Impact of autoantibodies against the M2-muscarinic acetylcholine receptor on clinical outcomes in peripartum cardiomyopathy patients with standard treatment

Objectives To evaluate the impact of autoantibodies against the M2-muscarinic receptor (anti-M2-R) on the clinical outcomes of patients receiving the standard treatment for peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). Methods A total of 107 PPCM patients who received standard heart failure (HF) treatment between January 1998 and June 2020 were enrolled in this study. According to anti-M2-R reactivity, they were classified into negative (n = 59) and positive (n = 48) groups, denoted as the anti-M2-R (−) and anti-M2-R (+) groups. Echocardiography, 6-min walk distance, serum digoxin concentration (SDC), and routine laboratory tests were performed regularly for 2 years. The all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and rehospitalisation rate for HF were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 103 patients were included in the final data analysis, with 46 in the anti-M2-R (+) group and 57 in the anti-M2-R (−) group. Heart rate was lower in the anti-M2-R (+) group than in the anti-M2-R (−) group at the baseline (102.7 ± 6.1 bpm vs. 96.0 ± 6.4 bpm, p < 0.001). The initial SDC was higher in the anti-M2-R (+) group than in the anti-M2-R (−) group with the same dosage of digoxin (1.25 ± 0.45 vs. 0.78 ± 0.24 ng/mL, p < 0.001). The dosages of metoprolol and digoxin were higher in the anti-M2-R (−) patients than in the anti-M2-R (+) patients (38.8 ± 4.6 mg b.i.d. vs. 27.8 ± 5.3 mg b.i.d., p < 0.0001, respectively, for metoprolol; 0.12 ± 0.02 mg/day vs. 0.08 ± 0.04 mg/day, p < 0.0001, respectively, for digoxin). Furthermore, there was a greater improvement in cardiac function in the anti-M2-R (−) patients than in the anti-M2-R (+) patients. Multivariate analysis identified negativity for anti-M2-R as the independent predictor for the improvement of cardiac function. Rehospitalisation for HF was lower in the anti-M2-R (−) group, but all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were the same. Conclusions There were no differences in all-cause mortality or cardiovascular mortality between the two groups. Rehospitalisation rate for HF decreased in the anti-M2-R (−) group. This difference may be related to the regulation of the autonomic nervous system by anti-M2-R.

No Harmful Effects of Steroids in Severe Exacerbations of COPD Associated With Influenza

Background: COPD has large impact on patient morbidity and mortality worldwide. Acute exacerbations (AECOPD) are mostly triggered by respiratory infections including influenza. While corticosteroids are strongly recommended in AECOPD, they are potentially harmful during influenza. We aimed to evaluate if steroid treatment for AECOPD due to influenza may worsen outcomes.Methods: A retrospective analysis of a Swiss nationwide hospitalisation database was conducted identifying all AECOPD hospitalisations between 2012 and 2017. In separate analyses, outcomes concerning length-of-stay (LOS), in-hospital mortality, rehospitalisation rate, admission to intensive care unit (ICU), empyema and aspergillosis were compared between AECOPD during and outside influenza season; AECOPD with and without laboratory confirmed influenza; and AECOPD plus pneumonia with and without laboratory confirmed influenza. Results: Patients hospitalised for AECOPD during influenza season showed shorter LOS and fewer ICU admissions but higher rehospitalisation rates compared to those hospitalised outside influenza season. Patients with confirmed influenza infection had lower in-hospital mortality and rehospitalisation rates but higher risk for ICU admission than those without confirmed influenza. In patients with AECOPD plus pneumonia, there was a higher risk of ICU admission for those with laboratory-confirmed influenza compared to those without.Conclusions: Using different indicators for influenza as the likely cause of AECOPD, we found no consistent evidence of worse outcomes of AECOPD due to influenza. Assuming that most of these patients received corticosteroids, as it is accepted standard of care throughout Switzerland, this study provides important information and supports the current practice of using corticosteroids for AECOPD independent of the influenza status.

Patterns of prescription opioid use in Swiss emergency department patients and its association with outcome: a retrospective analysis

ObjectivesWe aimed to clarify the prevalence, indications, analgesic comedications and complications of prescription opioid use in patients presenting to a large emergency department (ED).DesignRetrospective chart review.SettingLarge, interdisciplinary ED of a public hospital.ParticipantsAll patients aged ≥18 years presenting between 1 January 2017, and 31 December 2018, with documentation on medication were included.InterventionsNone.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrevalence rates for prescription opioid use and its indication. Prevalence of analgesic comedications in prescription opioid users. Hospitalisation rate, 72 hours ED reconsultation rate, 30-day rehospitalisation rate, in-hospital mortality.ResultsA total of 26 224 consultations were included in the analysis; 1906 (7.3%) patients had prescriptions for opioids on admission to the ED. The main indications for opioid prescriptions were musculoskeletal disease in 1145 (60.1%) patients, followed by neoplastic disease in 374 (19.6%) patients. One hundred fifty-four (8.2%) consultations were directly related to opioid intake, and 50.1% of patients on opioids also used other classes of analgesics. Patients on prescription opioids were older (76 vs 62 years, p<0.0001) and female individuals were over-represented (58 vs 48.9%, p<0.0001). Hospitalisation rate (78.3 vs 49%, p<0.0001), 72 hours ED reconsultation rate (0.8 vs 0.3%, p=0.004), 30-day rehospitalisation rate (6.2 vs 1.5%, p<0.0001) and in-hospital mortality (6.3 vs 1.6%, p<0.0001) were significantly higher in patients with opioid therapy than other patients. In 25 cases (1.3%), admission to the ED was due to opioid intoxication.ConclusionsDaily prescription opioid use is common in patients presenting to the ED. The use of prescription opioids is associated with adverse outcomes, whereas intoxication is a minor issue in the studied population.

Factors Influencing Rehospitalisation of Patients with Schizophrenia in Japan: A 1-year Longitudinal Study

Objective/Background This longitudinal study explored factors influencing the rehospitalisation of patients with schizophrenia in Japan. Methods Participants comprised patients with schizophrenia who were discharged from a psychiatric hospital in Japan. The investigations were conducted at the time of discharge and one year later. Demographics and clinical characteristics included the following: the type of occupational therapy (OT) interventions (group and individualized or group only); the assessment scales’ scores on hospitalisation; the community living conditions after discharge; and the contents of outpatient treatment (outpatient OT, day-care treatment, home-visit nursing, and adherence to outpatient treatment and medication). All variables were examined in a binomial logistic regression analysis to identify the factors for rehospitalisation. Results The rehospitalisation rate was 31.8%, as 14 of 44 participants were rehospitalised within one year after discharge. The type of OT interventions (OR = 7.05, 95% CI = 1.36 −36.69, p = .020) and the adherence to outpatient treatment and medication (OR = 9.48, 95% CI = 1.82–49.33, p = .008) were significant contributing factors to rehospitalisation. Conclusion This study provided preliminary support for the finding that individualized occupational therapy and proper adherence to outpatient treatment and medication are associated with reducing the rehospitalisation of patients with schizophrenia in Japan.