Substance Use Disorders in the Geriatric Population: a Review and Synthesis of the Literature of a Growing Problem in a Growing Population.

Purpose of review: Substance use disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent in the geriatric population, necessitating an updated understanding of the existing literature. This review aims to describe the epidemiology, special considerations, and management of substance use disorders in older adults. Recent findings: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and PsychINFO databases were searched from their inception through June 2022 using the following keywords: "substance use disorder," "substance abuse," "abuse," "illicit substances," "illicit drugs," "addiction," "geriatric," "elderly," "older adults," "alcohol," "marijuana," "cannabis," "cocaine," "heroin," "opioid," and "benzodiazepine." Our findings suggest an increasing trend in substance use in older adults despite medical and psychiatric consequences when using such substances. The majority of older patients admitted to substance abuse treatment programs were not referred by healthcare providers, suggesting room for improvement in the screening and discussion of substance use disorders. Our review also suggests that there should be careful consideration of COVID-19 and racial disparities when screening, diagnosing, and treating substance use disorders in the older population. Summary: This review provides updated information on epidemiology, special considerations, and management of substance use disorders in older adults. As substance use disorders become more prevalent in older adults, primary care physicians must be prepared to recognize and diagnose substance use disorders as well as collaborate with and refer patients to geriatric medicine, geriatric psychiatry, and addiction medicine.

Esophageal Mucosal Calcinosis: A Rare Site of Calcium Deposition in End-Stage Renal Disease

Introduction: Calciphylaxis, otherwise known as calcium uremic arteriolopathy, is defined as calcium deposition around blood vessels in skin and fat tissue which occurs in 1-4% of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Calcium deposition in the esophagus is extremely rare;to date, there have been only 4 cases reported worldwide. We report the fifth case of esophageal mucosal calcinosis occurring in a young male with ESRD. Case Description/Methods: A 37-year-old Thai man with ESRD on peritoneal dialysis since 2005 presented with generalized weakness and odynophagia due to oral ulcers, resulting in poor PO intake. He denied drinking alcohol, illicit drug use, or smoking. On exam his abdomen was soft, non-distended, non-tender, without any guarding. Past medical history included hypertension and COVID-19 in January 2022. Laboratory tests revealed neutropenia and pancytopenia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypocalcemia. EGD revealed distal esophageal esophagitis and hemorrhagic erosive gastropathy. Biopsy showed ulcerative esophagitis with dystrophic calcification, consistent with esophageal mucosal calcinosis .No intestinal metaplasia was noted. Immunohistochemistry was negative for CMV, HSV1, and HSV2. The patient was treated with pantoprazole 40mg IV every 12 hours, Magic Mouthwash 5ml qid, and Carafate 10mg qid. He was transferred to a cancer center where he had a bone marrow biopsy formed which was negative. His symptoms resolved and the patient was discharged to home (Figure). Discussion(s): Esophageal mucosal calcinosis is extremely rare. It is due to a combination of factors involving acidosis and the phenotypic differentiation (and apoptosis) of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) into chondrocytes or osteoblast-like cells. These changes, along with the passive accumulation of calcium and phosphate, induce calcification. Acidosis is well-known to promote inflammation of the arterial walls, releasing cytokines that induce vascular calcification. The benefits of treatment with sodium thiosulfate remain unclear. An ample collection of cases should help devise standardized treatment options and establish management guidelines for this condition.

A Case Report of Ivermectin-Induced Liver Failure

Introduction: Ivermectin is an antiparasitic medication that is primarily metabolized by the liver. During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers demonstrated that Ivermectin successfully inhibited the replication of SARS-COV-2 in vivo, but current research has failed to demonstrate clinical benefit for treatment of COVID-19. Despite this, misinformation campaigns have misled patients to ingest Ivermectin at concentrations meant for domestic animals. Here, we present a case of acute liver failure secondary to the use of Ivermectin. Case Description/Methods: A 61-year-old man with medical history of ischemic cardiomyopathy with last echocardiogram showing ejection fraction at 21%, atrial fibrillation on warfarin for oral anticoagulation, and previously treated Hepatitis C presented with generalized weakness and yellowish discoloration of the skin worsening over the last two weeks. The patient denied significant alcohol use, acetaminophen use, or illicit drugs. He admitted to injecting himself with two doses of weight-based horse ivermectin, for COVID prophylaxis, two weeks prior to his presentation. Physical exam was pertinent for scleral icterus and hepatomegaly with no abdominal tenderness. Initial labs revealed elevated liver chemistries in a mixed pattern (Figure 1). Acute hepatitis panel, HSV, and CMV were negative. Hepatitis C antibodies were positive, but the patient was in sustained virologic response. Full workup for chronic liver disease was unremarkable. Ultrasound revealed hepatosplenomegaly with patent portal and hepatic vasculature. Subsequently, the patient developed hepatic encephalopathy along with his coagulopathy, raising concern for acute hepatic failure. The patient was transferred to the ICU and started on NAcetylcysteine, rifaximin, and supportive care. The patient recovered well and fortunately did not require liver transplant. Discussion(s): While the FDA recommends against the use of Ivermectin for COVID-19, many continue to inappropriately consume it. Ivermectin-induced liver failure is a rare but deadly side effect. Given our patient's rapid onset of symptoms post-self injection of Ivermectin, his liver injury was presumed to be related to Ivermectin. The drug interaction between Ivermectin and warfarin had worsened the patients coagulopathy. Physicians should be aware of the ways Ivermectin overdose may clinically present to avoid delayed treatment. This case demonstrates the detriments of perpetuation of medical misinformation to care.

