Socioeconomic Status and Burden of Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalizations Among Black US Adults: A Fifteen Year Analysis.

Socioeconomic status (SES) may help delineate inequities in atrial fibrillation (AF) among Blacks versus non-blacks. We queried the National Inpatient Sample database from January 2004 to December 2018 to determine trends in AF hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality stratified by Black race and SES. Total admissions for AF in the US has increased by 12% from 1077 to 1202 per 1 million US adults. Among patients hospitalized with AF, the proportion of Black adults is increasing. In those of low SES, both Black and non-black patients have had increases in AF hospitalizations. In those of high SES, Black patients have had a modest increase while non-black patients have had a progressive decrease in rate of hospitalizations. Overall, in-hospital mortality rates improved in Blacks and non-blacks, regardless of SES. Joint associations of SES and race can further qualify disparities in AF care.

Characterizing progressive beta-cell recovery after new-onset DKA in COVID-19 provoked A-ß+ KPD (ketosis-prone diabetes): A prospective study from Eastern India.

BACKGROUND: Recent literature suggests a bi-directional relationship between COVID-19 infection and diabetes mellitus, with an increasing number of previously normoglycemic adults with COVID-19 being admitted with new-onset diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). However, the possibility of COVID-19 being a potential trigger for A-ß + ketosis-prone diabetes (KPD) in these patients needs elucidation. Our study aimed at analyzing such a cohort of patients and determining their natural course of ß-cell recovery on serial follow-up. METHODS: After initial screening, n = 42 previously non-diabetic patients with new-onset DKA and RT-PCR positive COVID-19, were included in our ten-month follow-up study. Of these, n = 22 were negative (suspected A-ß + KPD) and n = 20 were positive (Type 1A DM) for autoantibodies (GAD/IA-2/ZnT8). Subsequently, n = 19 suspected KPD and n = 18 Type 1A DM patients were followed-up over ten months with serial assessments of clinical, biochemical and ß-cell secretion. Amongst the former, n = 15 (79%) patients achieved insulin independence, while n = 4 (21%) continued to require insulin at ten-months follow-up. RESULTS: On comparison, the suspected KPD patients showed significantly greater BMI, age, Hba1c, IL-6 and worse DKA parameters at presentation. Serial C-peptide estimations demonstrated significant ß-cell recovery in KPD group, with complete recovery seen in the 15 patients who became insulin independent on follow-up. Younger age, lower BMI, initial severity of DKA and inflammation (IL-6 levels), along-with reduced 25-hydroxy-Vitamin-D levels were associated with poorer recovery of ß-cell secretion at ten-month follow-up amongst the KPD patients, CONCLUSIONS: This is the first prospective study to demonstrate progressive recovery of ß-cell secretion in new-onset A-ß + KPD provoked by COVID-19 infection in Indian adults, with a distinctly different profile from Type 1A DM. Given their significant potential for ß-cell recovery, meticulous follow-up involving C-peptide estimations can help guide treatment and avoid injudicious use of insulin.

The Prevalence and Predictors of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Morbidly Obese Women - A Cross-sectional Study from Southern India.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly in India and so are its associated comorbidities. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, is commonly associated with obesity. However, limited data are available on its prevalence and clinical indicators among morbidly obese Indian women. The aim of our study was to find the prevalence of NAFLD in morbidly obese Indian women and study the clinically measurable obesity indicators that would best predict NAFLD. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, conducted in the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Christian Medical College, Vellore. Women were enrolled who were diagnosed to have NAFLD on sonography. Anthropometric variables, such as body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio and waist-height ratio were measured and compared between the two groups. SPSS Statistics 21.0 software was used for analysing the data. RESULTS: One hundred and six consecutive, morbidly obese women were recruited in this study. Nearly three-quarters (73.6%) of the 106 morbidly obese participants were found to have NAFLD. We found waist circumference, body mass index and waist-height ratio to be most useful in distinguishing between patients with and without NAFLD, and found waist-height ratio was the best screening tool for diagnosing NAFLD. CONCLUSION: NAFLD is present in a large proportion of morbidly obese women. Waist-height ratio could be used a surrogate screening tool to detect NAFLD in resource-constrained settings.

Managing diabetic foot in times of COVID-19: time to put the best 'foot' forward.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unparalleled impact on the socio-economic and healthcare structure of India. Due to our large populations of diabetic patients, who have an increased risk of worse outcomes with COVID-19 infection, it is of utmost public health importance to analyse the relationship between the two. The aim of our review was to analyse the possible relationship between COVID-19 infection and DFUs, which are a fairly common, yet serious complication in diabetic patients, as well as their management, under the given changing circumstances. METHODOLOGY: An extensive review of related educational articles was analysed from various databases. RESULTS: The two main pathogenic mechanisms described in COVID-19 infection are a cytokine storm (causing ARDS) as well as an acquired coagulopathy, with widespread thrombosis. DFUs are associated with an underlying peripheral neuropathy, a chronic low-grade inflammatory state and peripheral arterial disease, which lead to chronic non-healing ulcers. Similarities seen in the pathogenic mechanisms of these two conditions make a bidirectional relationship highly plausible. CONCLUSION: Due to the disruptions in the healthcare system brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in practice to a telehealth-driven approach, with emphasis on homecare and community clinics, need to be adopted, to ensure best possible care to patients with DFUs, in order to reduce their risk of DFU-related complications and need for hospitalization.

Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio as a Novel Surrogate Marker to Differentiate Thyrotoxic Patients with Graves Disease from Subacute Thyroiditis: a Cross-Sectional Study from South India.

OBJECTIVE: Graves disease (GD) and the toxic phase of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) have similar clinical and biochemical presentations, and differentiating them requires sophisticated investigations. Since thyroid hormones have been noted to affect all hematologic cell lines, we have used the platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR)-an index usually utilized in inflammatory or malignant disorders-to compare patients with and without thyrotoxicosis and to analyze its use in distinguishing between patients with GD and SAT prior to therapy. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Endocrinology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. During the study period, 800 patients with features of thyrotoxicosis visited the outpatient clinic. Those who had thyroid radioiodine (131I) uptake (RAIU) study and complete blood count (CBC) at diagnosis were included (N = 500). Based on the RAIU values, these were divided as GD (n = 354) and SAT (n = 146). Baseline characteristics, thyroid function tests, and components of the CBC and PLR were obtained. The data were compared with a group of 250 matched euthyroid controls. Analyses were performed using SPSS version 21.0 software. RESULTS: PLR showed significant reductions in both GD and SAT patients when compared to euthyroid controls (P = .01), with greater reductions seen in GD than SAT (74.5 ± 19 vs. 84.4 ± 26; P = .01). Using receiver operating characteristic analysis of PLR, an optimal PLR cut-off of 70.4 was found to differentiate GD from SAT with a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 74%. CONCLUSION: PLR can be used as a novel surrogate marker to differentiate between patients with GD and SAT prior to therapy, especially in resource-limited settings.