From Liver to Brain: How MAFLD/MASLD Impacts Cognitive Function.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MAFLD/MASLD), is a common chronic liver condition affecting a substantial global population. Beyond its primary impact on liver function, MAFLD/MASLD is associated with a myriad of extrahepatic manifestations, including cognitive impairment. The scope of cognitive impairment within the realm of MAFLD/MASLD is a matter of escalating concern. Positioned as an intermediate stage between the normal aging process and the onset of dementia, cognitive impairment manifests as a substantial challenge associated with this liver condition. Insights from studies underscore the presence of compromised executive function and a global decline in cognitive capabilities among individuals identified as being at risk of progressing to liver fibrosis. Importantly, this cognitive impairment transcends mere association with metabolic factors, delving deep into the intricate pathophysiology characterizing MAFLD/MASLD. The multifaceted nature of cognitive impairment in the context of MAFLD/MASLD is underlined by a spectrum of factors, prominently featuring insulin resistance, lipotoxicity, and systemic inflammation as pivotal contributors. These factors interplay within the intricate landscape of MAFLD/MASLD, fostering a nuanced understanding of the links between hepatic health and cognitive function. By synthesizing the available evidence, exploring potential mechanisms, and assessing clinical implications, the overarching aim of this review is to contribute to a more complete understanding of the impact of MAFLD/MASLD on cognitive function.

Effect of a monitored exercise protocol in cerebral and hepatic hemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise (PE) has been proven to be beneficial in patients with cirrhosis; effects in cognitive function and cerebral hemodynamics, are yet to be explored. AIM: To evaluate the effects of a PE program (LFN-exercise protocol) in hepatic/cerebral hemodynamics. METHODS: Randomized open clinical trial in patients with cirrhosis; Control: Diet(n = 13),Intervention: Diet + exercise(n = 14) for 12 weeks. Patients received an educational session, mental exercises (printed book and sudoku), and high-protein diet. Exercise intervention consisted of walking 4 times/week with an intensity rated between 12 and 14 on the Borg scale, monitored through bracelet accelerometers. Patients received weekly text messages to encourage adherence and had monthly in-person visits. RESULTS: Patients were mainly Child-Pugh A(88.9 %), median MELD 8(8-10), mean age 53±8 years. In the exercise group the number of steps increased from 9667±3008 to 11,931±4463 (p = 0.002), vs 8004±3224 to 8903±3504 (p = 0.053) in controls. Exercise decreased HVPG from 11(8-14) to 8(6-11)mmHg (p = 0.032) vs no change in the control group from 14(12-16) to 15(11-17)mmHg (p = 0.959). Intervention group showed better cerebral hemodynamics, cognitive function, nutritional status and quality of life after the intervention. Adherence was >90 %, with no adverse events. CONCLUSION: The LFN-exercise protocol improves portal hypertension, cerebral hemodynamics and cognitive function, as well as nutritional status and quality of life. GOV NUMBER: NCT03932552.

Unveiling the Burden of Miscoding and Misclassification in Stroke Mortality: Analysis of Multiple Cause-of-Death Data in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases in Mexico is increasing although stroke mortality declined from 1990 to 2010, without meaningful changes afterward. While improving access to adequate prevention and care could explain this trend, miscoding and misclassification in death certificates need to be assessed to unveil the true burden of stroke in Mexico. Practices in death certification along with the presence of multi-morbidity could contribute to this distortion. Analyses of multiple causes of death could reveal ill-defined stroke deaths, providing a glimpse of this bias. METHODS: Cause-of-death information from 4,262,666 death certificates in Mexico from 2009 to 2015, was examined to determine the extent of miscoding and misclassification on the true burden of stroke. Age-standardized mortality rates per 100,000 inhabitants (ASMR) were calculated for stroke as underlying and multiple causes of death, by sex and state. Deaths were classified following international standards as ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and unspecified, which were kept as an independent category to measure miscoding. To approximate misclassification, we compared ASMR under three misclassification scenarios: (1) current (the status quo); (2) moderate, which includes deaths from selected causes mentioning stroke; and (3) high which includes all deaths mentioning stroke. National and subnational data were analyzed to search for geographical patterns. RESULTS: The burden of stroke in Mexico is underreported due to miscoding and misclassification. Miscoding is an important issue since almost 60% of all stroke deaths are registered as unspecified. Multiple cause analysis indicates that stroke ASMR could increase 39.9%-52.9% of the current ASMR under moderate and high misclassification scenarios, respectively. Both problems indicate the need to improve death codification procedures and cause-of-death classification. CONCLUSIONS: Miscoding and misclassification lead to underestimation of the burden of stroke in Mexico. Stroke deaths are underreported when other important causes coexist, being diabetes the most frequent.

