MIS-C related to SARS-CoV-2 infection: a narrative review of presentation, differential diagnosis, and management

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a rare condition, has been reported approximately 2-4 weeks after the onset of COVID-19 in children and adolescents, causing inflammation in multiple systems, including cardiovascular and respiratory, digestive, and central nervous systems. This condition is also known as hyperinflammatory shock, Kawasaki-like disease, and Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS). The signs and symptoms include but are not limited to fever, rash, peripheral edema, gastrointestinal symptoms, conjunctivitis, and shock. Thirty-eight studies met our criteria, with a total of 5822 patients. The most affected population was between 5-18 years of age. We noted that MIS-C presented with a wide range of signs and symptoms that overlap with Kawasaki Disease, including high fever, sore throat, malaise, tachypnea, tachycardia, conjunctival injection, mucosal edema, cardiac involvement, and gastrointestinal symptoms. It causes an increase in IL-17A, IL-6, and arterial damage, a distinct difference from Kawasaki disease. The laboratory findings in MIS-C showed an increase in inflammatory markers like CRP, ESR, ferritin, leukocytes, and TNF-α. WHO stated that 23% of affected children with MIS-C had underlying conditions like chronic lung diseases, cardiovascular disease, and immunosuppression. In most affected children, aspirin and IVIG were successful, which resulted in a decrease in the inflammatory markers. We find that MIS-C is a rare, but potentially fatal pediatric complication, after COVID-19 infection. The aim of this article is to study the emerging relationship between COVID-19 and MIS-C in children and adolescents affected by this condition, to discuss the immunological mechanisms, and explore potential therapies.

Global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its risk factors, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Given the recent increasing trends in colorectal cancer incidence globally, up-to-date information on the colorectal cancer burden could guide screening, early detection, and treatment strategies, and help effectively allocate resources. We examined the temporal patterns of the global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its risk factors in 204 countries and territories across the past three decades.

METHODS

Estimates of incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for colorectal cancer were generated as a part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 by age, sex, and geographical location for the period 1990-2019. Mortality estimates were produced using the cause of death ensemble model. We also calculated DALYs attributable to risk factors that had evidence of causation with colorectal cancer.

FINDINGS

Globally, between 1990 and 2019, colorectal cancer incident cases more than doubled, from 842 098 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 810 408-868 574) to 2·17 million (2·00-2·34), and deaths increased from 518 126 (493 682-537 877) to 1·09 million (1·02-1·15). The global age-standardised incidence rate increased from 22·2 (95% UI 21·3-23·0) per 100 000 to 26·7 (24·6-28·9) per 100 000, whereas the age-standardised mortality rate decreased from 14·3 (13·5-14·9) per 100 000 to 13·7 (12·6-14·5) per 100 000 and the age-standardised DALY rate decreased from 308·5 (294·7-320·7) per 100 000 to 295·5 (275·2-313·0) per 100 000 from 1990 through 2019. Taiwan (province of China; 62·0 [48·9-80·0] per 100 000), Monaco (60·7 [48·5-73·6] per 100 000), and Andorra (56·6 [42·8-71·9] per 100 000) had the highest age-standardised incidence rates, while Greenland (31·4 [26·0-37·1] per 100 000), Brunei (30·3 [26·6-34·1] per 100 000), and Hungary (28·6 [23·6-34·0] per 100 000) had the highest age-standardised mortality rates. From 1990 through 2019, a substantial rise in incidence rates was observed in younger adults (age <50 years), particularly in high Socio-demographic Index (SDI) countries. Globally, a diet low in milk (15·6%), smoking (13·3%), a diet low in calcium (12·9%), and alcohol use (9·9%) were the main contributors to colorectal cancer DALYs in 2019.

INTERPRETATION

The increase in incidence rates in people younger than 50 years requires vigilance from researchers, clinicians, and policy makers and a possible reconsideration of screening guidelines. The fast-rising burden in low SDI and middle SDI countries in Asia and Africa calls for colorectal cancer prevention approaches, greater awareness, and cost-effective screening and therapeutic options in these regions.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Role of Probiotics in the Management of Helicobacter pylori

The global prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is estimated to be around 4.4 billion, with the majority of individuals affected in developing countries. Chronic infection of the gram-negative bacterium results in several gastrointestinal pathologies such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and cancer. Probiotics compete directly with H. pylori and help restore the gut microbial environment; these living microorganisms are comparatively more effective than the standard triple antibiotic regimen in the management of symptoms related to the pathogenic bacteria. The need for alternative therapy is better explained by the increasing rate of antibiotic resistance and the lowering of patient compliance to the standard treatment. Adjuvant administration of probiotics to H. pylori eradication therapy is associated with a higher H. pylori eradication rate, decreased diarrhea-related treatment, less common self-reported side effects, and higher treatment compliance. Therefore, with the ongoing and future resistance to antibiotics, this systematic review aims to investigate the use and efficacy of probiotics when used alone or in conjunction with the current guideline treatment.

