Association between Elevated Plasma Vitamin B12 and Short-Term Mortality in Elderly Patients Hospitalized in an Internal Medicine Unit

Background

The prognostic value of vitamin B12 blood levels remains controversial. An association between elevated vitamin B12 and mortality has been reported, particularly among elderly patients with cancers and liver or blood diseases. The present study explored the relationship between mortality and elevated vitamin B12 levels in a population of unscheduled inpatients in an internal medicine unit.

Methods

This retrospective observational analysis was conducted between August 2014 and December 2018. We compared 165 patients with elevated plasma vitamin B12 levels (>600 pmol/l) with a random sample of 165 patients with normal B12 levels who were hospitalized during the same period. Demographic, clinical, and biological characteristics were assessed during hospitalization. The primary endpoint was all-cause death at 1 year.

Results

Patients with elevated B12 were younger, with a lower body mass index and lower plasma albumin than those with normal B12 (75 ± 16 years vs 79 ± 13 years, p = 0.047; 23 ± 5 vs 26 ± 7 kg/m2, p  <  0.001; and 33 ± 5 vs 35 ± 5 g/l, p  <  0.001, respectively). The prevalence of auto-immune disease and referral from an intensive care unit was higher among patients with elevated B12 (11% vs 5%, p = 0.043 and 36% vs 10%, p  <  0.001, respectively). After 1 year of follow-up, 64 (39%) patients with elevated B12 had died compared to 43 (26%) patients with normal B12 (p = 0.018). Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, intensive care unit hospitalization, albumin level, and the presence of solid cancer or autoimmune disease revealed elevated B12 to be associated with a significant risk of death in the first year of follow-up (hazard ratio: 1.71 [1.08-2.7], p = 0.022).

Conclusion

Elevated B12 is an early warning indicator of increased short-term mortality, such as independently of age, cancer, or comorbidities, in patients hospitalized in an internal medicine department.

In-depth characterization of pulmonary arterial hypertension in mixed connective tissue disease: a French national multicentre study

OBJECTIVE

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a leading cause of death in MCTD. We aimed to describe PAH in well-characterized MCTD patients.

METHODS

MCTD patients enrolled in the French Pulmonary Hypertension Registry with a PAH diagnosis confirmed by right heart catheterization were included in the study and compared with matched controls: MCTD patients without PAH, SLE patients with PAH and SSc patients with PAH. Survival rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and risk factors for PAH in MCTD patients and risk factors for mortality in MCTD-PAH were sought using multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients with MCTD-PAH were included in the study. Comparison with MCTD patients without PAH and multivariate analysis revealed that pericarditis, polyarthritis, thrombocytopenia, interstitial lung disease (ILD) and anti-Sm antibodies were independent predictive factors of PAH/PH in MCTD. Estimated survival rates at 1, 5 and 10 years following PAH diagnosis were 83%, 67% and 56%, respectively. MCTD-PAH presentation and survival did not differ from SLE-PAH and SSc-PAH. Multivariate analysis revealed that tobacco exposure was an independent factor predictive of mortality in MCTD-PAH.

CONCLUSION

PAH is a rare and severe complication of MCTD associated with a 56% 10-year survival. We identified ILD, pericarditis, thrombocytopenia and anti-Sm antibodies as risk factors for PAH in MCTD and tobacco exposure as a predictor of mortality in MCTD-PAH.

[Easing the patients' trajectories from private practice to hospital: One-year experiment of the RAPIDO project]

INTRODUCTION

Internal medicine departments manage patients referred by emergency departments or private practitioners. Considering the overcrowding of emergency departments and lack of beds for inpatients, this specialty must be part of an "ambulatory shift", particularly by strengthening the links between community and hospital medicine. Our objective was to evaluate a new care pathway in internal medicine at Nîmes university hospital.

METHODS

Our department has developed the RAPIDO project (Réseau d'Aide à la PrIse en Charge Diagnostique et d'Orientation). The referring general practitioner contacts a senior internist on a dedicated phone line. After careful evaluation, he may offer a consultation within 15 days. A summary report is then given to the patient.

RESULTS

Between November 2020 and November 2021, 254 patients were seen via RAPIDO. The average call-consultation time period was 6.4 (±4.5) days, for symptoms lasting for 2 weeks to 3 months in 43% (n=109) of cases. The reason for the call was a suspicion of systemic disease in 28% of cases (n=84), or a dysfunction of an organ in 16%. A diagnosis was made in 89% of cases. The budget of the whole procedure was balanced.

CONCLUSION

A quick internal medicine consultation pathway for general practitioners seems to be a relevant, feasible and economically viable healthcare trajectory, which can be transposed to any type of healthcare institution, as soon as sufficient human resources are dedicated.

Mid-Term Sequelae of Surviving Patients Hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit for COVID-19 Infection: The REHCOVER Study

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this prospective, single-center study was to explore the mid-term outcomes 6 to 9 months after hospitalization in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for severe COVID-19 infection.

METHODS

Patients systematically underwent biological tests, pulmonary function tests, chest computed tomography (CT) scan, and psychological tests.

RESULTS

Among 86 patients, including 71 (82.6%) men, median age of 65.8 years (56.7; 72.4), 57 (71.3%) patients presented post-COVID-19 asthenia, 39 (48.1%) muscle weakness, and 30 (36.6%) arthralgia. Fifty-two (64.2%) patients had a decreased diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) <80% and 16 (19.8%) had DLCO <60%. Chest CT-scans showed ground glass opacities in 35 (40.7%) patients, and reticular changes in 28 patients (33.7%), including fibrosis-like changes in 18 (21.7%) patients. Reticular changes and DLCO <60% were associated with length of stay in ICU, and reticular changes with higher maximal CRP level. The psychological questionnaires found 37.7% suffered from depression, 23.5% from anxiety, 42.4% from insomnia, and 9.4% from post-traumatic stress. Being female was associated with a higher frequency of depression and anxiety, with depression scores being associated with obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

Many patients hospitalized in ICU for severe COVID-19 infection have mid-term sequelae. Additional studies on the prognostic factors seem necessary.

