Gender Differences in Hospital Outcomes among COVID-19 Hospitalizations.

OBJECTIVES: Many epidemiological studies have shown that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disproportionately affects males, compared with females, although other studies show that there were no such differences. The aim of the present study was to assess differences in the prevalence of hospitalizations and in-hospital outcomes between the sexes, using a larger administrative database. METHODS: We used the 2020 California State Inpatient Database for this retrospective analysis. International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code U07.1 was used to identify COVID-19 hospitalizations. These hospitalizations were subsequently stratified by male and female sex. Diagnosis and procedures were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. The primary outcome of the study was hospitalization rate, and secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, prolonged length of stay, vasopressor use, mechanical ventilation, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. RESULTS: There were 95,180 COVID-19 hospitalizations among patients 18 years and older, 52,465 (55.1%) of which were among men and 42,715 (44.9%) were among women. In-hospital mortality (12.4% vs 10.1%), prolonged length of hospital stays (30.6% vs 25.8%), vasopressor use (2.6% vs 1.6%), mechanical ventilation (11.8% vs 8.0%), and ICU admission rates (11.4% versus 7.8%) were significantly higher among male compared with female hospitalizations. Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38-1.44), hospital lengths of stay (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.31-1.39), vasopressor use (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.51-1.66), mechanical ventilation (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.47-1.78), and ICU admission rates (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.51-1.66) were significantly higher among male hospitalizations. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that male sex is an independent and strong risk factor associated with COVID-19 severity.

Kangaroo mother care: a multi-country analysis of health system bottlenecks and potential solutions.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth is now the leading cause of under-five child deaths worldwide with one million direct deaths plus approximately another million where preterm is a risk factor for neonatal deaths due to other causes. There is strong evidence that kangaroo mother care (KMC) reduces mortality among babies with birth weight <2000 g (mostly preterm). KMC involves continuous skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding support, and promotion of early hospital discharge with follow-up. The World Health Organization has endorsed KMC for stabilised newborns in health facilities in both high-income and low-resource settings. The objectives of this paper are to: (1) use a 12-country analysis to explore health system bottlenecks affecting the scale-up of KMC; (2) propose solutions to the most significant bottlenecks; and (3) outline priority actions for scale-up. METHODS: The bottleneck analysis tool was applied in 12 countries in Africa and Asia as part of the Every Newborn Action Plan process. Country workshops involved technical experts to complete the survey tool, which is designed to synthesise and grade health system "bottlenecks", factors that hinder the scale-up, of maternal-newborn intervention packages. We used quantitative and qualitative methods to analyse the bottleneck data, combined with literature review, to present priority bottlenecks and actions relevant to different health system building blocks for KMC. RESULTS: Marked differences were found in the perceived severity of health system bottlenecks between Asian and African countries, with the former reporting more significant or very major bottlenecks for KMC with respect to all the health system building blocks. Community ownership and health financing bottlenecks were significant or very major bottlenecks for KMC in both low and high mortality contexts, particularly in South Asia. Significant bottlenecks were also reported for leadership and governance and health workforce building blocks. CONCLUSIONS: There are at least a dozen countries worldwide with national KMC programmes, and we identify three pathways to scale: (1) champion-led; (2) project-initiated; and (3) health systems designed. The combination of all three pathways may lead to more rapid scale-up. KMC has the potential to save lives, and change the face of facility-based newborn care, whilst empowering women to care for their preterm newborns.

Count every newborn; a measurement improvement roadmap for coverage data.

