The process of hip fracture management before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic affected the control of many chronic conditions, including hip fractures, worldwide. This study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of hip fractures in a referral orthopedic hospital in Iran. By understanding how the pandemic has influenced the care of hip fracture patients, we can gain valuable insights into the challenges, adaptations, and potential improvements in orthopedic healthcare during such public health crises. METHODS: Data was collected on hip fracture patients aged 50 and above who were admitted to the hospital before and during the pandemic. The number of admissions and operations, length of hospital stay, and time from admission to surgery were recorded from the hospital information system (HIS) and compared between the two periods. RESULTS: The median number of admitted hip fracture patients per month increased slightly during the pandemic (11%), although this increase was not statistically significant (p = 0.124). After adjusting for potential confounders, the mean length of hospital stay was significantly lower during the pandemic period, indicating that patients were discharged sooner (p = 0.019) and the time from admission to surgery was shorter during the pandemic (p = 0.004). Although the increase in the number of hip fracture surgeries per month during the pandemic was not statistically significant (P = 0.132), a higher percentage of patients underwent surgery during the pandemic compared to before (84.8% VS. 79.4%). CONCLUSION: The study suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a negative impact on hip fracture management in the investigated orthopedic hospital in Iran. further research is needed to explore the effects of the pandemic on other aspects of healthcare services, particularly in general hospitals.

Quality of hospital care and clinical outcomes: a comparison between the Lombardy Region and the Italian national data.

Background: Improving the quality and effectiveness of healthcare is a key priority in health policy. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has exerted considerable pressure on hospital networks, requiring unprecedented reorganization and restructuring actions. This study analyzed data from the Italian National Outcomes Program to compare some volumes and outcomes of public and private accredited hospitals in the Lombardy Region with national data. Study design: Observational study. Methods: A thorough examination of hospital outcomes between 2019 and 2021 was conducted, considering 45 volume indicators and 48 process and outcome indicators, comparing Lombardy with other Italian regions and public versus private accredited hospitals. Results: In 2020, Italy and Lombardy experienced a considerable reduction in overall hospital admissions, with Lombardy showing a deeper decline (21.3% compared with 16.0% in Italy). In 2021, both experienced a partial recovery, especially marked in the Lombardy region (+7.3%, compared with national data). Focusing specifically on the private sector in Lombardy, a recovery of +9.3% in hospitalization was observed. In the analysis of clinical outcomes, Lombardy outperformed the national average for 63% of the indicators in 2020 and 83.3% in 2021. Conclusions: The study shows the continuing decline in volumes compared to 2019 (pre-COVID), the excellent performance of hospitals in Lombardy and a relevant contribution for the volumes and the quality of outcomes of private accredited hospitals.

Trends in Before Medically Advised Discharges for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder, 2016-2020.

This study examines discharge trends for opioid-related admissions from 2016-2020 with a focus on admissions with opioid use disorder and an injection-related infection.

Pediatric Hospitalization Trends at Children's and General Hospitals, 2000-2019.

This study examines whether pediatric inpatient care has been redistributed from general hospitals into children's hospitals.

20-year trends in multimorbidity by race/ethnicity among hospitalized patient populations in the United States.

