Effect of intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone 250 mg versus dexamethasone 6 mg in hospitalised adults with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: An open-label randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of high versus medium doses of glucocorticoids for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 has shown mixed outcomes in controlled trials and observational studies. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of methylprednisolone 250 mg bolus versus dexamethasone 6 mg in patients with severe COVID-19. METHODS: A randomised, open-label, controlled trial was conducted between February and August 2021 at four hospitals in Spain. The trial was suspended after the first interim analysis since the investigators considered that continuing the trial would be futile. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive dexamethasone 6 mg once daily for up to 10 days or methylprednisolone 250 mg once daily for 3 days. RESULTS: Of the 128 randomised patients, 125 were analysed (mean age 60 ± 17 years; 82 males [66%]). Mortality at 28 days was 4.8% in the 250 mg methylprednisolone group versus 4.8% in the 6 mg dexamethasone group (absolute risk difference, 0.1% [95% CI, -8.8 to 9.1%]; p = 0.98). None of the secondary outcomes (admission to the intensive care unit, non-invasive respiratory or high-flow oxygen support, additional immunosuppressive drugs, or length of stay), or prespecified sensitivity analyses were statistically significant. Hyperglycaemia was more frequent in the methylprednisolone group at 27.0 versus 8.1% (absolute risk difference, -18.9% [95% CI, -31.8 to - 5.6%]; p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Among severe but not critical patients with COVID-19, 250 mg/d for 3 days of methylprednisolone compared with 6 mg/d for 10 days of dexamethasone did not result in a decrease in mortality or intubation.

Utilidad del índice de comorbilidad de Charlson en personas ancianas. Concordancia con otros índices de comorbilidad / Utility of the Charlson Comorbidity Index in older people and concordance with other comorbidity indices

Objetivo: El objetivo principal de nuestro estudio fue evaluar la utilidad actual del índice de comorbilidad de Charlson (CCI) para predecir la mortalidad en personas mayores y la concordancia entre varios índices. Diseño: Estudio observacional, cohorte concurrente. Emplazamiento: Servicio de Medicina Interna de un hospital terciario, pacientes ambulatorios de un centro de salud y residentes de cuatro hogares de ancianos. Participantes: 375 individuos ≥ 65 años, con supervivencia esperada ≥ 6 meses, sin deterioro cognitivo. Mediciones principales: Se realizaron tres índices: CCI, el índice geriátrico de comorbilidad (GIC) y el índice de Kaplan-Feinstein (KF). A los 12 meses, se registró mortalidad. Los datos se analizaron con IBM SPSS Statistics® versión 23.0. Resultados: Edad media: 81,4 años. El CCI mostró comorbilidad baja-media en el grupo ambulatorio de 65-75 años (43 [75,4%]); moderada-alta más común en hospitalizados (19 [61,3%]) y en hogares de ancianos (5 [62,5%]). Al año fallecieron 59 (16,1%) individuos: con CCI: 10 (6,4%) comorbilidad baja-media y 49 (23,3%) moderada-alta, odds ratio (OR) 3,63 (intervalo de confianza [IC] 95% 1,76-7,51); con KF: 27 (13,3%) baja-media y 32 (19,5%) moderada-alta, OR 1,38 (IC 95% 0,78-2,44), y con GIC: 45 (14,1%) baja-media y 14 (29,2%) moderada-alta, OR 2,47 (IC 95% 1,21-5,06). La concordancia entre CCI-KF fue: 65-75 años: K = 0,62, 76-85 años: K = 0,396, y ≥ 86 años: K = 0,255. La concordancia entre CCI-GIC: 65-75 años: K = 0,202, 76-85 años: K = 0,069, y ≥ 86 años: K = 0,118. Conclusión: El CCI es el mejor predictor de mortalidad después de 1 año de seguimiento. Concordancia considerable entre CCI y KF en los individuos de 65-75 años, en el resto de las franjas etarias la correlación con GIC fue insignificante.(AU)

