Liver function parameters in hip fracture patients: relations to age, adipokines, comorbidities and outcomes

Multiplexed bacterial pathogen detection and clinical characteristics of orthopedic infection in hospitalized patients

Introduction

Accurate identification of the etiology of orthopedic infection is very important for correct and timely clinical management, but it has been poorly studied. In the current study we explored the association of multiple bacterial pathogens with orthopedic infection.

Methods

Hospitalized orthopedic patients were enrolled in a rural hospital in Qingdao, China. Wound or exudate swab samples were collected and tested for twelve bacterial pathogens with both culture and multiplex real time PCR.

Results and discussion

A total of 349 hospitalized orthopedic patients were enrolled including 193 cases presenting infection manifestations upon admission and 156 with no sign of infection. Orthopedic infection patients were mainly male (72.5%) with more lengthy hospital stay (median 15 days). At least one pathogen was detected in 42.5% (82/193) of patients with infection while 7.1% (11/156) in the patients without infection (P < 0.001). S. aureus was the most prevalent causative pathogen (15.5%). Quantity dependent pathogen association with infection was observed, particularly for P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae, possibly indicating subclinical infection. Most of the patients with detected pathogens had a previous history of orthopedic surgery (odds ratio 2.8, P = 0.038). Pathogen specific clinical manifestations were characterized. Multiplex qPCR, because of its high sensitivity, superior specificity, and powerful quantification could be utilized in combination with culture to guide antimicrobial therapy and track the progression of orthopedic infection during treatment.

Impact of Hepatitis B virus infection on postoperative complications and length of stay in elderly patients with hip fracture: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis and subsequent fractures are common in the chronic hepatitis B (CHB) population, especially in the elderly. This study investigated the effects of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on postoperative outcomes following hip fracture surgery.

METHODS

The study identified elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery at three academic tertiary care centres between January 2014 and December 2020. Propensity score matching was performed to compare the outcomes of 1,046 patients with HBV infection to 1,046 controls.

RESULTS

The seroprevalence of HBV among elderly patients undergoing hip surgery was 4.94%. The HBV cohort had significantly higher rates of medical complications (28.1 vs. 22.7%, p = 0.005), surgical complications (14.0 vs. 9.7%, p = 0.003), and unplanned readmissions (18.9 vs. 14.5%, p = 0.03) within 90 days of surgery. Patients with HBV infection were more likely to have increased length of stay (6.2 vs. 5.9 days, p = 0.009) and in-hospital charges (¥52,231 vs. ¥49,832, p < 0.00001). Multivariate logistic regression suggested that liver fibrosis and thrombocytopenia were independent risk factors for major complications and extended LOS.

CONCLUSION

Patients with HBV infection were at greater risk of adverse postoperative outcomes. We should pay more attention to the considerable burden of perioperative management of CHB patients. Due to the high proportion of undiagnosed patients in the Chinese elderly population, universal HBV screening should be considered preoperatively.

Comparison of Prognostic Value of 10 Biochemical Indices at Admission for Prediction Postoperative Myocardial Injury and Hospital Mortality in Patients with Osteoporotic Hip Fracture

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic impact at admission of 10 biochemical indices for prediction postoperative myocardial injury (PMI) and/or hospital death in hip fracture (HF) patients. Methods: In 1273 consecutive patients with HF (mean age 82.9 ± 8.7 years, 73.5% women), clinical and laboratory parameters were collected prospectively, and outcomes were recorded. Multiple logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic analyses (the area under the curve, AUC) were preformed, the number needed to predict (NNP) outcome was calculated. Results: Age ≥ 80 years and IHD were the most prominent clinical factors associated with both PMI (with cardiac troponin I rise) and in-hospital death. PMI occurred in 555 (43.6%) patients and contributed to 80.3% (49/61) of all deaths (mortality rate 8.8% vs. 1.9% in non-PMI patients). The most accurate biochemical predictive markers were parathyroid hormone > 6.8 pmol/L, urea > 7.5 mmol/L, 25(OH)vitamin D < 25 nmol/L, albumin < 33 g/L, and ratios gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) to alanine aminotransferase > 2.5, urea/albumin ≥ 2.0 and GGT/albumin ≥ 7.0; the AUC for developing PMI ranged between 0.782 and 0.742 (NNP: 1.84−2.13), the AUC for fatal outcome ranged from 0.803 to 0.722, (NNP: 3.77−9.52). Conclusions: In HF patients, easily accessible biochemical indices at admission substantially improve prediction of hospital outcomes, especially in the aged >80 years with IHD.

