 vs. 8.99 ± 7.86, p < 0.0001). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with an elevated LAR had a significantly lower likelihood of surviving the 30-day mortality compared to those with a low LAR. Cox regression analysis showed that LAR (HR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03-1.05) might have associations with 30-day mortality in patients with acute PE. This result was supported by sensitivity analyses. According to the results of the ROC curve analysis, the LAR's prediction of 30-day mortality in patients with acute PE yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.73. A calibration curve showed LAR is well calibrated.

Conclusion

Our research suggests LAR monitoring may be promising as a prognostic marker among patients with acute PE.

Venous Thromboembolism in Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Uncovering the Hidden Risk

INTRODUCTION

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication in patients with abdominal malignancies. Despite known associations between pleural mesothelioma and increased VTE risk, the characteristics of VTE in patients with peritoneal mesothelioma (PeM) remain undescribed.

METHODS

Patients treated for PeM were retrospectively identified from our institutional database. The frequency of VTE was assessed and logistic regression modeling was employed to assess VTE risk factors. The association between VTE and overall survival was also ascertained. Recommended thromboprophylaxis for patients who underwent surgery at our institution comprised a single preoperative dose of prophylactic anticoagulation, followed by daily dosing for four weeks postoperatively.

RESULTS

Among 120 PeM patients, 26 (21.7%) experienced VTE, including 19/91 (20.9%) surgical patients, 4/23 (17.4%) patients who received systemic therapy, and 3/6 (50%) patients who underwent observation (p = 0.21). Most events were symptomatic (n = 16, 62%) and were attributable to pulmonary emboli (n = 16, 62%). The 90-day postoperative VTE rate was 4.4% (4/91), including 1 of 60 patients who underwent index surgical intervention at our institution and 3 patients with surgery elsewhere. A low serum albumin concentration was associated with VTE in non-surgical patients (odds ratio 0.12, confidence interval [CI] 0.02-0.72; p = 0.03). No significant difference in overall survival was observed between patients with and without VTE (median 46.0 months [CI 24.9-67.0] vs. 55.0 months [CI 27.5-82.5]; hazard ratio 0.98 [CI 0.54-1.81], p = 0.98).

CONCLUSIONS

A high risk of VTE was observed in PeM patients, warranting suspicion throughout the disease trajectory. Postoperative VTE rates were within acceptable limits with 4-week thromboprophylaxis.

Serum albumin and cardiovascular disease: a Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

An increasing body of evidence suggests that serum albumin levels play a role in cardiovascular diseases. However, the specific causal relationship between serum albumin levels and cardiovascular disease remains partially unknown.

METHODS

Mendelian randomization (MR) was employed in this study to examine potential causal relationships between instrumental variables and cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, we utilized genetic variants of serum albumin levels within the reference range as our instrumental variables. To acquire data on genetic associations with cardiovascular diseases, we sourced information from renowned genome-wide association studies such as UK BioBank, EMBL-EBI, and FinnGen. Notably, our study leveraged summary statistics from large cohorts that have been previously described.

RESULTS

We explored the association between serum albumin levels and various conditions, including heart failure (HF), venous thromboembolism (VTE), stroke, atrial fibrillation (AF), coronary artery disease (CAD), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and pulmonary heart disease (PHD). Genetically predicted serum albumin levels were associated with PHD (odds ratio = 0.737, 95% CI = 0.622 - 0.874, P < 0.001), AF (odds ratio = 0.922, 95% CI = 0.870 - 0.977, P = 0.006), VTE (odds ratio = 0.993, 95% CI = 0.991 - 0.995, P < 0.001), and Stroke (odds ratio = 0.997, 95% CI = 0.995 - 0.999, P = 0.002). However, genetically predicted serum albumin level traits were not associated with HF, CAD and T2DM.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates a significant association between serum albumin levels and cardiovascular disease, underscoring the crucial role of low serum albumin as a predictive factor in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Albumin Levels and Risk of Early Cardiovascular Complications After Ischemic Stroke: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of a Global Federated Health Network

BACKGROUND

No studies have investigated the association between albumin levels and the risk of early cardiovascular complications in patients with ischemic stroke.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis with a federated research network (TriNetX) based on electronic medical records (International Classification of Diseases-Tenth Revision-Clinical Modification and logical observation identifiers names and codes) mainly reported between 2000 and 2023, from 80 health care organizations in the United States. Based on albumin levels measured at admission to the hospital, patients with ischemic stroke were categorized into 2 groups: (1) reduced (≤3.4 g/dL) and (2) normal (≥3.5 g/dL) albumin levels. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy 30 days from the stroke. Secondary outcomes were the risk for each component of the primary outcome. Cox regression analyses were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs following propensity score matching.

RESULTS

Overall, 320 111 patients with stroke had normal albumin levels (70.9±14.7 years; 48.9% females) and 183 729 (57.4%) had reduced albumin levels (72.9±14.3 years; 50.3% females). After propensity score matching, the primary outcomes occurred in 36.0% of patients with reduced and 26.1% with normal albumin levels (HR, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.46-1.50]). The higher risk in patients with reduced albumin levels was consistent also for all-cause death (HR, 2.77 [95% CI, 2.70-2.84]), heart failure (HR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.29-1.34]), atrial fibrillation (HR, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.09-1.13]), ventricular arrhythmias (HR, 1.38 [95% CI, 1.30-1.46]), myocardial infarction (HR, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.54-1.65]), and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (HR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.26-1.82]). The association between albumin levels and the risk of cardiovascular events was independent of advanced age, sex, multimorbidity, and other causes of hypoalbuminemia. A progressively increased risk of adverse events was found in patients with mild and severe reduced compared to normal albumin levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Albumin levels are associated with the risk of early cardiovascular events and death in patients with ischemic stroke. The potential pathophysiological or therapeutic roles of albumin in patients with stroke warrant further investigation.

Experience of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia in adults: Twelve case series from a tertiary referral hospital

BACKGROUND

While primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (PIL) is considered a rare condition, there have been several reported cases in adults. Nevertheless, the absence of clear guidance from diagnosis to treatment and prognosis poses challenges for both physicians and patients.

AIM

To enhance understanding by investigating clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, complications, and prognoses in adult PIL cases.

METHODS

We enrolled adult patients diagnosed with PIL between March 2016 and September 2021. The primary outcome involved examining the diagnosis and treatment process of these patients. The secondary outcomes included identifying complications (infections, thromboembolism) and assessing prognoses (frequency of hospitalization and mortality) during the follow-up period.

RESULTS

Among the 12 included patients, peripheral edema (100%) and diarrhea (75%) were the main presenting complaints. Laboratory tests showed that all the patients exhibited symptoms of hypoalbuminemia and hypogammaglobulinemia. Radiologically, the predominant findings were edema of the small intestine (67%) and ascites (58%). The typical endoscopic finding with a snowflake appearance was observed in 75% of patients. Among the 12 patients, two responded positively to octreotide and sirolimus, and eight who could undergo maintenance therapy discontinued subsequently. Complications due to PIL led to infection in half of the patients, thromboembolism in three patients, and one death.

CONCLUSION

PIL can be diagnosed in adults across various age groups, with different severity and treatment responses among patients, leading to diverse complications and prognoses. Consequently, tailored treatments will be necessary. We anticipate that our findings will contribute to the management of PIL, an etiology of protein-losing enteropathy.

Analysis of predictive factors in children with high suspicion of pulmonary embolism

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Since there is a limited number of predictive models designed for pediatric patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), healthcare providers have resorted to utilizing the Wells criteria and PE Rule-out Criteria (PERC) that have been validated for use in adults. The objective of the study is to identify the predictive factors for PE and assess the effectiveness of the PERC, Wells, and pediatric-specific PE (PPE) criteria.

METHODS

The study included individuals between the ages of 0-18 years who underwent pulmonary CT angiography and/or ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy with suspicion of PE. Demographic characteristics, symptoms, physical examination findings, risk factors, and laboratory and imaging results were retrospectively analyzed, and PERC, Wells, and PPE criteria were applied to the study population.

RESULTS

Of the 110 patients included in the study, 27 (24.5%) had PE. Saturation, albumin, cough, calf swelling, central catheter, and malignancy were found to significantly contribute to the model. The total weighted risk score, which represents the sum of all predictive scores, ranged from 0 to 16 with a mean of 5.41 ± 4.02. When the cut-off >6.5, the model had good discrimination power for positive PE (AUC 0.79, 77% sensitivity, and 70% specificity). In our study, the Wells criteria showed a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 24%. The PERC exhibited a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 21%, while the PPE demonstrated a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 30%.

CONCLUSION

While the sensitivity of Wells, PERC, and PPE models was higher than our developed model, their specificities were considerably lower than our model.

Prediction of Venous Thromboembolism in Diverse Populations Using Machine Learning and Structured Electronic Health Records

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current risk assessment tools, such as the Caprini and Padua scores and Wells criteria, have limitations in their applicability and accuracy. This study aimed to develop machine learning models using structured electronic health record data to predict diagnosis and 1-year risk of VTE.

METHODS

We trained and validated models on data from 159 001 participants in the Mount Sinai Data Warehouse. We then externally tested them on 401 723 participants in the UK Biobank and 123 039 participants in All of Us. All data sets contain populations of diverse ancestries and clinical histories. We used these data sets to develop small, medium, and large models with increasing features on a range of optimizing portability to maximizing performance. We make trained models publicly available in click-and-run format at https://doi.org/10.17632/tkwzysr4y6.6.

