Improving Medication Management for Inpatients with a Secondary Diagnosis of Parkinson Disease.

ABSTRACT: Patients who have Parkinson disease require individualized medication regimens to optimize care. A review of the medication management of patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital with a secondary diagnosis of Parkinson disease found significant departures from the patients' home regimen. Medication regimens are often altered by health care teams unfamiliar with Parkinson disease-specific care in order to conform to standard hospital medication orders and administration times, potentially resulting in increased patient falls, delirium, and mortality.A nurse-led multidisciplinary team consisting of pharmacy, nursing, informatics, neurology, and quality personnel implemented a quality improvement (QI) project between July 2020 and July 2022 to identify patients with Parkinson disease, including those with a secondary diagnosis and those undergoing deep brain stimulation, and customize medication management in order to reduce length of stay, mortality, falls, falls with harm, and 30-day readmissions. The QI project team also evaluated patient satisfaction with medication management.Among patients with a secondary diagnosis of Parkinson disease, the proportion who had medication histories conducted by a pharmacy staff member increased from a baseline of 53% to more than 75% per month. For all patients with Parkinson disease, those whose medication history was taken by a pharmacy staff member had orders matching their home regimen 89% of the time, whereas those who did not had orders matching the home regimen only 40% of the time. Among patients with a secondary diagnosis of Parkinson disease, the length-of-stay index decreased from a baseline of 1 to 0.94 and observed-to-expected mortality decreased from 1.03 to 0.78. The proportion of patients experiencing a fall decreased from an average of 5% to 4.08% per quarter, while the proportion of patients experiencing a fall with harm decreased from an average of 1% to 0.75% per quarter. The rate of 30-day readmissions decreased from 10.81% to 4.53% per quarter. Patient satisfaction scores were 1.95 points higher for patients who had medication histories taken by pharmacy than for those who did not (5 versus 3.05).

HIV Viral Suppression Among Psychiatric Inpatients with Schizophrenia in San Francisco: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

People with schizophrenia are at increased risk for contracting HIV and face higher mortality rates compared with the general population. Viral suppression is key to HIV care, yet little is known about this metric among people with HIV and schizophrenia. A chart review was conducted among people with HIV/AIDS and schizophrenia living in San Francisco who had received inpatient mental health services between 2010 and 2016. Demographic, laboratory, medication, encounter, and discharge data were collected, and were compared with all people living with HIV in San Francisco (PLWH-SF). Among 153 people living with HIV and comorbid schizophrenia, 77% were virally suppressed, compared to 67% for all PLWH-SF. Viral suppression for people with comorbid HIV and schizophrenia living in San Francisco appears higher than PLWH-SF. Further research is needed to confirm the association and mechanisms behind better treatment outcomes for people living with HIV and comorbid schizophrenia.

Nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in COVID-19 patients: insights from the National Inpatient Sample.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study, conducted using the U.S. National Inpatient Sample (NIS), examines the outcomes and management of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) in COVID-19 patients and identifies predictive factors to enhance patient prognosis. METHODS: We analyzed the 2020 U.S. NIS data involving adult patients (≥18 years) admitted with NVUGIB and categorized them based on the presence of COVID-19. Primary and secondary outcomes, NVUGIB-related procedures, and predictive factors were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 184,885 adult patients admitted with NVUGIB, 1.6% (2990) had COVID-19. Patients with NVUGIB and COVID-19 showed higher inpatient mortality, acute kidney injury, need for intensive care, and resource utilization metrics. Notably, there was a lower rate of early esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Multivariate logistic regression revealed conditions like peptic ulcer disease, mechanical ventilation, and alcohol abuse as significant positive predictors for NVUGIB in COVID-19 patients, whereas female gender and smoking were negative predictors. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that COVID-19 significantly increases the risk of mortality and complications in NVUGIB patients. The observed decrease in early EGD interventions, potentially contributing to higher mortality rates, calls for a review of treatment strategies. Further multicenter, prospective studies are needed to validate these results and improve patient care strategies.