Background: The main aim of our study was to evaluate the current usefulness of the CCI in predicting mortality in older people and the concordance between various comorbidity indices. Design: An observational, concurrent cohort study was performed. Location: Internal Medicine Service of a tertiary hospital, outpatients in a health centre and residents in four nursing homes. Participants: 375 individuals ≥65 years and with expected survival ≥6 months, without cognitive impairment. Main measurements: Three indices, the CCI, the Geriatric Index of comorbidity (GIC), and the Kaplan-Feinstein index (KFI), were administered in all participants. At 12 months, mortality was evaluated. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 statistical programme. Results: Average age 81.4 years. The CCI revealed low-medium comorbidity in the outpatient group aged 65-75: 43 (75.4%), moderate-high morbidity and more common in hospitalized patients: 19 (61.3%) and nursing homes: 5 (62.5%). At one year follow-up 59 (16.1%) individuals died: CCI: 10 (6.4%) low-medium and 49 (23.3%) moderate-high comorbidity, OR 3.63 (95% CI 1.76-7.51); KF: 27 (13.3%) low-medium and 32 (19.5%) moderate-high comorbidity, OR 1.38 (95% CI 0.78-2.44) and GIC: 45 (14.1%) low-medium and 14 (29.2%) moderate-high comorbidity, OR 2.47 (95% CI 1.21-5.06). The concordance between CCI-KF: 65-75 years K=0.62, 76-85 years: K=0.396 and ≥86 years: K=0.255. Concordance between CCI-GIC was: 65-75 years K=0.202, 76-85 years: K=0.069 and ≥86 years: K=0.118. Conclusion: CCI was found to be the best predictor of mortality after one year of follow up. There was considerable concordance between CCI and KF in the 65-75 years and remaining age groups. Correlation with GIC was low.(AU)

Relationship between the FRAX index and physical and cognitive functioning in older people.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between the FRAX index and the Barthel index/MiniMental State Examination in older people. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational descriptive study. Demographic data, comorbidity, dependency and cognitive state, and risk of osteoporotic fracture were collected. RESULTS: A total of 375 patients were included (60% female) Patients with a low-risk FRAX for hip fractures had a higher Mini-mental (25, 95% CI = 24-27 vs. 22, 95% = 21 to 23, p = .0001), a higher Barthel index (88, 95% CI = 84-93 vs 72, 69 to 76, p = .0001) without differences in the Charlson index. Bivariate analysis showed an inverse association between FRAX and scales but logistic regression showed only female sex (OR 4.4, 95% CI = 2.6-7.6) and the non-dependent Barthel index (OR = 0.104, 95% CI = 0.014-0.792) remained significant and. Barthel index/Mini-mental constructed a significant model capable of predicting a risk of hip fracture of >3% measured by the FRAX index, with an area under the curve of 0.76 (95% CI = 0.7-0.81). CONCLUSIONS: The FRAX index is related to other markers of geriatric assessment and the association between these variables can predict a risk of hip fracture of >3% measured by the FRAX index. Key messages Geriatric assessment indexes may be as important as the FRAX index, which is based on clinical risk factors, in predicting the fracture risk in older patient.

Relationship among angiotensin-converting enzyme polymorphism, cardiovascular risk, and osteoporotic fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has been related to cardiovascular physiology and bone remodeling. Our aim was to assess the relationship among ACE polymorphisms, cardiovascular risk, and osteoporotic fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 71 patients with hypertension from 2001 to 2014. Sociodemographic and medical data were collected. Comorbidity was evaluated with Charlson index. Densitometric studies on lumbar spine were performed. ACE polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. Data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 (p value <0.05). RESULTS: Homozygous deletion (DD) genotype was described in 32.4% of patients, homozygous insertion (II) in 19.7%, and heterozygous insertion/deletion (ID) in 47.9%. On stratifying data by ACE polymorphism, we observed that DD carriers demonstrated neither greater cardiovascular risk factors (30.4% vs. 33.3%, p=0.4) and higher comorbidity (34.8% vs. 22.9%, p=0.3) nor higher osteoporotic fracture incidence (17.4% vs. 16.8%, p=0.9). In women, no significant differences were observed between DD homozygous individuals and ID+II subjects. CONCLUSION: It is unclear whether DD genotype is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In contrast to our expectations, we found no relationship among the DD genotype, cardiovascular risk, and osteoporotic fracture incidence.

Trombosis venosa inusual como primera manifestación de neoplasia pulmonar / Atypical Deep Venous Thrombosis as the First Manifestation of Pulmonary Neoplasm

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Vitamin d levels and lipid response to atorvastatin.

Adequate vitamin D levels are necessary for good vascular health. 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol activates CYP3A4, an enzyme of the cytochrome P450 system, which metabolizes atorvastatin to its main metabolites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of cholesterol and triglycerides to atorvastatin according to vitamin D levels. Sixty-three patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with low and high doses of atorvastatin were included. Levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were measured at baseline and at 12 months of follow-up. Baseline levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) were classified as deficient (<30 nmol/L), insufficient (30-50 nmol/L), and normal (>50 nmol/L). In patients with 25-OHD <30 nmol/L, there were no significant changes in levels of total cholesterol (173 +/- 47 mg/dL versus 164 +/- 51 mg/dL), triglycerides (151 +/- 49 mg/dL versus 177 +/- 94 mg/dL), and LDL cholesterol (111 +/- 48 mg/dL versus 92 45 +/- mg/dL); whereas patients with insufficient (30-50 nmol/L) and normal vitamin D (>50 nmol/L) had a good response to atorvastatin. We suggest that vitamin D concentrations >30 nmol/L may be required for atorvastatin to reduce lipid levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction.