Financial Toxicity in Renal Patients (FINTORE) Study: A Cross-Sectional Italian Study on Financial Burden in Kidney Disease-A Project Protocol.

Financial toxicity (FT) refers to the negative impact of health-care costs on clinical conditions. In general, social determinants of health, especially poverty, socioenvironmental stressors, and psychological factors, are increasingly recognized as important determinants of non-communicable diseases, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), and their consequences. We aim to investigate the prevalence of FT in patients at different stages of CKD treated in our universal health-care system and from pediatric nephrology, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and renal transplantation clinics. FT will be assessed with the Patient-Reported Outcome for Fighting Financial Toxicity (PROFFIT) score, which was first developed by Italian oncologists. Our local ethics committee has approved the study. Our population sample will answer the sixteen questions of the PROFFIT questionnaire, seven of which are related to the outcome and nine the determinants of FT. Data will be analyzed in the pediatric and adult populations and by group stratification. We are confident that this study will raise awareness among health-care professionals of the high risk of adverse health outcomes in patients who have both kidney disease and high levels of FT. Strategies to reduce FT should be implemented to improve the standard of care for people with kidney disease and lead to truly patient-centered care.

Venous Doppler flow patterns, venous congestion, heart disease and renal dysfunction: A complex liaison.

The World Journal of Cardiology published an article written by Kuwahara et al that we take the pleasure to comment on. We focused our attention on venous congestion. In intensive care settings, it is now widely accepted that venous congestion is an important clinical feature worthy of investigation. Evaluating venous Doppler profile abnormalities at multiple sites could suggest adequate treatment and monitor its efficacy. Renal dysfunction could trigger or worsen fluid overload in heart disease, and cardio-renal syndrome is a well-characterized spectrum of disorders describing the complex interactions between heart and kidney diseases. Fluid overload and venous congestion, including renal venous hypertension, are major determinants of acute and chronic renal dysfunction arising in heart disease. Organ congestion from venous hypertension could be involved in the development of organ injury in several clinical situations, such as critical diseases, congestive heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Ultrasonography and abnormal Doppler flow patterns diagnose clinically significant systemic venous congestion. Cardiologists and nephrologists might use this valuable, non-invasive, bedside diagnostic tool to establish fluid status and guide clinical choices.

Global mortality and readmission rates following COPD exacerbation-related hospitalisation: a meta-analysis of 65 945 individual patients.

Background: Exacerbations of COPD (ECOPD) have a major impact on patients and healthcare systems across the world. Precise estimates of the global burden of ECOPD on mortality and hospital readmission are needed to inform policy makers and aid preventive strategies to mitigate this burden. The aims of the present study were to explore global in-hospital mortality, post-discharge mortality and hospital readmission rates after ECOPD-related hospitalisation using an individual patient data meta-analysis (IPDMA) design. Methods: A systematic review was performed identifying studies that reported in-hospital mortality, post-discharge mortality and hospital readmission rates following ECOPD-related hospitalisation. Data analyses were conducted using a one-stage random-effects meta-analysis model. This study was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-IPD statement. Results: Data of 65 945 individual patients with COPD were analysed. The pooled in-hospital mortality rate was 6.2%, pooled 30-, 90- and 365-day post-discharge mortality rates were 1.8%, 5.5% and 10.9%, respectively, and pooled 30-, 90- and 365-day hospital readmission rates were 7.1%, 12.6% and 32.1%, respectively, with noticeable variability between studies and countries. Strongest predictors of mortality and hospital readmission included noninvasive mechanical ventilation and a history of two or more ECOPD-related hospitalisations <12 months prior to the index event. Conclusions: This IPDMA stresses the poor outcomes and high heterogeneity of ECOPD-related hospitalisation across the world. Whilst global standardisation of the management and follow-up of ECOPD-related hospitalisation should be at the heart of future implementation research, policy makers should focus on reimbursing evidence-based therapies that decrease (recurrent) ECOPD.