The effect of public hospital closure on the death of long-term inpatients in Korea.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the changes in health outcomes and the patterns of medical institution utilization among patients with long-term stays in public hospitals following the closure of a public medical center. It also sought to present a proposal regarding the role of public hospitals in countries with healthcare systems predominantly driven by private entities, such as Korea. METHODS: To assess the impact of a public healthcare institution closure on health outcomes in a specific region, we utilized nationally representative health insurance claims data. A retrospective cohort study was conducted for this analysis. RESULTS: An analysis of the medical utilization patterns of patients after the closure of Jinju Medical Center showed that 67.4% of the total medical usage was redirected to long-term care hospitals. This figure is notably high in comparison to the 20% utilization rate of nursing hospitals observed among patients from other medical facilities. These results indicate that former patients of Jinju Medical Center may have experienced limitations in accessing necessary medical services beyond nursing care. After accounting for relevant mortality factors, the analysis showed that the mortality rate in closed public hospitals was 2.47 (95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.96) times higher than in private hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: The closure of public medical institutions has resulted in unmet healthcare needs, and an observed association was observed with increased mortality rates. It is essential to define the role and objectives of public medical institutions, taking into account the distribution of healthcare resources and the conditions of the population.

Racial and ethnic inequities in psychiatric inpatient building and unit assignment.

Racism is a social determinant of mental health which has a disproportionally negative impact on the experiences of psychiatric inpatients of color. Distinct differences in the physical space and clinical settings of two inpatient buildings at a hospital system in the tristate (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) area of the United States led to the present investigation of racial inequities in the assignment of patients to specific buildings and units. Archival electronic medical record data were analyzed from over 18,000 unique patients over a period of six years. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted with assigned building (old vs. new building) as the binary outcome variable. Non-Hispanic White patients were set as the reference group. Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Asian patients were significantly less likely to be assigned to better resourced units in the new building. When limiting the analysis to only general adult units, Black and Hispanic/Latinx patients were significantly less likely to be assigned to units in the new building. These results suggest ethnoracial inequities in patient assignment to buildings which differed in clinical and physical conditions. The findings serve as a call to action for hospital systems to examine the ways in which structural racism impact clinical care.

Attrition rate and predictors of a monitoring mHealth application in adolescents with obesity.

BACKGROUND: Integrating mobile health (mHealth) into paediatric obesity treatment can provide opportunities for more personalized and lifetime treatment. However, high attrition rates pose a significant challenge. The current study attempts to better understand attrition by exploring (1) attrition rates of a monitoring mHealth application for usage over 14 days and (2) testing predictors of attrition in adolescents with obesity. METHODS: Participants were 69 adolescents between 12 and 16 years old who engaged in a multidisciplinary obesity treatment centre (either outpatient or inpatient) in two countries (Belgium and France). To assess the attrition rates, frequency distributions were used. To test the predictors of attrition, zero-inflated negative binomial regression was performed. RESULTS: Attrition rates were high, in the outpatient group, more than half of the participants (53.3%) used the app for only 0-7 days. In the inpatient group, this percentage was 24.1%. Only deficits in initiating (a component of executive functions) were a negative predictor of attrition, indicating that deficits in initiating lead to lower attrition rates. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence for high attrition rates in mHealth interventions for adolescents with obesity and was the first to investigate psychological predictors of attrition to an mHealth monitoring tool in adolescents with obesity in treatment. Findings regarding predictors of attrition should be approached with caution due to the small sample size.

Medical service utilization and costs of autism spectrum disorder: Evidence from hospital records in Beijing, China.