An Immunocompetent Adult With Adenovirus Hepatitis

Introduction: In the US there has been a recent outbreak of adenovirus hepatitis in the pediatric population. However, to our knowledge, there has been only one reported case of adenovirus hepatitis in an immunocompetent adult. We have identified another such case. Case Description/Methods: A 25 year old female with no medical history presented with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and subjective fevers for two weeks and was found to have transaminitis 25-30x the upper limit of normal, which were: AST 791, ALT 542, ALP 92, and total bilirubin of 2.9. The patient reported no prior history of liver disease. She denied alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, or herbal medications, but did report taking acetaminophen 1500 mg daily for two weeks. Serum acetaminophen levels were normal and serum and urine toxicology were negative. US with doppler was unremarkable, CT showed cholelithiasis, MRCP showed a normal common bile duct without obstructive calculus. Autoimmune causes of hepatitis, ceruloplasmin and alpha-1 antitrypsin were all unremarkable. HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, HEV, CMV, HSV, VZV, EBV, HIV, and COVID19 were all negative. Ultimately, the serology for adenovirus was positive. After a week of supportive treatment, the patient's labs trended down and symptoms resolved. Discussion(s): Adenovirus is confirmed by a rise in antibody titer or by virus detection. Coagulative necrosis in histopathology is a finding in liver biopsies if they are pursued in unexplained cases of liver injury. Ultimately, adenovirus hepatitis can be diagnosed once all common causes of hepatitis have been excluded. In the current outbreak, only children have been getting adenovirus hepatitis. In adults, a high prevalence of neutralizing antibodies contributes to immunity, and therefore only in immunocompromised states, do adults get such an infection. Supportive care with IV fluids, electrolyte correction, and antiemetics usually is enough with eventual symptomatic and laboratory improvement as it was for our patient. Studies have shown that extensive disease can be treated with antiviral drugs, cidofovir, and ribavirin. Our patient's history of acetaminophen use is a confounder, however, her normal serum level and her symptoms suggestive of an infectious cause made acetaminophen less of a culprit. We hypothesize that our patient's use of acetaminophen when she was initially exposed to the virus is what made her susceptible to developing adenovirus hepatitis and we hope this case adds insight for clinicians dealing with future adult cases.

Prevalence of substance use in adults with cystic fibrosis

Background: Substance use is an understudied aspect of cystic fibrosis (CF) care. Even casual use of drugs or alcohol may reduce compliance with complicated treatment plans, worsen existing conditions associated with CF, or cause potential drug interactions. To understand the need for mitigation mechanisms for risky substance use in a CF population, we studied the prevalence of substance use in our adult CF clinic population to characterize relationships between substance use and health status. Method(s): In our large academic CF center, we performed a retrospective chart ion of 420 patients over a 6-year period (2015-2021). Clinical staff annually administer the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) to assess drug use, alcohol use, depression, and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Demographic characteristics, lung function (percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1pp)), and anxiety and depression symptom screening scores were recorded. Because substance use can change over time, we counted each assessment date as an independent observation (n = 1434). The chi-square test (Table 1) was conducted in R/RStudio [1] to assess for associations between self-reported substance use and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Because of insufficient data, aggregate datawere used to describe the presence (PHQ-9 or GAD-7 >= 10) or absence (PHQ-9 or GAD-7 < 10) of symptoms of depression and anxiety. Result(s): Positive scores for risky use were defined as a DAST score of 1 or higher and an AUDIT score of 8 or hither. Eighty-three of 326 patients (25%) met criteria for risky substance use on at least one observation. Therewas a slight male predominance (54.2%) and wide age distribution (mean age 30 +/- 7, range 20-55);Thirty (36.1%) had a higher AUDIT score, 34 (40.9%) had a high DAST score, and 19 (22.9%) had high scores on both.We selected 2019 to evaluate single-year prevalence of positive screenings to avoid the impact of COVID. In 2019, 29 patients had at least one positive screening result (DAST,15/203, 7.3%;AUDIT, 24/193,12%;both,10/193, 5.2%). In the 6- year dataset, we did not find a statistically significant association between symptoms of depression and anxiety and indication of drug or alcohol use in self-reported users (355 observations). Conclusion(s): According to a 2020 national survey of healthy Americans, 20.8% have used illicit drugs at least once in the past year, and 10.2% meet criteria for alcohol use disorder [2], compared with 7.3% of patients in our 2019 data who have used drugs (n = 15) and 12% (n = 24) who indicated risky alcohol use. In this review, positive screening scores on the DAST and AUDIT were not associated with degree of symptoms of depression and anxiety, suggesting that substance use and symptoms of depression and anxiety were not temporally associated with each other. Future work will include analysis of the relationship between substance use and mental health in the larger University of North Carolina clinic population and linear regression to evaluate possible explanatory variables for substance use in this populationCopyright © 2022, European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved

DISABILITY AND COVID-19 TESTING: A CROSS-SECTIONAL RADx-UP STUDY

Background: Nearly 26% of adults in the U.S. live with disability and are more likely to experience chronic health conditions, barriers to healthcare, and severe COVID-19 illness. Therefore, COVID-19 testing of adults living with disability is important to consider. The purpose of this study was to explore relationships between disability and COVID-19 testing, infection, and related challenges. Method(s): A Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Underserved Population (RADx-UP) project in Miami, FL determined disability with a modified version of the Washington Group General Disability Measure. HIV serostatus and COVID-19 vaccination were confirmed with medical records. COVID-19 testing and infection history were self-reported. Statistical analyses included chi-squared tests and multiple binary logistic regression;variance inflation factors were calculated to ensure absence of collinearity. Result(s): A total of 1,689 RADx-UP participants with an average age of 55+/-12.3, 51% male, 49% Black non-Hispanic, 23% living with HIV (86% virally suppressed), and 76% received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly 40% were disabled, 37% reported employment disability, and 21% were functionally disabled (disability that interferes with performance of daily activities). Despite recruitment from the same sources, PLWH, compared to those without HIV, were more likely to be disabled (52% vs 36%;p< 0.0001), report employment disability (63% vs 30%;p< 0.0001), and report functional disability (29% vs 18%;p< 0.0001). Those with employment disability were less likely to have ever been tested for COVID-19 compared to those without (81% vs 85%;p=0.026). Employment disability was also associated with lower odds of having ever tested positive for COVID-19 after adjustment for demographics, health insurance, HIV, COVID-19 vaccination, smoking, and lung disease (aOR, 0.62;95% CI, 0.43-0.90;p=0.013). Disability was associated with greater odds of transportation challenges (aOR, 2.33;95% CI, 1.76-3.08;p< 0.0001), illicit drug use (aOR, 1.92;95% CI, 1.49-2.47;p< 0.0001), and smoking (aOR, 1.74;95% CI, 1.39-2.17;p< 0.0001). Compared to those without, those with transportation challenges (14% vs 40%;p< 0.0001) and illicit drug use (18% vs 30%;p=0.001) were more likely to postpone medical care. Conclusion(s): Lower COVID-19 testing rates may contribute to underestimated COVID-19 positivity rates in adults living with disability. Challenges with transportation and substance abuse contribute to less engagement in care.

Disruption to Australian heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy markets with the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions.

BACKGROUND: Changes to drug markets can affect drug use and related harms. We aimed to describe market trends of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy in Australia following the introduction of COVID-19 pandemic-associated restrictions. METHODS: Australians residing in capital cities who regularly inject drugs (n ∼= 900 each year) or regularly use ecstasy and/or other illicit stimulants (n ∼= 800 each year) participated in annual interviews 2014-2022. We used self-reported market indicators (price, availability, and purity) for heroin, crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and ecstasy crystal to estimate generalised additive models. Observations from the 2014-2019 surveys were used to establish the pre-pandemic trend; 2020, 2021 and 2022 observations were considered immediate, short-term and longer-term changes since the introduction of pandemic restrictions. RESULTS: Immediate impacts on market indicators were observed for heroin and methamphetamine in 2020 relative to the 2014-2019 trend; price per cap/point increased (ß: A$9.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.25-17.1 and ß: A$40.3, 95% CI: 33.1-47.5, respectively), while perceived availability (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for 'easy'/'very easy' to obtain: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.24-0.59 and aOR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.03-0.25, respectively) and perceived purity (aOR for 'high' purity: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.23-0.54 and aOR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.20-0.54, respectively) decreased. There was no longer evidence for change in 2021 or 2022 relative to the 2014-2019 trend. Changes to ecstasy and cocaine markets were most evident in 2022 relative to the pre-pandemic trend: price per gram increased (ß: A$92.8, 95% CI: 61.6-124 and ß: A$24.3, 95% CI: 7.93-40.6, respectively) and perceived purity decreased (aOR for 'high purity': 0.18, 95% CI: 0.09-0.35 and 0.57, 95% CI: 0.36-0.90, respectively), while ecstasy was also perceived as less easy to obtain (aOR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.09-0.35). CONCLUSION: There were distinct disruptions to illicit drug markets in Australia after the COVID-19 pandemic began; the timing and magnitude varied by drug.

Not all shortness of breath and throat pain is COVID

Case Report: A previously, healthy 18-year-old female presents to a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Department with shortness of breath, fever, and worsening throat and abdominal pain for 3 days. She had a sick contact, a teacher that tested positive for COVID-19 2 weeks prior to presentation. She denies runny/stuffy nose, cough, loss of taste/smell, or rashes/lesions. She denies any significant past medical history including allergies, as well as any history of smoking or any illicit drug use. Upon arrival to the ED, the patient was noted to be tachycardic, hypotensive and febrile. There were no desaturations. Initial physical examination revealed a generally uncomfortable female that was alert and oriented, with noted tenderness over the right anterior neck region, diffuse cervical lymphadenopathy, and painful neck range of motion. Her pharynx was noted to be erythematous without exudates or any unilateral tonsillar swelling. In the ED patient received IV fluid resuscitation and was started on norepinephrine drip, broad spectrum antibiotics. Initial lab workup revealed an anion gap metabolic acidosis, likely secondary to uremia or lactic acidosis from poor perfusion in setting of sepsis and hypovolemia. BUN and creatinine were elevated, likely due to an acute kidney injury (AKI) secondary to hypovolemia. The patient was also found to have an elevated LDH, fibrinogen, and mild elevation of AST. D-Dimer was elevated at 29 000. Covid PCR, Rapid Strep, and respiratory PCR panel were negative. Her chest X-ray (CXR) was negative and ECG showed sinus tachycardia. Given the patient's history of throat and neck pain with shortness of breath, in the setting of a septic picture, a CT scan of neck, chest, abdomen was ordered prior to transferring the patient to the PICU. CT scan of the chest revealed small patches of consolidation with ground glass opacities in the right lung apex, as well as an nearly occlusive, acute thrombosis of the anterior right facial vein. The patient's initial blood cultures grew gram negative bacilli which later were revealed to be Fusobacterium necrophorum. These findings are consistent with Lemierre's syndrome. The patient was treated in the PICU on vasopressors, heparin anticoagulation, and antibiotics for 6 days and discharged with a course of Augmentin. Lemierre's syndrome is an infectious thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. First described by Andre Lemierre in 1936, it begins as a bacterial pharyngitis, generally developing into a peritonsillar abscess or other deep space neck infection with progressive erosion into the internal jugular vein. Diagnostic criteria for Lemierre's syndrome includes radiographically evidence of thrombophlebitis of the internal vein and positive blood cultures. CT and MRI can help make the diagnosis, but are not always required. Treatment is prompt intravenous antibiotics with beta-lactamase penicillins, metronidazole, clindamycin, and third generation cephalosporins. [Figure presented] Copyright © 2023 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.

