Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients With COVID-19: Results of the UMC-19-S12.

OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated the incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), who were attending the emergency department (ED), before hospitalization. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all COVID-19 patients diagnosed with UGB in 62 Spanish EDs (20% of Spanish EDs, case group) during the first 2 months of the COVID-19 outbreak. We formed 2 control groups: COVID-19 patients without UGB (control group A) and non-COVID-19 patients with UGB (control group B). Fifty-three independent variables and 4 outcomes were compared between cases and controls. RESULTS: We identified 83 UGB in 74,814 patients with COVID-19 who were attending EDs (1.11%, 95% CI=0.88-1.38). This incidence was lower compared with non-COVID-19 patients [2474/1,388,879, 1.78%, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.71-1.85; odds ratio (OR)=0.62; 95% CI=0.50-0.77]. Clinical characteristics associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 patients presenting with UGB were abdominal pain, vomiting, hematemesis, dyspnea, expectoration, melena, fever, cough, chest pain, and dysgeusia. Compared with non-COVID-19 patients with UGB, COVID-19 patients with UGB more frequently had fever, cough, expectoration, dyspnea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, interstitial lung infiltrates, and ground-glass lung opacities. They underwent fewer endoscopies in the ED (although diagnoses did not differ between cases and control group B) and less endoscopic treatment. After adjustment for age and sex, cases showed a higher in-hospital all-cause mortality than control group B (OR=2.05, 95% CI=1.09-3.86) but not control group A (OR=1.14, 95% CI=0.59-2.19) patients. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of UGB in COVID-19 patients attending EDs was lower compared with non-COVID-19 patients. Digestive symptoms predominated over respiratory symptoms, and COVID-19 patients with UGB underwent fewer gastroscopies and endoscopic treatments than the general population with UGB. In-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients with UGB was increased compared with non-COVID patients with UGB, but not compared with the remaining COVID-19 patients.

Características clínicas, asistenciales y evolutivas de la insuficiencia cardiaca aguda en el clima subtropical: resultados del estudio CANAR-ICA / Acute heart failure in subtropical climates: clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes in the Canary Islands versus continental Spain — the CANAR-ICA study results

Objetivo: Investigar si existen diferencias clínicas, asistenciales y evolutivas entre los episodios de insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (ICA) desarrollados en residentes en las Islas Canarias (CAN), de clima subtropical, y en los del territorio español continental (CON). Método: Los pacientes con ICA incluidos en el registro EAHFE se dividieron en CAN o CON. Se recogieron 38 variables demográficas, de estado clínico basal, clínicas y terapéuticas. Se analizó la mortalidad intrahospitalaria y a los 30 días, la hospitalización prolongada (> 7 días) y el evento combinado post-alta (reconsulta o muerte a 30 días). Se compararon los pacientes CAN y CON, ajustando los resultados por las diferencias entre grupos. Resultados: Se incluyeron 18.390 pacientes: CAN = 697 (3,8%), CON = 17.673 (96,2%). Tras el ajuste, los CAN eran más jóvenes, más frecuentemente mujeres, tenían más antecedentes de hipertensión, diabetes e ICA previa, y estaban en clase funcional más avanzada, pero tenían menos dislipemia, valvulopatías y dependencia funcional, y recibían menos frecuentemente inhibidores del eje renina-angiotensina. Aunque la gravedad del episodio de descompensación fue similar, los CAN recibían más tratamientos endovenosos en urgencias y se hospitalizaban menos. El riesgo ajustado de hospitalización prolongada en los CAN resultó incrementado (OR 2,36; IC 95%:1,52-3,02), pero no hubo diferencias en la mortalidad intrahospitalaria (OR 0,97; IC 95%: 0,68-1,37), a 30 días (OR 0,9; IC 95%: 0,67-1,27) o en los eventos combinados post-alta a los 30 días (OR 1,19; IC 95%: 0,93-1,53). (AU)

Objectives: To determine whether there are differences in the clinical characteristics, management, and outcome of episodes of acute heart failure (AHF) in residents of the Canary Islands, where the climate is subtropical, and episodes in continental Spain. Material and methods: Cases were identified in the registry for Epidemiology of Acute Heart Failure in Emergency Departments and categorized as in the Canary Islands or continental Spain. Data for 38 demographic, baseline, clinical, and therapeutic variables were extracted. We analyzed statistics for in-hospital and 30-day mortality, long hospital stay (more than 7 days), and a composite outcome after discharge (revisits or death within 30 days). The results for island and continental patients were compared and adjusted for between-group differences. Results: A total of 18 390 patients were studied, 697 islanders (3.8%) and 17 673 continental patients (96.2%). Comparisons showed that the islanders were younger; more often women; and more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, and a prior AHF episode. Their New York Heart Association functional class was also likely to be higher. However, their rates of dyslipidemia, valve disease, and functional dependence were lower, and they were also less likely to be on reninangiotensin system blockers. Although the severity of cardiac decompensation was similar in island and continental patients, the islanders received more intravenous treatments in the emergency department and were admitted less often. The adjusted risk of a long hospital stay was higher for the islanders (odds ratio [OR], 2.36; 95% CI, 1.52-3.02) but their risk for mortality and the composite outcome did not differ: in-hospital mortality, OR 0.97 (95% CI, 0.68-1.37); 30-day mortality, OR, 0.9 (95% CI, 0.67-1.27); and the post-discharge composite, OR, 1.19 (95% CI, 0.93-1.53). (AU)