Food insecurity and kidney disease: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The risk of developing and worsening chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with unhealthy dietary patterns. Food insecurity is defined by a limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food; it is also associated with several chronic medical conditions. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the current knowledge about the relationship between food insecurity and renal disease. METHODS: We selected the pertinent publications by searching on the PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science databases, without any temporal limitations being imposed. The searching and selecting processes were carried out through pinpointed inclusion and exclusion criteria and in accordance with the Prisma statement. RESULTS: Out of the 26,548 items that were first identified, only 9 studies were included in the systemic review. Eight out of the nine investigations were conducted in the US, and one was conducted in Iran. The studies evaluated the relationship between food insecurity and (i) kidney disease in children, (ii) kidney stones, (iii) CKD, (iv) cardiorenal syndrome, and (v) end stage renal disease (ESRD). In total, the different research groups enrolled 49,533 subjects, and food insecurity was reported to be a risk factor for hospitalization, kidney stones, CKD, ESRD, and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between food insecurity and renal disease has been underestimated. Food insecurity is a serious risk factor for health problems in both wealthy and poor populations; however, the true prevalence of the condition is unknown. Healthcare professionals need to take action to prevent the dramatic effect of food insecurity on CKD and on other chronic clinical conditions.

Temporomandibular joint involvement in psoriatic arthritis: a prospective clinical and ultrasonographic study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in a monocentric cohort of patients affected by psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and to investigate the accuracy of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ultrasound (US) compared with clinical evaluation and clinimetric composite index in assessing TMJ involvement. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with PsA who underwent at least one TMJ US examination and maxillofacial surgeon's evaluation between 2018 and 2021. The rheumatology physician's interpretation of each TMJ US exam (presence/absence of TMD) was compared with psoriatic arthritis disease activity indexes and maxillofacial surgeon's clinical judgement (presence/absence of TMD signs and/or symptoms). RESULTS: 142 psoriatic arthritis patients were included. 111 patients were totally asymptomatic for TMD, but 58.5% of them already showed TMJ US changes; moreover, 103 patients passed the maxillofacial surgeon's examination in the absence of any relevant findings but again, of these, 55.3% already presented US signs of TMD. Univariate analysis of subgroups with and without TMJ synovitis and with and without active power Doppler signal showed a significant prevalence of peripheral enthesitic involvement in patients affected by TMD (95.7% vs. 4.3%, p=0.001; and 72.2% vs. 27.3%, p=0.007, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed the results (p=0.01 and p=0.013, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral enthesitic involvement may represent a potential risk factor for the development of TMJ synovitis in PsA patients. Since TMD often develops asymptomatically, TMJ US may detect early signs of TMD, ensuring precocious and adequate management.

Update on Classic and Novel Approaches in Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment: A Comprehensive Review.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for almost 15% of all diagnosed breast cancers and often presents high rates of relapses and metastases, with generally poor prognosis despite multiple lines of treatment. Immunotherapy has radically changed the approach of clinicians towards TNBC in the last two to three years, even if targeted and specific therapeutic options are still missing; this unmet need is further justified by the extreme molecular and clinical heterogeneity of this subtype of breast cancer and by the weak response to both single-agent and combined therapies. In March 2023, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the main association of cancer centers in the United States, released the last clinical practice guidelines, with an update on classic and novel approaches in the field of breast cancer. The purpose of this comprehensive review is to summarize the latest findings in the setting of metastatic TNBC treatment, focusing on each category of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and included in the NCCN guidelines. We also introduce part of the latest published studies, which have reported new and promising molecules able to specifically target some of the biomarkers involved in TNBC pathogenesis. We searched the PubMed and Scopus databases for free full texts reported in the literature of the last 5 years, using the words "triple-negative breast cancer" or "TNBC" or "basal-like". The articles were analyzed by the authors independently and double-blindly, and a total of 114 articles were included in the review.

[Tic douloureux sustained by an eye tumor].

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplantation. Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) such as basocellular (BCC) and spinocellular (SCC) carcinoma, are common in renal transplant recipients. We report a case of an SCC affecting a lacrimal gland in a subject with kidney transplantation. A man aged 75 years who had suffered from glomerulopathy since 1967 and subsequently started haemodialysis, in 1989 was transplanted from a living donor. In 2019, he suffered paresthesia and pain in his right eyebrow arch and he was diagnosed to have neuralgia of the fifth cranial nerve. The failure of medical treatment and the development of a mass in his eyelid plus exophthalmos induced healthcare professionals to perform a magnetic resonance. The latter showed a retrobulbar mass measuring 39×22×16 mm3. Biopsy revealed an SCC and the patient underwent eye exenteration. Although NMSC of the eye is an extremely rare condition, risk factors such as male sex, history of glomerulopathy, and duration of immunosuppression should be taken into consideration at the time of the onset of eye symptoms.

Googling Insomnia, Light, Metabolism, and Circadian: A Population Interest Simple Report.