As more and more people are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is necessary to better understand their costs. Detailed information on medical service utilization and costs could aid in designing equitable, effective policies to support individuals with ASD and their families. In this retrospective analysis, individuals with a hospital encounter (outpatient visit or inpatient admission) were collected from Beijing Municipal Health Big Data and Policy Research Center (BMHBD), from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021. We analyzed the costs, hospital visits/admissions and their changing trends over 5 years. Poisson regression and logit regression were conducted to analyze the influencing factors of visits, admissions and costs. The study population consisted of 26,826 users of medical services (26,583 outpatients and 243 inpatients; mean age: 4.82 ± 3.47 years for outpatients; 11.62 ± 6.74 years for inpatients). 99.1% were outpatients (mean ± standard deviation (SD) costs per year: $422.06 ± $11.89), while 0.9% were inpatients (mean ± SD costs per year: $4411.71 ± $925.81). More than 50% of outpatients received medication and diagnostic testing services. Among those with an inpatient admission, 91% received treatment services. Medication costs were the major contributor to medical costs for adults. Diagnostic test and treatment costs were the major contributors for children and adolescents. The findings demonstrated a significant economic burden for those diagnosed with ASD and highlighted opportunities for improving the care of this vulnerable group. This study adds to the literature by focusing on age differences among health-care utilization in individuals with ASD.

Geriatric assessment may prevent readmission in frail medical inpatients.

INTRODUCTION: Frailty is common in older adults. Many approaches exist to care of hospitalised older medical inpatients. The objectives of this study were to 1) describe frailty occurrence and 2) explore associations between frailty, type of care, 30-day readmission and 90-day mortality. METHODS: In a cohort of 75+-year-old medical inpatients with daily homecare or moderate comorbidity, frailty was graded as moderate or severe using the record-based Multidimensional Prognostic Index. The emergency department (ED), internal medicine (IM) and geriatric medicine (GM) were compared. Estimates of relative risk (RR) and hazard ratios were calculated in binary regression and Cox regression models. RESULTS: Analyses included 522 patients (61%) with moderate frailty and 333 (39%) with severe frailty. A total of 54% were females, and the median age was 84 years (interquartile range: 79-89). In GM, the distribution of frailty grade differed significantly from that of the ED (p less-than 0.001) and IM (p less-than 0.001). GM had the highest occurrence of severely frail patients and the lowest readmission rate. Compared with GM, the adjusted RR for readmission in ED was 1.58 (1.04-2.41), p = 0.032; and in IM: 1.42 (0.97-2.07), p = 0.069. Between the three specialities, no differences were seen in 90-day mortality hazard. CONCLUSION: In a regional hospital, frail older patients were discharged from all medical specialities. Admission to geriatric medicine was associated with a lower readmission risk and no increase in mortality. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment may explain the observed differences in readmission risk. FUNDING: None. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not relevant.

Prevalencia y factores asociados a la fragilidad en pacientes mayores hospitalizados / Prevalence and factors associated with frailty in older hospitalized patients

Objectives This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with frailty in older hospitalized patients. Methods The point-prevalence study was completed on 263 patients aged 65 and over hospitalized in internal medicine and surgical clinics at a tertiary hospital in Türkiye. Data were collected between July 19th and July 22nd, 2021. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed on the participants. The Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS) and FRAIL scale were used for frailty assessment. Results The mean age of the individuals was 72.40 ± 6.42, 51.7% were female, and 63.9% were hospitalized in internal medicine and surgical units. The prevalence of frailty was 57.4% according to the FRAIL scale and 46.8% according to EFS. Factors affecting frailty were gender (OR 3.36, 95% CI 1.48–7.64), comorbidity (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.01–1.64), polypharmacy (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.13−0.80), history of falling in the last year (OR 3.54, 95% CI 1.34–9.35), incontinence (OR 5.93, 95% CI 2.47–14.27), and functional dependency (ADL, OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.46−0.92; IADL, OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46−0.76). This model correctly predicted the participants' frailty at 70.5%. Conclusions The importance of frailty, which affects one out of every two hospitalized older persons, to the health care system should not be overlooked. Considering the increasing trend of the aging person population, national and global plans should be made to prevent and manage frailty (AU)