RESULTS

In the holdout and external test sets, respectively, models achieved areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80 to 0.83 and 0.72 to 0.82 for VTE diagnosis prediction and 0.76 to 0.78 and 0.64 to 0.69 for 1-year risk prediction, significantly outperforming the Padua score. Models also demonstrated robust performance across different VTE types and patient subsets, including ethnicity, age, and surgical and hospitalization status. Models identified both established and novel clinical features contributing to VTE risk, offering valuable insights into its underlying pathophysiology.

CONCLUSIONS

Machine learning models using structured electronic health record data can significantly improve VTE diagnosis and 1-year risk prediction in diverse populations. Model probability scores exist on a continuum, affecting mortality risk in both healthy individuals and VTE cases. Integrating these models into electronic health record systems to generate real-time predictions may enhance VTE risk assessment, early detection, and preventative measures, ultimately reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with VTE.

Severe glomerular fibrin thrombosis in a dog

Here, we present a case of severe glomerular fibrin thrombosis in a dog with lymphoma. A 3-year-old neutered male Chihuahua presented with acute kidney injury, hypoalbuminemia, and transudate ascites. The dog showed symmetric enlargement of the spleen, which was diagnosed as B-cell lymphoma based on cytology and polymerase chain reaction tests. The dog died after intensive care, and the kidneys were removed for histopathological examination. Light microscopy, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy analyses were performed for renal pathology; however, the findings did not support the evidence of protein-losing nephropathy. Instead, the endocapillary accumulation of fibrin thrombi was prominent in most glomeruli. A diagnosis of severe glomerular fibrin thrombosis was established, and hypoalbuminemia was considered the underlying cause of kidney damage.

Gut dysbiosis-related thrombosis in inflammatory bowel disease: Potential disease mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of developing venous thromboembolic events, which have a considerable impact on morbidity and mortality. Chronic inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of thrombotic events in patients with IBD. However, many unresolved questions remain, particularly regarding the mechanisms that determine the persistent inflammatory state independent of disease activity. This review explored the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis and intestinal barrier dysfunction, which are considered distinctive features of IBD, in determining pro-thrombotic tendencies. Gut-derived endotoxemia due to the translocation of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from the intestine to the bloodstream and the bacterial metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) are the most important molecules involved in gut dysbiosis-related thrombosis. The pathogenic prothrombotic pathways linked to LPS and TMAO have been discussed. Finally, we present emerging therapeutic approaches that can help reduce LPS-mediated endotoxemia and TMAO, such as restoring intestinal eubiosis, normalizing intestinal barrier function, and counterbalancing the effects of LPS and TMAO.

Reduction quality in lateral view of X-ray and hypoalbuminemia are associated with postoperative mortality in elderly pertrochanteric fracture patients

Background

Pertrochanteric fracture is one of the most prevalent public health issues across the world for the elderly population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between surgical factors and postoperative mortality in patients with intramedullary nail-treated pertrochanteric fractures.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was designed to evaluate the pertrochanteric fracture patients treated with intramedullary nail between January 2016 to February 2021. The surgical factors included the Dorr morphology, Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification of fractures, the tip-apex distance (TAD), location of the cephalic screw, reduction quality in anterior-posterior (AP) and lateral views, the integrity of the lateral wall, and the design of cephalic screws. Using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, the association between these risk factors and postoperative mortality in patients with this type of fractures was evaluated.

Results

A total of 169 pertrochanteric fracture patients treated with intramedullary nails were included in our study, with the average age of 82.68±5.93 years. The mortality rates at 3 months, 1 year, and the end of follow-up were 4.14%, 11.24%, and 26.04%, respectively. According to the univariate Cox analysis, age, gender, preoperative levels of hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin (Alb) were associated with a poor overall survival (OS) (P<0.05). After multivariate adjustment, the pre-operative level of Alb (P<0.001) and the reduction in lateral view (P<0.001) were shown to be independent risk factors for poor OS.

Conclusions

The preoperative hypoalbuminemia and reduction quality in lateral view were associated with postoperative mortality in our study. Therefore, optimizing both parameters could improve the prognosis in elderly pertrochanteric fracture patients.

The Effects of Malnutrition on Inpatient Outcomes in Patients With Gastroparesis: A Nationwide Analysis

Introduction Gastroparesis (GP) is a chronic debilitating gastric motility disorder defined as delayed emptying of the stomach content without mechanical obstruction. It can result in nutritional deficiencies, leading to poor overall outcomes. We assessed the impact of malnutrition on in-hospital outcomes in patients with gastroparesis. Methods Patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of GP between January 2016 and December 2019 were included in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Data on patient demographics, hospital characteristics, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and the etiology of gastroparesis were collected. The association between malnutrition and outcomes, including mortality, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), sepsis, acute kidney injury (AKI), length of stay (LOS), and total hospitalization charges (THC), were analyzed using the multivariate regression model. Results A total of 182,580 patients with gastroparesis were included in the analysis. Patients with gastroparesis and malnutrition had a higher risk of mortality (adjusted odds ratio {aOR}, 3.29; p<0.001), sepsis (aOR, 0.43; p<0.001), DVT (aOR, 2.34; p<0.001), and PE (aOR, 2.68; p<0.001) compared to patients with gastroparesis without malnutrition. No significant difference was noted in the rates of AKI. Patients with malnutrition also had a prolonged LOS (2.96 days; p<0.001) and higher THC ($22,890; p<0.001) compared to patients without malnutrition. Conclusion Gastroparesis patients with malnutrition are at a greater risk of worse outcomes than those without malnutrition. The early identification of malnutrition in gastroparesis patients can predict morbidity and mortality and assist in risk stratification to enhance outcomes. Further studies are encouraged to identify factors associated with malnutrition in gastroparesis and the impact of interventions to prevent and treat malnutrition.

Cardiovascular Outcomes in Acute Coronary Syndrome and Malnutrition: A Meta-Analysis of Nutritional Assessment Tools

Background

There is emerging evidence that malnutrition is associated with poor prognosis among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Objectives

This study seeks to elucidate the prognostic impact of malnutrition in patients with ACS and provide a quantitative review of most commonly used nutritional assessment tools.

Methods

Medline and Embase were searched for studies reporting outcomes in patients with malnutrition and ACS. Nutritional screening tools of interest included the Prognostic Nutrition Index, Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, and Controlling Nutritional Status. A comparative meta-analysis was used to estimate the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events based on the presence of malnutrition and stratified according to ACS type, ACS intervention, ethnicity, and income.

Results

Thirty studies comprising 37,303 patients with ACS were included, of whom 33.5% had malnutrition. In the population with malnutrition, the pooled mortality rate was 20.59% (95% CI: 14.95%-27.67%). Malnutrition was significantly associated with all-cause mortality risk after adjusting for confounders including age and left ventricular ejection fraction (adjusted HR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.78-3.96, P = 0.004). There was excess mortality in the group with malnutrition regardless of ACS type (P = 0.132), ethnicity (P = 0.245), and income status (P = 0.058). Subgroup analysis demonstrated no statistically significant difference in mortality risk between individuals with and without malnutrition (P = 0.499) when using Controlling Nutritional Status (OR: 7.80, 95% CI: 2.17-28.07, P = 0.011), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (OR: 4.30, 95% CI: 2.78-6.66, P < 0.001), and Prognostic Nutrition Index (OR: 4.67, 95% CI: 2.38-9.17, P = 0.023).

Conclusions

Malnutrition was significantly associated with all-cause mortality risk following ACS, regardless of ACS type, ethnicity, and income status, underscoring the importance of screening and interventional strategies for patients with malnutrition.

A nomogram for predicting the risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with solid cancers

Cancer patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) are prone to poor prognoses. Thus, we aimed to develop a nomogram to predict the risk of VTE in these patients. We retrospectively analyzed 791 patients diagnosed with solid tumors between January 2017 and May 2021 at Tongji Hospital. Univariate logistic analysis and multivariate logistic regression were adopted in this study. Our results indicated that age ≥ 60 years, tumor stages III-IV, platelet distribution width (PDW) ≤ 12.6%, albumin concentration ≤ 38.8 g/L, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration ≥ 198 U/L, D-dimer concentration ≥ 1.72 µg/mL, blood hemoglobin concentration ≤ 100 g/dL or the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and cancer types were independent risk factors. The nomogram prediction model was developed based on the regression coefficients of these variables. We assessed the performance of the nomogram by calibration plot and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and compared it with the Khorana score. The concordance index (C- index) of the nomogram was 0.852 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.823 to 0.880], while the Khorana score was 0.681 (95% CI 0.639 to 0.723). Given its performance, this nomogram could be used to select cancer patients at high risk for VTE and guide thromboprophylaxis treatment in clinical practice, provided it is validated in an external cohort.