BACKGROUND: The challenges presented by multimorbidity continue to rise in the United States. Little is known about how the relative contribution of individual chronic conditions to multimorbidity has changed over time, and how this varies by race/ethnicity. The objective of this study was to describe trends in multimorbidity by race/ethnicity, as well as to determine the differential contribution of individual chronic conditions to multimorbidity in hospitalized populations over a 20-year period within the United States. METHODS: This is a serial cross-sectional study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 1993 to 2012. We identified all hospitalized patients aged ≥ 18 years old with available data on race/ethnicity. Multimorbidity was defined as the presence of 3 or more conditions based on the Elixhauser comorbidity index. The relative change in the proportion of hospitalized patients with multimorbidity, overall and by race/ethnicity (Black, White, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American) were tabulated and presented graphically. Population attributable fractions were estimated from modified Poisson regression models adjusted for sex, age, and insurance type. These fractions were used to describe the relative contribution of individual chronic conditions to multimorbidity over time and across racial/ethnic groups. RESULTS: There were 123,613,970 hospitalizations captured within the NIS between 1993 and 2012. The prevalence of multimorbidity increased in all race/ethnic groups over the 20-year period, most notably among White, Black, and Native American populations (+ 29.4%, + 29.7%, and + 32.0%, respectively). In both 1993 and 2012, Black hospitalized patients had a higher prevalence of multimorbidity (25.1% and 54.8%, respectively) compared to all other race/ethnic groups. Native American populations exhibited the largest overall increase in multimorbidity (+ 32.0%). Furthermore, the contribution of metabolic diseases to multimorbidity increased, particularly among Hispanic patients who had the highest population attributable fraction values for diabetes without complications (15.0%), diabetes with complications (5.1%), and obesity (5.8%). CONCLUSIONS: From 1993 to 2012, the secular increases in the prevalence of multimorbidity as well as changes in the differential contribution of individual chronic conditions has varied substantially by race/ethnicity. These findings further elucidate the racial/ethnic gaps prevalent in multimorbidity within the United States. PRIOR PRESENTATIONS: Preliminary finding of this study were presented at the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) Annual Conference, Washington, DC, April 21, 2017.

Trends in Laboratory-Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections and Associated Hospitalizations and Deaths Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years - 18 U.S. Jurisdictions, September 2021-December 2022.

Although reinfections with SARS-CoV-2 have occurred in the United States with increasing frequency, U.S. epidemiologic trends in reinfections and associated severe outcomes have not been characterized. Weekly counts of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections, total infections, and associated hospitalizations and deaths reported by 18 U.S. jurisdictions during September 5, 2021-December 31, 2022, were analyzed overall, by age group, and by five periods of SARS-CoV-2 variant predominance (Delta and Omicron [BA.1, BA.2, BA.4/BA.5, and BQ.1/BQ.1.1]). Among reported reinfections, weekly trends in the median intervals between infections and frequencies of predominant variants during previous infections were calculated. As a percentage of all infections, reinfections increased substantially from the Delta (2.7%) to the Omicron BQ.1/BQ.1.1 (28.8%) periods; during the same periods, increases in the percentages of reinfections among COVID-19-associated hospitalizations (from 1.9% [Delta] to 17.0% [Omicron BQ.1/BQ.1.1]) and deaths (from 1.2% [Delta] to 12.3% [Omicron BQ.1/BQ.1.1]) were also substantial. Percentages of all COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths that were reinfections were consistently higher across variant periods among adults aged 18-49 years compared with those among adults aged ≥50 years. The median interval between infections ranged from 269 to 411 days by week, with a steep decline at the start of the BA.4/BA.5 period, when >50% of reinfections occurred among persons previously infected during the Alpha variant period or later. To prevent severe COVID-19 outcomes, including those following reinfection, CDC recommends staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination and receiving timely antiviral treatments, when eligible.

Estimated trends in hospitalizations due to occupational injuries in Korea based on the Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey (2006-2019).