Difficulty accessing supervised consumption services during the COVID-19 pandemic among people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada.

BACKGROUND: The overdose crisis in Canada has worsened since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although this trend is thought to be driven in part by closures or reduced capacity of supervised consumption services (SCS), little is known about the factors that may impede access to such services during the COVID-19 pandemic among people who use drugs. This study sought to characterize the prevalence and correlates of having difficulty accessing SCS during the COVID-19 pandemic among people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from two open prospective cohorts of people who use drugs were collected via phone or videoconferencing interviews conducted between July 2020 and November 2020. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with experiencing difficulty accessing SCS. RESULTS: Among the 428 people who use drugs who participated in the study, 223 (54.7%) self-identified as men and the median age was 51 years (1st to 3rd quartile: 42-58). A total of 58 (13.6%) participants reported experiencing difficulty accessing SCS. In a multivariable analysis, factors positively associated with difficulty accessing SCS included daily crystal methamphetamine use (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28-5.30), active injection drug use (AOR = 4.06; 95% CI 1.38-11.90), recent non-fatal overdose (AOR = 2.45; 95% CI 1.24-4.85), and unstable housing (AOR = 2.14; 95% CI 1.08-4.23). Age was inversely associated with the outcome (AOR = 0.96; 95% CI 0.93-0.99) in multivariable analyses. The most commonly reported reasons for experiencing difficulty accessing SCS were: COVID-19-related site closure or shortened hours (42.9%) and having to wait too long to use a site (39.3%). CONCLUSIONS: We found that people who use drugs with markers of structural vulnerability and drug-related risk were more likely to experience difficulty accessing SCS during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings point to the need for strategies to support access to such services as part of pandemic response efforts.

Transnational organized crime and COVID: A book review essay

COVID-19, Gangs, and Conflict. Edited by John P. Sullivan and Robert J. Bunker. A Small Wars Journal-El Centro Reader. Bloomington: Xlibris. 2020. Photos. Endnotes. Contributor biographies. Prologue. Foreword. Postscript. Afterword. Selected References. pp. 153. Paperback $12.17. Kindle $3.99. Criminal Contagion: How Mafias, Gangsters and Scammers Profit from a Pandemic. By Tuesday Reitano and Mark Shaw. London: Hurst and Company, 2021. ISBN 9781787384460. Notes. Index. pp. 320. Hardcover $26.95.

BOOZE, BETAS, AND A FATTY SOLUTION TO SPARE PANDEMIC WOES

SESSION TITLE: Cases of Overdose, OTC, and Illegal Drug Critical Cases Posters SESSION TYPE: Case Report Posters PRESENTED ON: 10/17/2022 12:15 pm - 01:15 pm INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic raised economic strife, social isolation, fear from contagion, and anxiety to a level where 45% of surveyed U.S. adults report a detriment to their mental health. With U.S. suicide rates up from 10 to 14 cases per 100,000 over the past 20 years, the health and safety of a vulnerable mental health population becomes more of a concern. We report a case of an individual with depression who was resuscitated after severe toxicity from alcohol and beta-blocker ingestions. CASE PRESENTATION: A 58-year-old woman with prior suicide attempts was found in an obtunded state after finishing a 20-pack of beer and swallowing a propranolol 20 mg pill bottle. On admission, she presented with bradycardia, hypotension, and alteration to a Glasgow Coma Scale of 9 with emesis residue on her face. Her blood gas revealed an anion-gap metabolic acidosis with a pH of 7.26, lactate of 2.53, normal potassium and calcium, and glucose of 134 mg/dL. Toxicity labs were notable for an alcohol of 199 mg/dL. Her EKG demonstrated a junctional bradycardia with a p-wave complex after the QRS consistent with retrograde depolarization of the atrium (Image 1). She was intubated to protect her airway. She subsequently developed cardiac arrest secondary to pulseless electrical activity. She underwent CPR for 33 minutes with boluses of intravenous epinephrine, glucagon, insulin, calcium gluconate, and sodium bicarbonate prior to return of spontaneous circulation. Due to failure of transcutaneous pacing, a transvenous pacer was placed. In concert with Poison Control, she was started on an a euglycemic insulin drip and an intralipid infusion. Her hemodynamics improved, and she was weaned off pacing and ICU interventions within 24 hours. She was discharged a week after admission with no residual morbidities. DISCUSSION: Overdose from nonselective beta-blockers can result in bradycardia, hypotension, seizures, QRS widening, QTc prolongation with ventricular tachy-arrhythmias, hyperkalemia, and hypoglycemia. Understanding the pharmacodynamics of beta-blocker toxicity enables targeted interventions to improve: chronotropy with epinephrine, glucagon, and pacing;inotropy with insulin, calcium, glucagon, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors;QRS widening with sodium bicarbonate;and QTc prolongation with magnesium or lidocaine. The high lipid solubility of propanol allows for intravenous lipid infusions to aid in drug elimination for patients in refractory cardiogenic shock. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a lack of labs for monitoring beta blocker toxicity, our case demonstrates successful resuscitation in a severe overdose. Perhaps an absence of hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia, QRS and QTc changes, and tachy-arrhythmias in this incident portended to a decreased morbidity and mortality. Ultimately, we reaffirmed the role of intralipid infusions as a critical treatment adjunct for recovery from cardiogenic shock secondary to beta blockade. Reference #1: Sher L. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates. QJM. 2020;113(10):707-712. Reference #2: Kerns W 2nd. Management of beta-adrenergic blocker and calcium channel antagonist toxicity. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2007;25(2):309-viii. Reference #3: Anderson AC. Management of beta-adrenergic blocker poisoning. Clin Pediatr Emerg Med. 2008;9(1):4–16. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Jackie Hayes No relevant relationships by Andrew Salomon