D-dimer-albumin ratio (DAR) as a new biomarker for predicting preoperative deep vein thrombosis after geriatric hip fracture patients

PURPOSE

Hip fractures in the elderly are complicated by preoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The objective of this study is to determine the usefulness of blood-based biomarkers, particularly the D-dimer-albumin ratio (DAR), in predicting preoperative DVT.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was carried out on 1149 patients from a single hospital, and subsequently validated on an additional 626 patients from a separate hospital. The aim was to evaluate the prognostic and predictive value of 10 biomarkers, with a specific emphasis on DAR, in both cohorts. The primary measure of interest was the occurrence of preoperative DVT.

RESULTS

The ratio of D-dimer to albumin demonstrated superior predictive capability for preoperative DVT in older patients with hip fractures compared to other biomarkers (AUC = 0.677). Using the optimal cutoff point of 0.24, high DAR was significantly associated with preoperative DVT (OR 3.45, 95% CI 2.00-5.95). Notably, all the DAR definitions detailed above were successfully validated in an external, independent cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

DAR may be a valuable biomarker for predicting preoperative DVT in elderly patients with hip fractures.

[Application of Padua prediction score and serum albumin level in evaluating venous thromboembolism in rheumatic inpatients]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the status of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in rheumatic inpatients, and to explore the efficiency of Padua prediction score (PPS) in the patient population. In addition, to analyze the relationship between serum albumin and VTE in rheumatic inpatients.

METHODS

Data of inpatients with rheumatology were retrospectively collected and analyzed at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from September 2018 to September 2019. Occurrence of VTE was compared between high (PPS≥4) and low (PPS < 4) risk groups. PPS were analyzed in the VTE and non-VTE patients. Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors in PPS and the relationship between serum albumin and VTE.

RESULTS

A total of 1 547 patients were included in this study, and 27 (1.7%) had symptomatic VTE. Among the symptomatic VTE cases, 19 (1.2%) had deep vein thrombosis (DVT) only, 6 (0.4%) had pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) only, and 2 (0.1%) were diagnosed with DVT and PTE. PPS in the VTE and non-VTE groups were 3.33±1.78 and 1.80±0.97 respectively (P < 0.05).The number of patients with PPS≥4 in the VTE group and non-VTE group was 37.0% and 4.3% respectively (P < 0.01). The average serum albumin level in the VTE group was lower than that in non-VTE group [(29.79±6.36) g/L vs. (35.17±6.31) g/L, P < 0.001]. Seventy-six cases was divided into high-risk group of VTE, while 1 471 cases were in the low-risk group, and the incidence of VTE was 13.2% and 1.2% respectively (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that ongoing hormonal treatment, age≥70 years, trauma and/or surgery ≤30 d, reduced mobility and previous VTE were risk factors of VTE in the rheumatology patients, OR values were 7.11, 7.07, 3.40, 2.40 and 2.00, respectively. Lower serum albumin level was the risk factor of VTE in the rheumatology patients [OR=0.88 (95%CI: 0.82-0.94)].

CONCLUSION

The incidence of VTE was relatively higher in the hospitalized patients in Department of Rheumatology and Immunology. Glucocorticoid therapy was the highest risk factor of VTE and lower serum albumin level also was the risk factor. Although the PPS can reflect the risk of VTE in rheumatic inpatients to some extent, its effectiveness is limited. PPS can be optimized for quantitative VTE risk assessment of rheumatic inpatients in the future.

[Application of Padua prediction score and serum albumin level in evaluating venous thromboembolism in rheumatic inpatients]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the status of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in rheumatic inpatients, and to explore the efficiency of Padua prediction score (PPS) in the patient population. In addition, to analyze the relationship between serum albumin and VTE in rheumatic inpatients.

METHODS

Data of inpatients with rheumatology were retrospectively collected and analyzed at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from September 2018 to September 2019. Occurrence of VTE was compared between high (PPS≥4) and low (PPS < 4) risk groups. PPS were analyzed in the VTE and non-VTE patients. Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors in PPS and the relationship between serum albumin and VTE.

RESULTS

A total of 1 547 patients were included in this study, and 27 (1.7%) had symptomatic VTE. Among the symptomatic VTE cases, 19 (1.2%) had deep vein thrombosis (DVT) only, 6 (0.4%) had pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) only, and 2 (0.1%) were diagnosed with DVT and PTE. PPS in the VTE and non-VTE groups were 3.33±1.78 and 1.80±0.97 respectively (P < 0.05).The number of patients with PPS≥4 in the VTE group and non-VTE group was 37.0% and 4.3% respectively (P < 0.01). The average serum albumin level in the VTE group was lower than that in non-VTE group [(29.79±6.36) g/L vs. (35.17±6.31) g/L, P < 0.001]. Seventy-six cases was divided into high-risk group of VTE, while 1 471 cases were in the low-risk group, and the incidence of VTE was 13.2% and 1.2% respectively (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that ongoing hormonal treatment, age≥70 years, trauma and/or surgery ≤30 d, reduced mobility and previous VTE were risk factors of VTE in the rheumatology patients, OR values were 7.11, 7.07, 3.40, 2.40 and 2.00, respectively. Lower serum albumin level was the risk factor of VTE in the rheumatology patients [OR=0.88 (95%CI: 0.82-0.94)].

CONCLUSION

The incidence of VTE was relatively higher in the hospitalized patients in Department of Rheumatology and Immunology. Glucocorticoid therapy was the highest risk factor of VTE and lower serum albumin level also was the risk factor. Although the PPS can reflect the risk of VTE in rheumatic inpatients to some extent, its effectiveness is limited. PPS can be optimized for quantitative VTE risk assessment of rheumatic inpatients in the future.

Prevalence and Impact of Malnutrition in Hospitalizations Among Celiac Diseases: A Nationwide Analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Celiac disease (CD) is a T-cell-mediated gluten sensitivity that results in villous atrophy in the small intestine, leading to chronic malabsorption. Patients with celiac disease are prone to malnutrition. We assessed the impact of malnutrition on in-hospital outcomes in patients with CD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of CD between January 2016 and December 2019 were included in the National Inpatient Sample Database. Data were collected on patient demographics, hospital characteristics, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and concomitant comorbidities. The association between malnutrition and outcomes, including mortality, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), sepsis, acute kidney injury (AKI), length of stay (LOS), and total hospitalization charges (THC), was analyzed using the multivariate regression model.

RESULTS

A total of 187310 patients with CD were included in the analysis. Patients with CD and malnutrition had a higher risk of mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.08; p<0.001), AKI (aOR=1.18, p=0.003), and DVT (aOR=1.53; p<0.001) compared to patients with CD without malnutrition. No significant difference was noted in the rates of sepsis and PE. Patients with malnutrition also had a prolonged LOS (2.89 days; p<0.001) and higher THC ($22252.18; p<0.001) compared to patients without malnutrition.

DISCUSSION

Patients with CD and malnutrition are at high risk of worse outcomes. Early identification of malnutrition in CD can help prevent morbidity and mortality. Even strict adherence to a gluten-free diet has been associated with malnutrition. Further studies identifying factors associated with malnutrition in CD and the impact of interventions to prevent and treat malnutrition are encouraged.

Risk of Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism After Benign Colorectal Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism is a well-established preventable complication after colectomy. Specific guidance on venous thromboembolism prevention after colectomy for benign disease is limited.

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis aimed to quantify the venous thromboembolism risk after benign colorectal resection and determine its variability.

DATA SOURCES

Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology Guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42021265438), Embase, MEDLINE, and 4 other registered medical literature databases were searched from the database inception to June 21, 2021.

STUDY SELECTION

Inclusion criteria: randomized controlled trials and large population-based database cohort studies reporting 30-day and 90-day venous thromboembolism rates after benign colorectal resection in patients aged ≥18 years. Exclusion criteria: patients undergoing colorectal cancer or completely endoscopic surgery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Thirty- and 90-day venous thromboembolism incidence rates per 1000 person-years after benign colorectal surgery.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies were eligible for meta-analysis reporting on 250,170 patients. Pooled 30-day and 90-day venous thromboembolism incidence rates after benign colorectal resection were 284 (95% CI, 224-360) and 84 (95% CI, 33-218) per 1000 person-years. Stratified by admission type, 30-day venous thromboembolism incidence rates per 1000 person-years were 532 (95% CI, 447-664) for emergency resections and 213 (95% CI, 100-453) for elective colorectal resections. Thirty-day venous thromboembolism incidence rates per 1000 person-years after colectomy were 485 (95% CI, 411-573) for patients with ulcerative colitis, 228 (95% CI, 181-288) for patients with Crohn's disease, and 208 (95% CI, 152-288) for patients with diverticulitis.

LIMITATIONS

High degree of heterogeneity was observed within most meta-analyses attributable to large cohorts minimizing within-study variance.

CONCLUSIONS

Venous thromboembolism rates remain high up to 90 days after colectomy and vary by indication for surgery. Emergency resections compared to elective benign resections have higher rates of postoperative venous thromboembolism. Further studies reporting venous thromboembolism rates by type of benign disease need to stratify rates by admission type to more accurately define venous thromboembolism risk after colectomy.

REGISTRATION NO

CRD42021265438.

Serum C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio may be a potential risk indicator for venous thromboembolism: Findings from a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin are commonly used inflammatory biomarkers. C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR), a novel inflammatory biomarker, has been suggested to be a more reliable risk indicator compared to CRP or albumin alone. An inflammatory hypothesis has been postulated in VTE aetiology, but the association between CAR and VTE has not been investigated. We aimed to assess the prospective association of CAR with VTE risk.

