High-risk admission prior to transcatheter aortic valve replacement and subsequent outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis may cause heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, or syncope; limited data exist on the occurrence of such events before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and their impact on subsequent outcomes. Thus, we investigated the association between a preceding event and outcomes after TAVR. METHODS: From 2014 to 2021 all Danish patients who underwent TAVR were included. Preceding events up to 180 days before TAVR were identified. A preceding event was defined as a hospitalization for heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, or syncope. The 1-year risk of all-cause death, and cardiovascular or all-cause hospitalization was compared for patients with versus without a preceding event using Kaplan-Meier, Aalen-Johansen, and in Cox regression analyses adjusted for patient characteristics. RESULTS: Of 5,851 patients included, 759 (13.0%) had a preceding event. The median age was 81 years in both groups. Male sex and frailty were more prevalent in patients with a preceding event (males: 64.7% vs 55.2%, frailty: 49.6% vs 40.6%). The most common type of preceding event was a hospitalization for heart failure (n = 524). For patients with a preceding event, the 1-year risk of death was 11.7% (95% CI: 9.4%-14.1%) versus 8.0% (95% CI: 7.2%-8.7%) for patients without. The corresponding adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) was 1.29 (95%CI: 1.01-1.64). Mortality was highest for patients with a preceding event of a heart failure admission (1-year risk: 13.5% [95%CI: 10.5%-16.5%]). Comparing patients with a preceding event to those without, the 1-year risk for cardiovascular rehospitalization was 15.0% versus 8.2% (aHR 1.60 [95%CI: 1.29-1.99]) and 57.6% versus 50.6% for all-cause rehospitalization (aHR 1.08 [95%CI: 0.87-1.20]). CONCLUSIONS: A hospitalization for heart failure, myocardial infarction, or syncope prior to TAVR was associated with a poorer prognosis and could represent a group to focus resource management on. Interventions to prevent preceding events and improvements in pre- and post-TAVR optimization of these patients are warranted.

Outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in adult congenital heart disease: a Danish nationwide study.

AIMS: The risk, characteristics, and outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) remain scarcely investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: An epidemiological registry-based study was conducted. Using time-dependent Cox regression models fitted with a nested case-control design, hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals of OHCA of presumed cardiac cause (2001-19) associated with simple, moderate, and severe CHD were calculated. Moreover, using multiple logistic regression, we investigated the association between pre-hospital OHCA characteristics and 30-day survival and compared 30-day survival in OHCA patients with and without CHD. Overall, 43 967 cases (105 with simple, 144 with moderate, and 53 with severe CHD) and 219 772 controls (median age 72 years, 68.2% male) were identified. Any type of CHD was found to be associated with higher rates of OHCA compared with the background population [simple CHD: HR 1.37 (1.08-1.70); moderate CHD: HR 1.64 (1.36-1.99); and severe CHD: HR 4.36 (3.01-6.30)]. Pre-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation were both associated with improved 30-day survival in patients with CHD, regardless of CHD severity. Among patients with OHCA, simple, moderate, and severe CHD had a similar likelihood of 30-day survival compared with no CHD [odds ratio 0.95 (0.53-1.69), 0.70 (0.43-1.14), and 0.68 (0.33-1.57), respectively]. CONCLUSION: A higher risk of OHCA was found throughout the spectrum of CHD. Patients with and without CHD showed the same 30-day survival, which relies on the pre-hospital chain of survival, namely cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation.

Long-term mortality, cardiovascular events, and bleeding in stable patients 1 year after myocardial infarction: a Danish nationwide study.

