Initial renal replacement therapy (RRT) modality associates with 90-day postdischarge RRT dependence in critically ill AKI survivors.

Purpose: Real-world comparison of RRT modality on RRT dependence at 90 days postdischarge among ICU patients discharged alive after RRT for acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods: Using claims-linked to US hospital discharge data (Premier PINC AI Healthcare Database [PHD]), we compared continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) vs. intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) for AKI in adult ICU patients discharged alive from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2021.

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Patient-Clinician Discordance Among Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Initiating Advanced Therapy.

Objective: To describe and identify associated factors for patient-clinician discordance of disease assessment at biologic or Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) initiation and over 12 months following initiation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from a US RA registry.

Methods: Analyses included CorEvitas RA Registry patients who initiated their first biologic or JAKi on or after February 1, 2015, and had 6- and 12-month follow-up visits. Positive discordance was defined as patient global assessment (visual analog scale [VAS-100]) minus physician's global assessment (VAS-100) equal to 30 points or more.

LOGAN-CV: A Prospective Study of a Multifaceted Intervention Targeting United States Clinicians to Improve Guideline-Based Management of Lipid-Lowering Therapy.

Introduction: The 2018 American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC)/Multisociety blood cholesterol guidelines recommend clinicians consider adding non-statin therapy for patients with very high-risk (VHR) atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 70 mg/dl while receiving maximally tolerated statins. However, according to a recent study, only 17.1% of patients with established ASCVD received appropriate lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) intensification.

Palmoplantar Pustulosis has a Greater Disease Burden than Plaque Psoriasis: Real-World Evidence From the CorEvitas Psoriasis Registry.

Background: Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a rare skin disease characterized by episodes of neutrophilic pustules on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Current treatments for PPP have limited efficacy, and there is little real-world evidence characterizing the disease burden of PPP in patients.

Objective: To describe and compare the clinical characteristics and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of patients with PPP with those of patients with plaque psoriasis.

Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs of Persistent Severe Acute Kidney Injury (PS-AKI) Among Hospitalized Stage 2/3 AKI Patients.

Key Points: Among hospitalized patients with stage 2/3 AKI, persistent severe acute kidney injury (PS-AKI) is associated with significantly longer length of stay (LOS) and higher costs during index hospitalization and 30 days postdischarge. Relative differences in LOS and costs for PS-AKI versus NPS-AKI were similar for intensive care (ICU) and non-ICU patients. Preventing PS-AKI among patients with stage 2/3 AKI may reduce hospital LOS and costs.

Outcomes, Healthcare Resource Utilization, and Costs of Overall, Community-Acquired, and Hospital-Acquired Acute Kidney Injury in COVID-19 Patients.

In hospitalized patients with COVID-19, acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with higher mortality, but data are lacking on healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs related to AKI, community-acquired AKI (CA-AKI), and hospital-acquired AKI (HA-AKI). To quantify the burden of AKI, CA-AKI, and HA-AKI among inpatients with COVID-19. This retrospective cohort study included inpatients with COVID-19 discharged from US hospitals in the Premier PINC AI™ Healthcare Database April 1-October 31, 2020, categorized as AKI, CA-AKI, HA-AKI, or no AKI by ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes.

Disease Burden and Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Ulcerative Colitis Patients According to Therapy at Enrollment Into CorEvitas' Inflammatory Bowel Disease Registry.

Background: To evaluate disease burden and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients at enrollment into CorEvitas' Inflammatory Bowel Disease Registry by therapy class.

Methods: Between May 3, 2017 and September 3, 2019, 773 UC registry patients were categorized by therapy class at enrollment: patients on 5-aminosalicylic acids (5-ASAs) only ( = 290), and patients on biologics/Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) alone or in combination with 5-ASAs or immunosuppressant therapies (BIO/JAKi) ( = 315). To quantify between group differences, the mean/proportional differences and corresponding 95% CIs were calculated.

Clinical Outcomes of Persistent Severe Acute Kidney Injury among Patients with Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes Stage 2 or 3 Acute Kidney Injury.

Introduction: The burden of persistent (≥3 days) severe AKI (PS-AKI) is poorly described among inpatients with stage 2-3 AKI in the ward or ICU. Quantification could motivate targeted interventions to decrease duration of AKI in these high-risk patients.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adult patients discharged from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2019, from US hospitals in the PINC AI Healthcare Database.

High-Density Lipoprotein and Long-Term Incidence and Progression of Aortic Valve Calcification: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background: Aortic valve calcification (AVC) shares pathological features with atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein components have been detected in aortic valve tissue, including HDL (high-density lipoprotein). HDL measures have inverse associations with cardiovascular disease, but relationships with long-term AVC progression are unclear.

Is Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Less Deadly Now? Trends in In-Hospital Mortality Among Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in the United States.

After an initial decline from April through June 2020 (from 22.2% to 11.9%), adjusted in-hospital mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inpatients peaked twice and was significantly higher than June 2020 for subsequent months except in July and October 2020.

Clinical Outcomes, Costs, and Healthcare Resource Utilization in Patients with Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors vs Chemotherapy.

Purpose: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive skin cancer with poor prognosis. This study compared patient characteristics, comorbidities, adverse events (AEs), treatment persistence, healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs in patients with metastatic MCC (mMCC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) or recommended chemotherapy per 2018 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective, observational study was conducted using data from 3/1/2015 through 12/31/2017 from the Premier Healthcare Database, a US hospital discharge database.

Unmet Medical Needs in the Treatment and Management of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis Flares: Evidence from a Survey of Corrona Registry Dermatologists.