A LESSON ON ANCHORING BIAS DURING A PANDEMIC: A CASE PRESENTATION

SESSION TITLE: Cases of Overdose, OTC, and Illegal Drug Critical Cases Posters SESSION TYPE: Case Report Posters PRESENTED ON: 10/17/2022 12:15 pm - 01:15 pm INTRODUCTION: Anchoring bias is a cognitive bias where one relies too heavily on initial information early on in the decision making process, affecting subsequent decisions due to future arguments being discussed in relation to the "anchor. Overemphasis on COVID-19 due to the pandemic has impacted the timely diagnosis and treatment of other diseases. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old man with a past medical history of COVID 19 in 12/2020 presents to the ED with increasing weakness, chest pain, recurrent fevers, diarrhea, and cough. CXR revealed bilateral infiltrates suggestive of pneumonia/pulmonary edema. Patient was empirically started on ceftriaxone. CT chest was suspicious of COVID-19;however repeat testing was negative. Diarrhea did not improve. Patient later admitted to recent travel to Jamaica. Ova and parasite, C-difficile, and stool culture were negative. On hospital day 8, the patient was intubated and placed on mechanical ventilation for worsening hypoxic respiratory failure Infectious disease was consulted for recurrent fevers of unknown origin and diarrhea with recent travel. Testing for typhoid fever, hantavirus, malaria, HIV, zika virus, chikungunya, dengue, and yellow fever were performed. Consent was obtained for HIV testing. HIV antibody tests were positive, CD4 count of 7, and viral load greater than 900k. Since a new diagnosis of AIDS with a CD4 count of 7 was obtained, the patient was subsequently tested for opportunistic infections such as TB. TB sputum PCR testing was positive but AFB smear was negative for TB. Antiretroviral and tuberculosis treatments were initiated. DISCUSSION: Anchoring bias can delay critical diagnoses and impede patient care if it is not recognized. According to Watson et. al, one way physicians circumvent the thought of pretest probability when ordering tests based on patient history and the subsequent list of differential diagnoses is anchoring bias. Bypassing the pretest probability also alters the sensitivity and specificity of testing because results that do not confirm or rule out a top differential diagnosis are thought to be inaccurate and are then repeated attributing the initial result to a bad specimen or an improper collection of the specimen. CONCLUSIONS: The case presented exemplifies clearly the concept of anchoring bias. Upon initial presentation, the patient had nonspecific symptoms such as weakness, chest pain, recurrent fevers, diarrhea, and cough, all of which can be symptoms of COVID 19 in the setting of a global pandemic. It is clear that the initial diagnosis based on these symptoms was COVID 19. When initial testing was negative, anchoring bias still played a role in the decision to test the patient once again, despite the first negative test. Repeat testing still did not support the diagnosis of COVID 19, which expanded the differential diagnosis and ultimately led to the correct diagnosis of AIDS with concomitant TB infection. Reference #1: Saposnik, et. Al. Cognitive Biases Associated with Medical Decisions: A Systematic Review. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2016 Nov. 3. PMID: 27809908 Reference #2: Harada, et. al. COVID Blindness: Delayed Diagnosis of Aseptic Meningitis in the COVID-19 Era. Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2020 Oct 23. PMID: 33194872. Reference #3: Singh, et. al. The Global Burden of Diagnostic Errors in Primary Care. BMJ Qual Saf. 2016 Aug 16. PMID: 27530239. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Sagar Bhula

HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE OVERDOSE

SESSION TITLE: Cases of Overdose, OTC, and Illegal Drug Critical Cases Posters SESSION TYPE: Case Report Posters PRESENTED ON: 10/17/2022 12:15 pm - 01:15 pm INTRODUCTION: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is commonly prescribed for the management of connective tissue disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Despite its widespread use, there are limited case reports describing HCQ intoxication and management. HCQ toxicity presents predominantly with cardiovascular manifestations, including hypotension, arrhythmias, and QT interval prolongation on electrocardiogram (EKG). Other findings include visual disturbances, altered mental status, and hypokalemia. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 60-year-old female with a history of rheumatoid arthritis and depression. She presented to the emergency department (ED) after ingesting 10-15 tablets of HCQ 200 mg in a suicide attempt. In the ED, she was noted to be lethargic and tachycardic. EKG revealed sinus tachycardia with a heart rate of 127 beats per minute and prolonged QTc of 680msec. The diagnostic evaluation also revealed hypokalemia with potassium 3.7mmol/l. Initial management in the ED included administration of activated charcoal, potassium supplementation, and intravenous bicarbonate infusion. The patient was admitted to the ICU for monitoring and supportive care. Serum electrolyte panel and EKG were monitored. The patient made an uneventful recovery after 2-3 days. The QT interval normalized, and hypokalemia improved. She was subsequently discharged to an inpatient psychiatric unit. DISCUSSION: Although HQC is commonly prescribed, there is limited data describing overdose. Our case of HCQ overdose presented as changes in mental status, QT interval prolongation, and hypokalemia. Similar findings have been reported in previous case reports. Management includes early gastric decontamination with activated charcoal, potassium supplementation, and supportive care. Intravenous bicarbonate infusion has been utilized for prolonged QT intervals, and benzodiazepines have been used for agitation and sedation. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, HCQ toxicity can be life-threatening. It is a commonly prescribed agent, and therefore the clinician should be aware of its toxicity profile and management. Reference #1: Bakhsh HT. Hydroxychloroquine Toxicity Management: A Literature Review in COVID-19 Era. J Microsc Ultrastruct. 2020;8(4):136-140. Published 2020 Dec 10. doi:10.4103/JMAU.JMAU_54_20 Reference #2: McKeever R. Chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine overdose. Vis J Emerg Med. 2020;21:100777. doi:10.1016/j.visj.2020.100777 Reference #3: Lebin JA, LeSaint KT. Brief Review of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine Toxicity and Management. West J Emerg Med. 2020;21(4):760-763. Published 2020 Jun 3. doi:10.5811/westjem.2020.5.47810 DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Priyaranjan Kata No relevant relationships by Wajahat Khan No relevant relationships by Pratiksha Singh