AIMS: Outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI) improved during recent decades alongside better risk factor management and implementation of guideline-recommended treatments. However, it is unknown whether this applies to stable patients who are event-free 1 year after MI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using nationwide Danish registries, we included all patients with first-time MI during 2000-17 who survived 1 year free from bleeding and cardiovascular events (n = 82 108, median age 64 years, 68.2% male). Follow-up started 1 year after MI and continued through January 2022. Crude risks of mortality, cardiovascular events, and bleeding were estimated in consecutive 3-year periods. Standardized risks were calculated with respect to the distribution of age, sex, comorbidities, and treatments in the latter period. Guideline-recommended treatment use increased during the study period: e.g. statins (68.6-92.5%) and percutaneous coronary intervention (23.9-68.2%). The crude 5-year risks of outcomes decreased (all P-trend <0.001): Mortality, 18.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.9-19.2) to 12.5% (CI: 11.9-13.1); Recurrent MI, 7.5% (CI: 7.1-8.0) to 5.5% (CI: 5.1-6.0); Bleeding, 3.9% (CI: 3.6-4.3) to 2.7% (CI: 2.4-3.0). Crude 5-year risk of mortality in 2015-17 was as low as 2.6% for patients aged <60 years. Use of guideline-recommended treatments was associated with improved outcomes: After standardization for changes in treatments, 5-year risk of mortality in 2000-02 was 15.5% (CI: 14.9-16.2). CONCLUSIONS: For patients who were event-free 1 year after MI, the long-term risks of mortality, cardiovascular events, and bleeding decreased significantly, along with an improved use of guideline-recommended treatments between 2000 and 2017. In the most recent period, 1 year after MI, the risk of additional events was lower than previously reported.

Lifetime risk of comorbidity in patients with simple congenital heart disease: a Danish nationwide study.

AIMS: In a continuously ageing population of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), understanding the long-term risk of morbidity is crucial. The aim of this study was to compare the lifetime risks of developing comorbidities in patients with simple CHD and matched controls. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the Danish nationwide registers spanning from 1977 to 2018, simple CHD cases were defined as isolated atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), pulmonary stenosis, or patent ductus arteriosus in patients surviving until at least 5 years of age. There were 10 controls identified per case. Reported were absolute lifetime risks and lifetime risk differences (between patients with simple CHD and controls) of incident comorbidities stratified by groups and specific cardiovascular comorbidities. Of the included 17 157 individuals with simple CHD, the largest subgroups were ASD (37.7%) and VSD (33.9%), and 52% were females. The median follow-up time for patients with CHD was 21.2 years (interquartile range: 9.4-39.0) and for controls, 19.8 years (9.0-37.0). The lifetime risks for the investigated comorbidities were higher and appeared overall at younger ages for simple CHD compared with controls, except for neoplasms and chronic kidney disease. The lifetime risk difference among the comorbidity groups was highest for neurological disease (male: 15.2%, female: 11.3%), pulmonary disease (male: 9.1%, female: 11.7%), and among the specific comorbidities for stroke (male: 18.9%, female: 11.4%). The overall risk of stroke in patients with simple CHD was mainly driven by ASD (male: 28.9%, female: 17.5%), while the risks of myocardial infarction and heart failure were driven by VSD. The associated lifetime risks of stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart failure in both sexes were smaller in invasively treated patients compared with untreated patients with simple CHD. CONCLUSION: Patients with simple CHD had increased lifetime risks of all comorbidities compared with matched controls, except for neoplasms and chronic kidney disease. These findings highlight the need for increased attention towards early management of comorbidity risk factors.

Hospital and emergency department discharge against medical advice in Western Australian Aboriginal children aged 0-4 years from 2002 to 2018: A cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) is a priority issue for the health system. Little is known about the factors associated with DAMA for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) children in Australia. OBJECTIVES: Investigate the associations between DAMA for hospital admissions and emergency department (ED) presentations and: (i) child, family and episode of service characteristics and (ii) 30-day readmission/ re-presentation. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of Aboriginal children born in Western Australia (2002-2013) who had ≥1 hospital admissions (n = 16,931) or ED presentations (n = 26,546) within the first 5 years of life. The outcome of interest was hospital and ED DAMA and adjusted odds ratio were derived using multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression. RESULTS: In the Hospital Cohort, there were 43,149 hospitalisations for 16,931 children, with 684 hospitalisations (1.6%) recorded as DAMA. In the ED Cohort, there were 232,082 ED presentations in 26,546 children, with 10,918 ED presentations (4.7%) recorded as DAMA. DAMA occurring in hospitals between 2014 and 2018, the adjusted odds decreased by 75% compared to the period between 2002 and 2005. The adjusted odds of ED DAMA increased by 46% over the same period. Hospital admissions in regional and remote hospitals were almost seven times the adjusted odds of DAMA compared with hospital admissions in Perth metropolitan hospitals. The adjusted odds of ED DAMA decreased by 12% for ED presentations in regional and remote hospitals compared to those in Perth metropolitan hospitals. There was no evidence of hospital DAMA being associated with hospital readmission within 30 days and limited evidence of ED DAMA being associated with re-presenting to an ED within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified several important determinants of DAMA, including admission status, triage status, location and calendar year. These findings could inform targeted measures to decrease DAMA, particularly in regional and remote communities.

