The Effects of Malnutrition on Inpatient Outcomes in Patients With Gastroparesis: A Nationwide Analysis.

Introduction Gastroparesis (GP) is a chronic debilitating gastric motility disorder defined as delayed emptying of the stomach content without mechanical obstruction. It can result in nutritional deficiencies, leading to poor overall outcomes. We assessed the impact of malnutrition on in-hospital outcomes in patients with gastroparesis. Methods Patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of GP between January 2016 and December 2019 were included in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Data on patient demographics, hospital characteristics, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and the etiology of gastroparesis were collected. The association between malnutrition and outcomes, including mortality, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), sepsis, acute kidney injury (AKI), length of stay (LOS), and total hospitalization charges (THC), were analyzed using the multivariate regression model. Results A total of 182,580 patients with gastroparesis were included in the analysis. Patients with gastroparesis and malnutrition had a higher risk of mortality (adjusted odds ratio {aOR}, 3.29; p<0.001), sepsis (aOR, 0.43; p<0.001), DVT (aOR, 2.34; p<0.001), and PE (aOR, 2.68; p<0.001) compared to patients with gastroparesis without malnutrition. No significant difference was noted in the rates of AKI. Patients with malnutrition also had a prolonged LOS (2.96 days; p<0.001) and higher THC ($22,890; p<0.001) compared to patients without malnutrition. Conclusion Gastroparesis patients with malnutrition are at a greater risk of worse outcomes than those without malnutrition. The early identification of malnutrition in gastroparesis patients can predict morbidity and mortality and assist in risk stratification to enhance outcomes. Further studies are encouraged to identify factors associated with malnutrition in gastroparesis and the impact of interventions to prevent and treat malnutrition.

Seasonal Variations of Hospital Admissions for Alcohol-Related Hepatitis in the United States.

Background: Clinical experience suggests an increased hospitalization rate for alcohol-related hepatitis (AH) in the winter months; however, seasonal variations in the prevalence of hospitalizations for AH have not been described previously. We hypothesized that AH hospitalizations would be higher in the winter months due to the holiday season and increased alcohol sales. Methods: Patients with primary or secondary discharge diagnosis of AH were included in the study (International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification-10th Revision codes K70.4 and K70.1) between January 2016 and December 2019. The primary outcome measure for this study was daily hospitalizations by each month of the year. Secondary outcome measures included the rate of in-hospital mortality associated with AH, for each month. Results: The highest number of AH-related admissions was reported in July (n = 56,800; 9%), followed by August (n = 55,700; 8.8%) and May (n = 54,865; 8.7%). February had the lowest number of admissions (n = 46,550; 7.37%). The adjusted mortality was highest in December (overall mortality: 9.6%; adjusted odds ratio: 1.29; 95% confidence interval: 1.142 - 1.461; P < 0.0001) and lowest in May (overall mortality rate: 7.7%). No difference was noted between length of stay and total hospitalization cost between months. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that seasonal variations in hospitalizations related to AH do exist across the United States. Regional differences also exist and follow unique patterns. The increase in admissions for AH is in line with other studies suggesting that heavy drinking happens during the warm season. Hospital administrators and other stewards of healthcare resources can use seasonal patterns to guide allocation of resources.

Statin Use and the Risk of Kidney Disease With Long-Term Follow-Up (8.4-Year Study).

Few studies have examined long-term effects of statin therapy on kidney diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the association of statin use with incidence of acute and chronic kidney diseases after prolonged follow-up. In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from the San Antonio area military health care system from October 2003 through March 2012. Statin users were propensity score matched to nonusers using 82 baseline characteristics including demographics, co-morbidities, medications, and health care utilization. Study outcomes were acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and nephritis/nephrosis/renal sclerosis. Of the 43,438 subjects included, we propensity score matched 6,342 statin users with 6,342 nonusers. Statin users had greater odds of acute kidney injury (odds ratio [OR] 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14 to 1.48), CKD (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.52), and nephritis/nephrosis/renal sclerosis (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.73). In a subset of patients without co-morbidities, the association of statin use with CKD remained significant (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.85). In a secondary analysis, adjusting for diseases/conditions that developed during follow-up weakened this association. In conclusion, statin use is associated with increased incidence of acute and chronic kidney disease. These findings are cautionary and suggest that long-term effects of statins in real-life patients may differ from shorter term effects in selected clinical trial populations.