Persistence of neutrophil extracellular traps and anticardiolipin auto-antibodies in post-acute phase COVID-19 patients

In the early phase of the pandemic, we were among the first to postulate that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play a key role in COVID-19 pathogenesis. This exploratory prospective study based on 279 individuals showed that plasma levels of neutrophil elastase, myeloperoxidase and circulating DNA of nuclear and mitochondrial origins in nonsevere (NS), severe (S) and postacute phase (PAP) COVID-19 patients were statistically different as compared to the levels in healthy individuals, and revealed the high diagnostic power of these NETs markers in respect to the disease severity. The diagnostic power of NE, MPO, and cir-nDNA as determined by the Area Under Receiver Operating Curves (AUROC) was 0.95, 097, and 0.64; 0.99, 1.0, and 0.82; and 0.94, 1.0, and 0.93, in NS, S, and PAP patient subgroups, respectively. In addition, a significant fraction of NS, S as well as of PAP patients exhibited aCL IgM/IgG and anti-B2GP IgM/IgG positivity. We first demonstrate persistence of these NETs markers in PAP patients and consequently of sustained innate immune response imbalance, and a prolonged low-level pro-thrombotic potential activity highlighting the need to monitor these markers in all COVID-19 PAP individuals, to investigate postacute COVID-19 pathogenesis following intensive care, and to better identify which medical resources will ensure complete patient recovery.

Analytical evaluation and bioclinical validation of new aldosterone and renin immunoassays

OBJECTIVES

Aldosterone and renin determinations play an important role in the etiological diagnosis of secondary hypertension. The analytical performances of new aldosterone and renin immunoassays on the Lumipulse G600II^® system (Fujierbio) were investigated and compared with those of the iSYS^® system (IDS) on patients concerned by medical investigations in a context of suspected or proven Primary aldosteronism.

METHODS

By using the Lumipulse^® G Aldosterone and Renin assays we performed imprecision study, linearity and method comparison (n=107). Accuracy of this new renin assay was tested using the International Standard (WHO IS 68/356). We also assessed the equivalence of the different samples types (n=29).

RESULTS

The imprecision evaluation showed all CVs <3% and <6% for Lumipulse^® G Aldosterone and Renin assays respectively. The linearity was excellent over the clinical range and the comparison with the iSYS^® assays (n=79) showed a strong correlation (R²=1) despite a slight tendency to underestimation (bias of -17.53 pg/mL or 48.56 pmol/L for aldosterone and -15.395 pg/mL for renin). Moreover, the contingency studies based on diagnostic criteria showed that Lumipulse^® G results lead to the same clinical diagnosis that iSYS^® results. A clear correlation was obtained between EDTA and heparin plasma as well as with the serum for all range of measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The Lumipulse^® G Aldosterone and Renin assays present performances compatible with a routine use in medical laboratories. The precise quantification in the low range can be of interest in some clinical contexts especially standing/laying tests. However, the standardisation against the WHO International Standard Renin would be advisable.

Predictive risk factors for death in elderly patients after hospitalization for acute heart failure in an internal medicine unit

To determine the predictive factors of mortality after hospitalization for acute heart failure (AHF) in an internal medicine department. Retrospective observational analysis conducted on 164 patients hospitalized for AHF in 2016-2017. Demographic, clinical and biological characteristics were assessed during hospitalization. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of all-cause death. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox model adjusted for age and renal function. The study population was mostly female (n = 106, 64.6%), elderly (82.9 years ± 10.0), with a preserved LVEF (86%). Mean Charlson comorbidity index was 6.5 ± 2.5. After a median follow-up of 17.5 months (IQR 6-38), 109 patients (65%) had died with a median time to death of 14 months (IQR 3-29). In univariate analysis, patients who died were significantly older, had lower BMI and renal function, and higher CCI and NT-proBNP levels (median of 4944 ng/l [2370-14403] versus 1740 ng/l [1119-3503], p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, risk factors for death were lower BMI (HR 0.69, CI [0.53-0.90], p = 0.005), lower albuminemia (HR 0.77 [0.63-0.94], p = 0.009), higher ferritinemia (HR 1.38 [1.08-1.76], p = 0.010), higher uricemia (HR 1.28 [1.02-1.59], p = 0.030), higher NT-proBNP (HR 2.46 [1.65-3.67], p < 0.001) and longer hospital stay (HR 1.25 [1.05-1.49] p = 0.013). In elderly multimorbid patients, AHF prognosis appears to be influenced by nutritional criteria, including lower BMI, hypoalbuminemia, and hyperuricemia (independently of renal function). These results underline the importance of nutritional status, especially as therapeutic options are available. This consideration paves the way for further research in this field.

Devenir des patients hospitalisés en soins critiques pour infection à SARS-COV2 : évaluation standardisée des séquelles à 6–9 mois

Introduction

Identifié en Chine en décembre 2019, le Severe Acute Respiratory SyndromeCoronavirus 2 (SARS-COV2) s’est rapidement propagé au niveau mondial. Si les études se sont initialement concentrées sur la prise en charge de la phase aiguë de la COrona VIrus Disease (COVID), l’objectif de ce travail est de s’intéresser aux conséquences à distance d’une hospitalisation pour COVID sévère.

