Abstract 149: Echocardiographic Reporting and Subsequent Referral to a Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce W Andrus ◽  
Malachy J Sullivan ◽  
Randolph E Brown ◽  
Terrence D Welch ◽  
Timothy A Beaver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Systolic Function ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Systolic Pressure ◽  
Preliminary Finding ◽  
Right Atrial ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Future Evaluation

Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common and often ominous finding in the echocardiographic evaluation of patients with cardiopulmonary complaints. As with all diagnostic imaging, the report summary may influence future evaluation. Our aim was to explore the relationship between the echocardiographic reports of patients with PH and subsequent referral to a PH clinic. Methods: From the institutional database of a single academic medical center, we randomly selected 500 reports of patients with an estimated RVSP > 40 mm Hg between 2006 and 2014. Demographic and echocardiographic data were recorded prospectively. Referral to the only PH clinic in the region was determined by searching the electronic medical record. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify demographic and echocardiographic characteristics associated with referral. Results: The mean age of the population was 74 years and 54% (269 of 500) were women. The mean RVSP was 53 mm Hg. Pulmonary hypertension was mentioned in only 31% (153 of 500) of the report summaries and only 4.6% (23 of 500) of all patients were referred to the PH clinic. Referral was associated with younger age, indication for the echo, right atrial and right ventricular (RV) pressure, RV dilatation, and mention of PH in the summary. Mention of PH in the summary was the variable most strongly associated with referral (adjusted OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.5-14.2). Over the time period studied, there was no trend in the frequency of mentioning PH in the summary. The sonographer’s coding of PH as a preliminary finding was strongly associated with physician mention of PH in the summary, persisting after adjustment for RV systolic pressure, RV dilatation, and RV systolic function (adjusted OR 11.3, 95% CI 6.2-20.3). Conclusion: In this single institution study, PH was infrequently mentioned in the echo report summary of patients with an RVSP exceeding 40 mm Hg. Referral to the only PH clinic in the region was relatively rare but occurred more often following mention of PH in the summary. Explicitly stating the presence of pulmonary hypertension in the summary of patients with elevated RSVP may facilitate referral for comprehensive evaluation.

Abstract 15388: Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Impact on Mortality

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Drakopoulou ◽  
Konstantinos Stathogiannis ◽  
Konstantinos Toutouzas ◽  
George Latsios ◽  
Andreas Synetos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Aortic Stenosis ◽  
Pulmonary Artery ◽  
Severe Aortic Stenosis ◽  
Systolic Pressure ◽  
Right Atrial ◽  
Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure ◽  
End Point ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

Objective: Severe aortic stenosis leads to increased pulmonary arterial systolic pressure. A controversy still remains regarding the impact of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PHT) on prognosis of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We sought to investigate the impact of persistent PHT on 2-year all-cause mortality of patients with severe aortic stenosis following TAVI. Methods: Patients with severe and symptomatic aortic stenosis (effective orifice area [EOA]≤1 cm 2 ) who were scheduled for TAVI with a self-expanding valve at our institution were prospectively enrolled. Prospectively collected echocardiographic data before and after TAVI were retrospectively analyzed in all patients. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure was estimated as the sum of the right ventricular to the right atrial gradient during systole and the right atrial pressure. PHT following TAVI was classified as absent if <35 mmHg and persistent if ≥35 mmHg. Primary clinical end-point was 2-year all-cause mortality defined according to the criteria proposed by the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2. Results: Hundred and forty patients (mean age: 82±9 years) were included in the study. The primary clinical end point occurred in 17 patients (12%) during a median follow-up period of 2 years. Mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure was reduced in all patients following TAVI (45±9 versus 41±6 mmHg, p<0.01). Mortality rate was higher in patients with persistent PHT compared to patients with normal pulmonary artery systolic pressure following TAVI (26% versus 14 %, p<0.01). Patients that reached the primary clinical end point had a higher post procedural mean systolic pulmonary pressure (43±9 versus 39±6 mmHg, p=0.02). In multivariate regression analysis, persistence of PHT (OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.109-7.224, p=0.01) was an independent predictor of long-term mortality. Conclusions: The persistence of pulmonary hypertension after TAVI is associated with long term mortality. Identifying the population that will clearly benefit from TAVI is still need to be validated by larger trials.

scholarly journals A stepwise composite echocardiographic score predicts severe pulmonary hypertension in patients with interstitial lung disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 00124-2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Bax ◽  
Charlene Bredy ◽  
Aleksander Kempny ◽  
Konstantinos Dimopoulos ◽  
Anand Devaraj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Interstitial Lung Disease ◽  
Lung Disease ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Validation Cohort ◽  
Systolic Pressure ◽  
Right Atrial ◽  
Receiver Operating Curve ◽  
Severe Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Right Heart Catheterisation