A literature search was conducted using Pubmed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane for peer-reviewed articles published between January 1, 2016 and April 2022. MeSH terms used were: “H. pylori,” “H. pylori and probiotics,” “Probiotics,” “H. pylori treatment,” “Mechanism of Action” with subheadings as “clinical manifestations,” “treatment,” and “diagnosis.” All literature reviews, original papers, and case reports were included. This search strategy aimed to find literature that could describe the transmission and mechanism of action of H. pylori, the current treatment guidelines, and the efficacy of probiotics in eradicating H. pylori.

Association of Smoking and E-Cigarette in Chronic Liver Disease: An NHANES Study

Background

There is an increased trend of e-cigarette but the toxic effects of e-cigarette metabolites are not widely studied especially in liver disease. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence and patterns of recent e-cigarette use in a nationally representative sample of US adults and adolescents and its association amongst respondents with liver disease.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2015 to 2018. The self-reported NHANES questionnaire was used to assess liver disease (MCQ160L, MCQ170L and MCQ 510 (a-e)), e-cigarette use (SMQ900) and traditional smoking status (SMQ020 or SMQ040). We conducted univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression models to predict the association of e-cigarette use, traditional smoking and dual smoking amongst the population with liver disease.

Results

Out of total 178,300 respondents, 7,756 (4.35%) were e-cigarette users, 48,625 (27.27%) traditional smoking, 23,444 (13.15%) dual smoking and 98,475 (55.23%) non-smokers. Females had a higher frequency of e-cigarette use (49.3%) compared to dual (43%) and traditional smoking (40.8%) (P < 0.0001). Respondents with a past history of any liver disease have lower frequency of e-cigarette use compared to dual and traditional smoking, respectively (2.4% vs. 6.4% vs. 7.2%; P < 0.0001). In multivariate logistic regression models, we found that e-cigarette users (odds ratio (OR): 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05 - 1.06; P < 0.0001) and dual smoking (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.50 - 1.51; P < 0.0001) were associated with higher odds of having history of liver disease compared to non-smokers.

Conclusion

Our study found that despite the low frequency of e-cigarette use in respondents with liver disease, there was higher odds of e-cigarette use amongst patients with liver disease. This warrants the need for more future prospective studies to evaluate the long-term effects and precise mechanisms of e-cigarette toxicants on the liver.

Global, regional, and national burden of hepatitis B, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background

Combating viral hepatitis is part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and WHO has put forth hepatitis B elimination targets in its Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis (WHO-GHSS) and Interim Guidance for Country Validation of Viral Hepatitis Elimination (WHO Interim Guidance). We estimated the global, regional, and national prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), as well as mortality and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to HBV, as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. This included estimates for 194 WHO member states, for which we compared our estimates to WHO elimination targets.

Methods

The primary data sources were population-based serosurveys, claims and hospital discharges, cancer registries, vital registration systems, and published case series. We estimated chronic HBV infection and the burden of HBV-related diseases, defined as an aggregate of cirrhosis due to hepatitis B, liver cancer due to hepatitis B, and acute hepatitis B. We used DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian mixed-effects meta-regression tool, to estimate the prevalence of chronic HBV infection, cirrhosis, and aetiological proportions of cirrhosis. We used mortality-to-incidence ratios modelled with spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression to estimate the incidence of liver cancer. We used the Cause of Death Ensemble modelling (CODEm) model, a tool that selects models and covariates on the basis of out-of-sample performance, to estimate mortality due to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and acute hepatitis B.

Findings

In 2019, the estimated global, all-age prevalence of chronic HBV infection was 4·1% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 3·7 to 4·5), corresponding to 316 million (284 to 351) infected people. There was a 31·3% (29·0 to 33·9) decline in all-age prevalence between 1990 and 2019, with a more marked decline of 76·8% (76·2 to 77·5) in prevalence in children younger than 5 years. HBV-related diseases resulted in 555 000 global deaths (487 000 to 630 000) in 2019. The number of HBV-related deaths increased between 1990 and 2019 (by 5·9% [–5·6 to 19·2]) and between 2015 and 2019 (by 2·9% [–5·9 to 11·3]). By contrast, all-age and age-standardised death rates due to HBV-related diseases decreased during these periods. We compared estimates for 2019 in 194 WHO locations to WHO-GHSS 2020 targets, and found that four countries achieved a 10% reduction in deaths, 15 countries achieved a 30% reduction in new cases, and 147 countries achieved a 1% prevalence in children younger than 5 years. As of 2019, 68 of 194 countries had already achieved the 2030 target proposed in WHO Interim Guidance of an all-age HBV-related death rate of four per 100 000.

