Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations for Cardiovascular Diseases in the Tropics.

Influenza is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. We aimed to examine the influenza-associated hospitalization rates and proportions for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in tropical Singapore. Hospital admissions for ischemic heart disease (IHD), congestive heart failure (CHF), and overall CVD were obtained from the national inpatient database for the period of 2010-2014. We used, as the key indicator of influenza virus activity, the overall proportion of specimens from outpatients with influenza-like illness in the community that tested positive for influenza as part of the national influenza surveillance program. The annual influenza-associated hospitalization rates per 100,000 person-years ranged from 9.5 to 12.2 for IHD, 7.7 to 9.1 for CHF, and 15.8 to 19.2 for overall CVD. The influenza-associated hospitalization rates increased with increasing age. Influenza was significantly associated with excess hospitalizations in elderly persons aged ≥80 years, with an excess hospitalization rate per 100,000 person-years of 242.7 for IHD (P = 0.02), 271.8 for CHF (P = 0.01), and 497.2 for overall CVD (P < 0.001). In the tropics, influenza accounts for excess cardiovascular-related hospitalizations, especially in the elderly.

Predicting first-year mortality in incident dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease - the UREA5 study.

We aimed to develop a risk prediction model for first-year mortality (FYM) in incident dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease. We retrospectively examined patient comorbidities and biochemistry, prior to dialysis initiation, using a single-center, prospectively maintained database from 2005-2010, and analyzed these variables in relation to FYM. A total of 983 patients were studied. 22% had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45%. FYM was 17%, and independent predictors included URate <500 or >600 µmol/l, LVEF <45% (higher odds ratio if <30%), Age >70 years, Arteriopathies (cerebrovascular and/or peripheral-vascular diseases), serum Albumin <30 g/l, and Alkaline phosphatase >80 U/l (p < 0.05, C-statistic 0.74), and these constitute the acronym UREA5. Using linear modeling, risk weightage/integer of 3 was assigned to LVEF <30%, 2 to age >70 years, and 1 to each remaining variable. Cumulative UREA5 scores of ≤ 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥ 5 were associated with FYM of 6, 8, 22, 31, and 46%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Increasing UREA5 scores were strongly associated with stepwise worsening of FYM after dialysis initiation.

Clinicopathological correlates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

Background: Sudden cardiac arrest with or without sudden cardiac death (SCD) represents a heterogeneous spectrum of underlying etiology but is often a catastrophic event. Despite improvements in pre-hospital response and post-resuscitation care, outcomes remain grim. Thus, we aim to evaluate the predictors of survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) and describe autopsy findings of those with the uncertain cause of death (COD). Methods: This is a subgroup analysis of the Singapore cohort from the Pan Asian Resuscitation Outcome Study which studied 933 OHCAs admitted to two Singapore tertiary hospitals from April 2010 to May 2012. Results: Of the patients analysed, 30.2% (n = 282) had an initial return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) at the emergency department, 18.0% (n = 168) had sustained ROSC with subsequent admission and 3.4% (n = 32) had survival to discharge. On multivariate analysis, an initial shockable rhythm, a witnessed event, prehospital defibrillation, and shorter time to hospital predicted ROSC as well as survival to discharge. A total of 163 (17.5%) autopsies were performed of which a cardiac etiology of SCD was noted in 92.1% (n = 151). Ischemic heart disease accounted for 54.3% (n = 89) of the autopsy cohort, with acute myocardial infarction (26.9%, n = 44) and myocarditis (3.7%, n = 6) rounding out the top three causes of demise. Conclusion: OHCA remains a clinical presentation that portends a poor prognosis. Of those with uncertain COD, cardiac etiology appears to predominate from autopsy study. Identification of prognostic factors will play an important role in improving individual-level and systemic-level variables to further optimize outcomes.

Nail manifestations in atopic dermatitis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Nail involvement is not well-studied in atopic dermatitis but is believed to be more common than what is known. The spectrum of nail disorders that result from underlying atopic dermatitis (AD) is wide and has been reported in several studies, but there has been no systematic review so far to understand and quantify its prevalence. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and type of nail disorders seen in AD, either as a complication of the underlying condition or as a clue to its early diagnosis. METHODS: The authors performed a systematic review of English and non-English articles using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane which reported the proportion of nail changes among AD patients. Only studies specifically looking at AD and its associated nail manifestations were included. Data were extracted and summarized descriptively. RESULTS: Twelve studies reported proportion of nail changes among AD patients. One study reported numbers in both adults and children cohorts, allowing 13 cohorts for final systematic review. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the types and prevalence of nail changes in AD raises awareness among physicians managing AD.