European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines recommend the assessment of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and severe pulmonary hypertension (PH), as defined by a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) ≥35 mmHg at right heart catheterisation (RHC). We developed and validated a stepwise echocardiographic score to detect severe PH using the tricuspid regurgitant velocity and right atrial pressure (right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP)) and additional echocardiographic signs.Consecutive ILD patients with suspected PH underwent RHC between 2005 and 2015. Receiver operating curve analysis tested the ability of components of the score to predict mPAP ≥35 mmHg, and a score devised using a stepwise approach. The score was tested in a contemporaneous validation cohort. The score used “additional PH signs” where RVSP was unavailable, using a bootstrapping technique.Within the derivation cohort (n=210), a score ≥7 predicted severe PH with 89% sensitivity, 71% specificity, positive predictive value 68% and negative predictive value 90%, with similar performance in the validation cohort (n=61) (area under the curve (AUC) 84.8% versus 83.1%, p=0.8). Although RVSP could be estimated in 92% of studies, reducing this to 60% maintained a fair accuracy (AUC 74.4%).This simple stepwise echocardiographic PH score can predict severe PH in patients with ILD.

scholarly journals Association between Interleukin-6 Levels and Perioperative Fatigue in Gastric Adenocarcinoma Patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Ming Wu ◽  
Hui-Ting Yang ◽  
Te-Wei Ho ◽  
Shiow-Ching Shun ◽  
Ming-Tsan Lin
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Gastric Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Cancer Cachexia ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Gastric Surgery ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Cytokine Levels ◽  
The Mean

Background: Gastric adenocarcinoma (GA), one of the most common gastrointestinal cancers worldwide, is often accompanied by cancer cachexia in the advanced stage owing to malnutrition and cancer-related symptoms. Although resection is the most effective curative procedure for GA patients, it may cause perioperative fatigue, worsening the extent of cancer cachexia. Although the relationship between cytokines and cancer fatigue has been evaluated, it is unclear which cytokines are associated with fatigue in GA patients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether the changes in cytokine levels were associated with the perioperative changes in fatigue amongst GA patients. Methods: We included GA patients undergoing gastric surgery in a single academic medical center between June 2017 and December 2018. Fatigue-related questionnaires, serum cytokine levels (interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12 p70, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor), and biochemistry profiles (albumin, prealbumin, C-reactive protein, and white blood cell counts) were assessed at three time points (preoperative day 0 (POD 0), post-operative day 1 (POD 1), and postoperative day 7 (POD 7)). We used the Brief Fatigue Inventory-Taiwan Form to assess the extent of fatigue. The change in fatigue scores among the three time points, as an independent variable, was adjusted for clinicopathologic characteristics, malnutrition risk, and cancer stages. Results: A total of 34 patients were included for analysis, including 12 female and 22 male patients. The mean age was 68.9 years. The mean score for fatigue on POD 0, POD 1, and POD 7 was 1.7, 6.2, and 3.6, respectively, with significant differences among the three time points (P < 0.001). Among the cytokines, only IL-6 was significantly elevated from POD 0 to POD 1. In the regression model, the change in IL-6 levels between POD 0 and POD 1 (coefficients = 0.01 for every 1 pg/mL increment; 95% confidence interval: 0.01–0.02; P = 0.037) and high malnutrition risk (coefficients = 2.80; 95% confidence interval: 1.45–3.52; P = 0.041) were significantly associated with changes in fatigue scores. Conclusions: The perioperative changes in plasma IL-6 levels are positively associated with changes in the fatigue scores of GA patients undergoing gastric surgery. Targeting the IL-6 signaling cascade or new fatigue-targeting medications may attenuate perioperative fatigue, and further clinical studies should be designed to validate this hypothesis.