Exposure to light at night, insomnia, and disrupted circadian patterns could be considered risk factors for developing noncommunicable diseases. Understanding the awareness of the general population about the abovementioned factors could be essential to predict noncommunicable diseases. This report aimed to investigate the general community's interest in circadian, insomnia, metabolism, and light using Google Trends, and to evaluate results from different geographic areas. Relative search volumes (RSVs) for the factors mentioned, filtered by the "Health" category, were collected between 2007 and 2021. Moreover, RSVs were analysed in five different European languages. Worldwide mean RSVs for "Circadian", "Insomnia", "Light", and "Metabolism" during the study period were 2%, 13.4%, 62.2%, and 10%, respectively. In different developed countries, searching for light, insomnia, and metabolism were different, suggesting a variable level of awareness. Limited knowledge about the circadian pattern of human activities was detected. The highest correlation coefficient was calculated. Our results suggest the potential role of extensive data analysis in understanding the public interest and awareness about these risk factors. Moreover, it should be interpreted as the onset of stimulus for researchers to use comprehensible language for reaching comprehensive media coverage to prevent sleep and circadian system disturbances.

Management Strategies and Nursing Activities for Nutritional Care in Hospitalized Patients with Cognitive Decline: A Scoping Review.

Cognitive impairment and dementia can negatively impact the nutritional capacities of older people. Malnutrition is common in hospitalized frail elderly people with cognitive impairment and negatively affects prognosis. Malnutrition worsens the quality of life and increases morbidity and mortality. This scoping review aimed to identify factors affecting the risk of malnutrition and preventive strategies in hospitalized patients with cognitive impairment, focusing on nursing interventions. The authors researched population, context, and concept in international databases of nursing interest. Full texts that met the inclusion criteria were selected and reviewed. The extracted data were subject to thematic analysis. A five-stage approach, already reported in the scientific literature, was utilized in the following scoping review. Of 638 articles yielded, 9 were included. Two focus areas were identified as follows: (1) prevalence and risk factors of malnutrition in older patients with cognitive decline; (2) nursing strategies used to enhance clinical outcomes. Nursing health interventions aim to recognize and reduce malnutrition risk, positively impacting this phenomenon. A multidisciplinary team is essential to meet the nutritional needs of these patients.

Seasonal pattern in elderly hospitalized with acute kidney injury: a retrospective nationwide study in Italy.

PURPOSE: Acute kidney injury (AKI) frequently complicates hospitalization and is associated with in-hospital mortality (IHM). It has been reported a seasonal trend in different clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship between seasons of the year and IHM in elderly hospitalized patients with AKI. METHODS: We selected all admissions complicated by AKI between 2000 and 2015 recorded in the Italian National Hospital Database. ICD-9-CM code 584.xx identified subjects with age ≥ 65 years and age, sex, comorbidity burden, need of dialysis treatment and IHM were compared in hospitalizations recorded during the four seasons. Moreover, we plotted the AKI observed/expected ratio and percentage of mortality during the study period. RESULTS: We evaluated 759,720 AKI hospitalizations (mean age 80.5 ± 7.8 years, 52.2% males). Patients hospitalized with AKI during winter months had higher age, prevalence of dialysis-dependent AKI, and number of deceased patients. In whole population IHM was higher in winter and lower in summer, while the AKI observed/expected ratio demonstrated two peaks, one in summer and one in winter. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that parameters such as age, autumn, winter, comorbidity burden were positively associated with IHM. CONCLUSION: We conclude that a seasonality exists in AKI, however, relationship between seasons and AKI could vary depending on the aspects considered. Both autumn and winter months are independent risk factors for IHM in patients with AKI regardless of age, sex and comorbidity burden. On the contrary, summer time reduces the risk of death during hospitalizations with AKI.

Ambulatory diastolic blood pressure: a marker of comorbidity in elderly fit hypertensive individuals?