BACKGROUND: The Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP), launched in 2014, aims to end preventable newborn deaths and stillbirths, with national targets of ≤12 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births and ≤12 stillbirths per 1000 total births by 2030. This requires ambitious improvement of the data on care at birth and of small and sick newborns, particularly to track coverage, quality and equity. METHODS: In a multistage process, a matrix of 70 indicators were assessed by the Every Newborn steering group. Indicators were graded based on their availability and importance to ENAP, resulting in 10 core and 10 additional indicators. A consultation process was undertaken to assess the status of each ENAP core indicator definition, data availability and measurement feasibility. Coverage indicators for the specific ENAP treatment interventions were assigned task teams and given priority as they were identified as requiring the most technical work. Consultations were held throughout. RESULTS: ENAP published 10 core indicators plus 10 additional indicators. Three core impact indicators (neonatal mortality rate, maternal mortality ratio, stillbirth rate) are well defined, with future efforts needed to focus on improving data quantity and quality. Three core indicators on coverage of care for all mothers and newborns (intrapartum/skilled birth attendance, early postnatal care, essential newborn care) have defined contact points, but gaps exist in measuring content and quality of the interventions. Four core (antenatal corticosteroids, neonatal resuscitation, treatment of serious neonatal infections, kangaroo mother care) and one additional coverage indicator for newborns at risk or with complications (chlorhexidine cord cleansing) lack indicator definitions or data, especially for denominators (population in need). To address these gaps, feasible coverage indicator definitions are presented for validity testing. Measurable process indicators to help monitor health service readiness are also presented. A major measurement gap exists to monitor care of small and sick babies, yet signal functions could be tracked similarly to emergency obstetric care. CONCLUSIONS: The ENAP Measurement Improvement Roadmap (2015-2020) outlines tools to be developed (e.g., improved birth and death registration, audit, and minimum perinatal dataset) and actions to test, validate and institutionalise proposed coverage indicators. The roadmap presents a unique opportunity to strengthen routine health information systems, crosslinking these data with civil registration and vital statistics and population-based surveys. Real measurement change requires intentional transfer of leadership to countries with the greatest disease burden and will be achieved by working with centres of excellence and existing networks.

Canaloplasty and Trabeculotomy Combined With Phacoemulsification for Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma: A Single-Surgeon Case Series.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of combined canaloplasty and trabeculotomy with phacoemulsification for primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). METHODS: In this retrospective, consecutive, single-surgeon case series, we analyzed the pre- and postoperative measurements of PACG patients who had the procedure. Adverse events were recorded. The main outcomes were mean intraocular pressure (IOP) in each quartile of the follow-up year and the number of IOP-lowering medications the patients were on by the end of each quartile compared to their baseline values. RESULTS:  A total of 46 eyes from 39 PACG patients were included. The preoperative IOP and glaucoma medications taken were 19.33±6.03 mm Hg and 1.80±1.39, respectively (N=46). Postoperative IOP means (mm Hg) in the subsequent four quartiles were 14.00±3.33 (N=44), 13.44±2.83 (N=32), 14.38±2.39 (N=16), and 14.92±2.90 (N=13) (p<0.0001). The mean number of meds was 0.32±0.80, 0.22±0.42, 0.59±0.80, and 0.08±0.28 in each respective quartile (p<0.0001), while the median was 0 across all quartiles. CONCLUSIONS: Combining the OMNI surgical system with phacoemulsification led to substantial reductions in mean IOP and the number of IOP-lowering medications when compared to baseline measurements.

The impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 on hospitalizations for coronary artery revascularization: results from California State Inpatient Database.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has negatively impacted routine cardiovascular care. In this study, we assessed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) hospitalizations and outcomes using a large database. METHODS: The current study was a retrospective analysis of California State Inpatient Database (SID) during March-December of 2019 and 2020. All adult hospitalizations for coronary artery revascularization were included for the analysis. ICD-10-CM diagnosis and procedure codes were used for identifying hospitalizations and procedures. The primary outcome was inhospital mortality, and secondary outcomes were hospital length of stay, stroke, acute kidney injury, and mechanical ventilation. Propensity score match analysis was done to compare adverse clinical outcomes. RESULTS: PCI hospitalizations (relative decrease, 15.0%, P for trend <0.001) and CABG hospitalizations (relative decrease, 16.4%, P for trend <0.001) decreased from 2019 to 2020, while viral pneumonia hospitalizations increased (relative increase, 1751.6%, P for trend <0.001). Monthly PCI and CABG hospitalization showed decreasing trends from January 2019 to December 2020. Propensity score match analysis showed that the odds of inhospital mortality (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01-1.24), acute kidney injury (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.06-1.17), and ARDS (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.18-3.01) were higher among patients who received PCI in 2020. CONCLUSION: Results of our study indicate that initiatives such as encouraging patients to receive treatments and controlling the spread of COVID-19 should be instituted to improve PCI and CABG hospitalizations.