scholarly journals The Impact of Upper Airway Stimulation on Swallowing Function

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (8) ◽  
pp. 496-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Huntley ◽  
Adam Vasconcellos ◽  
Michael Mullen ◽  
David W. Chou ◽  
Haley Geosits ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽  
Swallowing Function ◽  
Upper Airway Stimulation ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To evaluate the impact of upper airway stimulation therapy (UAS) on swallowing function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Academic medical center. Participants and Outcome Measures: We recorded demographic, preoperative polysomnogram (PSG), operative, and postoperative PSG data. We assessed the patients swallowing function using the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) dysphagia questionnaire. This was administered both pre- and postoperatively. The postoperative EAT-10 survey was administered at least 3 months after UAS implantation. Results: During the study period, 27 patients underwent UAS implantation, completed the pre- and postoperative EAT-10 questionnaire, met inclusion/exclusion criteria, and were included in the study. The cohort consisted of 16 men and 11 women with a mean age of 63.63 years. The mean preoperative BMI, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) were 29.37, 10.33, and 34.90, respectively. The mean postoperative ESS and AHI were 5.25 and 7.59, respectively. These were both significantly lower than the preoperative values ( P = .026 and P < .001). The mean pre- and postoperative EAT-10 scores were 0.37 and 0.22, respectively ( P = .461). Conclusion: Our data suggest that UAS likely does not lead to postoperative dysphagia.

Elevated Estimated Pulmonary Arterial Pressures in Patients with Chuvash Polycythemia.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 1634-1634
Author(s):  
Victor R. Gordeuk ◽  
Adelina I. Sergueeva ◽  
Galina Y. Miasnikova ◽  
Lydia A. Polyakova ◽  
Daniel J. Okhotin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Pulmonary Artery ◽  
Tricuspid Regurgitation ◽  
Chronic Hypoxia ◽  
Primary Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Systolic Pressure ◽  
Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Chuvash polycythemia is characterized by a homozygous 598C>T mutation in VHL and up regulation of HIF-1α during normoxia. Disorders of chronic hypoxia may be complicated by the development of pulmonary hypertension. Because of the up regulation of the hypoxic response in Chuvash polycythemia, we postulated that there may be a tendency to increased pulmonary artery pressures in this condition as well. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed results for Doppler echocardiography in 15 patients with Chuvash polycythemia and 15 Chuvash individuals without polycythemia. The tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) allows estimation of pulmonary artery systolic pressure. A TRV of 2.5 m/sec or higher corresponds to a pulmonary artery systolic pressure of at least 35 mm Hg (normal up to 32 mm Hg), while a TRV of 3.0 m/sec or higher to a pressure of at least 46 mm Hg. The results are summarized in the Table. Pulmonary artery pressures as estimated by tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) in Chuvash subjects with and without polycythemia Chuvash polycythemia (n = 15) Controls (n = 15) P Age in years; mean (SD) 35 (17) 35 (17) 1.0 Female sex in no. (%) 8 (53%) 8 (53%) 1.0 Hemoglobin in g/dL; mean (SD) 16.7 (2.3) 13.3 (1.2) <0.001 TRV in m/sec; mean (SD) 2.2 (0.6) 1.4 (0.6) 0.001 TRV > 2.4 m/sec in no. (%) 4 (27%) 0 (0%) 0.1 Most of the patients with Chuvash polycythemia were receiving phlebotomy therapy and therefore many had hemoglobin concentrations in the upper normal range. Four of the patients with Chuvash polycythemia and none of the others had TRV ≥ 2.5 m/sec (range of 2.5 to 3.0), and mean TRVs were significantly higher in the patients with Chuvash polycythemia. Interestingly, the mean ± SD TRV in these 15 patients with Chuvash polycythemia was identical to the mean ± SD TRV that was recently reported in 195 American patients with sickle cell disease (Gladwin et al, NEJM2004;350:886), another hematological condition with a tendency to pulmonary hypertension. While the pulmonary arterial pressures detected so far in Chuvash polycythemia patients are lower than those in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, our results suggest that pulmonary hypertension may be an unrecognized complication of Chuvash polycythemia.

Inhibition Of JAK-STAT Pathway As a Therapeutic Option For Myelofibrosis Associated Pulmonary Hypertension

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 1585-1585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Tabarroki ◽  
Daniel Lindner ◽  
Valeria Visconte ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Edy Hasrouni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Systolic Pressure ◽  
Right Atrial ◽  
No Production ◽  
Stat Signaling ◽  
Echocardiographic Findings ◽  
Stat Pathway

