Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers and outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Our prior analysis demonstrated no significant difference in risk of mortality or disease progression among patients with COVID-19. With the availability of findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), we provide an updated review of RCTs which explored the outcomes among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 treated with Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitor (ACEis)/Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs) versus control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis covers RCTs exploring mortality, intensive care unit admission, and mechanical ventilation outcomes among hospitalized COVID-19 patients treated with ACEi/ARBs. RESULTS: Ten studies were included in this meta-analysis. For mortality with ACEi/ARB utilization among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the pooled risk ratio (RR) was 0.97 (95% CI 0.64-1.47, p = 0.89) with heterogeneity of 26%. Further, the pooled RR for ACEi/ARB use on ICU admission and mechanical ventilation were 0.55 (0.55-1.08, p = 0.13) with a heterogeneity of 0% and 1.02 (0.78-1.32, p = 0.91) with a heterogeneity of 0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, the use of ACEi/ARB was not associated with increased risk of mortality, ICU admission, or mechanical ventilation compared to control. These findings support continuation of ACEi/ARB for whom baseline clinical indications for these agents exist.

Association of culturally competent care with influenza vaccination coverage in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Cultural minority groups in the United States have lower vaccination rates or worse influenza-related outcomes. Culturally competent care, which aims to engage the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of all patients, may address some of these disparities. OBJECTIVE: We investigate how self-reported measures of culturally competent care is associated with influenza vaccination rates in the United States. METHODS: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2017 was queried for respondents asked a set of questions which assessed respondents' access to culturally competent care in the past year. The outcome of interest was self-reported receipt of the annual influenza vaccine. Sample-weighted multivariable logistic regressions estimated the adjusted odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals (95 %CI) of influenza vaccination with response to the cultural competency survey questions as the dependent variable of interest. Subsequent marginal modeling predicted the adjusted vaccination rates among cultural minorities (racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQ + adults, foreign-born individuals, and non-English speakers) and respondents with high-risk comorbidities for worse influenza outcomes. Models were adjusted for other known determinants of vaccination coverage. RESULTS: 20,303 sample adults were included in the analyses. There were significantly higher odds of influenza vaccination among respondents who were "always" or "most of the time" treated with respect by their providers (aOR 1.53, 95 %CI [1.23-1.90], P < 0.001), given easy-to-understand information (aOR 1.37, 95 %CI [1.19-1.58], P < 0.001), asked about their opinions or beliefs about their care (aOR 1.29, 95 %CI [1.19-1.39], P < 0.001), and seen by providers who shared or understood their culture (aOR 1.15 95 %CI [1.01-1.30], P = 0.03), compared to their counterparts who responded with "some" or "none of the time" to the same survey questions. Higher adjusted influenza vaccination rates were seen among multiple racial/ethnic groups, LGBTQ + adults, foreign-born individuals, non-English speakers, and individuals with high-risk comorbidities who reported positive responses to the cultural competency survey questions. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate a positive association between self-reported frequency of access to culturally competent care and receipt of the annual influenza vaccine. These findings support future efforts to evaluate vaccination outcomes among patients who receive components of culturally competent care, such as linguistically appropriate services, race-concordant healthcare workforce, and community engagement.

Developing and Validating Multi-Modal Models for Mortality Prediction in COVID-19 Patients: a Multi-center Retrospective Study.

