Disparities in access to and timing of interventional therapies for pulmonary embolism across the United States.

BACKGROUND: Interventional therapies (ITs) are an emerging treatment modality for pulmonary embolism (PE); however, the degree of racial, sex-based, and sociodemographic disparities in access and timing is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To investigate barriers to access and timing of ITs for PE across the United States. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2016-2020 included adult patients with PE. The use of ITs (mechanical thrombectomy and catheter-directed thrombolysis) was identified via International Classification of Diseases 10th revision codes. Early IT was defined as procedure performed within the first 2 days after admission. RESULTS: A total of 27 805 273 records from the 2016-2020 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database were examined. There were 387 514 (1.4%) patients with PE, with 14 249 (3.6%) of them having undergone IT procedures (11 115 catheter-directed thrombolysis, 2314 thrombectomy, and 780 both procedures). After multivariate adjustment, factors associated with less use of IT included Black race (odds ratio [OR], 0.90; 95% CI, 0.86-0.94; P < .01), Hispanic race (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.68-0.79; P < .01), female sex (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.85-0.91; P < .01), treatment in a rural hospital (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.44-0.54; P < .01), and lack of private insurance (Medicare OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.73-0.80; P < .01; Medicaid OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.61-0.69; P < .01; no coverage OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.82-0.93; P < .01). Among the patients who received IT, 11 315 (79%) procedures were conducted within 2 days of admission and 2934 (21%) were delayed. Factors associated with delayed procedures included Black race (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01-1.26; P = .04), Hispanic race (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.28-1.80; P < .01), weekend admission (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.25-1.51; P < .01), Medicare coverage (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.10-1.40; P < .01), and Medicaid coverage (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.12-1.49; P < .01). CONCLUSION: Significant racial, sex-based, and geographic barriers exist in overall access to IT for PE in the United States.

Outcomes with severe pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and respiratory failure in the United States.

Background: Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection with presentations ranging from asymptomatic illness to severe pneumonia and respiratory failure. The outcomes of patients with severe pulmonary coccidioidomycosis requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) are not well understood. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2006 to 2017. Patients >18 years of age with a diagnosis of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis were included in the cohort. Results: A total of 11,045 patients were hospitalized with a diagnosis of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis during the study period. Of these, 826 (7.5%) patients required MV during their hospitalization with a mortality rate of 33.5% compared to 1.3% (p < 0.01) for patients not requiring MV. Results of the multivariable logistic regression model show that risk factors for MV included the history of neurological disorders and paralysis (OR 3.38[95% CI 2.70 to 4.20] p < 0.01; OR 3.13[95% CI 1.91 to 5.15] p < 0.01, respectively) and HIV (OR 1.63[95% 1.10 to 2.43] p < 0.01). Risk factors for mortality among patients requiring MV included older age (OR 1.24 per 10-year increase[95% CI 1.08 to 1.42] p < 0.01), coagulopathy (OR 1.61[95% CI 1.09 to 2.38] p = 0.01) and HIV (OR 2.83 [95% CI 1.32 to 6.10] p < 0.01). Conclusions: Approximately 7.5% of patients admitted with coccidioidomycosis in the United States require MV, and MV is associated with high mortality (33.5%).

Historique: La coccidioïdomycose est une infection fongique dont les manifestations vont d'une affection asymptomatique à une pneumonie grave et à une insuffisance respiratoire. Les résultats cliniques des patients atteints d'une coccidioïdomycose pulmonaire grave qui ont besoin d'une ventilation mécanique (VM) sont mal compris. Méthodologie: Les chercheurs ont procédé à une analyse de cohorte rétrospective au moyen d'un échantillon national de patients hospitalisés (NIS) entre 2006 et 2017. Les patients de plus de 18 ans ayant un diagnostic de coccidioïdomycose pulmonaire ont été inclus dans la cohorte. Résultats: Au total, 11 045 patients ont été hospitalisés à cause d'un diagnostic de coccidioïdomycose pulmonaire pendant la période de l'étude. De ce nombre, 826 (7,5 %) ont eu besoin d'une VM pendant leur hospitalisation, dont 33,5 % sont décédés par rapport à 1,3 % (p < 0,01) de ceux qui n'ont pas eu besoin de VM. Les résultats du modèle de régression logistique multivariable révèlent que les facteurs de risque de VM incluaient des antécédents de troubles neurologiques et de paralysie (rapport de cotes [RC] 3,38, IC à 95 % 2,70 à 4,20, p < 0,01; RC 3,13, IC à 95 % 1,91 à 5,15, p < 0,01, respectivement) et de virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (RC 1,63, IC à 95 % 1,10 à 2,43, p < 0,01). Les facteurs de risque de mortalité chez les patients qui avaient besoin de VM incluaient un âge plus avancé (RC 1,24 par tranche de dix ans, IC à 95 % 1,08 à 1,42, p < 0,01), une coagulopathie (RC 1,61, IC à 95 % 1,09 à 2,38, p = 0,01) et le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (RC 2,83; IC à 95 % 1,32 à 6,10; p < 0,01). Conclusions: Environ 7,5 % des patients hospitalisés à cause d'une coccidioïdomycose aux États-Unis ont eu besoin d'une VM, laquelle est associée à un taux de mortalité élevé (33,5 %).

Assessment of Racial and Ethnic Differences in Oxygen Supplementation Among Patients in the Intensive Care Unit.

Importance: Pulse oximetry (SpO2) is routinely used for transcutaneous monitoring of blood oxygenation, but it can overestimate actual oxygenation. This is more common in patients of racial and ethnic minority groups. The extent to which these discrepancies are associated with variations in treatment is not known. Objective: To determine if there are racial and ethnic disparities in supplemental oxygen administration associated with inconsistent pulse oximeter performance. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study was based on the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV critical care data set. Included patients were documented with a race and ethnicity as Asian, Black, Hispanic, or White and were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for at least 12 hours before needing advanced respiratory support, if any. Oxygenation levels and nasal cannula flow rates for up to 5 days from ICU admission or until the time of intubation, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, high-flow nasal cannula, or tracheostomy were analyzed. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was time-weighted average supplemental oxygen rate. Covariates included race and ethnicity, sex, SpO2-hemoglobin oxygen saturation discrepancy, data duration, number and timing of blood gas tests on ICU days 1 to 3, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, hemoglobin level, average respiratory rate, Elixhauser comorbidity scores, and need for vasopressors or inotropes. Results: This cohort included 3069 patients (mean [SD] age, 66.9 [13.5] years; 83 were Asian, 207 were Black, 112 were Hispanic, 2667 were White). In a multivariable linear regression, Asian (coefficient, 0.602; 95% CI, 0.263 to 0.941; P = .001), Black (coefficient, 0.919; 95% CI, 0.698 to 1.140; P < .001), and Hispanic (coefficient, 0.622; 95% CI, 0.329 to 0.915; P < .001) race and ethnicity were all associated with a higher SpO2 for a given hemoglobin oxygen saturation. Asian (coefficient, -0.291; 95% CI, -0.546 to -0.035; P = .03), Black (coefficient, -0.294; 95% CI, -0.460 to -0.128; P = .001), and Hispanic (coefficient, -0.242; 95% CI, -0.463 to -0.020; P = .03) race and ethnicity were associated with lower average oxygen delivery rates. When controlling for the discrepancy between average SpO2 and average hemoglobin oxygen saturation, race and ethnicity were not associated with oxygen delivery rate. This discrepancy mediated the effect of race and ethnicity (-0.157; 95% CI, -0.250 to -0.057; P = .002). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, Asian, Black, and Hispanic patients received less supplemental oxygen than White patients, and this was associated with differences in pulse oximeter performance, which may contribute to known race and ethnicity-based disparities in care.

Low-dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for the treatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (LOW-TMP): protocol for a phase III randomised, placebo-controlled, dose-comparison trial.