Abstract Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an under-recognized complication of myelofibrosis (MF) occurring in 30% of MF patients and associated with poor survival. Echocardiographic diagnostic findings include; elevated right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP)>35 mmHg, right atrial (RA) enlargement and increased tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) ≥2.5 m/sec. The pathophysiology of PH in MF has not been elucidated, although in idiopathic PH, the proliferation of pulmonary artery endothelial cells has been linked to activation of STAT3 pathway. Dysregulation of JAK-STAT pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of MF. Ruxolitinib, a JAK1/2 inhibitor, was approved for management of splenomegaly and cytokine-mediated symptoms in MF. Furthermore, no specific therapy in the management of MF-associated PH has been established. Given the association between MF and PH and the possible pathophysiologic link mediated by JAK signaling, we prospectively followed 19 patients with MF-associated PH and compared their echocardiographic findings and PH relevant serum biomarker levels (nitric oxide [NO], NT-pro brain natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP], von Willebrand antigen (vWB), ristocetin co-factor (RCA), and uric acid (UA) pre- and post-ruxolitinib therapy. All categorical data were summarized for frequency, counts and percentages, and the comparison between two groups was performed by two-sample Wilcoxon signed rank test. Among 19 patients (pts), 9 had PMF, 5 post-ET MF, 4 post-PV MF and one CMML-1. In this cohort, 11 were females and 8 were males. The median age of the cohort was 68 years (range, 50-81 years). Fifteen pts were JAK2 V617F positive and 4 were wild-type, 8 were intermediate-1, 4 intermediate-2 and 6 high risk per Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System-Plus risk grouping. The mean ruxolitinib dose was 10 mg BID (range: 5 mg QOD-20 mg BID]. Median duration of disease was 32 mos (6-164 mos), ruxolitinib duration of treatment was 10 mos (4 -17 mos) and follow-up was 11 mos (6-22 mos). Prior to the initiation of ruxolitinib treatment, NT-pro BNP levels, were measured and found to be elevated in 90% (17/19) of pts. In addition, UA, vWB, and RCA levels were all elevated in 47% (9/19), 24% (4/17), and 12% (2/17) of pts respectively. The strongest correlation among serum biomarkers was between plasma vWB and RCA levels (r2=-0.89, P=<.001). The biomarker most closely associated with elevated NT-pro BNP was UA both in the pre- (r2=-0.53, P=.065) and post-treatment (r2=-0.64, P=.019) settings. Echocardiographic findings by TTE pre- and post ruxolitinib therapy were available for 12 pts (63%). All 12 had documented PH with a mean RVSP of 47.5 mm Hg (42-68) [normal pressure ≤30 mmHg]. Echocardiographic evidence correlated with RCA (r2=-0.64, P= .045) and plasma NT-pro BNP levels (r2=-0.8, P=.013). Ruxolitinib resulted in reductions in NT-pro BNP level (88%) (p=.013), plasma UA levels in (71%), vWB (71%), and RCA (71%) (P=.045). Nitric oxide, a primary regulator of vascular endothelial function is reduced in MF patients with PH compared to normal individuals (median NO, 36 vs 65 pM). Treatment with ruxolitinib resulted in marked increase in NO levels compared to baseline (68 pM vs 36 pM; P=0.04) while no changes in NO levels were observed after treatment with hydroxyurea and lenalidomide (N=10). Treatment with ruxolitinib also resulted in reduction of key cytokines (TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10) that inhibit NO production and induction of cytokines (IFN-γ) that lead to increase in NO synthesis supporting the role of cytokines in PH pathogenesis in MF. Murine studies further supported the role of ruxolitinib in induction of NO levels. Eight normal CD-1 mice were treated with ruxolitinib (50 mg/kg p.o. daily for 5 days for three consecutive cycles with 14 day intervals between each cycle). After the first cycle, NO levels were significantly higher compared to baseline followed by significant increase compared to baseline at cycle 3 (P=.04). In addition, PH mice (Caveoline-1 mice) have been bred and undergoing treatment with ruxolitinib to assess changes in NO levels and its impact in improving of PH. In conclusion, aberrant JAK-STAT signaling in MF mediates PH by dysregulation of NO and cytokines levels which can be restored by therapy with JAK inhibitors. This suggests that inhibition of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway is a novel and viable target for the management of patients with MF-associated PH. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Contemporary Patient Characteristics and Referral Patterns to a Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic at an Academic Medical Center

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. S115
Author(s):  
William C. Harding ◽  
Manu Mysore ◽  
Jamie Kennedy ◽  
Andrew Mihalek ◽  
Kenneth Bilchick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Referral Patterns ◽  
Hypertension Clinic ◽  
Academic Medical

scholarly journals Right Ventricular Diastolic Performance in Patients With Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Assessed by Echocardiography

