Effects of centralizing acute stroke services: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of centralizing the acute stroke services in the Central Denmark Region (CDR). METHODS: The CDR (1.3 million inhabitants) centralized acute stroke care from 6 to 2 designated acute stroke units with 7-day outpatient clinics. We performed a prospective "before-and-after" cohort study comparing all strokes from the CDR with strokes in the rest of Denmark to discover underlying general trends, adopting a difference-in-differences approach. The population comprised 22,141 stroke cases hospitalized from May 2011 to April 2012 and May 2013 to April 2014. RESULTS: Centralization was associated with a significant reduction in length of acute hospital stay from a median of 5 to 2 days with a length-of-stay ratio of 0.53 (95% confidence interval 0.38-0.75, data adjusted) with no corresponding change seen in the rest of Denmark. Similarly, centralization led to a significant increase in strokes with same-day admission (mainly outpatients), whereas this remained unchanged in the rest of Denmark. We observed a significant improvement in quality of care captured in 11 process performance measures in both the CDR and the rest of Denmark. Centralization was associated with a nonsignificant increase in thrombolysis rate. We observed a slight increase in readmissions at day 30, but this was not significantly different from the general trend. Mortality at days 30 and 365 remained unchanged, as in the rest of Denmark. CONCLUSIONS: Centralizing acute stroke care in the CDR significantly reduced the length of acute hospital stay without compromising quality. Readmissions and mortality stayed comparable to the rest of Denmark.

Lifestyle Factors and Early Clinical Outcome in Patients With Acute Stroke: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We examined the associations of individual and combined lifestyle factors with early adverse stroke outcomes. METHODS: A total of 82 597 patients were identified from nationwide registries. Lifestyle factors at the time of stroke admission included body mass index (kg/m2), smoking habits, and alcohol intake, which were grouped (healthy, moderately healthy, moderately unhealthy, and unhealthy). The associations between lifestyle and outcomes were examined using multivariable regression. RESULTS: A total of 18.3% had a severe stroke, 7.8% pneumonia, 12.5% urinary tract infection, and 9.9% died within 30 days. The association between lifestyle, stroke severity, and mortality, respectively, differed according to sex. Unhealthy lifestyle was associated with lower risk of severe stroke (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-0.84) and 30-day mortality among men (adjusted OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.58-0.87), but not among women (severe stroke: adjusted OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.85-1.55, and mortality: adjusted OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.90-1.99). No sex differences were found for pneumonia and urinary tract infection. Unhealthy lifestyle was not associated with a statistically significant increased risk of developing in-hospital pneumonia (adjusted OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.98-1.73) or urinary tract infection (adjusted OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.72-1.33). Underweight was associated with a higher 30-day mortality (men: adjusted OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.50-1.96, and women: adjusted OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.34-1.60). CONCLUSIONS: Healthy lifestyle was not associated with a lower risk of adverse stroke outcomes, in particularly among men. However, underweight may be a particular concern being associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes among both sexes.

Thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke is associated with lower long-term hospital bed day use: A nationwide propensity score-matched follow-up study.

Background Thrombolysis with intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator improves functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke. Few studies have investigated the effects of thrombolysis in a real-world setting. We evaluated the impact of thrombolysis on long-term hospital bed day use and the risk of readmission due to stroke-related complications. Methods We conducted a register-based nationwide propensity score-matched follow-up study among ischemic stroke patients in Denmark (2004-2011). Thrombolysed patients were propensity-score matched with non-thrombolysed acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to stroke centers not yet offering thrombolysis in 2004-2006. The outcomes were length of the stroke admission, total all-cause hospital bed day use during the first year after the stroke, and the long-term risk of readmissions. Thrombolysed and non-thrombolysed patients were compared using multivariable log-linear regression and Cox regression. Results We identified 1095 thrombolysed and 1095 propensity score matched eligible but non-thrombolysed acute ischemic stroke patients. The median length of the stroke admission was 9 days in the thrombolysed group and 13 days in the non-thrombolysed group (adjusted geometric mean ratio, 0.88; 95% CI: 0.78-1.00). The median all-cause hospital bed day use within the first year was 12 days in the thrombolysed group and 19 days in the non-thrombolysed group (adjusted geometric mean ratio, 0.82; 95% CI: 0.73-0.92). There was no significant difference in the overall risk of readmission (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% CI: 0.79-1.04); however, thrombolysis was associated with reduced risk of pneumonia (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI: 0.35-0.97). Conclusions Thrombolysis in ischemic stroke was associated with lower long-term hospital bed day use and decreased risk of readmission due to pneumonia.