INTRODUCTION: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is an opportunistic infection of immunocompromised hosts with significant morbidity and mortality. The current standard of care, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) at a dose of 15-20 mg/kg/day, is associated with serious adverse drug events (ADE) in 20%-60% of patients. ADEs include hypersensitivity reactions, drug-induced liver injury, cytopenias and renal failure, all of which can be treatment limiting. In a recent meta-analysis of observational studies, reduced dose TMP-SMX for the treatment of PJP was associated with fewer ADEs, without increased mortality. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A phase III randomised, placebo-controlled, trial to directly compare the efficacy and safety of low-dose TMP-SMX (10 mg/kg/day of TMP) with the standard of care (15 mg/kg/day of TMP) among patients with PJP, for a composite primary outcome of change of treatment, new mechanical ventilation, or death. The trial will be undertaken at 16 Canadian hospitals. Data will be analysed as intention to treat. Primary and secondary outcomes will be compared using logistic regression adjusting for stratification and presented with 95% CI. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been conditionally approved by the McGill University Health Centre; Ethics approval will be obtained from all participating centres. Results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04851015.

qSOFA does not predict bacteremia in patients with severe manifestations of sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infections in septic patients may be missed due to preceding antibiotic therapy prior to obtaining blood cultures. We leveraged the FABLED cohort study to determine if the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score could reliably identify patients at higher risk of bacteremia in patients who may have false negative blood cultures due to previously administered antibiotic therapy. METHODS: We conducted a multi-centre diagnostic study among adult patients with severe manifestations of sepsis. Patients were enrolled in one of seven participating centres between November 2013 and September 2018. All patients from the FABLED cohort had two sets of blood cultures drawn prior to the administration of antimicrobial therapy, as well as additional blood cultures within 4 hours of treatment initiation. Participants were categorized according to qSOFA score, with a score ≥2 being considered positive. RESULTS: Among 325 patients with severe manifestations of sepsis, a positive qSOFA score (defined as a score ≥2) on admission was 58% sensitive (95% CI 48% to 67%) and 41% specific (95% CI 34% to 48%) for predicting bacteremia. Among patients with negative post-antimicrobial blood cultures, a positive qSOFA score was 57% sensitive (95% CI 42% to 70%) and 42% specific (95% CI 35% to 49%) to detect patients who were originally bacteremic prior to the initiation of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the qSOFA score cannot be used to identify patients at risk for occult bacteremia due to the administration of antibiotics pre-blood culture.

HISTORIQUE: Les infections sanguines peuvent rester non diagnostiquées chez les patients septiques avant l'obtention des cultures sanguines, en raison d'une antibiothérapie antérieure. Les chercheurs ont puisé dans l'étude de cohorte FABLED pour déterminer si le score rapide de l'évaluation séquentielle d'insuffisance des organes (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, qSOFA) pourrait dépister les patients à plus haut risque de bactériémie avec fiabilité, malgré la possibilité de cultures sanguines faussement négatives en raison d'une antibiothérapie antérieure. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Les chercheurs ont réalisé une étude diagnostique multicentrique chez des patients adultes ayant de graves manifestations de sepsis. Les patients ont été inscrits dans l'un des sept centres participants entre novembre 2013 et septembre 2018. Tous les patients de l'étude de cohorte FABLED avaient subi deux séries de cultures sanguines avant de recevoir une thérapie antimicrobienne, de même qu'une autre série de cultures sanguines dans les quatre heures suivant le début du traitement. Les participants ont été classés en fonction de leur score de qSOFA, un score d'au moins 2 étant considéré comme positif. RÉSULTATS: Chez les 325 patients ayant de graves manifestations de sepsis, un score de qSOFA positif (défini comme un score d'au moins 2) à l'admission était sensible à 58 % (IC à 95 %, 48 % à 67 %) et spécifique à 41 % (IC à 95 %, 34 % à 48 %) pour prédire la bactériémie. Chez les patients dont les cultures sanguines étaient négatives après la prise d'antimicrobiens, un score de qSOFA positif était sensible à 57 % (IC à 95 %, 42 % à 70 %) et spécifique à 42 % (IC à 95 %, 35 % à 49 %) pour dépister les patients atteints d'une bactériémie avant le début du traitement. CONCLUSIONS: Selon les résultats, le score de qSOFA ne peut pas être utilisé pour dépister les patients à risque de bactériémie occulte à cause de l'administration d'antibiotiques avant la culture sanguine.