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Meng ◽  
Wu Song ◽  
Sheng Liu ◽  
David Hsi ◽  
Lin-Yuan Wan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Right Ventricular ◽  
Diastolic Dysfunction ◽  
Systolic Function ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Right Atrial ◽  
Pulmonary Endarterectomy ◽  
Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Background: There have been no systemic studies about right heart filling pressure and right ventricular (RV) distensibility in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Therefore, we aimed to explore combinations of echocardiographic indices to assess the stages of RV diastolic dysfunction.Methods and Results: We recruited 32 healthy volunteers and 71 patients with CTEPH. All participants underwent echocardiography, cardiac catheterization (in patients with CTEPH), and a 6-min walk test (6MWT). The right atrial (RA) end-systolic area was adjusted for body surface area (BSA) (indexed RA area). RV global longitudinal diastolic strain rates (SRs) and RV ejection fraction (EF) were measured by speckle tracking and three-dimensional echocardiography (3D echo), respectively. All 71 patients with CTEPH underwent pulmonary endarterectomy. Of the 71 patients, 52 (73%) had decreased RV systolic function; 12 (16.9%), 26 (36.6%), and 33 (46.5%) patients had normal RV diastolic pattern, abnormal relaxation (stage 1), and pseudo-normal patterns (stage 2), respectively. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off values of early diastolic SR &lt;0.8 s−1 and indexed RA area &gt; 8.8 cm2/BSA had the best accuracy in identifying patients with RV diastolic dysfunction, with 87% sensitivity and 82% specificity. During a mean follow-up of 25.2 months after pulmonary endarterectomy, the preoperative indexed RA area was shown as an independent risk factor of the decreased 6MWT distance.Conclusions: Measuring early diastolic SR and indexed RA area would be useful in stratifying RV diastolic function.

scholarly journals A Single Virtual Consult Reduces Severe Hyperglycemia in Patients Admitted with COVID19 Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A335-A335
Author(s):  
Diana Athonvarangkul ◽  
Felona Gunawan ◽  
Kathryn Nagel ◽  
Leigh Bak ◽  
Kevan C Herold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
Treatment Plans ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Glucose Management ◽  
And Control ◽  
Glycemic Management

Abstract Diabetes and hyperglycemia are risk factors for morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID19. Subspecialty consultative resources to help front-line clinicians treat these conditions is often limited. We implemented a “Virtual Hyperglycemia Surveillance Service (VHSS)” to guide glucose management in COVID19 patients admitted to our 1541-bed academic medical center. From April 22 to June 9, 2020, hospitalized adult patients with COVID19 and 2 or more blood glucose (BG) values greater than 250 mg/dl over 24-h were identified using a daily BG report. The VHSS reviewed BGs and treatment plans, then made recommendations for future glycemic management via a one-time note, visible to all providers. Some patients with re-admission or persistently elevated BG after 1 week received a second VHSS note. We compared BGs from 24-h pre- and 72-h post-intervention starting at 6AM on the day following VHSS review. We also evaluated for hypoglycemia, insulin infusion use and use of formal diabetes consults. A subgroup analysis was performed on patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). At the end of the intervention, we identified a retrospective control cohort admitted to the same hospital from March 21 to April 21, 2020 who met the inclusion criteria for a VHSS assessment. The VHSS group consisted of 100 patients with 126 individual VHSS encounters, and the control group comprised 50 patients. Baseline characteristics in the VHSS and control groups, respectively, were: mean age 62.5 vs 62.1 years, % male 58 vs 56, mean weight 91.4 vs 93.4 kg, BMI 31.8 vs 33.0 kg/m2, and HbA1c 9.1 vs 8.8 %. There were fewer patients in the ICU in the VHSS than control group (44% vs 66%). In the VHSS group, mean BG pre- vs. post-intervention was 260.3 ±21.7 and 227.4 ±25.3 mg/dl (p&lt;0.001). In the control group, mean BG pre-and post- the day they met assessment criteria was 264.8 ± 6.5 mg/dl and 250.6 ± 8.6 mg/dl (p=0.18). There was no difference in the use of insulin infusions or diabetes consults between the two groups. More hypoglycemia (BG&lt;70 mg/dl) occurred in the VHSS than control group (8.3% vs 0%, p=0.04). Within the VHSS group, the average change in BG was significantly greater in ICU than non-ICU patients (-51.8 ±8.7 vs -19.6 ±5.0 mg/dl, p&lt;0.01) and the reduction in the % of BG over 250 mg/dl was also significantly greater in the ICU (-32.2% vs -16.8%, p=0.02). Implementation of a single virtual consult for severely hyperglycemic hospitalized COVID19 patients was associated with rapidly reduced BG concentrations, especially in the ICU. The mean reduction in BG with VHSS intervention was more than 2-fold greater than that observed in our control group. Glucose control remained suboptimal, however, suggesting the need for subsequent input from this specialty service.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document