Frailty and Other Factors Associated With Early Outcomes in Middle-to Older Age Trauma Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively investigate associations of frailty and other predictor variables with functional recovery and health outcomes in middle-aged and older patients with trauma. DESIGN: Single-center prospective cohort study. SETTING: Emergency department of Wan Fang Hospital in Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: Trauma patients aged 45 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Frailty was assessed with the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). Injury mechanisms, pre-existing diseases, and fracture locations were recorded at baseline. The primary outcome was functional recovery assessed using the Barthel Index (BI). Secondary outcomes were new care needs, unscheduled return visits, and falls 3 months postinjury. RESULTS: A total of 588 participants were included in the final analysis. For every one-point increase in the CFS, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR, 95% confidence interval [CI]) of failure to retain the preinjury BI was 1.34 (1.16-1.55); associations were consistent across levels of age and injury severities. Significant joint associations of frailty and age with poor functional recovery were observed. CFS was also associated with new care needs (OR for every one-point increase, 1.36, 95% CI, 1.17-1.58), unscheduled return visits (OR 1.26, 95% CI, 1.04-1.51), and falls (OR 1.23, 95% CI, 1.01-1.51). Other variables associated with failure to retain preinjury BI included road traffic accident and presence of hip fracture. CONCLUSION: Frailty was significantly associated with poor functional and health outcomes regardless of injury severity in middle-aged and older patients with trauma. Injury mechanisms and fracture locations were also significant predictors of functional recovery postinjury.

Effect of motorcycle helmet types on head injuries: evidence from eight level-I trauma centres in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Motorcycle full-coverage helmet use may reduce fatalities and head injuries. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study extracted injury data from eight level-I trauma centres in Taiwan and performed a questionnaire survey to investigate injuries sustained by motorcyclists for the period between January 2015 and June 2017. RESULTS: As many as 725 patients participated in the questionnaire survey and reported their helmet types or phone use during crashes. The results of multivariate logistic models demonstrated that nonstandard helmet (half or open-face helmet) use was associated with an increased risk of head injuries and more severe injuries (injury severity score ≥ 8). Drunk riding and phone use appeared to be two important risk factors for head injuries and increased injury severity. Anaemia was also found to be a determinant of head injuries." CONCLUSIONS: Compared to full-coverage helmets, nonstandard provide less protection against head injuries and increased injury severity among motorcyclists.

Improving the timeliness and accuracy of injury severity data in road traffic accidents in an emerging economy setting.

Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are among the leading causes of injury and fatality worldwide. RTI casualties are continually increasing in Taiwan; however, because of a lack of an advanced method for classifying RTI severity data, as well as the fragmentation of data sources, road traffic safety and health agencies encounter difficulties in analyzing RTIs and their burden on the healthcare system and national resources. These difficulties lead to blind spots during policy-making for RTI prevention and control. After compiling classifications applied in various countries, we summarized data sources for RTI severity in Taiwan, through which we identified data fragmentation. Accordingly, we proposed a practical classification for RTI severity, as well as a feasible model for collecting and integrating these data nationwide. This model can provide timely relevant data recorded by medical professionals and is valuable to healthcare providers. The proposed model's pros and cons are also compared to those of other current models.

National trends in therapeutic approaches and outcomes for pediatric appendicitis: a Taiwanese nationwide cohort study.

PURPOSE: To define the pattern of therapeutic approaches for pediatric appendicitis and compare their benefits in Taiwan, we analyzed a research-oriented dataset released by the Bureau of National Health Insurance in Taiwan through the Collaboration Center for Health Information Application (CCHIA) to document the impact of the rise of laparoscopic treatment on outcomes. METHODS: We identified 22,161 patients under 18 years who had been hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis between 2007 and 2012 in the CCHIA. Statistical comparisons between the Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) and open appendectomy (OA, control) groups were computed using a Chi squared test. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of risk factors for intra-abdominal abscess (IAA) and postoperative bowel obstruction (PBO) were derived from multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: In each respective year, the incidence of LA increased from 29.17% in 2007 to 57.4% in 2012, while that of OA decreased from 70.83% in 2007 to 42.60% in 2012; incidences of non-perforated appendicitis and perforated appendicitis with LA or OA seemed similar. The length of hospitalization between an LA and OA for non-perforated appendicitis was the same, but that with an LA was shorter for perforated appendicitis. The adjusted ORs for IAA and PBO for those patients with perforated and non-perforated appendicitis were 6.30 (95% CI = 5.09-7.78; p < 0.001) and 6.49 (95% CI = 4.45-9.48; p < 0.001); while for those cases undergoing an LA and OA, they were 0.50 (95 % CI = 0.40-0.62; p < 0.001) and 2.07 (95% CI = 1.45-2.95; p < 0.001), respectively. The ORs of IAA and PBO for those patients ≤6 and 7-12 years of age were 1.67 (95% CI = 1.23-2.25; p = 0.001) and 1.20 (95% CI = 0.97-1.49; p = 0.095), and 1.88 (95% CI = 1.08-3.24; p = 0.025) and 1.47 (95% CI = 1.01-2.14; p = 0.043), respectively, compared to those aged 13-18 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that young age and perforated appendicitis can affect postoperative IAA and PBO. LA appeared beneficial in reducing the length of hospitalization and postoperative IAA, but had an increasing risk of PBO. Although laparoscopic approach for pediatric appendectomy is increasing in our country, the different hospital levels and pediatric surgeon's laparoscopic experience must be evaluated in further study.