High resolution data modifies intensive care unit dialysis outcome predictions as compared with low resolution administrative data set.

High resolution clinical databases from electronic health records are increasingly being used in the field of health data science. Compared to traditional administrative databases and disease registries, these newer highly granular clinical datasets offer several advantages, including availability of detailed clinical information for machine learning and the ability to adjust for potential confounders in statistical models. The purpose of this study is to compare the analysis of the same clinical research question using an administrative database and an electronic health record database. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used for the low-resolution model, and the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU) was used for the high-resolution model. A parallel cohort of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with sepsis and requiring mechanical ventilation was extracted from each database. The primary outcome was mortality and the exposure of interest was the use of dialysis. In the low resolution model, after controlling for the covariates that are available, dialysis use was associated with an increased mortality (eICU: OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.75-2.44, p<0.01; NIS: OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.36-1.45, p<0.01). In the high-resolution model, after the addition of the clinical covariates, the harmful effect of dialysis on mortality was no longer significant (OR 1.04, 95% 0.85-1.28, p = 0.64). The results of this experiment show that the addition of high resolution clinical variables to statistical models significantly improves the ability to control for important confounders that are not available in administrative datasets. This suggests that the results from prior studies using low resolution data may be inaccurate and may need to be repeated using detailed clinical data.

Outcomes With Severe Blastomycosis and Respiratory Failure in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes of patients with severe pulmonary blastomycosis requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) are not well understood in the modern era. Limited historical case series reported 50-90% mortality in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by blastomycosis. The objective of this large retrospective cohort study was to describe the risk factors and outcomes of patients with severe pulmonary blastomycosis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2006-2014. Patients aged >18 years with a diagnosis of blastomycosis who received MV were included. RESULTS: There were 1848 patients with a diagnosis of blastomycosis included in the study. Of these, 219 (11.9%) underwent MV with a mortality rate of 39.7% compared with 2.5% in patients not requiring ventilatory support (P < .01). The median (IQR) time to death for patients requiring MV was 12 (8-16) days. The median length of hospital stay for survivors of MV was 22 (14-37) days. The rate of MV was higher for patients treated in teaching hospitals (63.4% vs 57.2%, P = .05) and lower for those receiving care at a rural hospital (12.3% vs 17.2%, P = .04). In a multivariate model, female gender was associated with increased risk of mortality (OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.06-3.20; P = .03) as was increasing patient age (10-year age increase OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.33-2.02; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: In the largest published cohort of patients with blastomycosis, mortality for patients on MV is high at ~40%, 16-fold higher than those without MV.

Treatment in disproportionately minority hospitals is associated with an increased mortality in end-stage liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Racial and ethnic disparities are a barrier in delivery of healthcare across the USA. Care for minority patients tends to be clustered into a small number of providers at minority hospitals, which has been associated with worse clinical outcomes in several conditions. However, the outcomes of treatment in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) at predominately minority hospitals are unknown. We investigated the burden of the problem. METHODS: We utilized the nationwide in-patient sample (NIS) to conduct a retrospective nationwide cohort analysis. All patients >18 years of age admitted with ESLD were included in the analysis. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to study the mortality rate among patients with ESLD treated at minority hospitals compared to nonminority hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 53 281 467 hospitalizations from the 2008 to 2014 NIS were analyzed. There were 163 470 patients with ESLD that met inclusion criteria. In-hospital mortality rates for all races were 8.0 and 8.1% in black and Hispanic minority hospitals, respectively, compared to 7.3% in nonminority hospitals (P < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, treatment of ESLD in black and Hispanic minority hospitals was associated with 11% [odds ratio (OR), 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.20; P < 0.01] and 22% (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.09-1.37; P < 0.01) increased odds of death, respectively, compared to treatment in nonminority hospitals regardless of patient's race. CONCLUSION: Patients with ESLD treated at minority hospitals are faced with an increased mortality rate regardless of patient's race. This study highlights another quality gap that needs improvement to affect overall survival among patients with ESLD.

