Incidence and implications of acute kidney injury in patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF). There is a paucity of research on the incidence and consequences of AKI among patients hospitalized with HF who do not have evidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The National Inpatient Sample database was used to identify index hospitalizations for acute HF from January 2012 through September 2015.

The outcomes of infection in patients with diverticular disease: a nationwide analysis.

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections. It contributes to significant morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients in the United States. Prior studies suggest worse outcomes of CDI in patients with diverticulitis and increased risk for recurrent CDI.

Burden and impact of takotsubo syndrome in myasthenic crisis: A national inpatient perspective on the under-recognized but potentially fatal association.

Background: Patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) remain at a higher risk of developing takotsubo syndrome (TS), particularly during a myasthenic crisis (MC) event. The prevalence of MC-associated TS and its impact on subsequent in-hospital outcomes have not been explored previously.

Methods: We queried the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) databases (2007-2014) using weighted data and ICD-9 CM codes to evaluate the prevalence of MC-associated TS, demographics, comorbidities and inpatient outcomes of TS secondary to MC vs.

Frequency of Cardiovascular Events and In-hospital Mortality With Opioid Overdose Hospitalizations.

The United States is in the kernel of cataclysmic opioid misuse epidemic with over 33,000 deaths per year from both prescription and illegal opioids use. One of the most common pernicious effects of opioids is on the cardiovascular system. The purpose of this analysis was to determine the incidence of opioid overdose associated cardiovascular events and its impact on short-term outcomes.

Intravascular ultrasound versus angiogram guided drug eluting stent implantation. A systematic review and updated meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

Background: Further advances have been achieved in the field of intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) guided drug eluting stent (DES) implantation and hence there was a need to rejuvenate the evidence. Hence, we performed a cumulative meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis (TSA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing IVUS versus angiogram guided DES implantation.

Methodology: We searched PubMed/Medline and Cochrane database for relevant articles using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Outcomes and Predictors of Mortality in Hospitalized Frail Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Objective To study the impact of frailty on inpatient outcomes among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods The National Inpatient Sample data of all PCI-related hospitalizations throughout the United States (US) from 2010 through 2014 was utilized. Patients were divided into two groups: frailty and no-frailty.

Rising Trends in Medication Non-compliance and Associated Worsening Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Outcomes Among Hospitalized Adults Across the United States.

Introduction Small-scale studies have described concerning rates of non-compliance/nonadherence towards groups of medications for primary and secondary prevention. Trends in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (CCE) among hospitalized patients with a non-compliant behavior towards medication, on the whole, remains unexplored on a large scale. Methods Using the National Inpatient Sample databases (2007-2014), we sought to assess the prevalence and trends in all-cause mortality and CCE in adult patients hospitalized with medication non-compliance.

Single- and dual-site ventricular pacing entirely through the coronary sinus for patients with prior tricuspid valve surgery.

Purpose: Transvenous right ventricular pacing has traditionally been avoided after surgical tricuspid valve repair or replacement because of possible valvular dysfunction. Epicardial pacing has been used but it requires surgical thoracotomy and has higher lead failure rates when compared to transvenous pacing. We evaluated the lead stability and clinical outcomes in patients with isolated coronary sinus (CS) lead due to relative contraindication to transvenous pacing from prior tricuspid valve (TV) surgery.

Improving HIV Surveillance Data by Using the ATra Black Box System to Assist Regional Deduplication Activities.

Background: Focused attention on Data to Care underlines the importance of high-quality HIV surveillance data. This study identified the number of total duplicate and exact duplicate HIV case records in 9 separate Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System (eHARS) databases reported by 8 jurisdictions and compared this approach to traditional Routine Interstate Duplicate Review resolution.

Methods: This study used the ATra Black Box System and 6 eHARS variables for matching case records across jurisdictions: last name, first name, date of birth, sex assigned at birth (birth sex), social security number, and race/ethnicity, plus 4 system-calculated values (first name Soundex, last name Soundex, partial date of birth, and partial social security number).

Field Test and Validation of the Multiplier Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella-Zoster Multiplexed Assay System in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Using Dried Blood Spots.

