Risk factors for recurrent urinary tract infections among women in a large integrated health care organization in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur commonly and often recur. However, recent data on the epidemiology of recurrent UTI (rUTI) are scarce. METHODS: Between 01/01/2016-31/12/2020, index uncomplicated UTIs (uUTI) from office, emergency department (ED), hospital, and virtual care settings were identified from electronic health records of women at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. We defined rUTI as ≥3 UTI within 365 days or ≥2 UTI within 180 days. We determined the proportion of women with cystitis index uUTI who had rUTI and examined factors associated with rUTIs using modified multivariable Poisson regression. RESULTS: Among 374,171 women with cystitis index uUTI, 54,318 (14.5%) had rUTI. A higher proportion of women with rUTI compared to those without rUTI were age 18-27 or ≥78 years at index uUTI (19.7% vs 18.7% and 9.0% vs 6.0%, respectively), were immunocompromised, or had a positive urine culture at index uUTI. In multivariable analyses, characteristics associated with rUTI included younger or older age (48-57 vs 18-27 years aRR=0.83 [95% CI: 0.80-0.85]; ≥78 vs 18-27 years aRR=1.07 [95%CI=1.03-1.11]), Charlson Comorbidity Index (≥3 vs 0, aRR=1.12 [95%CI:1.08-1.17]), and diabetes mellitus (aRR=1.07 [95%CI:1.04-1.10]). More frequent prior year outpatient and ED encounters, oral antibiotic prescriptions, oral contraceptive prescriptions, positive culture at index uUTI, and antibiotic resistant organisms were also associated with increased risk of rUTI. CONCLUSIONS: The high risk of rUTI among women with cystitis is concerning, especially given previous reports of increasing UTI incidence. Current assessment of the epidemiology of rUTI may guide the development of preventive interventions against UTI.

Association of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 infection among older adult recipients of COVID-19 vaccines: a longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal carriage is associated with increased acquisition and duration of SARS-CoV-2 infection among adults. While pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) prevent carriage of vaccine-serotype pneumococci, their potential impact on COVID-19 related outcomes remains poorly understood in populations with prevalent immunity against SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective cohort study of adults aged ≥65 years in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) healthcare system who had received ≥2 COVID-19 vaccine doses, comparing risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection between 1 January, 2021 and 31 December, 2022 among recipients and non-recipients of PCV13. We estimated adjusted hazard ratios via Cox proportional hazards models, employing multiple strategies to mitigate bias from differential test-seeking behavior. RESULTS: The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection comparing PCV13 recipients to non-recipients was 0.92 (95% confidence interval: 0.90-0.95), corresponding to prevention of 3.9 (2.6-5.3) infections per 100 person-years. Following receipt of 2, 3, and ≥4 COVID-19 vaccine doses, aHRs were 0.85 (0.81-0.89), 0.94 (0.90-0.97), and 0.99 (0.93-1.04), respectively. The aHR for persons who had not received COVID-19 vaccination in the preceding 6 months was 0.90 (0.86-0.93), versus 0.94 (0.91-0.98) within 6 months after receipt of any dose. Similarly, the aHR was 0.92 (0.89-0.94) for persons without history of documented SARS-CoV-2 infection, versus 1.00 (0.90-1.12) for persons with documented prior infection. CONCLUSIONS: Among older adults who had received ≥2 COVID-19 vaccine doses, PCV13 was associated with modest protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Protective effects of PCV13 were greater among individuals expected to have weaker immune protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Antibiotic resistance of urinary tract infection recurrences in a large U.S. integrated health care system.

