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Liu YT, Yang YT, Tang CX, Ma JQ, Kong X, Li JH, Li YM, Liu SY, Zhou CS, Wang YF, Zhang LJ. Aberrant cortical morphology patterns are associated with cognitive impairment in patients with chronic heart failure. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 60:3973-3983. [PMID: 38711292 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
A mounting body of evidences suggests that patients with chronic heart failure (HF) frequently experience cognitive impairments, but the neuroanatomical mechanism underlying these impairments remains elusive. In this retrospective study, 49 chronic HF patients and 49 healthy controls (HCs) underwent brain structural MRI scans and cognitive assessments. Cortical morphology index (cortical thickness, complexity, sulcal depth and gyrification) were evaluated. Correlations between cortical morphology and cognitive scores and clinical variables were explored. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify risk factors for predicting 3-year major adverse cardiovascular events. Compared with HCs, patients with chronic HF exhibited decreased cognitive scores (p < .001) and decreased cortical thickness, sulcal depth and gyrification in brain regions involved cognition, sensorimotor, autonomic nervous system (family-wise error correction, all p values <.05). Notably, HF duration and New York Heart Association (NYHA) demonstrated negative correlations with abnormal cortex morphology, particularly HF duration and thickness in left precentral gyrus (r = -.387, p = .006). Cortical morphology characteristics exhibited positive associations with global cognition, particularly cortical thickness in left pars opercularis (r = .476, p < .001). NYHA class is an independent risk factor for adverse outcome (p = .001). The observed correlation between abnormal cortical morphology and global cognition suggested that cortical morphology may serve as a promising imaging biomarker and provide insights into neuroanatomical underpinnings of cognitive impairment in patients with chronic HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ting Liu
- Department of Radiology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu Ting Yang
- Department of Radiology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chun Xiang Tang
- Department of Radiology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Qing Ma
- Department of Radiology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang Kong
- Department of Radiology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian Hua Li
- Department of Cardiology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Ming Li
- Department of Cardiology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shu Yu Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chang Sheng Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Fei Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Long Jiang Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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Capraru ID, Marian C, Vulcanescu DD, Tanasescu S, Dragomir TL, Marti TD, Boru C, Avram CR, Susan M, Vlad CS. Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Roma Vulnerable Communities in Western Romania: Insights and Predictive Factors from a Retrospective Study. Viruses 2024; 16:435. [PMID: 38543800 PMCID: PMC10974346 DOI: 10.3390/v16030435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected vulnerable populations like Roma patients in Western Romania due to marginalization and limited healthcare access. METHODS A retrospective study analyzed COVID-19 cases between March 2020 and August 2022 using data from the Directorate of Public Health in Timis county. Demographic, epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were assessed, along with risk factors and biomarkers for ICU admission and mortality prediction. The following biomarkers were assessed: C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin (FER), IL-6, D-dimers, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and 25-OH vitamin D (25-OHD). RESULTS In comparison with the general population (GP), Roma patients were more overweight (p = 0.0292), came from rural areas (p = 0.0001), could not recall transmission source (p = 0.0215), were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU, p = 0.0399) more frequently, had worse symptomatology (p = 0.0490), showed more elevated levels of CRP (p = 0.0245) and IL-6 (p < 0.0001) and lower levels of HDL (p = 0.0008) and 25-OHD (p = 0.0299). A stronger, significant correlation was observed between CRP and severity (rho = 0.791 vs. 0.433 in GP), and an inverse stronger significant one was observed between HDL and severity (rho = -0.850 vs. -0.734 in GP) in the Roma patients. The male sex continues to be an important risk factor for ICU admission (OR = 2.379) and death (OR = 1.975), while heavy smoking was more important in relation to ICU admission (OR = 1.768). Although the Roma ethnicity was 1.454 times more at risk of ICU admission than the GP, this did not prove statistically significant (p = 0.0751). CRP was the most important predictive factor in regards to admission to the ICU for both Roma (OR = 1.381) and the GP (OR = 1.110) and in regards to death (OR = 1.154 for Roma, OR = 1.104 for GP). A protective effect of normal values of HDL and 25-OHD was observed in the GP for both ICU admission (OR = 0.947, 0.853, respectively) and death (OR = 0.920, 0.921, respectively), while for the Roma group, normal 25-OHD values were only considered protective in regards to death (OR = 0.703). Cutoff values for ICU admission were 28.98 mg/L for Roma and 29.03 mg/L for GP patients, with high specificity for both groups (over 95). CONCLUSIONS Higher rates of ICU admissions, severe symptomatology, and distinct laboratory biomarker profiles among Roma patients emphasize the critical importance of personalized care strategies and targeted interventions to mitigate the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities. CRP values at admission have had a clear impact as a risk assessment biomarker for Roma patients, while the significance of IL-6, HDL, and 25-OHD should also not be overlooked in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ionut Dragos Capraru
- Department of Epidemiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Catalin Marian
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Center for Complex Networks Science, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Dan Dumitru Vulcanescu
- Department of Microbiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Multidisciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance (MULTI-REZ), Microbiology Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Sonia Tanasescu
- Department of Pediatrics, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Tiberiu Liviu Dragomir
- Medical Semiology II Discipline, Internal Medicine Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Teodora Daniela Marti
- Department of Medicine, “Vasile Goldis” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 310414 Arad, Romania;
- Department of Microbiology, Emergency County Hospital, 310037 Arad, Romania
| | - Casiana Boru
- Department of Medicine, “Vasile Goldis” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 310414 Arad, Romania;
| | - Cecilia Roberta Avram
- Department of Residential Training and Post-University Courses, “Vasile Goldis” Western University, 310414 Arad, Romania;
| | - Monica Susan
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Cristian Sebastian Vlad
- Discipline of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