Cardiometabolic risk factors and antithrombotic treatment in a Mexican population with atrial fibrillation and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is two to three times more common than in individuals without NVAF. OBJECTIVE: To identify cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF) and antithrombotic treatment in patients with NVAF and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and to determine if there were differences according to gender. METHODS: CMRF, pro-thrombotic risk, bleeding risk, and antithrombotic therapy were globally analyzed and according to gender. RESULTS: Out of 1,423 patients with NVAF, 336 had HFrEF. On average, females were older than males. There was no difference between genders with regard to the type of NVAF or direct oral anticoagulants use. Hypertension was more common in women. History of transient ischemic attack was reported in 3.6% of the patients and cerebrovascular event in 10%, without differences in terms of gender. The percentage of men with elevated embolic risk was higher, but without antithrombotic treatment, in comparison with women. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences were found according to gender in patients with NVAF and HFrEF, both in CMRF and some comorbidities, as well as in antithrombotic treatment according to embolic and bleeding risk.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La insuficiencia cardiaca en pacientes con fibrilación auricular no valvular (FANV) es de dos a tres veces más frecuente que en individuos sin FANV. OBJETIVO: Identificar los factores de riesgo cardiometabólico (FRCM) y el tratamiento antitrombótico de pacientes con FANV e insuficiencia cardiaca con fracción de expulsión reducida (IC-FEr), y determinar si existen diferencias conforme al sexo. MÉTODOS: En forma global y de acuerdo con el sexo se analizaron FRCM, riesgo protrombótico, riesgo de sangrado y terapia antitrombótica. RESULTADOS: De 1423 pacientes con FANV, 336 tuvieron IC-FEr. Las mujeres promediaron mayor edad que los hombres. No hubo diferencia entre los sexos respecto al tipo de FANV o uso de anticoagulantes orales directos. La hipertensión arterial sistémica fue más frecuente en mujeres. Un 3.6 % de los pacientes reportó antecedente de ataque isquémico transitorio y 10 % de evento vascular cerebral, sin diferencias en cuanto al sexo. El porcentaje de hombres con riesgo embólico elevado fue mayor, pero sin tratamiento antitrombótico, en comparación con las mujeres. CONCLUSIONES: Se encontraron diferencias significativas de acuerdo con el sexo en pacientes con FANV e IC-FEr, tanto en FRCM y algunas comorbilidades, como en el tratamiento antitrombótico de acuerdo con el riesgo embólico y de sangrado.

Sun Exposure and Intima-Media Thickness in the Mexican Teachers' Cohort Study.

Objective: To determine whether long-term sun exposure has a protective role in subclinical cardiovascular disease in adult Mexican women. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a sample of women from the Mexican Teachers' Cohort (MTC) study. Sun exposure was assessed in the MTC 2008 baseline questionnaire, in which women were asked about their sun-related behavior. Vascular neurologists measured carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) using standard techniques. Multivariate linear regression models were used to estimate the difference in mean IMT and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), according to categories of sun exposure and multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CIs for carotid atherosclerosis. Results: The mean age of participants was 49.6 ± 5.5 years, the mean IMT was 0.678 ± 0.097 mm, and the mean accumulated hours of weekly sun exposure were 2.9 ± 1.9. Prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was 20.9%. Compared with women in the lowest quartile of sun exposure, women in the highest quartile had lower mean IMT, but this was not significant in the multivariable adjusted analysis. (Adjusted mean % difference: -0.8; 95% CI: -2.3 to 0.8). The multivariate adjusted ORs of carotid atherosclerosis were 0.54 (95% CI: 0.24-1.18) for women who were exposed 9 hours. For women who denied regular sunscreen use, those in the higher exposure category (9 hours) had lower mean IMT compared with those in the lower category (multivariable-adjusted mean % difference = -2.67; 95% CI: -6.9 to -1.5). Conclusions: We observed that cumulative sun exposure was inversely associated with IMT and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. If these findings are further replicated and seen for other cardiovascular outcomes, sun exposure could be an easy, affordable strategy to lower overall cardiovascular risk.