Association Between Frailty, 30-day Unplanned Readmission and Mortality After Hospitalization for Heart Failure: Results From the Nationwide Readmissions Database.

Objectives: This study examined how frailty in traditional risk-adjusted models could improve the predictability of unplanned 30-day readmission and mortality among heart failure patients. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of Nationwide Readmissions Database data collected during the years 2010-2018. All patients ≥65 years who had a principal diagnosis of heart failure were included in the analysis. The Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups frailty-defining diagnosis indicator was used to identify frail patients. Results: There was a total of 819,854 patients admitted for heart failure during the study period. Among them, 63,302 (7.7%) were frail. In the regression analysis, the risk of all-cause 30-day readmission (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.14-1.22) and in-hospital mortality (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.40-1.66) were higher in patients with frailty. Discussion: Inclusion of frailty in comorbidity-based risk-prediction models significantly improved the predictability of unplanned 30-day readmission and in-hospital mortality.

Adverse Outcomes in Hospitalizations for Amyloid-Related Heart Failure.

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy is being increasingly recognized as an important cause of heart failure (HF). In this study, we looked at adverse outcomes in hospitalizations with amyloid-related HF. This study was a retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample data, collected from 2016 to 2019. Patients ≥41 years of age and admitted for HF were included in the study. In these hospitalizations, amyloid-related HF was identified through the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for amyloidosis. The primary outcome of the study was in-hospital mortality, whereas secondary outcomes were prolonged length of stay, mechanical ventilation, mechanical circulatory support, vasopressors use, and dispositions other than home. From 2016 to 2019, there were 4,705,274 HF hospitalizations, of which 16,955 (0.4%) had amyloid cardiomyopathy. In all HF hospitalizations, amyloid-related increased from 0.26% in 2016 to 0.46% in 2019 (relative increase, 76.9%, P for trend <0.001). Amyloid-related HF hospitalizations were more common in older, male, and Black patients. The odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11 to 1.38), prolonged hospital length (OR, 1.61; 95% CI: 1.49 to 1.73) and vasopressors use (OR, 1.59; 95% CI: 1.23 to 2.05) were significantly higher for amyloid-related hospitalizations. Amyloid-related HF hospitalizations are increasing substantially and are associated with adverse hospital outcomes. These hospitalizations were disproportionately higher for older, male, and Black patients. Amyloid-related HF is rare and underdiagnosed yet has several adverse outcomes. Hence, healthcare providers should be watchful of this condition for early identification and prompt management.

Cerebral motor function in very premature-at-birth adolescents: a brain stimulation exploration of kangaroo mother care effects.

AIM: Given that prematurity has deleterious effects on brain networking development beyond childhood, the study explored whether an early intervention such as Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in very preterm preemies could have influenced brain motor function up to adolescence. METHODS: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied over the primary motor cortex (M1) of 39 adolescents born very prematurely (<33 weeks' gestational age, 21 having received KMC after birth, 18 Controls with no KMC) and nine adolescents born at term (>37 weeks' gestational age, >2500 g) to assess the functional integrity of motor circuits in each hemisphere (motor planning) and between hemispheres (callosal function). RESULTS: All TMS outcomes were similar between KMC and term adolescents, with typical values as in healthy adults, and better than in Controls. KMC adolescents presented faster conduction times revealing more efficient M1 cell synchronization (p < 0.05) and interhemispheric transfer time (p < 0.0001), more frequent inhibitory processes with a better control between hemispheres (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The enhanced synchronization, conduction times and connectivity of cerebral motor pathways in the KMC group suggests that the Kangaroo Mother Care positively influenced the premature brain networks and synaptic efficacy up to adolescence.