BACKGROUND: Masked diastolic hypotension is a new blood pressure (BP) pattern detected by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in elderly hypertensives. The aim of this study was to relate ABPM and comorbidity in a cohort of fit elderly subjects attending an outpatient hypertension clinic. METHODS: Comorbidity was assessed by Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and CHA2DS2VASc score. All subjects evaluated with ABPM were aged ≥ 65 years. CCI and CHA2DS2VASc score were calculated. Diastolic hypotension was defined as mean ambulatory diastolic BP < 65 mmHg and logistic regression analysis was carried out in order to detect and independent relationship between comorbidity burden and night-time diastolic BP < 65 mmHg. RESULTS: We studied 174 hypertensive elderly patients aged 72.1 ± 5.2 years, men were 93 (53.4%). Mean CCI was 0.91 ± 1.14 and mean CHA2DS2VASc score of 2.68 ± 1.22. Subjects with night-time mean diastolic values < 65 mmHg were higher in females [54.7% vs. 45.3%, P = 0.048; odds ratio (OR) = 1.914, 95% CI: 1.047-3.500]. Logistic regression analysis showed that only CHA2DS2VASc score was independently associated with night-time mean diastolic values < 65 mmHg (OR = 1.518, 95% CI: 1.161-1.985; P = 0.002), but CCI was not. CONCLUSIONS: ABPM and comorbidity evaluation appear associated in elderly fit subjects with masked hypotension. Comorbid women appear to have higher risk for low ambulatory BP.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) as predictor of cardiovascular mortality in heart failure patients: data from the T.O.S.CA. registry.

INTRODUCTION: Data from the "Trattamento Ormonale nello Scompenso CArdiaco" (T.O.S.CA) registry showed that heart failure (HF) represents a complex clinical syndrome with different hormonal alterations. Renal failure represents a frequent complication in HF. We evaluated the relationship between renal function and insuline-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) deficiency and its impact on cardiovascular mortality (CVM) in patients enrolled in the T.O.S.CA. registry. METHODS: At the enrolment, all subjects underwent chemistry examinations, including circulating hormones and cardiovascular functional tests. COX regression analysis was used to evaluate factors related to CVM during the follow-up period in all populations, in high-risk patients and in the young-adult population. Also, we evaluate the effects of renal function on the CVM. RESULTS: 337 patients (41 deceased) were analyzed. CVM was related to severe renal dysfunction (HR stages IV-V = 4.86), high-risk conditions (HR 2.25), serum IGF-1 (HR 0.42), and HF etiology (HR 5.85 and HR 1.63 for valvular and ischemic etiology, respectively). In high-risk patients, CVM was related to IGF-1 levels, severe renal dysfunction and valvular etiology, whereas in young patients CMV was related to the high-risk pattern and serum IGF-1 levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed the clinical and prognostic utility of the IGF-1 assay in patients with HF.

Individual Circadian Preference, Eating Disorders and Obesity in Children and Adolescents: A Dangerous Liaison? A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and other eating disorders are an actual public health problem, especially in childhood and adolescents, and could be also related with chronotype. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the relationship between eating disorders, obesity and the different chronotypes in children and adolescents. METHODS: A systematic review of observational studies evaluating young populations dealing with and evaluating chronotype was conducted. Electronic searches were performed in six international databases. A qualitative thematic-categorical analysis was carried out and a random-effects model was used for the quantitative analysis (meta-analysis). RESULTS: Fifteen studies were included, but quantitative analysis was only carried out in three of them. Children and adolescents with an evening chronotype had higher body mass index, consumed more junk food or were more predisposed to suffer from food addiction and night eating syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with evening chronotype had higher tendency to incorrect eating behaviors and were suffering from overweight/obesity. Environment but also lifestyle factors should be considered in the association between chronotype and eating disorders and obesity.

Structured pain-free exercise progressively improves ankle-brachial index and walking ability in patients with claudication and compressible arteries: an observational study.

In patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), supervised exercise at near-moderate pain improves walking ability but not ankle-brachial index (ABI) values. In a retrospective observational study, we determined vascular and functional effects of a 6-month structured pain-free exercise program in patients with claudication and compressible vessels. Four-hundred and fifty-nine consecutive patients were studied. Segmental limb pressures were measured and ABI calculated during circa-monthly hospital visits. The 6-min (6MWD) and the pain-free walking distance (PFWD) during the 6-min walking test were determined. Two daily 8-min sessions of slow-moderate in-home walking at increasing metronome-paced speed were prescribed. After excluding patients with unmeasurable ABI or incompletion of the program, 239 patients were studied. Safe and satisfactory (88%) execution of the prescribed training sessions was reported. During the visits, bilateral ABI improved (+ 0.07; p < 0.001) as well as the segmental pressures in the more impaired limb, with changes already significant after 5 weeks of slow walking. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased overtime (F = 46.52; p < 0.001; F = 5.52; p < 0.001, respectively). 6MWD and PFWD improved (41[0‒73]m p < 0.001 and 107[42‒190]m p < 0.001, respectively) with associated decrease of walking heart rate (F = 15.91; p < 0.001) and Physiological Cost Index (F = 235.93; p < 0.001). The variations of most parameters at different visits correlated to the training load calculated. In a regression model, the PFWD variations directly correlated with rate sessions completed, training load and ABI change and inversely with the baseline value (R2 = 0.27; p < 0.001). In the PAD population studied, moderate pain-free exercise improved ABI with associated progressive functional and cardiovascular changes occurring regardless of subjects characteristics.