Porocarcinoma with YAP1-NUTM1 fusion presenting as a NUT immunohistochemistry-positive lymph node metastasis.

INTRODUCTION: Porocarcinoma is a rare, malignant adnexal tumor that recently has been shown to contain YAP1-NUTM1 and YAP1-MAML2 fusion transcripts, with nuclear protein in testis (NUT) immunohistochemistry (IHC) positivity in a subset of these tumors. Consequently, NUT IHC may either aid in the differential diagnosis, or represent a confounding factor depending on the clinical scenario. Here, we present a case of NUTM1-rearranged sarcomatoid porocarcinoma of the scalp presenting as a NUT IHC-positive lymph node metastasis. CASE REPORT: A mass was excised from the right neck level 2 region with a lymph node initially diagnosed as metastatic NUT carcinoma with unknown primary site. An enlarging scalp mass was identified 4 months later, excised and diagnosed as NUT-positive carcinoma. Additional molecular testing was performed to detect the fusion partner in the NUTM1 rearrangement, confirming a YAP1-NUTM1 fusion. Given this molecular data along with the histopathologic characteristics, the clinicopathologic picture was retrospectively determined to be most consistent with a primary sarcomatoid porocarcinoma of the scalp with metastasis to a right neck lymph node and the right parotid. DISCUSSION: Porocarcinoma is a rare entity, and typically only enters the differential diagnosis when the clinical consideration is a cutaneous neoplasm. In an alternative clinical scenario such as the approach to tumors of the head and neck, porocarcinoma is not typically a consideration. In the latter scenario, as seen in our case, positivity with NUT IHC led to the initial misdiagnosis of NUT carcinoma. This case represents an important presentation of porocarcinoma that will occur not infrequently, and pathologists must be aware of this presentation to avoid this pitfall.

Outcomes of prolonged dual anti-platelet therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A nationwide registry-based study.

BACKGROUND: Randomized controlled trials have shown a reduced risk of ischemic events and an increased risk of bleeding in patients treated with prolonged dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) beyond 12 months following acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We aimed to investigate outcomes of prolonged DAPT vs aspirin monotherapy (ASA) in a real-world population. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using nationwide registries, we identified all patients with ACS who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and received 12-month DAPT between January 2013 and October 2016. Patients still on DAPT were compared to patients on ASA at index date (15 months after ACS-date) and followed for up to 2 years. Cox regression models were employed to calculate standardized risks of all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), and major bleeding. The study included 7,449 patients, 1,901 on DAPT (median age 66, 72.1% male) and 5,548 on ASA (median age 65, 75.1% male). Standardized absolute 2-year risk of all-cause mortality, MACE, and major bleeding was 2.7%, 3.7%, and 5.4% for DAPT vs 2.2%, 3.8%, and 1.3% for ASA. DAPT was not associated with a significant standardized 2-year risk difference (SRD) of all-cause mortality (SRD: 0.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.9 to 1.7) or MACE (SRD: -0.1%, 95% CI -1.8 to 1.6), but a significantly higher risk of major bleeding (SRD: 4.1%, 95% CI 1.8-6.6). CONCLUSIONS: In a nationwide cohort of ACS patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, prolonged DAPT was not significantly associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality or MACE, but an increased risk of major bleeding. Future randomized controlled trials should investigate the optimal anti-platelet regimen in this patient group.

Trajectories of interparental conflict and children's emotional-behavioural functioning at 10-11 years: an Australian population-based study.

Interparental conflict (IPC) has the potential to adversely affect children's social, emotional, and behavioural functioning. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between both the severity and chronicity of IPC across early and middle childhood and children's emotional-behavioural functioning at 10-11 years. Specifically, we aimed to: (1) identify distinct trajectories of IPC spanning 10-11 years since birth of the study child as reported by mothers, and (2) examine the emotional-behavioural functioning of children exposed to the identified IPC trajectories. Drawing from a nationally representative longitudinal study of Australian families (N = 4875), four distinct trajectories of IPC were identified: (1) consistently low exposure to IPC over time, (2) persistently elevated exposure to IPC, (3) increasing IPC exposure over time, and (4) decreasing IPC exposure over time. Children exposed to trajectories with high IPC at any point during the study period were reported by their mothers to be experiencing more emotional-behavioural difficulties than children exposed to low IPC over time. Based on teacher report, there were no differences in emotional-behavioural functioning of children exposed to the different patterns of IPC. Our findings reinforce that high parental conflict at any point in a child's life is a form of adversity that can have adverse consequences for their mental health, and that early interventions for parents and caregivers experiencing high IPC are critical.

