Characteristics, Outcomes, and Its Associated Factors Among Patients Hospitalized With Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to investigate the characteristics and hospital outcomes of patients with mild traumatic brain injuries. DESIGN: A total of 1940 patients with mild traumatic brain injuries from seven community hospitals between 2017 and 2019 were identified using International Classification of Disease codes and an documented initial Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13-15. A stepwise logistic regression was used to identify demographics and clinical characteristics associated with in-hospital mortality and home discharge. RESULTS: The median age was 69 yrs old with 66.6% associated with falls at admission. Subdural hemorrhage was the most common brain lesion and more common in the group with falls. Increased age, male sex, epidural hemorrhage, presence of hemiplegia, paraplegia, renal disease, cancer, hospital-acquired sepsis, anemia, and use of direct vasodilator were associated with increased odds of in-hospital mortality. Increased age, medical coverage by Medicare, cerebral edema, lower initial Glasgow Coma Scale, length of stay, comorbidity of acute myocardiac infarction, and use of thiamine and opioids were associated with decreased likelihood of discharge to home. CONCLUSIONS: Recognizing characteristics of hospitalized patients with mild traumatic brain injuries and their association with increased in-hospital mortality and nonhome discharge can be useful for improving care of this vulnerable population.

Who Left the Hospital Against Medical Advice During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic?

Background: Patients leaving against medical advice (AMA) presents a challenge to hospitals as they try to manage costs and improve patient outcomes in an ever-increasing competitive market. Investigating AMA discharges that occurred during the early COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to better understand this phenomenon and be better prepared for the future. Methods: This retrospective analysis of 34 379 patients from a nationwide private healthcare system across 20 states analyzed patients during the early stages of the pandemic who chose to leave against medical advice (AMA) after being admitted with COVID-19 infection and identified several patient characteristics associated with subsequent AMA discharge. Results: These patient characteristics included being younger than 50; identifying as male sex; having non-white ethnicity, including both Black and Hispanic; having either Medicaid or no health insurance; and the presence of specific medical comorbidities. The identified medical comorbidities were substance abuse, renal failure, deep vein thrombosis, hypertension with heart failure, hypertension with chronic kidney disease stage 5, rheumatoid arthritis or collagen vascular diseases, alcohol abuse, chronic pulmonary disease, hypertensive encephalopathy, and solid tumor. Conclusion: This study confirms some of the findings in previous studies looking at AMA discharges and has some interesting findings as it relates specifically to the COVID-19-infected patient population. An additional understanding of the factors leading to AMA discharges can help providers and administrators prevent suboptimal discharge outcomes in the future.

Epidemiology of demographic, clinical characteristics and hospital course of patients with spinal cord injury associated with vertebral fracture in a large private health care system in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the demographics, clinical characteristics, hospital course, and factors associated with outcomes in patients with spinal cord injury associated with vertebral fracture (SCI-VF). DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of data collected from electronic health record. SETTING: A large for-profit United States health care system. PARTICIPANTS: 2219 inpatients with SCI-VF between 2014 and 2020 identified using International Classification of Disease codes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: : In-hospital mortality, and disposition (home vs. no-home discharge) after hospitalization. RESULTS: The mean age of patients admitted with a diagnosis of SCI-VF was 54.80 ± 20.85 years with 68.27% identified as male. The cervical spine was the most prevalent site of fracture, displaced vertebral fracture was the most common radiographic diagnosis, and the majority of injuries were classified as incomplete. 836 (37.67% of all 2219) patients were discharged home and had a shorter length of stay (7.56 ± 13.58 days) when compared to the average of the total study population (11.56 ± 19.2 days). The most common hospital-acquired complication (HAC) was falls (n = 259, 11.67%). Characteristics associated with in-hospital mortality in the 96 patients (6.94% of 1,383 patients with no-home discharge) included initial respiratory failure, ICU stay, increased medical comorbidity index value, insulin use, and presence of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal HACs. CONCLUSIONS: A large observational study of patients with SCI-VF can add to the knowledge of SCI characteristics in the U.S. population. Recognizing the common hospital-acquired conditions and clinical characteristics associated with increased in-hospital mortality can be helpful to improve the care of patients with SCI-VF.

COVID-19 vaccination decreased COVID-19 hospital length of stay, in-hospital death, and increased home discharge.

COVID-19 vaccination impact on hospital outcome metrics among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 is not well known. We evaluated if covid-19 vaccination was associated with better hospital outcomes such as in-hospital mortality, overall length of stay, and home discharge. This retrospective study analyzed data from the electronic health records of 29,732 patients admitted with COVID-19 with or without vaccination (21,525 unvaccinated and 8207 vaccinated) from January to December 2021. The association of COVID-19 vaccination status with overall length of hospitalization, in-hospital mortality rate, home discharge after hospitalization was investigated using a multivariate logistic regression and a generalized linear model. The mean age of all groups was 58.16 ± 17.39 years. The unvaccinated group was younger (54.95 ± 16.75) and had less comorbidities compared to the vaccinated group. Patients that had received COVID-19 vaccination exhibited decreased in-hospital mortality (OR 0.666, 95 % CI 0.580-0.764), decreased length of stay (-2.13 days, CI 2.73-1.55 days), and increased rate of home discharge (OR 1.168, CI 1.037-1.315). Older age and cerebrovascular accident diagnosis at admission demonstrated a negative effect on hospital outcomes with decreased home discharge (OR 0.950 per 1 year, CI 0.946-0.953 and OR 0.415, CI 0.202-0.854) and increased inhospital mortality (OR 1.04 per 1 year, CI 1.036-1.045 and OR 3.005, CI 1.961-4.604). This study shows the additional positive impact of COVID-19 vaccination has not just on in-hospital mortality but also in reducing overall length of stay and improved hospital outcome metrics including increasing likelihood of home discharge after hospitalization.