Elevated gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase level is associated with an increased risk of hip fracture in postmenopausal women

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels and the risk of hip fracture among middle-aged women by using the Korean National Health Insurance Service claims database from 2002 to 2015. After exclusion of those with any chronic liver disease, heavy alcohol consumption, any missing values required for our analysis, or GGT levels less than 1 or greater than 99 percentile, we classified subjects into three groups according to baseline GGT levels. A total of 127,141 women aged 50 years or older were included for analysis (GGT range: 8–106 U/L). During an average 12.1 years of follow-up, 2758 patients sustained hip fractures (2.17%). Compared with the group in the lowest tertile, the group in the highest tertile had the highest cumulative incidence of hip fracture. One log-unit increase in GGT was associated with a 17% increased risk of hip fracture. Subgroup analysis by BMI (≥ 25 vs. < 25 kg/m²), presence of diabetes, levels of other liver enzymes, and alcohol consumption level did not show significant effect modification. In summary, elevated baseline GGT level was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture in postmenopausal women, independent of alcohol consumption and chronic liver disease.

Predictive Value of Blood Parameters and Comorbidities on Three-Month Mortality in Elderly Patients With Hip Fracture

Background Knowing the factors that increase the risk of death in patients with hip fractures will help us to take precautions and intervene when necessary in the pre- and postoperative periods. Therefore, it is important to have inexpensive and practical biomarkers that can predict postoperative complications and mortality. The present study aimed to identify the factors that contribute to early mortality in elderly patients with hip fractures in the first three months after trauma, as well as the parameters that may be determinants of mortality. Methods The data of 1,015 patients over 65 years of age with femoral neck and intertrochanteric fractures admitted between January 2009 and January 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 763 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Our study was designed to include 110 (14.4%) patients in Group 1 who were determined to have died within three months after the diagnosis of hip fracture and 653 (85.6%) patients in Group 2 who were determined not to have died within one year after the trauma. Age, gender, comorbid diseases, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, type of anesthesia, operation time, type of implant used, time until surgery, and some biochemical blood values were compared between the two groups. Our data were analyzed statistically using the IBM Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) software for Windows, v. 25.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY). Results Of all of the patients, 370 (48.5%) were female and 393 (51.5%) were male. The patients who survived had an average age of 76.08, while the patients who died had an average age of 80.57. The mean age among the groups is significantly higher in patients who died. High creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and low albumin values were found to be associated with mortality. Conclusion It has been determined that advanced age, delayed operation time, high ASA score, and the number of comorbid diseases are associated with mortality in elderly patients with hip fractures, and biomarkers, such as creatinine, ALT, and LDH, can be used as markers for early mortality. With the increase of studies of similar nature, it will be possible to calculate a systematic risk map for mortality in elderly patients with a proximal femur fracture.

Correlation of serum PTH level and fracture healing speed in elderly patients with hip fracture

Purpose

To access serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level in elderly patients with hip fracture in relation to fracture healing outcomes.

Methods

This study included 90 elderly male patients with hip fracture and they were defined as the hip fracture group, and they were divided into healing effective group and delayed healing group by final fracture healing outcomes, 45 cases in each group; another 45 male patients older than 70 years without established osteoporosis and hip fracture were included as the control group. The levels of serum PTH level were examined in each group.

Results

Serum PTH level was significantly higher in healing effective group patients at the 7 days and 14 days after fracture than the delayed healing patients.

Conclusions

Our results show that serum PTH level may be an effective indicator of hip fracture delayed healing risk in the elderly.

BLOOD ORDERS AND PREDICTORS FOR HEMOTRANSFUSION IN ELECTIVE FEMUR FRACTURE REPAIR SURGERY

ABSTRACT Objective: to estimate the incidence of red blood cell concentrate orders in elective femur fracture repair surgeries and to identify predictors for hemotranfusion. Method: retrospective cohort study conducted with 271 patients submitted to femur fracture repair surgery between July 2013 and July 2016. Surgical and transfusion data were obtained from patient charts and the Transfusion Management System. Association between sociodemographic and clinical variables related to the surgical procedure and the occurrence of red blood cell concentrate transfusion was analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-squared test, relative risk, and odds ratio. Multivariate analysis was performed using binomial logistic regression. Results: the incidence of blood orders for patients undergoing femur fracture repair surgery was 87%. Ninety-one (33.6%) patients received red blood cell concentrate transfusions. Even though placing blood orders is recommended, given the possibility of intra- or postoperative transfusions, only 52 (47.2%) blood transfusions occurred in the preoperative period. The variables female sex, low preoperative hemoglobin levels and procedure lasting longer than 120 minutes presented statistical significance (p<0.05) and were considered predictors for hemototransfusion. Conclusion: Perioperative nursing must be aware of the importance of blood orders for all patients undergoing femur fracture repair surgery, including in the preoperative period, with special attention to patients who are female, previously anemic and submitted to long-lasting procedures.