BACKGROUND: Data on antibiotic resistance of uropathogens for UTI recurrences are lacking. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort of adults at Kaiser Permanente Southern California with culture-confirmed index uncomplicated UTI (uUTI) between 01/2016 and 12/2020, we examined the number and characteristics of subsequent culture-confirmed UTIs through 2021. RESULTS: We identified 148,994 individuals with a culture-confirmed index uUTI (88% female, 44% Hispanic, mean age 51 years [s.d. 19]), of whom 19% developed a subsequent culture-confirmed UTI after a median 300 days (IQR: 126-627). The proportion of UTI due to E. coli was highest for index uUTI (79%) and decreased to 73% for sixth UTI (UTI 6) (p-for trend <0.001), while the proportion due to Klebsiella spp increased from index UTI (7%) to UTI 6 (11%) (p-for-trend <0.001). Non-susceptibility to ≥1 and ≥3 antibiotic classes was observed in 57% and 13% of index uUTIs, respectively, and was higher for subsequent UTIs (65% and 20%, respectively, for UTI 6). Most commonly observed antibiotic non-susceptibility patterns included penicillins alone (12%), and penicillins, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole plus ≥1 additional antibiotic class (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic non-susceptibility is common in UTIs and increases with subsequent UTIs. Continuous monitoring of UTI recurrences and susceptibility patterns are needed to guide treatment decisions.

Comparative Effectiveness of Licensed Influenza Vaccines in Preventing Influenza-related Medical Encounters and Hospitalizations in the 2022-2023 Influenza Season Among Adults ≥65 Years of Age.

BACKGROUND: Influenza causes substantial morbidity, particularly among older individuals. Updated data on the effectiveness of currently licensed vaccines in this population are needed. METHODS: At Kaiser Permanente Southern California, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate comparative vaccine effectiveness (cVE) of high-dose (HD), adjuvanted, and standard-dose (SD) cell-based influenza vaccines, relative to the SD egg-based vaccine. We included adults aged ≥65 years who received an influenza vaccine between 1 August 2022 and 31 December 2022, with follow-up up to 20 May 2023. Primary outcomes were: (1) influenza-related medical encounters and (2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed influenza-related hospitalization. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusting for confounders using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). cVE (%) was calculated as (1-aHR) × 100 when aHR ≤1, and ([1/aHR]-1) × 100 when aHR >1. RESULTS: Our study population (n = 495 119) was 54.9% female, 46.3% non-Hispanic White, with a median age of 73 years (interquartile range [IQR] 69-79). Characteristics of all groups were well balanced after IPTW. Adjusted cVEs against influenza-related medical encounters in the HD, adjuvanted, and SD cell-based vaccine groups were 9.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: .9, 16.7), 16.9% (95% CI: 1.7, 29.8), and -6.3 (95% CI: -18.3, 6.9), respectively. Adjusted cVEs against PCR-confirmed hospitalization in the HD, adjuvanted, and SD cell-based groups were 25.1% (95% CI: .2, 43.8), 61.6% (95% CI: 18.1, 82.0), and 26.4% (95% CI: -18.3, 55.7), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the SD egg-based vaccine, HD and adjuvanted vaccines conferred additional protection against influenza-related outcomes in the 2022-2023 season in adults ≥65 years. Our results provide real-world evidence of the comparative effectiveness of currently licensed vaccines.

Incidence and imaging characteristics of difficult to detect retrospectively identified brain metastases in patients receiving repeat courses of stereotactic radiosurgery.

PURPOSE: During stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) planning for brain metastases (BM), brain MRIs are reviewed to select appropriate targets based on radiographic characteristics. Some BM are difficult to detect and/or definitively identify and may go untreated initially, only to become apparent on future imaging. We hypothesized that in patients receiving multiple courses of SRS, reviewing the initial planning MRI would reveal early evidence of lesions that developed into metastases requiring SRS. METHODS: Patients undergoing two or more courses of SRS to BM within 6 months between 2016 and 2018 were included in this single-institution, retrospective study. Brain MRIs from the initial course were reviewed for lesions at the same location as subsequently treated metastases; if present, this lesion was classified as a "retrospectively identified metastasis" or RIM. RIMs were subcategorized as meeting or not meeting diagnostic imaging criteria for BM (+ DC or -DC, respectively). RESULTS: Among 683 patients undergoing 923 SRS courses, 98 patients met inclusion criteria. There were 115 repeat courses of SRS, with 345 treated metastases in the subsequent course, 128 of which were associated with RIMs found in a prior MRI. 58% of RIMs were + DC. 17 (15%) of subsequent courses consisted solely of metastases associated with + DC RIMs. CONCLUSION: Radiographic evidence of brain metastases requiring future treatment was occasionally present on brain MRIs from prior SRS treatments. Most RIMs were + DC, and some subsequent SRS courses treated only + DC RIMs. These findings suggest enhanced BM detection might enable earlier treatment and reduce the need for additional SRS.