Lower household income is associated with an increased risk of hospital readmission in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The impact of household income, a surrogate of socioeconomic status, on hospital readmission rates for patients with decompensated cirrhosis has not been well characterized. METHODS: The Nationwide Readmission Database from 2012 to 2014 was used to study the association of lower median household income on 30-, 90-, and 180-day hospital readmission rates for patients with decompensated cirrhosis. RESULTS: From the 42 679 001 hospital admissions contained in the sample, there were 82 598 patients with decompensated cirrhosis who survived a hospital admission in the first 6 months of the year. During a uniform 6-month follow-up period, 25 914 (31.4%), 39 928 (48.3%), and 47 496 (57.5%) patients were readmitted at 30, 90, and 180 days, respectively. After controlling for demographic and clinical confounders, patients residing in the three lowest income quartiles were significantly more likely to be readmitted at 30 days than those in the fourth quartile (first quartile, odds ratio [OR] 1.32 [95% confidence interval, CI, 1.17-1.47, P < 0.01]; second quartile, OR 1.25 [95% CI 1.13-1.38, P < 0.01]; and third quartile, OR 1.08 [95% CI 0.97-1.20, P = 0.07]). The association between lower socioeconomic status and the higher risk of readmissions persisted at 90 days (first quartile, OR 1.21 [95% CI 1.14-1.30, P < 0.01]) and 180 days (first quartile, OR 1.32 [95% CI 1.20-1.44, P < 0.01]). CONCLUSION: Patients with decompensated cirrhosis residing in the lowest income quartile had a 32% higher odds of hospital readmissions at 30, 90, and 180 days compared with those in the highest income quartile.

Decontamination of N95 masks for re-use employing 7 widely available sterilization methods.

The response to the COVID-19 epidemic is generating severe shortages of personal protective equipment around the world. In particular, the supply of N95 respirator masks has become severely depleted, with supplies having to be rationed and health care workers having to use masks for prolonged periods in many countries. We sought to test the ability of 7 different decontamination methods: autoclave treatment, ethylene oxide gassing (ETO), low temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma (LT-HPGP) treatment, vaporous hydrogen peroxide (VHP) exposure, peracetic acid dry fogging (PAF), ultraviolet C irradiation (UVCI) and moist heat (MH) treatment to decontaminate a variety of different N95 masks following experimental contamination with SARS-CoV-2 or vesicular stomatitis virus as a surrogate. In addition, we sought to determine whether masks would tolerate repeated cycles of decontamination while maintaining structural and functional integrity. All methods except for UVCI were effective in total elimination of viable virus from treated masks. We found that all respirator masks tolerated at least one cycle of all treatment modalities without structural or functional deterioration as assessed by fit testing; filtration efficiency testing results were mostly similar except that a single cycle of LT-HPGP was associated with failures in 3 of 6 masks assessed. VHP, PAF, UVCI, and MH were associated with preserved mask integrity to a minimum of 10 cycles by both fit and filtration testing. A similar result was shown with ethylene oxide gassing to the maximum 3 cycles tested. Pleated, layered non-woven fabric N95 masks retained integrity in fit testing for at least 10 cycles of autoclaving but the molded N95 masks failed after 1 cycle; filtration testing however was intact to 5 cycles for all masks. The successful application of autoclaving for layered, pleated masks may be of particular use to institutions globally due to the virtually universal accessibility of autoclaves in health care settings. Given the ability to modify widely available heating cabinets on hospital wards in well-resourced settings, the application of moist heat may allow local processing of N95 masks.