Factores de riesgo cardiometabólico y tratamiento antitrombótico en población mexicana con fibrilación auricular e insuficiencia cardiaca con fracción de expulsión reducida / Cardiometabolic risk factors and antithrombotic treatment in a Mexican population with atrial fibrillation and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Resumen Introducción: La insuficiencia cardiaca en pacientes con fibrilación auricular no valvular (FANV) es de dos a tres veces más frecuente que en individuos sin FANV. Objetivo: Identificar los factores de riesgo cardiometabólico (FRCM) y el tratamiento antitrombótico de pacientes con FANV e insuficiencia cardiaca con fracción de expulsión reducida (IC-FEr), y determinar si existen diferencias conforme al sexo. Métodos: En forma global y de acuerdo con el sexo se analizaron FRCM, riesgo protrombótico, riesgo de sangrado y terapia antitrombótica. Resultados: De 1423 pacientes con FANV, 336 tuvieron IC-FEr. Las mujeres promediaron mayor edad que los hombres. No hubo diferencia entre los sexos respecto al tipo de FANV o uso de anticoagulantes orales directos. La hipertensión arterial sistémica fue más frecuente en mujeres. Un 3.6 % de los pacientes reportó antecedente de ataque isquémico transitorio y 10 % de evento vascular cerebral, sin diferencias en cuanto al sexo. El porcentaje de hombres con riesgo embólico elevado fue mayor, pero sin tratamiento antitrombótico, en comparación con las mujeres. Conclusiones: Se encontraron diferencias significativas de acuerdo con el sexo en pacientes con FANV e IC-FEr, tanto en FRCM y algunas comorbilidades, como en el tratamiento antitrombótico de acuerdo con el riesgo embólico y de sangrado.

Abstract Introduction: Heart failure in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is two to three times more common than in individuals without NVAF. Objective: To identify cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF) and antithrombotic treatment in patients with NVAF and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and to determine if there were differences according to gender. Methods: CMRF, pro-thrombotic risk, bleeding risk, and antithrombotic therapy were globally analyzed and according to gender. Results: Out of 1,423 patients with NVAF, 336 had HFrEF. On average, females were older than males. There was no difference between genders with regard to the type of NVAF or direct oral anticoagulants use. Hypertension was more common in women. History of transient ischemic attack was reported in 3.6% of the patients and cerebrovascular event in 10%, without differences in terms of gender. The percentage of men with elevated embolic risk was higher, but without antithrombotic treatment, in comparison with women. Conclusions: Significant differences were found according to gender in patients with NVAF and HFrEF, both in CMRF and some comorbidities, as well as in antithrombotic treatment according to embolic and bleeding risk.

Predictors of Mechanical Ventilation in Guillain-Barré Syndrome with Axonal Subtypes.

BACKGROUND: The early clinical predictors of respiratory failure in Latin Americans with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) have scarcely been studied. This is of particular importance since Latin America has a high frequency of axonal GBS variants that may imply a worse prognosis. METHODS: We studied 86 Mexican patients with GBS admitted to the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, a referral center of Mexico City, to describe predictors of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). RESULTS: The median age was 40 years (interquartile range: 26-53.5), with 60.5% men (male-to-female ratio: 1.53). Most patients (65%) had an infectious antecedent (40.6% gastrointestinal). At admission, 38% of patients had a Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score <30. Axonal subtypes predominated (60.5%), with acute motor axonal neuropathy being the most prevalent (34.9%), followed by acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (32.6%), acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) (25.6%), and Fisher syndrome (7%). Notably, 15.1% had onset in upper limbs, 75.6% dysautonomia, and 73.3% pain. In all, 86% received either IVIg (9.3%) or plasma exchange (74.4%). IMV was required in 39.5% patients (72.7% in AMSAN). A multivariate model without including published prognostic scores yielded the time since onset to admission <15 days, axonal variants, MRC sum score <30, and bulbar weakness as independent predictors of IMV. The model including grading scales yielded lower limbs onset, Erasmus GBS respiratory insufficiency score (EGRIS) >4, and dysautonomia as predictors. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that EGRIS is a good prognosticator of IMV in GBS patients with a predominance of axonal electrophysiological subtypes, but other early clinical data should also be considered.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome during convalescence from COVID-19.