Effectiveness of Messenger RNA-1273 Vaccine Booster Against Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Immunocompetent Adults.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a prospective cohort study at Kaiser Permanente Southern California to evaluate the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of a booster dose vs 2-dose primary series of messenger RNA (mRNA)-1273 in immunocompetent individuals. METHODS: Immunocompetent adults who received a booster dose of mRNA-1273 from October 2021 through December 2021 were matched 1:1 to randomly selected 2-dose mRNA-1273 recipients by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and second-dose date and followed up through January 2022. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), comparing outcomes (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2] infection and coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] hospitalization and hospital death) in the booster-dose and 2-dose groups. Adjusted rVE (%) was calculated as (1 - aHR) × 100. aHRs and rVE were also estimated by subgroup and month of follow-up. RESULTS: The study included 431 328 booster-dose vaccinated adults matched to 431 328 2-dose vaccinated adults. rVE was 61.3% (95% CI: 60.5%-62.2%) against SARS-CoV-2 infection, 89.0% (86.2%-91.2%) against COVID-19 hospitalization, and 96.0% (68.0%-99.5%) against COVID-19 hospital death. rVE against SARS-CoV-2 infection ranged from 55.6% to 66.7% across all subgroups. rVE against SARS-CoV-2 infection decreased from 67.1% (0 to <1 month of follow-up) to 30.5% (2 to <3 months). For COVID-19 hospitalization, rVE decreased from 91.2% (0 to <1 month) to 78.7% (2 to <3 months). CONCLUSIONS: Among immunocompetent adults, the mRNA-1273 booster conferred additional protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 disease compared with the 2-dose mRNA-1273 primary series during periods of Delta and Omicron predominance.

Recombinant Adjuvanted Zoster Vaccine and Reduced Risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Diagnosis and Hospitalization in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Some vaccines elicit nonspecific immune responses that may protect against heterologous infections. We evaluated the association between recombinant adjuvanted zoster vaccine (RZV) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. METHODS: In a cohort design, adults aged ≥50 years who received ≥1 RZV dose before 1 March 2020 were matched 1:2 to unvaccinated individuals and followed until 31 December 2020. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for COVID-19 outcomes were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression. In a test-negative design, cases had a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 test and controls had only negative tests, during 1 March-31 December 2020. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% CIs for RZV receipt were estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS: In the cohort design, 149 244 RZV recipients were matched to 298 488 unvaccinated individuals. The aHRs for COVID-19 diagnosis and hospitalization were 0.84 (95% CI, .81-.87) and 0.68 (95% CI, .64-.74), respectively. In the test-negative design, 8.4% of 75 726 test-positive cases and 13.1% of 340 898 test-negative controls had received ≥1 RZV dose (aOR, 0.84 [95% CI, .81-.86]). CONCLUSIONS: RZV vaccination was associated with a 16% lower risk of COVID-19 diagnosis and 32% lower risk of hospitalization. Further study of vaccine-induced nonspecific immunity for potential attenuation of future pandemics is warranted.