Preadmission use of renin-angiotensin blockers and rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm: a nationwide, population-based study.

PURPOSE: Rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA) is associated with high mortality. Use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-inhibitors) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) has been suggested to reduce the risk of rAAA. This nationwide, combined case-control and follow-up study aims to examine the possible impact of preadmission renin-angiotensin system blockade on the risk of rAAA and case fatality following rAAA. METHODS: Using Danish healthcare registries, a combined case-control and follow-up study was conducted among all patients with a first-time hospital admission for rAAA and AAA controls without rupture in Denmark from 1996 to 2012. Individual-level data were obtained on preadmission drug use, comorbidity, socioeconomic factors, healthcare services use, and death. RESULTS: The adjusted age-matched and sex-matched odds ratios (adj. OR) were 0.96 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85; 1.07) for rAAA for current ACE-inhibitor users and 0.93 (95%CI: 0.79; 1.09) for current ARB users compared with never users. Propensity score-matched analyses yielded similar results for current ACE-inhibitor users (adj. OR: 1.02, 95%CI: 0.88; 1.19) and current ARB users (adj. OR: 1.02, 95%CI: 0.83; 1.26). The total 30-day mortality rate after hospital admission was 61.0% in current ACE-inhibitor users compared with 59.4% in non-ACE-inhibitor users (adjusted mortality rate ratio (adj. MRR) 1.06, 95%CI: 0.94; 1.20) and 58.6% in current ARB users compared with 59.9% in non-ARB users (adj. MRR: 0.96, 95%CI: 0.82; 1.14). CONCLUSION: Use of renin-angiotensin system blockade was not associated with a lower risk of rAAA or lower case fatality following rAAA.

Processes of early stroke care and hospital costs.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between processes of early stroke care and hospital costs remains unclear. AIMS: We therefore examined the association in a population based cohort study. METHODS: We identified 5909 stroke patients who were admitted to stroke units in a Danish county between 2005 and 2010.The examined recommended processes of care included early admission to a stroke unit, early initiation of antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, early computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (CT/MRI) scan, early physiotherapy and occupational therapy, early assessment of nutritional risk, constipation risk and of swallowing function, early mobilization,early catheterization, and early thromboembolism prophylaxis.Hospital costs were assessed for each patient based on the number of days spent in different in-hospital facilities using local hospital charges. RESULTS: The mean costs of hospitalization were $23 352 (standard deviation 27 827). The relationship between receiving more relevant processes of early stroke care and lower hospital costs followed a dose­response relationship. The adjusted costs were $24 566 (95% confidence interval 19 364­29 769) lower for patients who received 75­100% of the relevant processes of care compared with patients receiving 0­24%. All processes of care were associated with potential cost savings, except for early catheterization and early thromboembolism prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS: Early care in agreement with key guidelines recommendations for the management of patients with stroke may be associated with hospital savings.

Transient ischemic attack and minor stroke are the most common manifestations of acute cerebrovascular disease: a prospective, population-based study--the Aarhus TIA study.

BACKGROUND: Severity of acute vascular illness may have changed in the last decades due to improvements in primary and secondary prevention. Population-based data on the severity of acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease are sparse. We aimed to examine incidence, characteristics and severity of acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease in a well-defined population. METHODS: All patients admitted with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or acute ischemic stroke from March 1, 2007, to February 29, 2008, with residence in the Aarhus area, were included. Incidence rates and characteristics of TIA and ischemic stroke were compared. RESULTS: TIA accounted for 30%, TIA and minor stroke combined for 65% of all acute ischemic cerebrovascular events. Age-adjusted incidence rates of TIA and ischemic stroke were 72.2/100,000 and 129.5/100,000 person-years, respectively. TIA patients were younger than stroke patients (66.3 vs. 72.7 years; p < 0.001). Atrial fibrillation, previous myocardial infarction and previous stroke were significantly more frequent in stroke patients; no differences in other baseline characteristics were found. CONCLUSIONS: Minor events are the most common in ischemic cerebrovascular disease, and may constitute a larger proportion than previously reported. TIA and stroke patients share many characteristics; however, TIA patients are younger and have fewer manifestations of atherosclerotic diseases, indicating a high potential for secondary prevention.