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Ma M, Wu K, Sun T, Huang X, Zhang B, Chen Z, Zhao Z, Zhao J, Zhou Y. Impacts of systemic inflammation response index on the prognosis of patients with ischemic heart failure after percutaneous coronary intervention. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1324890. [PMID: 38440729 PMCID: PMC10910016 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1324890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases are significantly affected by low-grade chronic inflammation. As a new inflammatory marker, the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) has been demonstrated to be associated with several cardiovascular disease prognoses. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of SIRI in individuals having ischemic heart failure (IHF) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods This observational, retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single site. Finally, the research involved 1,963 individuals with IHF who underwent PCI, with a 36-month follow-up duration. Based on the SIRI quartiles, all patients were classified into four groups. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were the primary outcomes. Every element of the main endpoint appeared in the secondary endpoints: all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and any revascularization. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to assess the incidence of endpoints across the four groups. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis confirmed the independent impact of SIRI on both the primary and secondary endpoints. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to assess the nonlinear association between the SIRI and endpoints. Subgroup analysis was performed to confirm the implications of SIRI on MACE in the different subgroups. Results The main outcome was much more common in patients with a higher SIRI. The Kaplan-Meier curve was another tool that was used to confirm the favorable connection between SIRI and MACE. SIRI was individually connected to a higher chance of the main outcome according to multivariate analyses, whether or not SIRI was a constant [SIRI, per one-unit increase, hazard ratio (HR) 1.04, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.01-1.07, p = 0.003] or categorical variable [quartile of SIRI, the HR (95% CI) values for quartile 4 were 1.88 (1.47-2.42), p <0.001, with quartile 1 as a reference]. RCS demonstrated that the hazard of the primary and secondary endpoints generally increased as SIRI increased. A non-linear association of SIRI with the risk of MACE and any revascularization (Non-linear P <0.001) was observed. Subgroup analysis confirmed the increased risk of MACE with elevated SIRI in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV (P for interaction = 0.005). Conclusion In patients with IHF undergoing PCI, increased SIRI was a risk factor for MACE independent of other factors. SIRI may represent a novel, promising, and low-grade inflammatory marker for the prognosis of patients with IHF undergoing PCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meishi Ma
- Department of Cardiology, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Kang Wu
- Capital Medical University, Personnel Department, Beijing, China
| | - Tienan Sun
- Department of Cardiology, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Biyang Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zehao Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiajian Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Bengang General Hospital of Liaoning Health Industry Group, Benxi, China
| | - Yujie Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Capital Medical University Affiliated Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China
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Muzammil TS, Gangu K, Nasrullah A, Majeed H, Chourasia P, Bobba A, Shekhar R, Bartlett C, Sheikh AB. Thirty-Day readmissions among COVID-19 patients hospitalized during the early pandemic in the United States: Insights from the Nationwide Readmissions Database. Heart Lung 2023; 62:16-21. [PMID: 37290138 PMCID: PMC10244017 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2023.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospital readmissions are core indicators of the quality of health care provision. OBJECTIVE To understand factors associated with 30-day, all-cause hospital readmission rate for patients with COVID-19 in the United States during the early pandemic by utilizing the Nationwide Readmissions Database. METHODS This retrospective study characterized the 30-day, all-cause hospital readmission rate for patients with COVID-19 in the United States during the early pandemic by utilizing the Nationwide Readmissions Database. RESULTS The 30-day, all-cause hospital readmission rate in this population was 3.2%. We found the most common diagnoses at readmission to be sepsis, acute kidney injury, and pneumonia. Chronic alcoholic liver cirrhosis and congestive heart failure were prominent predictors of readmission among patients with COVID-19. Moreover, we found that younger patients and patients from economically disadvantaged backgrounds were at higher risk of 30-day readmission. Acute complications during index hospitalization, including acute coronary syndrome, congestive heart failure, acute kidney injury, mechanical ventilation, and renal replacement therapy, also increased the risk of 30-day readmission for patients with COVID-19. CONCLUSION Based on the results of our study, we advise clinicians to promptly recognize patients with COVID-19 who are at high risk of readmission, and to subsequently manage their underlying comorbidities, to institute timely discharge planning, and to allocate resources to underprivileged patients in order to decrease the risk of 30-day hospital readmissions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karthik Gangu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Adeel Nasrullah
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburg, PA, USA
| | - Harris Majeed
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Prabal Chourasia
- Department of Hospital Medicine, Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Aneish Bobba
- Department of Medicine, John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rahul Shekhar
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Christopher Bartlett
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Abu Baker Sheikh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Mishra T, Patel DA, Awadelkarim A, Sharma A, Patel N, Yadav N, Almas T, Sattar Y, Alraies MC. A National Perspective on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Heart Failure Hospitalizations in the United States. Curr Probl Cardiol 2023; 48:101749. [PMID: 37087079 PMCID: PMC10121154 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.101749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
Nationwide data of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on heart failure (HF) hospitalizations is lacking. We conducted this study to elucidate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HF hospitalizations. Additionally, we assessed the differences in hospitalization characteristics during the pandemic and the impact that a concurrent diagnosis of COVID-19 has on various outcomes and predictors of inpatient mortality among patients admitted for HF. The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried for all hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of HF between 2017 and 2020. Monthly HF hospitalizations were trended longitudinally over this period. Beginning April 1, 2020, concurrent COVID-19 infections were identified. Subsequently, we stratified HF hospitalizations between April 2020 and December 2020 (HF-2020) based on if concomitant COVID-19 was diagnosed, forming the HF-COVID+ve and HF-COVID-ve groups respectively. HF-2020 was also compared with prepandemic HF hospitalizations between April 2019 and December 2019 (HF-2019). Baseline characteristics were compared, and adjusted outcomes were obtained. During the initial COVID-19 surge in April 2020, HF admissions were reduced by 47% compared to January 2020. Following this decline, HF hospitalizations increased but did not reach prepandemic levels. HF-2020 admissions had an increased complication burden compared to HF-2019, including acute myocardial infarction (8.9% vs 6.6%, P < 0.005) and pulmonary embolism (4.1% vs 3.4%, P < 0.005) indicating a sicker cohort of patients. HF-COVID+ve hospitalizations had 2.9 times higher odds of inpatient mortality compared to HF-COVID-ve and an increased adjusted length of stay by 2.16 days (P < 0.005). A pandemic of the same magnitude as COVID-19 can overwhelm even the most advanced health systems. Early resource mobilization and preparedness is essential to provide care to a sick cohort of patients like acute HF, who are directly and indirectly effected by the consequences of the pandemic which has worsened hospitalization outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar Mishra
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI
| | | | - Abdalaziz Awadelkarim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI
| | - Aditi Sharma
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI
| | - Neel Patel
- Department of Internal Medicine, New York Medical College/Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, RI
| | - Narendra Yadav
- Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Dehdradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Talal Almas
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Yasar Sattar
- Department of Cardiology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - M Chadi Alraies
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI.