Background and aim: With an ever-increasing population of patients recovering form severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), recognizing long-standing and delayed neurologic manifestations is crucial. Here, we present a patient developing posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in the convalescence form severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Case presentation: A 61-year-old woman with severe (COVID-19) confirmed by nasopharyngeal real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) required invasive mechanical ventilation 24-hours after admission. During her intensive care unit stay, she developed transient acute kidney injury and septic shock. She was extubated after 22 days. On day 25, she developed generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed bilateral subcortical lesions on the parietal and occipital lobes and multiple micro-and macro-bleeds, consistent with PRES. At this point, RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 in a respiratory specimen and cerebrospinal fluid was negative. She was discharged home 35 days after admission on oral levetiracetam. Control MRI five months after discharge showed bilateral focal gliosis. On follow-up, she remains seizure-free on levetiracetam.Conclusions: PRES has been observed before as a neurological manifestation of acute COVID-19; to our knowledge, this is the first PRES case occurring in a hospitalized patient already recovered from COVID-19. A persistent proinflammatory/prothrombotic state triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection may lead to long-standing endothelial dysfunction, resulting in delayed PRES in patients recovering from COVID-19. With a rapid and exponential increase in survivors of acute COVID-19, clinicians should be aware of delayed (post-acute) neurological damage, including PRES.

Osmotic demyelination syndrome in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) is a non-inflammatory process of the central nervous system caused by extracellular osmotic changes, which leads to oligodendrocyte apoptosis and disruption of myelin sheaths, usually affecting patients with underlying systemic conditions that impose susceptibility to osmotic stress. Description of ODS in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is limited to a few case reports. METHODS: Here, we report a 44-year-old man with NHL that had an incidental diagnosis of ODS. We conducted a literature review of the published cases of ODS in NHL patients from 1959 to 2020, aiming to describe the characteristics of these patients. RESULTS: A total of seven patients were summarized (four men and three women), including our case and six patients from published reports. Risk factors such as weight loss and alcoholism were reported in five (71.4%) patients. Hyponatremia was found in six (85.7%) of the cases, and none of them had overly rapid sodium correction. Four cases were asymptomatic, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was the most common subtype of NHL (85.7%). The outcome was favorable in most cases; only two deaths not directly related to ODS were reported. CONCLUSION: We wish to suggest that systemic and metabolic stress induced by NHL may be associated with the development of central osmotic demyelination, and therefore, NHL may be a novel risk factor for ODS. Clinicians should be aware of ODS in patients with hematological malignancies, even in the absence of traditional risk factors.

Sugar- and artificially-sweetened soda consumption and subclinical atherosclerosis among Mexican women.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Sugar-sweetened soda consumption is associated with most cardiometabolic risk factors. The role of artificially-sweetened beverages in cardiovascular disease (CVD) is inconclusive, but their consumption correlates with health impairment. Little is known about the contribution of soda consumption in subclinical stages of atherosclerosis. Therefore, we evaluated the relation between sugar- and artificially-sweetened soda consumption and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) among Mexican women. METHODS AND RESULTS: We cross-sectionally evaluated 1093 women enrolled in the Mexican Teachers' Cohort who were free of CVD, diabetes or cancer. Sugar- and artificially-sweetened soda consumption was estimated from a validated 140-item food frequency questionnaire in 2008 and all women underwent a carotid ultrasound assessment three years later. Participants were categorized into tertiles of soda consumption in servings/week. Subclinical atherosclerosis was defined as a mean left and/or right IMT ≥0.8 mm or the presence of plaque on either common carotid artery. In multivariable regression models, women in the highest tertile of sugar-sweetened soda consumption had 2.6% (95%CI: 0.8, 4.5) mean increased IMT, and had 2-fold the risk of carotid atherosclerosis (PR: 2.0, 95%CI: 1.3, 3.2) compared to those in the lowest tertile. In stratified analyses, older and postmenopausal women who consumed sugar-sweetened soda had an increased IMT and atherosclerosis risk. Artificially-sweetened soda consumption was not associated with IMT or carotid atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Sugar-sweetened soda consumption was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis among disease-free Mexican women. Public health strategies to decrease CVD should consider the impact of sugar-sweetened soda consumption, particularly in older women.

