Sex and Racial Disparities in Proportionate Mortality of Premature Myocardial Infarction in the United States: 1999 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of premature myocardial infarction (PMI) in women (<65 years and men <55 years) is increasing. We investigated proportionate mortality trends in PMI stratified by sex, race, and ethnicity. METHODS AND RESULTS: CDC WONDER (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research) was queried to identify PMI deaths within the United States between 1999 and 2020, and trends in proportionate mortality of PMI were calculated using the Joinpoint regression analysis. We identified 3 017 826 acute myocardial infarction deaths, with 373 317 PMI deaths corresponding to proportionate mortality of 12.5% (men 12%, women 14%). On trend analysis, proportionate mortality of PMI increased from 10.5% in 1999 to 13.2% in 2020 (average annual percent change of 1.0 [0.8-1.2, P <0.01]) with a significant increase in women from 10% in 1999 to 17% in 2020 (average annual percent change of 2.4 [1.8-3.0, P <0.01]) and no significant change in men, 11% in 1999 to 10% in 2020 (average annual percent change of -0.2 [-0.7 to 0.3, P=0.4]). There was a significant increase in proportionate mortality in both Black and White populations, with no difference among American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Hispanic people. American Indian/Alaska Natives had the highest PMI mortality with no significant change over time. CONCLUSIONS: Over the last 2 decades, there has been a significant increase in the proportionate mortality of PMI in women and the Black population, with persistently high PMI in American Indian/Alaska Natives, despite an overall downtrend in acute myocardial infarction-related mortality. Further research to determine the underlying cause of these differences in PMI mortality is required to improve the outcomes after acute myocardial infarction in these populations.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation with and without mitral stenosis - A national readmission database study.

INTRODUCTION: Mitral valve stenosis (MS) can be concomitantly present in patients undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). Some studies have reported up to one-fifth of patients who underwent TAVI also have MS. The relationship between mitral stenosis and TAVI has led to concerns regarding increased adverse cardiac outcomes during and after the procedure. METHODS: The Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD 2016-2019) was utilized to identify TAVI patients with MS with ICD-10-CM codes. The primary outcome was a 30-day readmission rate. Secondary outcomes included predictors of all-cause readmissions, length of stay, and total hospitalization cost. We assessed readmission frequency with a national sample weighed at 30 days following the index TAVI procedure. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios were analyzed for in-hospital outcomes using univariate and multivariate logistic regression for study cohorts. RESULTS: A total of 217,147 patients underwent TAVI procedures during the queried time period of the study. Of these patients, 2140 (0.98 %) had MS. The overall 30-day all-cause readmission rate for the study cohort was 12.4 %. TAVI patients with MS had higher rates of 30-day readmissions (15.8 % vs 12.3 %, aOR 1.22, CI: 1.03-1.45, P < 0.01). Additionally, TAVI patients with MS had longer lengths of hospital stay during index admissions (5.7 vs. 4.3 days), along with higher total hospitalization costs ($55,157 vs. $50,239). In contrast, in-hospital mortality during index TAVI admission did not differ significantly between the two groups, although there was a trend toward higher mortality in the MS group (2.1 % vs. 1.5 %). Among the TAVI MS cohort, patients admitted on weekends (aOR: 1.11, 95 % CI: 1.02-1.22, P = 0.01), admitted to non-metropolitan hospitals (aOR: 1.29, 95 % CI: 1.11-1.66, P = 0.04) and presence of co-morbidities such as atrial fibrillation (AF)/flutter (aOR: 1.24, 95 % CI: 1.16-1.32, P < 0.01), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (aOR: 1.16, 95 % CI: 1.11-1.22, P < 0.01), prior stroke (aOR: 1.09, 95 % CI: 1.03-1.14, P < 0.01), chronic kidney disease (CKD) ≥3 (aOR: 1.16, 95 % CI: 1.11-1.22, P < 0.01), end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (aOR: 1.75, 95 % CI: 1.61-1.90, P < 0.01), and anemia (aOR: 1.23, 95 % CI: 1.18-1.28, P < 0.01) were associated with increased odds of readmission. CONCLUSION: Concomitant MS in patients undergoing TAVI is associated with higher readmission rates and total hospital costs. This can contribute significantly to healthcare-related burdens. Further studies are required to evaluate in-hospital outcomes and predictors of readmission in patients undergoing TAVI with the presence of concomitant MS.

Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysms Presenting As Posterior Myocardial Infarction.

A coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is defined as the dilatation of a vessel with a diameter of ≥1.5 times that of the adjacent normal vessel. Occasionally, aneurysms can be large enough to be characterized as giant CAAs, but there is no universally accepted definition. We discuss the case of a 45-year-old male patient who presented to the hospital with substernal chest pain. His ECG revealed ST depression and T wave inversions in precordial leads. Cardiac biomarkers were within normal limits. Due to concerns about coronary artery disease, cardiac catheterization was done, which revealed CAAs in the distribution of the right coronary artery (RCA), left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCX) artery. The patient was at high risk for surgical intervention given coexisting severe pulmonary hypertension. Therefore, medical treatment was initiated with beta-blockers, high-intensity statin, and anticoagulation with warfarin. In a two-month follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic without any residual symptoms. A CAA can present as an acute coronary syndrome. The treatment still evolves, involving medical management and/or percutaneous or surgical interventions.

Impact of heart failure on COVID-19 patients: An insight from nationwide inpatient sample.

BACKGROUND: Patients with COVID-19 have been reported to experience adverse cardiovascular outcomes, such as myocarditis, acute myocardial infarction, and heart failure. Among these complications, heart failure (HF) has emerged as the most common critical complication during exacerbations of COVID-19, potentially leading to increased mortality rates and poorer clinical outcomes. We aimed to investigate the in-hospital outcomes of COVID-19 patients with HF. METHODS: We analyzed the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) dataset to select COVID-19 patients aged over 18 years who were hospitalized between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, using ICD-10. Based on the presence of acute HF, the patients were divided into two cohorts. The clinical outcomes and complications were assessed at index admissions using STATA v.17." RESULTS: 1,666,960 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized in 2020, of which 156,755 (9.4%) had associated HF. COVID-19 patients with HF had a mean age of (72.38 ± 13.50) years compared to (62.3 ± 17.67) years for patients without HF. The HF patients had a higher prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes, smoking, and preexisting cardiovascular disease. Additionally, after adjusting for baseline demographics and comorbidities, COVID-19 patients with HF had higher rates of in-hospital mortality (23.86% vs. 17.63%, p<0.001), acute MI (18.83% vs. 10.91%, p<0.001), acute stroke (0.78% vs. 0.58%, p=0.004), cardiogenic shock (2.56% vs. 0.69%, p<0.001), and sudden cardiac arrest (5.54% vs. 3.41%, p<0.001) compared to those without HF. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 patients admitted with acute HF had worse clinical outcomes, such as higher mortality, myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, and a higher length of stay and healthcare than patients without HF.

Short-Term Outcomes of Cardiac Arrhythmias Among COVID-19 Patients: A Propensity Matched National Study.

The risk of arrhythmia is high in patients with COVID-19. The current literature is limited in understanding the clinical impact of arrhythmias and the extent of healthcare utilization in COVID-19 patients. The Nationwide In-patient Sample Database (NIS) from 2019 to 2020 was queried to identify COVID-19 patients who developed arrhythmias vs those without. Multivariate regression for adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and propensity score matching (PSM) were done to compare outcomes among both cohorts. A total of 1,664,240 patients (weighted) were hospitalized with COVID-19 infection, 380,915 (22.89%) of whom were diagnosed with an arrhythmia. After propensity matching COVID-19 with arrhythmias had higher rates of in-hospital mortality (22.4% vs 13.5%, P < 0.001), acute kidney injury (PSM 39.4% vs 35.7%, P < 0.001), acute heart failure (AHF) (18.2% vs 12.6%, P < 0.001), acute stroke (0.76% vs 0.57%, P < 0.001), cardiogenic shock (1.38% vs 0.5%, P < 0.001), cardiac arrest (5.26% vs 2.3%, P < 0.001) acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (12.8% vs 7.8%, P < 0.001), intracerebral hemorrhage (0.63% vs 0.45%, P < 0.001), major bleeding (2.6% vs 1.8%, P < 0.001) and endotracheal intubation (17.04% vs 10.17% < 0.001) compared to arrhythmias without COVID-19. This cohort also had lower odds of receiving interventions such as cardiac pacing (aOR 0.15 95% Cl 0.13-0.189 P < 0.001), cardioversion (aOR 0.43 95% CI 0.40-0.46, P < 0.001), and defibrillator (aOR 0.087 95% Cl 0.061-0.124, P < 0.001) compared to arrhythmia patients without COVID-19. Cardiac arrhythmias associated with COVID-19 resulted in longer length of hospital stay and higher total costs of hospitalizations. Arrhythmias associated with COVID-19 had worse clinical outcomes with an increased rate of in-hospital mortality, longer length of hospital stay, and higher total cost. These patients also had lower odds of receiving interventions during the index hospitalization.