Objetivos Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la prevalencia y los factores asociados a la fragilidad en pacientes mayores hospitalizados. Métodos Este estudio de prevalencia puntual se realizó con 263 pacientes de 65 años o mayores hospitalizados en los Servicios de Medicina Interna y Clínicas Quirúrgicas en un hospital terciario en Turquía. Los datos se recopilaron entre el 19 y el 22 de julio de 2021. Se realizó una evaluación geriátrica integral en los participantes. Se utilizaron la escala de fragilidad de Edmonton (EFS) y la escala FRAIL para la evaluación de fragilidad. Resultados Respecto a los datos de los pacientes, la edad promedio fue de 72,40 ± 6,42 años y el 51,7% de los pacientes fueron mujeres. Y el 63,9% de estos pacientes fueron hospitalizados en Servicios de Medicina Interna. La prevalencia de fragilidad fue del 57,4% según la escala FRAIL y el 46,8% según la EFS. Los factores que afectan la fragilidad fueron: sexo (OR 3,48, IC 95% 1,42–8,49), edad (OR 9,91, IC 95% 1,99–49,30), comorbilidad (OR 1,33, IC 95% 1,01–1,76), polifarmacia (OR 0,30, IC 95% 0,11−0,79), historial de caídas en el año pasado (OR 3,59, IC 95% 1,25–10,32), incontinencia (OR 10,48, IC 95% 3,66–29,99), y dependencia (ADL OR 0,63, IC 95% 0,43−0,93; IADL OR 0,51, IC 95% 0,38−0,68). Este modelo predijo correctamente la fragilidad de los participantes a una tasa de 75,5%. Conclusiones No se debe pasar por alto la importancia de la fragilidad, que afecta a uno de cada dos pacientes mayores hospitalizados, dentro del sistema de atención médica. Teniendo en cuenta la tendencia de crecimiento de la proporción de personas mayores en la población, se deberían hacer planes nacionales y globales para la prevención y gestión de la fragilidad (AU)

Associations between violence, self-harm and acute psychiatric service use: Implications for inpatient care.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Service users who behave violently may suffer. This is because violence can lead to unnecessary medication, seclusion on the ward and strained relationships with other people. It can also affect a service user's self-esteem and lead to feelings of shame. Service users who behave violently can also make life frightening and unpredictable for members of staff, and other service users on the ward. It is important to gain a sound understanding of violence in order to help reduce it. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Previous research has shown that having a past history of violence, being admitted to PICU and being admitted to hospital under section is associated with violent behaviour on the ward. We identified several new factors associated with violent behaviour, such as engaging in self-harm, being the target of another person's violence and being referred to a Psychiatric Liaison Team. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: For some service users, behaving violently may be a response to previous trauma and an expression of distress. It is therefore important that mental health nurses are supported by their employers to work with service users in a trauma-informed manner. Nurses employed across a range of psychiatric settings could benefit from direct interventions such as comprehensive trauma-informed care training and psychological debrief spaces, or systemic interventions to address staff shortages and improve ward conditions. ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Instances of violence in acute psychiatric settings are frequent, can be devastating for service users and staff, and are costly. Such settings would benefit from a greater understanding of violence. AIM: We analysed the association between current and historical variables and rates of inpatient violence. To address gaps in current research, we included instances of self-harm and being the target of violence. We also included seldom used service metrics. METHOD: Data were extracted on admissions to acute adult wards and PICUs 2017-2020 within South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. A zero-inflated negative binomial regression mixed model was used to analyse the impact of variables on rates of violence. RESULTS: Variables associated with an increased rate of violence were as follows: an increased number of violent incidents in the year before admission, being admitted on MHA section, being admitted to PICU, instances of self-harm, being the target of violence and referral to a Psychiatric Liaison Team. DISCUSSION: The novel associations found between enacting violence, self-harm and being the target of violence indicate trauma-informed care is crucial to reduce violent presentations of distress. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: System level interventions are crucial to ensure mental health nurses are supported to provide trauma-informed care.