Patients et méthodes

Nous avons réalisé une étude prospective, monocentrique, incluant des patients 6 à 9 mois après leur hospitalisation en soins critiques (soins intensifs ou réanimation) pour une infection confirmée à SARS-COV2. Les patients étaient évalués au cours d’une hospitalisation de jour en médecine interne. L’entretien débutait par un recueil des antécédents du patient, des évènements et des symptômes post-COVID. L’examinateur procédait ensuite à un examen clinique détaillé et un test de marche des 6 minutes (TM6). Les patients réalisaient de manière systématique des explorations fonctionnelles respiratoires (EFR), une tomodensitométrie (TDM) thoracique non injectée, une échographie cardiaque trans-thoracique (ETT), et un bilan biologique complet. Une batterie de tests était réalisée, explorant la qualité de vie et les séquelles psychologiques.

Résultats

Quatre-vingt-six patients, dont 71 (82,6 %) hommes, d’âge médian 65,8 ans (56,7;72,4), ont été évalués dans un délai moyen de 7 mois (min 3,4; max 14,9). L’hypertension artérielle (46,5 %), le diabète (34,9 %) et la dyslipidémie (39,5 %) étaient les antécédents médicaux les plus représentés. Douze (14,0 %) patients avaient une pathologie pulmonaire sous-jacente, principalement une broncho-pneumopathie chronique obstructive (BPCO). L’indice de comorbidités de Charlson médian était de 1 (0,0; 2,0). La durée médiane du séjour en soins critiques était de 10,0 (6,0;17,0) jours. Cinquante-quatre (62,8 %) patients ont eu une ventilation invasive et 67 (77,9 %) patients ont reçu un traitement par corticothérapie. Cinquante-sept (71,3 %) patients ont présenté une asthénie post-COVID, 39 (48,1 %) une faiblesse musculaire, 30 (36,6 %) des arthralgies. Quinze patients ont développé un déséquilibre du diabète et 9 un déséquilibre de la pression artérielle. Dix-sept (21,3 %) patients avaient une distance au TM6 < 80 % de la théorique. Quarante-six patients53,5 %) avaient un score de dyspnée Medical Reaserch Council (MRC) de 0 et 24 (27,9 %) avaient un score MRC de 1. Treize (15,5 %) patients avaient une auscultation anormale à type de crépitants secs des bases. Cinquante-deux (64,2 %) patients ont présenté un déficit de la diffusion du CO défini par une DLCO < 80 % et 16 (19,8 %) avaient une DLCO < 60 %. Le scanner thoracique montrait chez 35 (40,7 %) patients des lésions de verre dépoli et 18 (21,7 %) de la fibrose. Trente-deux patients (37,6 %) avaient un score PHQ-9 significatif pour une dépression, 20 (23,5 %) un score GAD-7 significatif pour un trouble anxieux et 8 (9,4 %) patients avaient un score PCL5 supérieur au seuil évoquant un état de stress post-traumatique. Le niveau de qualité de vie à distance de l’épisode aigu était satisfaisant avec une médiane de l’EQ-5D-3L à 0,89 (0,64;1,00). En analyse univariée, la fibrose sur le scanner de réévaluation et une DLCO < 60 % étaient associées à la durée du séjour en soins critiques et au niveau maximal de CRP pendant l’épisode aigu. En analyse multivariée, la fibrose et la DLCO étaient associées à la durée de séjour. En analyse uni et multivariée, le PHQ-9 et le GAD-7 étaient associés au sexe féminin.

Discussion

À ce jour, rares sont les études qui ont étudié de manière systématisée les séquelles somatiques et psychologiques à long terme de la COVID chez les patients qui ont été pris en charge en soins critiques. Conformément à la littérature, la diminution de la DLCO est l’anomalie la plus fréquemment retrouvée aux EFR, les plages de verre dépoli persistent sur le scanner et des lésions fibrotiques sont retrouvées chez plus d’un patient sur 5 [1], [2]. Ces anomalies contrastent avec une plainte respiratoire modérée et un examen clinique rassurant. Les symptômes généraux (asthénie, faiblesse musculaire et arthralgies) sont au cœur de la plainte fonctionnelle. Les déséquilibres de la tension artérielle et du diabète observés justifient un suivi accru des pathologies chroniques au décours de l’épisode aigu. Enfin, nous avons noté une prévalence plus importante des troubles psychologiques que celles relevées rétrospectivement (dossier informatisé) dans une autre étude [3], renforçant, selon nous, la nécessité d’un dépistage systématique des troubles psychiatriques.

Conclusion

De nombreux patients présentent des séquelles à distance d’une COVID sévère nous incitant à un dépistage systématique afin de proposer une prise en charge adaptée.

Patients' Baseline Characteristics, but Not Tocilizumab Exposure, Affect Severe Outcomes Onset in Giant Cell Arteritis: A Real-World Study

Objectives: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is associated with severe outcomes such as infections and cardiovascular diseases. We describe here the impact of GCA patients’ characteristics and treatment exposure on the occurrence of severe outcomes. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from real-world GCA patients with a minimum of six-months follow-up. We recorded severe outcomes and treatment exposure. In the survival analysis, we studied the predictive factors of severe outcomes occurrence, including treatment exposure (major glucocorticoids (GCs) exposure (>10 g of the cumulative dose) and tocilizumab (TCZ) exposure), as time-dependent covariates. Results: Among the 77 included patients, 26% were overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). The mean cumulative dose of GCs was 7977 ± 4585 mg, 18 patients (23%) had a major GCs exposure, and 40 (52%) received TCZ. Over the 48-month mean follow-up period, 114 severe outcomes occurred in 77% of the patients: infections—29%, cardiovascular diseases—18%, hypertension—15%, fractural osteoporosis—8%, and deaths—6%. Baseline diabetes and overweight were predictive factors of severe outcomes onset (HR, 2.41 [1.05−5.55], p = 0.039; HR, 2.08 [1.14−3.81], p = 0.018, respectively) independently of age, sex, hypertension, and treatment exposure. Conclusion: Diabetic and overweight GCA patients constitute an at-risk group requiring tailored treatment, including vaccination. The effect of TCZ exposure on the reduction of severe outcomes was not proved here.