Cardiovascular Outcomes and Readmissions of Atrial Fibrillation Among Patent Foramen Ovale Occluder Device Recipients: A Propensity Matched National Readmission Study.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) occluder devices are increasingly utilized in minimally invasive procedures used to treat cryptogenic stroke. Data on the impact of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) among PFO occluder device recipients are limited. The Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried between 2016 and 2019 to identify PFO patients with and without AF. The 2 groups were compared using propensity score matching (PSM) and multivariate regression models. The outcomes included in-hospital mortality, acute kidney injury (AKI), Mechanical circulatory support use (MCS), Cardiogenic shock (CS), acute ischemic stroke, bleeding, and other cardiovascular outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA v. 17. Out of 6508 Weighted hospitalizations for PFO occluder device procedure over the study period, 877 (13.4%) had AF compared to 5631 (86.6%) who did not. On adjusted analysis, PFO with AF group had higher rates of MCS (PSM, 4.5% vs 2.2 %, P value = 0.011) and SCA (PSM, 7.6% vs 4.6 %, P value = 0.015) compared to PFO with no AF. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of in-hospital mortality (PSM, 5.4% vs 6.4 %, P value = 0.39), CS (PSM, 8.3% vs 5.9 %, P value = 0.075), AKI (PSM, 32.4% vs 32.3 %, P value = 0.96), bleeding (PSM, 2.08% vs 1.3%, P value = 0.235) or the readmission rates among both cohorts. Additionally, AF was associated with higher hospital length of stay (9.5 ± 13.2 vs 8.2 ± 24.3 days, P-value = 0.012) and total cost ($66,513 ± $80,922 vs $52,013±$125,136, 0.025, P-value = 0.025) compared to PFO without AF. AF among PFO occluder device recipients is associated with increased adverse outcomes, including MCS use and SCA, with no difference in mortality and readmission rates among both cohorts. Long-term follow-up needs further studies.

Fusobacterium Necrophorum bacteremia involving multi-organ systems.

A 62-year-old African American man with a history of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the right hip joint presented with severe right hip pain, dyspnea, fever, tachycardia, and hypertension. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed bilateral airspace opacities with a mild tree-in-bud nodularity in the left lower lobe. Ultrasonography of the lower extremities revealed a deep venous thrombus (DVT) in the right deep veins. Blood cultures grew Fusobacterium necrophorum. CT and magnetic resonance imaging showed right hip joint destruction and septic arthritis. The patient had a complicated hospital course leading to total hip arthroplasty with antibiotic-impregnated cementing.

Ticagrelor Versus Prasugrel in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Limited data comparing prasugrel and ticagrelor in acute coronary syndrome are available. Online databases, including MEDLINE and Cochrane Central, were queried to compare these drugs. The primary outcomes of this meta-analysis are myocardial infarction (MI), all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, noncardiovascular mortality, stent thrombosis, and stroke. The secondary outcome is major bleeding. A total of 9 studies, including 94,590 patients (prasugrel group = 32,759; ticagrelor group = 61,831), were included in this meta-analysis. The overall mean age was 62.73 years, whereas the mean age for the ticagrelor and prasugrel groups was 63.80 and 61.65 years, respectively. Prasugrel is equally effective as compared with ticagrelor in preventing MI. There was no difference between the 2 groups regarding all-cause mortality, stent thrombosis, stroke, or major bleeding. In patients with acute coronary syndrome, prasugrel is equally effective when compared with ticagrelor in preventing MI.

Superior Vena Cava Syndrome: An Umbrella Review.

Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a medical emergency that encompasses an array of signs and symptoms due to obstruction of blood flow through the superior vena cava (SVC). It poses a significant healthcare burden due to its associated morbidity and mortality. Its impact on the healthcare system continues to grow due to the increasing incidence of the condition. This incidence trend has been attributed to the growing use of catheters, pacemakers, and defibrillators, although it is a rare complication of these devices. The most common cause of SVCS remains malignancies accounting for up to 60% of the cases. Understanding the pathophysiology of SVCS requires understanding the anatomy, the SVC drains blood from the right and left brachiocephalic veins, which drain the head and the upper extremities accounting for about one-third of the venous blood to the heart. The most common presenting symptoms of SVCS are swelling of the face and hand, chest pain, respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, stridor, cough, hoarseness, and dysphagia), and neurologic manifestations (headaches, confusion, or visual/auditory disturbances). Symptoms generally worsen in a supine position. Diagnosis typically requires imaging, and SVCS can be graded based on classification schemas depending on the severity of symptoms and the location, understanding, and degree of obstruction. Over the past decades, the management modalities of SVCS have evolved to meet the increasing burden of the condition. Here, we present an umbrella review providing an overall assessment of the available information on SVCS, including the various management options, their indications, and a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of these modalities.