Acute Stroke Care in Mexico City: The Hospital Phase of a Stroke Surveillance Study.

Background: Acute stroke care has greatly improved in recent decades. However, the increasing stroke mortality in low-to-middle income countries suggests that progress has not been reached completely by these populations. Here we present the analysis of the hospital phase of the first population-based stroke surveillance study. Methods: A daily hospital surveillance method was used to identify adult patients with acute stroke during 18 months in six hospitals. We abstracted data on demographics, vascular risk factors, neuroimaging-confirmed stroke types, and clinical data. Results: A total of 1361 adults with acute stroke were identified (mean age 69.2 years; 52% women) with transient ischemic attack (5.5%), acute ischemic stroke (68.6%), intracerebral hemorrhage (23.1%), cerebral venous thrombosis (0.2%), and undetermined stroke (2.6%). The main risk factors were hypertension (80.7%) and diabetes mellitus (47.6%). The usage rate of thrombolysis was 3.6%, in spite of the fact that 37.2% of acute ischemic stroke patients arrived in <4.5 h. The 30-day case fatality rate was 32.6%, higher in hemorrhagic than ischemic stroke. Conclusion: We identified limitations in acute stroke care in the Mexico City, including neuroimaging availability and thrombolysis usage. The door-to-door phase will help to depict the acute stroke burden in Mexico.

Headache related to personal protective equipment in healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico: baseline and 6-month follow-up.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Headaches related to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) could affect performance at work in healthcare personnel. Our aim was to describe the prevalence and risk factors for headaches related to PPE, in the personnel of a specialized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tertiary hospital. METHODS: In this cross-sectional survey study, we invited healthcare workers from COVID-19 referral center in Mexico (May 22-June 19, 2020) to answer a standardized structure questionnaire on characteristics of new-onset PPE-related headache or exacerbation of primary headache disorder. Participants were invited regardless of whether they had a current headache to avoid selection bias. This is the primary analysis of these data. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty-eight subjects were analyzed, 181/268 (67.5%) women, 177/268 (66%) nurses, mean age 28 years. The prevalence of PPE-related headache was 210/268 (78.4%). Independent risk factors were occupation other than physician (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.20-2.10), age > 30 years (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.25-5.14), and female sex (OR 3.58, 95% CI 1.86-6.87). In the 6-month follow-up, 13.1% of subjects evolve to chronic headache, with stress as predictive risk factor. CONCLUSION: The frequency of PPE-associated headache is high, and a subgroup could evolve to chronic headache. More studies are necessary to improve the knowledge about this condition.

Ethnicity and other COVID-19 death risk factors in Mexico.

Introduction: Patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may develop coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Risk factors associated with death vary among countries with different ethnic backgrounds. We aimed to describe the factors associated with death in Mexicans with confirmed COVID-19. Material and methods: We analysed the Mexican Ministry of Health's official database on people tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rtRT-PCR) of nasopharyngeal fluids. Bivariate analyses were performed to select characteristics potentially associated with death, to integrate a Cox-proportional hazards model. Results: As of May 18, 2020, a total of 177,133 persons (90,586 men and 86,551 women) in Mexico received rtRT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2. There were 5332 deaths among the 51,633 rtRT-PCR-confirmed cases (10.33%, 95% CI: 10.07-10.59%). The median time (interquartile range, IQR) from symptoms onset to death was 9 days (5-13 days), and from hospital admission to death 4 days (2-8 days). The analysis by age groups revealed that the significant risk of death started gradually at the age of 40 years. Independent death risk factors were obesity, hypertension, male sex, indigenous ethnicity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, immunosuppression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, age > 40 years, and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Only 1959 (3.8%) cases received IMV, of whom 1893 were admitted to the intensive care unit (96.6% of those who received IMV). Conclusions: In Mexico, highly prevalent chronic diseases are risk factors for death among persons with COVID-19. Indigenous ethnicity is a poorly studied factor that needs more investigation.