OBJECTIVES: In recent years, occupational injuries have sparked a huge social and political debate. Thus, in this study, we focused on the characteristics and trends of occupational injuries requiring hospitalization in Korea. METHODS: The Korea National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey was designed to estimate the annual number and characteristics of all injury-related hospitalizations in Korea. The annual number of hospitalizations due to occupational injuries and the age-standardized rates (ASRs) were estimated from 2006 to 2019. The annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC) of ASRs and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using joinpoint regression. All analyses were stratified by gender. RESULTS: In men, the APC of the ASRs of all-cause occupational injuries was -3.1% (95% CI, -4.5 to -1.7) in 2006-2015. However, a non-significant upward trend was observed after 2015 (APC, 3.3%; 95% CI, -1.6 to 8.5). In women, the APC of all-cause occupational injuries was -8.6% (95% CI, -12.1 to -5.1) in 2006-2012. However, a non-significant upward trend was observed after 2012 (APC, 2.1%; 95% CI, -0.9 to 5.2). A recent upward trend in stabbing injuries was observed after 2012 (APC, 4.7%; 95% CI, -1.8 to 11.8) in women. A non-significant overall increasing trend was also observed for occupational injuries caused by exposure to extreme temperatures (AAPC, 3.7%; 95% CI, -1.1 to 8.7) in women. CONCLUSIONS: A recent upward trend in all-cause injury hospitalizations and hospitalizations caused by stabbing injuries was observed. Therefore, active policy interventions are required to prevent occupational injuries.

Contemporary Trends in Acute Myocardial Infarction in the American Indian/Alaska Native U.S. Population, 2000 to 2018.

Coronary heart disease is disproportionately prevalent in the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) population. As care for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) continues to advance, equitable distribution and access for the AI/AN population is essential. Primary AMI hospitalizations for adults ≥18 years of age were identified from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample from 2000 to 2018. Related co-morbidities, procedures of interest, and in-hospital mortality were also identified. These rates were stratified by race then trended over years using Poisson regression. Overall, 9,904,714 weighted hospitalizations for primary AMI were identified. From 2000 to 2018, AI/AN adults had relatively high rates of primary AMI hospitalization, second only to non-Hispanic (NH) White adults. The AMI rate increased from 14.0/1,000 to 16.1/1,000 among AI/AN adults, remaining higher than NH Black adults (12.1/1,000 to 13.0/1,000) and Hispanic adults (10.3/1,000 and 12.7/1,000) and becoming increasingly closer to NH White adults (25.1/1,000 to 20.0/1,000) (p <0.001 for each). AI/AN adults presented 5 years earlier than their NH White counterparts (64 vs 69 years old; p <0.001). In-hospital mortality was approximately 5% for all race categories and decreased in all groups but decreased at a much greater rate for NH White, NH Black and Hispanic adults (0.2% per year) compared with AI/AN adults (0.08% per year; p <0.001 for each comparison). Rates of coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention increased in all groups, but coronary artery bypass graft utilization increased only in AI/AN adults (from 7% to 10%, p <0.001). In conclusion, from 2000 to 2018, AI/AN adults had a high rate of AMI hospitalizations (second only to NH White adults) that increased significantly over time. AI/AN adults were 5 years younger than their NH White counterparts at index AMI hospitalization. Care during these hospitalizations was similar among all racial groups, and in-hospital mortality decreased for all groups, albeit to a lesser degree among AI/AN adults. This study highlights the need for improved access to outpatient primary AMI prevention in the AI/AN population.

Pediatric Mental Health Hospitalizations at Acute Care Hospitals in the US, 2009-2019.