Oral fluoroquinolones and risk of aortic or mitral regurgitation: a nationwide nested case-control study.

AIMS: Reports have suggested an increased risk of aortic and mitral regurgitation associated with oral fluoroquinolones (FQs) resulting in a safety warning published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). However, these findings have not yet been replicated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using Danish administrative registers, we conducted a nested case-control study in a nationwide cohort of individuals between 2005 and 2018. Cases were defined as the first occurrence of aortic or mitral regurgitation. Exposure of interest was the use of oral FQs. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were obtained by fitting time-dependent Cox regression models, with penicillin V as comparator, to assess the association between FQ use and incident valvular regurgitation. We identified 38 370 cases of valvular regurgitation with 1 115 100 matched controls. FQ exposure was not significantly associated with increased rates of aortic or mitral regurgitation (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.95-1.09) compared with penicillin V users. Investigating the cumulative defined daily doses (cDDD) of FQs yielded similar results with no significant association between increasing FQ use and valvular regurgitation (e.g. HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.95-1.23 for cDDD >10 compared with cDDD 1-5). These results were consistent across several analyses including a cohort of patients with hypertension and using a case definition based on valvular surgical interventions. CONCLUSIONS: In a nationwide nested case-control study, FQs were not significantly associated with increased rates of valvular regurgitation. Our findings do not support a possible causal connection between FQ exposure and incident valvular regurgitation.

Longitudinal Analysis of Circulating Markers of Bone Turnover Across Multiple Decades in Osteoporotic Women.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to analyze changes in serum markers of bone turnover across multiple decades in osteoporotic women compared with nonosteoporotic controls, to determine their utility as potential predictors for osteoporosis. Early prediction of those at risk for osteoporosis can enable early intervention before the irreversible loss of critical bone mass. METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 20 women given the diagnosis of osteoporosis after age 46 years and 20 age-matched women with normal bone mineral density from 4 time points in their life (ages 25-31, 32-38, 39-45, and 46-60 years). Serum levels of bone turnover markers (propeptide of type I collagen, parathyroid hormone, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, sclerostin, osteoprotegerin, osteopontin, and 25-OH vitamin D) were measured using commercially available arrays and kits. We used logistic regression to assess these individual serum markers as potential predictors of osteoporosis, and mixed-effects modeling to assess the change in bone turnover markers between osteoporotic and control groups over time, then performed fivefold cross-validation to assess the classification ability of the models. RESULTS: Markers of bone turnover, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, sclerostin, and osteocalcin were all independent predictors at multiple time points; osteopontin was an independent predictor in the 39- to 45-year age group. Receiver operating characteristic analyses demonstrated moderately strong classification ability at all time points. Sclerostin levels among groups diverged over time and were higher in the control group than the osteoporotic group, with significant differences observed at time points 3 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: Serum markers of bone turnover may be used to estimate the likelihood of osteoporosis development in individuals over time. Although prospective validation is necessary before recommending widespread clinical use, this information may be used to identify patients at risk for developing low bone mineral density long before traditional screening would ostensibly take place. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic II.

Nationwide cardiovascular disease admission rates during a second COVID-19 lockdown.

Societal lockdowns during the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic were associated with decreased admission rates for acute cardiovascular conditions worldwide. In this nationwide Danish study of the first five weeks of a second pandemic lockdown, incidence of new-onset heart failure and atrial fibrillation remained stable, but there was a significant drop in new-onset ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke during the fourth week of lockdown, which normalized promptly. The observed drops were lower compared to the first Danish lockdown in March 2020; thus, our data suggest that declines in acute cardiovascular disease admission rates during future lockdowns are avoidable.

Ferritin in serum and urine: A pilot study.

