scholarly journals Disparities in outcomes among patients diagnosed with cancer associated with emergency department visits

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Pettit ◽  
Elisa Sarmiento ◽  
Jeffrey Kline
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Transitions Of Care ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
First Time

Importance: Diagnosis of cancer in the emergency department (ED) may be associated with poor outcomes, related to socioeconomic (SES) disparities, however data are limited. Objective: To examine the morality and associated disparities for cancer diagnoses made less than six months after an ED visit. Design: This study is case-control analysis of the Indiana State Department of Health Cancer Registry, and the Indiana Network for Patient Care. First time diagnoses of ICD-cancer appearing in the registry between January 2013 and December 2017 were included. Cases were patients who had an ED visit in the 6 months before their cancer diagnosis; controls had no recent ED visits. Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s): Primary outcome was mortality, comparing ED-associated mortality to non-ED-associated. Secondary outcomes include SES and demographic disparities. Results: 134,761 first-time cancer patients were identified, including 15,432 (11.5%) cases. In cases and controls, the mean age was same at 65 and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was the same at 2.0 in both groups. More of the ED cohort were Black than the non-ED cohort (12.4% vs 7.4%, P<.0001, Chi Square) and more were low income (36.4%. vs 29.3%). The top 3 ED-associated cancer diagnoses were lung (18.4%), breast (8.9%), and colorectal cancer (8.9%), vs. the non-ED cohort were breast (17%), lung (14.9%), and prostate cancer (10.1%). Regardless of type, all ED-associated cancers had an over three-fold higher mortality, with cumulative death rate of 32.9% for cases vs 9.0% for controls (P<.0001) over the entire study period. Regression analysis predicting mortality, clustering by city, controlling for age, gender, race, SES, drug/alcohol/tobacco use, and CCI score, produced an odds ratio of 4.12 (95% CI 3.72-4.56 for ED associated cancers). Conclusion and Relevance: This study found that an ED visit within 6 months prior to the first time of ICD-coded cancer is associated with Black race, low income and an overall three-fold increased risk of death. The mortality rates for ED-associated cancers are uniformly worse for all cancer types. These data suggest that additional work is needed in order to reduce disparities among ED-associated cancer diagnoses, including increased surveillance and improved transitions of care.

scholarly journals Disparities in Outcomes Among Patients Diagnosed With Cancer in Proximity to an Emergency Department Visit

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Pettit ◽  
Elisa Sarmiento ◽  
Jeffrey Kline
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
Adjusted Risk ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Prostate Cancers ◽  
Poor Outcomes ◽  
Case Control Analysis ◽  
First Time

Abstract A suspected diagnosis of cancer in the emergency department (ED) may be associated with poor outcomes, related to health disparities, however data are limited. This study is a case-control analysis of the Indiana State Department of Health Cancer Registry, and the Indiana Network for Patient Care. First time cancer diagnoses appearing in the registry between January 2013 and December 2017 were included. Cases were patients who had an ED visit in the 6 months before their cancer diagnosis; controls had no recent ED visits. The primary outcome was mortality, comparing ED-associated mortality to non-ED-associated. 134,761 first-time cancer patients were identified, including 15,432 (11.5%) cases. The mean age was same at 65, more of the cases were Black than the controls (12.4% vs 7.4%, P<.0001) and more were low income (36.4%. vs 29.3%). The top 3 ED-associated cancer diagnoses were lung (18.4%), breast (8.9%), and colorectal cancers (8.9%), whereas the controls were breast (17%), lung (14.9%), and prostate cancers (10.1%). Cases observed an over three-fold higher mortality, with cumulative death rate of 32.9% for cases vs 9.0% for controls (P<.0001). Regression analysis predicting mortality, controlling for many confounders produced an odds ratio of 4.12 (95% CI 3.72-4.56 for cases). This study found that an ED visit within 6 months prior to the first time of ICD-coded cancer is associated with Black race, low income and an overall three-fold increased adjusted risk of death. The mortality rates for ED-associated cancers are uniformly worse for all cancer types. These data suggest that additional work is needed to reduce disparities among ED-associated cancer diagnoses.

scholarly journals Rurality, Death, and Healthcare Utilization in Heart Failure in the Community

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila M. Manemann ◽  
Jennifer St. Sauver ◽  
Carrie Henning‐Smith ◽  
Lila J. Finney Rutten ◽  
Alanna M. Chamberlain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Healthcare Utilization ◽  
International Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Classification Of Diseases