THE PANDEMIC'S FUNGAL REVENGE: COVID-19 ASSOCIATED PULMONARY ASPERGILLOSIS (CAPA)

SESSION TITLE: Pathologies of the Post-COVID-19 World SESSION TYPE: Rapid Fire Case Reports PRESENTED ON: 10/18/2022 10:15 am - 11:10 am INTRODUCTION: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CAPA) has been on the rise. This superinfection, if not properly identified and treated, has shown to increase mortality up to 67% in COVID-19 patients. We are presenting a late presentation of CAPA after 4-month of COVID-19 infection and treated successfully. CASE PRESENTATION: A 57-year-old female patient with past medical history type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cardiomyopathy in addition to COVID-19 pneumonia treated for months ago with azithromycin, Bamlanivimab/Etesevimab, and Dexamethasone who presents to the hospital with massive hemoptysis and shortness of breath requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. There was no reported history of recent travel, smoking, alcohol, or illicit drug use. Physical exam showed diminished lung sounds at the right lower lobe. Her labs showed mild leukocytosis, lactic acidosis and negative COVID-19 PCR. CT scan showed dense consolidation on right lower lobe consistent with lobar pneumonia and centrilobular ground glass opacities in the right upper lobe. Bronchoscopy showed complete obstruction of right bronchus intermedius and minimal blood clots in LLL. BAL respiratory culture, fungal smear, acid fast bacilli were non-diagnostic and negative for malignancy. Patient continued to have hemoptysis and bronchoscopy was repeated with negative cytology and cultures. The patient continued to have hemoptysis and she was transferred to tertiary center were bronchoscopy was repeated and confirmed right bronchus intermedius stenosis, blood clots, and suspicious right mainstem nodules with mucosal lesion. Biopsy results from bronchoscopy came back positive for the morphologic features of Aspergillus species. The patient was started on voriconazole with significant improvement in her symptoms. DISCUSSION: The recent literature of COVID-19 suggest association between COVID infection and invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis. COVID-19 virus causes damage in the airway epithelium and enable aspergillus to invade the pulmonary tract leading to serious infections with Aspergillus. It has also been known that Aspergillus infections are associated with diabetes mellitus and immune suppression which can be precipitated by steroid use and other treatments for COVID-19 infection like IL-6 inhibitors. Here in our patient with help of tissue biopsy we diagnosed CAPA, started treatment early and treated successfully. CONCLUSIONS: CAPA can be difficult to diagnose and needs high index of suspicion in the appropriate clinical scenario when dealing with post COVID respiratory complaints like hemoptysis. Bronchoalveolar lavage alone without tissue biopsy might miss the diagnosis in the context of invasive aspergillosis like the scenario we observed in our case. Doing tissue biopsy through bronchoscopy might add more clinical benefit when Aspergillus infections are suspected. Reference #1: Chih-Cheng Lai, Weng-Liang Yu, COVID-19 associated with pulmonary aspergillosis: A literature review, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2020.09.004 DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Haytham Adada No relevant relationships by Mahmoud Amarna No relevant relationships by Rishika Bajaj No relevant relationships by Camelia Chirculescu No relevant relationships by Sonia Dogra No relevant relationships by Azad Patel

MANAGEMENT OF METHAMPHETAMINE INDUCED PNEUMONITIS

CASE: A 35-year-old female with history of pulmonary coccidiomycosis s/p treatment 15 years ago, ex-smoker who quit 8 years ago, unvaccinated for COVID-19 presented with two weeks of progressively worsening shortness of breath, fever, chills, generalized body aches, sore throat with hoarseness of voice, nonproductive cough, wheezing and midsternal chest pain. Denied sick contacts, recent travel, allergies or bird contact. On presentation, vitals were significant for hypoxia with SpO2 84% requiring 2L of nasal canula, sinus tachycardia to 109, tachypneic in 30s. Physical exam showed stridor and bilateral diffuse expiratory wheezing. Stridor improved with racemic epinephrine and dexamethasone 10mg IV. CBC, CMP, Procalcitonin, BNP, COVID-19 and Respiratory PCR were negative, while coccidioidomycosis antibody was positive. UDS was positive for methamphetamine. Chest X-ray showed features of atypical pneumonitis. CT Chest showed similar findings and was negative for pulmonary embolism. She was managed symptomatically with albuterol inhaler. Respiratory symptoms improved during hospitalization without any further interventions. IMPACT/DISCUSSION: Methamphetamine can cause toxic lung parenchyma injury irrespective of frequency of use. With recent increase in use of methamphetamine, paucity of literature and unclear mechanism in lung injury, it is important for physicians to be aware of methamphetamine associated lung injury as a differential diagnosis of acute/subacute respiratory distress with the risk factors of illicit drug use in the era of COVID pandemic. According to National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in 2018, 1.6 million people (age > 26 years) used methamphetamine in one year which is 0.5% more than 2016-2017. Crystalline methamphetamine is a widely used inhaled stimulant with few reported cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome, eosinophilic pneumonia, pneumonitis, and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Even though the mechanism of injury is unclear in human beings, toxicity was studied in animals. Chronic methamphetamine use causes thickened alveolar walls and reduced alveolar sacs by oxidative stress and by increased free radical formation. Patients often present with non-specific symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, sore throat or chest pain. The temporal relation of symptomatology with methamphetamine use and exclusion of infectious and other pulmonary etiology based on labs and radiological findings are crucial in establishing the diagnosis. Early diagnosis, symptomatic treatment and cessation of substance use are core management. CONCLUSION: We discussed a case of methamphetamine-induced pneumonitis, who presented with upper and lower respiratory symptoms that resolved dramatically with the early diagnosis and supportive care. We recommend considering methamphetamine-induced lung injury as a differential diagnosis in patients with risk factors of illicit drug use, especially in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic for early diagnosis and appropriate management.