Treatment in Disproportionately Minority Hospitals Is Associated With Increased Risk of Mortality in Sepsis: A National Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Treatment in a disproportionately minority-serving hospital has been associated with worse outcomes in a variety of illnesses. We examined the association of treatment in disproportionately minority hospitals on outcomes in patients with sepsis across the United States. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis. Disproportionately minority hospitals were defined as hospitals having twice the relative minority patient population than the surrounding geographical mean. Minority hospitals for Black and Hispanic patient populations were identified based on U.S. Census demographic information. A multivariate model employing a validated algorithm for mortality in sepsis using administrative data was used. SETTING: The National Inpatient Sample from 2008 to 2014. PATIENTS: Patients over 18 years of age with sepsis. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 4,221,221 patients with sepsis were identified. Of these, 612,217 patients (14.5%) were treated at hospitals disproportionately serving the black community (Black hospitals), whereas 181,141 (4.3%) were treated at hospitals disproportionately serving the Hispanic community (Hispanic hospitals). After multivariate analysis, treatment in a Black hospital was associated with a 4% higher risk of mortality compared to treatment in a nonminority hospital (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03-1.05; p < 0.01). Treatment in a Hispanic hospital was associated with a 9% higher risk of mortality (odds ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.07-1.11; p < 0.01). Median hospital length of stay was almost 1 day longer at each of the disproportionately minority hospitals (nonminority hospitals: 5.9 d; interquartile range, 3.1-11.0 d vs Hispanic: 6.9 d; interquartile range, 3.6-12.9 d and Black: 6.7 d, interquartile range, 3.4-13.2 d; both p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with sepsis regardless of race who were treated in disproportionately high minority hospitals suffered significantly higher rates of in-hospital mortality.

Temporal Trends in Critical Care Outcomes in U.S. Minority-Serving Hospitals.

Rationale: Whether critical care improvements over the last 10 years extend to all hospitals has not been described.Objectives: To examine the temporal trends of critical care outcomes in minority and non-minority-serving hospitals using an inception cohort of critically ill patients.Measurements and Main Results: Using the Philips Health Care electronic ICU Research Institute Database, we identified minority-serving hospitals as those with an African American or Hispanic ICU census more than twice its regional mean. We examined almost 1.1 million critical illness admissions among 208 ICUs from across the United States admitted between 2006 and 2016. Adjusted hospital mortality (primary) and length of hospitalization (secondary) were the main outcomes. Large pluralities of African American (25%, n = 27,242) and Hispanic individuals (48%, n = 26,743) were cared for in minority-serving hospitals, compared with only 5.2% (n = 42,941) of white individuals. Over the last 10 years, although the risk of critical illness mortality steadily decreased by 2% per year (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97-0.98) in non-minority-serving hospitals, outcomes within minority-serving hospitals did not improve comparably. This disparity in temporal trends was particularly noticeable among African American individuals, where each additional calendar year was associated with a 3% (95% CI, 0.96-0.97) lower adjusted critical illness mortality within a non-minority-serving hospital, but no change within minority-serving hospitals (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.97-1.01). Similarly, although ICU and hospital lengths of stay decreased by 0.08 (95% CI, -0.08 to -0.07) and 0.16 (95% CI, -0.16 to -0.15) days per additional calendar year, respectively, in non-minority-serving hospitals, there was little temporal change for African American individuals in minority-serving hospitals.Conclusions: Critically ill African American individuals are disproportionately cared for in minority-serving hospitals, which have shown significantly less improvement than non-minority-serving hospitals over the last 10 years.

Computerized navigation for total hip arthroplasty is associated with lower complications and ninety-day readmissions: a nationwide linked analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to evaluate if the use of CA-THA was associated with lower complications in the first 90 days following THA compared with conventional THA. METHODS: The Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) was queried to identify patients who underwent THA between 2012 and 2014. The primary outcome was arthroplasty-related complications within the first 90 days following THA. Multivariate models predicting the risk of complications, readmission, and revision-related readmission within 90 days of discharge were created. RESULTS: A total of 309,252 patients with a minimum 90-day follow-up following elective primary THA were identified. After controlling for age, sex, comorbidities, indication, income, and type of insurance, the use of CA during THA resulted in a 12% reduced odds of 90-day complications (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.77-0.99, p = 0.04). DISCUSSION: The use of CA-THA resulted in lower 90-day complication rates and readmission rates compared with traditional THA after controlling for confounding variables. There was no significant difference in the rates of revision surgery between the groups within the first 90 days.

