scholarly journals Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID19) pandemic on the morbidity and mortality of high risk patients undergoing surgery: a non-inferiority retrospective observational study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Caballero-Milán ◽  
Maria J. Colomina ◽  
Leo A. Marin-Carcey ◽  
Laura Viguera-Fernandez ◽  
Roser Bayona-Domenge ◽  
...  

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 crisis it was necessary to generate a specific care network and reconvert operating rooms to attend emergency and high-acuity patients undergoing complex surgery. The aim of this study is to classify postoperative complications and mortality and to assess the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have had on the results. Methods this is a non-inferiority retrospective observational study. Two different groups of surgical patients were created: Pre-pandemic COVID and Pandemic COVID. Severity of illness was rated according to the Diagnosis-related Groups (DRG) score. Comparisons were made between groups and between DRG severity score-matched samples. Non-inferiority was set at up to 10 % difference for grade III to V complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, and up to 2 % difference in mortality. Results A total of 1649 patients in the PreCOVID group and 763 patients in the COVID group were analysed; 371 patients were matched for DRG severity score 3-4 (236 preCOVID and 135 COVID). No differences were found in relation to re-operation (22.5 % vs. 21.5 %) or late admission to critical care unit (5.1 % vs. 4.5 %). Clavien grade III to V complications occurred in 107 patients (45.3 %) in the PreCOVID group and in 56 patients (41.5 %) in the COVID group, and mortality was 12.7 % and 12.6 %, respectively. During the pandemic, 3 % of patients tested positive for Covid-19 on PCR: 12 patients undergoing elective surgery and 11 emergency surgery; there were 5 deaths, 3 of which were due to respiratory failure following Covid-19-induced pneumonia. Conclusions Although this study has some limitations, it has shown the non-inferiority of surgical outcomes during the COVID pandemic, and indicates that resuming elective surgery is safe. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04780594.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faizan Zia ◽  
Luka Cosic ◽  
Angela Wong ◽  
Adam Levin ◽  
Patrick Lu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Contemporary perioperative fasting guidelines aim to alleviate patient discomfort before surgery and enhance postoperative recovery whilst seeking to reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration during anesthesia. The impact of a short message service (SMS) reminder on fasting guideline compliance is unknown. Therefore, we performed a retrospective observational study and quality improvement project aiming to quantify the extent of excessive and prolonged fasting, and then assessed the impact of a SMS reminder in reducing fasting times. Methods After ethics committee approval we performed a retrospective observational study investigating preoperative fasting times of adult patients undergoing elective surgery. First, we assessed whether the fasting guideline times were adhered to (Standard Care group). All patients received internationally recommended fasting guidelines in the form of a written hospital policy document. We then implemented an additional prompt via a mobile phone SMS 1 day prior to surgery containing a reminder of fasting guideline times (SMS group). The primary aims were to compare fasting times between the Standard Care group and the SMS group. Results The fasting times of 160 patients in the Standard Care group and 110 patients in the SMS group were evaluated. Adherence to the fasting guidelines for solids occurred in 14 patients (8.8%) in the Standard Care group vs. Twenty-two patients (13.6%) in the SMS group (p=0.01). Adherence to the fasting guidelines for fluids occurred in 4 patients (2.5%) in the Standard Care group vs. Ten patients (6.3%) in the SMS group (p=0.023). Patients in the Standard Care group had a longer median (inter-quartile range (IQR)) fasting time for fluids compared the SMS group [6.5 h (IQR 4.5:11) vs 3.5 h (IQR 3:8.5), p< 0.0001]. Median fasting times for solids were 11 h (IQR 7:14) in the Standard Care group and 11.5 h (IQR 7:13.5) in the SMS group (p=0.756). Conclusion Adherence to internationally recommended fasting guidelines for patients undergoing elective surgery is poor. The introduction of a fasting guideline reminder via a mobile phone SMS in addition to a written hospital policy improved adherence to fasting advice and reduced the fasting times for fluids but not for solids. The use of an SMS reminder of fasting guidelines is a simple, feasible, low-cost, and effective tool in minimising excessive fasting for fluids among elective surgical patients. Trial registration ACTRN12619001232123 (Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry). Registered 6th September 2019 (retrospectively registered).