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Barbos V, Feciche B, Bratosin F, Bogdan I, Negrean RA, Latcu S, Croitor A, Dema V, Bardan R, Cumpanas AA. A Retrospective Analysis of the Challenges of Urothelial Cancer Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Single Academic Center in Romania. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:812. [PMID: 36981469 PMCID: PMC10048588 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11060812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused major changes in the healthcare sector due to adaptations required to hospitalize and treat an impressive number of patients. This retrospective study intended to collect reliable information on urothelial cancer patients in Romania. The primary objective was to compare the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods to observe the differences that occurred in the management of patients with urothelial carcinoma. The secondary objective was to determine the risk factors for urothelial cancer progression in the study cohort correlated with the COVID-19 pandemic. All patients that were diagnosed and treated at our clinic with a diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma (transitional cell carcinoma) during 2019-2021 were included in the current study. A total of 1122 eligible unique cases were identified during the study period. The number of patients who underwent intervention in the pre-pandemic year was 421, followed by a 22.6% decrease in 2020 to 326 cases and a 13.1% increase in 2021 to 375 cases. The proportion of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) cases was significantly higher during the pandemic years, from 30.5% MIBC cases in 2019 to 37.4% in 2020 and 39.4% in 2021, suggesting a delay in presentations during the pandemic. Stage III and IV (TNM) cases were significantly more frequent, even though approximately 40% of all patients were operated on in stage I. The number of cystectomies increased significantly, from 5.2% in 2019 and 4.3% in 2020 to 10.1% in 2021, while the number of elective surgeries decreased, although no significant difference was observed regarding the in-hospital mortality and disease progression at six months. Patients with stage III and IV at presentation had the highest likelihood of disease progression at six months (HR = 5.61). Distant invasion was the second highest risk factor (HR = 5.13), followed by MIBC type (HR = 2.49). Nevertheless, the duration of hospitalization and year of diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic were not significant risk factors for cancer progression at six months. It can be concluded that there was a significant delay in patient presentations in 2020, and we advocate for increased public health awareness for urothelial cancer and increased attention toward the screening and management of these patients in the following years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Barbos
- Department XV, Discipline of Urology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Bogdan Feciche
- Department of Urology, Satu-Mare County Emergency Hospital, 440192 Satu-Mare, Romania
| | - Felix Bratosin
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Iulia Bogdan
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | | | - Silviu Latcu
- Department XV, Discipline of Urology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alexei Croitor
- Department XV, Discipline of Urology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Vlad Dema
- Department XV, Discipline of Urology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Biochemistry Research Center, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Razvan Bardan
- Department XV, Discipline of Urology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alin Adrian Cumpanas
- Department XV, Discipline of Urology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
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Mocanu A, Lazureanu VE, Laza R, Marinescu AR, Cut TG, Sincaru SV, Marza AM, Popescu IM, Herlo LF, Nelson-Twakor A, Rivis M, Bratosinand F, Porosnicu TM, Mederle AO. Laboratory Findings and Clinical Outcomes of ICU-admitted COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Assessment of Particularities Identified among Romanian Minorities. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13020195. [PMID: 36836429 PMCID: PMC9967597 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13020195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The Roma population accounts for over 3% (approximately 10 to 15 million) of Romania's permanent population, and it represents one of Europe's most impoverished populations. Due to poverty and unemployment, Romania's Roma minority may have diminished access to healthcare and preventive medicine. The limited existing evidence suggests that the European Roma group has been at a higher risk of becoming ill and dying during the pandemic owing to their lifestyle choices, socioeconomic circumstances, and genetic pathophysiological traits. As a result, the purpose of the present research was to investigate the link between the inflammatory markers implicated and the clinical progression of COVID-19 in Roma patients who were brought to the intensive care unit. We considered 71 Roma patients admitted to the ICU with SARS-CoV-2 infection and 213 controls from the general population with the same inclusion criteria. The body mass index of patients was statistically significantly higher among Roma patients, with more than 57% being overweight, compared with 40.7% in the control group. Frequent smoking was more prevalent in patients of Roma ethnicity admitted to the ICU and the number of comorbidities. We observed a significantly higher proportion of severe imaging features at admission in the group of cases, although this difference may have been associated with the higher prevalence of smoking in this group. The mean duration of hospitalization was longer by 1.8 days than the control group. Elevated ESR levels were observed in 54.0% of Roma patients at admission, compared with 38.9% in the control group. Similarly, 47.6% of them had elevated CRP levels. IL-6 increased significantly at the time of ICU admission, similarly to the significant rise in the CRP levels, compared with the general population. However, the proportion of intubated patients and mortality did not differ significantly. On multivariate analysis, the Roma ethnicity significantly influenced the CRP (β = 1.93, p-value = 0.020) and IL-6 (β = 1.85, p-value = 0.044). It is necessary to plan different healthcare strategies aimed at special populations, such as the Roma ethnicity, to prevent the reduced disparities presented in in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Mocanu
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Voichita Elena Lazureanu
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Ruxandra Laza
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Adelina Raluca Marinescu
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Talida Georgiana Cut
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Suzana-Vasilica Sincaru