Longitudinal Effect of Bariatric Surgery on Retinal Microcirculation and Target Organ Damage: the BASTOD Study

PURPOSE

Obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Bariatric surgery (BS) improves the clinical and metabolic profile. Retinal caliber changes could precede cardiovascular events. Different studies have shown an improvement in retinal caliber after BS. The aim of this study was to examine retinal caliber and other cardiovascular target organ damage before and after BS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Monocentric, prospective cohort study at the Montpellier University Hospital. Biologic features, vessel stiffness, echocardiograph variables, and retinal caliber at baseline and 6 and 12 months were assessed in consecutive patients with class 2 or 3 obesity undergoing BS. A mixed linear model adjusted for age and sex was used.

RESULTS

We included 88 patients (75 women). The mean (SD) age was 43 years (11) and mean (SD) baseline weight 117 (21) Kg. Mean changes in the first year after BS were - 5.1 µm in central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) (p < 0.0001), + 0.02 in arteriole-to-venule ratio (AVR) (p < 0.0001), - 1.4 mmol/L in glycemia (p < 0.0001), - 1.0 mg/L in natural logarithm of C-reactive protein (p < 0.0001), and - 54.0 g in left ventricular mass (p = 0.0005). We observed no significant improvement in arterial stiffness markers. Predictors of improvement in CRVE were high baseline weight (p = 0.030), male sex (p = 0.025), and no diabetes history (p Dynamic links between variations = 0.047).

CONCLUSION

The retinal microvascular phenotype improved during the first year after bariatric surgery, with decreased CRVE and increased AVR. Factors associated with retinal microvascular plasticity were male sex, high baseline weight, and absence of diabetes. Longitudinal assessment of retinal vascular calibers may offer new insights into the pathophysiology of subclinical vascular processes.

Cardiovascular Events, Sleep Apnoea, and Pulmonary Hypertension in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: Data from the French Health Insurance Database

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease, associated with a high risk of lymphoma. Mounting evidence suggests that cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are higher in patients with pSS, although data are heterogeneous. The aim of this study was to assess whether pSS patients are at higher risk of hospitalisation for cardiovascular events (CVEs), venous thromboembolic events (VTEs), pulmonary hypertension (PH), and sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS). Through a nationwide population-based retrospective study using the French health insurance database, we selected new-onset pSS in-patients hospitalised between 2011 and 2018. We compared the incidence of CVEs (ischemic heart diseases (IHDs), strokes, and heart failure), SAS, VTEs, and PH with an age- and sex-matched (1:10) hospitalised control group. The calculations of adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) included available confounding factors. We studied 25,661 patients hospitalised for pSS compared with 252,543 matched patients. The incidence of hospitalisation for IHD, SAS, and PH was significantly higher in pSS patients (aHR: 1.20 (1.06–1.34); p = 0.003, aHR: 1.97 (1.70–2.28); p < 0.001, and aHR: 3.32 (2.10–5.25); p < 0.001, respectively), whereas the incidence of stroke, heart failure, and VTE was the same between groups. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these results and to explore the pathophysiological mechanisms involved.

Impact of a simulation-based training on the experience of the beginning of residency

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to evaluate the impact of an immersive simulation session on the experience of the beginning of residency.

METHODS

The interventional group consisted of newly recruited residents in 2019, who participated in the workshop presenting four emergency scenarios frequently encountered during night shifts; the control group comprised residents who had begun their internship in 2018, without having participated in the simulation workshop. The level of psychological stress and self-confidence were self-estimated in the simulation group before and immediately after the workshop. During the second semester of residency, stress, self-efficacy and anxiety were evaluated in both groups with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale.

RESULTS

In the second semester 2020, the PSS, GSES and GAD-7 were 20.71±8.15 and 22.44±5.68 (P=0.40); 26.88±6.30 and 27.11±3.95 (P=0.87); 6.94±5.25 and 8.89±4.78 (P=0.22) for the simulation (n=17, 89.5% of participation) and control (n=9, 75%) groups, respectively. In the simulation group, the level of self-confidence had significantly improved from 1.82±0.95 before the session to 2.29±1.16 after the session (P=0.05). Interestingly, this improvement in self-confidence was significantly correlated with GAD-7 (P=0.014) and PSS (P=0.05), and tended to be correlated with GSES (P=0.09).

CONCLUSION

Our study showed a significant improvement in self-confidence between before and after the simulation session. Residents who experienced an improvement in self-confidence saw their stress and anxiety levels decrease during the second semester reevaluation, in favor of a prolonged benefit from the session.

Impact of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on the Occurrence of Cardiovascular Events in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA)-Associated Vasculitides

Despite improvement in the prognosis of ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAVs), increased mortality, mainly from a cardiovascular origin, persists. We aimed to determine the role of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) on the occurrence of major cardiovascular events (MACEs) in AAVs. Patients with AAVs were successively included in a prospective cohort study, which assessed CVRFs (defined by age >50 years in men and >60 years in women, personal history of cardiovascular disease, smoking status, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and sedentary lifestyle), the use of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents at baseline and during follow-up, and the occurrence of MACEs. One hundred and three patients were included, with a median follow-up time of 3.5 years. In the glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide adjusted multivariate analysis, the occurrence of MACEs was associated with older age (p = 0.001, OR = 14.71, 95% CI (confidence interval) = 2.98–72.68), cardiovascular history (p = 0.007, OR (odds ratio) = 6.54, 95% CI = 1.66–25.71), sedentary lifestyle (p = 0.011, OR = 4.50, 95% CI = 1.42–14.29), hypertension (p = 0.017, OR = 5.04, 95% CI = 1.33–19.12), and dyslipidemia (p = 0.03, OR = 3.86, 95% CI = 1.14–13.09). The occurrence of MACEs was associated with the number of CVRFs (p < 0.001), but not with the use of glucocorticoids or cyclophosphamide (p = 0.733 and p = 0.339, respectively). The implementation of a screening and management program for modifiable CVRFs, particularly hypertension, sedentary lifestyle, and dyslipidemia, may be beneficial for AAV patients in order to reduce their cardiovascular risk.