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S261-S262
Author(s):  
M Lördal ◽  
J Burisch ◽  
E Langholz ◽  
T Knudsen ◽  
M Voutilainen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have been increasing for the past decades in the western world, however with an emerging trend of incidence stabilisation in recent years. There is an indication of higher IBD incidence and prevalence in northern Europe, especially in the Nordic region, compared with southern Europe. Methods This retrospective observational study collected data from the National Patient Registries and National Prescription Registries (Sweden [SWE], Norway [NOR], Denmark [DEN]) and one university hospital database (Turku, Finland [FIN]) during 2010–2017 to investigate the annual incidence and prevalence of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Patients with ≥2 ICD-10 diagnosis codes for UC (K51) or CD (K50) from 2010 or later and no K51 or K50 codes prior to 2010 were included; patients were classified according to their last code. The look-back period for SWE was until 2000, for NOR until 2008, for DEN until 1995, and for FIN until 2004. Incidence proportions highlight results through 2016, as 2017 patients had less than 1-year follow-up. Results In total, 69,876 patients were included (SWE n = 27,902, NOR n = 20,761, FIN n = 2,118, DEN n = 19,095), of which 44 367 patients were diagnosed with UC and 25,509 with CD. In 2016, the annual incidence of UC was 28 patients per 100,000 persons in NOR, 32 patients per 100,000 persons in DEN, 25 patients per 100,000 persons in SWE, and 44 patients per 100,000 in FIN. The corresponding results for the annual incidence of CD per 100,000 persons were 22 in NOR, 16 in DEN, 16 in SWE, and 21 in FIN. The prevalence per 100,000 persons of both UC and CD was the highest in DEN, followed by SWE and NOR, and lowest in FIN. Prevalence estimates increased in all four Nordic countries during 2010–2017: for UC, from 409 to 488 patients in SWE, from 256 to 428 in NOR, from 129 to 375 in FIN, and from 577 to 798 in DEN. For CD, it increased from 261 to 313 patients in SWE, from 164 to 258 in NOR, from 54 to 164 in FIN, and from 280 to 400 in DEN. Conclusion This retrospective observational study showed that during 2016, the annual incidence of UC ranged from 25–44 patients per 100,000 persons across the evaluated Nordic countries, whereas the annual incidence of CD was 16–22 patients per 100,000 persons. Prevalence of both UC and CD increased during 2010–2017 in all four countries. Estimates of UC and CD incidence and prevalence in this analysis are greater than reported in the published literature. Additional analyses are underway to further explore the impact of methodological decisions on the estimates of UC and CD annual incidence and prevalence.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes Ayton ◽  
Ali Ibrahim ◽  
James Dugan ◽  
Eimar Galvin ◽  
Oliver Wroe-Wright

OBJECTIVEThere is increasing evidence of the impact of ultra-processed foods on multiple metabolic and neurobiological pathways, including those involved in eating behaviours, both in animals and in humans. In this pilot study, we aimed to explore ultra-processed foods and their link with disordered eating in a clinical sample. METHODSThis was a single site, retrospective observational study in a specialist eating disorder service using self report on the electronic health records. Patients with a DSM-5 diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) or binge eating disorder (BED) were randomly selected from the service database in Oxford from 2017 to 2019. The recently introduced NOVA classification was used to determine the degree of industrial food processing in each patient’s diet. Frequencies of ultra-processed foods were analysed for each diagnosis, at each mealtime and during episodes of bingeing.RESULTS71 female and 3 male patients were included in the study. 22 had AN, 25 BN and 26 had BED. Patients with AN reported consuming 55% NOVA-4 foods, as opposed to approximately 70% in BN and BED. Binge foods were 100% ultra-processed.DISCUSSIONFurther research into the metabolic and neurobiological effects of reducing ultra-processed food intake on bingeing behaviour is needed.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e027112
Author(s):  
Wallace Chow ◽  
Christopher Wong ◽  
Jerrett K Lau ◽  
Vincent Chow ◽  
Leonard Kritharides ◽  
...  