Serum ferritin reflects total body iron stores, thus a low serum ferritin is used as a parameter of iron deficiency. In healthy adults in Japan, urine ferritin levels were about 5% of serum ferritin levels, with a correlation coefficient of 0.79. It is not known whether a low urine ferritin could serve as a non-invasive screen for iron deficiency. If so, this might be useful for neonates and young children, avoiding phlebotomy to screen for iron deficiency. However, for urinary ferritin screening to be feasible, ferritin must be measurable in the urine and correlate with serum ferritin. Testing should also clarify whether the iron content of ferritin in serum and urine are similar. In this pilot feasibility study we measured ferritin in paired serum and urine samples of healthy adult males, healthy term neonates, growing preterm neonates, and children who had very high serum ferritin levels from liver disorders or iron overload. We detected ferritin in every urine sample, and found a correlation with paired serum ferritin (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.78 of log10-transformed values). These findings suggest merit in further studying urinary ferritin in select populations, as a potential non-invasive screen to assess iron stores.

Subjective memory complaints predict baseline but not future cognitive function over three years: results from the Western Australia Memory Study.

ABSTRACTBackground:This study investigated the characteristics of subjective memory complaints (SMCs) and their association with current and future cognitive functions. METHODS: A cohort of 209 community-dwelling individuals without dementia aged 47-90 years old was recruited for this 3-year study. Participants underwent neuropsychological and clinical assessments annually. Participants were divided into SMCs and non-memory complainers (NMCs) using a single question at baseline and a memory complaints questionnaire following baseline, to evaluate differential patterns of complaints. In addition, comprehensive assessment of memory complaints was undertaken to evaluate whether severity and consistency of complaints differentially predicted cognitive function. RESULTS: SMC and NMC individuals were significantly different on various features of SMCs. Greater overall severity (but not consistency) of complaints was significantly associated with current and future cognitive functioning. CONCLUSIONS: SMC individuals present distinctive features of memory complaints as compared to NMCs. Further, the severity of complaints was a significant predictor of future cognition. However, SMC did not significantly predict change over time in this sample. These findings warrant further research into the specific features of SMCs that may portend subsequent neuropathological and cognitive changes when screening individuals at increased future risk of dementia.

Proximal Femur Hounsfield Units on CT Colonoscopy Correlate With Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry.

BACKGROUND: Quantifying bone mineral density (BMD) on CT using commercial software demonstrates good-to-excellent correlations with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) results. However, previous techniques to measure Hounsfield units (HUs) within the proximal femur demonstrate less successful correlation with DEXA results. An effective method of measuring HUs of the proximal femur from CT colonoscopy might allow for opportunistic osteoporosis screening. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Do proximal femur HU measurements from CT colonoscopy correlate with proximal femur DEXA results? (2) How effective is our single HU measurement technique in estimating the likelihood of overall low BMD? (3) Does the relationship between our comprehensive HU measurement and DEXA results change based on age, sex, or time between studies? METHODS: This retrospective study investigated the measurement of HU of the femur obtained on CT colonoscopy studies compared with DEXA results. Between 2010 and 2017, five centers performed 9085 CT colonoscopy studies; of those, 277 (3%) also had available DEXA results and were included in this study, whereas 8809 (97%) were excluded for inadequate CT imaging, lack of DEXA screening, or lack of proximal femur DEXA results. The median number of days between CT colonoscopy and DEXA scan was 595 days; no patient was excluded based on time between scans because bone remodeling is a long-term process and this allowed subgroup analysis based on time between scans. Two reviewers performed HU measurements at four points within the proximal femur on the CT colonoscopy imaging and intraclass correlation coefficients were used to evaluate interrater reliability. We used Pearson correlation coefficients to compare the comprehensive (average of eight measurements) and a single HU measurement with each DEXA result-proximal femur BMD, proximal femur T-score, femoral neck BMD, and femoral neck T-score-to identify the best measurement technique within this study. Based on their lowest DEXA T-score, we stratified patients to a diagnosis of osteoporosis, osteopenia, or normal BMD. We then calculated the area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUCs) to evaluate the classification ability of a single HU value to identify possible threshold(s) for detecting low BMD. For each subgroup analysis, we calculated Pearson correlation coefficients between DEXA and HUs and evaluated each subgroup's contribution to the overall predictive model using an interaction test in a linear regression model. RESULTS: The Pearson correlation coefficient between both the comprehensive and single HU measurements was highest compared with the proximal femur T-score at 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69-0.80) and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.68-0.79), respectively. Interobserver reliability, measured with intraclass correlation coefficients, for the comprehensive and single HU measurements was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.72-0.99) and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.89-0.98), respectively. Based on DEXA results, 20 patients were osteoporotic, 167 had osteopenia, and 90 patients had normal BMD. The mean comprehensive HU for patients with osteoporosis was 70 ± 30 HUs; for patients with osteopenia, it was 110 ± 36 HUs; and for patients with normal BMD, it was 158 ± 43 HUs (p < 0.001). The AUC of the single HU model was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.77-0.87). A threshold of 214 HUs is 100% sensitive and 59 HUs is 100% specific to identify low BMD; a threshold of 113 HUs provided 73% sensitivity and 76% specificity. When stratified by decade age groups, each decade age group demonstrated a positive correlation between the comprehensive HU and proximal femur T-score, ranging between 0.71 and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.59-0.91). Further subgroup analysis similarly demonstrated a positive correlation between the comprehensive HU and proximal femur T-score when stratified by > 6 months or < 6 months between CT and DEXA (0.75; 95% CI, 0.62-0.84) as well as when stratified by sex (0.70-0.76; 95% CI, 0.48-0.81). The linear regression model demonstrated that the overall positive correlation coefficient between HUs and the proximal femur T-score is not influenced by any subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Our measurement technique provides a reproducible measurement of HUs within the proximal femur HUs on CT colonoscopy. Hounsfield units of the proximal femur based on this technique can predict low BMD. These CT scans are frequently performed before initial DEXA scans are done and therefore may lead to earlier recognition of low BMD. Future research is needed to validate these results in larger studies and to determine if these results can anticipate future fracture risk. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, diagnostic study.