Risk of Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage After Stroke: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Stroke and traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (tICH) are major causes of disability worldwide, with stroke exerting significant negative effects on the brain, potentially elevating tICH risk. In this study, we investigated tICH risk in stroke survivors. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using relevant data (2017-2019) from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study. Patients were categorized into stroke and nonstroke groups, and tICH risk was compared using a Cox proportional-hazards model. Among 164 628 patients with stroke, 1004 experienced tICH. Patients with stroke had a higher tICH risk than nonstroke counterparts (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 3.49 [95% CI, 3.17-3.84]). Subgroup analysis by stroke type revealed higher tICH risk in hemorrhagic stroke survivors compared with ischemic stroke survivors (HR, 5.64 [95% CI, 4.97-6.39] versus 2.87 [95% CI, 2.58-3.18], respectively). Older patients (≥45 years) with stroke had a higher tICH risk compared with their younger counterparts (<45 years), in contrast to younger patients without stroke (HR, 7.89 [95% CI, 6.41-9.70] versus 4.44 [95% CI, 2.99-6.59], respectively). Dementia and Parkinson disease emerged as significant tICH risk factors (HR, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.44-2.00] versus 2.17 [95% CI, 1.71-2.75], respectively). In the stroke group, the highest tICH incidence density occurred 3 months after stroke, particularly in patients aged >65 years. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke survivors, particularly those with hemorrhagic stroke and those aged ≥45 years, face elevated tICH risk. Interventions targeting the high-risk period are vital, with fall injuries potentially contributing to tICH incidence.

Prediction of posttraumatic functional recovery in middle-aged and older patients through dynamic ensemble selection modeling.

Introduction: Age-specific risk factors may delay posttraumatic functional recovery; complex interactions exist between these factors. In this study, we investigated the prediction ability of machine learning models for posttraumatic (6 months) functional recovery in middle-aged and older patients on the basis of their preexisting health conditions. Methods: Data obtained from injured patients aged ≥45 years were divided into training-validation (n = 368) and test (n = 159) data sets. The input features were the sociodemographic characteristics and baseline health conditions of the patients. The output feature was functional status 6 months after injury; this was assessed using the Barthel Index (BI). On the basis of their BI scores, the patients were categorized into functionally independent (BI >60) and functionally dependent (BI ≤60) groups. The permutation feature importance method was used for feature selection. Six algorithms were validated through cross-validation with hyperparameter optimization. The algorithms exhibiting satisfactory performance were subjected to bagging to construct stacking, voting, and dynamic ensemble selection models. The best model was evaluated on the test data set. Partial dependence (PD) and individual conditional expectation (ICE) plots were created. Results: In total, nineteen of twenty-seven features were selected. Logistic regression, linear discrimination analysis, and Gaussian Naive Bayes algorithms exhibited satisfactory performances and were, therefore, used to construct ensemble models. The k-Nearest Oracle Elimination model outperformed the other models when evaluated on the training-validation data set (sensitivity: 0.732, 95% CI: 0.702-0.761; specificity: 0.813, 95% CI: 0.805-0.822); it exhibited compatible performance on the test data set (sensitivity: 0.779, 95% CI: 0.559-0.950; specificity: 0.859, 95% CI: 0.799-0.912). The PD and ICE plots showed consistent patterns with practical tendencies. Conclusion: Preexisting health conditions can predict long-term functional outcomes in injured middle-aged and older patients, thus predicting prognosis and facilitating clinical decision-making.

Association between short-term air pollution exposure and traumatic intracranial hemorrhage: pilot evidence from Taiwan.

