Systolic blood pressure, a predictor of mortality and life expectancy following heart failure hospitalization, 2010-2023.

Background: Optimal systolic blood pressure (SBP) targets for the treatment of hospitalized acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients are not known.

Objectives: To investigate the association between SBP <130 mmHg at discharge or within 30 days and all-cause mortality or years of life lost (YLL) after ADHF hospitalization.

Methods: We analyzed medical records of 14,611 adults who survived ADHF hospitalization at 17 hospitals (2010-2022) with follow-up until May 2023.

Rural-urban Differences in Long-term Mortality and Readmission Following COVID-19 Hospitalization, 2020 to 2023.

Background: We compared long-term mortality and readmission rates after COVID-19 hospitalization based on rural-urban status and assessed the impact of COVID-19 vaccination introduction on clinical outcomes by rurality.

Methods: The study comprised adults hospitalized for COVID-19 at 17 hospitals in 4 US states between March 2020 and July 2022, followed until May 2023. The main analysis included all patients, whereas a sensitivity analysis focused on residents from 4 states containing 17 hospitals.

Development and internal validation of machine learning-based models and external validation of existing risk scores for outcome prediction in patients with ischaemic stroke.

Aims: We developed new machine learning (ML) models and externally validated existing statistical models [ischaemic stroke predictive risk score (iScore) and totalled health risks in vascular events (THRIVE) scores] for predicting the composite of recurrent stroke or all-cause mortality at 90 days and at 3 years after hospitalization for first acute ischaemic stroke (AIS).

Methods And Results: In adults hospitalized with AIS from January 2005 to November 2016, with follow-up until November 2019, we developed three ML models [random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBOOST)] and externally validated the iScore and THRIVE scores for predicting the composite outcomes after AIS hospitalization, using data from 721 patients and 90 potential predictor variables. At 90 days and 3 years, 11 and 34% of patients, respectively, reached the composite outcome.

An artificial intelligence approach for predicting death or organ failure after hospitalization for COVID-19: development of a novel risk prediction tool and comparisons with ISARIC-4C, CURB-65, qSOFA, and MEWS scoring systems.

Background: We applied machine learning (ML) algorithms to generate a risk prediction tool [Collaboration for Risk Evaluation in COVID-19 (CORE-COVID-19)] for predicting the composite of 30-day endotracheal intubation, intravenous administration of vasopressors, or death after COVID-19 hospitalization and compared it with the existing risk scores.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 from March 2020 to February 2021. Patients, each with 92 variables, and one composite outcome underwent feature selection process to identify the most predictive variables.

Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Clinical Outcomes After Heart Failure Hospitalizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March to October 2020.

Objective: To compare clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and 30-day all-cause readmission and mortality between patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Patients And Methods: The study was conducted at 16 hospitals across 3 geographically dispersed US states. The study included 6769 adults (mean age, 74 years; 56% [5033 of 8989] men) with cumulative 8989 HF hospitalizations: 2341 hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 1 through October 30, 2020) and 6648 in the pre-COVID-19 (October 1, 2018, through February 28, 2020) comparator group.

How to promote a healthy lifestyle among schoolchildren: Development of an intervention module (i-PROMISe).

Objective: Lifestyle preferences are inculcated in childhood and once established, persist into adulthood. The Project PROMoting Health LIteracy in School (i-PROMISe) aims to promote a healthy lifestyle among students for the universal prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes.

Study Design: Qualitative study using focus-group-discussions (FGDs) and In-Depth Interviews (IDI).

Association of hypothyroidism with outcomes in hospitalized adults with COVID-19: Results from the International SCCM Discovery Viral Infection and Respiratory Illness Universal Study (VIRUS): COVID-19 Registry.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Primary hypothyroidism is a common comorbid condition, but little is known about its association with COVID-19 severity and outcomes. This study aims to identify the frequency of hypothyroidism in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 as well as describe the differences in outcomes between patients with and without pre-existing hypothyroidism using an observational, multinational registry.

Hyperlipidaemia and mortality among patients hospitalised with pneumonia: retrospective cohort and propensity score matched study.