Importance: Approximately 1 in 6 youth in the US have a mental health condition, and suicide is a leading cause of death among this population. Recent national statistics describing acute care hospitalizations for mental health conditions are lacking. Objectives: To describe national trends in pediatric mental health hospitalizations between 2009 and 2019, to compare utilization among mental health and non-mental health hospitalizations, and to characterize variation in utilization across hospitals. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective analysis of the 2009, 2012, 2016, and 2019 Kids' Inpatient Database, a nationally representative database of US acute care hospital discharges. Analysis included 4 767 840 weighted hospitalizations among children 3 to 17 years of age. Exposures: Hospitalizations with primary mental health diagnoses were identified using the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Disorders Classification System, which classified mental health diagnoses into 30 mutually exclusive disorder types. Main Outcomes and Measures: Measures included number and proportion of hospitalizations with a primary mental health diagnosis and with attempted suicide, suicidal ideation, or self-injury; number and proportion of hospital days and interfacility transfers attributable to mental health hospitalizations; mean lengths of stay (days) and transfer rates among mental health and non-mental health hospitalizations; and variation in these measures across hospitals. Results: Of 201 932 pediatric mental health hospitalizations in 2019, 123 342 (61.1% [95% CI, 60.3%-61.9%]) were in females, 100 038 (49.5% [95% CI, 48.3%-50.7%]) were in adolescents aged 15 to 17 years, and 103 456 (51.3% [95% CI, 48.6%-53.9%]) were covered by Medicaid. Between 2009 and 2019, the number of pediatric mental health hospitalizations increased by 25.8%, and these hospitalizations accounted for a significantly higher proportion of pediatric hospitalizations (11.5% [95% CI, 10.2%-12.8%] vs 19.8% [95% CI, 17.7%-21.9%]), hospital days (22.2% [95% CI, 19.1%-25.3%] vs 28.7% [95% CI, 24.4%-33.0%]), and interfacility transfers (36.9% [95% CI, 33.2%-40.5%] vs 49.3% [95% CI, 45.9%-52.7%]). The percentage of mental health hospitalizations with attempted suicide, suicidal ideation, or self-injury diagnoses increased significantly from 30.7% (95% CI, 28.6%-32.8%) in 2009 to 64.2% (95% CI, 62.3%-66.2%) in 2019. Length of stay and interfacility transfer rates varied significantly across hospitals. Across all years, mental health hospitalizations had significantly longer mean lengths of stay and higher transfer rates compared with non-mental health hospitalizations. Conclusions and Relevance: Between 2009 and 2019, the number and proportion of pediatric acute care hospitalizations due to mental health diagnoses increased significantly. The majority of mental health hospitalizations in 2019 included a diagnosis of attempted suicide, suicidal ideation, or self-injury, underscoring the increasing importance of this concern.

Tendencias en la hospitalización por infección del tracto urinario en la población pediátrica de España en el período 2000-2015 / Trends in hospitalization for urinary tract infection in the paediatric age group in the 2000–2015 period in Spain

Objetivo: Analizar las tendencias en la hospitalización por infección del tracto urinario (ITU) en menores de 0-14 años en España en el período 2000-2015. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo observacional realizado por medio del conjunto mínimo básico de datos hospitalario con códigos de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades (CIE-9). Se incluyeron todos los ingresos por cistitis, pielonefritis e ITU de localización no especificada en niños menores de 15 años. Se recogieron datos sobre el sexo, edad, tipo de alta, diagnóstico principal, comorbilidades, estancia hospitalaria y coste total. Se calcularon tasas crudas de hospitalización por 1000 habitantes menores de 15 años y se llevó a cabo un análisis de regresión segmentada para identificar tendencias temporales. Resultados: En el período 2000-2015, hubo 124.696 ingresos en niños menores de 15 años. De este total, el 72,97% tenían de 0 a 1 año y el 60,12% recibió un diagnóstico de ITU no especificada, el 39,27% de pielonefritis, y el 0,52% de cistitis. La tasa bruta de hospitalización por ITU osciló entre 1,24 en 2000 y 0,98 en 2015. La tasa de hospitalización por ITU fue mayor en niñas que en niños. El análisis de regresión segmentada mostró una tendencia decreciente en la tasa de hospitalización por ITU, con un porcentaje de cambio anual medio (PCAM) del −1,5% (IC 95%: −2,4 a −0,6). Los cambios observados fueron mayores en niñas (PCAM −1,8; IC 95%: −2,5 a −1,0) y en el grupo de 7 a 10 años (PCAM −5,9; IC 95%: −6,7 a −5,2). Conclusiones: La tasa de hospitalización asociada a infección urinaria en pacientes menores de 15 años en España descendió durante el período 2000-2015. Las mayores tasas se dieron en niñas y en menores de 2 años. (AU)