The Association Between Electronic Cigarette Use During Pregnancy and Unfavorable Birth Outcomes.

Introduction and objective While the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) continues to gain popularity amongst consumers, literature focusing on the safety and risks of e-cigarette usage remains scarce. Literature focused on the potential effects of e-cigarette use on fetal development is particularly limited. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between the use of e-cigarettes during pregnancy and unfavorable birth outcomes. Methods A retrospective cohort using secondary data analysis was conducted from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) 2016-2017 Phase 8 survey. This database contains both state-specific and population-based information on maternal attitudes and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy. Female participants in the study were initially found through each state's birth certificate file. Eligible women included those who have had a recent live birth. Data collection procedures and instruments were standardized to allow comparisons between states. The independent variable was self-reported use of any e-cigarette products during pregnancy. The dependent variable was dichotomized into the presence of at least one unfavorable birth outcome (preterm birth, low birth weight, or extended postnatal hospital stay for the newborn) or the absence of all. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results A total of 71,940 women were included in our study. After adjusting for age, race, ethnicity, insurance, maternal education, prenatal care, physical abuse during pregnancy, and complications during pregnancy, the odds of unfavorable birth outcomes increase by 62% among women who reported e-cigarette use during pregnancy versus women who did not (aOR 1.62, 95%CI 1.16-2.26, p-value 0.005). Conclusions/implications Moving forward, it is imperative for consumers to understand the implications of using e-cigarettes, such as the increased risk of unfavorable birth outcomes associated with use during pregnancy. Moreover, healthcare providers, particularly obstetricians, should be encouraged to communicate this novel information to at-risk patients. Overall, researchers must continue to study the long-term effects of e-cigarettes, including those on fetal development, as there is still much to be uncovered.

Factors Associated With Control of Diabetes and Hypertension Among Patients Seen as Part of a Longitudinal Medical School Service-Learning Program From 2018-2019: An Exploratory Analysis.

Introduction The Florida International University (FIU) Green Family Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program (NeighborhoodHELP) in Miami-Dade County serves communities impacted by adverse social determinants of health. This study identified sociodemographic factors affecting control of diabetes and hypertension among NeighborhoodHELP patients. Methods This non-concurrent cohort study evaluated NeighborhoodHELP patients who received care at mobile health centers (MHCs) utilizing de-identified data extracted from the MHCs' clinical quality metrics data set for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. A total of 143 eligible adults with diabetes and 222 adults with hypertension were identified. Condition control was defined as blood pressure ≤ 130 mmHg (systolic) and ≤ 80 mmHg (diastolic) or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≤ 7% (diabetes). Association with age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, language, service area, income per-capita, and medical student assignment was explored using logistic regression. Results The model showed decreased diabetes control likelihood among Haitian-Creole speakers (OR: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.02-0.75). Odds of diabetes control were greater in two discrete areas serviced by the program, one known as Hippocrates (OR: 4.9; 95% CI: 1.23-19.37) and the other Semmelweis (OR: 3.71; 95% CI: 1.07-12.83). Income greater than $10,000 increased hypertension control likelihood (OR: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.03-4.8). Conclusions Among NeighborhoodHELP patients, geographic region and language impact diabetes control, while income affects hypertension control. Further research is warranted to identify the role of other factors.

Hospital Outcomes Among COVID-19 Hospitalizations With Myocarditis from the California State Inpatient Database.