Chronobiology of transient global amnesia.

INTRODUCTION: The etiology of transient global amnesia (TGA) is still a matter of debate. Based, among others, on the observation of a close temporal relation between certain events and subsequent TGA episodes, recent proposals discuss the relevance of stress-associated processes impacting on hippocampal functioning. Circadian, infra- and ultradian rhythmicity has been found to play a relevant role in the multifactorial pathomechanisms of various disorders but has not been thoroughly studied in TGA. METHODS: Data of patients with a final diagnosis of TGA were collected in Mannheim, Germany (06/1999-01/2018, n = 404), and in the Kansai district, Japan (04/2006-03/2018, n = 261). Chronological patterns of TGA occurrence were determined. RESULTS: Significant circadian rhythmicity of TGA occurrence with bimodal peaks (mid-morning, late afternoon) was found for the entire population (p = 0.002) and for either sub-cohort (Mannheim: p = 0.003, Kansai: p = 0.007). This finding was confirmed for either sex (women: p = 0.004, men: p = 0.004) and different age groups (< 65 years: p = 0.0009, ≥ 65 years: p = 0.003). There was no variation according to day of the week, month or season, but the proportion of patients with a weekday episode was significantly higher in the Mannheim cohort (p = 0.002). DISCUSSION: We identified a robust circadian rhythm in TGA occurrence which remarkably applied to either of the two study sites located on different continents and which was independent of sex and age. In light of abundant evidence of circadian rhythmicity of both, components of the human stress response system and memory, chronobiological analyses may provide an opportunity to further uncover the mechanisms underlying TGA.

Chronobiology and Chronotherapy in Inflammatory Joint Diseases.

Circadian rhythm perturbations can impact the evolution of different conditions, including autoimmune diseases. This narrative review summarizes the current understanding of circadian biology in inflammatory joint diseases and discusses the potential application of chronotherapy. Proinflammatory cytokines are key players in the development and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), regulating cell survival/apoptosis, differentiation, and proliferation. The production and secretion of inflammatory cytokines show a dependence on the human day-night cycle, resulting in changing cytokine plasma levels over 24 h. Moreover, beyond the circadian rhythm of cytokine secretion, disturbances in timekeeping mechanisms have been proposed in RA. Taking into consideration chronotherapy concepts, modified-release (MR) prednisone tablets have been introduced to counteract the negative effects of night-time peaks of proinflammatory cytokines. Low-dose MR prednisone seems to be able to improve the course of RA, reduce morning stiffness and morning serum levels of IL-6, and induce significant clinical benefits. Additionally, methotrexate (MTX) chronotherapy has been reported to be associated with a significant improvement in RA activity score. Similar effects have been described for polymyalgia rheumatica and gout, although the available literature is still limited. Growing knowledge of chronobiology applied to inflammatory joint diseases could stimulate the development of new drug strategies to treat patients in accordance with biological rhythms and minimize side effects.

Risky Behaviours of Spanish University Students: Association with Mediterranean Diet, Sexual Attitude and Chronotype.

The most common drugs that are consumed by young people are alcohol and tobacco, which are especially prevalent in universities. These risk behaviours can be determined by a series of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consumption of alcohol and tobacco by Spanish university students and the relationship between the Mediterranean diet, sexual attitudes and opinions, and chronotype. A multicentre observational study enrolled 457 students from two public universities in Spain. The study period was from December 2017 to January 2018. The majority of the participants consumed alcohol (90.2%), tobacco consumption was low (27.2%), with a high percentage of students (78.6%) having a low dependence on nicotine. The surveyed students demonstrated a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet, which was shown to be associated with less risky alcohol consumption. The Mediterranean diet is a part of healthy lifestyle, and avoiding heavy drinking results in the intention to maintain such a lifestyle. In addition, unhealthy eating habits (skipping breakfast, eating sweets and pastries daily, and fast-food consumption) had a tendency to induce risky alcohol consumption. Therefore, to promote healthy lifestyle habits, it is considered important to establish programs that promote healthy diets in university settings and to evaluate them periodically.