Interpretation

The prevalence of chronic HBV infection declined over time, particularly in children younger than 5 years, since the introduction of hepatitis B vaccination. HBV-related death rates also decreased, but HBV-related death counts increased as a result of population growth, ageing, and cohort effects. By 2019, many countries had met the interim seroprevalence target for children younger than 5 years, but few countries had met the WHO-GHSS interim targets for deaths and new cases. Progress according to all indicators must be accelerated to meet 2030 targets, and there are marked disparities in burden and progress across the world. HBV interventions, such as vaccination, testing, and treatment, must be strategically supported and scaled up to achieve elimination.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Cancer Incidence, Mortality, Years of Life Lost, Years Lived With Disability, and Disability-Adjusted Life Years for 29 Cancer Groups From 2010 to 2019: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

IMPORTANCE

The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 (GBD 2019) provided systematic estimates of incidence, morbidity, and mortality to inform local and international efforts toward reducing cancer burden.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate cancer burden and trends globally for 204 countries and territories and by Sociodemographic Index (SDI) quintiles from 2010 to 2019.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

The GBD 2019 estimation methods were used to describe cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2019 and over the past decade. Estimates are also provided by quintiles of the SDI, a composite measure of educational attainment, income per capita, and total fertility rate for those younger than 25 years. Estimates include 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs).

FINDINGS

In 2019, there were an estimated 23.6 million (95% UI, 22.2-24.9 million) new cancer cases (17.2 million when excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) and 10.0 million (95% UI, 9.36-10.6 million) cancer deaths globally, with an estimated 250 million (235-264 million) DALYs due to cancer. Since 2010, these represented a 26.3% (95% UI, 20.3%-32.3%) increase in new cases, a 20.9% (95% UI, 14.2%-27.6%) increase in deaths, and a 16.0% (95% UI, 9.3%-22.8%) increase in DALYs. Among 22 groups of diseases and injuries in the GBD 2019 study, cancer was second only to cardiovascular diseases for the number of deaths, years of life lost, and DALYs globally in 2019. Cancer burden differed across SDI quintiles. The proportion of years lived with disability that contributed to DALYs increased with SDI, ranging from 1.4% (1.1%-1.8%) in the low SDI quintile to 5.7% (4.2%-7.1%) in the high SDI quintile. While the high SDI quintile had the highest number of new cases in 2019, the middle SDI quintile had the highest number of cancer deaths and DALYs. From 2010 to 2019, the largest percentage increase in the numbers of cases and deaths occurred in the low and low-middle SDI quintiles.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The results of this systematic analysis suggest that the global burden of cancer is substantial and growing, with burden differing by SDI. These results provide comprehensive and comparable estimates that can potentially inform efforts toward equitable cancer control around the world.

Kidney disease and COVID-19 disease severity-systematic review and meta-analysis

We aimed to identify prevalence and association of comorbid chronic kidney disease (CKD), acute kidney injury (AKI) and utilization prevalence of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in COVID-19-hospitalized patients as a function of severity status. With the ongoing struggle across the globe to combat COVID-19 disease, published literature has described the role of kidney disease in COVID-19 patients based on single/multicenter experiences across the globe. We extracted data from observational studies describing comorbid CKD, AKI and CRRT and outcomes and severity of COVID-19-hospitalized patients from December 1, 2019-August 20, 2020 following PRISMA guidelines. Severity of COVID-19 includes intensive care unit admission, oxygen saturation < 90%, invasive mechanical ventilation utilization, in-hospital admission and mortality. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model to calculate pooled estimates, and forest plots were created. In total, 29 studies with 15,017 confirmed COVID-19 patients were included. The overall prevalence of AKI was 11.6% [(430/3693)], comorbid CKD 9.7% [(1342/13,728)] and CRRT 2.58% [(102/3946)] in our meta-analysis. We also found higher odds of comorbid CKD (pooled OR: 1.70; 95%CI: 1.21-2.40; p = 0.002), AKI (8.28; 4.42-15.52; p < 0.00001) and utilization of CRRT (16.90; 9.00-31.74; p < 0.00001) in patients with severe COVID-19 disease. Conclusion Our meta-analysis suggests that comorbid CKD, AKI and utilization of CRRT were significantly associated with COVID-19 disease severity. Clinicians should focus on early triaging of COVID-19 patients with comorbid CKD and at risk for AKI to prevent complication and mortality.

The global burden of adolescent and young adult cancer in 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND

In estimating the global burden of cancer, adolescents and young adults with cancer are often overlooked, despite being a distinct subgroup with unique epidemiology, clinical care needs, and societal impact. Comprehensive estimates of the global cancer burden in adolescents and young adults (aged 15-39 years) are lacking. To address this gap, we analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, with a focus on the outcome of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), to inform global cancer control measures in adolescents and young adults.

METHODS

Using the GBD 2019 methodology, international mortality data were collected from vital registration systems, verbal autopsies, and population-based cancer registry inputs modelled with mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs). Incidence was computed with mortality estimates and corresponding MIRs. Prevalence estimates were calculated using modelled survival and multiplied by disability weights to obtain years lived with disability (YLDs). Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated as age-specific cancer deaths multiplied by the standard life expectancy at the age of death. The main outcome was DALYs (the sum of YLLs and YLDs). Estimates were presented globally and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintiles (countries ranked and divided into five equal SDI groups), and all estimates were presented with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). For this analysis, we used the age range of 15-39 years to define adolescents and young adults.