Perfil epidemiológico de pacientes vítimas de trauma torácico em um hospital de urgência e trauma / Epidemiological profile of patients victims of thoracic trauma in an emergency and trauma hospital

O trauma é responsável por significativos impactos na sociedade. De acordo com dados da Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), mais de nove pessoas morrem por minuto, vítimas de trauma. Entre os principais tipos de trauma, o torácico representa na atualidade cerca de 25% dos mortos em politraumatizados, constituindo um problema complexo, tendo em vista os elevados índices de mortalidade e sequelas incapacitantes permanentes. Objetivo: Descrever o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes atendidos em um hospital de urgências da região centro-oeste, vítimas de trauma torácico. Método: Estudo quantitativo, de caráter transversal e retrospectivo, realizado a partir de coleta de dados efetuada em prontuário eletrônico no período de março a maio de 2022. Resultados: Identificou-se 73 pacientes vítimas de trauma torácico, com maior acometimento de pessoas do sexo masculino, com idade entre 26 e 35 anos. Como causa mais frequente, se destacaram os acidentes motociclísticos, resultando principalmente em lesões do tipo hemopneumotórax. Conclusão: o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes vítimas de trauma torácico foi representado com maior frequência pelo sexo masculino, com idade entre 26 a 35 anos, causados predominantemente por acidentes motociclísticos, resultando na maioria das vezes em lesões do tipo hemopneumotórax

Trauma is responsible for significant impacts on society. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than nine people die per minute victims of trauma. Among the main types of trauma, thoracic trauma currently represents about 25% of polytrauma deaths, constituting a complex problem, in view of the high rates of mortality and sequelae permanent disabling. Objective: To describe the epidemiological profile of patients treated at an emergency hospital in the Midwest region, victims of thoracic trauma. Method: Quantitative, cross-sectional and retrospective study carried out from data collection of electronic medical records in the period from March to May of 2022. Results: We identified 73 patients who were victims of chest trauma with higher affecting males aged between 26 and 35 years. As the most frequent cause motorcycle accidents stood out, resulting mainly in lesions of the hemopneumothorax type. Conclusion: the profile epidemiology of patients victims of thoracic trauma was represented with greater frequency by males, aged between 26 and 35 years, caused predominantly by motorcycle accidents, often resulting in hemopneumothorax lesions

Trauma em ambientes rurais: avaliação de pacientes internados em unidade de terapia intensiva / Trauma in rural environments: evaluation of patients interned in intensive care unit / Traumatismos en entornos rurales: evaluación de los pacientes ingresados en una unidad de cuidados intensivos

O acesso limitado do atendimento ao trauma aumenta proporcionalmente à ruralidade, refletindo em uma maior mortalidade e invalidez a longo prazo. A pesquisa objetivou identificar os desfechos de pacientes internados por trauma em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva, acometidos em ambientes rurais. Trata-se de um estudo transversal observacional realizado em uma UTI geral de um hospital da região central do Estado do Paraná entre 2013 a 2019, através da análise de prontuários de 230 pacientes traumatizados em ambiente rural. Os dados foram analisados por meio de testes de Qui-quadrado de Pearson, exato de Fisher ou t de Student. Dentre os desfechos identificados, observou-se associação do sexo feminino com as comorbidades (p=0,024), das regiões mais afetadas de cabeça, pescoço e tórax com a gravidade do trauma (p=0,001), além de variáveis do primeiro atendimento, como suporte respiratório básico, PAS <90mmHg e Glasgow associados à pacientes cirúgicos e pupilas alteradas em pacientes clínicos. Para o desfecho, observou-se que as médias do tempo de permanência hospitalar foi significativamente menor para aqueles que foram a óbito. As características apresentadas assemelham-se às informações mencionadas na literatura, em que as lesões graves com a necessidade de intervenção cirúrgica e maior tempo de permanência hospitalar estão associados ao óbito em traumas rurais. Contudo, o trauma no ambiente rural, apesar de não refletir nem sempre em maior gravidade, apresenta desfechos impactantes para o paciente.