METHODS AND RESULTS

C-reactive protein and albumin were measured in serum samples at baseline from 2479 men aged 42-61 years. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. During a median follow-up of 27.0 years, 168 VTE cases were recorded. In analysis adjusted for potential confounders, the HR (95% CI) for VTE comparing extreme tertiles of CAR was 1.49 (1.01-2.21), which was minimally attenuated on further adjustment for prevalent cancer, a potential mediator 1.48 (1.00-2.19). Serum CRP and albumin were each modestly associated with VTE risk in the same set of participants.

CONCLUSION

In middle-aged and older men, elevated serum CAR may be associated with an increased risk of VTE. Further research is needed to replicate or refute these findings in other populations and assess if CAR may be of potential value in VTE management.

Epidemiology and prevention of venous thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism, that consists of the interrelated conditions deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is an under-appreciated vascular disease. In Western regions, approximately 1 in 12 individuals will be diagnosed with venous thromboembolism in their lifetime. Rates of venous thromboembolism are lower in Asia, but data from other regions are sparse. Numerous risk factors for venous thromboembolism have been identified, which can be classified as acute or subacute triggers (provoking factors that increase the risk of venous thromboembolism) and basal or acquired risk factors (which can be modifiable or static). Approximately 20% of individuals who have a venous thromboembolism event die within 1 year (although often from the provoking condition), and complications are common among survivors. Fortunately, opportunities exist for primordial prevention (prevention of the development of underlying risk factors), primary prevention (management of risk factors among individuals at high risk of the condition) and secondary prevention (prevention of recurrent events) of venous thromboembolism. In this Review, we describe the epidemiology of venous thromboembolism, including the incidence, risk factors, outcomes and opportunities for prevention. Meaningful health disparities exist in both the incidence and outcomes of venous thromboembolism. We also discuss these disparities as well as opportunities to reduce them.

Low serum albumin is associated with mortality and arterial and venous ischemic events in acutely ill medical patients. Results of a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

In general population hypoalbuminemia is associated with poor survival. Aim of this study was to assess the impact of hypoalbuminemia on mortality and venous and arterial ischemic events in hospitalized acutely ill medical patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective observational analysis from the "REgistro POliterapie SIMI" (REPOSI). Patients were followed up to 12 months. Serum albumin was obtained in each patient. Mortality and ischemic events were registered throughout the follow-up period.

RESULTS

In the entire population including 4152 patients, median levels of serum albumin were 3.4 g/dL and 2193 patients (52.8 %) had levels ≤3.4 g/dL. Cases with albumin ≤3.4 g/dL were older, frailer, had more comorbidities and were most frequently underweight than those with serum albumin >3.4 g/dL. During the 12-month follow-up, all-cause mortality was 14.8 % (613 patients), with a higher rate in cases with serum albumin ≤3.4 g/dL (459, 20.9 % vs 154, 7.9 % in those with serum albumin >3.4 g/dL; p < 0.0001). During follow-up 121 ischemic events (2.9 %) were registered, 86 (71.1) arterial and 35 (28.9 %) venous. Proportional hazard analysis showed that patients with albumin ≤3.4 g/dL had a higher chance of dying. Furthermore, patients with albumin ≤3.4 g/dL had a higher likelihood of experiencing ischemic events.

CONCLUSIONS

Acutely ill hospitalized medical patients with serum levels ≤3.4 g/dL are at higher risk of all-cause mortality and ischemic events, measurement of albumin may help to identify hospitalized patients with a poorer prognosis.

Hypoalbuminemia and colorectal cancer patients: Any correlation?: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

In malnourished patients with colorectal cancer, hypoalbuminemia is common and was proposed to determine the postoperative outcome of colorectal surgery. Mounting articles published but have not been evaluated. We aim to assess the predictive value of preoperative hypoalbuminemia in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

METHODS

We performed a literature search from PubMed, Euro PMC, and Cochrane with the terms serum albumin, hypoalbuminemia, prognosis, outcome, colorectal cancer, and neoplasm. We also hand-searched and included any relevant papers. Hypoalbuminemia is defined as plasma albumin level < 3.5 mg/dL. We restricted the included studies to English language and adults undergoing colectomy, laparotomy, laparoscopy, or abdominoperineal resection. Any types of articles were included, except an abstract-only publication and those that did not report the key exposure or outcome of interest. The key exposures were mortality, hospitalization time, and morbid conditions (thrombosis, surgical site infection, sepsis, and wound events). We pooled the odds ratio from each included literature as effect size. The Newcastle Ottawa scale and GRADE were used to determine the quality of each included study.

RESULTS

Hereof 7 observational studies (236,480 individuals) were included. Our meta-analysis found that preoperative hypoalbuminemia can predict the postoperative outcome in colorectal cancer patients. Individuals with hypoalbuminemia were not associated with 30-day mortality (risk ratio [RR] 2.05 [0.72, 5.86], P = .18, I2 = 99%) but were associated with morbidity (RR 2.28 [1.78, 2.93], P < .00001, I2 = 87.5%), surgical complication (RR 1.69 [1.34, 2.13], P < .00001, I2 = 98%), and hospitalization (RR 2.21 [1.93, 2.52], P < .00001, I2 = 0%). According to newcastle ottawa scale, the included studies are of moderate to sound quality.

CONCLUSIONS

The current systematic review and meta-analysis showed that preoperative hypoalbuminemia was significantly associated with morbidity, length of stay, and surgical complication but not mortality.

The relationship between leukocyte to albumin ratio and atrial fibrillation severity

BACKGROUND

An increased leukocyte count is a sign of inflammation and has been demonstrated to be a predisposing factor and complication of atrial fibrillation. Similarly, albumin, the major protein in the serum, is also considered an acute phase reactant protein that has osmotic and anti-inflammatory properties, and a low albumin level is a known factor associated with severity in many pathologies, including atrial fibrillation. The neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) and other emerging leukocyte counts/albumin ratios have been reliable systemic inflammation-based predictors of mortality and complications in various diseases, but they have not yet been used with atrial fibrillation. This study's aim was to explore whether the leukocyte to albumin ratio could also serve as a useful index in estimating atrial fibrillation severity, including the severity of atrial fibrillation secondary to stroke, to provide a new and more objective tool than the conventional and medical history-based CHA2DS2-VASc score.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were retrospectively collected from the Wuhan University Zhongnan Hospital database from January 1st to December 31st, 2021. The patients were classified into 2 groups: Group 1-low severity and Group 2- moderate to high severity, and diverse statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationship between the leukocyte-to-albumin ratio and AF severity.

RESULTS

Only 2329 test subjects met the inclusion criteria. We had 727 test subjects (381 males and 346 females) categorized into the low severity cohort and 1601 test subjects (932 males and 670 females) in the moderate to high severity group. The difference in mean age between the two groups was significant (95% CI [-2.682 to -0.154] p = 0.028), and the difference in the LAR mean rank between the two groups was significant (p = 0.00). The Chi-square test of association yielded the following results: the relationship between the LAR level and category of severity was statistically significant (p = 0.00), and the Mantel‒Haenszel statistic association odds ratio was OR = 0.657. 95% CI OR [0.549-0.787] p = 0.000. The association between sex and atrial fibrillation severity also reached statistical significance. However, sex and LAR were found to be independent factors in atrial fibrillation (Chi-square p value = 0.564).

CONCLUSION

It has been demonstrated throughout this investigation that the leukocyte to albumin ratio could provide key clues in clinical practice and contribute to thromboembolism risk assessment in the setting of atrial fibrillation.

Nomogram for Predicting Portal Vein Thrombosis in Cirrhotic Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

AIM

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common complication in cirrhotic patients and will aggravate portal hypertension, thus leading to a series of severe complications. The aim of this study was to develop a nomogram based on a simple and effective model to predict PVT in cirrhotic patients.

METHODS

Clinical data of 656 cirrhotic patients with or without PVT in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2017 to March 2022 were retrospectively collected, and all patients were divided into training, internal and external validation cohorts. SPSS and R software were used to identify the independent risk factors and construct a predictive model. We evaluated the predictive value of the model by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analyses. The feasibility of the model was further validated in the internal and external cohorts. All enrolled patients were followed up to construct the survival curves and calculate the incidence of complications.

RESULTS

The predictors of PVT included serum albumin, D-dimer, portal vein diameter, splenectomy, and esophageal and gastric varices. Based on the clinical and imaging findings, the final model served as a potential tool for predicting PVT in cirrhotic patients, with an AUC of 0.806 (0.766 in the internal validation cohort and 0.845 in the external validation cohort). The decision curve analysis revealed that the model had a high level of concordance between different medical centers. There was a significant difference between the PVT and non-PVT groups in survival analyses, with p values of 0.0477 and 0.0319 in the training and internal validation groups, respectively, along with p value of 0.0002 in the external validation group according to log-rank test; meanwhile, the median survival times of the PVT group were 54, 43, and 40 months, respectively. The incidence of recurrent esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) during the follow-up showed significant differences among the three cohorts (p = 0.009, 0.048, and 0.001 in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The nomogram based on our model provides a simple and convenient method for predicting PVT in cirrhotic patients. Cirrhotic patients with PVT had a shorter survival time and were prone to recurrent EGVB compared with those in the non-PVT group.