FINDINGS

There were 1·19 million (95% UI 1·11-1·28) incident cancer cases and 396 000 (370 000-425 000) deaths due to cancer among people aged 15-39 years worldwide in 2019. The highest age-standardised incidence rates occurred in high SDI (59·6 [54·5-65·7] per 100 000 person-years) and high-middle SDI countries (53·2 [48·8-57·9] per 100 000 person-years), while the highest age-standardised mortality rates were in low-middle SDI (14·2 [12·9-15·6] per 100 000 person-years) and middle SDI (13·6 [12·6-14·8] per 100 000 person-years) countries. In 2019, adolescent and young adult cancers contributed 23·5 million (21·9-25·2) DALYs to the global burden of disease, of which 2·7% (1·9-3·6) came from YLDs and 97·3% (96·4-98·1) from YLLs. Cancer was the fourth leading cause of death and tenth leading cause of DALYs in adolescents and young adults globally.

INTERPRETATION

Adolescent and young adult cancers contributed substantially to the overall adolescent and young adult disease burden globally in 2019. These results provide new insights into the distribution and magnitude of the adolescent and young adult cancer burden around the world. With notable differences observed across SDI settings, these estimates can inform global and country-level cancer control efforts.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, St Baldrick's Foundation, and the National Cancer Institute.

Asymptomatic Left Atrial Myxoma Treated With Minimally Invasive Surgical Approach

Myxomas, being the most common primary benign tumor among all cardiac tumors, occur rarely with a very low incidence rate. Myxomas can cause various clinical manifestations or can be diagnosed incidentally. Some patients with cardiac myxomas are completely asymptomatic. Cardiac myxomas cause life-threatening complications, thus early diagnosis is imperative. We are reporting a case of atrial myxoma in a 38-year-old female without any significant past medical history, who came to our clinic for cardiology evaluation prior to plastic surgery. The elliptical mobile mass, located in the left atrium with its attachment to the interatrial septum, was diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography. The patient was referred for surgery and a minimally invasive surgical approach was chosen. A histological report confirmed the diagnosis of myxoma. The patient recovered well. Three years of follow-up did not reveal any signs of recurrence of the tumor. We are also analyzing 20 previously published cases of asymptomatic myxomas and myxomas treated with a minimally invasive surgical approach, reported in the PubMed database for the last 20 years (2001-2021) in the adult patient population (age 19 and over). The aim of this study is to highlight the asymptomatic presentation of cardiac myxomas and to underline the advantages of a minimally invasive surgical approach. In summary, asymptomatic cardiac myxomas are rare incidental findings. Attention to subtle symptoms during a physical exam and scrupulous history-taking can provide a clue to this diagnosis. Early diagnosis of cardiac myxomas is crucial to prevent life-threatening complications. Minimally invasive surgery is a promising alternative approach to standard open-heart surgery for treating cardiac myxomas, providing faster recovery and higher patient satisfaction with surgical care. 

Measuring routine childhood vaccination coverage in 204 countries and territories, 1980-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020, Release 1

BACKGROUND

Measuring routine childhood vaccination is crucial to inform global vaccine policies and programme implementation, and to track progress towards targets set by the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) and Immunization Agenda 2030. Robust estimates of routine vaccine coverage are needed to identify past successes and persistent vulnerabilities. Drawing from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020, Release 1, we did a systematic analysis of global, regional, and national vaccine coverage trends using a statistical framework, by vaccine and over time.

METHODS

For this analysis we collated 55 326 country-specific, cohort-specific, year-specific, vaccine-specific, and dose-specific observations of routine childhood vaccination coverage between 1980 and 2019. Using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression, we produced location-specific and year-specific estimates of 11 routine childhood vaccine coverage indicators for 204 countries and territories from 1980 to 2019, adjusting for biases in country-reported data and reflecting reported stockouts and supply disruptions. We analysed global and regional trends in coverage and numbers of zero-dose children (defined as those who never received a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis [DTP] vaccine dose), progress towards GVAP targets, and the relationship between vaccine coverage and sociodemographic development.

FINDINGS

By 2019, global coverage of third-dose DTP (DTP3; 81·6% [95% uncertainty interval 80·4-82·7]) more than doubled from levels estimated in 1980 (39·9% [37·5-42·1]), as did global coverage of the first-dose measles-containing vaccine (MCV1; from 38·5% [35·4-41·3] in 1980 to 83·6% [82·3-84·8] in 2019). Third-dose polio vaccine (Pol3) coverage also increased, from 42·6% (41·4-44·1) in 1980 to 79·8% (78·4-81·1) in 2019, and global coverage of newer vaccines increased rapidly between 2000 and 2019. The global number of zero-dose children fell by nearly 75% between 1980 and 2019, from 56·8 million (52·6-60·9) to 14·5 million (13·4-15·9). However, over the past decade, global vaccine coverage broadly plateaued; 94 countries and territories recorded decreasing DTP3 coverage since 2010. Only 11 countries and territories were estimated to have reached the national GVAP target of at least 90% coverage for all assessed vaccines in 2019.