Contemporary outcomes of long-term anticoagulation in COVID-19 patients: a regression matched sensitivity analysis of the national inpatient sample.

BACKGROUND: The role of oral anticoagulation during the COVID-19 pandemic has been debated widely. We studied the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalizations in patients who were on long-term anticoagulation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2020 was queried to identify COVID-19 patients with and without long-term anticoagulation. Multivariate regression analysis was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of in-hospital outcomes. RESULTS: Of 1,060,925 primary COVID-19 hospitalizations, 102,560 (9.6%) were on long-term anticoagulation. On adjusted analysis, COVID-19 patients on anticoagulation had significantly lower odds of in-hospital mortality (aOR 0.61, 95% CI 0.58-0.64, P < 0.001), acute myocardial infarction (aOR 0.72, 95% CI 0.63-0.83, P < 0.001), stroke (aOR 0.79, 95% CI 0.66-0.95, P < 0.013), ICU admissions, (aOR 0.53, 95% CI 0.49-0.57, P < 0.001) and higher odds of acute pulmonary embolism (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.34-1.61, P < 0.001), acute deep vein thrombosis (aOR 1.17, 95% CI 1.05-1.31, P = 0.005) compared to COVID-19 patients who were not on anticoagulation. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to COVID-19 patients not on long-term anticoagulation, we observed lower in-hospital mortality, stroke and acute myocardial infarction in COVID-19 patients on long-term anticoagulation. Prospective studies are needed for optimal anticoagulation strategies in hospitalized patients.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on PCI Outcomes: A Single-center Retrospective Race and Gender-based Study.

African Americans (AAs) have a higher risk for postpercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) ischemic events and worse Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related events than non-AAs. Race and gender-related post-PCI events before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in a community hospital setup are unknown. Demographics and one-year adverse events in patients undergoing PCI immediately before (2018-2020) and during (2020-2021) pandemic were compared. About 291 and 292 non-AAs and 220 and 219 AAs who underwent PCI before and during the pandemic, respectively, were included. AAs were younger than non-AAs and had a higher prevalence of diabetes and acute coronary syndrome during the pandemic (P < 0.01 for all). Although total ischemic events were the same, cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction were higher during COVID-19 (P < 0.05) and were more prevalent among AAs. The highest ischemic events were observed in AA women during the pandemic compared to other gender and races. These data highlight the high intrinsic thrombogenicity phenotype in AA women.

Fulminant Clostridioides difficile Colitis With SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile)and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections can have overlapping symptoms. Recently, the association and outcomes of coinfection have been studied. We present the case of an 83-year-old lady with Parkinson's disease (PD) who was admitted with pneumonia secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. She was treated with empiric antibiotics ampicillin-sulbactam and azithromycin, along with antiviral therapy remdesivir and baricitinib, and dexamethasone. The patient developed severe C. difficile infection with a leukemoid reaction. She was treated with intravenous metronidazole and oral vancomycin without any improvement. Before she could receive a fecal microbiota transplant, her infection progressed to fulminant colitis, and she required emergent surgery. The patient developed several complications post-surgery and succumbed to the severe illness. Our patient's multiple comorbidities and an underlying COVID-19 infection predisposed her to severe illness. This case emphasizes the long-standing discussion on antibiotic stewardship and encourages a debate on the role of immunosuppressant antiviral medications and underlying PD in predisposing patients to a severe C. difficile infection.

Meta-Analysis Comparing Hypothermia Versus Normothermia in Patients After a Cardiac Arrest.

The current American Heart Association 2022 guidelines recommend actively preventing fever by targeting a temperature ≤37.5°C for comatose patients after cardiac arrest. Contemporary randomized controlled trials (RCTs) show conflicting results regarding the benefit of targeted hypothermia (TH). We performed this updated meta-analysis of RCTs to evaluate the role of hypothermia in patients after a cardiac arrest. We searched Cochrane, MEDLINE, and EMBASE from inception to December 2022. Trials with patients randomly allocated for targeted temperature monitoring and reported neurologic and mortality outcomes were included. Statistical analysis was performed using Cochrane Review Manager using the random-effects model and calculated the pooled risk ratios of outcomes using the Mantel-Haenszel method. A total of 12 RCTs and 4,262 patients were included in the review. Compared with normothermia, the TH group had significantly improved neurologic outcomes (risk ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.83 to 0.98). However, no significant difference in mortality was observed (risk ratio 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.90 to 1.06) between the groups. This meta-analysis supports the role of TH in patients after a cardiac arrest, especially secondary to improvement in neurologic outcomes.