Lymphocytes, Mean Platelet Volume, and Albumin in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients with Venous Thromboembolism

As one of the frequent complications leading to poor prognosis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, a better understanding of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in COVID-19 patients is needed. We conducted a single-center, retrospective study on 96 COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from April to June 2022, in Shanghai Renji Hospital. Records of these COVID-19 patients upon admission were reviewed for demographic information, co-morbidities, vaccinations, treatment, and laboratory tests. VTE occurred in 11 (11.5%) cases among 96 COVID-19 patients despite the standard thromboprophylaxis since ICU admission. In COVID-VTE patients, a significant increase in B cells and a decrease in Ts cells were observed and a strong negative correlation (r = -0.9524, P = .0003) was found between these two populations. In COVID-19 patients with VTE, increased MPV and decreased albumin levels were seen in addition to the common VTE indicators of D-dimer abnormalities. The altered lymphocyte composition in COVID-VTE patients is noteworthy. In addition to D-dimer, MPV and albumin levels might be novel indicators for the risk of VTE in COVID-19 patients.

Applicability of the Padua scale for Chinese rheumatic in-patients with venous thromboembolism

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized patients with rheumatic diseases in China. The efficacy of the Padua scale was evaluated and an improved model for predicting VTE in hospitalized patients with rheumatic diseases was developed.

METHODS

Records of 2282 patients hospitalized in the department of rheumatology of the Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The risk factors for VTE were analyzed. The efficacy of the Padua scale was evaluated, Padua-combined prediction model and the independent risk factor-combined prediction model for predicting VTE were assessed using the receiver operating curve (ROC).

RESULTS

A total of 50 patients in the VTE group and 2232 in the non-VTE group were included. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), VTE history, a hospital stay of over 3 days, high D-dimer (D-D), and decreased serum albumin were independent risk factors for VTE. APS was very closely associated with VTE (OR = 19.446). Padua scores in the VTE group and the non-VTE group were 3 (2, 6) and 2 (1, 2) points, respectively (p < 0.05), and the proportion of high-risk patients were 48.0% and 7.4%, respectively (p < 0.05). The incidence of VTE in the high-risk (Padua score ≥4) and low-risk (Padua score <4) groups was 12.7% and 1.2%, respectively (p < 0.05). The area under curve (AUC) of the Padua scale, Padua combined prediction model (Padua scale along with D-D and serum albumin), and the independent risk factor-combined prediction model was 0.771, 0.836, and 0.873, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The Padua scale has limited predictive efficacy of VTE in hospitalized rheumatic patients. The independent risk factor-combination prediction model was superior in predicting VTE compared to Padua scale and Padua-combined prediction model.

Malnutrition Defined by Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Predicts Outcomes in Severe Stroke Patients: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Background: Malnutrition’s prognostic impact in patients with severe stroke requiring ICU admission is not well known. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of severe stroke patients using the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and examine the association of GNRI with mortality in that population. Methods: We identified 1145 severe stroke patients requiring ICU admission from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-III) database and divided them into low GNRI (≤98) or high GNRI (>98) groups. We used a propensity score matching (PSM) method to reduce confounding. Cox proportional hazards regression and restricted cubic splines were used to elucidate the association between GNRI and mortality. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: A total of 397 (35%) patients were in the low GNRI group (at risk of malnutrition). After PSM, patients in the low GNRI group still suffered higher mortality compared with the high GNRI group at 28 days (27.9 vs. 20.8%), 90 days (35.5 vs. 25.7%), and 1 year (43.4 vs. 30.9%) (p < 0.05). A low GNRI was significantly associated with an increased mortality (HR: 1.38, 95% CI 1.03−1.86 in 28 days; HR: 1.45, 95% CI 1.11−1.89 in 90 days; HR: 1.51, 95% CI 1.19−1.92 in 1 year). Sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results. Restricted cubic splines showed a progressively decreasing risk of mortality with increasing GNRI scores up to 110, approximately. Conclusion: Severe stroke patients with malnutrition experienced an increased risk of death compared to those without malnutrition. GNRI, as a simple and practical nutritional screening tool, can be used as a routine approach to the nutritional status of stroke patients.

Incidence and risk factors of preoperative deep vein thrombosis in patients with intertrochanteric fractures: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The risk of perioperative complications remains high in patients with intertrochanteric fractures. Immobilization after injury may predispose these patients to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) while waiting for surgery. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of preoperative DVT in patients with intertrochanteric fractures and identify independent risk factors.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients with intertrochanteric fractures waiting for surgical interventions at our institution from June 2018 to December 2020. All patients received pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis after admission and ultrasound screening for DVT in both lower limbs before surgery. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data of these patients were collected to perform univariate analysis first. Subsequently, factors with a significant difference in univariate analysis were introduced into the multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine the independent risk factors for preoperative DVT.

RESULTS

A total of 266 patients were enrolled in this study. Seventy-one patients (26.7%) developed DVTs before surgery. The majority of DVTs were distal types (91.5%). There were 40 patients with DVTs only in the affected limb, 7 patients with DVTs only in the unaffected limb, and 24 patients with DVTs in both lower limbs. Advanced age, female, prolonged period from injury to admission, combined cranial trauma, shorter thrombin time, increased level of D-dimer and lower level of albumin proved to be the independent risk factors for preoperative DVT.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a high incidence of preoperative DVT in patients with intertrochanteric fractures. Identification of patients at high risk may improve the prevention and treatment of preoperative DVT in this population.

Association between serum albumin and mortality in Japan older people with dysphagia

To determine whether there is a link between serum albumin and mortality among participants in the elderly in Japan. This is a single-center,retrospective cohort study analysis of 253 old patients with dysphagia from Japan, conducted from January 2014 to January 2017. The primary outcome was mortality. We performed Cox regression analysis to compare the mortality between the two groups (divided by serum albumin = 3 g/dl). 253 patients were included in the analysis, of whom the number of serum albumin under 3 g/dl was 93. The log-rank test showed a significant longer mortality in the high group (serum albumin >  = 3 g/dl) compared with the low group (median, 382 vs. 176 days, P < 0.0001). Cox regression analysis showed that unadjusted HR for the high group relative to the low group was 0.40 (95% CI: 0.29-0.57; P < 0.001). After adjusting 3 models in multivariable analysis, serum albumin was significantly associated with mortality. The adjusted HRs (95% CI) for total mortality rates were 0.46 (0.33-0.65), 0.66 (0.44-0.99) and 0.64 (0.42-0.97), from model 2 to model 4. There is negative association between serum albumin and mortality in Japanese old people with dysphagia.

3D-PAST: Risk Assessment Model for Predicting Venous Thromboembolism in COVID-19

Hypercoagulability is a recognized feature in SARS-CoV-2 infection. There exists a need for a dedicated risk assessment model (RAM) that can risk-stratify hospitalized COVID-19 patients for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and guide anticoagulation. We aimed to build a simple clinical model to predict VTE in COVID-19 patients. This large-cohort, retrospective study included adult patients admitted to four hospitals with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Model training was performed on 3531 patients hospitalized between March and December 2020 and validated on 2508 patients hospitalized between January and September 2021. Diagnosis of VTE was defined as acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). The novel RAM was based on commonly available parameters at hospital admission. LASSO regression and logistic regression were performed, risk scores were assigned to the significant variables, and cutoffs were derived. Seven variables with assigned scores were delineated as: DVT History = 2; High D-Dimer (>500−2000 ng/mL) = 2; Very High D-Dimer (>2000 ng/mL) = 5; PE History = 2; Low Albumin (<3.5 g/dL) = 1; Systolic Blood Pressure <120 mmHg = 1, Tachycardia (heart rate >100 bpm) = 1. The model had a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 53%. This simple, robust clinical tool can help individualize thromboprophylaxis for COVID-19 patients based on their VTE risk category.

Albumin, Oral Contraceptives, and Venous Thromboembolism Risk in Astronauts

BACKGROUND

A venous thromboembolism (VTE) event occurred in a female astronaut during long-duration spaceflight. Multiple factors may have contributed to this risk, including the use of combined (progestin + estrogen) oral contraceptives (cOC).

METHODS

Biochemistry data from 65 astronauts were evaluated for associations with cOC use and with sex.

RESULTS

The female astronauts who used cOCs had lower concentrations of serum albumin and higher concentrations of transferrin, a protein involved in the clotting cascade, than the male astronauts and the female astronauts who were not taking cOCs (P<0.001). The women who used cOCs had higher serum concentrations of the acute phase reactant ceruloplasmin during flight and cortisol (P<0.001) than the men and the women who were not taking cOCs; they also had higher calculated whole blood viscosity than women not taking cOCs (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower circulating concentrations of albumin, higher concentrations of transferrin, and elevated markers of inflammation all could contribute to an increased risk of VTE during spaceflight. These changes, in association with a higher blood viscosity can directly affect endothelial glycocalyx integrity and hypercoagulability status, both of which contribute to VTE risk in terrestrial populations.

Nomogram for Estimating the Risks of Intestinal Ischemia and Necrosis in Neonates With Midgut Volvulus: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Delayed diagnosis and inaccurate judgment of the severity of the disease may be the principal reasons for the poor prognosis associated with neonatal midgut volvulus. We aimed to develop a nomogram model that timely assesses the risks of intestinal ischemia and necrosis in the neonate with midgut volvulus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data from neonates with midgut volvulus who were admitted to Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from January 2009 to December 2019. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to obtain independent factors to build a predictive model. The independent factors were used to develop the nomogram model.