- Emergency Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases and Transplantation, Strada Gheorghe Maricescu, 540327 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Adina Maria Marza
- Department of Surgery, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Irina-Maria Popescu
- Department XIII, Discipline of Epidemiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Lucian-Flavius Herlo
- Department of Surgery, Ineu City Hospital, Republicii Street 2, 315300 Arad, Romania
| | - Andreea Nelson-Twakor
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Ovidius” University of Constanta, 900527 Constanta, Romania
| | - Mircea Rivis
- Department of Anesthesiology and Oral Surgery, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Felix Bratosinand
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Tamara Mirela Porosnicu
- Intensive Care Unit, “Victor Babes” Hospital for Infectious Disease and Pneumology, Strada Gheorghe Adam 13, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Alexandru Ovidiu Mederle
- Department of Surgery, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
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Wang Y, Gao W, Han X, Jiang J, Sandler B, Li X, Zema C. Cardiovascular outcomes by time-varying New York Heart Association class among patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a retrospective cohort study. J Med Econ 2023; 26:1495-1506. [PMID: 37902966 DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2023.2277076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Assess the relationship between New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective cohort study used the Optum Market Clarity database with linked claims and electronic health records. Adults (aged ≥18 years) with obstructive HCM and ≥1 NYHA class assessment after first HCM diagnosis were eligible (selection period: 2007-2021). Thirteen outcomes were assessed following the index date (first documented NYHA class assessment after first HCM diagnosis in the study period): all-cause mortality; first occurrences of all-cause hospitalization; CV-related hospitalization; primary ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA); myocardial infarction (MI); deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE); and major adverse CV event (MACE); as well as first incident events of atrial fibrillation or flutter; primary ischemic stroke or TIA; heart failure; acute MI; DVT/PE; and a composite endpoint of pacemaker and cardiac resynchronization therapy. Their associations with the index NYHA class were described using the Kaplan-Meier method (mortality) or cumulative incidence functions (other outcomes). Hazard ratios between NYHA class over time and outcomes were evaluated using time-varying Cox models, adjusting for age at first observed HCM diagnosis, sex, and race. RESULTS Among 4,631 eligible patients, the mean age was 59 years at the first observed HCM diagnosis (female, 47%; White, 77%). The risks of all outcomes increased with worse (higher) index NYHA class and worsening NYHA class over time. Deterioration in the NYHA class from the index date was associated with increased risks of outcomes. LIMITATIONS The study population may not be representative of all patients with obstructive HCM in the real world. Documented NYHA classes may not fully reflect the longitudinal variation of NYHA class for each patient. CONCLUSIONS Worsening NYHA class was associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality and CV outcomes in obstructive HCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Analysis Group, Inc, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Weihua Gao
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Xu Han
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | | | | | - Xiaoyan Li
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Carla Zema
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, USA
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9
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Hrubaru I, Motoc A, Moise ML, Miutescu B, Citu IM, Pingilati RA, Popescu DE, Dumitru C, Gorun F, Olaru F, Erdelean I, Forga M, Nicolae N, Citu C. The Predictive Role of Maternal Biological Markers and Inflammatory Scores NLR, PLR, MLR, SII, and SIRI for the Risk of Preterm Delivery. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11236982. [PMID: 36498555 PMCID: PMC9738289 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11236982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In many countries, preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation, is the primary cause of infant death and morbidity. An increasing body of research suggests that inflammation (both clinical and subclinical) plays a significant role in inducing preterm labor or developing pregnancy problems that lead to premature birth. Consequently, the purpose of this research was to determine the predictive value of the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), derived Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (dNLR), Monocytes-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR), Platelets-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), for premature delivery. A retrospective study analyzed a total of 243 eligible pregnancies that resulted in a preterm birth during 2020 and 2021. A control group without a history of preterm birth was matched by age and trimester of laboratory analysis at a 1:1 ratio. Although the number of comorbidities was similar among study groups, the body-mass index estimated for the week of gestation was significantly higher among the patients from the prematurity group, as well as the prevalence of urinary tract infections and smoking. Laboratory data showed that patients with a preterm birth had significantly higher white blood cell count and monocytes, but significantly lower lymphocytes, platelets, and hemoglobin. The NLR, dNLR, PLR, and MLR scores showed to be significantly higher among patients from the prematurity group, but SII and SIRI were not significantly different between the study groups. It was observed that the AUC values of NLR, dNLR, PLR, and MLR were higher than 0.600, respectively NLR had the highest value among the tested scores (AUC = 0.694) and the highest sensitivity in this study (71%). The highest sensibility was achieved by dNLR, with 70%, and an AUC value of 0.655 (p-value = 0.022). PLR had the second-highest AUC value (0.682) and the best score in terms of sensitivity (70%) and sensibility (69%) (p-value = 0.015). Lastly, MLR had the lowest significant AUC score (0.607) and lowest sensitivity/sensibility. The significant cut-off values for the inflammatory scores were 9.0 for NLR, 9.8 for dNLR, 250 for PLR, and 4.07 for MLR. After evaluating the importance of these inflammatory scores, further clinical applications should be conducted to confirm the results and improve therapy and care to reduce the burden of premature deliveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Hrubaru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Doctoral School, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Andrei Motoc