Limited access to trauma care increases proportionally to rurality, reflecting higher mortality and long-term disability. The research aimed to identify the outcomes of patients hospitalized for trauma in Intensive Care Units, affected in rural environments. This is an observational cross-sectional study carried out in a general ICU of a hospital in the central region of the State of Paraná between 2013 and 2019, through the analysis of medical records of 230 trauma patients in a rural environment. Data were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square, Fisher's exact or Student's t tests. Among the outcomes identified, there was an association between female sex and comorbidities (p=0.024), the most affected regions of the head, neck and chest with the severity of the trauma (p=0.001), in addition to variables of the first care, such as basic respiratory support, SBP <90mmHg and Glasgow associated with surgical patients and altered pupils in medical patients. For the outcome, it was observed that the average length of hospital stay was significantly lower for those who died. The characteristics presented are similar to the information mentioned in the literature, in which serious injuries requiring surgical intervention and longer hospital stays are associated with death in rural traumas. However, trauma in the rural environment, although not always reflecting greater severity, has impacting outcomes for the patient.

El acceso limitado a la atención traumatológica aumenta proporcionalmente a la ruralidad, lo que se refleja en una mayor mortalidad y discapacidad a largo plazo. La investigación tenía como objetivo identificar los resultados de los pacientes ingresados por traumatismos en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos, afectados en entornos rurales. Se trata de un estudio observacional transversal realizado en una UCI general de un hospital de la región central del Estado de Paraná entre 2013 y 2019, a través del análisis de las historias clínicas de 230 pacientes lesionados en el medio rural. Los datos se analizaron mediante las pruebas de chi-cuadrado de Pearson, exacta de Fisher o t de Student. Entre los resultados identificados, el sexo femenino se asoció con las comorbilidades (p=0,024), las regiones más afectadas de la cabeza, el cuello y el tórax con la gravedad del traumatismo (p=0,001), además de las variables de los primeros cuidados, como la asistencia respiratoria básica, la PAS <90mmHg y el Glasgow asociado a los pacientes quirúrgicos y las pupilas alteradas en los pacientes clínicos. En cuanto al resultado, se observó que la duración media de la estancia hospitalaria fue significativamente menor para los que murieron. Las características presentadas son similares a la información mencionada en la literatura, en la que las lesiones graves con necesidad de intervención quirúrgica y mayor estancia hospitalaria se asocian a la muerte en el trauma rural. Sin embargo, el traumatismo en el medio rural, a pesar de no reflejar siempre una mayor gravedad, presenta resultados impactantes para el paciente.

Comorbidity of adult ADHD and substance use disorder in a sample of inpatients bipolar disorder in Iran.

BACKGROUNDS: The study of the relationship between adult Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder has received more attention in recent years and there is limited information in this area. On the other hand, there is a significant comorbidity between ADHD and bipolar disorder with substance use disorder. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of comorbidity of adult ADHD and substance use disorder among a group of bipolar patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital. METHODS: One hundred fifty patients from a total of 200 consecutive patients who were referred to the emergency department of Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital in Tehran, diagnosed with bipolar disorder based on the initial psychiatric interview and needed hospitalization, were evaluated again by an experienced faculty member psychiatrist by using a subsequent interview based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition(DSM-5). They were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5) questionnaire to confirm the diagnosis of bipolar disorder and the comorbidity of adult ADHD and substance use disorder. RESULTS: From 150 patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder, 106 patients (70.7%) had adult ADHD. 89 patients (59.3%) had substance use disorder and 58 patients (38.7%) had both of these comorbidities with bipolar disorder. Comorbidity of adult ADHD was associated with the earlier onset of the first mood episode in bipolar disorder (p value = 0.025). There was no statistically significant relationship between substance use disorder and age of onset of the first episode. (P value = 0.57). CONCLUSIONS: Due to the limitations of studies on adult ADHD comorbidity with bipolar disorder, especially in hospital settings, as well as the increased risk of association with substance use disorder, further multicenter studies in this area with larger sample sizes can increase awareness in this regard.

