Risk factors for mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 patients with silent hypoxemia.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the predictors of mortality in hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) due to COVID-19 presenting with silent hypoxemia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with SARS due to COVID-19 and silent hypoxemia at admission, in Brazil, from January to June 2021. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital death. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Of 46,102 patients, the mean age was 59 ±â€¯16 years, and 41.6% were female. During hospitalization, 13,149 patients died. Compared to survivors, non-survivors were older (mean age, 66 vs. 56 years; P < 0.001), less frequently female (43.6% vs. 40.9%; P < 0.001), and more likely to have comorbidities (74.3% vs. 56.8%; P < 0.001). Non-survivors had higher needs for invasive mechanical ventilation (42.4% vs. 6.6%; P < 0.001) and intensive care unit admission (56.9% vs. 20%; P < 0.001) compared to survivors. In the multivariable regression analysis, advanced age (OR 1.04; 95%CI 1.037-1.04), presence of comorbidities (OR 1.54; 95%CI 1.47-1.62), cough (OR 0.74; 95%CI 0.71-0.79), respiratory distress (OR 1.32; 95%CI 1.26-1.38), and need for non-invasive respiratory support (OR 0.37; 95%CI 0.35-0.40) remained independently associated with death. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced age, presence of comorbidities, and respiratory distress were independent risk factors for mortality, while cough and requirement for non-invasive respiratory support were independent protective factors against mortality in hospitalized patients due to SARS due to COVID-19 with silent hypoxemia at presentation.

Renal tubular dysfunction in human visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-azar).

BACKGROUND: There are few studies about the functional tubular disturbances in human Kala-azar. The aim of this study was to investigate alterations in tubular reabsorption of urinary proteins, sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose, uric acid, inorganic phosphate and amino acids in patients with the chronic form of kala-azar. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 55 patients with visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-azar). The laboratorial investigation was: creatinine clearance and daily urinary excretion of total proteins, albumin, IgG, beta2-microglobulin, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, inorganic phosphate, uric acid and glucose. Plasma and urinary protein electrophoresis were performed in agarose gel. Urinary light chains were determined by the nephelometric method and amino acids by chromatography. All data were compared to those of a control group. RESULTS: Hypoalbuminemia, hypergammaglobulinemia as well as increased plasma levels of both IgG and beta2-microglobulins were found in all patients with Kala-azar. The mean urinary protein excretion was 277 +/- 66 mg/day. Increased albumin excretion was observed in 44% of patients accounting for 17% of the total urinary protein excretion. Proteinuria consisted predominantly of low molecular weight protein fractions that migrated with alpha1, alpha2, beta and especially gamma globulins. Urinary beta2-microglobulin excretion was elevated in all patients. Immune electrophoresis showed increased urinary excretion rates of kappa (27%) and lambda (42%) light chains. The Bence-Jones test was positive in 20% of patients. Immunofixation was negative for monoclonal peak. The principal alterations were hyponatremia 94.6%, hypokalemia 26%, hypochloremia 27.2%, hypocalcemia 32%, hypomagnesemia 41.8%, hypouricemia 14.3%, Increased urinary excretion fraction were: sodium 15%, potassium 26%, chloride 33.3%, calcium 32%, inorganic phosphate 27.2%, magnesium 100% with hypermagnesiuria, uric acid 44%. Glucosuria was found in one third of patients. CONCLUSION: There was evidence of renal proximal tubular damage with alterations in the reabsorption of proteins and light chains with characteristics of a tubular proteinuria, Disturbances of tubular reabsorption of uric acid, calcium, phosphate, glucose and magnesium were also observed.

Historical cohort with diabetes mellitus after kidney transplantation and associated factors of its development in adult patients of a transplantation reference center in the State of Ceará, Brazil.

Post-transplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is an important complication related to kidney transplantation (KT), and its occurrence is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, KT is considered to be the most effective treatment option that offers better quality of life for patients with end-stage kidney disease. This study aimed to describe the occurrence of PTDM and the risk factors associated with its development in kidney transplant patients of a transplantation reference center in the State of Ceará (Brazil). This historical cohort study, based on medical records data, included adult patients undergoing KT from January 2006 to December 2010 in a public tertiary hospital. Multivariate analysis was performed with the use of a logistic regression model, with PTDM presence as dependent variable and the possible risk factors under study as independent variables. Throughout the evaluated period, 430 KTs were performed; 92 patients were excluded. Diabetes mellitus was already present in 9.2% of patients before KT. Hyperglycemia during the 1st month after transplantation occurred in 34.5% of recipients, and the occurrence of PTDM to the end of study was 19.9%. Factors associated with PTDM development were: fasting plasma glucose 1 month after KT (P < .001; odds ratio [OR] 1.05), deceased-donor KT (P = .015; OR 3.53), impaired fasting glucose before transplantation (P = .014; OR 4.10), and acute rejection occurrence (P = .003; OR 6.43). High PTDM occurrence was found, in accordance with the literature. Identification of factors associated with PTDM development, as well as its early diagnosis, could result in long-term improvement in patient and graft survivals.