Introduction: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare, severe, and potentially life-threatening systemic and chronic autoinflammatory disease characterized by sterile, neutrophilic pustules. The standard of care for GPP varies by region, with limited information and experience of flares and their treatment. Our aim was to establish current unmet needs in GPP by better understanding the natural history of GPP, examining how dermatologists diagnose GPP and GPP flares, and establishing the range and adequacy of GPP treatment options currently prescribed by dermatologists.

Associations of body composition with incident dementia in older adults: Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study.

Introduction: A body of literature reported associations between late-life general adiposity measures (eg, body mass index) and dementia. Little is known about the association of late-life body composition with dementia risk.

Methods: We determined this association among cognitively normal participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study- Cognition Study.

Association of Apolipoprotein E in Lipoprotein Subspecies With Risk of Dementia.

Importance: The ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and lower apolipoprotein E (apoE) protein levels in plasma are risk factors for Alzheimer disease, but the underlying biological mechanisms are not fully understood. Half of plasma apoE circulates on high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). Higher apoE levels in plasma HDL were previously found to be associated with lower coronary heart disease risk, but the coexistence of another apolipoprotein, apoC3, modified this lower risk.

Alcohol Consumption, Brain Amyloid-β Deposition, and Brain Structural Integrity Among Older Adults Free of Dementia.

Background: Light to moderate alcohol consumption has been variably associated with lower or higher risk of dementia, but effects on Alzheimer's disease pathology are less clear.

Objective: We determined whether late-life alcohol consumption was associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology among older adults.

Methods: We assessed the associations of alcohol consumption self-reported in 2000-2002 with brain amyloid-β deposition on PET scans, and white matter lesion and hippocampal volume on MRIs measured 7-9 years later in 189 participants of the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study (age 75-87 years at baseline) who were free of clinical dementia, using multivariable-adjusted and inverse probability-weighted robust linear regression models.

High density lipoprotein and its apolipoprotein-defined subspecies and risk of dementia.

Whether HDL is associated with dementia risk is unclear. In addition to apoA1, other apolipoproteins are found in HDL, creating subspecies of HDL that may have distinct metabolic properties. We measured apoA1, apoC3, and apoJ levels in plasma and apoA1 levels in HDL that contains or lacks apoE, apoJ, or apoC3 using a modified sandwich ELISA in a case-cohort study nested within the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study.

Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Dementia and Cognitive Decline Among Older Adults With or Without Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Importance: Substantial heterogeneity and uncertainty exist in the observed associations between alcohol consumption and dementia.

Objective: To assess the association between alcohol consumption and dementia and the roles of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE E4) genotype in modifying this association.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study used data from the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study, conducted from 2000 to 2008 among US community-dwelling participants.

Inflammatory joint diseases and atherosclerosis: time to look beyond the 'lipid paradox'.

Purpose Of Review: Uncertainty persists about the contribution of lipids to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory joint disease (IJD) patients. In reviewing recent research, we consider potential insights gained by quantifying lipoprotein particles directly, rather than by their lipid content.

Recent Findings: Although inflammation often decreases LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), and anti-inflammatory medications often increase LDL-C, both inflammation and anti-inflammatory medications can increase atherogenic Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)-containing lipoprotein particles, attenuated by statins.

Apolipoproteins and Alzheimer's pathophysiology.

Introduction: Apolipoproteins of demonstrated importance to brain cholesterol and ß-amyloid metabolism may serve as novel risk markers for Alzheimer's pathology.

Methods: We measured apolipoproteins (apoE, apoJ, apoA-I, and apoC-III and their uniquely defined subspecies) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in plasma collected in 2000 and 2008 from 176 dementia-free participants of the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study and related these to ß-amyloid on positron emission tomography scans, hippocampal volume, and white matter lesion volume in 2009.

Results: Higher apoE was associated with lower ß-amyloid deposition.

Aortic Stiffness is Associated with Increased Risk of Incident Dementia in Older Adults.

Cardiovascular disease risk factors, including age, hypertension, and diabetes, contribute to aortic stiffness and subclinical cardiovascular and brain disease, increasing dementia risk. Aortic stiffness, measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), reduces the buffering of pulsatile blood flow, exposing cerebral small arteries to microvascular damage. High cfPWV is related to white matter hyperintensities and brain amyloid deposition, and to cognitive decline, but it is unclear whether cfPWV independently predicts incident dementia.

Update on Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is 1.5-fold higher in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), partly due to subclinical atherosclerosis that develops before the diagnosis of RA. Dyslipidemia in RA is better quantified by lipoproteins and apolipoproteins than by cholesterol levels.

Dietary Long-Chain n-3 Fatty Acid Intake and Arthritis Risk in the Women's Health Initiative.

Background: The prevalence of arthritis in the United States is substantial and on the rise. Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties, have been shown to provide therapeutic benefit to arthritis patients; however, to date few have examined these associations with arthritis risk.

Objective: The study objective was to examine the associations of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids intake with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk among postmenopausal women.

Coronary Artery Calcification (CAC) and Post-Trial Cardiovascular Events and Mortality Within the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Estrogen-Alone Trial.

Background: Among women aged 50 to 59 years at baseline in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Estrogen-Alone (E-Alone) trial, randomization to conjugated equine estrogen-alone versus placebo was associated with lower risk of myocardial infarction and mortality, and, in an ancillary study, the WHI-CACS (WHI Coronary Artery Calcification Study) with lower CAC, measured by cardiac computed tomography ≈8.7 years after baseline randomization. We hypothesized that higher CAC would be related to post-trial coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and total mortality, independent of baseline randomization or risk factors.