Objective: To analyse the trends in hospital admissions related to urinary tract infection among children aged 0–14 years in Spain in the 2000–2015 period. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study using the minimum basic hospital discharge dataset system of Spain, which applies the International Classification of Diseases, version 9 (ICD-9) coding system. We included every hospitalization due to cystitis, pyelonephritis and unspecified UTI among children aged less than 15 years. We collected data on patient sex and age, type of discharge, main diagnosis, comorbidities, length of stay and overall cost. We calculated crude hospitalization rates per 1000 inhabitants aged less than 15 years and performed a joinpoint regression analysis to identify temporal trends. Results: In the 2000–2015 period, there were 124696 hospitalizations in children under 15 years. Of these patients, 72.97% were aged 0–1 year and 60.12% had a diagnosis of unspecified UTI, 39.27% of pyelonephritis, and 0.52% of cystitis. The crude rate of hospitalization due to UTI ranged from 1.24 in year 2000 to 0.98 in 2015. The rate of hospitalization was higher in female versus male patients. The joinpoint analysis found a decreasing trend in the rate of hospitalization due to UTI, with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of −1.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], −2.4 to −0.6). The largest decreases occurred in female patients (AAPC, −1.8; 95% CI, −2.5 to −1.0) and children aged 7–10 years (AAPC −5.9; 95% CI, −6.7 to −5.2). Conclusions: The rate of hospitalization related to UTI in Spain in patients aged up to 14 years decreased during the 2000–2015 period. The highest hospitalization rates occurred in female patients and in the 0-to-1 year age group. (AU)

Ageing with HIV in the United States: Changing trends in inpatient hospital stays and comorbidities, 2003-2015.

INTRODUCTION: As people with HIV (PWH) age, they experience prolonged exposure to HIV and antiretroviral therapy, increased risks of developing age-related HIV-associated non-AIDS (HANA) comorbidities and higher rates of hospitalization. Few studies have explored the ageing of PWH and its impact on hospital stays in the US. This study examined trends, characteristics and comorbidities associated with hospital stays with HIV (HSWH) as compared with hospital stays without HIV (HSWOH). METHODS: Thirteen years of pooled National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data from 2003 through 2015 were analysed to describe yearly trends. Trends were evaluated for eight major HANA conditions (cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, liver disease, bone loss, kidney disease, pulmonary disease and neurological disease) across four age groups (18-34, 35-49, 50-64, 65+ years). RESULTS: Although overall rates of hospitalization reduced across all age groups, the proportion of HIV-related hospitalization increased among older Americans. The average number of chronic conditions was higher for HSWH among all age groups and disproportionately increased for older PWH. Although age-adjusted rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, bone loss and pulmonary disease were lower for HSWH relative to HSWOH, rates increased disproportionately over the study period. The prevalence of all major HANA conditions except cancer and diabetes increased among the elderly (65+), and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, cancer, bone loss, kidney disease and pulmonary disease also increased among patients aged 50-64 years. CONCLUSIONS: Higher rates of hospitalizations and HANA comorbidities were observed among older HIV patients. The ageing of PWH suggests increased future hospital resource utilization for HSWH. Appropriate training of healthcare providers is essential to managing increased comorbidity burdens of older PWH during hospital stays in the US.

Pelvic inflammatory disease hospitalizations in Brazil: time trend from 2000 to 2019 / Internações por doença inflamatória pélvica no Brasil: tendência temporal de 2000 a 2019

Abstract Objectives: to evaluate the temporal trend of hospitalizations for pelvic infammatory disease in Brazil and its regions between 2000 and 2019. Methods: longitudinal ecological study with data from the Hospital Information System. The analysis of temporal trends in hospitalization rates by age group was performed using segmented linear regression (joinpoint regression). Both annual percent change total and by age groups were estimated for Brazil and each region. Results: Brazil had an average reduction of 5.2% per year in the period and the age groups most affected were 20 to 29 and 30 to 39 years. North region had the highest rates and South and Southeast regions, the lowest. Midwest region had the largest annual average reduction (8.1%), followed by the Northeast (5.7%), Southeast (5.0%), North (4.6%) and South (4.3 %). The only age group that showed a significant increase was that of 10 to 19 years in the Southeast in the period from 2008 to 2019 (0.9%) and in the Northeast in the period from 2014 to 2019 (3.3%). Conclusions: hospitalization due to pelvic infammatory disease has significantly decreased in Brazil. The increase observed for adolescents in the Southeast and Northeast in the most recent period points to problems in the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections in this age group.