Effectiveness of mRNA BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine up to 6 months in a large integrated health system in the USA: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Vaccine effectiveness studies have not differentiated the effect of the delta (B.1.617.2) variant and potential waning immunity in observed reductions in effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infections. We aimed to evaluate overall and variant-specific effectiveness of BNT162b2 (tozinameran, Pfizer-BioNTech) against SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19-related hospital admissions by time since vaccination among members of a large US health-care system. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we analysed electronic health records of individuals (≥12 years) who were members of the health-care organisation Kaiser Permanente Southern California (CA, USA), to assess BNT162b2 vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19-related hospital admissions for up to 6 months. Participants were required to have 1 year or more previous membership of the organisation. Outcomes comprised SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive tests and COVID-19-related hospital admissions. Effectiveness calculations were based on hazard ratios from adjusted Cox models. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04848584. FINDINGS: Between Dec 14, 2020, and Aug 8, 2021, of 4 920 549 individuals assessed for eligibility, we included 3 436 957 (median age 45 years [IQR 29-61]; 1 799 395 [52·4%] female and 1 637 394 [47·6%] male). For fully vaccinated individuals, effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infections was 73% (95% CI 72-74) and against COVID-19-related hospital admissions was 90% (89-92). Effectiveness against infections declined from 88% (95% CI 86-89) during the first month after full vaccination to 47% (43-51) after 5 months. Among sequenced infections, vaccine effectiveness against infections of the delta variant was high during the first month after full vaccination (93% [95% CI 85-97]) but declined to 53% [39-65] after 4 months. Effectiveness against other (non-delta) variants the first month after full vaccination was also high at 97% (95% CI 95-99), but waned to 67% (45-80) at 4-5 months. Vaccine effectiveness against hospital admissions for infections with the delta variant for all ages was high overall (93% [95% CI 84-96]) up to 6 months. INTERPRETATION: Our results provide support for high effectiveness of BNT162b2 against hospital admissions up until around 6 months after being fully vaccinated, even in the face of widespread dissemination of the delta variant. Reduction in vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infections over time is probably primarily due to waning immunity with time rather than the delta variant escaping vaccine protection. FUNDING: Pfizer.

Hospitalization and Emergency Department Encounters for COVID-19 After Paxlovid Treatment - California, December 2021-May 2022.

Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) is a combination protease inhibitor that blocks replication of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and has been shown to reduce the risk for hospitalization and death among patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at risk for progression to severe disease* (1). In December 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for early treatment with Paxlovid among persons with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 who are at high risk for progression to severe disease (2). FDA and a small number of published case reports have documented recurrence of COVID-19 symptoms or a positive viral test result (COVID-19 rebound) 2-8 days after recovery or a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result among patients treated with Paxlovid (3-7); however, large-scale studies investigating severe illness after Paxlovid treatment are limited. This study used electronic health record (EHR) data from a large integrated health care system in California (Kaiser Permanente Southern California [KPSC]) to describe hospital admissions and emergency department (ED) encounters related to SARS-CoV-2 infections during the 5-15 days after pharmacy dispensation of a 5-day treatment course of Paxlovid. Among 5,287 persons aged ≥12 years who received Paxlovid during December 31, 2021-May 26, 2022, 73% had received ≥3 doses of COVID-19 vaccine†, and 8% were unvaccinated. During the 5-15 days after Paxlovid treatment was dispensed, six hospitalizations and 39 ED encounters considered to be related to SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified, representing <1% of all patients to whom Paxlovid treatment was dispensed during the study period. Among these 45 persons, 21 (47%) were aged ≥65 years, and 35 (78%) had at least one underlying medical condition§ (8). This study found that hospitalization or ED encounters for COVID-19 during the 5-15 days after Paxlovid treatment was dispensed for mild to moderate COVID-19 illness were rarely identified. When administered as an early-stage treatment, Paxlovid might prevent COVID-19-related hospitalization among persons with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 who are at risk for progression to severe disease.