RESULTS

Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, serum C-reactive protein, serum sodium, serum albumin, and pH levels were independent predictors for intestinal ischemia and necrosis in patients with midgut volvulus. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the predictive model was 0.985 (95% confidence interval, 0.966-0.999; P < 0.001). The sensitivity was 90.48%, and the specificity was 93.10%. A nomogram model was established using the six independent predictors, with a C-index of 0.859 and a favorable consistency between the predicted and actual intestinal ischemia and necrosis rates according to the internal validation.

CONCLUSION

The constructed nomogram model could be a superior tool for predicting intestinal ischemia and necrosis in neonates with midgut volvulus.

Clotting of Hemodialysis Access in Patients with COVID-19 in an Inner-City Hospital

BACKGROUND

An increased incidence of thrombotic complications in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been reported. Severe acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the major clinical manifestations of COVID-19 with the need for renal replacement therapy. It was observed that hemodialysis (HD) accesses tended to thrombose more often in the COVID-19 population than in non-COVID-19 patients. We hypothesize that the hypercoagulable state of COVID-19 is associated with higher incidence of access clotting.

METHOD

In this retrospective single-centered study at Kings County Hospital in New York City, 1,075 patients with COVID-19 were screened, and 174 patients who received HD from January 3, 2021 to May 15, 2020 were enrolled to examine the risk factors of dialysis access clotting in patients with COVID-19.

RESULTS

Of the 174 patients, 109 (63%) were COVID-19 positive. 39 (22.6%) patients had dialysis access clotting at least once during their hospitalization, and they had significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.001), higher rates of COVID-19 (p = 0.015), AKI (p < 0.001), higher platelet counts (p = 0.029), higher lactate dehydrogenase levels (p = 0.009), and lower albumin levels (p = 0.001) than those without access malfunctions. Low albumin levels (p = 0.008), AKI (p = 0.008), and high BMI (p = 0.018) were risk factors associated with HD access clotting among COVID-19 patients.

CONCLUSION

Patients with COVID-19 who receive HD for AKI with high BMI are at a higher risk of clotting their HD access.

Serum Albumin and Circulating Metabolites and Risk of Venous Thromboembolism: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study

Background and Aim: Previous observational studies indicated that the serum albumin levels and circulating metabolites are associated with a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, whether these observations reflect causality remained unclear. Hence, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the causal associations of serum albumin and circulating metabolites with the risk of VTE.

Methods and Results: Summary statistics of genetic instruments proxying serum albumin, total protein, and common circulating metabolites were extracted from genome-wide association studies in the European ancestry. Summary-level results of age- and sex-adjusted estimates for associations of the instruments with VTE were derived from the FinnGen consortium. We used the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary analysis for univariable MR. Sensitivity analyses were performed to detect horizontal pleiotropy and outliers. Genetically proxied high-serum albumin and total protein levels were suggestive protective factor of VTE, with odds ratio (OR) = 0.69 (CI 0.54–0.89, p = 4.7 × 10⁻³) and 0.76 (CI 0.61–0.95, p = 0.015), respectively. Genetically proxied low-monounsaturated fatty acids and the ratio of monounsaturated fatty acid to total fatty acid are causally associated with increased risk of VTE, with ORs = 0.89 (CI 0.80–0.99, p = 0.031) and 0.85 (CI 0.78–0.94, p = 9.92 × 10⁻⁴), respectively. There is no indication of causal associations between other circulating metabolites and the risk of VTE.

Conclusions: Genetically liability to low-serum albumin and total protein levels, low proxied monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and the ratio of MUFAs to total fatty acids are associated with the higher risk of VTE.

Natural history and predictors associated with the evolution of portal venous system thrombosis in liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Portal venous system thrombosis (PVST) will progress in some cases, indicating worse outcome and the necessity of antithrombotic treatment, but will spontaneously improve in others. It is crucial to understand the natural history of PVST in liver cirrhosis. However, the knowledge regarding how to predict the evolution of PVST in cirrhotic patients is very scant.

METHODS

Sixty-nine cirrhotic patients without malignancy, who had undergone repeated contrast-enhanced computed tomography or MRI to evaluate the severity of PVST at the first and last admissions, were included. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for the evolution of PVST in liver cirrhosis. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated.

RESULTS

Among 42 patients without PVST at the first admission, 10 (23.8%) developed PVST at the last admission. Serum albumin level (OR = 0.873), prothrombin time (OR = 1.619), activated partial thromboplastin time (OR = 1.169), Child-Pugh score (OR = 1.560) and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score (OR = 1.292) at the last admission were significant risk factors associated with the development of PVST. Among 27 patients with PVST at the first admission, 11 (40.7%), 4 (14.8%) and 12 (44.4%) had improvement, stabilization and progression of PVST at the last admission, respectively. ΔMELD score (OR = 0.714) was the only significant risk factor associated with the improvement of PVST; additionally, serum albumin level at the first admission (OR = 1.236) was the only significant risk factor associated with the progression of PVST.

CONCLUSION

Aggravation and amelioration of liver dysfunction may predict the development and improvement of PVST in liver cirrhosis, respectively.

The Prognostic Value of ADAMTS-13 and von Willebrand Factor in COVID-19 Patients: Prospective Evaluation by Care Setting

Background: Endothelial dysfunction, coupled with inflammation, induces thrombo-inflammation. In COVID-19, this process is believed to be associated with clinical severity. Von Willebrand factor (VWF), and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 13 (ADAMTS-13), are strong markers of endothelial dysfunction. We evaluated the impact of the VWF/ADAMTS-13 fraction on COVID-19 severity and prognosis. Materials and methods: A cohort study including 74 COVID-19 patients, with 22 admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and 52 to the medical ward (MW), was carried out. We also evaluated, in a group of 54 patients who were prospectively observed, whether variations in VWF/ADAMTS-13 correlated with the degree of severity and routine blood parameters. Results: A VWF:RCo/ADAMTS-13 fraction above 6.5 predicted in-hospital mortality in the entire cohort. At admission, a VWF:RCo/ADAMTS-13 fraction above 5.7 predicted admission to the ICU. Furthermore, the VWF:RCo/ADAMTS-13 fraction directly correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) (Spearman r: 0.51, p < 0.0001) and D-dimer (Spearman r: 0.26, p = 0.03). In the prospective cohort, dynamic changes in VWF:RCo/ADAMTS-13 and the CRP concentration were directly correlated (Spearman r, p = 0.0014). This relationship was significant in both groups (ICU: p = 0.006; MW: p = 0.02).Conclusions: The present findings show that in COVID-19, the VWF/ADAMTS-13 fraction predicts in-hospital mortality. The VWF/ADAMTS-13 fraction may be a helpful tool to monitor COVID-19 patients throughout hospitalization.

Influence of tranexamic acid use on venous thromboembolism risk in patients undergoing surgery for spine tumors

OBJECTIVE

Patients with spine tumors are at increased risk for both hemorrhage and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been advanced as a potential intervention to reduce intraoperative blood loss in this surgical population, but many fear it is associated with increased VTE risk due to the hypercoagulability noted in malignancy. In this study, the authors aimed to 1) develop a clinical calculator for postoperative VTE risk in the population with spine tumors, and 2) investigate the association of intraoperative TXA use and postoperative VTE.

METHODS

A retrospective data set from a comprehensive cancer center was reviewed for adult patients treated for vertebral column tumors. Data were collected on surgery performed, patient demographics and medical comorbidities, VTE prophylaxis measures, and TXA use. TXA use was classified as high-dose (≥ 20 mg/kg) or low-dose (< 20 mg/kg). The primary study outcome was VTE occurrence prior to discharge. Secondary outcomes were deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for VTE and the resultant model was deployed as a web-based calculator.

RESULTS

Three hundred fifty patients were included. The mean patient age was 57 years, 53% of patients were male, and 67% of surgeries were performed for spinal metastases. TXA use was not associated with increased VTE (14.3% vs 10.1%, p = 0.37). After multivariable analysis, VTE was independently predicted by lower serum albumin (odds ratio [OR] 0.42 per g/dl, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23-0.79, p = 0.007), larger mean corpuscular volume (OR 0.91 per fl, 95% CI 0.84-0.99, p = 0.035), and history of prior VTE (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.53-4.40, p < 0.001). Longer surgery duration approached significance and was included in the final model. Although TXA was not independently associated with the primary outcome of VTE, high-dose TXA use was associated with increased odds of both DVT and PE. The VTE model showed a fair fit of the data with an area under the curve of 0.77.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present cohort of patients treated for vertebral column tumors, TXA was not associated with increased VTE risk, although high-dose TXA (≥ 20 mg/kg) was associated with increased odds of DVT or PE. Additionally, the web-based clinical calculator of VTE risk presented here may prove useful in counseling patients preoperatively about their individualized VTE risk.