Resumo Objetivos: avaliar a tendência temporal de internações por doença infamatória pélvica no Brasil e regiões entre 2000 e 2019. Métodos: estudo ecológico longitudinal com dados do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares. A análise das tendências temporais das taxas de internação hospitalar por faixas etárias foi feita por regressão linear segmentada (joinpoint regression). Foram estimadas variações percentuais anuais gerais e por faixas etárias para o Brasil e cada região. Resultados: o Brasil teve uma redução média de 5,2% ao ano no período e as faixas etárias mais afetadas foram 20 a 29 e 30 a 39 anos. A região Norte apresentou as maiores taxas e as regiões Sul e Sudeste as menores. A região Centro-Oeste teve a maior redução média anual (8,1%), seguida das regiões Nordeste (5,7%), Sudeste (5,0%), Norte (4,6%) e Sul (4,3%). A única faixa etária que apresentou um aumento significativo foi a de 10 a 19 anos nas regiões Sudeste no período de 2008 a 2019 (0,9%) e no Nordeste no período de 2014 a 2019 (3,3%). Conclusões: a internação hospitalar por doença infamatória pélvica reduziu no Brasil de forma importante. O aumento verificado para adolescentes no Sudeste e Nordeste no período mais recente aponta para problemas na prevenção e controle das infecções sexualmente transmissíveis nesta faixa etária.

Estimating the economic impact of acute coronary syndrome in New Zealand over time (ANZACS-QI 64): a national registry-based cost burden study.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the changes in costs associated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) admissions in New Zealand (NZ) public hospitals over a 12-year period. DESIGN: A cost-burden study of ACS in NZ was conducted from the NZ healthcare system perspective. SETTING: Hospital admission costs were estimated using relevant diagnosis-related groups and their costs for publicly funded casemix hospitalisations, and applied to 190 364 patients with ACS admitted to NZ public hospitals between 2007 and 2018 identified from routine national hospital datasets. Trends in the costs of index ACS hospitalisation, hospital admissions costs, coronary revascularisation and all-cause mortality up to 1 year were evaluated. All costs were presented as 2019 NZ dollars. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Healthcare costs attributed to ACS admissions in NZ over time. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2018, there was a 42% decrease in costs attributed to ACS (NZ$7.7 million (M) to NZ$4.4 M per 100 000 per year), representing a decrease of NZ$298 827 per 100 000 population per year. Mean admission costs associated with each admission declined from NZ$18 411 in 2007 to NZ$16 898 over this period (p<0.001) after adjustment for key clinical and procedural characteristics. These reductions were against a background of increased use of coronary revascularisation (23.1% (2007) to 38.1% (2018)), declining ACS admissions (366-252 per 100 000 population) and an improvement in 1-year survival post-ACS. Nevertheless, the total ACS cost burden remained considerable at NZ$237 M in 2018. CONCLUSIONS: The economic cost of hospitalisations for ACS in NZ decreased considerably over time. Further studies are warranted to explore the association between reductions in ACS cost burden and changes in the management of ACS.

Trends in Adverse Event Rates in Hospitalized Patients, 2010-2019.