The unprecedented global crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked numerous efforts to create predictive models for the detection and prognostication of SARS-CoV-2 infections with the goal of helping health systems allocate resources. Machine learning models, in particular, hold promise for their ability to leverage patient clinical information and medical images for prediction. However, most of the published COVID-19 prediction models thus far have little clinical utility due to methodological flaws and lack of appropriate validation. In this paper, we describe our methodology to develop and validate multi-modal models for COVID-19 mortality prediction using multi-center patient data. The models for COVID-19 mortality prediction were developed using retrospective data from Madrid, Spain (N = 2547) and were externally validated in patient cohorts from a community hospital in New Jersey, USA (N = 242) and an academic center in Seoul, Republic of Korea (N = 336). The models we developed performed differently across various clinical settings, underscoring the need for a guided strategy when employing machine learning for clinical decision-making. We demonstrated that using features from both the structured electronic health records and chest X-ray imaging data resulted in better 30-day mortality prediction performance across all three datasets (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves: 0.85 (95% confidence interval: 0.83-0.87), 0.76 (0.70-0.82), and 0.95 (0.92-0.98)). We discuss the rationale for the decisions made at every step in developing the models and have made our code available to the research community. We employed the best machine learning practices for clinical model development. Our goal is to create a toolkit that would assist investigators and organizations in building multi-modal models for prediction, classification, and/or optimization.

Acute bilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction as a rare cause of hypertensive crisis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Bilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction is a common cause of secondary hypertension in the pediatric population, often due to congenital malformation. On the other hand, it is less frequently encountered in the adult population and is usually due to an acquired condition, most commonly by a bilaterally obstructing nephrolithiasis causing hydronephrosis and subsequent hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate and highlight the underlying mechanisms by which acute bilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction causes hypertensive crisis and why early detection and prompt treatment are necessary to mitigate the effects of elevated blood pressure on target organs. CASE PRESENTATION: A 41-year-old African American man with hypertensive cardiomyopathy presented with anuria. He was found to have elevated blood pressure with evidence of target organ damage on laboratory examination, demonstrated by sudden elevation of his serum creatinine level. He was initially treated with oral and intravenous antihypertensives, with minimal improvement. The work-up was unremarkable apart from the imaging finding of acute bilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction from obstructing nephrolithiasis causing hydronephrosis. Bilateral ureteral stents were placed for decompression, with resolution of the hypertensive crisis and improvement of renal function. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment of underlying acute bilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction to mitigate the deleterious effects of sudden blood pressure elevation on target organs.

Disparities in psychological distress and access to mental health services among immigrants with rheumatologic disease.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with rheumatologic disease experience higher rates of comorbid mental health diseases than those without. Although mental health services (MHS) can improve musculoskeletal functional outcomes, access to MHS has been limited among vulnerable populations in the United States (US). The purpose of this study was to investigate contemporary patterns of severe psychological distress and receipt of MHS among immigrant populations with rheumatologic disease in the US. METHODS: The National Health Interview Survey was queried for patients with rheumatologic disease from 2009 to 2018. Patient demographics, severe psychological distress, and receipt of MHS were collected and/or calculated. Multivariable logistic regressions assessed for factors associated with decreased receipt of MHS and severe psychological distress. RESULTS: Immigrant patients with rheumatologic disease had higher rates of severe psychological distress than US-born patients (7.7% vs. 6.5%, p < 0.001), but were less likely to access MHS (8.3% vs. 11.0%, p < 0.001). Among immigrant patients, factors associated with lower MHS receipt included being Black (AOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.32-0.77, p = 0.002), Hispanic (AOR 0.80, 95% CI 0.30-1.00, p = 0.050), Asian (AOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.31-0.63, p < 0.001), older (p < 0.001), uninsured (p < 0.001), and having self-reported poor health (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Immigrant patients with rheumatologic disease in the US had higher rates of severe psychological distress yet were less likely to receive MHS compared to US-born patients. Immigrants with rheumatologic illness were less likely to receive MHS if they were male, Black, Hispanic, Asian, older, lower income, or uninsured. This lack of MHS receipt may contribute to disparities in functional outcomes seen in immigrant minorities with musculoskeletal disease. Key Points • Immigrant patients with rheumatologic disease in the US had higher rates of severe psychological distress yet were less likely to receive MHS compared to US-born patients between 2009 and 2018 • Immigrants with rheumatologic illness were less likely to receive MHS if they were Black, Hispanic, Asian, older, lower income, or uninsured • Future efforts to carefully screen for mental health diseases in these vulnerable patient populations should be made while exploring patient-specific cultural considerations of MHS receipt.