In-hospital medical complications, length of stay, and mortality among stroke unit patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The relationship between in-hospital stroke-related medical complications and clinical outcome remains unclear. We examined whether medical complications were associated with length of stay (LOS) and mortality among stroke unit patients. METHODS: Using population-based Danish medical registries, we performed a follow-up study among all patients with acute stroke admitted to stroke units in 2 counties between 2003 and 2009 (n=13 721). Data regarding in-hospital medical complications, including pneumonia, urinary tract infection, pressure ulcer, falls, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and severe constipation together with LOS and mortality were prospectively registered. RESULTS: Overall, 25.2% of patients (n=3453) experienced 1 or more medical complications during hospitalization. The most common complications were urinary tract infection (15.4%), pneumonia (9.0%), and constipation (6.8%). Median LOS was 13 days (25th and 75th quartiles, 5 and 33). All medical complications were associated with longer LOS. The adjusted relative LOS extension ranged from 1.80 (95% CI, 1.54-2.11) for pneumonia to 3.06 (95% CI, 2.67-3.52) for falls. Patients with 1 or more complications had an increased 1-year mortality rate (adjusted mortality rate ratio [MRR], 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04-1.39). The association was mainly because of pneumonia, which was associated with higher mortality both after 30 days (adjusted MRR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.31-1.93) and 1 year (adjusted MRR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.45-2.14). CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital medical complications were associated with longer LOS and some, in particular pneumonia, also with an increased mortality among patients with acute stroke.

Processes of care and medical complications in patients with stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: the relationship between processes of care and the risk of medical complications in patients with stroke remains unclear. We therefore examined the association in a population-based follow-up study. METHODS: we identified 11 757 patients admitted for stroke to stroke units in 2 Danish counties in 2003 to 2008. The examined processes of care included early admission to a stroke unit, early initiation of antiplatelet or oral anticoagulant therapy, early CT/MRI scan, and early assessment by a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist of nutritional risk and of swallowing function and early mobilization. RESULTS: overall, 25.3% (n=2969) of the patients experienced ≥ 1 medical complications during hospitalization. The most common medical complications were urinary tract infection (15.5%), pneumonia (8.8%), and constipation (7.0%). We found indications of an inverse dose-response relationship between the number of processes of care that the patients received and the risk of medical complications. The lowest risk of complications was found among patients who received all relevant processes of care compared with patients who failed to receive any of the processes (ie, adjusted ORs ranged from 0.42 [95% CI, 0.24 to 0.74] for pressure ulcer to 0.64 [95% CI, 0.44 to 0.93] for pneumonia). Of the individual processes of care, early mobilization was associated with the lowest risk of complications. CONCLUSIONS: higher quality of acute stroke care was associated with a lower risk of medical complications.

Medical complications in patients with stroke: data validity in a stroke registry and a hospital discharge registry.

BACKGROUND: Stroke patients frequently experience medical complications; yet, data on incidence, causes, and consequences are sparse. OBJECTIVE: To examine the data validity of medical complications among patients with stroke in a population-based clinical registry and a hospital discharge registry. METHODS: We examined the predictive values, sensitivity and specificity of medical complications among patients admitted to specialized stroke units and registered in the Danish National Indicator Project (DNIP) and the Danish National Registry of Patients (NRP) between January 2003 and December 2006 (n = 8,024). We retrieved and reviewed medical records from a random sample of patients (n = 589, 7.3%). RESULTS: We found substantial variation in the data quality of stroke-related medical complication diagnoses both within the specific complications and between the registries. The positive predictive values ranged from 39.0%-87.1% in the DNIP, and from 0.0%-92.9% in the NRP. The negative predictive values ranged from 71.6%-98.9% in the DNIP and from 63.3% to 97.4% in the NRP. In both registries the specificity of the diagnoses was high. The sensitivity ranged from 23.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.9-35.4) for falls to 62.9% (95% CI: 54.9-70.4) for urinary infection in the DNIP, and from 0.0 (95% CI: 0.0-4.99) for falls to 18.1% (95% CI: 2.3-51.8) for pressure ulcer in the NRP. CONCLUSION: The DNIP may be useful for studying medical complications among patients with stroke.

Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and risk of re-operation due to post-surgical bleeding in breast cancer patients: a Danish population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) decrease platelet-function, which suggests that SSRI use may increase the risk of post-surgical bleeding. Few studies have investigated this potential association. METHODS: We conducted a population-based study of the risk of re-operation due to post-surgical bleeding within two weeks of primary surgery among Danish women with primary breast cancer. Patients were categorised according to their use of SSRI: never users, current users (SSRI prescription within 30 days of initial breast cancer surgery), and former users (SSRI prescription more than 30 days before initial breast cancer surgery). We calculated the risk of re-operation due to post-surgical bleeding within 14 days of initial surgery, and the relative risk (RR) of re-operation comparing SSRI users with never users of SSRI adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: 389 of 14,464 women (2.7%) were re-operated. 1592 (11%) had a history of SSRI use. Risk of re-operation was 2.6% among never users, 7.0% among current SSRI users, and 2.7% among former users. Current users thus had an increased risk of re-operation due to post-operative bleeding (adjusted relative risk = 2.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.4, 3.9) compared with never users. There was no increased risk of re-operation associated with former use of SSRI (RR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.66, 1.3). CONCLUSIONS: Current use of SSRI is associated with an increased risk of re-operation due to bleeding after surgery for breast cancer.