Usefulness of simple biomarkers at admission as independent indicators and predictors of in-hospital mortality in older hip fracture patients

INTRODUCTION

The data on predictive value of the routinely obtained preoperative biochemical parameters in hip fracture (HF) patients are limited. The aims of this study were to examine in older HF patients (1) the relationships between a broad set of routine laboratory parameters at admission and in-hospital mortality, and (2) evaluate the prognostic value the biomarkers and clinical characteristics (alone or in combination) provide to predict a fatal outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In 1820 consecutive patients with low-trauma osteoporotic HF aged >60 years (mean age 82.8 ± 8.1 years; 76.4% women; 65% community-dwelling) 35 laboratory variables along with 20 clinical and socio-demographic characteristics at admission were analysed. The validation cohort included data on 455 older (≥60 years of age) HF patients (mean age 82.1 ± 8.0 years, 72.1% women).

RESULTS

The mortality rate was 6% (n = 109). On univariate analysis 14 laboratory and 8 clinical parameters have been associated with in-hospital mortality. Multiple regression analyses determined 7 variables at admission as independent indicators of a fatal outcome: 4 biomarkers (albumin <33 g/L; alanine aminotransferase/gamma-glutamyl transferase ratio [GGT/ALT] >2.5; parathyroid hormone [PTH] >6.8 pmol/L; 25(OH)vitamin D < 25 nmol/L) and 3 pre-fracture clinical conditions (history of myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease [GFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m²] and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease); the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.75 (95%CI 0.70-0.80). The risk of in-hospital death was 1.6-2.6 times higher in subjects with any of these risk factors (RFs), and increased by 2.6-6.0-fold in patients with any two RFs (versus no RFs). The mortality rate increased stepwise as the number of RFs increased (from 0.43% -none RF to 16.8%- ≥4RF). The prognostic value of a single RF was low (AUC ≤0.635) but combination of 2 or more RFs improved the prediction significantly; AUC reached 0.84(95%CI 0.77-0.90) when ≥4 RFs (versus 0-1RF) were present. In the validated and main cohorts the number of predicted by 1, 2, 3 or ≥4 RFs and observed deaths were practically similar.

CONCLUSIONS

In HF patients, seven easily identifiable at admission characteristics, including 4 biomarkers, are strong and independent indicators of in-hospital mortality and can be used for risk stratification and individualised management.

Bone Turnover Status: Classification Model and Clinical Implications

Aim: To develop a practical model for classification bone turnover status and evaluate its clinical usefulness. Methods: Our classification of bone turnover status is based on internationally recommended biomarkers of both bone formation (N-terminal propeptide of type1 procollagen, P1NP) and bone resorption (beta C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen, bCTX), using the cutoffs proposed as therapeutic targets. The relationships between turnover subtypes and clinical characteristic were assessed in1223 hospitalised orthogeriatric patients (846 women, 377 men; mean age 78.1±9.50 years): 451(36.9%) subjects with hip fracture (HF), 396(32.4%) with other non-vertebral (non-HF) fractures (HF) and 376 (30.7%) patients without fractures. Resalts: Six subtypes of bone turnover status were identified: 1 - normal turnover (P1NP>32 μg/L, bCTX≤0.250 μg/L and P1NP/bCTX>100.0[(median value]); 2- low bone formation (P1NP ≤32 μg/L), normal bone resorption (bCTX≤0.250 μg/L) and P1NP/bCTX>100.0 (subtype2A) or P1NP/bCTX<100.0 (subtype 2B); 3- low bone formation, high bone resorption (bCTX>0.250 μg/L) and P1NP/bCTX<100.0; 4- high bone turnover (both markers elevated ) and P1NP/bCTX>100.0 (subtype 4A) or P1NP/bCTX<100.0 (subtype 4B). Compared to subtypes 1 and 2A, subtype 2B was strongly associated with nonvertebral fractures (odds ratio [OR] 2.0), especially HF (OR 3.2), age>75 years and hyperparathyroidism. Hypoalbuminaemia and not using osteoporotic therapy were two independent indicators common for subtypes 3, 4A and 4B; these three subtypes were associated with in-hospital mortality. Subtype 3 was associated with fractures (OR 1.7, for HF OR 2.4), age>75 years, chronic heart failure (CHF), anaemia, and history of malignancy, and predicted post-operative myocardial injury, high inflammatory response and length of hospital stay (LOS) above10 days. Subtype 4A was associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), anaemia, history of malignancy and walking aids use and predicted LOS>20 days, but was not discriminative for fractures. Subtype 4B was associated with fractures (OR 2.1, for HF OR 2.5), age>75 years, CKD and indicated risks of myocardial injury, high inflammatory response and LOS>10 days. Conclusions: We proposed a classification model of bone turnover status and demonstrated that in orthogeriatric patients altered subtypes are closely related to presence of nonvertebral fractures, comorbidities and poorer in-hospital outcomes. However, further research is needed to establish optimal cut points of various biomarkers and improve the classification model.