INTERPRETATION

After achieving large gains in childhood vaccine coverage worldwide, in much of the world this progress was stalled or reversed from 2010 to 2019. These findings underscore the importance of revisiting routine immunisation strategies and programmatic approaches, recentring service delivery around equity and underserved populations. Strengthening vaccine data and monitoring systems is crucial to these pursuits, now and through to 2030, to ensure that all children have access to, and can benefit from, lifesaving vaccines.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

COVID-19 Outcomes Amongst Patients With Pre-existing Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension

INTRODUCTION

 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has multiorgan involvement and its severity varies with the presence of pre-existing risk factors like cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension (HTN). Therefore, it is important to evaluate their effect on outcomes of COVID-19 patients. The objective of this meta-analysis and meta-regression is to evaluate outcomes of COVID-19 amongst patients with CVD and HTN.

METHODS

English full-text observational studies having data on epidemiological characteristics of patients with COVID-19 were identified searching PubMed from December 1, 2019, to July 31, 2020, following Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) protocol. Studies having pre-existing CVD and HTN data that described outcomes including mortality and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) utilization were selected. Using random-effects models, risk of composite poor outcomes (meta-analysis) and isolated mortality and IMV utilization (meta-regression) were evaluated. Pooled prevalence of CVD and HTN, correlation coefficient (r) and odds ratio (OR) were estimated. The forest plots and correlation plots were created using random-effects models.

RESULTS

Out of 29 studies (n=27,950) that met the criteria, 28 and 27 studies had data on CVD and HTN, respectively. Pooled prevalence of CVD was 18.2% and HTN was 32.7%. In meta-analysis, CVD (OR: 3.36; 95% CI: 2.29-4.94) and HTN (OR: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.57-2.40) were associated with composite poor outcome. In age-adjusted meta-regression, pre-existing CVD was having significantly higher correlation of IMV utilization (r: 0.28; OR: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1-1.6) without having any association with mortality (r: -0.01; OR: 0.9; 95% CI: 0.9-1.1) among COVID-19 hospitalizations. HTN was neither correlated with higher IMV utilization (r: 0.01; OR: 1.0; 95% CI: 0.9-1.1) nor correlated with higher mortality (r: 0.001; OR: 1.0; 95% CI: 0.9-1.1).

CONCLUSION

In age-adjusted analysis, though we identified pre-existing CVD as a risk factor for higher utilization of mechanical ventilation, pre-existing CVD and HTN had no independent role in increasing mortality.

Gastrointestinal haemorrhage in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: insights from the national inpatient sample

INTRODUCTION

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is associated with gastrointestinal haemorrhage (GIH), which may result from coagulopathy, systemic inflammation, reduced gastric perfusion, and arteriovenous malformation from non-pulsatile blood flow. Data are limited regarding the burden of this complication in the United States.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analysed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for the years 2007 to 2011 to identify hospitalisations in which an ECMO procedure was performed. Hospitalizations complicated by GIH in this cohort were then identified by relevant codes.

RESULTS

Between 2007 and 2011, ECMO hospitalisations increased from 1869 to 3799 (p < 0.01). The proportion of hospitalisations complicated by GIH increased from 2.12% in 2007 to 7.46% in 2011 (p < 0.01). Gastrointestinal haemorrhage was more common in men (56.7%) and in Caucasians (57.4%). Common comorbidities in this population were renal failure (71%), anaemia (55%), and hypertension (26%). All-cause inpatient mortality showed a numerical but nonsignificant increase from 56.7% to 61.9% (p = 0.49). The average cost of care per hospitalisation with GIH associated with ECMO use increased from $132,420 in 2007 to $215,673 in 2011 (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Gastrointestinal haemorrhage during ECMO hospitalisations occurred in small but significantly increasing proportions. The inpatient mortality rate and costs associated with GIH were substantial and increased significantly during the study period.

Newer Diagnostic and Cost-Effective Ways to Identify Asymptomatic Atrial Fibrillation for the Prevention of Stroke

Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is the most common and underestimated cardiac arrhythmia with a lifetime risk of >35% after the age of 55 years and the risk continues to rise exponentially. Afib leads to stasis of blood within the atria allowing clot formation and increasing the risk for systemic embolization leading to strokes. Outcomes due to Afib can improve significantly with appropriate treatment. Thus, the need for convenient, well-tolerated, cost-effective cardiac monitoring for Afib is needed. The study aims to evaluate the various newer devices and compare them with traditional Holter monitoring, keeping diagnostic yield, cost-effectiveness, and patients' convenience in mind. Though Holter monitoring is simple and non-expensive, it has major limitations including limited recording capacity, inability for real-time recordings, and inconvenience to patients. Zio Patch (iRhythm Technologies, Inc; San Francisco, CA) and other loop recording devices are patient-friendly, inexpensive, and can offer real-time data for longer days. More prospective studies are needed to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and the actual number of patients getting benefits from newer devices by diagnosing Afib sooner and start early prevention therapy.