The Impact of Chronic Ozone and Particulate Air Pollution on Mortality in Patients With Sepsis Across the United States.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of chronic exposure to air pollution on mortality in patients with sepsis is unknown. We attempted to quantify the relationship between air pollution, notably excess ozone, and particulate matter (PM), with in-hospital mortality in patients with sepsis nationwide. METHODS: The 2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) was linked with ambient air pollution data from the Environmental Protection Agency for both 8-hour ozone exposure and annual mean 2.5-micron PM (PM2.5) pollution levels. A validated severity of illness model for sepsis using administrative data was used to control for sepsis severity. RESULTS: The records of 8 023 590 hospital admissions from the 2011 NIS sample were analyzed. Of these, there were 444 928 patients who met the Angus definition of sepsis, treated in hospitals for which air pollution data were available. The cohort had an overall mortality of 11.2%. After adjustment for severity of sepsis, increasing exposure to ozone pollution was associated with increased risk of mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 1.04 for each 0.01 ppm increase, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.05; P < .01). Particulate matter was not associated with mortality (OR: 0.99 for each 5 µg/m3 increase, 95% CI: 0.97-1.01; P = .28). When stratified by sepsis source, ozone pollution had a higher impact on patients with pneumonia (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04-1.08; P < .01) compared to those patients without pneumonia (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.03; P < .01). CONCLUSION: Exposure to increased levels of ozone but not particulate air pollution was associated with higher risk of mortality in patients with sepsis. This association was strongest in patients with pneumonia but persisted in all sources of sepsis. Further work is needed to understand the relationship between ambient ozone air pollution and sepsis outcomes.

Lower 90-day Hospital Readmission Rates for Esophageal Variceal Bleeding After TIPS: A Nationwide Linked Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Hospital readmission rates following a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) insertion after an episode of esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) has not been well studied. We aimed to address this gap in knowledge on a population level. METHODS: The Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) was used to study the readmission rates for patients with decompensated cirrhosis who had a TIPS insertion performed for EVB. The NRD is a national database that tracks patients longitudinally for hospital readmissions. A propensity score matching model was created to match patients who received TIPS with those who did not. RESULTS: A total of 42,679,001 hospital admissions from the 2012 to 2014 NRD sample were analyzed. There were 33,934 patients with EVB who met inclusion criteria for the study, of whom, 1527 (4.5%) received TIPS after EVB and were matched with 1527 patients with EVB who did not undergo TIPS. With a uniform follow-up of 3 months, patients with TIPS were less likely to be readmitted to hospital with a recurrent EVB [odds ratio (OR): 0.33, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.24-0.47, P<0.01], although were more likely to be readmitted with hepatic encephalopathy (OR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.31-2.11, P<0.01). At 3 months, there was no difference in all cause hospital readmission rate between the 2 groups (OR: 38.8%; 95% CI: 38.1-44.9 TIPS vs. OR: 41.5%; 95% CI: 34.1-43.3 non-TIPS: P=0.17). CONCLUSIONS: In this large nationally representative study, TIPS insertion after an episode of EVB was associated with a significantly lower risk of 3-month readmission for recurrent EVB compared with patients who did not receive TIPS. Although those receiving TIPS had a higher rate of hepatic encephalopathy the overall readmission remained unchanged.