Duodenal Adenocarcinoma With Suspected Brain Metastasis.

Duodenal adenocarcinoma (DA) is a rare tumor. We present the case of an 84-year-old lady who presented with episodic emesis with progressive dysphagia to solids and liquids. She also noted a significant weight loss of 31kg over four months. She was reported to have multiple brain masses three months before this admission. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a heterogeneous mass (8cm) in the left retroperitoneum, inseparable from the duodenum. Additional peritoneal nodules and enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes were suspicious for metastases. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed extrinsic compression of the stomach by the tumor. A large friable distal duodenal mass (fourth part) partially obstructed the lumen, which was biopsied. Pathology results demonstrated high-grade dysplasia but did not confirm malignancy. The patient's carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was elevated, but cancer antigens (CA)125 and CA19-9 were normal. A percutaneous biopsy of the mass revealed enteric-type adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry showed that the tumor was positive for caudal-type homeobox (CDX)2, negative for special AT-rich sequence-binding protein (SATB)2, and patchy positive for cytokeratin (CK)7 and CK20 staining. The collective evidence suggested a duodenal primary. The patient opted for hospice and died in three days. We lack pathological evidence, but the patient's brain masses were suspicious of metastases. This would be one of the few reported cases of DA with possible brain metastases.

Treatment Failure in Patient with Severe Mpox and Untreated HIV, Maryland, USA.

A 33-year-old man in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, with untreated HIV infection had a 74-day course of mpox with multiorgan system involvement and unique clinical findings. In this clinical experience combining 3 novel therapeutic regimens, this patient died from severe mpox in the context of untreated HIV and advanced immunodeficiency.

An Unusual Cause of Persistent Tachycardia: Atypical Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare, life-threatening emergency caused more commonly by typical antipsychotics. However, unusual presentations of NMS are intermittently reported with the use of atypical antipsychotics. We present the case of a 42-year-old gentleman with schizoaffective and bipolar disorder who was admitted for change in mentation and lithium toxicity. His mentation did not improve despite being dialyzed and the resolution of lithium level to baseline. He developed persistent tachycardia and hyperthermia, initially attributed to Streptococcal infection. But despite appropriate antibiotic therapy, his clinical symptoms did not improve. An extensive workup for his neurological symptoms, including lumbar puncture, 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid urine test, and brain magnetic resonance imaging, was inconclusive of any underlying etiology. Given the suspicion of atypical NMS, bromocriptine 2.5 mg three times daily was initiated. This led to the gradual resolution of his symptoms and a return to his baseline mental status. Diagnosing atypical NMS can be challenging and must be differentiated from similar disorders. Lithium toxicity can predispose patients to develop NMS.

Retroperitoneal Fibrosis: Still a Diagnostic Challenge.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare fibroinflammatory disorder usually involving the abdominal aorta and surrounding structures. It is divided into primary (idiopathic) and secondary RPF. Primary RPF can be immunoglobulin (Ig) G4-related disease or non-IgG4-related disease. Recently, there has been a rise in case reports regarding the topic, but awareness about the disease is still far from ideal. Hence, we present the case of a 49-year-old female who had repeated admissions for chronic abdominal pain attributed to chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. She had a medical history significant for psoriasis and surgical history significant for cholecystectomy. Her computed tomography (CT) scans on each admission for the last year showed some signs of RPF, but it was never considered the primary etiology of her chronic symptoms. We also obtained magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which did not show any underlying malignancy but showed the progression of her RPF. She was started on a steroid regimen, which significantly improved her symptoms. She was diagnosed with idiopathic RPF due to unclear etiology, although her underlying risk factors, including psoriasis, past surgeries, and pancreatitis-associated inflammation, were considered predisposing factors. Idiopathic RPF accounts for more than two-thirds of total cases of RPF. Patients with autoimmune diseases can overlap with other autoimmune disorders. For non-malignant RPF, medical management with 1mg/kg/day steroids is deemed effective. Still, there is a lack of prospective trials and consensus for guidelines on treating RPF. The follow-up involves laboratory tests, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and CT or MRI in an outpatient setting to identify treatment response and relapse. There is a need for more streamlined guidelines to diagnose and manage this disease.