Influence of Weight Loss on Cognitive Functions: A Pilot Study of a Multidisciplinary Intervention Program for Obesity Treatment.

There is a relationship between obesity and cognitive functioning. Our aim was to assess weight loss influence on global cognition and executive functioning (EF) in adults with obesity under a multidisciplinary weight loss program. In this six-month longitudinal study, we assessed 81 adults (age < 50 years) with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30. EF and global cognitive performance were evaluated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Neuropsychological Battery of Executive Functions (BANFE-2) and Trail Making Test-Part B (TMT-B). Median age was 40.0 years (IQR: 31.5−47, 61% women), and the median BMI was 41.4 (IQR: 36.7−45.9). At a six-month follow-up, the mean weight loss was 2.67% (29.6% of patients achieved ≥5% weight loss). There was an improvement in EF evaluated with BANFE (p = 0.0024) and global cognition with MoCA (p = 0.0024). Women experienced more remarkable change, especially in EF. Weight loss did not correlate with cognitive performance, except for TMT-B (r-0.258, p = 0.026). In the regression analysis, only years of education predicted the MoCA score. This study showed that patients improved cognitive performance during the follow-up; nevertheless, the magnitude of weight loss did not correlate with cognitive improvement. Future studies are warranted to demonstrate if patients achieving ≥5% weight loss can improve cognition, secondary to weight loss.

Serious financial difficulties, psychological stress, and subclinical cardiovascular disease in Mexican women.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between serious financial difficulties (SFD), stress, and cardiovascular health in women. METHODS: We categorized 1759 employed and insured disease-free women from the Mexican Teachers' Cohort according to their response to a question on SFD included in the Life Stressor Checklist-Revised administered in 2012 and 2016. We also measured perceived stress (n = 1598) and hair cortisol levels (n = 539) in study participants. Carotid intima-media thickness was measured, and carotid atherosclerosis determined in all participants. RESULTS: Multivariable regression models indicated that women exposed to SFD had 1.6% (95% CI: 0.05, 3.2) higher mean intima-media thickness and 1.37 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.85) higher odds of carotid atherosclerosis relative to women without SFD. The magnitude of the observed associations was higher in women reporting longer duration of the event and higher emotional burden. Mediation analyses suggested a potential role of perceived stress and body mass index in these associations. Cortisol levels did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: SFD was associated with subclinical cardiovascular disease among employed and insured women. Limiting stress and adiposity may be potential targets for interventions.

Stroke Among SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Recipients in Mexico: A Nationwide Descriptive Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Information on stroke among severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines remains scarce. We report stroke incidence as an adverse event following immunization (AEFI) among recipients of 79,399,446 doses of 6 different SARS-CoV-2 vaccines (BNT162b2, ChAdOx1 nCov-19, Gam-COVID-Vac, CoronaVac, Ad5-nCoV, and Ad26.COV2-S) between December 24, 2020, and August 31, 2021, in Mexico. METHODS: This retrospective descriptive study analyzed stroke incidence per million doses among hospitalized adult patients (≥18 years) during an 8-month interval. According to the World Health Organization, AEFIs were defined as clinical events occurring within 30 days after immunization and categorized as either nonserious or serious, depending on severity, treatment, and hospital admission requirements. Acute ischemic stroke (AIS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) cases were collected through a passive epidemiologic surveillance system in which local health providers report potential AEFI to the Mexican General Board of Epidemiology. Data were captured with standardized case report formats by an ad hoc committee appointed by the Mexican Ministry of Health to evaluate potential neurologic AEFI against SARS-COV-2. RESULTS: We included 56 patients (31 female patients [55.5%]) for an overall incidence of 0.71 cases per 1,000,000 administered doses (95% CI 0.54-0.92). Median age was 65 years (interquartile range [IQR] 55-76 years); median time from vaccination to stroke (of any subtype) was 2 days (IQR 1-5 days). In 27 (48.2%) patients, the event was diagnosed within the first 24 hours after immunization. The most frequent subtype was AIS in 43 patients (75%; 0.54 per 1,000,000 doses, 95% CI 0.40-0.73), followed by ICH in 9 (16.1%; 0.11 per 1,000,000 doses, 95% CI 0.06-0.22) and SAH and CVT, each with 2 cases (3.6%; 0.03 per 1,000,000 doses, 95% CI 0.01-0.09). Overall, the most common risk factors were hypertension in 33 (58.9%) patients and diabetes in 22 (39.3%). Median hospital length of stay was 6 days (IQR 4-13 days). At discharge, functional outcome was good (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) in 41.1% of patients; in-hospital mortality rate was 21.4%. DISCUSSION: Stroke is an exceedingly rare AEFI against SARS-CoV-2. Preexisting stroke risk factors were identified in most patients. Further research is needed to evaluate causal associations between SARS-COV-2 vaccines and stroke.