Importance: Patient safety is a US national priority, yet lacks a comprehensive assessment of progress over the past decade. Objective: To determine the change in the rate of adverse events in hospitalized patients. Design, Setting, and Participants: This serial cross-sectional study used data from the Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring System from 2010 to 2019 to assess in-hospital adverse events in patients. The study included 244 542 adult patients hospitalized in 3156 US acute care hospitals across 4 condition groups from 2010 through 2019: acute myocardial infarction (17%), heart failure (17%), pneumonia (21%), and major surgical procedures (22%); and patients hospitalized from 2012 through 2019 for all other conditions (22%). Exposures: Adults aged 18 years or older hospitalized during each included calendar year. Main Outcomes and Measures: Information on adverse events (abstracted from medical records) included 21 measures across 4 adverse event domains: adverse drug events, hospital-acquired infections, adverse events after a procedure, and general adverse events (hospital-acquired pressure ulcers and falls). The outcomes were the total change over time for the observed and risk-adjusted adverse event rates in the subpopulations. Results: The study sample included 190 286 hospital discharges combined in the 4 condition-based groups of acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, pneumonia, and major surgical procedures (mean age, 68.0 [SD, 15.9] years; 52.6% were female) and 54 256 hospital discharges for the group including all other conditions (mean age, 57.7 [SD, 20.7] years; 59.8% were female) from 3156 acute care hospitals across the US. From 2010 to 2019, the total change was from 218 to 139 adverse events per 1000 discharges for acute myocardial infarction, from 168 to 116 adverse events per 1000 discharges for heart failure, from 195 to 119 adverse events per 1000 discharges for pneumonia, and from 204 to 130 adverse events per 1000 discharges for major surgical procedures. From 2012 to 2019, the rate of adverse events for all other conditions remained unchanged at 70 adverse events per 1000 discharges. After adjustment for patient and hospital characteristics, the annual change represented by relative risk in all adverse events per 1000 discharges was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.93-0.94) for acute myocardial infarction, 0.95 (95% CI, 0.94-0.96) for heart failure, 0.94 (95% CI, 0.93-0.95) for pneumonia, 0.93 (95% CI, 0.92-0.94) for major surgical procedures, and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.96-0.99) for all other conditions. The risk-adjusted adverse event rates declined significantly in all patient groups for adverse drug events, hospital-acquired infections, and general adverse events. For patients in the major surgical procedures group, the risk-adjusted rates of events after a procedure declined significantly. Conclusions and Relevance: In the US between 2010 and 2019, there was a significant decrease in the rates of adverse events abstracted from medical records for patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, pneumonia, and major surgical procedures and there was a significant decrease in the adjusted rates of adverse events between 2012 and 2019 for all other conditions. Further research is needed to understand the extent to which these trends represent a change in patient safety.

Hospitalization of Infants and Children Aged 0-4 Years with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 - COVID-NET, 14 States, March 2020-February 2022.

The B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has been the predominant circulating variant in the United States since late December 2021.* Coinciding with increased Omicron circulation, COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates increased rapidly among infants and children aged 0-4 years, a group not yet eligible for vaccination (1). Coronavirus Disease 19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET)† data were analyzed to describe COVID-19-associated hospitalizations among U.S. infants and children aged 0-4 years since March 2020. During the period of Omicron predominance (December 19, 2021-February 19, 2022), weekly COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates per 100,000 infants and children aged 0-4 years peaked at 14.5 (week ending January 8, 2022); this Omicron-predominant period peak was approximately five times that during the period of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) predominance (June 27-December 18, 2021, which peaked the week ending September 11, 2021).§ During Omicron predominance, 63% of hospitalized infants and children had no underlying medical conditions; infants aged <6 months accounted for 44% of hospitalizations, although no differences were observed in indicators of severity by age. Strategies to prevent COVID-19 among infants and young children are important and include vaccination among currently eligible populations (2) such as pregnant women (3), family members, and caregivers of infants and young children (4).