Development and validation of a score to assess risk of medication errors detected during medication reconciliation process at admission in internal medicine unit: SCOREM study

BACKGROUND

Medication errors (ME) can be reduced through preventive strategies such as medication reconciliation. Such strategies are often limited by human resources and need targeting high risk patients.

AIMS

To develop a score to identify patients at risk of ME detected during medication reconciliation in a specific population from internal medicine unit.

METHODS

Prospective observational study conducted in an internal medicine unit of a French University Hospital from 2012 to 2016. Adult hospitalised patients were eligible for inclusion. Medication reconciliation was conducted by a pharmacist and consisted in comparing medication history with admission prescription to identify MEs. Risk factors of MEs were analysed using multivariate stepwise logistic regression model. A risk score was constructed using the split-sample approach. The split was done at random (using a fixed seed) to define a development data set (N = 1256) and a validation sample (N = 628). A regression coefficient-base scoring system was used adopting the beta-Sullivan approach (Sullivan's scoring).

RESULTS

Pharmacists detected 740 MEs in 368/1884 (19.5%) patients related to medication reconciliation. Female gender, number of treatments >7, admission from emergency department and during night or weekend were significantly associated with a higher risk of MEs. Risk score was constructed by attributing 1 or 2 points to these variables. Patients with a score ≥3 (OR [95% CI] 3.10 [1.15-8.37]) out of 5 (OR [95% CI] 8.11 [2.89-22.78]) were considered at high risk of MEs.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk factors identified in our study may help prioritising patients admitted in internal medicine units who may benefit the most from medication reconciliation (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT03422484).

Comorbidities and health-related quality of life in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA) - associated vasculitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The optimization of immunosuppressive therapies has led to a marked improvement in the survival of ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV). The main issue now appears to be the management of comorbidities and the improvement of quality of life. The objective of this review was to investigate the incidence and the impact of AAV-associated comorbidities, as well as the determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature review of articles published in Medline from 2001 to 04/28/2020. We selected relevant articles about AAV-associated comorbidities as well as HRQoL and fatigue. For each selected article, data on the incidence of comorbidity were extracted, and factors associated with the Mental component score (MCS) and the Physical component score (PCS) were identified.

RESULTS

Among the 10,993 references identified, 103 were retained for the final analysis. A significant increase in cardiovascular risk was evidenced, particularly for coronary artery disease and thromboembolic events, especially during the active phase of the disease. AAV was also associated with bronchiectasis, thyroid diseases and osteoporosis. A marked decrease in HRQoL and an increase in fatigue and anxiety were reported. Decrease in PCS and MCS was associated with fatigue, mood disorders, sleep disturbance, and/or unemployment.

CONCLUSION

The excess mortality of AAV is still a concern, partly in connection with cardiovascular and thromboembolic comorbidities. AAV patients also experiment a reduction in their HRQoL that requires integrated management. Patients with AAV need comorbidity management strategies to improve their quality of life and outcomes.

Confidence vanished or impaired until distrust in the doctor-patient relationship because of COVID-19: Confidence vanished or impaired until distrust: "COVID" in relationship

Since Hippocrates, the cornerstone of medical practice has been the doctor-patient relationship. The question here is whether these basic principles are still compatible with this unusual COVID-period. This pandemic represents a serious threat to human health, leading to profound changes in behavior in daily life but also in health care. Because of limited resources, health-managers must choose well-balanced solutions able to protect patients and citizens on the one hand and to provide maximal benefit for the society on the other hand. We are going through a moment of rupture that we must acknowledge. Here, we discussed how the doctor-patient relationship could be compromised. Doctors are focused on cares whereas patients are focused on scare. Profound changes occur presently, from the way we present ourselves to each other (including the masks), the poor conditions for physical examination, the mental suffering of both patient and caregiver until sometimes terrible end-of-life conditions. The historical point-of-view helps us to keep in mind previous experiences, and the philosophical perspective helps to contextualize this unedited situation. We should stop briefly our daily rush to put these considerations into perspective to overcome these challenges. Nothing is as effective as trust: let's rebuild it.

Abnormal liver tests in patients hospitalized with Coronavirus disease 2019: Should we worry?

While several studies from China have reported COVID-19-related liver injury, there are currently no data on liver dysfunction in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Europe. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and predictive value of abnormal liver function in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. This was a retrospective cohort study of confirmed COVID-19 patients hospitalized in two referral hospitals in France. Clinical, biological and radiological data were collected and analysed. In all, 234 patients confirmed to have COVID-19 by RT-PCR were included. Liver function was abnormal in 66.6% of patients on admission. In multivariate logistic regression, abnormal liver test on admission were associated with in-hospital aggravation (OR = 4.1, 95% CI 1.5-10.8; P = .004) and mortality (OR 3.3; 95% CI = 1.04-10.5; P = .04). This study of liver tests in a European COVID-19 population confirms a high prevalence of abnormal liver tests on admission that are predictive of severe disease course and higher in-hospital mortality.