Background Prior reports indicate that living in a rural area may be associated with worse health outcomes. However, data on rurality and heart failure (HF) outcomes are scarce. Methods and Results Residents from 6 southeastern Minnesota counties with a first‐ever code for HF ( International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision [ ICD‐9 ], code 428, and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision [ ICD‐10 ] code I50) between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016, were identified. Resident address was classified according to the rural‐urban commuting area codes. Rurality was defined as living in a nonmetropolitan area. Cox regression was used to analyze the association between living in a rural versus urban area and death; Andersen‐Gill models were used for hospitalization and emergency department visits. Among 6003 patients with HF (mean age 74 years, 48% women), 43% lived in a rural area. Rural patients were older and had a lower educational attainment and less comorbidity compared with patients living in urban areas ( P <0.001). After a mean (SD) follow‐up of 2.8 (1.7) years, 2440 deaths, 20 506 emergency department visits, and 11 311 hospitalizations occurred. After adjustment, rurality was independently associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.18; 95% CI, 1.09–1.29) and a reduced risk of emergency department visits (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82–0.97) and hospitalizations (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.73–0.84). Conclusions Among patients with HF, living in a rural area is associated with an increased risk of death and fewer emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Further study to identify and address the mechanisms through which rural residence influences mortality and healthcare utilization in HF is needed in order to reduce disparities in rural health.

Abstract P117: Frailty and Outcomes among Heart Failure Patients in the Community

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila M McNallan ◽  
Shannon M Dunlay ◽  
Mandeep Singh ◽  
Alanna M Chamberlain ◽  
Margaret M Redfield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Physical Component Score ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Ed Visits

Objective: To determine among community heart failure (HF) patients whether frailty is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization, emergency department (ED) visits and death, independently of comorbidities. Background: Frailty is associated with adverse outcomes in some populations; however the prognostic value of frailty among HF patients is not fully documented, particularly for healthcare utilization. Methods: Olmsted, Dodge and Fillmore County residents with HF between 10/2007 and 12/2010 were prospectively recruited to undergo frailty assessment. Frailty was defined as 3 or more of the following: unintentional weight loss >10 lbs. in 1 year, physical exhaustion, weak grip strength, and slowness and low activity measured by the SF-12 physical component score. Intermediate frailty was defined as having 1-2 components. To account for repeated events, Anderson-Gill modeling was used to determine if frailty predicted hospitalization or ED visits. Cox proportional hazards regression examined associations between frailty and death. Results: Among 409 patients (mean age 73±13, 58% male), 19% were frail and 55% had intermediate frailty. Within one year, 449 hospitalizations, 523 ED visits and 34 deaths occurred. There was a positive graded association between frailty and hospitalization and ED visits (Table). After adjustment for age, sex, ejection fraction and comorbidity, frailty was associated with an 80% increased risk of hospitalization and a 60% increased risk of ED visits. Frailty was also associated with more than a 2-fold increased risk of death after adjustment. Conclusion: In the community, frailty is prevalent and is a strong and independent predictor of hospitalizations, ED visits and death among HF patients. As it is independent from coexisting comorbidities, frailty defines new avenues for intervention and should be formally assessed clinically. Hazard Ratios (95% CI) for Hospitalizations, Emergency Department Visits and Death by Frailty Status Not Frail Intermediate Frail Frail P for trend Hospitalization Crude 1.00 1.46 (1.05-2.02) 2.15 (1.45-3.19) <0.001 Fully-adjusted 1.00 1.29 (0.94-1.77) 1.82 (1.22-2.73) 0.005 Emergency Department Visits Crude 1.00 1.59 (1.14-2.21) 1.88 (1.22-2.90) 0.002 Fully-adjusted 1.00 1.46 (1.05-2.05) 1.58 (1.01-2.48) 0.034 Death Crude 1.00 1.40 (0.73-2.69) 3.98 (2.01-7.90) <0.001 Fully-adjusted 1.00 0.87 (0.44-1.73) 2.42 (1.19-4.95) 0.003

Impact of Medicaid expansion on two-year mortality among stage IV breast cancer (BC) patients according to race.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6525-6525
Author(s):  
Catalina Malinowski ◽  
Xiudong Lei ◽  
Hui Zhao ◽  
Sharon H. Giordano ◽  
Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Medicaid Expansion ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Stage Iv Breast Cancer ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Expansion Period ◽  
White Patients