The association between the Nutrition-Related index and morbidity following head and neck microsurgery.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Despite consensus that preoperative nutritional assessment is of importance in the head and neck surgical oncology population, it remains unclear how exactly malnutrition is associated with perioperative morbidity especially among those undergoing microvascular surgery. We aimed to study this association to help inform preoperative risk stratification, guide the use of nutritional interventions, and ultimately help prevent malnutrition related morbidity. STUDY DESIGN: Database analysis. METHODS: Retrospective, linked analysis of the 2011 to 2016 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. After identifying eligible patients and stratifying according to the Nutrition-Related Index, a univariate screen of preoperative demographic and clinical covariates was performed. Subsequently, propensity score matching was utilized to control for differences in baseline covariates. Perioperative complications and mortality were then analyzed using the propensity score-matched cohorts. RESULTS: Among 977 identified patients, 276 (28.2%) were malnourished. Malnourished patients had higher rates of comorbidity, were more likely to actively smoke, and were more likely to have primaries in the oropharynx or hypopharynx/larynx. After propensity score matching to control for confounders, malnourished patients had higher rates of pulmonary complications (21.5% vs. 11.6%, P < .01), higher rates of bleeding or need for transfusion (56.6% vs. 43.0%, P < .01), higher rates of venous thromboembolism (3.7% vs. 0.8%, P = .03), and a higher 30-day mortality rates (3.7% vs. 0.0%, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide analysis finds that 28.2% of patients undergoing surgery for head and neck cancers with free flap reconstruction are malnourished. Malnourishment was found to be independently associated with postoperative pulmonary complications, bleeding or need for transfusion, and 30-day mortality. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 130:375-380, 2020.

Outcomes of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation for patients with end-stage liver disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There have been improving survival trends after in-hospital cardiac arrest for the general population, but there is limited information on the outcomes of hospitalized patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) who undergo cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We aimed to examine survival to hospital discharge after receipt of in-hospital CPR in patients with ESLD using a nationally representative sample. METHODS: We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2006 to 2014 to identify adult patients who underwent in-hospital CPR. Using multivariate modelling, we compared survival to hospital discharge for patients with ESLD to those without ESLD. We also compared outcomes of patients with ESLD to patients with metastatic cancer. RESULTS: A total of 177 533 patients underwent in-hospital CPR, of which 1474 (0.8%) had ESLD. Patients with ESLD had lower rates of survival to hospital discharge compared to patients without ESLD (10.7% vs 28.6%, P < 0.01). In multivariate modelling, ESLD was significantly associated with lower odds of survival to hospital discharge after in-hospital CPR (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.28-0.44, P < 0.01). Among survivors of in-hospital CPR, ESLD patients had a significantly lower chance of discharge to home compared to patients without ESLD (3.2% vs 8.0%, P < 0.05). Patients with ESLD also had lower rates of survival to hospital discharge compared to those with metastatic cancer (10.7% vs 15.5%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes are poor after in-hospital CPR in patients with ESLD and are worse than for patients with metastatic cancer. The current analysis can be used to inform goals of care discussions for patients with ESLD.

Palliative medicine and hospital readmissions in end-stage liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) have a reduced life expectancy and a significant symptom burden. Our aim is to determine if inpatient palliative care (PC) referral for patients with ESLD is associated with decreased hospital readmission rates. METHODS: The 2013 US Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) was used for the current analysis. The NRD allows for longitudinal analysis of all patient hospital admissions across 22 states. Patients ≥18 years of age with a diagnosis of ESLD with at least two decompensating events were included in the analysis. PC referral at the index hospitalisation divided the cohort into two groups, which were tracked for 9 months. RESULTS: A total of 14 325 172 hospital admissions from the 2013 NRD were examined. In the first 3 months of 2013, a total of 3647 patients with ESLD were admitted with 206 (5.6%) receiving PC referral during the index admission. After the index hospitalisation, patients referred to PC were more likely to be discharged to skilled nursing facilities (45.5% vs 14.7%; p<0.01) or hospice/home care (32.9% vs 15.3%; p<0.01). After propensity score matching, those patients referred to PC demonstrated a significantly lower rate of 1-year hospital readmission (11.0% vs 32.1%; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Inpatient PC referral for patients with ESLD was associated with lower rates of hospital readmission. Early concurrent PC referral likely has added beneficial effects beyond quality of life issues and symptom management.