Post-Operative All-Cause Mortality in Elderly Patients Undergoing Abdominal Emergency Surgery: Role of Charlson Comorbidity Index.

(1) Background: The Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score has been shown to predict 10-year all-cause mortality, but its validity is a matter of debate in surgical patients. We wanted to evaluate CCI on predicting all-cause mortality in elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery (EAS); (2) Methods: This retrospective single center study included all patients aged 65 years or older consecutively admitted from January 2017 to December 2019, who underwent EAS and were discharged alive. CCI was calculated by using of the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Our outcome was all-cause death recorded during the 20.8 ± 8.8 month follow-up; (3) Results: We evaluated 197 patients aged 78.4 ± 7.2 years of whom 47 (23.8%) died. Mortality was higher in patients who underwent open abdominal surgery than in those treated with laparoscopic procedure (74% vs. 26%, p < 0.001), and in those who needed colon, small bowel, and gastric surgery. Mean CCI was 4.98 ± 2.2, and in subjects with CCI ≥ 4 survival was lower. Cox regression analysis showed that CCI (HR 1.132, 95% CI 1.009-1.270, p = 0.035), and open surgery (HR 10.298, 95%CI 1.409-75.285, p = 0.022) were associated with all-cause death independently from age and sex; (4) Conclusions: Calculation of CCI, could help surgeons in the preoperative stratification of risk of death after discharge in subjects aged ≥65 years who need EAS. CCI ≥ 4, increases the risk of all-causes mortality independently from age.

Chronoprevention in hospital falls of older people: protocol for a mixed-method study.

BACKGROUND: Accidental falls in hospitals are serious events concerning the safety of the patients. Recent studies demonstrated that the time of falls is a key factor to be considered in prevention. It has been shown that the time of day, the day of the week and the month of the year impact on the occurrence of falls. The aim of the study is to determine the effect of the application of a programme of preventive measures based on the temporal patterns of the risk factors on the hospital fall occurrence. METHODS: A mixed-method research design. The following three phases will be carried out: 1) Longitudinal prospective study in two parts: (a) audits and seminars of healthcare professionals focused on an effective and efficient hospital falls register. Multi-Component and Single Cosinor analyses will be performed to obtain the temporal patterns of hospital falls and their related variables and (b) implementation of a based-temporal patterns, multidimensional prevention programme. 2) Retrospective study of falls registered in institutional databases. 3) Qualitative study based on focus groups (physicians, nurses and nursing assistants). The study protocol was approved in 2018. DISCUSSION: With regard to the safety of patients, hospital falls are serious events. Recent studies have demonstrated that the time of falls is a key factor to be considered in prevention. It has been shown that the time of day, the day of the week and the month of the year impact on the occurrence of falls. It is imperative to study temporal patterns of hospital falls to effectively and comprehensively define the aetiology of falls and, therefore, design preventive strategies. A reduction of the number of in-hospital falls and related injuries is expected, as well as an improvement in the quality of life of patients. Considering temporal patterns and levels of mood and sleep of healthcare professionals will achieve an improvement in patient safety. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04367298.

Is venous thromboembolism a predictable marker in older patients with COVID-19 infection? A single-center observational study.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents an important clinical complication of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and high plasma D-dimer levels could suggest a higher risk of hypercoagulability. We aimed to analyse if laboratory exams, risk assessment scores, comorbidity scores were useful in predicting the VTE in SARS-CoV-2 patients admitted in internal medicine (IM). We evaluated 49 older adults with suspected VTE analysing history and blood chemistry, besides we calculated the Padua Prediction Score, the modified early warning scoring (MEWS) and the modified Elixhauser index (mEI). All patients underwent venous color-doppler ultrasounds of the lower limbs. Out of the 49 patients enrolled (mean age 79.3±14 years), 10 (20.4%) had deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and they were more frequently female (80% vs 20%, p = 0.04). We could not find any association with the Padua Prediction Score, the MEWS, and the mEI. D-dimer plasma levels were also not associated with DVT. In elderly people hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized in IM, our data, although limited by the sample size, suggest that prediction and diagnosis of VTE is difficult, due to lack of precise biomarkers and scores.