Prevalence and Outcomes Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency among Indexed Hospitalizations with Cardiovascular Disease and Cerebrovascular Disorder-A Nationwide Study

Background: According to past studies, recovery and survival following severe vascular events such as acute myocardial infarction and stroke are negatively impacted by vitamin D deficiency. However, the national estimate on disability-related burden is unclear. We intend to evaluate the prevalence and outcomes of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cerebrovascular disorder (CeVD). Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on the Nationwide Inpatient Sample data (2016-2017) of adult (≥18 years) hospitalizations. We identified patients with a secondary diagnosis of VDD and a primary diagnosis of CVD and CeVD using the 9th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, clinical modification code (ICD-10-CM) codes. A univariate and mixed-effect multivariable survey logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the prevalence, disability, and discharge disposition of patients with CVD and CeVD in the presence of VDD. Results: Among 58,259,589 USA hospitalizations, 3.44%, 2.15%, 0.06%, 1.28%, 11.49%, 1.71%, 0.38%, 0.23%, and 0.08% had primary admission of IHD, acute MI, angina, AFib, CHF, AIS, TIA, ICeH, and SAH, respectively and 1.82% had VDD. The prevalence of hospitalizations due to CHF (14.66% vs. 11.43%), AIS (1.87% vs. 1.71%), and TIA (0.4% vs. 0.38%) was higher among VDD patients as compared with non-VDD patients (p < 0.0001). In a regression analysis, as compare with non-VDD patients, the VDD patients were associated with higher odds of discharge to non-home facilities with an admission diagnosis of CHF (aOR 1.08, 95% CI 1.07-1.09), IHD (aOR 1.24, 95% CI 1.21-1.28), acute MI (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.19-1.28), AFib (aOR 1.21, 95% CI 1.16-1.27), and TIA (aOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.11-1.28). VDD was associated with higher odds of severe or extreme disability among patients hospitalized with AIS (aOR 1.1, 95% CI 1.06-1.14), ICeH (aOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08-1.38), TIA (aOR 1.36, 95% CI 1.25-1.47), IHD (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.33-1.41), acute MI (aOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.38-1.49), AFib (aOR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06-1.15), and CHF (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.05) as compared with non-VDD. Conclusions: CVD and CeVD in the presence of VDD increase the disability and discharge to non-home facilities among USA hospitalizations. Future studies should be planned to evaluate the effect of VDD replacement for improving outcomes.

Paralytic ileus in the United States: A cross-sectional study from the national inpatient sample

Introduction:

Paralytic ileus is a common clinical condition leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Most studies to date have focused on postoperative ileus, a common but not exclusive cause of the condition. There are limited epidemiological data regarding the incidence and impact of paralytic ileus and its relationship to other clinical conditions. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed national inpatient hospitalization trends, demographic variation, cost of care, length of stay, and mortality for paralytic ileus hospitalizations as a whole.

Methods:

The National Inpatient Sample database was used to identify all hospitalizations with the diagnosis of paralytic ileus (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision code 560.1) as primary or secondary diagnosis during the period from 2001 to 2011. Statistical analysis was performed using Cochran–Armitage trend test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and Poisson regression.

Results:

In 2001, there were 362,561 hospitalizations with the diagnosis of paralytic ileus as compared to 470,110 in 2011 (p < 0.0001). The age group 65–79 years was most commonly affected by paralytic ileus throughout the study period. In-hospital all-cause mortality decreased from 6.03% in 2001 to 5.10% in 2011 (p < 0.0001). However, the average cost of care per hospitalization increased from US$19,739 in 2001 to US$26,198 in 2011 (adjusted for inflation, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

There was a significant rise in the number of hospitalizations of paralytic ileus with increased cost of care and reduced all-cause mortality.

Telemedicine, the current COVID-19 pandemic and the future: a narrative review and perspectives moving forward in the USA

A narrative review was conducted to examine the current state of the utilisation of telemedicine amid the current COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate the benefits of continuing telemedicine usage in the future. A literature review was performed for articles related to telemedicine. Databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library and Ovid MEDLINE were searched. Three reviewers independently performed article selection based on relevance to our topic. We included all articles between 1990 and 2020 related to telemedicine using the following keywords: ‘telemedicine’, ‘telehealth’, ‘policy’, ‘COVID-19’, ‘regulation’, ‘rural’, ‘physical examination’, ‘future’. A total of 60 articles were identified, and through careful selection we narrowed the final number of articles to 42 based on relevance to our topic. Telemedicine has been rapidly evolving over the past several decades. Issues with regulation and reimbursement have prevented its full immersion into the healthcare system. During the current pandemic, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services have expanded access to telemedicine services. The advantages of telemedicine moving forward include its cost-effectiveness, ability to extend access to specialty services and its potential to help mitigate the looming physician shortage. Disadvantages include lack of available technological resources in certain parts of the country, issues with security of patient data, and challenges in performing the traditional patient examination. It is critically important that changes are made to fully immerse telemedicine services into the healthcare landscape in order to be prepared for future pandemics as well as to reap the benefits of this service in the future.