Many case reports have indicated that myocarditis could be a prognostic factor for predicting morbidity and mortality among patients with COVID-19. In this study, using a large database we examined the association between myocarditis among COVID-19 hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality and other adverse hospital outcomes. The present study was a retrospective analysis of data collected in the California State Inpatient Database during 2020. All hospitalizations for COVID-19 were included in the analysis and grouped into those with and without myocarditis. The outcomes were in-hospital mortality, cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, mechanical ventilation, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Propensity score matching, followed by conditional logistic regression, was performed to find the association between myocarditis and outcomes. Among 164,417 COVID-19 hospitalizations, 578 (0.4%) were with myocarditis. After propensity score matching, the rate of in-hospital mortality was significantly higher among COVID-19 hospitalizations with myocarditis (30.0% vs 17.5%, p <0.001). Survival analysis with log-rank test showed that 30-day survival rates were significantly lower among those with myocarditis (39.5% vs 46.3%, p <0.001). Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of cardiac arrest (odds ratio [OR] 1.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16 to 3.14), cardiogenic shock (OR 4.13, 95% CI 2.14 to 7.99), mechanical ventilation (OR 3.30, 95% CI 2.47 to 4.41), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.70 to 3.66) were significantly higher among those with myocarditis. Myocarditis was associated with greater rates of in-hospital mortality and adverse hospital outcomes among patients with COVID-19, and early suspicion is important for prompt diagnosis and management.

Association Between Race/Ethnicity and Survival in Women With Advanced Ovarian Cancer.

Introduction Ovarian cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer-related mortality in US women. There are survival disparities between non-Hispanic black (NHB) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) women. We assessed if insurance status or extent of disease modified the effect of race/ethnicity on survival for ovarian cancer. Methods A historical cohort was assembled using the 2007-2015 National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) dataset. Adult NHB and NHW (>18 years) diagnosed with regional and distant ovarian cancer were included. The outcome was five-year cause-specific mortality. Multivariable Cox regression models were fitted, including race by the extent of disease and race by insurance status interaction terms. Results For each significant interaction, separate Cox models were fitted. In total 8,043 women were included. The insurance status/race interaction was not statistically significant, but the extent of disease modified the effect of race on survival. NHB survival was lower in regional disease (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) =1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-2.4), while there was no difference in survival between women with distant disease (adjusted HR =1.0; 95%CI 0.9-1.2). Conclusions Ovarian cancer mortality is similar between NHB and NHW women with the distant disease but higher in NHB women with regional disease. Further research should clarify whether this difference is due to access to quality cancer treatment or other factors affecting treatment response.

Comparing the Effects of General Versus Regional Anesthesia on Postoperative Mortality in Total and Partial Hip Arthroplasty.

Purpose Total hip arthroplasty (THA) and partial hip arthroplasty (PHA) are performed in patients with hip joint dysfunction such as osteoarthritis or hip fractures and are associated with complications including mortality. There is a lack of evidence in the literature regarding whether the type of anesthesia (regional vs. general) is associated with increased postoperative mortality in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty. The present study compares early postoperative mortality between general or regional anesthesia administered to patients undergoing either THA or PHA. Methods A retrospective cohort was assembled using the 2015-2016 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Adult patients undergoing hip arthroplasty under general or regional anesthesia were included. Patients were excluded if receiving any other type of anesthesia, as well as having an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification score ≥ 4, preoperative acute renal failure, severe congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or ascites. Adjusted odds of 30 days all-cause postoperative mortality according to the type of anesthesia were estimated by fitting multiple logistic regression models that included potential confounders and effect modifiers. Results A total of 60,897 patients were included in the study. Given that the interaction between the type of anesthesia and the type of arthroplasty was statistically significant, separated models were fitted for each type of arthroplasty. There was no evidence of an association between type of anesthesia and postoperative mortality in hip arthroplasty patients regardless of whether the arthroplasty was partial (odds ratio {OR} = 0.85; confidence interval {CI} 0.59-1.22) or total (OR = 0.68; CI 0.43-1.08). Conclusion The overall early postoperative mortality in adult hip arthroplasty patients is low in the absence of risk factors such as severe CHF, COPD, ascites, acute renal failure, and ASA score of 4 or higher. Our findings suggest there is no association between the type of anesthesia received (general vs. regional) and early postoperative mortality rates in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty, regardless of type (total vs. partial).

Ethnic Disparities and Incidence of Postoperative Complications in Obese Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: Analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Data Set.