Association Between 2-Dose vs 3-Dose Hepatitis B Vaccine and Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Importance: The 2-dose hepatitis B vaccine with a cytosine phosphoguanine adjuvant (HepB-CpG vaccine; Heplisav-B) generated higher seroprotection in prelicensure trials than did a 3-dose hepatitis B vaccine with an aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (HepB-alum vaccine; Engerix-B). However, in 1 trial, a higher number of acute myocardial infarction (MI) events were observed among those who received the HepB-CpG vaccine than among those who received the HepB-alum vaccine, an outcome requiring further study. Objective: To compare the rate of acute MI between recipients of HepB-CpG vaccine and HepB-alum vaccine. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort noninferiority study was conducted at Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC), an integrated health care system with 15 medical centers and approximately 4.7 million members. The study included 69 625 adults not undergoing dialysis who received at least 1 dose of a hepatitis B vaccine in either family medicine or internal medicine departments at KPSC from August 7, 2018, to October 31, 2019 (November 30, 2020, final follow-up). Exposures: Receipt of HepB-CpG vaccine vs HepB-alum vaccine. The first dose during the study period was the index dose. Main Outcomes and Measures: Individuals were followed up for 13 months after the index dose for occurrence of type 1 acute MI. Potential events were identified using diagnosis codes and adjudicated by cardiologists. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of acute MI was estimated comparing recipients of HepB-CpG vaccine with recipients of HepB-alum vaccine, with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to adjust for demographic and clinical characteristics. The upper limit of the 1-sided 97.5% CI was compared with a noninferiority margin of 2. Results: Of the 31 183 recipients of HepB-CpG vaccine (median age, 49 years; IQR, 38-56 years), 51.2% (n = 15 965) were men, and 52.7% (n = 16 423) were Hispanic. Of the 38 442 recipients of HepB-alum (median age, 49 years; IQR, 39-56 years), 50.8% (19 533) were men, and 47.1% (n = 18 125) were Hispanic. Characteristics were well-balanced between vaccine groups after IPTW. Fifty-two type 1 acute MI events were confirmed among recipients of HepB-CpG vaccine for a rate of 1.67 per 1000-person-years, and 71 type 1 acute MI events were confirmed among recipients of HepB-alum vaccine for a rate of 1.86 per 1000 person-years (absolute rate difference, -0.19 [95% CI, -0.82 to 0.44]; adjusted HR, 0.92 [1-sided 97.5% CI, ∞ to 1.32], which was below the noninferiority margin; P < .001 for noninferiority). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, receipt of HepB-CpG vaccine compared with HepB-alum vaccine did not meet the statistical criterion for increased risk of acute myocardial infarction.

Distribution of SARS-CoV-2 Variants in a Large Integrated Health Care System - California, March-July 2021.

Data from observational studies demonstrate that variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have evolved rapidly across many countries (1,2). The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of concern is more transmissible than previously identified variants,* and as of September 2021, is the predominant variant in the United States.† Studies characterizing the distribution and severity of illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 variants, particularly the Delta variant, are limited in the United States (3), and are subject to limitations related to study setting, specimen collection, study population, or study period (4-7). This study used whole genome sequencing (WGS) data on SARS-CoV-2-positive specimens collected across Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC), a large integrated health care system, to describe the distribution and risk of hospitalization associated with SARS-CoV-2 variants during March 4-July 21, 2021, by patient vaccination status. Among 13,039 SARS-CoV-2-positive specimens identified from KPSC patients during this period, 6,798 (52%) were sequenced and included in this report. Of these, 5,994 (88%) were collected from unvaccinated persons, 648 (10%) from fully vaccinated persons, and 156 (2%) from partially vaccinated persons. Among all sequenced specimens, the weekly percentage of B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant infections increased from 20% to 67% during March 4-May 19, 2021. During April 15-July 21, 2021, the weekly percentage of Delta variant infections increased from 0% to 95%. During March 4-July 21, 2021, the weekly percentage of variants was similar among fully vaccinated and unvaccinated persons, but the Delta variant was more commonly identified among vaccinated persons then unvaccinated persons overall, relative to other variants. The Delta variant was more prevalent among younger persons, with the highest percentage (55%) identified among persons aged 18-44 years. Infections attributed to the Delta variant were also more commonly identified among non-Hispanic Black persons, relative to other variants. These findings reinforce the importance of continued monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 variants and implementing multiple COVID-19 prevention strategies, particularly during the current period in which Delta is the predominant variant circulating in the United States.

Obesity and Mortality Among Patients Diagnosed With COVID-19: Results From an Integrated Health Care Organization.