Acute heart failure in subtropical climates: clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes in the Canary Islands versus continental Spain - the CANAR-ICA study results. / Características clínicas, asistenciales y evolutivas de la insuficiencia cardiaca aguda en el clima subtropical: resultados del estudio CANAR-ICA.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there are differences in the clinical characteristics, management, and outcome of episodes of acute heart failure (AHF) in residents of the Canary Islands, where the climate is subtropical, and episodes in continental Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cases were identified in the registry for Epidemiology of Acute Heart Failure in Emergency Departments and categorized as in the Canary Islands or continental Spain. Data for 38 demographic, baseline, clinical, and therapeutic variables were extracted. We analyzed statistics for in-hospital and 30-day mortality, long hospital stay (more than 7 days), and a composite outcome after discharge (revisits or death within 30 days). The results for island and continental patients were compared and adjusted for between-group differences. RESULTS: A total of 18 390 patients were studied, 697 islanders (3.8%) and 17 673 continental patients (96.2%). Comparisons showed that the islanders were younger; more often women; and more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, and a prior AHF episode. Their New York Heart Association functional class was also likely to be higher. However, their rates of dyslipidemia, valve disease, and functional dependence were lower, and they were also less likely to be on reninangiotensin system blockers. Although the severity of cardiac decompensation was similar in island and continental patients, the islanders received more intravenous treatments in the emergency department and were admitted less often. The adjusted risk of a long hospital stay was higher for the islanders (odds ratio [OR], 2.36; 95% CI, 1.52-3.02) but their risk for mortality and the composite outcome did not differ: in-hospital mortality, OR 0.97 (95% CI, 0.68-1.37); 30-day mortality, OR, 0.9 (95% CI, 0.67-1.27); and the post-discharge composite, OR, 1.19 (95% CI, 0.93-1.53). CONCLUSION: Baseline patient characteristics and clinical management of AHF episodes differ between the subtropical region and those in southern continental Europe. Hospitalization was required less often, but hospital stays were longer.

OBJETIVO: Investigar si existen diferencias clínicas, asistenciales y evolutivas entre los episodios de insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (ICA) desarrollados en residentes en las Islas Canarias (CAN), de clima subtropical, y en los del territorio español continental (CON). METODO: . Los pacientes con ICA incluidos en el registro EAHFE se dividieron en CAN o CON. Se recogieron 38 variables demográficas, de estado clínico basal, clínicas y terapéuticas. Se analizó la mortalidad intrahospitalaria y a los 30 días, la hospitalización prolongada (> 7 días) y el evento combinado post-alta (reconsulta o muerte a 30 días). Se compararon los pacientes CAN y CON, ajustando los resultados por las diferencias entre grupos. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 18.390 pacientes: CAN = 697 (3,8%), CON = 17.673 (96,2%). Tras el ajuste, los CAN eran más jóvenes, más frecuentemente mujeres, tenían más antecedentes de hipertensión, diabetes e ICA previa, y estaban en clase funcional más avanzada, pero tenían menos dislipemia, valvulopatías y dependencia funcional, y recibían menos frecuentemente inhibidores del eje renina-angiotensina. Aunque la gravedad del episodio de descompensación fue similar, los CAN recibían más tratamientos endovenosos en urgencias y se hospitalizaban menos. El riesgo ajustado de hospitalización prolongada en los CAN resultó incrementado (OR 2,36; IC 95%:1,52-3,02), pero no hubo diferencias en la mortalidad intrahospitalaria (OR 0,97; IC 95%: 0,68-1,37), a 30 días (OR 0,9; IC 95%: 0,67-1,27) o en los eventos combinados post-alta a los 30 días (OR 1,19; IC 95%: 0,93-1,53). CONCLUSIONES: Existen diferencias tanto en las características basales como en el manejo clínico de los episodios de insuficiencia cardiaca en los residentes de una región subtropical respecto a los de una zona meridional europea. Además, tienen menor necesidad de hospitalización, aunque estas son más prolongadas.