INTRODUCTION: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is common but complex operation. A paucity of literature exists on differences between Hispanics and non-Hispanics with TKA. Our study aims to investigate the association between Hispanic ethnicity and complications in obese patients undergoing TKA. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for patients with body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 who underwent TKA. Exposure in this study was ethnicity (Hispanic versus non-Hispanic), and the primary outcome was postoperative complications. Associations between ethnicity and baseline characteristics and between covariates and the outcome were assessed via bivariate analysis. Multiple logistic regression was done to determine associations between Hispanic ethnicity and complications while controlling for confounders. RESULTS: Thirty five thousand twenty-seven patients were included in our study, of which 6.3% were Hispanic. Among obese adults, Hispanics had a 1.24 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.39) times greater odds of having a postoperative complication after TKA than non-Hispanics. This increased to 1.36 (95% CI 1.20 to 1.54) after adjusting for confounders. Hispanics were notably more likely to receive transfusion (2.62% vs. 1.59%, P < 0.001) and have prolonged length of stay (13.29% vs. 11.12%, P = 0.002) but were less likely to have wound disruption (0.05% vs. 0.27%, P = 0.042). CONCLUSION: In a national database, Hispanic ethnicity was associated with greater odds of postoperative complication in obese patients undergoing TKA compared with non-Hispanics. Future studies focusing on a wide range metrics of social determinants of health are needed to further investigate barriers and intervention to eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in surgical patients.

Postoperative outcomes of total knee arthroplasty across varying levels of multimodal pain management protocol adherence.

We examined the effect of varying multimodal pain management (MMPM) combinations on oral morphine milligram equivalents (OMME) and length of stay (LOS) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Five groups were compared based on the combination of multimodal analgesics ranging from no MMPM to full MMPM with acetaminophen, gabapentinoids, and celecoxib. After risk adjustment, MMPM was associated with decreased odds of LOS ≥2 days and OMME ≥75th percentile. MMPM protocols are effective at reducing LOS and postoperative narcotic requirements post-TKA. Patients appear to derive similar benefit from receiving all three medications, as well as various combinations of these drugs.

First Time Cannabis Use and Sexual Debut in U.S. High School Adolescents.

PURPOSE: Use of illicit drugs by adolescents might facilitate or trigger other risky behaviors, including early sexual initiation (ESI), multiple partners, and unprotected sex. This study examines whether the age at which adolescents initiate cannabis use is associated with the age of their first sexual intercourse in the U.S. in 2015. METHODS: A secondary analysis of data from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey, was conducted (n = 7,664). Exposure of interest was age of initiation of cannabis use (never used cannabis, age 12 or younger, 13-14 years of age, and age 15 or older) and outcome was ESI (14 years old or younger). Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals were computed. RESULTS: Prevalence of ESI was 15.3%. The proportion of cannabis use was 39.9%. Adolescents starting cannabis use before the age of 15 had higher adjusted odds of ESI (OR ranged 4.2-6.7). This association is modified by sex: while in boys using cannabis before 13 years, the OR is 9 (95% CI 5.2-15.6); in girls, it is 2.8 (95% CI 1.7-4.7). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that there should be sex and drug education programs instituted before the age of 12 ideally, and no later than by age 15 since this time represents a critical period of initiating both behaviors.

Postpartum maternal hyperthyrotropinemia in an area in which iodine supplementation is required.

Mild maternal hypothyroidism during pregnancy can adversely affect infant development. We studied thyrotropin (TSH) levels in mothers of premature and low-birth-weight infants in Colombia, where iodized salt supplements the diet to correct iodine deficiency. The additional impact of salt restriction in mothers with hypertensive disorders was examined. Blood was spotted on filter paper from 404 mothers and their infants. Using radioimmunoassay (RIA), TSH was measured in the mothers, and TSH and thyroxine in their infants at three postpartum times. Initially, mothers had high TSH levels (i.e., TSH > 10 mU/L in half the mothers at the first assessment). Fourteen days later, only 9.3%, and at calculated term 7.5% were greater than 10 mU/L. Maternal TSH levels correlated with infant birth weight and gestational age (r = 0.47, and r = 0.49, p < 0.01). Initial TSH values were higher in salt restricted (20.1 +/- 2 mU/L, n = 76) versus control mothers (14.6 +/- 0.85, n = 328, p < 0.01), dropping dramatically in both groups 14 days later (to 3.4 +/- 0.7 mU/L vs. 2.8 +/- 0.4 mU/L) and at calculated term (2.8 +/- 0.4 mU/L vs. 2.3 +/- 0.6 mU/L). Increased maternal TSH levels during pregnancy in an iodine-deficient area may be aggravated by salt restriction. Monitoring TSH and supplementing iodine or thyroxine are recommended in pregnancy, especially if dietary salt restriction is prescribed.