BACKGROUND: Obesity, race/ethnicity, and other correlated characteristics have emerged as high-profile risk factors for adverse coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated outcomes, yet studies have not adequately disentangled their effects. OBJECTIVE: To determine the adjusted effect of body mass index (BMI), associated comorbidities, time, neighborhood-level sociodemographic factors, and other factors on risk for death due to COVID-19. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Kaiser Permanente Southern California, a large integrated health care organization. PATIENTS: Kaiser Permanente Southern California members diagnosed with COVID-19 from 13 February to 2 May 2020. MEASUREMENTS: Multivariable Poisson regression estimated the adjusted effect of BMI and other factors on risk for death at 21 days; models were also stratified by age and sex. RESULTS: Among 6916 patients with COVID-19, there was a J-shaped association between BMI and risk for death, even after adjustment for obesity-related comorbidities. Compared with patients with a BMI of 18.5 to 24 kg/m2, those with BMIs of 40 to 44 kg/m2 and greater than 45 kg/m2 had relative risks of 2.68 (95% CI, 1.43 to 5.04) and 4.18 (CI, 2.12 to 8.26), respectively. This risk was most striking among those aged 60 years or younger and men. Increased risk for death associated with Black or Latino race/ethnicity or other sociodemographic characteristics was not detected. LIMITATION: Deaths occurring outside a health care setting and not captured in membership files may have been missed. CONCLUSION: Obesity plays a profound role in risk for death from COVID-19, particularly in male patients and younger populations. Our capitated system with more equalized health care access may explain the absence of effect of racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities on death. Our data highlight the leading role of severe obesity over correlated risk factors, providing a target for early intervention. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Roche-Genentech.

Cost of Hospitalization Associated With Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Versus Influenza Infection in Hospitalized Older Adults.

Despite the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in older adults, data on its costs are limited. We compared hospitalization costs for 2090 adults aged ≥ 60 years hospitalized with RSV or influenza by assigning direct health care costs. Hospitalization with RSV was associated with longer hospitalization and increased frequency of diagnosis-related groups for pulmonary complications, resulting in costs at least as great as those for influenza ($16 034 vs $15 163; 95% confidence interval for the difference, -$811 to $2547). Awareness of RSV disease burden in adults is needed to facilitate vaccination and treatment when they become available.

Severe Morbidity and Short- and Mid- to Long-term Mortality in Older Adults Hospitalized with Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection.

BACKGROUND: We describe the clinical epidemiology and outcomes among a large cohort of older adults hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in the United States. METHODS: Hospitalized adults aged ≥60 years who tested positive for RSV between 1 January 2011 and 30 June 2015 were identified from Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Patient-level demographics, comorbidities, clinical presentation, utilization, complications, and mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: There were 664 patients hospitalized with RSV (61% female, 64% aged ≥75 years). Baseline chronic diseases were prevalent (all >30%); 66% developed pneumonia, 80% of which were radiographically confirmed. Very severe tachypnea (≥26 breaths/minute) was common (56%); 21% required ventilator support and 18% were admitted to intensive care unit. Mortality during hospitalization was 5.6% overall (4.6% in 60-74 year olds and 6.1% in ≥75 year olds). Cumulative mortality within 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of admission was 8.6%, 12.3%, 17.2%, and 25.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: RSV infection in hospitalized older adults often manifested as severe, life-threatening lower respiratory tract illness with high rates of pneumonia, requirement for ventilatory support, and short- and long-term mortality. Increased recognition of the substantial RSV disease burden in adults will be important in evaluation and use of urgently needed interventions.

The Epidemiology of Herpes Zoster in Immunocompetent, Unvaccinated Adults ≥50 Years Old: Incidence, Complications, Hospitalization, Mortality, and Recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Data on the epidemiology of herpes zoster (HZ), particularly in the unvaccinated immunocompetent population, are needed to assess disease burden and the potential impact of vaccination. METHODS: The study at a large health care organization comprised: (1) incidence estimated from immunocompetent adults aged ≥50 years unvaccinated with zoster vaccine live who had incident HZ in 2011-2015; (2) proportion of HZ-related nonpain complications assessed by double abstraction of electronic health records (EHRs) of 600 incident patients 2011-2015; (3) HZ-related hospitalizations among HZ patients diagnosed in 2015; (4) HZ-related death determined from automated data and EHRs; and (5) recurrent HZ identified from a cohort initially diagnosed with HZ in 2007-2008 and followed through 2016. RESULTS: HZ incidence rate was 9.92/1000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.82-10.01). Proportions of cutaneous, neurologic, and other complications were 6.40% (95% CI,1.73%-11.07%), 0.77% (95% CI, .00%-2.36%), and 1.01% (95% CI, .00%-2.93%), respectively. Only 0.86% of patients had an HZ-related hospitalization. The case-fatality rate was 0.04%. Recurrence rate was 10.96/1000 person-years (95% CI, 10.18-11.79) with 10-year recurrence risk of 10.26% (95% CI, 9.36%-11.23%). CONCLUSIONS: These recent HZ epidemiology data among an immunocompetent, unvaccinated population measure real-world disease burden.