Clinical characteristics, hospital course, and disposition of patients with nontraumatic spinal cord injury in a large private health care system in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, hospital courses, outcomes after hospitalization, and factors associated with outcomes in patients with nontraumatic spinal cord injuries (NTSCI). DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: A large for-profit United States health care system. PARTICIPANTS: 2807 inpatients with NTSCI between 2014 and 2020 were identified using International Classification of Disease codes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Demographic, clinical characteristics, hospital course, and disposition data collected from electronic health record. RESULTS: The mean age was 57.91 ± 16.41 years with 69.83% being male. Incomplete cervical level injury was the most common injury type, spinal stenosis was the most common diagnostic etiology and central cord syndrome was the most common clinical syndrome. The average length of stay was 9.52 ± 15.8 days, with the subgroup of 1308 (46.6%) patients who were discharged home demonstrating a shorter length of stay (6.42 ± 10.24 days). Falls were the most common hospital-acquired complication (n = 424, 15.11%) and 83 patients deceased. There were increased odds of non-home discharge among patients with the following characteristics: older age, Medicare insurance, non-black racial minority, increased Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), intensive care unit (ICU) stay, use of steroid or anticoagulant medications, and hospital-acquired pulmonary complications. Increased in-hospital mortality was observed in those with Medicaid insurance, ICU stay, increased CCI, diagnosis of degenerative spine disease, other unspecified level of injury, and hospital-acquired pulmonary complications. CONCLUSIONS: NTSCI in this sample were predominantly incomplete cervical central SCIs. Increased CCI, ICU stay, and hospital-acquired pulmonary complications were associated with poorer outcomes after acute care hospitalization among patients with NTSCI.

Opioid Utility and Hospital Outcomes Among Inpatients Admitted With Osteoarthritis and Spine Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate opioid analgesic utilization and predictors for adverse events during hospitalization and discharge disposition among patients admitted with osteoarthritis or spine disorders. DESIGN: This is a retrospective study of 12,747 adult patients admitted to six private community hospitals from 2017 to 2020. Opioid use during hospitalization and risk factors for hospital-acquired adverse events and nonhome discharge were investigated. RESULTS: The total number of patients using opioids decreased; however, the daily morphine milligram equivalent use for patients on opioids increased from 2017 to 2020. Increased odds of nonhome discharge were associated with older age, Medicaid, Medicare insurance, and increased lengths of stay, increased body mass index, daily morphine milligram equivalent, and electrolyte replacement in the osteoarthritis group. In the spine group, older age, Black race, Medicaid, Medicare, no insurance, increased Charlson Comorbidity Index, lengths of stay, polypharmacy, and heparin use were associated with nonhome discharge. Adverse events were associated with increased age, lengths of stay, Medicare, polypharmacy, antiemetic, and benzodiazepine use in the osteoarthritis group and increased Charlson Comorbidity Index, lengths of stay, and electrolyte replacement in the spine group. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the decreasing number of patients using opioids over the years, patients on opioids had an increased daily morphine milligram equivalent over the same period.

The Role of Physical Activity in Older Adults and Practical Intervention.

Description Physical inactivity (PI), defined as not meeting guidelines for physical activity beyond baseline daily living activities, is common among older adults (age 65 and older) and contributes to increased morbidity, increased mortality and increased health care spending. Understanding the clinical impact of PI on common medical conditions among older adults will help primary care physicians (PCPs) to educate these patients successfully. Physical activity and exercise are effective in the primary and secondary prevention of chronic diseases that can lead to physical impairments, disability and/or premature death. Physical activity and exercise have been shown to improve cognitive dysfunction and painful musculoskeletal disorders as well as diminish frailty and reduce falls, which are highly prevalent among older adults with a significant impact on their ability to function and perform daily activities. Improving PCPs' ability to identify PI, educate patients about the health impact of physical activity and advocate and prescribe appropriate exercise will prevent adverse health outcomes related to PI.

Convexity of scoliosis related to handedness in identical twin boys with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy: a case report.

The interplay between hand dominance and directionality of scoliosis in boys with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) is not clearly defined. We describe an extremely rare presentation of monozygotic twin boys with DMD and opposing hand dominance who developed major spine curvature with opposite convexities. The unique clinical presentation of progressive neuromuscular disease and scoliosis in monozygotic twins should allow for a unique evaluation of some of the contributory factors associated with the development of neuromuscular scoliosis in DMD. In this case report, we explore the pathophysiology involved in neuromuscular scoliosis, examine the role of conservative, surgical, and medical treatments, and discuss potential future avenues of research.