Serum albumin levels and inflammation

Albumin is the most abundant protein in the plasma and has a regulatory role in the distribution of body fluids, acid-base physiology, and binding of essential components in the bloodstream. C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by hepatocytes and is commonly used to assess inflammation. It was previously noted that acute-phase concentrations of proteins, such as CRP, tend to rise in inflammatory conditions, while albumin concentrations tend to decline. This study assessed the correlation between albumin levels and various inflammatory indices (CRP, WBC, PLT) of patients hospitalized at the Galilee Medical Center over a period of 3 months. The study population consisted of 4434 patients, ages 18-107 years (mean: 52 years), of whom 60% were female. A negative correlation between albumin and CRP levels (r = -0.311) was identified, as well as between albumin and white blood cells levels (r = -0.157). Positive correlations were found between albumin and platelets levels (r = 0.084), as well as between albumin and hemoglobin levels (r = 0.513). When considering the three largest departments, the strongest negative correlation between albumin and CRP was identified in the Internal Medicine departments. A linear regression analysis discovered a fairly minor effect of CRP on albumin levels, which only became apparent when CRP levels were extremely high (500 mg/L). The mechanisms underlying this negative correlation still need to be explored.

Infective Endocarditis Is a Risk Factor for Heparin Resistance in Adult Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVES

Heparin resistance (HR), defined as a decrease in heparin responsiveness, can result in adverse events with prolonged duration of surgery. Although some clinical risk factors have been suggested, the relationship with the surgical diagnosis is unclear. The aim of present study was to elucidate the clinical predictors of HR including the surgical diagnosis.

DESIGN

This retrospective cohort study determined the incidence of HR (defined as activated clotting time [ACT] <400 seconds after 250-350 IU/kg of heparin administration) and heparin sensitivity index (HSI) was calculated from the rate of change in ACT per heparin dose. Preoperative demographic data, medication history, and laboratory data also were analyzed.

SETTING

Single institution, tertiary care hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between January 2012 and September 2018.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Of 287 patients, 88 (30.7%) were classified as HR. In univariate analysis, infective endocarditis (IE), platelet count, and serum fibrinogen and albumin levels were associated with HR. After adjustment for baseline ACT and initial heparin dose, IE (odds ratio 4.57, [95% CI: 1.10-19.1]; p = 0.037) and albumin ≤3.5 g/dL (3.17, [1.46-6.93]; p = 0.004) were associated independently with HR. Patients with IE had significantly lower HSI than those with other diseases. All HR patients were treated with additional heparin, and 17 of them received human antithrombin-III concentrate.

CONCLUSIONS

Infective endocarditis and preoperative hypoalbuminemia were associated independently with HR. The optimal anticoagulation strategy for patients with these risk factors requires further investigations based on the authors' findings.

Higher albumin levels on admission predict better prognosis in patients with confirmed COVID-19

BACKGROUND

Research surrounding COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is rapidly increasing, including the study of biomarkers for predicting outcomes. There is little data examining the correlation between serum albumin levels and COVID-19 disease severity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether admission albumin levels reliably predict outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 181 patients from two hospitals who had COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and radiologic imaging, who were hospitalized between March and July 2020. We recorded demographics, COVID-19 testing techniques, and day of admission labs. The outcomes recorded included the following: venous thromboembolism (VTE), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, discharge with new or higher home oxygen supplementation, readmission within 90 days, in-hospital mortality, and total adverse events. A multivariate modified Poisson regression analysis was then performed to determine significant predictors for increased adverse events in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

RESULTS

A total of 109 patients (60.2%) had hypoalbuminemia (albumin level < 3.3 g/dL). Patients with higher albumin levels on admission had a 72% decreased risk of developing venous thromboembolism (adjusted relative risk [RR]:0.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.14-0.53, p<0.001) for every 1 g/dL increase of albumin. Moreover, higher albumin levels on admission were associated with a lower risk of developing ARDS (adjusted RR:0.73, 95% CI:0.55-0.98, p = 0.033), admission to the ICU (adjusted RR:0.64, 95% CI:0.45-0.93, p = 0.019), and were less likely to be readmitted within 90 days (adjusted RR:0.37, 95% CI:0.17-0.81, p = 0.012). Furthermore, higher albumin levels were associated with fewer total adverse events (adjusted RR:0.65, 95% CI:0.52-0.80, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Admission serum albumin levels appear to be a predictive biomarker for outcomes in COVID-19 patients. We found that higher albumin levels on admission were associated with significantly fewer adverse outcomes, including less VTE events, ARDS development, ICU admissions, and readmissions within 90 days. Screening patients may lead to early identification of patients at risk for developing in-hospital complications and improve optimization and preventative efforts in this cohort.

Anti-platelet Drug-loaded Targeted Technologies for the Effective Treatment of Atherothrombosis

Atherothrombosis results from direct interaction between atherosclerotic plaque and arterial thrombosis and is the most common type of cardiovascular disease. As a long term progressive disease, atherosclerosis frequently results in an acute atherothrombotic event through plaque rupture and platelet-rich thrombus formation. The pathophysiology of atherothrombosis involves cholesterol accumulation endothelial dysfunction, dyslipidemia, immuno-inflammatory, and apoptotic aspects. Platelet activation and aggregation is the major cause for stroke because of its roles, including thrombus, contributing to atherosclerotic plaque, and sealing off the bleeding vessel. Platelet aggregates are associated with arterial blood pressure and cardiovascular ischemic events. Under normal physiological conditions, when a blood vessel is damaged, the task of platelets within the circulation is to arrest the blood loss. Antiplatelet inhibits platelet function, thereby decreasing thrombus formation with complementary modes of action to prevent atherothrombosis. In the present scientific scenario, researchers throughout the world are focusing on the development of novel drug delivery systems to enhance patient's compliance. Immediate responding pharmaceutical formulations become an emerging trend in the pharmaceutical industries with better patient compliance. The proposed review provides details related to the molecular pathogenesis of atherothrombosis and recent novel formulation approaches to treat atherothrombosis with particular emphasis on commercial formulation and upcoming technologies.

In-hospital and short-term predictors of mortality in patients with intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the in-hospital and short-term predictive factors of mortality in intermediate-high risk acute pulmonary embolism (PE) patients with right ventricle (RV)dysfunction and myocardial injury.

Methods: In this retrospective study, the medical records of 187 patients with a diagnosis of intermediate high risk acute PE were evaluated. A contrast-enhanced multi-detector pulmonary angiography was used to confirm diagnosis in all cases. All-cause mortality was determined by obtaining both in hospital and 30 days follow-up data of patients from medical records.

Results: During the in-hospital stay (9.5±4.72 days), 7 patients died, resulting in an acute PE related in-hospital mortality of 3.2%. Admission heart rate (HR), (Odds ratio (OR), 1.028 95% Confidence interval (CI), 0.002-1.121; P = 0.048) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (OR, 1.028 95% CI, 0.002-1.016; P = 0.044) were found to be independent predictors for in-hospital mortality in a multi variate logistic regression analysis. In total, 32 patients (20.9%) died during 30 days follow-up.The presence of congestive heart failure (OR, 0.015, 95%CI, 0.001-0.211; P = 0.002) and dementia (OR, 0.029, 95%CI,0.002-0.516; P = 0.016) as well as low albumin level (OR, 0.049 95%CI, 0.006-0.383; P = 0.049) were associated with 30 days mortality.

Conclusion: HR and BUN were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality and the presence of congestive heart failure, dementia, and low albumin levels were associated with higher 30 days mortality.

Coagulation dysfunction in ICU patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective observational study of 75 fatal cases

Coagulation dysfunction in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has not been well described, and the efficacy of anticoagulant therapy is unclear. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed 75 fatal COVID-19 cases who were admitted to the intensive care unit at Jinyintan Hospital (Wuhan, China). The median age of the cases was 67 (62-74) years, and 47 (62.7%) were male. Fifty patients (66.7%) were diagnosed with disseminated intra-vascular coagulation. Approximately 90% of patients had elevated D-dimer and fibrinogen degradation products, which decreased continuously after anticoagulant treatment and was accompanied by elevated albumin (all P<0.05). The median survival time of patients treated with anticoagulant was 9.0 (6.0-14.0) days compared with 7.0 (3.0-10.0) days in patients without anticoagulant therapy (P=0.008). After anticoagulation treatment, C-reactive protein levels decreased (P=0.004), as did high-sensitivity troponin (P=0.018), lactate dehydrogenase (P<0.001), and hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (P<0.001). In conclusion, coagulation disorders were widespread among fatal COVID-19 cases. Anticoagulant treatment partially improved hypercoagulability, prolonged median survival time, and may have postponed inflammatory processes and cardiac injury.

Acute Kidney Injury During Hospitalization Increases the Risk of VTE

BACKGROUND

Kidney disease has been linked to risk for hospitalization-related (HR) VTE, but the effect size and differences across types of kidney disease are described poorly.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Can the risk for HR VTE among patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease be quantified, and if so, how?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We prospectively collected data on hospitalized adult patients and documented HR VTE events. We recorded creatinine clearance (CrCl) daily throughout hospitalization and modeled the effects that admission CrCl, peak CrCl, average CrCl, and AKI had on HR VTE. We controlled for known VTE risk factors and daily administration of chemoprophylaxis.