Meta-analysis of number needed to treat for diagnosis of melanoma by clinical setting.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a formal statistical comparison of the efficacy of melanoma detection among different clinical settings. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of all relevant observational studies on number needed to treat (NNT) in relation to melanoma was performed in MEDLINE. We performed a random-effects model meta-analysis and reported NNTs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The subgroup analysis was related to clinical setting. RESULTS: In all, 29 articles including a total of 398,549 biopsies/excisions were analyzed. The overall NNT was 9.71 (95% CI, 7.72-12.29): 22.62 (95% CI, 12.95-40.10) for primary care, 9.60 (95% CI, 6.97-13.41) for dermatology, and 5.85 (95% CI, 4.24-8.27) for pigmented lesion specialists. LIMITATIONS: There is heterogeneity in data reporting and the possibility of missing studies. In addition, the incidence of melanoma varies among clinical settings, which could affect NNT calculations. CONCLUSION: Pigmented lesion specialists have the lowest NNT, followed by dermatologists, suggesting that involving specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of pigmented skin lesions can likely improve patient outcomes.

Severe Morbidity and Mortality Associated With Respiratory Syncytial Virus Versus Influenza Infection in Hospitalized Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of serious respiratory illness in older adults. Comparison of RSV and influenza infection in hospitalized older adults may increase awareness of adult RSV disease burden. METHODS: Hospitalized adults aged ≥60 years who tested positive for RSV or influenza between 1 January 2011 and 30 June 2015 were identified from Kaiser Permanente Southern California electronic medical records. Baseline characteristics, comorbidities, utilization, and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: The study included 645 RSV- and 1878 influenza-infected hospitalized adults. Patients with RSV were older than those with influenza (mean, 78.5 vs 77.4 years; P = .035) and more likely to have congestive heart failure (35.3% vs 24.5%; P < .001) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (29.8% vs 24.3%; P = .006) at baseline. In adjusted analyses, RSV infection was associated with greater odds of length of stay ≥7 days (odds ratio [OR] = 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-1.8; P < .001); pneumonia (OR = 2.7; 95% CI, 2.2-3.2; P < .001); intensive care unit admission (OR = 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.7; P = .023); exacerbation of COPD (OR = 1.7; 95% CI, 1.3-2.4; P = .001); and greater mortality within 1 year of admission (OR = 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.6; P = .019). CONCLUSIONS: RSV infection may result in greater morbidity and mortality among older hospitalized adults than influenza. Increased recognition of adult RSV disease burden will be important in the evaluation and use of new RSV vaccines and antivirals.

Surgery versus stereotactic body radiation therapy for stage I non-small cell lung cancer: A comprehensive review.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. With the implementation of lung cancer screening, the number and proportion of patients diagnosed with early-stage disease are anticipated to increase. Surgery is currently the standard of care for patients with operable stage I NSCLC. However, promising outcomes with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in patients with inoperable disease has led to interest in directly comparing SBRT and surgery in operable patients. Unfortunately, early randomized trials comparing surgery and SBRT closed early because of poor accrual. In this article, the nuances of surgery and SBRT for early-stage NSCLC are reviewed. Furthermore, retrospective and prospective analyses of SBRT in early-stage NSCLC are discussed, and active randomized trials comparing these 2 approaches are described. Cancer 2018;124:667-78. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Receipt of BNT162b2 Vaccine and COVID-19 Ambulatory Visits in US Children Younger Than 5 Years.

This study examines the association of the receipt of wild-type BNT162b2 vaccine with medically attended COVID-19 outcomes among children younger than 5 years in the US.