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Marius Liviu Moise
- Department of Radiology, “Premiere” Hospital—“Regina Maria”, Calea Aradului 113, 300643 Timisoara, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Bogdan Miutescu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Premiere” Hospital—“Regina Maria”, Calea Aradului 113, 300643 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Ioana Mihaela Citu
- Department of Internal Medicine I, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Raja Akshay Pingilati
- Malla Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences, Suraram Main Road 138, Hyderabad 500055, India
| | - Daniela-Eugenia Popescu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Neonatology, Premiere Hospital, Regina Maria Health Network, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Catalin Dumitru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Florin Gorun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Flavius Olaru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Izabella Erdelean
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Marius Forga
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Nicoleta Nicolae
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cosmin Citu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
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A Retrospective Assessment of Laboratory Findings and Cytokine Markers in Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Patients of Roma Population. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11226777. [PMID: 36431254 PMCID: PMC9697185 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11226777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing research data suggests that the severity of COVID-19 is linked with higher levels of inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines, chemokines, tumor necrosis factor, C-reactive protein, ferritin, and D-dimers. In addition, it was evident from the existing research data that the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection differs according to independent risk factors such as race and ethnicity. Some scarce evidence shows that the European Roma community is likely to be at an elevated risk of illness and death during the pandemic due to their lifestyle, social factors, and economics. Assuming that precautions must be taken to protect this population from coronavirus infections and from widening existing disparities in comparison with the Romanian ethnic population, the current study aimed to observe the clinical evolution of the Roma patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in correlation with the laboratory findings and inflammatory markers involved. After calculating the sample size requirements, we included 83 Roma patients admitted to the hospital with severe COVID-19 and 236 patients of Romanian ethnicity with the same inclusion criteria. Patients were selected from the period stretching from March 2020 to December 2021, before COVID-19 vaccines were introduced. Compared with the general population, the Roma patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection had a higher unemployment rate (39.8%), and most of them were residing in rural regions (65.4%). There were significantly more overweight patients in the Roma group than in the control group (57.8% vs. 40.7%), and it was also observed that high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus were significantly more prevalent in the Roma patients. They had significantly longer mean duration of hospitalization was significantly longer in the group of Roma patients (18.1 days vs. 16.3 days). IL-6 and CRP levels were significantly more elevated during admission in the group of Roma patients (43.4% vs. 28.4%); however, IL-6 levels normalized at discharge, but ESR remained high. Although ICU admissions were significantly more frequent in this group, the mortality rate was not significantly higher than in the general population. It is necessary to plan different healthcare strategies aimed at special populations, such as the Roma ethnicity to prevent disparities in negative outcomes reflected in this study. The results imply that community-health collaborations between organizations of minority groups and healthcare professionals can mitigate the disproportionate consequences of the pandemic on Roma.
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11
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Evaluation of FIB-4, NFS, APRI and Liver Function Tests as Predictors for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Elderly Population: A Matched Case-Control Analysis. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11175149. [PMID: 36079087 PMCID: PMC9457203 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11175149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Several investigations have revealed that COVID-19 causes a significant death rate due to acute respiratory distress syndrome, alterations in the quantity of ACE2 receptor expression, or the intensity of cytokine storm. Similarly, patients with hepatic impairment that are co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 are more likely to display upregulations of ACE2 receptors and cytokine storm overload, which exacerbates hepatic impairment, potentially increasing the death rate. Moreover, it is expected that the aging population develops a higher degree of hepatic fibrosis in association with other comorbid conditions that are likely to influence the course of COVID-19. Therefore, this research was developed to describe the differences in liver test parameters in elderly individuals with COVID-19 in relation to other inflammatory markers and outcomes. This current observational single-center research followed a case-control design of elderly patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The research was conducted at a tertiary emergency hospital in western Romania during a two-year period. There were 632 patients included in the analysis that were split into two equal groups matched 1:1 based on gender and body mass index. Three hundred sixteen patients made the group of cases with COVID-19 patients older than 65 years, while the other half were the 316 patient controls with COVID-19 that were younger than 65 years old. Disease outcomes showed a higher prevalence of ICU admissions (22.8% vs. 12.7%, p-value < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (17.1% vs. 8.9%, p-value = 0.002) in the group of cases. Specific and non-specific liver biomarkers were identified as risk factors for mortality in the elderly, such as ALP (OR = 1.26), LDH (OR = 1.68), AST (OR = 1.98), and ALT (OR = 2.34). Similarly, patients with APRI and NFS scores higher than 1.5 were, respectively, 2.69 times and, 3.05 times more likely to die from COVID-19, and patients with FIB-4 scores higher than 3.25 were 3.13 times more likely to die during hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our research indicates that abnormally increased liver biomarkers and high liver fibrosis scores are related to a worse prognosis in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals.