A Single Controlled Exposure to Secondhand Smoke May Not Alter Thrombogenesis or Trigger Platelet Activation.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure increases cardiovascular events, particularly acute thrombotic events. There are little human data on acute SHS exposure. The aim of this study was to determine whether a single controlled exposure of humans to SHS increased thrombogenesis. METHODS: After 6-8 hours fast, subjects (n = 50) were exposed to constant dose SHS (particulate level of 500 µg/m(3)) for 120 minutes in a temperature-regulated and ventilated, simulated bar environment. Blood was drawn before and immediately after SHS exposure for thromboelastography (TEG) and flow cytometry. Maximum clot strength (MA) was measured using TEG and platelet leukocyte aggregates (LPA) were measured as an index of platelet activation. Anti-CD 14 antibodies were used as leukocyte markers and anti-CD 41 antibodies as platelet markers for cytometry. Data were analyzed using students' t test for paired samples. RESULTS: There was no effect of acute exposure to SHS on platelet activation or thrombogenesis. Also, intra group (smokers [n = 19] and nonsmokers [n = 31]) comparisons of LPA and TEG parameters did not show changes with SHS exposure. CONCLUSIONS: While there are abundant data showing enhanced thrombogenesis and platelet activation following repeated exposure to SHS, our study suggests that a single exposure does not appear to significantly alter thrombin kinetics nor result in platelet activation. The effects of SHS on thrombogenesis might be nonlinear.

Frequent Atrial Premature Complexes and Their Association With Risk of Atrial Fibrillation.

Identification of precursors of atrial fibrillation (AF) may lead to early detection and prevent associated morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to examine the association between frequent atrial premature complexes (APCs) and incidence of AF. For this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed Holter recordings obtained from 2000 to 2010 of 1,357 veterans free of AF at baseline. All pertinent data in electronic medical records were reviewed to ascertain baseline characteristics. Holter groups with frequent (≥100/day) and infrequent (<100/day) APCs were compared for development of new AF over a median follow-up of 7.5 years. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed before and after propensity score matching. Mean age was 64 years with 93% men. Mean body mass index, hemoglobin A1C, low-density lipoprotein, left atrial size, and heart rate were 31.24 kg/m(2), 6.42%, 107.92 mg/dl, 4.26 cm, and 73 beats/min, respectively. AF was noted in 21.8% of patients with frequent APCs compared to 5.6% of those with infrequent APCs. After adjusting for demographics, medication use, co-morbidities, and laboratory and echocardiographic findings, multivariate Cox regression analyses confirmed frequent APCs to be independently associated with higher incidence of AF (hazard ratio [HR] 2.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.85 to 4.80; p <0.001). In propensity-matched groups, this association remained significant (HR 2.87, 95% CI 1.65 to 4.98; p <0.001). Additionally, atrial couplets (≥50/day), atrial bigeminy (≥50/day), frequent runs of ≥3 APCs (≥20 runs/day), and longer runs (≥10 beats/run) were significantly associated with AF (HR 3.11, 3.67, 2.94, and 1.73, respectively, all p <0.05). In conclusion, frequent APCs (≥100/day) are associated with greater risk of AF.

Resistant hypertension and associated comorbidities in a veterans affairs population.

Resistant hypertension (RH) is understudied and its reported prevalence varies with study populations. The authors sought to determine its prevalence and association with certain comorbid conditions in a Veterans Affairs population. This cross-sectional study utilized demographic and clinical data from 17,466 patients. Chi-square or t test was used for comparing groups with and without RH. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent associations. Overall, the prevalence of RH was 9%, and 13% of all hypertensive patients met criteria for RH. After adjusting for confounding variables, RH was significantly associated with older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.007), higher body mass index (OR, 1.04), Framingham score (OR, 1.14), and coexisting coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accident/transient ischemic attack, peripheral vascular disease, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and metabolic syndrome (OR, 1.3, 1.32, 1.29, 2.88, 2.13, 1.2, 1.12, and 1.2, respectively; all P<.05). Our results indicate a complex interplay of certain comorbid conditions among patients with RH and suggest the need for multifaceted interventions in this high-risk population to prevent cardiovascular events.