Trends and outcomes of peptic ulcer disease in patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is more prevalent in cirrhotic patients and it has been associated with poor outcomes. However, there are no population-based studies from the United States (U.S.) that have investigated this association. Our study aims to estimate the incidence trends, predictors, and outcomes PUD patients with underlying cirrhosis.

METHODS

We analyzed Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) data for years 2002-2014. Adult hospitalizations due to PUD were identified by previously validated ICD-9-CM codes as the primary diagnosis. Cirrhosis was also identified with presence of ICD-9-CM codes in secondary diagnosis fields. We analyzed trends and predictors of PUD in cirrhotic patients and utilized multivariate regression models to estimate the impact of cirrhosis on PUD outcomes.

RESULTS

Between the years 2002-2014, there were 1,433,270 adult hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of PUD, out of which 70,007 (4.88%) had cirrhosis as a concurrent diagnosis. There was a significant increase in the proportion of hospitalizations with a concurrent diagnosis of cirrhosis, from 3.9% in 2002 to 6.6% in 2014 (p < 0.001). In an adjusted multivariable analysis, in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in hospitalizations of PUD with cirrhosis (odd ratio [OR] 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63-1.97; P < 0.001), however, there was no difference in the discharge to facility (OR 1.00; 95%CI 0.94 - 1.07; P = 0.81). Moreover, length of stay (LOS) was also higher (6 days vs. 4 days, P < 0.001) among PUD with cirrhosis. Increasing age and comorbidities were associated with higher odds of in-hospital mortality among PUD patients with cirrhosis.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that there is an increased hospital burden as well as poor outcomes in terms of higher in-hospital mortality among hospitalized PUD patients with cirrhosis. Further studies are warranted for better risk stratification and improvement of outcomes.

Dieulafoy's Lesion: Decade-Long Trends in Hospitalizations, Demographic Disparity, and Outcomes

Background

Dieulafoy's lesion is a relatively rare, but potentially life-threatening, condition where a tortuous arteriole, most commonly in the stomach, may bleed and lead to significant gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Limited epidemiological data exist on patient characteristics and the annual number of hospitalizations associated with such lesions. The aim of our study is to determine the inpatient burden of Dieulafoy’s lesion.

Methods

We analyzed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for all subjects with a discharge diagnosis of Dieulafoy's lesion of the stomach, duodenum, and colon using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes 537.84 and 569.86 as the primary or secondary diagnosis during the period from 2002 to 2011. Statistical significance of variation in the number of hospital discharges and demographics during the study period was achieved using the Cochrane-Armitage trend test.

Results

In 2002, there were 1,071 admissions with a discharge diagnosis of Dieulafoy's lesion as compared to 7,414 in 2011 (p < 0.0001). Dieulafoy's lesion was found to be most common in the age group of 65-79 years (p < 0.0001). Overall, it was found to be more common in males as compared to females (p = 0.0261). The white race was most commonly affected amongst all the races. The average cost of care per hospitalization increased from $14,992 in 2002 to $25,594 in 2011 (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

There has been a steady rise in the number of inpatient admissions with Dieulafoy's lesions. Advances in diagnostic techniques likely play a key role in the higher detection rates along with the possible involvement of other unknown factors. Men, in the age group of 65 to 79 years, and Whites were found to have significantly higher admission rates than all other groups, with a significant increase in the cost of care.

Inpatient burden of gastric cancer in the United States

Background

Gastric cancer is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Over one-half of patients have advanced disease at the time of presentation, leading to a significant burden on the healthcare system. Limited epidemiological data exists on national inpatient hospitalization trends. The aim of this study is to determine the inpatient burden of gastric cancer in the United States.

Methods

We analyzed the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for all subjects with the diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of the stomach (ICD-9 code 151.x) as primary diagnosis during the period from 2001-2011. NIS is the largest all-payer inpatient care database in the U.S. Statistical significance of variation in the number of hospitalizations, patient demographics, and comorbidity measures was determined using Cochran-Armitage trend test.

Results

From 2001 to 2011, the number of hospitalizations with the diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of the stomach ranged between 22,430 and 25,371, however, the trend was not significant. Men were always more affected than women with no significant change in overall proportion (P<0.0001). Overall, in-hospital mortality decreased from 11.19% in 2001 to 6.47% in 2011 (P<0.0001). However, average cost of care per hospitalization increased from $21,710 in 2001 to $24,706 in 2011 (adjusted for inflation, P<0.0001).

Conclusions

The total number of hospitalizations remained relatively stable throughout the study period with higher proportion of men affected every year. Although in-hospital mortality in patients with the diagnosis of gastric cancer decreased over the study period, there was a significant rise in the cost of care.

Inpatient burden of esophageal varices in the United States: analysis of trends in demographics, cost of care, and outcomes

Background

Esophageal variceal bleeding remains a common reason for hospitalization in the United States. The main objective of this study was to analyze demographic variations and outcomes in hospitalizations related to esophageal varices (EV) in the US.

