Identification and description of patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection using the Premier Healthcare Database.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) is a hyperinflammatory illness related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The characteristics of patients with this syndrome and the frequency with which it occurs among patients hospitalised after SARS-CoV-2 infection are unclear. Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition for MIS-A, we created ICD-10-CM code and laboratory criteria to identify potential MIS-A patients in the Premier Healthcare Database Special COVID-19 Release, a database containing patient-level information on hospital discharges across the United States. Modified MIS-A criteria were applied to hospitalisations with discharge from March to December 2020. The proportion of hospitalisations meeting electronic health record criteria for MIS-A and descriptive statistics for patients in the potential MIS-A cohort were calculated. Of 34 515 SARS-CoV-2-related hospitalisations with complete clinical and laboratory data, 53 met modified criteria for MIS-A (0.15%). The median age was 62 years (IQR 52-74). Most patients met the severe cardiac illness criterion through either myocarditis (66.0%) or new-onset heart failure (35.8%). A total of 79.2% of patients required ICU admission, while 43.4% of patients in the cohort died. MIS-A appears to be a rare but severe outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additional studies are needed to investigate how this syndrome differs from severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults.

Perioperative cardiovascular system failure in South Asians undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with prolonged inflammation and increased Toll-like receptor signaling in inflammatory monocytes.

BACKGROUND: South Asian ethnicity is an independent risk factor for mortality after coronary artery bypass. We tested the hypothesis that this risk results from a greater inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: This was a single-site prospective cohort study. We compared the inflammatory response to CPB in 20 Caucasians and 17 South Asians undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. RESULTS: Plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, IL-12, interferon gamma, and tumor necrosis factor) and anti-inflammatory mediators (IL-10 and soluble TNF receptor I) were measured. The Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway was examined in peripheral blood monocytes by flow cytometry, measuring surface expression of TLR2, TLR4, and coreceptor CD14 and activation of downstream messenger molecules (interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4, nuclear factor kappa from B cells (NF-κB), c-Jun amino-terminal kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and Protein Kinase B). South Asians had persistently higher plasma levels of IL-6 and exhibited increased TLR signaling through the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and Protein Kinase B pathways in inflammatory monocytes after CPB. This increased inflammatory response was paralleled clinically by a higher sequential organ failure assessment score (5.1 ± 1.4 versus 1.5 ± 1.6, P = 0.027) and prolonged cardiovascular system failure (23.5% versus 0%) 48 h after CPB. CONCLUSIONS: South Asians develop an exacerbated systemic inflammatory response after CPB, which may contribute to the higher morbidity and mortality associated with coronary artery bypass in this population. These patients may benefit from targeted anti-inflammatory therapies designed to mitigate the adverse consequences resulting from this response.

Deaths in children and young people in England after SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first pandemic year.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is rarely fatal in children and young people (CYP, <18 years old), but quantifying the risk of death is challenging because CYP are often infected with SARS-CoV-2 exhibiting no or minimal symptoms. To distinguish between CYP who died as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection and those who died of another cause but were coincidentally infected with the virus, we undertook a clinical review of all CYP deaths with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test from March 2020 to February 2021. The predominant SARS-CoV-2 variants were wild-type and Alpha. Here we show that, of 12,023,568 CYP living in England, 3,105 died, including 61 who were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Of these deaths, 25 were due to SARS-CoV-2 infection (mortality rate, two per million), including 22 due to coronavirus disease 2019-the clinical disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection-and 3 were due to pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2. In total, 99.995% of CYP with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test survived. CYP older than 10 years, Asian and Black ethnic backgrounds and comorbidities were over-represented in SARS-CoV-2-related deaths compared with other CYP deaths. These results are important for guiding decisions on shielding and vaccinating children. New variants might have different mortality risks and should be evaluated in a similar way.

Socioeconomic and Racial and/or Ethnic Disparities in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the socioeconomic and racial and/or ethnic disparities impacting the diagnosis and outcomes of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective case-control study was conducted at 3 academic centers from January 1 to September 1, 2020. Children with MIS-C were compared with 5 control groups: children with coronavirus disease 2019, children evaluated for MIS-C who did not meet case patient criteria, children hospitalized with febrile illness, children with Kawasaki disease, and children in Massachusetts based on US census data. Neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and social vulnerability index (SVI) were measured via a census-based scoring system. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between SES, SVI, race and ethnicity, and MIS-C diagnosis and clinical severity as outcomes. RESULTS: Among 43 patients with MIS-C, 19 (44%) were Hispanic, 11 (26%) were Black, and 12 (28%) were white; 22 (51%) were in the lowest quartile SES, and 23 (53%) were in the highest quartile SVI. SES and SVI were similar between patients with MIS-C and coronavirus disease 2019. In multivariable analysis, lowest SES quartile (odds ratio 2.2 [95% confidence interval 1.1-4.4]), highest SVI quartile (odds ratio 2.8 [95% confidence interval 1.5-5.1]), and racial and/or ethnic minority background were associated with MIS-C diagnosis. Neither SES, SVI, race, nor ethnicity were associated with disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: Lower SES or higher SVI, Hispanic ethnicity, and Black race independently increased risk for MIS-C. Additional studies are required to target interventions to improve health equity for children.

Post-COVID-19 paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome: association of ethnicity, key worker and socioeconomic status with risk and severity.