Lower serum P1NP/βCTX ratio and hypoalbuminemia are independently associated with osteoporotic nonvertebral fractures in older adults

Purpose

To estimate the discriminative value of serum P1NP/βCTX ratio and albumin levels in hospitalized orthogeriatric patients with and without nonvertebral fractures.

Methods

In 1,239 orthogeriatric patients (mean age 78.1±9.52 years, 69.1% women) including 854 (68.9%) with osteoporotic nonvertebral fractures (455 [36.7%] with hip fracture [HF]) and 385 (31.1%) without fractures, markers of bone formation (procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide [P1NP], osteocalcin [OC], and bone resorption (beta-C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type 1 collagen [βCTX]), indices of mineral metabolism, and parameters of liver and renal functions were assessed; data on clinical and laboratory characteristics were collected prospectively.

Results

Both lower serum P1NP/βCTX ratio and albumin concentration (as continuous or categorical variables) were independently associated with fracture presence in multivariate logistic regressions. Compared with the highest P1NP/βCTX tertile, the prevalence of HF, after adjustment for multiple covariates, was 3-fold higher in the lowest tertile and 1.5 times higher in the middle tertile; presence of any fracture was 2.3- and 1.6-fold higher, respectively; patients with albumin levels in the lowest tertile had multivariate odds ratio (OR) of 4.6 for HF and 2.8 for any fracture, in the middle tertile the ORs were 2.2 and 1.3, respectively. The P1NP/βCTX <100.0 (median) and hypoalbuminemia (<33 g/L) demonstrated area under the curve values for HF of 0.802 and 0.806, respectively, and for any fractures of 0.711 and 0.706, respectively. When both characteristics were combined, the ORs for HF or any fracture, compared with the nonfractured group, were 7.8 and 3.2, respectively, with an accuracy of 79.6% and 71.6%, respectively.

Conclusions

In orthogeriatric patients, both serum P1NP/βCTX ratio and albumin levels demonstrated an inverse dose–effect relationship with the prevalence of nonvertebral fractures and independently indicated fracture presence with acceptable discriminatory power. Lower P1NP/βCTX (<100) and hypoalbuminemia could be useful simple additive prognostic tools for fracture risk stratification in the elderly.

A Comprehensive Analysis of the Causes and Predictors of 30-Day Mortality Following Hip Fracture Surgery

BACKGROUND

A fracture neck of femur is the leading cause of injury-related mortality in the elderly population. The 30-day mortality figure is a well utilised marker of clinical outcome following a fracture neck of femur. Current studies fail to analyse all patient demographic, biochemical and comorbid parameters associated with increased 30-day mortality. We aimed to assess medical risk factors for mortality, which are easily identifiable on admission for patients presenting with a fractured neck of femur.

METHODS

A retrospective review of a prospectively populated database was undertaken to identify all consecutive patients with a fracture neck of femur between October 2008 and March 2011. All factors related to the patient, injury and surgery were identified. The primary outcome of interest was 30-day mortality. Univariate and subsequent multivariate analyses using a backward stepwise likelihood ratio Cox regression model were performed in order to establish all parameters that significantly increased the risk of death.

RESULTS

A total of 1,356 patients were included in the study. The 30-day mortality was 8.7%. The most common causes of death included pneumonia, sepsis and acute myocardial infarction. Multiple regression analysis revealed male gender, increasing age, admission source other than the patient's own home, admission haemoglobin of less than 10 g/dL, a history of myocardial infarction, concomitant chest infection during admission, increasing Charlson comorbidity score and liver disease to be significant predictors of mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has elucidated risk factors for mortality using clinical and biochemical information which are easily gathered at the point of hospitalization. These results allow for identification of vulnerable patients who may benefit from a prioritisation of resources.