[Bronchopulmonary dysplasia epidemic: incidence and associated factors in a cohort of premature infants in Bogotá, Colombia]. / Epidemia de displasia broncopulmonar: incidencia y factores asociados en una cohorte de niños prematuros en Bogotá, Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: There is a perception that bronchopulmonary dysplasia incidence has increased in Bogotá since 2000. This study estimates its incidence, compares it with historical data and describes associated factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a prospective analytical cohort of preterm newborns =34 weeks of gestational age without major malformations from 12 health facilities from Bogotá in 2004. The main outcomes were incidence and severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, which were compared with an historical cohort (1994-1999). RESULTS: Neonatal mortality was 80/496, and the bronchopulmonary dysplasia incidence was 54.3% (95% CI, 49.4-59.1). When controlling for type of institution (low and high mortality) it appeared that being born in an institution with low mortality decreased the risk for death (OR=0.308; 95% CI, 0.129-0.736) but increased the odds for moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR=1.797; 95% CI, 1.046-3.088). The risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia was higher than for the historical control cohort (RR=1.924; 95% CI, 1.686-2.196). Weight and gestational age at birth, mechanical ventilation, intrauterine growth restriction and type of institution (low vs. intermediate-high mortality) were independently associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia of increasing severity or even death. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in Bogotá has increased markedly, and this cannot be explained solely by better survival of more fragile infants. Survivors-irrespective from gestational age-- have more frequent and more severe respiratory sequels. Probably suboptimal aggressive respiratory care practices associated with a recent transition from restricted to almost universal access to mechanical ventilation in neonatal intensive care units in Bogota might be compromising the quality of neonatal respiratory care.

Incidencia de pielonefritis aguda en menores de 5 años hospitalizados con urocultivo positivo / Incidence of Acute Pyelonephritis in Hospitalized Children under 5 Years Old with Positive Urine Culture

Introducción: la infección de las vías urinarias es una causa importante de morbilidad infantil. Establecer si existe pielonefritis aguda es un factor importante para su tratamiento. Materiales y métodos: estudio observacional descriptivo. Se registraron los resultados de uroanálisis, gram de orina y urocultivo de niños entre 3 meses y 5 años de edad hospitalizados con sospecha de infección de las vías urinarias, entre enero de 2008 y diciembre de 2010. En pacientes con urocultivo positivo se evaluó el resultado de la gammagrafía renal, estimando la incidencia de pielonefritis aguda. Resultados: se recolectaron 1.463 historias clínicas y se solicitó urocultivo en 237. De estas, el 54,4% fueron positivas para pielonefritis. En 93 casos se tomaron gammagrafías renales, positivas en el 59,1% de los casos. Conclusiones: la incidencia de pielonefritis aguda en pacientes con infección de las vías urinarias se confirmó en el 59,1%.

Introduction: Urinary tract infection is a major cause of child morbidity. The diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis is important to decide the treatment. Methods: Retrospective observational study. We collected information of urinalysis, urine Gram and urine culture of hospitalized children between 3 months and 5 years old, with suspected urinary tract infection between January 2008 and December 2010. In patients with positive urine culture, the results of renal scintigraphy (Gamma scan) were evaluated to estimate the incidence of acute pyelonephritis. Results: We identified 1,463 medical records. Urinary culture was obtained in 237 patients, of whom 54.4% were positive. Renal scintigraphy was obtained in 93 of these patients and 59.1% were positive. Conclusions: The incidence of acute pyelonephritis in patients with confirmed urinary tract infection was 59.1%.