Objective: To characterise the potential association of hyperlipidaemia (HLP) versus no HLP with all-cause mortality among patients hospitalised for pneumonia.

Design: Propensity score matched retrospective study.

Participants: The study cohort consisted of consecutive 8553 adults hospitalised at a large academic centre with a discharge diagnosis of pneumonia from 1996 through 2015, followed until death or end of the study period, 17 August 2017.

Initial and subsequent 3-year cost after hospitalization for first acute ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage.

Aims: To examine 1) the major drivers of index hospitalization and 3-year post-acute follow-up care, 2) cost for rehabilitation and homecare, and 3) indirect cost from lost productivity after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods: Retrospective study of adults hospitalized with AIS (n = 811) and ICH (N = 145) between 2003 and 2014. Direct costs standardized to Medicare reimbursement rates were captured for hospitalization and 3-year follow-up or death.

Effect of insulin sensitizer therapy on amino acids and their metabolites.

Aims: Prior studies have reported that elevated concentrations of several plasma amino acids (AA), particularly branched chain (BCAA) and aromatic AA predict the onset of type 2 diabetes. We sought to test the hypothesis that circulating BCAA, aromatic AA and related AA metabolites decline in response to the use of insulin sensitizing agents in overweight/obese adults with impaired fasting glucose or untreated diabetes.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo, controlled study conducted in twenty five overweight/obese (BMI ~30kg/m(2)) adults with impaired fasting glucose or untreated diabetes.

Cohort study on radioactive iodine-induced hypothyroidism: implications for Graves' ophthalmopathy and optimal timing for thyroid hormone assessment.

Background: Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) develops or worsens in up to one-third of patients treated with radioactive iodine (RAI) for Graves' hyperthyroidism. We sought to identify the prevalence of development or worsening of GO in patients treated with RAI for Graves' hyperthyroidism and to identify the risk factors associated with that outcome.

Methods: We identified a retrospective cohort of consecutive patients treated with RAI at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) between 2005 and 2006.

Measurement of human skeletal muscle oxidative capacity by 31P-MR spectroscopy: a cross-validation with in vitro measurements.

Purpose: To cross-validate skeletal muscle oxidative capacity measured by (31)P-MR spectroscopy with in vitro measurements of oxidative capacity in mitochondria isolated from muscle biopsies of the same muscle group in 18 healthy adults.

Materials And Methods: Oxidative capacity in vivo was determined from PCr recovery kinetics following a 30-s maximal isometric knee extension. State 3 respiration was measured in isolated mitochondria using high-resolution respirometry.

Using quality-improvement techniques to enhance patient education and counselling of diagnosis and management.

Background: Patients recall less than half the information provided to them by their physicians.

Aims: The aim of this study was to use quality-improvement (QI) techniques to enhance patient understanding of diagnosis, management and follow-up at the end of the office visit.

Method: QI techniques including stakeholder analysis, process mapping and plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles were used in a pilot study in an outpatient endocrinology clinic specialising in bone disease.

Dehydroepiandrosterone in adrenal insufficiency and ageing.

Purpose Of Review: The physiological role of dehydroepiandrosterone remains unclear, and there is continuing controversy on whether dehydroepiandrosterone treatment benefits adrenal-deficient and elderly people with an age-related decline in dehydroepiandrosterone. The objective of this study is to critically review published results and determine whether there is a valid case for dehydroepiandrosterone treatment with advancing age and hypoadrenalism.

Recent Findings: Oral dehydroepiandrosterone therapy in both elderly and hypoadrenal subjects achieves dehydroepiandrosterone levels comparable to young subjects.

Systematic evaluation of the quality of randomized controlled trials in diabetes.

Objective: We sought to systematically ascertain the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: We identified the 10 most recently published trials as of 31 October 2003 in each of six general medical, five diabetes, and five metabolism and nutrition journals and further enriched our sample with 10 additional RCTs from each of five journals that published the most eligible RCTs in a year. We explored the association between trial characteristics and reporting quality using univariate analyses and a preplanned multivariate regression model.