RESULTS

Of the 6,552 admissions that met our inclusion criteria, 184 (2.81%) patients experienced an HR VTE. Surgery, AKI, chemical prophylaxis, and admission albumin all were associated with HR VTE in univariate analysis, but neither admission CrCl nor average CrCl (throughout the hospitalization) increased the odds of HR VTE. Kaplan-Meier curves showed AKI, whether it occurred before or during the hospitalization, was associated significantly with time to HR VTE. Cox regression analysis found that AKI was associated independently with HR VTE, as was surgery during admission, enoxaparin dose, and admission albumin. Sensitivity analyses showed that AKI lost significance when only patients with traumatic injuries were assessed.

INTERPRETATION

We found that AKI increases the risk for HR VTE in a large, heterogeneous population that included medical and surgical patients. However, this relationship was not seen in patients with traumatic injuries.

Serum albumin and cardiovascular disease: State-of-the-art review

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Conceptually, endothelial dysfunction, inflammatory conditions and oxidative stress are at the forefront of the onset and development of most cardiovascular diseases, particularly coronary artery disease and heart failure. Serum albumin has many physiological properties, including in particular antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant and anti-platelet aggregation activity. It also plays an essential role in the exchange of fluids across the capillary membrane. Hypoalbuminemia is a powerful prognostic marker in the general population as well as in many disease states. In the more specific context of cardiovascular disease, low serum albumin is independently associated with the development of various deleterious conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke and venous thromboembolism. Low serum albumin has also emerged as a potent prognostic parameter in patients with cardiovascular disease regardless of usual prognostic markers. Remarkably, its potent prognostic value persists after adjusting for causative confounders such as malnutrition and inflammation. This prognostic value probably refers primarily to the syndrome of malnutrition-inflammation and the severity of comorbidities. Nevertheless, several recent meta-analyses strongly support the hypothesis that hypoalbuminemia may act as an unrecognized, potentially modifiable risk factor contributing to the emergence and progression of cardiovascular disease, primarily by exacerbating oxidative stress, inflammation and platelet aggregation, and by favouring peripheral congestion and pulmonary edema. Currently, it is unknown whether prevention and correction of low serum albumin offers a benefit to patients with or at risk for cardiovascular disease, and further studies are critically needed in this setting.

Serum albumin, cardiometabolic and other adverse outcomes: systematic review and meta-analyses of 48 published observational cohort studies involving 1,492,237 participants

Objectives. A general body of evidence suggests that low serum albumin might be associated with increased risk of adverse cardiometabolic outcomes, but findings are divergent. We aimed to quantify associations of serum albumin with the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease (CVD), all-cause mortality, and other adverse outcomes using a systematic review and meta-analyses of published observational cohort studies. Design. MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and manual search of relevant bibliographies were systematically searched to January 2020. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) comparing top versus bottom thirds of serum albumin levels were pooled. Results. Fifty-four articles based on 48 unique observational cohort studies comprising of 1,492,237 participants were eligible. Multivariable adjusted RRs (95% CIs) comparing the top vs bottom third of serum albumin levels were: 1.03 (0.86-1.22) for T2D; 0.60 (0.53-0.67) for CVD; 0.74 (0.66-0.84) for coronary heart disease (CHD); 0.57 (0.36-0.91) for CHD death; 0.76 (0.65-0.87) for myocardial infarction; 0.66 (0.55-0.77) for all-cause mortality; 0.71 (0.61-0.83) for venous thromboembolism; 0.65 (0.48-0.88) for cancer mortality; and 0.62 (0.46-0.84) for fracture. Heterogeneity between contributing studies of T2D was partly explained by sample sizes of studies (p for meta-regression = .035). Conclusions. Elevated levels of serum albumin are associated with reduced risk of vascular outcomes, all-cause mortality, certain cancers, and fracture. Inconsistent findings for T2D may be attributed to selective reporting by studies. Further research is needed to assess any potential causal relevance to these findings and the role of serum albumin concentrations in disease prevention.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO 2019: CRD42019125869.

Effect of thromboprophylaxis on the incidence of venous thromboembolism in surgical patients with colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

This study evaluates the role of thromboprophylaxis in venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence in colorectal cancer (CRC) surgical patients.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Literature search was conducted in electronic databases and studies (randomized controlled trials, or prospective/retrospective cohorts) were selected if they reported the incidence of VTE in CRC patients who underwent any type of open or laparoscopic surgery. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to obtain pooled incidence estimates; or odds ratios (OR) of incidence between prophylaxis and no-prophylaxis groups; or between VTE and non-VTE patients to identify risk factors.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Twenty-four studies (804,003 patients) were included. Prophylaxis was performed mainly with low molecular weight heparins. Odds of VTE were significantly lower in prophylactic than in non-prophylactic patients (OR 0.42 [95% CI: 0.28, 0.63]; P<0.00001). Incidence of radiological and symptomatic VTE in patients with prophylaxis was 9.7% [95% CI: 8.6, 10.8] and 1.3% [95% CI: 0.7, 2.0] respectively. Odds of bleeding were higher in patients with prophylaxis (OR: 3.37 [95% CI: 1.05, 10.8]; P=0.04). Incidence of bleeding in patients with and without prophylaxis was 4.3% [95% CI: 3.2, 5.4] and 1.2% [95% CI: 0.02, 2.4] respectively. Operative time, anesthesia duration, and hospital stay were longer in patients with VTE. Obesity, disseminated cancer, chemotherapy, steroid use, emergency case status, advanced stage cancer, hypoalbuminemia, postoperative infection/sepsis, and history of VTE are identified as important risk factors for VTE incidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Thromboprophylaxis reduces the incidence of VTE in CRC surgical patients but may increase the chances of bleeding. Several risk factors can influence VTE incidence.

Relation of Hypoalbuminemia to Response to Aspirin in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Serum albumin (SA) level is a powerful cardiovascular prognostic marker, suggested to be involved in regulation of platelet function. High on-aspirin platelet reactivity (HAPR) is associated with increased risk for deleterious cardiovascular events. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between HAPR and albumin levels in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) treated with aspirin. Patients with known stable CAD, who were taking aspirin (75 to 100 mg qd) regularly for at least 1 month, were screened for the present study. Exclusion criteria: cancer, sepsis or acute infection, active inflammatory/rheumatic disease, recent major surgery, chronic liver failure, the administration of other antiplatelet drugs, nonadherence with aspirin and thrombocytopenia. Blood was drawn from the participants and sent for SA level and platelet function test (VerifyNow). HAPR was defined as aspirin reaction units (ARU) >550. Overall 116 patients were analyzed; age 69 ± 10, 28% women. Twenty (17%) were hypoalbuminemic (≤3.5 g/dl). Hypoalbuminemic patients had similar characteristics to the normal albumin group except mildly higher creatinine in the former. SA levels were significantly lower in the hypoalbuminemic group (3.2 ± 0.2 g/dl vs 4.2 ± 0.4 g/dl, respectively, p <0.001) whereas mean ARU was significantly higher compared with the normal albumin group (548 ± 45 vs 444 ± 66 ARU, respectively, p <0.001). A significant inverse association was observed between SA and ARU with (R² = 0.67, p <0.001). Multivariate analysis adjusted for potential confounders found that albumin ≤3.5 is the strongest predictor of HAPR in patients with stable CAD (hazards ratio 4.9, 95% confidence interval 2.2 to 32, p = 0.002). In conclusion, hypoalbuminemia is strongly associated with HAPR in patients with stable CAD.

Association of Serum Albumin and Severity of Pulmonary Embolism

Background and Objectives: Inflammation is considered a risk factor for venous thromboembolism. The association between inflammatory markers and the severity of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) has not been explored. Methods: We studied the association between two crude markers of inflammation, serum albumin, and red cell distribution width (RDW) and massive versus non-massive APE. Results: Among 552 consecutive cases of CT-angiogram-confirmed APE, a total of 46 cases (8.3%) had massive APE. Despite similar demographics and comorbidities, patients with massive APE had higher frequency of acute kidney injury (P = 0.005), higher lactic acid (P = 0.011), higher troponin (P = 0.001), higher BNP (P < 0.001), higher frequency of RV dilation (P = 0.017) and hypokinesis (P = 0.003), and higher in-hospital mortality (15.2% vs. 2%, P < 0.001). Patients with massive APE had significantly lower albumin level (median (IQR): 2.8 (2.2, 3.0) vs. 3.2 (2.8, 3.6) gm/dL, P < 0.001) and higher RDW (median (IQR): 14.7 (13.8, 17.1) vs. 14.2 (13.3, 15.6), P = 0.006) compared with non-massive APE. ROC curves showed that albumin and RDW had an AUC of 0.750 (P < 0.001) and 0.621 (P = 0.006) in predicting a massive APE, respectively. The optimal cutoff values for albumin and RDW that had the highest combined sensitivity and specificity for predicting APE was ≤3 gm/dL and >14, for albumin and RDW, respectively. Restricted cubic splines showed a significant association between albumin (P = 0.0002) and RDW (P = 0.0446) and the occurrence of massive APE. After adjustment for patients’ age, body mass index, white blood cell count, the requirement of antibiotics during hospitalization, diabetes, RDW, and peak creatinine, serum albumin was independently associated with massive APE (OR 0.234, 95% CI 0.129–0.4242, P < 0.001). Conclusion: low serum albumin is associated with massive APE. This association is likely a proxy for higher inflammatory state in massive compared with non-massive APE.