ObjectivesAnaemia is associated with increased mortality in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) patients. However, prior studies have not examined the prognostic impact of trends in plasma haemoglobin during admission. This study investigates the impact of changes in haemoglobin level on mortality during hospital stay in acute PE.Study designA retrospective observational study.SettingTertiary-referral centre in Australia.ParticipantsConsecutive patients from 2000 to 2012 admitted with confirmed acute PE were identified from a dedicated PE database. Haemoglobin levels on days 1, 3–4, 5–6 and 7 of admission were retrieved. Patients without both baseline haemoglobin and subsequent haemoglobin levels were excluded (n=327), leaving 1099 patients as the study cohort. Anaemia was defined as haemoglobin <130 g/L for men and <120 g/L for women. There were 576 patients without anaemia throughout admission, 65 with transient anaemia (anaemic on day 1, but subsequently normalised during admission), 122 with acquired anaemia (normal on day 1 but developed anaemia during admission) and 336 with persistent anaemia. A total of 71 patients received blood transfusion during admission.Main outcome measure6-month mortality was tracked from a state-wide death database and analysed using multivariable modelling.ResultsAfter adjusting for transfusion, patietns with persistent anaemia had a significantly increased 6-month mortality risk (adjusted HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.26 to 3.09, p=0.003) compared with patients without anaemia. There was no difference in mortality between patients with transient or acquired anaemia and patients without anaemia.ConclusionAmong patients who had anaemia during their admission for acute PE, only the subgroup with persistent anaemia demonstrated worse outcomes.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. e028981
Author(s):  
Cees van Berkel ◽  
Peter Almond ◽  
Carol Hughes ◽  
Maurice Smith ◽  
Dave Horsfield ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of a real world, ongoing telehealth service on the use of secondary healthcare.DesignA retrospective observational study with anonymous matched controls.SettingPrimary and community healthcare. Patients were recruited over 4 years in 89 general practices in Liverpool, UK and remotely managed by a dedicated clinical team in Liverpool Community Health.Participants5154 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure or diabetes were enrolled in the programme, of whom 3562 satisfied the inclusion criteria of this study.InterventionAt least 9 weeks of telehealth including vital sign collection, questionnaires, education, support and informal coaching by clinical staff.Primary outcomeReduction in the number of emergency admissions in the 12 months after start, compared with the year before start. Secondary subgroup analysis to improve future targeting and personalisation of the service.ResultThe average number of emergency admissions for the intervention group at baseline is 0.35, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.38. The differential decrease in emergency admissions in the intervention group in comparison with the control group, the average treatment effect, is 0.08, 95 CI 0.05 to 0.11, corresponding to an average percentage decrease of 22.7%. In subgroup analysis, a score is calculated that can be used prospectively to predict individual benefit from the intervention. Patients with an above median score (37%) are predicted average reduction in emergency admissions of 0.15, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.2, corresponding to a percentage decrease in admissions of 25.3%.ConclusionThe telehealth intervention has a positive impact across a wide cohort of patients with different diseases. Prospective scoring of patients and allocation to targeted telehealth interventions is likely to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the service.


Author(s):  
N. Stepanova ◽  
V. Novakivskyy ◽  
L. Snisar ◽  
M. Kutsenko

Abstract. We hypothesized that the use of antihypertensive medications in patients treated by hemodialysis (HD) may interfere with the activity of erythropoietin and leads to an increase in the dose of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs). The aim of our study was to analyze the impact of antihypertensive medications on the effectiveness of anemia treatment. Methods. We conducted a multicenter retrospective observational study. The archival medical data from 379 patients treated by HD or hemodiafiltration (HDF) were used. The medical records of 142 patients were excluded from the study. The study group consisted of 237 patients: 108 (45.6%) women and 129 (54.4%) men, with an average age of 54 [41-62.5] years. Results. The analysis of the mean hemoglobin (Hb) stratified by the administration of antihypertensive medications in the dynamics of dialysis treatment demonstrated a significant impact of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (F = 3.97; p = 0.048) and amlodipine (F = 6.9; p = 0.01) on the effectiveness of anemia correction. The significant effect of amlodipine on the need to increase the dosage of iron-containing medications (OR = 3.9; 95% CI (1.27-12.06), p = 0.002; RR = 1.9 95% CI (1.27-2.9) and continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) (OR = 5.2, 95% CI (1.2-24.4), p = 0.03; RR = 1.3 95% CI (1, 08-1.6), p = 0.006) weas showed by logistic regression analysis. The increased risk of failure to achieve of the target Hb level in HD patients received amlodipine was confirmed by Cox regression model (HR = 2.7 (95% CI 1.5-4.7)). Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrated a significant increase in the frequency of appointment and amount of anti-anemia therapy in HD patients when amlodipine is co-administered. Follow-up studies to determine the effect of amlodipine mechanism for anemia will avoid unreasonable prescriptions for the treatment of НD patients. Conflict of interest statement: the authors declared no competing interests.


Healthcare ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Gemma Biviá-Roig ◽  
Pau Soldevila-Matías ◽  
Gonzalo Haro ◽  
Victor González-Ayuso ◽  
Francisco Arnau ◽  
...  

The movement restrictions put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic required modification of the population’s usual routines, including those of the most vulnerable groups such as patients with schizophrenia. This was a retrospective observational study. We used an online survey to collect information on patient adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener questionnaire), physical exercise (International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form), and tobacco consumption and levels of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) before and during the movement restrictions. A total of 102 people with schizophrenia participated in this study. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown the participants significantly increased the number of minutes spent sitting per day (z = −6.73; p < 0.001), decreased the time they spent walking (z = −6.32; p < 0.001), and increased their tobacco consumption (X2 = 156.90; p < 0.001). These results were also accompanied by a significant increase in their reported levels of anxiety (z = −7.45; p < 0.001) and depression (z = −7.03, p < 0.001). No significant differences in patient diets during the pandemic compared to before the movement restrictions were reported. These results suggest the need to implement specific programs to improve lifestyle and reduce anxiety and depression during possible future pandemic situations.


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