The Plasmatic Aldosterone and C-Reactive Protein Levels, and the Severity of Covid-19: The Dyhor-19 Study

Background. The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic, uses the angiotensin converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2), a physiological inhibitor of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS), as a cellular receptor to infect cells. Since the RAAS can induce and modulate pro-inflammatory responses, it could play a key role in the pathophysiology of Covid-19. Thus, we aimed to determine the levels of plasma renin and aldosterone as indicators of RAAS activation in a series of consecutively admitted patients for Covid-19 in our clinic. Methods. Plasma renin and aldosterone levels were measured, among the miscellaneous investigations needed for Covid-19 management, early after admission in our clinic. Disease severity was assessed using a seven-category ordinal scale. Primary outcome of interest was the severity of patients’ clinical courses. Results. Forty-four patients were included. At inclusion, 12 patients had mild clinical status, 25 moderate clinical status and 7 severe clinical status. In univariate analyses, aldosterone and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at inclusion were significantly higher in patients with severe clinical course as compared to those with mild or moderate course (p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). In multivariate analyses, only aldosterone and CRP levels remained positively associated with severity. We also observed a positive significant correlation between aldosterone and CRP levels among patients with an aldosterone level greater than 102.5 pmol/L. Conclusions. Both plasmatic aldosterone and CRP levels at inclusion are associated with the clinical course of Covid-19. Our findings may open new perspectives in the understanding of the possible role of RAAS for Covid-19 outcome.

STADE-HF (sST2 As a help for management of HF): a pilot study

Aims

Biomarkers are not recommended until now to guide the management of patients with heart failure (HF). Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) appears as a promising biomarker. The current study considered pre‐discharged sST2 values as a guide for medical management in patients admitted for acute HF decompensation, in an attempt to reduce hospital readmission.

Methods and results

STADE‐HF was a blinded prospective randomized controlled trial and included 123 patients admitted for acute HF. They were randomized into the usual treatment group (unknown sST2 level) or the interventional treatment group, for whom sST2 level was known and used on Day 4 of hospitalization to guide the treatment. The primary endpoint was the readmission rate for any cause at 1 month. It occurred in 10 patients (19%) in the usual group and 18 (32%) in the sST2 group without statistical difference (P = 0.11). Post hoc analysis in the whole group shows that the mean duration of hospitalization was lower in patients with low sST2 (<37 ng/mL) at admission vs. high sST2 (8.5 ± 9.5 vs. 14.8 ± 14.9 days, respectively, P = 0.003). In addition, a decrease in sST2 greater than 18% is significantly associated with a lower readmission rate.

Conclusions

Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2‐guided therapy over a short period of time does not reduce readmissions. However, sST2 was clearly associated with duration of hospitalization, and the decrease in sST2 was associated with decreased rehospitalizations. Long‐term outcome using sST2‐guided therapy deserves further investigations.

Microvascular Disease in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Background:

Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the gold standard treatment for patients with operable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. However, persistent pulmonary hypertension (PH) after PEA remains a major determinant of poor prognosis. A concomitant small-vessel arteriopathy in addition to major pulmonary artery obstruction has been suggested to play an important role in the development of persistent PH and survival after PEA. One of the greatest unmet needs in the current preoperative evaluation is to assess the presence and severity of small-vessel arteriopathy. Using the pulmonary artery occlusion technique, we sought to assess the presence and degree of small-vessel disease in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension undergoing PEA to predict postoperative outcome before surgery.

Methods:

Based on pulmonary artery occlusion waveforms yielding an estimate of the effective capillary pressure, we partitioned pulmonary vascular resistance in larger arterial (upstream resistance [R up ]) and small arterial plus venous components (downstream resistance) in 90 patients before PEA. For validation, lung wedge biopsies were taken from nonobstructed and obstructed lung territories during PEA in 49 cases. Biopsy sites were chosen according to the pulmonary angiogram still frames that were mounted in the operating room. All vessels per specimen were measured in each patient. Percent media (%MT; arteries) and intima thickness (%IT; arteries, veins, and indeterminate vessels) were calculated relative to external vessel diameter.

Results:

Decreased R up was an independent predictor of persistent PH (odds ratio per 10%, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.23–0.69]; P =0.001) and survival (hazard ratio per 10%, 0.03 [95% CI, 0.00–0.33]; p =0.004). Arterial %MT and %IT of nonobstructed lung territories and venous %IT of obstructed lung territories were significantly increased in patients with persistent PH and nonsurvivors. R up correlated inversely with %MT ( r =–0.72, P <0.001) and %IT ( r =–0.62, P <0.001) of arteries from nonobstructed lung territories and with %IT ( r =–0.44, P =0.024) of veins from obstructed lung territories. Receiver operating characteristic analysis disclosed that R up <66% predicted persistent PH after PEA, whereas R up <60% identified patients with poor prognosis after PEA.

Conclusions:

Pulmonary artery occlusion waveform analysis with estimation of R up seems to be a valuable technique for assessing the degree of small-vessel disease and postoperative outcome after PEA in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

High-frequency autonomic modulation: a new model for analysis of autonomic cardiac control

Background and Purpose

Increase in high‐frequency beat‐to‐beat heart rate oscillations by torsadogenic hERG blockers appears to be associated with signs of parasympathetic and sympathetic co‐activation which cannot be assessed directly using classic methods of heart rate variability analysis. The present work aimed to find a translational model that would allow this particular state of the autonomic control of heart rate to be assessed.

Experimental Approach

High‐frequency heart rate and heart period oscillations were analysed within discrete 10 s intervals in a cohort of 200 healthy human subjects. Results were compared to data collected in non‐human primates and beagle dogs during pharmacological challenges and torsadogenic hERG blockers exposure, in 127 genotyped LQT1 patients on/off β‐blocker treatment and in subgroups of smoking and non‐smoking subjects.

Key Results

Three states of autonomic modulation, S1 (parasympathetic predominance) to S3 (reciprocal parasympathetic withdrawal/sympathetic activation), were differentiated to build a new model of heart rate variability referred to as high‐frequency autonomic modulation. The S2 state corresponded to a specific state during which both parasympathetic and sympathetic systems were coexisting or co‐activated. S2 oscillations were proportionally increased by torsadogenic hERG‐blocking drugs, whereas smoking caused an increase in S3 oscillations.