Fascia Iliaca Blockade With the Addition of Liposomal Bupivacaine Versus Plain Bupivacaine for Perioperative Pain Management During Hip Arthroscopy: A Double-Blinded Prospective Randomized Control Trial.

PURPOSE: To determine in a prospective, randomized fashion whether liposomal bupivacaine extends the effectiveness of decreased pain scores and reduces narcotic requirements following hip arthroscopy when used in addition to a fascia iliaca blockade with plain bupivacaine alone. METHODS: Double-blinded prospective randomized controlled trial of participants undergoing hip arthroscopy. Randomized to receive a fascia iliaca blockade with 40 mL 0.25% plain bupivacaine (100 mg; control group) or 20 mL 0.5% plain bupivacaine (100 mg) plus 20 mL liposomal bupivacaine (266 mg; study group). The primary outcome was Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) scores in the postanesthesia care unit and on postoperative days (POD) 1, 2, 3, and 14. Secondary outcomes included postoperative opioid consumption and subjective loss of anterior thigh sensation. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were enrolled, and 70 completed the study; 37 were randomized to the control group and 33 to the study group. There was no significant difference in postoperative DVPRS scores at any time point. There was no significant difference in total postoperative opioid use during any postoperative time points. While most patients reported anterior thigh numbness at discharge, significantly more patients in the study group reported anterior thigh numbness at POD2 (control, 19/37 numb vs study, 32/33 numb; P < .0001) and at POD3 (control, 8/37 numb vs study, 26/33 numb; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective evaluation comparing plain bupivacaine versus the liposomal formulation administered via a fascia iliaca blockade there were no significant differences in postoperative pain scores and narcotic pill usage. Given the highly significant findings of prolonged anterior thigh numbness out to POD3 in patients who received liposomal bupivacaine, this formulation did exhibit prolonged effects; however, it did not provide improved pain control when used in this surgical population, likely due to the innervation of the hip capsule from differential nerve plexi. Given the 6-fold increased cost of using the liposomal formulation, we are unable to recommend its use via a fascia iliaca blockade for hip arthroscopy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, therapeutic study.

Prenatal and perinatal risks for late language emergence in a population-level sample of twins at age 2.