6525 Background: Inadequate access to healthcare services is associated with worse outcomes. Disparities in access to cancer care are more frequently seen among racial/ethnic minorities, uninsured patients, and those with low socioeconomic status. A provision in the Affordable Care Act called for expansion of Medicaid eligibility in order to cover more low-income Americans. In this study, we evaluate the impact of Medicaid expansion in 2-year mortality among metastatic BC patients according to race. Methods: Women (aged 40-64) diagnosed with metastatic BC (stage IV de novo) between 01/01/2010 and 12/31/2015 and residing in states that underwent Medicaid expansion in 01/2014 were identified in the National Cancer Database. For comparison purposes, 2010-2013 was considered the pre-expansion period and 2014-2015 the post-expansion period. We calculated 2-year mortality difference-in-difference (DID) estimates between White and non-White patients using multivariable linear regression models. Results are presented as adjusted differences (in % points) between groups in the pre- and post-expansion periods and as adjusted DID with 95%CI. Covariates included age, comorbidity, BC subtype, insurance type, transfer of care, distance to hospital, region, residence area, education, income quartile, facility type and facility volume. In addition, overall survival (OS) was evaluated in pre- and post-expansion periods via Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models; results are presented as 2-year OS estimates, hazard ratios (HRs), and 95% CIs. Results: Among 7,675 patients included, 4,942 were diagnosed in the pre- and 2,733 in the post-expansion period. We observed a reduction in 2-year mortality rates in both groups according to Medicaid expansion. Among Whites 2-year mortality decreased from 42.5% to 38.7% and among non-Whites from 45.4% to 36.4%, resulting in an adjusted DID of -5.2% (95%CI -9.8 to -0.6, p = 0.027). A greater reduction in 2-year mortality was observed among non-Whites in a sub-analysis of patients who resided in the poorest quartile (n = 1372), with an adjusted DID of -14.6% (95%CI -24.8 to -4.4, p = 0.005). In the multivariable Cox model, during the pre-expansion period there was an increased risk of death for non-Whites compared to Whites (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.26, P = 0.04), however no differences were seen in the post-expansion period between the two groups (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.07, P = 0.31). Conclusions: Medicaid expansion reduced racial disparities by decreasing the 2-year mortality of non-White patients with metastatic breast cancer and reducing the gap when compared to Whites. These results highlight the positive impact of policies aimed at improving equity and increasing access to health care.

scholarly journals Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Acute Chemical Poisoning: the Experience of the Toxicological Center in Ryazan

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-645
Author(s):  
N. V. Shatrova ◽  
M. N. Rudakova ◽  
L. G. Zaytseva ◽  
Zh. A. Varenova
Keyword(s):  
Acute Kidney Injury ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Acute Poisoning ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Infusion Therapy ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Microsoft Office

Relevance. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. However, the epidemiology of AKI is not well understood. In Russia, toxic kidney damage plays a significant role in the nosological structure of AKI — 12.2%.Aim of study. To study the features of AKI in patients with acute chemical poisoning.Material and methods. We analyzed 26 case histories of patients with acute chemical poisoning with AKI (according to KDIGO). The comparison group included 25 patients with acute chemical poisoning without AKI. All patients were hospitalized in a toxicological center on the basis of the emergency department of the Ryazan Region State Budgetary Institution “City Clinical Emergency Hospital” (SBI RR “CCH EMC”) in 2016–2018. The analysis of the annual reports of the chief toxicologist of the Ministry of Health of the Ryazan Region for 2016–2018 was carried out. Data processing was performed using Microsoft Office Excel 2013 and on the website medstatistic.ru (Pearson’s chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test).Results. In most patients AKI developed during poisoning with cauterizing action substances - 38.4% (23% - vinegar essence, 15.4% - unidentified cauterizing action substance). The poisoning with alcohol substitutes (12%) took the 2nd place, with narcotic substances (8%) – the 3 rd place. Also, isolated cases of AKI (4% each) were reported in case of poisoning with pregabalin, tramadol, ketorol and ethanol. Poisoning with an unknown toxicant was noted in 29.6% of cases. Most patients (69.2%.) had stage 3 AKI. The second stage was registered in 7.7% of patients, the first — in 23.1%. Proteinuria was detected in all patients who underwent common urine test (CUT). Infusion therapy using crystalloids was performed in 100% of cases.Conclusion. Acute renal injury most often develops in acute poisoning with cauterizing poisons. The development of acute kidney injury in acute chemical poisoning leads to an increased risk of death. Acute kidney injury is the second most common immediate cause of death in acute chemical poisoning. Infusion therapy is an integral part of the management of toxicological patients with acute kidney injury.