Association of antidepressant and atypical antipsychotic use with cardiovascular events and mortality in a veteran population.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the patterns of antidepressant and atypical antipsychotic use in a veteran population with depression, and to determine if an association exists between specific antidepressant classes and atypical antipsychotics and the occurrence of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary care clinic at a Veterans Affairs hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 1136 patients diagnosed with depression who were receiving antidepressant monotherapy (664 patients) or no antidepressant therapy (472 patients [controls]) between June 2009 and December 2010. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data on patient demographics, disease diagnoses, laboratory data, and drug therapy profiles were collected through medical record review. Of the 1136 patients, the mean patient age was 61 years, 90% were men, and 77% were smokers. Mean body mass index was 30.4 kg/m(2) , blood pressure 126/73 mm Hg, hemoglobin A1c 6%, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level 106.7 mg/dl, and Framingham score 17. Patients receiving antidepressant monotherapy were grouped according to antidepressant class; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were most common. Concomitant use of atypical antipsychotics was more common with the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (venlafaxine), SSRI, and serotonin receptor antagonist (trazodone) classes (p=0.0067). After adjusting for demographics, concomitant drugs, and comorbidities, SSRI use was significantly associated with lower all-cause mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19-0.71, p=0.0028). Notably, noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (mirtazapine) use was significantly associated with higher prevalence of heart failure (OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.029-10.38, p=0.0445). Use of atypical antipsychotics was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of cerebrovascular events (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.29-3.83, p=0.0036) and all-cause mortality (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.03-4.1, p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Our results favor treatment of depression with SSRIs among patients at increased cardiovascular risk due to the potential mortality benefit of this class of drugs. Atypical antipsychotics should be used with caution in the elderly population. Mirtazapine use in patients with heart failure and depression deserves further investigation.

Low Diastolic Blood Pressure as a Risk for All-Cause Mortality in VA Patients.

Background. A paradoxical increase in cardiovascular events has been reported with intensively lowering diastolic blood pressure (DBP). This J-curve phenomenon has challenged the aggressive lowering of blood pressure, especially in patients with coronary artery disease. Objective. Our objective was to study the effects of low DBP on mortality and determine a threshold for which DBP should not be lowered beyond. Methods. We evaluated a two-year cross-section of primary care veteran patients, from 45 to 85 years of age. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were employed to establish an optimal cut-off point for DBP. Propensity-score matching and multivariate logistic regression were used to control for confounders. All-cause mortality was the primary outcome. Results. 14,270 patients were studied. An ROC curve found a threshold value of DBP 70 mmHg had the greatest association with mortality (P < 0.001). 49% of patients had a DBP of 70 mmHg or less. Using a propensity-matched multivariate logistic regression, odds ratio for all-cause mortality in subjects with a DBP less than 70 mmHg was 1.5 (95% CI 1.3-1.8). Conclusions. Reduction of DBP below 70 mmHg is associated with increased all-cause mortality. Hypertension guidelines should include a minimum blood pressure target.

Diagnostic yield and renal complications after computed tomography pulmonary angiograms performed in a community-based academic hospital.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism (VTE/PE) remain a diagnostic challenge. The computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) has emerged as a popular diagnostic test for PE. However, there is limited data on diagnostic yield and complications in actual clinical settings. Our goal was to determine the diagnostic yield for PE and rate of renal complications following CTPA in a large community hospital setting. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 1,514 patients who underwent CTPA in the emergency department or during the initial 24 hours of admission to a community-based academic hospital. RESULTS: Of 1,514 CTPAs, 125 were positive for VTE/PE yielding a positive diagnosis in 8.2%. Dyspnea was the most common symptom in patients and a normal physical exam was the most common finding. Among the 925 patients with adequate data to calculate the rate of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), 25.8% had an increase of at least 25% in serum creatinine following the CTPA. Pre-existing diabetes and age were the most important predictors of CIN. CONCLUSIONS: CTPA has a low diagnostic yield for PE in a community setting, and in some patient populations, the rate of contrast-induced nephropathy may be higher than previously reported in the literature. Due to the retrospective nature of this study we were limited in using pre-test scoring systems and in measuring the impact of alternative CT diagnoses on patient management.