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12
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Budea CM, Pricop M, Bratosin F, Bogdan I, Saenger M, Ciorica O, Braescu L, Domuta EM, Grigoras ML, Citu C, Diaconu MM, Marincu I. Antibacterial and Antifungal Management in Relation to the Clinical Characteristics of Elderly Patients with Infective Endocarditis: A Retrospective Analysis. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11070956. [PMID: 35884210 PMCID: PMC9312084 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11070956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Infective endocarditis (IE) is increasingly prevalent in the elderly, particularly due to the rising frequency of invasive procedures and intracardiac devices placed on these individuals. Several investigations have highlighted the unique clinical and echocardiographic characteristics, the microorganisms implicated, and the prognosis of IE in the elderly. In addition, the old population seems to be fairly diverse, ranging from healthy individuals with no medical history to patients with many ailments and those who are immobile. Furthermore, the therapy of IE in this group has not been well investigated, and worldwide recommendations do not propose tailoring the treatment approach to the patient’s functional state and comorbid conditions. A multicenter research study was designed as a retrospective study of hospitalized patients with infective endocarditis, aiming to examine the characteristics of elderly patients over 65 years old with infective endocarditis in relation to the antibiotic and antifungal treatments administered, as well as to quantify the incidence of treatment resistance, adverse effects, and mortality in comparison to patients younger than 65. Based on a convenience sampling method, we included in the analysis a total of 78 patients younger than 65 and 131 patients older than 65 years. A total of 140 patients had endocarditis on native valves and 69 patients had endocarditis on prosthetic valves. A significantly higher proportion of elderly patients had signs of heart failure on admission, and the mortality rate was significantly higher in the elderly population. A majority of infections had a vascular cause, followed by dental, maxillo-facial, and ENT interventions. The most common complications of IE were systemic sepsis (48.1% of patients older than 65 years vs. 30.8% in the younger group). The most frequent bacterium involved was Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Streptococcus spp. in a total of more than 50% of all patients. The most commonly used antibiotics were cephalosporins in 33.5% of cases, followed by penicillin in 31.2% and glycopeptides in 28.7%, while Fluconazole was the initial option of treatment for fungal endocarditis in 24.9% of cases. Heart failure at admission (OR = 4.07), the development of septic shock (OR = 6.19), treatment nephrotoxicity (OR = 3.14), severe treatment complications (OR = 4.65), and antibiotic resistance (OR = 3.24) were significant independent risk factors for mortality in the elderly patients. Even though therapeutic management was initiated sooner in the older patients, the associated complications and mortality rate remained significantly greater than those in the patients under 65 years old.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camelia Melania Budea
- Department of Ear-Nose-Throat, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
| | - Marius Pricop
- Discipline of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Felix Bratosin
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
| | - Iulia Bogdan
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
| | - Miriam Saenger
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
| | - Ovidiu Ciorica
- Business Administration and Economics Faculty, West University of Timisoara, Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Street 16, 300115 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Laurentiu Braescu
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases, Str. Gh. Adam nr. 13A, 300310 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Eugenia Maria Domuta
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
- Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, Piata 1 Decembrie 10, 410073 Oradea, Romania
| | - Mirela Loredana Grigoras
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cosmin Citu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.C.); (M.M.D.)
| | - Mircea Mihai Diaconu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.C.); (M.M.D.)
| | - Iosif Marincu
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.B.); (I.B.); (M.S.); (L.B.); (E.M.D.); (M.L.G.); (I.M.)
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Clinical Application Effect of Cluster Management in Noninvasive Ventilator Nursing Care of Patients with Severe Heart Failure. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:9628213. [PMID: 35813438 PMCID: PMC9259365 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9628213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Objective To elucidate the clinical application effect of cluster management in noninvasive ventilator nursing care of patients with severe heart failure (HF). Methods A total of 116 severe patients with HF who received treatment in the our hospital between October 2018 and December 2019 were included, including 50 cases (control group) treated with routine nursing and 66 cases (research group) treated with cluster management. The treatment-related indexes (mechanical ventilation time and hospitalization expenses), symptom resolution (dyspnea, insomnia, nausea, and upper abdominal pain), systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP), heart rate (HR), and prognosis (mortality and disability rate) were observed and compared between the two groups. Results Statistically shorter time of mechanical ventilation and symptom (dyspnea, insomnia, nausea, and upper abdominal pain) resolution were found in the research group compared with the control group. In addition, the research group showed significantly lower hospitalization expenses, SBP, DBP, and HR than the control group. Moreover, lower mortality and disability rates were determined in the research group, yet with no statistical significance between the two cohorts. Conclusion The above results indicate the remarkable clinical application effect of cluster management in noninvasive ventilator nursing of severe HF, which can enhance the treatment efficacy, blood pressure and HR of patients, and facilitate their recovery.
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Popescu A, Pantea S, Radu D, Gluhovschi A, Dumitru C, Dahma G, Mocanu AG, Neamtu R, Dema S, Tigmeanu CV, Grigoras ML, Pescariu SA, Aabed H, Craina M. The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy for Advanced Cervical Cancer at a Romanian Academic Center: A Four-Year Retrospective Analysis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12061488. [PMID: 35741299 PMCID: PMC9222190 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12061488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems worldwide adapted to support COVID-19 patients while continuing to provide assistance to patients with other potentially fatal illnesses. While patients with cancer may be at an elevated risk of severe COVID-19-related complications, their oncologic therapies generally cannot be postponed indefinitely without a negative effect on outcomes. Taking this into account, a thorough examination of the therapy management of various cancers is necessary, such as cervical cancer. Therefore, we aimed to develop a retrospective cohort study to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of cancer care services for women diagnosed with cervical cancer staged IB2-IVA, necessitating chemo- and radiotherapy in Romania, as well as determine the difference in cervical cancer staging between the pandemic and pre-pandemic period. Materials and Methods: Using a multicentric hospital database, we designed a retrospective study to compare the last 24 months of the pre-pandemic period to the first 24 months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to evaluate the variation in the proportion of women diagnosed with cervical cancer and the percentage of inoperable cases requiring chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as to detail their clinical presentation and other findings. Results: We observed that the likelihood of cervical cancer patients requiring radiation therapy at a later stage than before the pandemic increased by about 20% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients at an advanced FIGO stage of cervical cancer had a 3.39 higher likelihood of disease progression after radiotherapy (CI [2.06−4.21], p-value < 0.001), followed by tumor size at diagnosis with a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.12 (CI [2.24−4.00], p-value < 0.001). The factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, postponed treatment and missed appointments, were also identified as significant risk factors for cervical cancer progression (HR = 2.51 and HR = 2.24, respectively). Conclusions We predict that there will be a considerable rise in cervical cancer cases over the next several years based on existing data and that expanding screening and treatment capacity will attenuate this with a minimal increase in morbidity and fatality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alin Popescu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Stelian Pantea
- Department of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (S.P.); (D.R.)
| | - Daniela Radu
- Department of General Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (S.P.); (D.R.)
| | - Adrian Gluhovschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Catalin Dumitru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - George Dahma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Adelina Geanina Mocanu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Radu Neamtu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Sorin Dema
- Discipline of Radiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Codruta Victoria Tigmeanu
- Department of Technology of Materials and Devices in Dental Medicine, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Mirela Loredana Grigoras
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Silvius Alexandru Pescariu
- Department VI, Cardiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Hazzaa Aabed
- Department of Plastic Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Marius Craina
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (A.P.); (A.G.); (C.D.); (G.D.); (A.G.M.); (R.N.); (M.C.)