Quality of care and mortality among patients with stroke: a nationwide follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between process and outcome measures among patients with stroke is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between quality of care and mortality among patients with stroke in a nationwide population-based follow-up study. METHODS: Using data from The Danish National Indicator Project, a quality improvement initiative with participation of all Danish hospital departments caring for patients with stroke, we identified 29,573 patients hospitalized with stroke between January 13, 2003 and October 31, 2005. Quality of care was measured in terms of 7 specific criteria: early admission to a stroke unit, early initiation of antiplatelet or oral anticoagulant therapy, early examination with computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging scan, and early assessment by a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, and of nutritional risk. Data on 30- and 90-day mortality rates were obtained through the Danish Civil Registration System. RESULTS: Six of 7 of these criteria were associated with lower 30- and 90-day mortality rates. Adjusted mortality rate ratios corrected for clustering by department ranged from 0.41 to 0.83. We found indication of an inverse dose-response relationship between the number of quality of care criteria met and mortality; the lowest mortality rate was found among patients whose care met all criteria compared with patients whose care failed to meet any criteria (ie, adjusted 30-day mortality rate ratios: 0.45, 95% confidence interval: 0.24-0.66). When analyses were stratified by age and sex, the dose-response relationship was found in all subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Higher quality of care during the early phase of stroke was associated with substantially lower mortality rates.

Disease activity in pregnant women with Crohn's disease and birth outcomes: a regional Danish cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: CD is associated with increased risk of adverse birth outcomes, but existing studies have not assessed the impact of disease activity during pregnancy. We examined the impact of disease activity on birth outcomes: LBW, preterm birth, LBW at term, and CAs. METHODS: All births by CD women in North Jutland County, Denmark, from January 1, 1977 to December 31, 2005, were evaluated in a cohort study based on linkage between the Danish National Registry of Patients and the Medical Birth Registry. After identification of all births by CD women, review of medical records allowed collection of clinical details (including disease activity and drug therapy during pregnancy). The exposed cohort (N = 71) constituted pregnancies with low/moderate-high disease activity during pregnancy, and the unexposed cohort (N = 86) those with inactive disease. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the adjusted relative risks (with 95% confidence intervals) for adverse birth outcomes associated with disease activity in CD pregnancies. In subanalysis, we examined the impact of moderate-high activity. RESULTS: In women with disease activity, the adjusted risks of LBW, LBW at term, preterm birth, and CAs were 0.2 (0.0-2.6), 0.4 (0.0-3.7), 2.4 (0.6-9.5), and 0.8 (0.2-3.8), respectively. The crude risk of preterm birth was 3.4 (1.1-10.6) in those with moderate-high disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: Disease activity during pregnancy only increased the risk of preterm birth (especially in those with high disease activity). Further research is needed to assess the critical impact of disease activity in larger cohorts of CD women.

Statin use and mortality within 180 days after bacteremia: a population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between preadmission statin use and mortality among patients with bacteremia in a population-based setting. DESIGN: Observational study based on prospective registration of bacteremia episodes and mortality over a 6-yr period. SETTING: North Jutland County, Denmark (population, 500,000). PATIENTS: A total of 5,353 adult patients hospitalized with bacteremia from 1997 to 2002. Individuals treated with statins (n = 176) were identified by record-linkage with the County Prescription Database. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We compared mortality rates 0-30 and 31-180 days after bacteremia in patients with and without preadmission statin use, adjusted for gender, age group, level of comorbidity, alcohol-related conditions, use of immunosuppressive drugs and systemic antibiotics, and focus on infection. The 30-day mortality in statin users vs. nonusers was similar (20.0% vs. 21.6%, adjusted mortality rate ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.66-1.30). Among survivors after 30 days, however, statin therapy was associated with a substantially decreased mortality up until 180 days after the bacteremia (8.4% vs. 17.5%, adjusted mortality rate ratio 0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.24-0.80). This tendency toward similar short-term and decreased longer term mortality associated with statin use was observed consistently in both community-acquired and nosocomial bacteremia episodes and when analyses were restricted to patients with previous cardiovascular discharge diagnoses or diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence against the hypothesis that statin use has an effect on short-term mortality after bacteremia. Statin use was, however, associated with a substantially decreased mortality between 31 and 180 days after bacteremia.