Low-Income Senior Housing Residents’ Emergency Department Use and Care Transition Problems

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 610-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoinette B. Coe ◽  
Leticia R. Moczygemba ◽  
Kelechi C. Ogbonna ◽  
Pamela L. Parsons ◽  
Patricia W. Slattum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Personal Health Record ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Transitions Of Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Senior Housing ◽  
Follow Up Care

Older adults may be at risk of adverse outcomes after emergency department (ED) visits due to ineffective transitions of care. Semi-structured interviews were employed to identify and categorize reasons for ED use and problems that occur during transition from the ED back to home among 14 residents of low-income senior housing. Qualitative thematic and descriptive analyses were used. Ambulance use, timely ED use or a wait-and-see approach, and lack of health-care provider contact before ED visit were emergent themes. Delayed medication receipt, no current medication list, and medication knowledge gaps were identified. Lack of a personal health record, follow-up care instruction, and worsening symptoms education emerged as transition problems from ED to home. After an ED visit, education opportunities exist around seeing primary care providers for nonurgent conditions, follow-up care, medications, and worsening condition symptoms. Timely receipt of discharge medications and medication education may improve medication-related transition problems.

scholarly journals Frequent Emergency Department Visits After Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Who Is at Risk?

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 166-170
Author(s):  
Jerina Nogueira ◽  
Pedro Abreu ◽  
Patrícia Guilherme ◽  
Ana Catarina Félix ◽  
Fátima Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Intracerebral Hemorrhage ◽  
Hospital Discharge ◽  
Transitional Care ◽  
Neurological Impairment ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Ed Visits

Background: The long-term prognosis of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) is poor. Frequent emergency department (ED) visits can signal increased risk of hospitalization and death. There are no studies describing the risk of frequent ED visits after SICH. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of a community representative consecutive SICH survivors (2009-2015) from southern Portugal. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with frequent ED visits (≥4 visits) within the first year after hospital discharge. Results: A total of 360 SICH survivors were identified, 358 (98.6%) of whom were followed. The median age was 72; 64% were males. The majority of survivors (n = 194, 54.2%) had at least 1 ED visit. Reasons for ED visits included infections, falls with trauma, and isolated neurological symptoms. Forty-four (12.3%) SICH survivors became frequent ED visitors. Frequent ED visitors were older and had more hospitalizations ( P < .001) and ED visits ( P < .001) prior to the SICH, unhealthy alcohol use ( P = .049), longer period of index SICH hospitalization ( P = .032), pneumonia during hospitalization ( P = .001), and severe neurological impairment at discharge ( P = .001). Pneumonia during index hospitalization (odds ratio [OR]: 3.08; confidence interval [CI]: 1.39-6.76; P = .005) and history of ED visits prior to SICH (OR: 1.64; CI: 1.19-2.26, P = .003) increased the likelihood of becoming a frequent ED visitor. Conclusions: Predictors of frequent ED visits are identifiable at hospital discharge and during any ED visit. Improvement of transitional care and identification of at-risk patients may help reduce multiple ED visits.

scholarly journals P.064 Delays in the emergency department for stroke patients, medical complications and predictors of outcomes: the McGill experience

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (S2) ◽  
pp. S36-S36
Author(s):  
C Legault ◽  
B Chen ◽  
L Vieira ◽  
B Lo (Montreal) ◽  
L Wadup ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Stroke Unit ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Brain Oedema ◽  
Medical Complications ◽  
Significant Delay ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: The Canadian Stroke Best Practice recommends admission of patients to a specialised stroke unit within three hours. We aimed at assessing delays in our emergency department (ED) and correlating these with medical complications and clinical outcomes. Methods: Predictors and outcomes This is a retrospective review of patients (n=353) admitted with ischemic strokes (January 2011-March 2014). We assessed the length of stay in ED, medical complications in ED and in the stroke unit, functional status (modified Rankin Scale) at discharge and survival. Results: The median delay in ED was 13.8 hours. The rate of medical complications in the ED was 14% (most common being delirium), compared to the stroke unit with 46.7% (most common being pneumonia). Worse functional outcome was correlated with diagnosis of pneumonia (standardised β coefficient=0.2, p=0.001) and presence of brain oedema in the stroke unit (standardised β coefficient=0.2, p<0.01). Increased risk of death was correlated with brain oedema (OR=649.2, 95%CI=19-2184, p<0.01) and sepsis in the stroke unit (OR=26.8, 95%CI=2.1-339, p<0.01). Conclusions: We found a significant delay in the admission of our patients from the ED to the stroke unit, which is not in keeping with the present guidelines. Medical complications were correlated with worse outcomes. Future analyses will correlate ED delays with clinical outcomes.