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15
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Citu C, Chiriac VD, Citu IM, Gorun OM, Burlea B, Bratosin F, Popescu DE, Ratiu A, Buca O, Gorun F. Appraisal of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance in the Romanian Pregnant Population. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:952. [PMID: 35746560 PMCID: PMC9230900 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10060952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Widespread COVID-19 vaccination is crucial for limiting the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and minimizing the risk of novel variants arising in the general population, especially in pregnant women. According to the publicly available research data, vaccination intentions vary significantly by country, with Romania among the European countries with the lowest vaccination rates. Thus, we sought to determine the scale of acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign among pregnant women in Romania, as well as the variables affecting their choices. A cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women referred to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the Timisoara Municipal Emergency Hospital in Romania, where participants were asked to complete an online survey including standardized and unstandardized questionnaires indicating their willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and the reasons for their willingness. Out of the 500 women who were requested to participate, there was a total of 345 validated questionnaires, with 184 vaccinated and 161 unvaccinated pregnant women. The statistically significant determinant factors for COVID-19 vaccination acceptance were the urban area of residence (OR = 0.86), having a higher level of education (OR = 0.81), the third trimester of pregnancy (OR = 0.54), trusting the government (OR = 0.83), being a frequent traveler (OR = 0.76), fearing the severity of COVID-19 (OR = 0.68), the higher availability of COVID-19 vaccines nearby (OR = 0.87), and seeing more people getting vaccinated (OR = 0.75). As there are no increased risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 immunization in pregnant women, the variables identified in this research are crucial in determining the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines that should be addressed in this vulnerable group to increase vaccination rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosmin Citu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.C.); (D.-E.P.); (A.R.)
| | - Veronica Daniela Chiriac
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.C.); (D.-E.P.); (A.R.)
| | - Ioana Mihaela Citu
- Department of Internal Medicine I, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Oana Maria Gorun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Municipal Emergency Clinical Hospital Timisoara, 1-3 Alexandru Odobescu Street, 300202 Timisoara, Romania; (O.M.G.); (B.B.); (O.B.); (F.G.)
| | - Bogdan Burlea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Municipal Emergency Clinical Hospital Timisoara, 1-3 Alexandru Odobescu Street, 300202 Timisoara, Romania; (O.M.G.); (B.B.); (O.B.); (F.G.)
| | - Felix Bratosin
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Daniela-Eugenia Popescu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.C.); (D.-E.P.); (A.R.)
| | - Adrian Ratiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.C.); (D.-E.P.); (A.R.)
| | - Oana Buca
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Municipal Emergency Clinical Hospital Timisoara, 1-3 Alexandru Odobescu Street, 300202 Timisoara, Romania; (O.M.G.); (B.B.); (O.B.); (F.G.)
| | - Florin Gorun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Municipal Emergency Clinical Hospital Timisoara, 1-3 Alexandru Odobescu Street, 300202 Timisoara, Romania; (O.M.G.); (B.B.); (O.B.); (F.G.)
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Alhusban AA, Hammad AM, Alzaghari LF. Simple HPLC method for simultaneous quantification of nicotine and cotinine levels in rat plasma after exposure to two different tobacco products. ACTA CHROMATOGR 2022. [DOI: 10.1556/1326.2022.01054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
Development and validation of a selective analytical method to accurately and precisely quantify nicotine and cotinine levels in rat's plasma after exposure to tobacco cigarettes and tobacco water-pipe.
Methods
An easy HPLC-Photodiode-Array Detection (PDA) method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of nicotine and cotinine levels in plasma of 15 rats (10 rats after tobacco products exposure and 5 control rats). Nicotine and cotinine were extracted in one step from plasma using acetonitrile and concentrated to lowest volume using nitrogen stream.
Results
The developed method offered a rapid analysis time of 14 min with single step of analytes extraction from rat's plasma with recovery percentage range between 93 and 95% and excellent linearity with correlation factor more than 0.994 with analytical range between 50 and 1000 ng mL−1 and LOD of 25 ng mL−1 and 23 ng mL−1 for nicotine and cotinine, respectively. The analysis of rat's plasma after 28 days of exposure to tobacco cigarettes and tobacco water-pipe revealed that the average concentrations of 376 ng mL−1 for cotinine and 223 ng mL−1 for nicotine were obtained after tobacco cigarettes exposure, and 220 ng mL−1 for cotinine and 192 ng mL−1 for nicotine after tobacco water-pipe exposure.
Conclusion
Higher nicotine and cotinine levels were found in plasma after tobacco cigarettes exposure than water-pipe exposure which may have potential undesirable effects on passive smokers in both cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ala A. Alhusban
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Alaa M. Hammad
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Lujain F. Alzaghari
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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Fericean RM, Citu C, Manolescu D, Rosca O, Bratosin F, Tudorache E, Oancea C. Characterization and Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Overweight and Obese Patients: A Dynamic Comparison of COVID-19 Pandemic Waves. J Clin Med 2022; 11:2916. [PMID: 35629042 PMCID: PMC9143838 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11102916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There are few data on the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 viral manifestations in obese and overweight persons during each of the five waves that occurred in Romania during the last two years. As such, the purpose of this research was to characterize the variance in case severity, symptomatology, ICU hospitalizations, and mortality among overweight and obese individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We included 250 overweight and obese patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, where 50 patients were selected from each of the five pandemic waves that existed in Romania until March 2022. A total of 113 patients with normal body mass index were included in the study. They were matched with overweight and obese patients by age, gender, and cardiovascular comorbidities to avoid the effect of confounding factors. Between the five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania, the present investigation found substantial changes in overweight and obese patient features. Obesity increases the risk of hospitalization, severe complications, and mortality from COVID-19. However, this unique demographic is disproportionately affected by obesity-related comorbidities, which contribute to these adverse outcomes. We advocate for the development of new guiding principles for the formulation of healthcare strategies aimed at high-prevalence special populations such as overweight and obese individuals, while also promoting pandemic containment and avoiding the recurrence of pandemic waves with the same guidelines that proved detrimental in terms of economic and human life loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Manuela Fericean
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Doctoral School, ‘’Victor Babes’’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cosmin Citu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Diana Manolescu
- Department of Radiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Ovidiu Rosca
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (O.R.); (F.B.)
| | - Felix Bratosin
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (O.R.); (F.B.)
| | - Emanuela Tudorache
- Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (E.T.); (C.O.)
| | - Cristian Oancea
- Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (E.T.); (C.O.)