Critical role of acute hypoxemia on the cognitive impairment after severe COVID-19 pneumonia: a multivariate causality model analysis.

BACKGROUND: A high proportion of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors may develop long-term cognitive impairment. We aimed to develop a multivariate causal model exposing the links between COVID-19-associated biomarkers, illness-related variables, and their effects on cognitive performance. METHODS: In this prospective study, we assess the potential drivers for the development of cognitive impairment in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia aged ≥ 18 years at 6-month follow-up after hospital discharge, using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Patients with pre-existing cognitive impairment were excluded. Laboratory results at hospital admission were clustered by principal component analysis (PCA) and included in a path analysis model evaluating the causal relationship between age, comorbidities, hypoxemia, invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) requirement, in-hospital delirium, and cognitive performance. RESULTS: We studied 92 patients: 54 (58.7%) men and 38 (41.3%) women, with median age of 50 years (interquartile range 42-55), among whom 50 (54.4%) tested positive for cognitive impairment at 6-month follow-up. Path analysis revealed a direct link between the thrombo-inflammatory component of PCA (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and neutrophils) and hypoxemia severity at hospital admission. Our model showed that low PaO2/FiO2 ratio values, unlike the thrombo-inflammatory component, had a direct effect on cognitive performance, independent from age, in-hospital delirium, and invasive mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSION: In this study, biomarkers of thrombo-inflammation in COVID-19 and low PaO2/FiO2 had a negative effect on cognitive performance 6 months after hospital discharge. These results highlight the critical role of hypoxemia as a driver for impaired cognition in the mid-term.

Antiphospholipid syndrome-mediated acute cerebrovascular diseases and long-term outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease associated with thrombotic and non-thrombotic neurologic manifestations. APS is classified as primary (PAPS) or secondary (SAPS) when it co-exists with another autoimmune disease. We aim to describe the spectrum of acute cerebrovascular disease among patients with APS, their differences between stroke subtypes, and long-term functional outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study including adult (≥18 years) patients with APS followed in the stroke clinic of a tertiary-care reference center for autoimmune diseases in Mexico from 2009 to 2019. RESULTS: We studied 120 cases; 99 (82.5%) women; median age 43 years (interquartile range 35-52); 63.3% with SAPS. Demographics, comorbidities, and antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) positivity were similar between APS type and stroke subtypes. Amongst index events, we observed 84 (70%) acute ischemic strokes (AIS), 19 (15.8%) cerebral venous thromboses (CVT), 11 (9.2%) intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH), and six (5%) subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH). Sixty-seven (55.8%) were known patients with APS; the median time from APS diagnosis to index stroke was 46 months (interquartile range 12-96); 64.7% of intracranial hemorrhages (ICH or SAH) occurred ≥4 years after APS was diagnosed (23.5% anticoagulation-related); 63.2% of CVT cases developed before APS was diagnosed or simultaneously. Recurrences occurred in 26 (22.8%) patients, AIS, in 18 (69.2%); intracranial hemorrhage, in eight (30.8%). Long-term functional outcomes were good (modified Rankin Scale ≤2) in 63.2% of cases, during follow-up, the all-cause mortality rate was 19.2%. CONCLUSION: We found no differences between stroke subtypes and APS types. aPL profiles were not associated with any of the acute cerebrovascular diseases described in this cohort. CVT may be an initial thrombotic manifestation of APS with low mortality and good long-term functional outcome.