Here we describe baseline validation studies and field performance of a research-use-only chemiluminescent multiplex serology panel for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella-zoster virus used with dried blood spots in support of the 2013-2014 Democratic Republic of the Congo Demographic and Health Survey. Characterization of the panel using U.S.

Regional trends in In-hospital Cardiac Arrest following sepsis-related admissions and subsequent mortality.

Background: Previous studies have reported regional variation in either the incidence or outcomes of sepsis or In-hospital Cardiac Arrest (IHCA) discretely; however, regional variations in the incidence and outcomes of sepsis-associated IHCA (SA-IHCA) have never been studied.

Methods: From the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), discharges with sepsis and sepsis-associated IHCA were identified in 4 geographic regions (Northeast, Midwest, South, West) from 2007 to 2014 using applicable ICD-9-CM codes. We assessed the regional incidence and trends in SA-IHCA and subsequent inpatient outcomes.

Estimating the Size of Key Populations in Kampala, Uganda: 3-Source Capture-Recapture Study.

Background: Key populations, including people who inject drugs (PWID), men who have sex with men (MSM), and female sex workers (FSW), are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Understanding the magnitude of, and informing the public health response to, the HIV epidemic among these populations requires accurate size estimates. However, low social visibility poses challenges to these efforts.

Differences in risk factors and resource utilization for women undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and lower extremity peripheral vascular intervention.

Objective: To investigate the differences in risk factors and in-hospital outcomes for women undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and peripheral vascular intervention (PVI).

Background: The clinical impact of coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD) is well characterized and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. There is lack of data comparing risk factors and in-hospital outcomes for PCI and PVI, particularly in women.

Urogenital Schistosomiasis and Sexually Transmitted Coinfections among Pregnant Women in a Schistosome-Endemic Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Schistosomiasis afflicts an estimated 10 million pregnant women in Africa annually. With mounting evidence of adverse impacts to reproductive health resulting from urogenital schistosomiasis, including increased transmission of HIV, further research on prenatal disease epidemiology is warranted, with implications for maternal and fetal health. Between October 2016 and March 2017, we conducted a cross-sectional study examining the prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis and its association with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) other than HIV among pregnant women visiting antenatal clinics in Kisantu health zone, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ventricular asystole in a CRT-D device. What is the mechanism?

We present a case of an 89-year-old man with a left ventricular assist device and cardiac resynchronization therapy device (CRT-D) who presented with multiple presyncopal events. On the night of admission, telemetry revealed a 13-s pause with appropriately timed pacing spikes but with failure to capture, followed by intermittent ventricular contraction with different QRS morphology. What was the mechanism for his ventricular asystole?

Safety and feasibility of combined atrial fibrillation ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion after left atrial appendage electrical isolation.

Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility of combining left atrial appendage electrical isolation (LAAEI) with left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) to increase efficacy of persistent/longstanding atrial fibrillation (PLAF) catheter ablation (CA) while mitigating risk of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus.

Background: CA for atrial fibrillation (AF) plus LAAO is safe and feasible. LAAEI may improve freedom from recurrence in PLAF but may increase LAA thrombus.

Nationwide Analysis of Resource Utilization and In-Hospital Outcomes in the Obese Patients With Lower Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage.

Goals: The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of obesity on the outcomes of patients with lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage (LGIH).

Background: Obesity is considered as an independent risk factor for LGIH. We sought to analyze in-hospital outcomes and characteristics of nonobese and obese patients who presented with LGIH, and further, identify resource utilization during their hospital stay.

Pharmacologic Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders and Time With Unsuppressed HIV Viral Load in a Clinical HIV Cohort.

Objective: To evaluate associations of mood, anxiety, stress-/trauma-related, and psychotic disorders, both treated and untreated, with duration of unsuppressed HIV viral load (VL) among persons living with HIV (PLWH).

Setting: The DC Cohort, an observational clinical cohort of PLWH followed from 2011 to 2018 at 14 sites in Washington, DC.

Methods: Among PLWH ≥18 years old who received primary care at their HIV clinic, we determined in a time-updated manner whether participants had diagnoses and pharmacologic prescriptions for mood, anxiety, stress-/trauma-related, and/or psychotic disorders.