Hospitalizations and Mortality From Non-SARS-CoV-2 Causes Among Medicare Beneficiaries at US Hospitals During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

Importance: The increased hospital mortality rates from non-SARS-CoV-2 causes during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic are incompletely characterized. Objective: To describe changes in mortality rates after hospitalization for non-SARS-CoV-2 conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic and how mortality varies by characteristics of the admission and hospital. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective cohort study from January 2019 through September 2021 using 100% of national Medicare claims, including 4626 US hospitals. Participants included 8 448 758 individuals with non-COVID-19 medical admissions with fee-for-service Medicare insurance. Main Outcomes and Measures: Outcome was mortality in the 30 days after admission with adjusted odds generated from a 3-level (admission, hospital, and county) logistic regression model that included diagnosis, demographic variables, comorbidities, hospital characteristics, and hospital prevalence of SARS-CoV-2. Results: There were 8 448 758 non-SARS-CoV-2 medical admissions in 2019 and from April 2020 to September 2021 (mean [SD] age, 73.66 [12.88] years; 52.82% women; 821 569 [11.87%] Black, 438 453 [6.34%] Hispanic, 5 351 956 [77.35%] White, and 307 218 [4.44%] categorized as other). Mortality in the 30 days after admission increased from 9.43% in 2019 to 11.48% from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021 (odds ratio [OR], 1.20; 95% CI, 1.19-1.21) in multilevel logistic regression analyses including admission and hospital characteristics. The increase in mortality was maintained throughout the first 18 months of the pandemic and varied by race and ethnicity (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.23-1.30 for Black enrollees; OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.23-1.27 for Hispanic enrollees; and OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.17-1.19 for White enrollees); Medicaid eligibility (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.24-1.27 for Medicaid eligible vs OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.16-1.18 for noneligible); and hospital quality score, measured on a scale of 1 to 5 stars with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.22-1.31 for 1 star vs OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.08-1.15 for 5 stars). Greater hospital prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was associated with greater increases in odds of death from the prepandemic period to the pandemic period; for example, comparing mortality in October through December 2020 with October through December 2019, the OR was 1.44 (95% CI, 1.39-1.49) for hospitals in the top quartile of SARS-CoV-2 admissions vs an OR of 1.19 (95% CI, 1.16-1.22) for admissions to hospitals in the lowest quartile. This association was mostly limited to admissions with high-severity diagnoses. Conclusions and Relevance: The prolonged elevation in mortality rates after hospital admission in 2020 and 2021 for non-SARS-CoV-2 diagnoses contrasts with reports of improvement in hospital mortality during 2020 for SARS-CoV-2. The results of this cohort study suggest that, with the continued impact of SARS-CoV-2, it is important to implement interventions to improve access to high-quality hospital care for those with non-SARS-CoV-2 diseases.

Retrospective Study of the Association Between Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome on Admission to a Rural Referral Center in East Java, Indonesia, and the Incidence of New Symptomatic Heart Failure at 6 Months.

BACKGROUND This was a retrospective study conducted at a rural referral center in East Java, Indonesia, to evaluate the association between the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) on hospital admission and the incidence of new symptomatic heart failure (HF) within 6 months in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MATERIAL AND METHODS The study population consisted of all ACS patients who were hospitalized between 1 January and 31 December 2018 at a non-percutaneous coronary intervention-capable secondary referral hospital and came for a routine follow-up until 6 months afterwards. The diagnosis of new symptomatic HF was based on International Classification of Diseases 10th revision code I50.9. RESULTS From 126 hospitalized patients, 92 patients were included in the analysis. The incidence rate of new symptomatic HF at 6 months was 70.65%. High PLR upon initial admission was significantly associated with new symptomatic HF incidence (odds ratio=1.70, P<0.001). PLR was also able to discriminate new symptomatic HF incidence at 6 months with area under the curve of 0.83 (P=0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that PLR was an independent predictor for new symptomatic HF incidence (hazard ratio=4.5, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS In a rural center in Indonesia, the PLR was independently correlated with the onset of new symptomatic HF in patients with ACS 6 months after hospital admission. The PLR may be a supplementary biomarker for clinical outcomes in patients with ACS for use in resource-limited regions.