Dietary patterns among older Europeans: the EPIC-Elderly study.

Overall dietary patterns have been associated with health and longevity. We used principal component (PC) and cluster analyses to identify the prevailing dietary patterns of 99 744 participants, aged 60 years or older, living in nine European countries and participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Elderly cohort) and to examine their socio-demographic and lifestyle correlates. Two PC were identified: PC1 reflects a 'vegetable-based' diet with an emphasis on foods of plant origin, rice, pasta and other grain rather than on margarine, potatoes and non-alcoholic beverages. PC2 indicates a 'sweet- and fat-dominated' diet with a preference for sweets, added fat and dairy products but not meat, alcohol, bread and eggs. PC1 was associated with a younger age, a higher level of education, physical activity, a higher BMI, a lower waist:hip ratio and never and past smoking. PC2 was associated with older age, less education, never having smoked, a lower BMI and waist:hip ratio and lower levels of physical activity. Elderly individuals in southern Europe scored positively on PC1 and about zero on PC2, whereas the elderly in northern Europe scored negatively on PC1 and variably on PC2. The results of cluster analysis were compatible with the indicated dietary patterns. 'Vegetable-based' and a 'sweet- and fat-dominated' diets are prevalent among the elderly across Europe, and there is a north-south gradient regarding their dietary choices. Our study contributes to the identification of groups of elderly who are likely to have different prospects for long-term disease occurrence and survival.

Modified Mediterranean diet and survival: EPIC-elderly prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether adherence to the modified Mediterranean diet, in which unsaturates were substituted for monounsaturates, is associated with longer life expectancy among elderly Europeans. DESIGN: Multicentre, prospective cohort study. SETTING: Nine European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom). PARTICIPANTS: 74,607 men and women, aged 60 or more, without coronary heart disease, stroke, or cancer at enrolment and with complete information about dietary intake and potentially confounding variables. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Extent of adherence to a modified Mediterranean diet using a scoring system on a 10 point scale, and death from any cause by time of occurrence, modelled through Cox regression. RESULTS: An increase in the modified Mediterranean diet score was associated with lower overall mortality, a two unit increment corresponding to a statistically significant reduction of 8% (95% confidence interval 3% to 12%). No statistically significant evidence of heterogeneity was found among countries in the association of the score with overall mortality even though the association was stronger in Greece and Spain. When dietary exposures were calibrated across countries, the reduction in mortality was 7% (1% to 12%). CONCLUSION: The Mediterranean diet, modified so as to apply across Europe, was associated with increased survival among older people.

Diabetes mellitus as a risk and prognostic factor for community-acquired bacteremia due to enterobacteria: a 10-year, population-based study among adults.

Diabetes was examined as a risk factor and a prognostic factor for community-acquired bacteremia caused by Escherichia coli and other enterobacteria in a series of 1317 adult case patients, with 10 population control subjects per case. Persons with diabetes had a substantially increased risk for enterobacterial bacteremia (adjusted odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.4-3.4). Among patients with bacteremia, diabetes was also associated with a poorer prognosis.

Diabetes and outcome of community-acquired pneumococcal bacteremia: a 10-year population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with diabetes may carry a higher case fatality of invasive pneumococcal infection compared with nondiabetic patients due to decreased immunity, risk of metabolic derangement, or angiopathy. We conducted a population-based cohort study to assess the impact of diabetes on mortality within 90 days in patients with pneumococcal bacteremia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: All patients with community-acquired pneumococcal bacteremia in North Jutland County, Denmark, from January 1992 to December 2001 were retrieved from the County Bacteremia Registry. Using civil registry numbers, patients with diabetes were identified by record linkage with the County Prescription Database (for antidiabetic drugs) and the County Hospital Discharge Registry. Mortality within 90 days was determined through the Central Population Registry. Mortality rates were compared for diabetic and nondiabetic patients and adjusted for sex, age, and comorbidity. RESULTS: Among 628 patients aged >15 years with community-acquired pneumococcal bacteremia, 63 (10.0%) had diabetes. The diabetic patients were slightly older (median age 71.7 years) than the nondiabetic patients (67.0 years), and the proportion of patients with comorbidity was higher in the diabetic group (59 vs. 46%). Mortality in diabetic patients compared with nondiabetic patients was 11.1 vs. 16.5% after 30 days and 16.0 vs. 19.5% after 90 days, respectively. After adjustment for sex, age, and comorbidity, the mortality rate ratio for diabetic patients was 0.6 (95% CI 0.3-1.2) compared with the nondiabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients with community-acquired pneumococcal bacteremia appear not to have a higher case fatality than nondiabetic patients.