Conclusions and Implications

The combined analysis of the magnitude of high‐frequency heart rate and high‐frequency heart period oscillations allows a refined assessment of heart rate autonomic modulation applicable to long‐term ECG recordings and offers new approaches to assessment of the risk of sudden death both in terms of underlying mechanisms and sensitivity.

In-depth haemodynamic phenotyping of pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease

The commonest cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH) is left heart disease (LHD). The current classification system for definitions of PH-LHD is under review. We therefore performed prospective in-depth invasive haemodynamic phenotyping in order to assess the site of increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in PH-LHD subsets.

Based on pulmonary artery occlusion waveforms yielding an estimate of the effective capillary pressure, we partitioned PVR in larger arterial (Rup, upstream resistance) and small arterial plus venous components (Rds, downstream resistance). In the case of small vessel disease, Rup decreases and Rds increases. Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) testing was used to assess acute vasoreactivity.

Right ventricular afterload (PVR, pulmonary arterial compliance and effective arterial elastance) was significantly higher in combined post- and pre-capillary PH (Cpc-PH, n=35) than in isolated post-capillary PH (Ipc-PH, n=20). Right ventricular afterload decreased during inhalation of NO in Cpc-PH and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (n=31), but remained unchanged in Ipc-PH. Rup was similar in Cpc-PH (66.8±10.8%) and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (65.0±12.2%; p=0.530) suggesting small vessel disease, but significantly higher in Ipc-PH (96.5±4.5%; p<0.001) suggesting upstream transmission of elevated left atrial pressure.

Right ventricular afterload is driven by elevated left atrial pressure in Ipc-PH and is further increased by elevated small vessel resistance in Cpc-PH. Cpc-PH is responsive to inhaled NO. Our data support current definitions of PH-LHD subsets.

Retinal vascular caliber associated with cardiac and renal target organ damage in never-treated hypertensive patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between retinal vascular caliber and target organ damage in HT patients.

METHODS

Data were collected on cardiac, renal, vascular, and retinal variables in 88 consecutive never-treated HT subjects. Retinal vascular calibers were measured from fundus photographs by using a semi-automated computer-assisted program and summarized as CRAE and CRVE.

RESULTS

Mean CRAE and CRVE were significantly lower in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (left ventricular mass ≥110 g/m² for women, 125 g/m² for men) than in those with normal left ventricular (CRAE: 129.4±3.7 vs 138.2±2.3 μm; P=.04; CRVE: 195.6±4.4 vs 209.8±2.7 μm; P=.008). CRAE and CRVE were negatively correlated with urinary albumin excretion (β±SE=-15.4±3.2, P<.0001 and β±SE=-11.9±4.4, P=.001, respectively) but were not correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (P=.21 and P=.75, respectively), carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (P=.24 and P=.14), or carotid augmentation index (P=.43 and P=.16).

CONCLUSION

In never-treated HT patients, reduced CRAE and CRVE were associated with cardiac and renal preclinical damage, ie, left ventricular hypertrophy and albuminuria, but not estimated glomerular filtration rate or vascular stiffness.

MACVIA-LR (Fighting Chronic Diseases for Active and Healthy Ageing in Languedoc-Roussillon): A Success Story of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing

The Région Languedoc Roussillon is the umbrella organisation for an interconnected and integrated project on active and healthy ageing (AHA). It covers the 3 pillars of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA): (A) Prevention and health promotion, (B) Care and cure, (C) and (D) Active and independent living of elderly people. All sub-activities (poly-pharmacy, falls prevention initiative, prevention of frailty, chronic respiratory diseases, chronic diseases with multimorbidities, chronic infectious diseases, active and independent living and disability) have been included in MACVIA-LR which has a strong political commitment and involves all stakeholders (public, private, patients, policy makers) including CARSAT-LR and the Eurobiomed cluster. It is a Reference Site of the EIP on AHA. The framework of MACVIA-LR has the vision that the prevention and management of chronic diseases is essential for the promotion of AHA and for the reduction of handicap. The main objectives of MACVIA-LR are: (i) to develop innovative solutions for a network of Living labs in order to reduce avoidable hospitalisations and loss of autonomy while improving quality of life, (ii) to disseminate the innovation. The three years of MACVIA-LR activities are reported in this paper.

Noninvasive evaluation of left ventricular elastance according to pressure-volume curves modeling in arterial hypertension

End-systolic left ventricular (LV) elastance (E_es) has been previously calculated and validated invasively using LV pressure-volume (P-V) loops. Noninvasive methods have been proposed, but clinical application remains complex. The aims of the present study were to 1) estimate E_es according to modeling of the LV P-V curve during ejection ("ejection P-V curve" method) and validate our method with existing published LV P-V loop data and 2) test the clinical applicability of noninvasively detecting a difference in E_es between normotensive and hypertensive subjects. On the basis of the ejection P-V curve and a linear relationship between elastance and time during ejection, we used a nonlinear least-squares method to fit the pressure waveform. We then computed the slope and intercept of time-varying elastance as well as the volume intercept (V₀). As a validation, 22 P-V loops obtained from previous invasive studies were digitized and analyzed using the ejection P-V curve method. To test clinical applicability, ejection P-V curves were obtained from 33 hypertensive subjects and 32 normotensive subjects with carotid tonometry and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography during the same procedure. A good univariate relationship (r² = 0.92, P < 0.005) and good limits of agreement were found between the invasive calculation of E_es and our new proposed ejection P-V curve method. In hypertensive patients, an increase in arterial elastance (E_a) was compensated by a parallel increase in E_es without change in E_a/E_es In addition, the clinical reproducibility of our method was similar to that of another noninvasive method. In conclusion, E_es and V₀ can be estimated noninvasively from modeling of the P-V curve during ejection. This approach was found to be reproducible and sensitive enough to detect an expected increase in LV contractility in hypertensive patients. Because of its noninvasive nature, this methodology may have clinical implications in various disease states.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The use of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography-derived left ventricular volumes in conjunction with carotid tonometry was found to be reproducible and sensitive enough to detect expected differences in left ventricular elastance in arterial hypertension. Because of its noninvasive nature, this methodology may have clinical implications in various disease states.