scholarly journals Preterm Nutrition and Clinical Outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 2333794X2093785
Author(s):  
Netsanet Workneh Gidi ◽  
Amha Mekasha ◽  
Assaye K. Nigussie ◽  
Robert L. Goldenberg ◽  
Elizabeth M. McClure ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Enteral Feeding ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Preterm Neonates ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Preterm Formula

Background. In low-income countries, preterm nutrition is often inadequately addressed. The aim of the study was to assess the patterns of feeding and associated clinical outcomes of preterm neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units in Ethiopia. Method. This was a multicenter, prospective study. Infants’ clinical characteristics at birth, daily monitoring of feeding history, and weight measurements were collected. An outcome assessment was completed at 28 days. Result. For this analysis, 2560 infants (53% male) were eligible. The mean (SD) gestational age was 33.1 (2.2) weeks. During the hospital stay the proportion of infants on breast milk only, preterm formula, term formula, and mixed feeding was 58%, 27.4%, 1.6%, and 34.1%, respectively. Delay in enteral feeding was associated with increased risk of death (odds ratio [OR] = 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.33-2.78; P < .001) and (OR = 5.06, 95% CI = 3.23-7.87; P < .001) for 1 to 3 and 4 to 6 days of delay in enteral feeding, respectively, after adjusting for possible confounders. The length of delay in enteral feeding was associated with increased risk of hypoglycemia (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1-1.2; P = .005). The mortality rate was lower in hospitals providing preterm formula more often ( P = .04). Half of the infants continued losing weight at the time of discharge. Conclusion. Delayed enteral feeding significantly increases the risk of mortality before discharge and hypoglycemia in preterm infants in resource-limited settings. Ensuring adequate nutritional support of preterm infants is highly needed.

Impact of clostridium difficile infection on gastrointestinal malignancies.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 170-170
Author(s):  
Stuthi Perimbeti ◽  
Rishi Shrivastav ◽  
Prateeth Pati ◽  
Kristine Marie Ward ◽  
Michael Styler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clostridium Difficile ◽  
Clostridium Difficile Infection ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Gastrointestinal Malignancies ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazard ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Chi Square Test

170 Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were half a million documented cases with 83,000 re-infections and 29,000 deaths due to Clostridium Difficile Infection(CDI) in the year 2011. The influence of CDI on outcomes in gastrointestinal(GI) malignancies is not well described, although the incidence is known to be higher in this subgroup of patients. Methods: National Inpatient Sample 1999-2014 was analyzed to identify adult admissions (>18 years of age) using ICD-9-CM codes with a primary diagnosis of esophageal(EC), Gastric(GC), Colorectal(CRC), Small intestinal(SIC), Hepatobiliary(HCC) and Pancreatic(PC) cancers. ICD-9 code 00845 was used to stratify these for the presence of CDI. We performed Chi-Square test to determine the in-hospital mortality percentage, and Cox Proportional Hazard model to control for confounders and determine the Hazard Ratio(HR) of death within 30 days of admission during hospitalization in patients with and without CDI. Results: See table. Conclusions: Despite controlling for potential confounders, patients with GI cancers and CDI are at an increased risk of death compared to those without CDI. Taking the more detrimental effects of CDI in this subgroup of patients into consideration, healthcare professionals should strive to avoid the inordinate use of antibiotics and strictly maintain current guidelines designed to prevent spread. It may be prudent to treat these patients as severe CDI, even if current criteria are not met. More scientific research is warranted in analyzing the specific outcomes of CDI in GI cancer patients and if more aggressive therapy for CDI is warranted, considering the limitations of this study. [Table: see text]

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