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Shanbehzadeh M, Yazdani A, Shafiee M, Kazemi-Arpanahi H. Predictive modeling for COVID-19 readmission risk using machine learning algorithms. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2022; 22:139. [PMID: 35596167 PMCID: PMC9122247 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-022-01880-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic overwhelmed healthcare systems with severe shortages in hospital resources such as ICU beds, specialized doctors, and respiratory ventilators. In this situation, reducing COVID-19 readmissions could potentially maintain hospital capacity. By employing machine learning (ML), we can predict the likelihood of COVID-19 readmission risk, which can assist in the optimal allocation of restricted resources to seriously ill patients. Methods In this retrospective single-center study, the data of 1225 COVID-19 patients discharged between January 9, 2020, and October 20, 2021 were analyzed. First, the most important predictors were selected using the horse herd optimization algorithms. Then, three classical ML algorithms, including decision tree, support vector machine, and k-nearest neighbors, and a hybrid algorithm, namely water wave optimization (WWO) as a precise metaheuristic evolutionary algorithm combined with a neural network were used to construct predictive models for COVID-19 readmission. Finally, the performance of prediction models was measured, and the best-performing one was identified. Results The ML algorithms were trained using 17 validated features. Among the four selected ML algorithms, the WWO had the best average performance in tenfold cross-validation (accuracy: 0.9705, precision: 0.9729, recall: 0.9869, specificity: 0.9259, F-measure: 0.9795). Conclusions Our findings show that the WWO algorithm predicts the risk of readmission of COVID-19 patients more accurately than other ML algorithms. The models developed herein can inform frontline clinicians and healthcare policymakers to manage and optimally allocate limited hospital resources to seriously ill COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Shanbehzadeh
- Department of Health Information Technology, School of Paramedical, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Azita Yazdani
- Clinical Education Research Center, Health Human Resources Research Center, Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohsen Shafiee
- Department of Nursing, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran
| | - Hadi Kazemi-Arpanahi
- Department of Health Information Technology, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran. .,Department of Student Research Committee, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran.
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Pilut CN, Citu C, Gorun F, Bratosin F, Gorun OM, Burlea B, Citu IM, Grigoras ML, Manolescu D, Gluhovschi A. The Utility of Laboratory Parameters for Cardiac Inflammation in Heart Failure Patients Hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:824. [PMID: 35453871 PMCID: PMC9026832 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12040824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has been associated with cardiovascular consequences, including myocardial infarction, thromboembolic events, arrhythmia, and heart failure. Numerous overlapping mechanisms, such as the IL-6 dependent cytokine storm and unopposed angiotensin II stimulation, could be responsible for these consequences. Cardiac damage is hypothesized to be a consequence of the direct viral infection of cardiomyocytes, resulting in increased metabolic demand, immunological activation, and microvascular dysfunction. Patients with pre-existing chronic heart failure are therefore at increased risk of decompensation, further heart damage, and significant health deterioration. Based on the aforementioned assumptions, we developed a study aiming to provide a detailed description of changes in biological parameters and cardiac injury markers of patients with heart failure and SARS-CoV-2 infection by correlating them with the clinical presentation and COVID-19 vaccination status, to predict the probability of ICU admission based on their initial hospital presentation. A two-year retrospective study was performed on heart failure patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and detailed records of biological biomarkers; a total of 124 eligible patients with COVID-19 and 236 without COVID-19 were recruited. Patients with heart failure and SARS-CoV-2 infection had significantly elevated baseline biological parameters and cardiac markers compared to those without COVID-19. Several cardiac injury markers were identified as significant independent risk factors for ICU admission: CK-MB (HR = 4.1, CI [2.2-6.9]), myoglobin (HR = 5.0, CI [2.3-7.8]), troponin-I (HR = 7.1 [4.4-9.6]), troponin-T (HR = 4.9, CI [1.7-7.4]). The elevation of a basic panel of acute inflammation markers (CRP, IL-6, fibrinogen), D-dimers, and BNP was also a significant risk factor. The follow-up of survivors at four weeks after viral clearance determined a worsened clinical picture by NYHA classification, worsened cardiac ultrasound findings, and a mild improvement in cardiac and inflammatory markers. Increased levels of myocardial damage parameters in association with cardiac ultrasound findings and basic inflammatory markers may enable early risk assessment and triage in hospitalized heart failure patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciprian Nicolae Pilut
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Cosmin Citu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.G.); (A.G.)
| | - Florin Gorun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.G.); (A.G.)
| | - Felix Bratosin
- Methodological and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Oana Maria Gorun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Municipal Emergency Clinical Hospital Timisoara, 1-3 Alexandru Odobescu Street, 300202 Timisoara, Romania; (O.M.G.); (B.B.)
| | - Bogdan Burlea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Municipal Emergency Clinical Hospital Timisoara, 1-3 Alexandru Odobescu Street, 300202 Timisoara, Romania; (O.M.G.); (B.B.)
| | - Ioana Mihaela Citu
- Department of Internal Medicine I, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Mirela Loredana Grigoras
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Diana Manolescu
- Department of Radiology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Adrian Gluhovschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (F.G.); (A.G.)
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