BACKGROUND: Late Language Emergence (LLE) in the first two years of life is one of the most common parental concerns about child development and reasons for seeking advice from health professionals. LLE is much more prevalent in twins (38%) than singletons (20%). In studies of language development in twins without overt disability, adverse prenatal and perinatal environments have been reported to play a lesser role in the etiology of LLE than adverse postnatal environments. However, there is a lack of population-level evidence about prenatal and perinatal risk factors for LLE in twins. This study investigated the extent to which prenatal and perinatal risk factors were associated with LLE in a population-level sample of twins at age 2 without overt disability. METHODS: The sample comprised 473 twin pairs drawn from a population sample frame comprising statutory notifications of all births in Western Australia (WA), 2000-2003. Twin pairs in which either twin had a known developmental disorder or exposure to language(s) other than English were excluded. Of the 946 twins, 47.9% were male. There were 313 dizygotic and 160 monozygotic twin pairs. LLE was defined as a score at or below the gender-specific 10th percentile on the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories: Words and Sentences (CDI-WS) (Words Produced). Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate risk factors associated with LLE. RESULTS: In the multivariable model, risk factors for LLE in order of decreasing magnitude were: Gestational diabetes had an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 19.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2, 313.1); prolonged TSR (aOR: 13.6 [2.0, 91.1]); multiparity (aOR: 7.6 [1.6, 37.5]), monozygosity (aOR: 6.9 [1.7, 27.9]) and fetal growth restriction (aOR: 4.6 [1.7, 12.7]). Sociodemographic risk factors (e.g., low maternal education, socioeconomic area disadvantage) were not associated with increased odds of LLE. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that adverse prenatal and perinatal environments are important in the etiology of LLE in twins at age 2. It is important that health professionals discuss twin pregnancy and birth risks for delayed speech and language milestones with parents and provide ongoing developmental monitoring for all twins, not just twins with overt disability.

Frequency of Bone Health Presentations at National Hand Meetings.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency with which osteoporosis topics (screening, medical treatment, and fracture prevention) are presented at national hand surgery meetings. This was compared with the frequency of the same topics presented at the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) annual meetings. METHODS: The annual meeting programs for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), the American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS), and the OTA from the previous 10 years (2007-2016) were searched for presentations that covered bone health at each of these meetings. We categorized the presentations as either instructional or research. RESULTS: There were 2 bone health instructional presentations at hand surgery meetings in contrast to 13 presentations at OTA meetings over the last 10 years. For the last 9 years, the OTA has featured at least 1 instructional presentation on bone health every year. We identified 11 research presentations at the hand surgery meetings compared with 16 at the OTA meetings. CONCLUSIONS: Osteoporosis and bone health are infrequently presented instructional topics at national hand meetings compared with OTA meetings. The cause of the difference is unclear and likely multifactorial, varying each year with different program chairs and committees. The level of involvement of hand surgeons in osteoporosis management is controversial; however, incorporation of this topic may stimulate discussion and help identify solutions for this controversy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: It may benefit hand surgeons to place more importance on osteoporosis screening and treatment. We believe that there should be an annual instructional course on this topic at the ASSH and AAHS meetings.

Glenoid neck Hounsfield units on computed tomography can accurately identify patients with low bone mineral density.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a costly and morbid disease with the first presentation often with a fragility fracture. The purpose of this study was to assess whether Hounsfield unit (HU) measurements on shoulder computed tomography could identify patients at risk of osteoporosis and aid in its diagnosis. METHODS: We identified patients who had both a computed tomography scan of the glenoid and a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry results and HU measurements of the patients' glenoid were recorded. Differences in HU measurements between patients with normal and abnormal central bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed. Correlations were calculated, and receiver operating characteristics were examined. RESULTS: A total of 51 glenoids met the criteria. The mean glenoid HU measurement was 140.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 120.1-161.1) in the osteoporotic group, 168.1 (95% CI, 152.7-183.5) in the osteopenic group, and 233.2 (95% CI, 210.1-256.4) in the normal BMD group (P < .001). There was a significant correlation between mean glenoid HU measurement and patients' t scores in the femoral neck (r = 0.581), total hip (r = 0.524), and lumbar spine (r = 0.345). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.918. With 197 HUs used as the cutoff for diagnosis of abnormal BMD, the positive predictive value was 96.6%. With 257.1 HUs used as the cutoff, the negative predictive value was 100%. CONCLUSION: A patient with an HU measurement below 197 has a 97% chance of having low BMD, and a patient with a measurement over 257 likely has normal BMD. In patients with measurements between these values, a definitive diagnosis should be aggressively pursued. Opportunistic screening for a modifiable disease that has significant morbidity and mortality rates at no additional cost, radiation, or time is of great value.