Predictors of in-hospital mortality in elderly unvaccinated patients during SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variants epidemic.

Background: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has caused a global pandemic. This study aimed to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality in unvaccinated elderly patients with COVID-19 by comparing various predictive factors between the survivors and non-survivors. Methods: We retrospectively selected 132 unvaccinated patients aged over 65 years with COVID-19 at a hospital in Kanagawa, Japan, during SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variants epidemic. We compared the clinical characteristics, laboratory and radiological findings, treatment, and complications of the survivors and non-survivors. In logistic regression analysis, variables that were significant in the univariate analysis were subjected to multivariate analysis using the variable increase method. Results: There were 119 and 13 patients in the survivor and non-survivor groups, respectively. Multivariate regression revealed increasing odds with the presence of ARDS and DIC (odd ratio (OR) = 16.35, 34.36; P=0.002, 0.001, respectively) and prolonged hospital stay (OR = 1.17; P=0.004). Conclusions: We found the complications of ARDS and DIC and hospital length of stay to be independent predictors of in-hospital mortality in elderly unvaccinated patients with COVID-19. Establishing treatments and prevention methods for ARDS and DIC could result in lower mortality rates.

Usefulness of High-resolution Computed Tomography for Macrolide Therapy of Idiopathic Bronchiectasis.

Background: High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) correlates with clinical symptoms, respiratory function, and quality of life in bronchiectasis. Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between macrolide and acute exacerbation (AE) in idiopathic bronchiectasis classified by the Bronchiectasis Radiologically Indexed CT Score (BRICS). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with idiopathic bronchiectasis between April 2014 and December 2020 at a single hospital. Overall, 115 patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis were selected and divided into three groups, according to the BRICS. Each group was divided into subgroups with and without macrolide therapy, and the number of patients with AE in each group was retrospectively compared. Results: About 45, 48, and 22 patients were included in the mild, moderate, and severe groups, respectively. In the mild group, the subgroup with macrolide therapy had significantly fewer patients with single AE than those without macrolide ( P = 0.029). There was no significant difference in the moderate and severe groups ( P = 1.00 and 0.64, respectively). In the multiple AE, the subgroup with macrolide therapy had significantly fewer patients than those without macrolide therapy in the mild, moderate, and severe groups ( P = 0.024, 0.029, and 0.026, respectively). Conclusion: HRCT severity assessment might be useful in predicting treatment efficacy in patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis without previous AEs. Further large-scale clinical trials are required on the usefulness of HRCT in the future.

A Convenient Risk Prediction Score for COVID-19 for Determining Whether or Not Hospitalization Is Recommended: Kanagawa Admission Priority Assessment Score.

Objective Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a collapse of the medical care system, with effective triage proving vital. The Kanagawa admission priority assessment score, version-1 (KAPAS-1) and version-2 (KAPAS-2), was developed to determine the need for hospitalization. Patients with a high KAPAS (≥5) are recommended for hospitalization. We retrospectively investigated the correlation between the KAPAS and oxygen requirement during hospitalization. Methods We collected the clinical data of COVID-19 patients admitted between February 5 and December 6, 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: those who required oxygen therapy during hospitalization (OXY) and those who did not (NOXY). We assessed the correlations between the groups and KAPAS-1 and KAPAS-2. Results Overall, 117 COVID-19 patients were analyzed, including 20 OXY and 97 NOXY and 54 high KAPAS-1 and 63 high KAPAS-2. The median KAPAS-1 and KAPAS-2 were significantly higher in OXY than in NOXY (6.5 vs. 3, and 9 vs. 4, respectively). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of KAPAS-1 and KAPAS-2 for oxygen requirement were 0.777 and 0.825, respectively, and the maximum values of Youden's index were 4 and 6, respectively. The proportions of high KAPAS-1 and high KAPAS-2 were significantly higher in OXY than in NOXY (90.0% vs. 37.1%, and 90.0% vs. 46.4%, respectively). Conclusion The KAPAS was significantly correlated with oxygen requirement. Furthermore, the KAPAS may be useful for deciding which patients are most likely to require hospitalization and for selecting non-hospitalized patients who should be carefully monitored.

Detection of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid and Spike Antibodies in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Serological testing for anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) antibodies (Abs) and anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) Abs is performed to detect prior COVID-19 infection. It is still controversial which antibodies are the most sensitive and specific, and which can be detected earliest after infection. Here, we evaluated the results of serological tests of anti-SARS-CoV-2 N and S Abs in Japan. METHODS: Symptomatic COVID-19 patients (n = 84) and control patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 93) were recruited at Tokyo National Hospital. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 N and S Abs were measured by commercial electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. RESULTS: The fraction of patients positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 N and S Abs was highest >14 days after symptom onset. The frequency of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S Ab positivity at this time (80.4%) tended to be slightly but not significantly lower than anti-SARS-CoV-2 N Ab positivity (84.8%). Optimized cut-off levels for anti-SARS-CoV-2 N and S Ab positivity were lower than the manufacturer's recommended cut-off levels. Using multiple linear regression analyzes with anti-SARS-CoV-2 N and S Abs, we created an Ab-index with high sensitivity. CONCLUSION: To increase the sensitivity of serological diagnostic tests for COVID-19, it is suggested that both anti-SARS-CoV-2 N and S Abs should be measured and cut-off levels decreased.

Impact of emphysema on sputum culture conversion in male patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although cigarette smoking may have a negative impact on the clinical outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), few studies have investigated the impact of smoking-associated lung diseases. Emphysema is a major pathological finding of smoking-related lung damage. We aimed to clarify the effect of emphysema on sputum culture conversion rate for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). METHODS: We retrospectively studied 79 male patients with PTB confirmed by acid-fast bacillus smear and culture at Jikei University Daisan Hospital between January 2015 and December 2018. We investigated the sputum culture conversion rates for MTB after starting standard anti-TB treatment in patients with or without emphysema. Emphysema was defined as Goddard score ≥ 1 based on low attenuation area < - 950 Hounsfield Unit (HU) using computed tomography (CT). We also evaluated the effect on PTB-related CT findings prior to anti-TB treatment. RESULTS: Mycobacterial median time to culture conversion (TCC) in 38 PTB patients with emphysema was 52.0 days [interquartile range (IQR) 29.0-66.0 days], which was significantly delayed compared with that in 41 patients without emphysema (28.0 days, IQR 14.0-42.0 days) (p < 0.001, log-rank test). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that the following were associated with delayed TCC: emphysema [hazard ratio (HR): 2.43; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18-4.97; p = 0.015), cavities (HR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.83-3.89; p = 0.012) and baseline time to TB detection within 2 weeks (HR: 2.95; 95% CI: 1.64-5.31; p < 0.0001). Cavities and consolidation were more often identified by CT in PTB patients with than without emphysema (71.05% vs 43.90%; p = 0.015, and 84.21% vs 60.98%; p = 0.021, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that emphysema poses an increased risk of delayed TCC in PTB. Emphysema detection by CT might be a useful method for prediction of the duration of PTB treatment required for sputum negative conversion.