Relationship between muscle mass and fraction of intramuscular adipose tissue of the quadriceps in older inpatients.

BACKGROUND: In 2021, the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM) special interest group on sarcopenia included the quadriceps thickness assessed with ultrasound image as an indicator of muscle mass in the diagnosis criteria of sarcopenia. If quadriceps echo intensity of older inpatients is to be a strong predictor of quadriceps thickness, muscle quality of the quadriceps may be estimated by the muscle mass when diagnosing sarcopenia using the criteria of ISPRM. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association between muscle mass and fraction of intramuscular adipose tissue of the quadriceps in older inpatients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 399 inpatients aged ≥ 65 years. Primary outcomes were muscle mass and fraction of intramuscular adipose tissue of the quadriceps. Images were acquired using a B-mode ultrasound. Muscle mass and fraction of intramuscular adipose tissue of the quadriceps were assessed based on the muscle thickness and echo intensity, respectively. A multiple regression analysis (forced entry method) was performed to confirm whether quadriceps echo intensity was related to quadriceps thickness even after adjusting for other factors. RESULTS: In the multiple regression analyses for both male and female models, quadriceps echo intensity (male: ß = - 0.537, p < 0.001; female: ß = - 0.438, p < 0.001), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (male: ß = 0.236, p < 0.001; female: ß = 0.213, p < 0.001), and subcutaneous fat thickness of the thigh (male: ß = 0.197, p < 0.001; female: ß = 0.248, p < 0.001) were independently and significantly associated with quadriceps thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that there is a negative and significant association between muscle mass and fraction of intramuscular adipose tissue in older inpatients. Muscle quality of the quadriceps in older inpatients may be estimated to some extent by the muscle mass.

Are there differences between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 inpatient pressure injuries? Experiences in Internal Medicine Units.

BACKGROUND: Pressure Injuries (PIs) are major worldwide public health threats within the different health-care settings. OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare epidemiological and clinical features of PIs in COVID-19 patients and patients admitted for other causes in Internal Medicine Units during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: A descriptive longitudinal retrospective study. SETTING: This study was conducted in Internal Medicine Units in Salamanca University Hospital Complex, a tertiary hospital in the Salamanca province, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: All inpatients ≥18-year-old admitted from March 1, 2020 to June 1, 2020 for more than 24 hours in the Internal Medicine Units with one or more episodes of PIs. RESULTS: A total of 101 inpatients and 171 episodes were studied. The prevalence of PI episodes was 6% and the cumulative incidence was 2.9% during the first-wave of COVID-19. Risk of acute wounds was four times higher in the COVID-19 patient group (p<0.001). Most common locations were sacrum and heels. Among hospital acquired pressure injuries a significant association was observed between arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus in patients with COVID-19 diagnosis. CONCLUSION: During the first wave of COVID-19, COVID-19 patients tend to present a higher number of acute wounds, mainly of hospital origin, compared to the profile of the non-COVID group. Diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension were identified as main associated comorbidities in patients with COVID-19 diagnosis.

Trends and Risk Factors of In-Hospital Mortality of Patients with COVID-19 in Germany: Results of a Large Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

Unselected data of nationwide studies of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 are still sparse, but these data are of outstanding interest to avoid exceeding hospital capacities and overloading national healthcare systems. Thus, we sought to analyze seasonal/regional trends, predictors of in-hospital case-fatality, and mechanical ventilation (MV) in patients with COVID-19 in Germany. We used the German nationwide inpatient samples to analyze all hospitalized patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in Germany between 1 January and 31 December in 2020. We analyzed data of 176,137 hospitalizations of patients with confirmed COVID-19-infection. Among those, 31,607 (17.9%) died, whereby in-hospital case-fatality grew exponentially with age. Overall, age ≥ 70 years (OR 5.91, 95%CI 5.70-6.13, p < 0.001), pneumonia (OR 4.58, 95%CI 4.42-4.74, p < 0.001) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (OR 8.51, 95%CI 8.12-8.92, p < 0.001) were strong predictors of in-hospital death. Most COVID-19 patients were treated in hospitals in urban areas (n = 92,971) associated with the lowest case-fatality (17.5%), as compared to hospitals in suburban (18.3%) or rural areas (18.8%). MV demand was highest in November/December 2020 (32.3%, 20.3%) in patients between the 6th and 8th age decade. In the first age decade, 78 of 1861 children (4.2%) with COVID-19-infection were treated with MV, and five of them died (0.3%). The results of our study indicate seasonal and regional variations concerning the number of COVID-19 patients, necessity of MV, and case fatality in Germany. These findings may help to ensure the flexible allocation of intensive care (human) resources, which is essential for managing enormous societal challenges worldwide to avoid overloaded regional healthcare systems.