Methods

We performed a retrospective observational cohort study using National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for all hospitalizations with discharge diagnoses of EV, with and without hemorrhage from 2001 to 2011.

Results

In 2001, there were 19,167 hospitalizations with discharge diagnoses of EV with and without bleeding compared to 45,578 in 2011 (P<0.001). There was a 138% increase in the number of total EV hospitalizations, a 221% increase in hospitalizations with EV without hemorrhage, and a 7% increase in hospitalizations for patients with EV and hemorrhage. Age group 50-64 was the most affected, accounting for 31.4% of EV hospitalizations in 2001 and 46.7% of EV hospitalizations in 2011 (P<0.001). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 3.4% for patients with EV without hemorrhage and 8.7% for patients with EV with hemorrhage (P=0.0003).

Conclusions

The number of hospitalizations for patients with asymptomatic EV increased significantly between 2001 to 2011, with only a small concurrent increase in the number of hospitalizations for patients with esophageal variceal bleeding.

Sphingolipids in COPD

Sphingolipids are a distinct class of lipid molecules widely found in nature, principally as cell membrane constituents. After initial uncertainty about their function, sphingolipids have been increasingly recognised to be metabolically active entities involved in many biological processes, including the control of inflammation. Their role as mediators of inflammation may have significant implications for a range of lung diseases in which inflammation is a central element of pathogenesis. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a highly prevalent and morbid condition predominantly affecting cigarette smokers, is a prime example of a respiratory illness with an inflammatory component. Understandably, sphingolipids have received growing attention for their increasingly demonstrated role in the pathophysiology of COPD. The present review aims to be among the first to focus exclusively on the connection between sphingolipids and lung inflammation in COPD, providing the reader with a clinically oriented synopsis of this intriguing association.

Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage in Acute Kidney Injury Patients on Hemodialysis

Background

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) has been reported to be more common in patients with chronic renal failure and end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis with higher mortality than in the general population. Limited epidemiological data exist on the annual number of hospitalizations, demographic variation, cost of care, and outcomes for GIB in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring and not requiring hemodialysis (HD). The main objective of this study was to analyze the trends of GIB in patients with AKI requiring HD and those not requiring HD during hospitalization.

Methods and Results

We analyzed the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for all subjects with a discharge diagnosis of AKI as the primary or secondary diagnosis during the period from 2001 to 2011. Subjects with a discharge diagnosis of hemodialysis and GIB were then identified from the pool and trends were analyzed. A significant rise in the annual number of hospitalizations with AKI was found with a greater proportion being discharged without HD. From 2001 to 2011, there were 19,393,811 hospitalizations with a discharge diagnosis of AKI of which 1,424,692 (7.3%) received HD (HD group), whereas 17,969,119 (92.7%) did not receive HD (non-HD group) (p < 0.0001). The male gender was more commonly affected by GIB than the female gender in both groups (p < 0.0001). The cost of care per hospitalization for GIB patients in the HD group increased over the study period with average found to be $61,463 (adjusted for inflation, p < 0.0001), whereas for GIB patients in the non-HD group, it showed a slight decrease in trend with the average found to be $28,419 (p < 0.0001). All-cause mortality was higher for GIB patients in the HD group (38.1%) than in the non-HD group (25.1%) (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

GIB is more common and associated with higher all-cause inpatient mortality in patients receiving HD in comparison to non-HD patients.

Downhill esophageal varices: a therapeutic dilemma

Esophageal varices can cause life-threatening complications and are most often a sequela of liver disease. Although a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding, downhill variceal bleeding secondary to superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. We discuss two such cases of downhill esophageal varices presenting with hematemesis in patients with end stage renal disease and no history of cirrhosis. These varices were thought to be secondary to SVC occlusion caused by complications from previous dialysis catheters. However, their difficult anatomy posed a significant challenge to the therapeutic interventions.

Tracheobronchitis with stridor in a patient with ulcerative colitis

Bronchopulmonary involvement is a rare but well documented extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD-related pulmonary disease can range from subglottic stenosis to tracheobronchitis to interstitial lung disease and is often misdiagnosed on initial presentation. We present a case of tracheobronchitis with stridor in a 23-year-old-woman with well controlled ulcerative colitis (UC).

Endocrine and metabolic disease: Confocal microscopy as a diagnostic aid

Diabetes is a systemic disease associated with many complications. These can be prevented and managed effectively if detected promptly. Confocal microscopy (CFM) is a diagnostic tool which has the potential to help in early detection of disease and timely management. CFM has the potential to serve as an excellent noninvasive modality for in vivo imaging and morphological analysis, which can aid us in assessing and monitoring various infectious and pathological diseases at the cellular level. Besides ophthalmological indications, CFM has shown good sensitivity and specificity for identifying those at risk of neuropathy and foot ulceration, monitoring evolution and therapeutic response in a wide range of neuropathies apart from diabetic neuropathy. Through this communication, we aim to sensitize the endocrinologists towards cerebral cavernous malformation as a biomarker to evaluate potential outcomes and therapies in human diabetic neuropathy.