Markers of bone remodeling are associated with arterial stiffness in renal transplanted subjects

BACKGROUND

Bone-vessel interaction in chronic renal failure remains poorly understood and could be driven by bone remodeling factors including osteoprotegerin (OPG), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), parathormone and vitamin D. Only few data are available in renal transplantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between bone remodeling factors and large artery function in renal transplant patients.

METHODS

89 renal transplant patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and central augmentation index (AIx) were determined as an estimation of large artery function. Blood samples were collected for measurement of vascular risk markers. Independent predictors were identified by multivariate linear regression through backward feature selection using Akaike's information criteria.

RESULTS

At multivariate analysis, age (p < 0.001) and systolic arterial pressure (p = 0.003) were significantly associated with PWV but not AIx. In addition, both elevated blood concentrations of 1.25(OH)2 vitamin D (p = 0.013) and OPG (p = 0.047) were still significantly related to high PWV.

CONCLUSIONS

These results underline that age and mean arterial pressure are the main determinants of PWV following renal transplantation. Among bone remodeling biomarkers, plasma OPG and active vitamin D were the strongest determinants of arterial stiffness.

Arterial stiffness: an independent determinant of adaptive glomerular hyperfiltration after kidney donation

After kidney donation, the remaining kidney tends to hyperfiltrate, thus limiting the initial loss of renal function. The potential determinants of this adaptive glomerular hyperfiltration (GHF) and specifically the influence of arterial function are poorly known. In 45 normotensive healthy kidney donors [51 ± 10 yr (mean ± SD), 39 females], glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured as the clearance of continuously infused (99m)Tc-DTPA and timed urine collections at baseline, i.e., before donation, and 1 yr after donation. GHF was computed as postdonation GFR minus half of baseline GFR. Arterial function was assessed as baseline carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid augmentation index (AIx). After kidney donation, no significant change in blood pressure (BP) was observed, but two subjects developed hypertension. GFR decreased from 107 ± 19 to 73 ± 15 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2), and mean GHF was 20 ± 10 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2). In univariate analysis, GHF was inversely correlated to age (r(2) = 0.24, P = 0.01), baseline PWV (r(2) = 0.23, P = 0.001), and Aix (r(2) = 0.11, P = 0.031). Nevertheless, GHF was not correlated to baseline peripheral or central BP. In multivariate analysis, baseline PWV, but not AIx, remained inversely correlated to GHF, independently of age, baseline mean BP, and GFR (model r(2) = 0.34, P < 0.001). In healthy subjects selected for renal donation, increased arterial stiffness is associated with decreased postdonation compensatory hyperfiltration.

Evaluation of five immunoturbidimetric assays for urinary albumin quantification and their impact on albuminuria categorization

OBJECTIVES

The study was designed to evaluate the performance of five automated immunoturbidimetric assays to quantify urinary albumin, each corresponding to a combination of a reagent and an analyzer (Olympus on AU640, Roche on Cobas Integra, Abbott on Architect, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Vitros on Fusion and Siemens on Dimension).

DESIGN AND METHODS

To assess imprecision, albumin was measured in three urinary pools with a mean value of 25, 66 and 131 mg/L. One hundred and eight patient urine samples were then used to compare each turbidimetric method using the Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman analyses. Concordance of the albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), according to the albuminuria classifications proposed by the KDIGO, was calculated to test the agreement between the different assays.

RESULTS

All immunoturbidimetric methods evaluated in this study exhibited acceptable imprecision (CV<6%). Mean values for 108 urine samples varied from 0.5 to 762.2 mg/L. Significant differences were found (p<0.05) between all methods except between Olympus and Ortho (p=1.0) and between Abbott and Roche (p=0.12). Regarding the albuminuria categories based on the ACR proposed by the KDIGO, only the classification obtained with the Roche method was significantly different from the four other methods (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that all assays were not strictly equivalent which could affect ACR categories in clinical practice, suggesting the need for harmonization of commercial methods.

[Left ventricular function in hypertension without left ventricular hypertrophy: echographic study with modelisation of left ventricular-aortic coupling]

Because the functional interaction between the LV and arterial systems, termed ventricular-arterial coupling, is recognized as a key determinant of LV performance, the objective of the present study was to assess the impact of uncomplicated HT without LVH on LV performance using simultaneously echocardiography and carotid tonometry. LV maximal power (PmaxVG), cardiac power output (CPO), LV efficiency (CPO/PmaxVG), input aortic and output LV elastance (Ea and Ees) were assessed in 20 normotensive control subjects (NT) and 10 patients with untreated HT. PmaxVG was calculated according to the integral of the product of LV wall stress with strain rate (as an index of gradient velocity). Cyclic variation of wall thickness and SR were measured by speckel-tracking. Ea and Ees were derived and modelized from the pressure-volume curve. No difference in age, BMI and sex ratio was observed between NT and HT. Systolic BP (160±18 vs. 119±10mmHg), LV mass (99±15 vs. 76±12g/m(2)), PWV (9.7±2 vs. 6.9±1m/s) were significantly higher (P<0.01) in HT when compared to NT. In HT increased of CPO and Ea was compensated by an increase of LV (15±4 vs. 12±3%, P<0.02) and Ees (5.5±2 vs. 4.5±1.5mmHg/mL), which are significantly elevated in HT (P<0.05). No difference was observed in Ea/Ees between NT and HT. In conclusion at the early phase of HT, in patients without LVH, LV performance and ventricular-arterial coupling were adapted to post-load elevation. This adaptation may be the result of an increased of LV contractility.