SARS-CoV-2 infection increases risk of acute kidney injury in a bimodal age distribution.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV2 develop acute kidney injury (AKI) frequently, yet gaps remain in understanding why adults seem to have higher rates compared to children. Our objectives were to evaluate the epidemiology of SARS-CoV2-related AKI across the age spectrum and determine if known risk factors such as illness severity contribute to its pattern. METHODS: Secondary analysis of ongoing prospective international cohort registry. AKI was defined by KDIGO-creatinine only criteria. Log-linear, logistic and generalized estimating equations assessed odds ratios (OR), risk differences (RD), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for AKI and mortality adjusting for sex, pre-existing comorbidities, race/ethnicity, illness severity, and clustering within centers. Sensitivity analyses assessed different baseline creatinine estimators. RESULTS: Overall, among 6874 hospitalized patients, 39.6% (n = 2719) developed AKI. There was a bimodal distribution of AKI by age with peaks in older age (≥60 years) and middle childhood (5-15 years), which persisted despite controlling for illness severity, pre-existing comorbidities, or different baseline creatinine estimators. For example, the adjusted OR of developing AKI among hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV2 was 2.74 (95% CI 1.66-4.56) for 10-15-year-olds compared to 30-35-year-olds and similarly was 2.31 (95% CI 1.71-3.12) for 70-75-year-olds, while adjusted OR dropped to 1.39 (95% CI 0.97-2.00) for 40-45-year-olds compared to 30-35-year-olds. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV2-related AKI is common with a bimodal age distribution that is not fully explained by known risk factors or confounders. As the pandemic turns to disproportionately impacting younger individuals, this deserves further investigation as the presence of AKI and SARS-CoV2 infection increases hospital mortality risk.

Estimation of 24-h Urine Protein Excretion Using Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio from an In-Hospital Population.

BACKGROUND There is little information available on quantitative description of the relationship between urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and 24-h urine protein excretion (24-h UPE). Here, we developed a calculation tool for 24-h UPE using the urine ACR and limited information on the request form. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a retrospective and observational study. All individuals with same-day urine ACR and 24-h UPE tests in Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from September 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019 were enrolled. Correlation and agreement between urine ACR and 24-h UPE were evaluated using correlation analysis and an intraclass correlation coefficient, respectively. The Durbin-Watson test and ANOVA were used to assess the performance of the calculation tool, and reliability of the prediction equation was evaluated in the validation group using residual error analysis. RESULTS A total of 906 participants were enrolled, including 639 participants in the development group and 267 in the validation group. Natural logarithm transformation was applied to remove skewness. Natural logarithm-transformed urine ACR correlated well with natural-logarithm-transformed 24-h UPE (Pearson coefficient=0.908; P<0.001) and the agreement was consistently good (overall ICC=0.938; 95% CI: 0.928-0.947; P<0.001). The multivariable regression model had good performance (R²=0.864) and high accuracy, demonstrated by results of residual error analysis. CONCLUSIONS We provide a practical calculation tool to estimate total protein excretion using urine ACR and readily accessible variables. However, 24-h UPE is still mandatory when proteinuria is over 10 g/day or when most proteinuria may not be of glomerular origin.