OBJECTIVES: Patients from ethnic minority groups and key workers are over-represented among adults hospitalised or dying from COVID-19. In this population-based retrospective cohort, we describe the association of ethnicity, socioeconomic and family key worker status with incidence and severity of Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS). SETTING: Evelina London Children's Hospital (ELCH), the tertiary paediatric hospital for the South Thames Retrieval Service (STRS) region. PARTICIPANTS: 70 children with PIMS-TS admitted 14 February 2020-2 June 2020. OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence and crude ORs are presented, comparing ethnicity and socioeconomic status of our cohort and the catchment population, using census data and Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). Regression is used to estimate the association of ethnicity and IMD with admission duration and requirement for intensive care, inotropes and ventilation. RESULTS: Incidence was significantly higher in children from black (25.0 cases per 100 000 population), Asian (6.4/100 000) and other (17.8/100 000) ethnic groups, compared with 1.6/100 000 in white ethnic groups (ORs 15.7, 4.0 and 11.2, respectively). Incidence was higher in the three most deprived quintiles compared with the least deprived quintile (eg, 8.1/100 000 in quintile 1 vs 1.6/100 000 in quintile 5, OR 5.2). Proportions of families with key workers (50%) exceeded catchment proportions. Admission length of stay was 38% longer in children from black ethnic groups than white (95% CI 4% to 82%; median 8 days vs 6 days). 9/10 children requiring ventilation were from black ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Children in ethnic minority groups, living in more deprived areas and in key worker families are over-represented. Children in black ethnic groups had longer admissions; ethnicity may be associated with ventilation requirement.This project was registered with the ELCH audit and service evaluation team, ref. no 11186.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome score and race as predictors of length of stay in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Identifying predictors of length of stay in the intensive care unit can help critical care clinicians prioritize care in patients with acute, life-threatening injuries. OBJECTIVE: To determine if systemic inflammatory response syndrome scores are predictive of length of stay in the intensive care unit in patients with acute, life-threatening injuries. METHODS: Retrospective chart reviews were completed on patients with acute, life-threatening injuries admitted to the intensive care unit at a level I trauma center in the southeastern United States. All 246 eligible charts from the trauma registry database from 1998 to 2007 were included. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome scores measured on admission were correlated with length of stay in the intensive care unit. Data on race, sex, age, smoking status, and injury severity score also were collected. Univariate and multivariate regression modeling was used to analyze data. RESULTS: Severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome scores on admission to the intensive care unit were predictive of length of stay in the unit (F=15.83; P<.001), as was white race (F=9.7; P=.002), and injury severity score (F=20.23; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome scores can be measured quickly and easily at the bedside. Data support use of the score to predict length of stay in the intensive care unit.

Demographic differences in systemic inflammatory response syndrome score after trauma.

BACKGROUND: Demographic differences in health outcomes have been reported for chronic diseases, but few data exist on these differences in trauma (defined as acute, life-threatening injuries). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the systemic inflammatory response syndrome score after trauma and race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 600 patients from a level I trauma center (1997-2007) was conducted. Inclusion criteria were age 18 to 44 years, Injury Severity Score 15 or greater, and admission to an intensive care unit. Exclusion criteria were use of transfusions, spinal cord injuries, comorbid conditions affecting the inflammatory response, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and missing data (final sample, 246 charts/patients). Systemic inflammatory response syndrome was measured by using the systemic inflammatory response syndrome score. Race was self-reported. Socioeconomic status was defined by insurance and employment. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon rank sum, Kruskal-Wallis, and χ(2) tests were used for analysis. RESULTS: Compared with whites, African Americans (n = 94) had fewer occurrences of the syndrome (P = .04) and a 14% lower white blood cell count on admission to the intensive care unit (mean, 15,200/µL; 95% CI, 14,400/µL to 16,000/µL vs mean 17,700/µL; 95% CI, 16,700/µL to 18,700/µL; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Demographic differences exist in the systemic inflammatory response syndrome score after trauma. Additional studies in larger populations of patients are needed as well as basic science and translational research to determine potential mechanisms that may explain the differences.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome in patients hospitalized for gastrointestinal bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence and causes of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), to determine the risk factors for its development, and to assess its impact on the outcome of patients hospitalized for gastrointestinal bleeding. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: A 528-bed, university-affiliated, teaching hospital. PATIENTS: The study included 411 adults hospitalized for gastrointestinal bleeding from January 1, 1995, through June 30, 1996. MEASUREMENTS: We obtained the demographic data, selected clinical findings, laboratory values, length of hospital stay, presence and cause of SIRS, presence of organ failure, and in-hospital mortality for each patient. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score was calculated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine differences between groups. RESULTS: Patients' ages (mean +/- SD) were 55.9 +/- 17.3 yr; 227 (55%) were male; 247 (60%) were African-American. SIRS developed in 112 patients (27%). Sepsis was the cause of SIRS in 63% of patients (70/112). Severe sepsis developed in 20 patients and septic shock in 5 patients. The most common cause of sepsis was pneumonia (19). There were no significant differences in age, gender, race, and the presence of liver disease between patients with and without SIRS. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (76/211 vs. 36/ 200; p = .0196), intensive care unit admission (73/152 vs. 391259; p < .0001), and higher APACHE II scores (median, 17 vs. 11; p< .0001) were associated with the development of SIRS. The length of hospital stay was longer (median, 9.5 vs. 3 days; p < .0001), and the number of organ failures (median, 1 vs. 0; p < .0001) and in-hospital mortality rates (23 vs. 4%; p < .0001) were higher in patients with SIRS than in those without SIRS. CONCLUSIONS: SIRS occurs in 27% of patients admitted for gastrointestinal bleeding and is associated with a poor prognosis. Intensive care unit admission, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and high APACHE II scores are risk factors for the development of SIRS in patients hospitalized for gastrointestinal bleeding.