Epidemiología y mortalidad hospitalaria por evento vascular cerebral en un hospital de la Ciudad de México: estudio prospectivo de 2 años.

OBJECTIVE: To describe patient characteristics, case fatality rate, and assess predictors of in-hospital acute ischemic (IS) or hemorrhagic stroke (HS) mortality. METHOD: Adult patients with confirmed stroke were recruited from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2019.Data collect included demographic and laboratory characteristics, risk factors, and clinical outcome. A binary logistic regression model with relative risk and 95% confidence interval was performed. RESULTS: A total of 172 patients were recruited; IS was present in 78.5% of patients. The mean of age was 75.27 ± 11.44 years in IS group and 71.62 ± 11.72 years in HS group. Hypertension was present in > 70% of patients in both groups; the in-hospital case fatality rate was 15.5% for IS and 21.5% for HS. Severe NIHSS score (> 13) was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality in both stroke types. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension was the most common risk factor in patients with stroke. The in-hospital case fatality rate was lower to previously reported in Mexico. Nevertheless, it remains high compared to reported in developed countries. NIHSS scale was the strongest predictor of mortality. There is a need to develop more effective stroke management services in Mexico.

OBJETIVO: Describir las características y los factores pronósticos para mortalidad intrahospitalaria en pacientes con diagnóstico de evento vascular cerebral isquémico (EVCi) o hemorrágico (EVCh). MÉTODO: Se incluyeron 172 pacientes en el periodo del 1 de enero de 2018 al 31 de diciembre de 2019. Se recabaron características demográficas, de laboratorio y factores de riesgo. Se realizó un análisis de regresión logística binaria calculando el riesgo relativo y el intervalo de confianza al 95% para identificar las variables asociadas a la mortalidad. RESULTADOS: El 78.5% de los pacientes presentaron EVCi. La media de edad fue de 75.27 ± 11.44 años en el EVCi y de 71.62 ± 11.72 años en el EVCh. El antecedente de hipertensión se encontró en más del 70% de los pacientes en ambos tipos de EVC. La mortalidad hospitalaria fue del 15.5% en el EVCi y del 21.5% en el EVCh. Una puntuación grave (> 13) en la escala NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) presentó asociación significativa con la mortalidad en ambos tipos de EVC. CONCLUSIONES: La hipertensión fue el factor de riesgo más común. La mortalidad hospitalaria fue menor que lo reportado previamente en México. La escala NIHSS fue el mejor predictor de mortalidad. Es necesario desarrollar estrategias para mejorar la atención de los pacientes con EVC en México.

Neurological Manifestations and Outcomes in a Retrospective Cohort of Mexican Inpatients with SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia: Design of a Risk Profile.

We analyzed the neurological manifestations in Mexican patients hospitalized with pneumonia due to COVID-19 and investigated the association between demographic, clinical, and biochemical variables and outcomes, including death. A retrospective, analytical study was conducted using the electronic records of patients hospitalized between 1 April 2020 and 30 September 2020. Records of 1040 patients were analyzed: 31.25% died and 79.42% had neurological symptoms, including headache (80.62%), anosmia (32.20%), ageusia (31.96%), myopathy (28.08%), disorientation (14.89%), encephalopathy (12.22%), neuropathy (5.4%), stroke (1.3%), seizures (1.3%), cerebral hemorrhage (1.08%), encephalitis (0.84%), central venous thrombosis (0.36%), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (0.24%). Patients also had comorbidities, such as hypertension (42.30%), diabetes mellitus (38.74%), obesity (61.34%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (3.17%), and asthma (2.01%). Factors associated with neurological symptoms were dyspnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, advanced respiratory support, prolonged hospitalization, and worsening fibrinogen levels. Factors associated with death were older age, advanced respiratory support, amine management, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, intensive care unit management, dyspnea, disorientation, encephalopathy, hypertension, neuropathy, diabetes, male sex, three or more neurological symptoms, and obesity grade 3. In this study we designed a profile to help predict patients at higher risk of developing neurological complications and death following COVID-19 infection.

Effect of Antiviral Agents on Atherosclerosis in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and is associated with cardiovascular events. Mechanisms include inflammatory cytokines, endothelial dysfunction, and increased oxidative stress. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective was to evaluate the response of carotid atherosclerosis to treatment with direct-antiviral agents. METHODS: We developed a prospective cohort study that included patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), without cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, significative chronic kidney disease or coinfections. Clinical characteristics, laboratory values and carotid ultrasound to measure carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and look for established atherosclerosis were performed at baseline and 3 months after completing treatment with DAAs. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients were included. The mean age was 60 years and 79% were women. The prevalence of smoking was 41.7%, obesity 25% and hypertension 20.8%. Age, arterial hypertension, genotype, AST, glomerular filtration rate and cirrhosis were significantly associated with established carotid atherosclerosis. After treatment with DAAs, an overall significant reduction of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels was found (p = 0.004). A trend towards reduction of significant CIMT (>0.9 mm) (20.8 vs. 8.3%, RR 1.18, IC 95% 0.75-1.86, p = 0.29) and a statistically significant resolution of atherosclerotic plaque (45.8 vs. 41.7% RR 0.09, IC 95% 0.01-0.63, p = 0.001) was found. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with DAAs decrease carotid thickening, atheromatous plaques, and inflammatory markers like CRP. More studies are needed to confirm this finding and its impact on long-term cardiovascular outcomes.