Introduction: The detrimental effects of air pollution on the brain are well established. However, few studies have examined the effect of air pollution on traumatic brain injury (TBI). This pilot study evaluated the association between short-term air pollution exposure and traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (TIH). Methods: Hospital data of patients with TBI following road traffic accidents were retrospectively collected from the electronic medical records at five trauma centers in Taiwan between 1 January and 31 December 2017. TIH was employed as an outcome measure. All road accident locations were geocoded, and air quality data were collected from the nearest monitoring stations. Air pollutants were entered into five multivariable models. A sensitivity analysis was performed on patients who are vulnerable to suffering TBI after road accidents, including motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Results: Among 730 patients with TBI, 327 had TIH. The ages of ≥65 [odds ratio (OR), 3.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.85-5.70], 45-64 (OR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.64-4.15), and 25-44 (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.13-2.84) years were identified as significant risk factors in the multivariable analysis. In the best-fit multivariable model, exposure to higher concentrations of particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) was associated with an elevated TIH risk (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.17-1.94). The concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOX) did not increase the risk of TIH (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.32-0.61). After categorizing the air pollution concentration according to quartile, the trend tests in the multivariate model showed that the concentrations of PM2.5 and NOX were significant (p = 0.017 and p < 0.001, respectively). There was a negative borderline significant association between temperature and TIH risk (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.56-1.00, p = 0.05). Notably, the single-vehicle crash was a significant risk factor (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.30-3.42) for TIH. Discussion: High PM2.5 concentrations and low temperatures are risk factors for TIH in patients with TBI. High NOX concentrations are associated with a lower TIH risk.

Unveiling the future of COVID-19 patient care: groundbreaking prediction models for severe outcomes or mortality in hospitalized cases.

Background: Previous studies have identified COVID-19 risk factors, such as age and chronic health conditions, linked to severe outcomes and mortality. However, accurately predicting severe illness in COVID-19 patients remains challenging, lacking precise methods. Objective: This study aimed to leverage clinical real-world data and multiple machine-learning algorithms to formulate innovative predictive models for assessing the risk of severe outcomes or mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods: Data were obtained from the Taipei Medical University Clinical Research Database (TMUCRD) including electronic health records from three Taiwanese hospitals in Taiwan. This study included patients admitted to the hospitals who received an initial diagnosis of COVID-19 between January 1, 2021, and May 31, 2022. The primary outcome was defined as the composite of severe infection, including ventilator use, intubation, ICU admission, and mortality. Secondary outcomes consisted of individual indicators. The dataset encompassed demographic data, health status, COVID-19 specifics, comorbidities, medications, and laboratory results. Two modes (full mode and simplified mode) are used; the former includes all features, and the latter only includes the 30 most important features selected based on the algorithm used by the best model in full mode. Seven machine learning was employed algorithms the performance of the models was evaluated using metrics such as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Results: The study encompassed 22,192 eligible in-patients diagnosed with COVID-19. In the full mode, the model using the light gradient boosting machine algorithm achieved the highest AUROC value (0.939), with an accuracy of 85.5%, a sensitivity of 0.897, and a specificity of 0.853. Age, vaccination status, neutrophil count, sodium levels, and platelet count were significant features. In the simplified mode, the extreme gradient boosting algorithm yielded an AUROC of 0.935, an accuracy of 89.9%, a sensitivity of 0.843, and a specificity of 0.902. Conclusion: This study illustrates the feasibility of constructing precise predictive models for severe outcomes or mortality in COVID-19 patients by leveraging significant predictors and advanced machine learning. These findings can aid healthcare practitioners in proactively predicting and monitoring severe outcomes or mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, improving treatment and resource allocation.

An old lady with anterior chest pain and unilateral facial flushing.

Harlequin syndrome is rare and typically characterized by asymmetric flushing and sweating. Although it is usually considered idiopathic, literature review shows that it may be caused by lesion over lung apex or after central venous catheterization in the internal jugular vein. We present a 74-year-old woman who had been experiencing recurrent chest pain and right shoulder pain since 2 weeks ago. The tentative diagnosis was made by the emergency physician (EP) as acute coronary syndrome. The patient was given nitroglycerin treatment. Twelve hours later, the patient developed another episode of chest pain. The electrocardiogram and cardiac enzyme study results were, however, both normal. Further evaluation showed intermittent flushing over the left side of her face, as well as right-eye ptosis. A chest computed tomography (CT) was conducted, under the suspicion of Harlequin syndrome in combination with Horner syndrome, to derive the diagnosis of a right lung apex tumor. This case showed that history taking and physical examination are very important in the emergency department. It is particularly vital to observe the microchanges in the patient's symptoms and signs. It is also imperative to reassess the patient whose symptoms fail to improve under treatment, to look for other underlying lesions.

Bruns-Cushing nystagmus due to hypertensive unilateral paramedian pontine base infarction.

Bruns-Cushing nystagmus is unusually rare and is known to be related with cerebellopontine angle tumor. A 32-year-old male patient came to our emergency department 3 times because of dizziness, right upper limb ataxia, hypertension, and Bruns-Cushing nystagmus. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated left paramedian pontine infarction. In conclusion, Bruns-Cushing nystagmus not only indicates a cerebellopontine angle tumor but may also be associated with pontine infarction.