A CONFOUNDING CASE OF NON-ISCHEMIC CARDIOMYOPATHY: ACQUIRED MYOCARDITIS FROM COVID-19 AND SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS LEADING TO CLINICAL HEART FAILURE

CASE: We report a 50-year-old Caucasian female with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in remission and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5. The patient presented with dyspnea on exertion and orthopnea for two weeks. Six weeks ago, she was diagnosed with COVID-19 after presenting to the ED for substernal chest pain, myalgias, and fatigue. During this admission, she denied any current joint pain, chest pain, or rashes. She denies a history of alcohol or illicit drug use. EKG in the ED showed T-wave inversions in lead I and aVL, stable from prior EKG. The brain natriuretic peptide level was elevated at 3,500 pg/ml. There was no transaminitis, and kidney function was at baseline. Chest x-ray showed pulmonary vascular congestion and cardiomegaly. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 15-20% with severe global hypokinesis. The patient had a full cardiomyopathy workup. We ruled out ischemic cardiomyopathy with a negative coronary angiogram. Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICMO) workup was initiated, with a focus on viral or autoimmune myocarditis. While a cardiac MRI would have been the gold standard to assess for myocardial scarring, the patient's CKD status prohibited this possibility. Similarly, an endomyocardial biopsy was not performed due to its low sensitivity for diagnosing viral or autoimmune myocarditis. Without evidence of infiltrative disease, or other exposures, it was deemed that the patient's recent history of COVID-19 infection, in conjunction with underlying SLE, were the causes of her new-onset NICMO. The patient's dyspnea responded to intravenous bumetanide. We initiated guideline-directed medical therapy with carvedilol and isosorbide-dinitrate. She continues regular follow-up in the outpatient heart failure clinic. IMPACT/DISCUSSION: Classification and evaluation of NICMO can be broad, and thus the clinical picture plays an essential role in the workup. Acquired cardiomyopathy from prior myocarditis was the most likely etiology of our patient's new-onset NICMO. Our patient had no clinical symptoms of myocarditis prior to her exposure to COVID-19, making it unlikely that SLE was the sole driving factor. There is a known association between COVID-19 and myocarditis. A few proposed mechanisms for COVID-19 induced myocarditis include upregulation of cytokines, particularly interleukin-6, and downregulation of ACE2, leading to microvascular and cardiac pericyte dysfunction. Cytokine release from COVID-19 coupled with subclinical SLE could have acted synergistically to cause this patient's condition. Given the increasing incidence of COVID-19 infections, internists must consider COVID-19 exposures during the workup of new-onset heart failure. CONCLUSION: The workup for NICMO in the COVID-19 era must include detailed history taking for sick contacts and prior history of COVID-19 diagnosis. More research is needed to determine if COVID-19 infection can increase the risk of NICMO in patients with a known history of SLE.

TELEMEDICAL EVALUATION OF ACUTE HEADACHE IN SETTING OF ONGOING COVID PANDEMIC

CASE: 50 yo generally healthy female with two sudden “throbbing” frontal headaches (HA) over the 7 days. First episode (rated 9 out of 10) was preceded by abd pain and emesis. The HA worsened in the laying down, which decreased after 5 hrs of “pacing around the house." Second HA preceded by neck pain and nausea. HA persist (2 out of 10) after the episodes with 'persistent brain fog.' Positive for recent life stressors. Has Mirena. During the video visit, she appears alert, not in distress, speech and mentation at baseline. Face symmetrical. However, no traditional intake such as vital signs were not available and the physical exam was limited. Due to the red flags symptoms, imaging was indicated. CT is the first pass work up for intracranial hemorrhage. Differential diagnoses include migraines, benign HA, hemorrhage, thrombosis, dissection, and neoplasms. There were logistical limitations as this occurred over the holiday with reduced clinic hours, no urgent care and the ED on diversion. An urgent head CT ordered with the plan for follow up in person visit after the holiday for further assessment, and likely consultation with neuro. Findings concerning for acute SAH. Radiology sends patient to ED. Repeat CT angio, again, shows “multifocal beaded and narrowing in circulation. Suggestive of cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS).” After admission, pt is evaluated by neuro and undergoes angio, which finds mild diffused artery luminal stenosis consistent with RVCS. Intra-arterial verapamil administered into 3 cerebral arteries had marked improvement. Discharged on 90 days of oral verapamil with close PCP follow up. IMPACT/DISCUSSION: RVCS is evolving neurological condition. Given the low incidence of 3 in 1million patients, the understanding of RVCS continues to grow. RVCS commonly presents as severe thunderclap HA. Triggered by use of vasoconstricting medication, illicit drug, postpartum and grief. However, acute HA have a relatively large differential. Primarily diagnosed through imaging. As in this case, RVCS requires urgent interventions. To differentiate from benign etiologies of HA particularly as health services are limited or overwhelmed by COVID health epidemic, telehealth can play a pivotal role in increasing accessibility to reduce pt harm and potentially negative outcomes. Impact on practice: Red flag symptoms associated with thunderclap HA, even after improvement necessitate urgent evaluation of address the risk of RCVS. Thorough limited neuro examinations through video can assist in diagnostic differential development. As the COVID continues and impacts burden of healthcare, post pandemic incorporation of telehealth can play in acute settings with limited resources that can significantly reduce poor pt outcomes. CONCLUSION: Thorough investigations of presenting illness and medical history supply critical details in distinguishing atypical HA In the setting of limited resources and time constraints, virtual assessments provide sufficient information to support expedited workup.

EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND FEAR OF COVID-19ON OVERDOSE AND SEXUAL RISK BEHAVIORS

Purpose: Risky overdose behaviors, such as using drugs by oneself, and risky sexual behaviors, such as engaging in unprotected sex, can lead to serious health outcomes, including experiencing a drug overdose and contracting HIV. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen alarming increases in depression and anxiety, as well as COVID-19 fears and worries. A better understanding of how mental health symptoms and fears surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted risk behaviors is crucial to remedying the growing public health concern of increasing overdoses and HIV infections. The goal of this project is to measure the potential impact of anxiety, depression, and COVID-19 fears on overdose and sexual risk behaviors. Brief statement of methods used: Adults (n = 214) who resided in Texas and reported regular use of illicit drugs were considered eligible for a longitudinal study assessing mental health among PWUD during COVID-19. For this secondary analysis, we used measures of anxiety (GAD-7), depression (CES-D), fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19), overdose risk behavior, and HIV and sexual risk behavior. We performed Fisher's odds ratio tests to determine whether scoring above the clinical cutoffs for anxiety, depression, or fear of COVID-19 significantly affected the risk of engaging in certain overdose or HIV and sexual risk behaviors. Summary of results: In regard to overdose risk behaviors, we found that high scores of anxiety and depression significantly increased the likelihood of using opioids and alcohol at the same time. Higher levels of anxiety also significantly raised the odds of using opioids alone or witnessing an overdose. Concerning HIV risk behaviors, high scores of anxiety significantly increased the odds of injecting drugs. On the contrary, high scores of COVID-19 fear significantly decreased the odds of engaging in sexual activity with someone who did not know their HIV status. Statement about conclusion: These results showed that individuals experiencing high levels of anxiety or depression are at a greater risk of engaging in risky behaviors that may lead to experiencing an overdose, while fear of COVID-19 may act as a protective factor against sexual risk behaviors. Harm reduction resources and safer drug use education should be made available to those most vulnerable.

“Like what? You think I have that?”-Impact of stigma on pharmacy-based identification and treatment of hepatitis C in Victoria, British Columbia

Background and aims: Canada is currently on target to reach the 2030 WHO goal of HCV elimination. Continued high rates of treatment initiation are required to meet this goal. Novel models have proven successful to engage populations who use drugs (PWUD) in HCV therapy with a simplified, task-shifted cascade of care: Tayside, Scotland pharmacy-based HCV screening and treatment has demonstrated excellent outcomes and progress towards local HCV elimination. The EPIC Study seeks to determine whether pharmacybased treatment successes can be replicated at community pharmacies in Victoria BC. Method: Four community pharmacies known to work with PWUD and provide opioid agonist therapy (OAT) were provided training sessions to equip staff with a standardized tool kit of resources. In fall 2020, pharmacy staff were trained to provide verbal informed consent and perform point of care HCV OraQuick antibody screening. Pharmacies were supported by a study nurse to link to HCV RNA testing when antibody positive patients were identified, with initiation of HCV treatment offered to those found to be RNA positive. (Figure Presented) Figure: (: THU296): Antibody responses after the COVID-19 vaccination in patients with AILD and healthy controls. (A-B) The seropositivity rate (A) and titers (B) of anti-RBD-IgG in patients with AILD and healthy controls. (D-E) The seropositivity rate (D) and titers (E) of NAbs in patients with AILD and healthy controls. The distribution of anti-RBD-IgG (C) and NAbs (F) antibody titers over time in patients with AILD and healthy controls. AILD, autoimmune liver disease;anti-RBD-IgG, spike receptor-binding domain IgG antibody;NAbs, neutralizing antibodies. The study nurse worked with pharmacy staff to strategize adherence and support as needed by study subjects. Qualitative interviews have been conducted with five pharmacy staff to explore their experiences with testing and monitoring HCV treatment and the feasibility of involving pharmacists in the HCV care cascade. Results: To date pharmacy staff completed 171 HCV OraQuick tests finding 53 tested positive for HCV antibodies: 23 people were HCV RNA negative, (20 previously treated and 2 self-cleared), 8 unk/LTF. Of the 22 RNA positive participants, 1 is pending treatment start, 21 people have started treatment, with 8 achieving SVR. While great success has been achieved in treating identified people, less than half of projected OraQuick tests have been completed. Although the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic was a fundamental barrier incorporating HCV testing at pharmacies, stigma related to HCV and illicit drug use continues to impact this process. Pharmacists described feeling hesitant about approaching participants, especially after receiving negative responses from clients about HCV testing. Some worried their relationship would change with clients as asking about HCV implied risky drug use. Conclusion: This innovative and novel approach to HCV therapy in PWUD attempted to use a pharmacy-based approach to find people with limited connection to primary health care to test and treat HCV. Increased training of pharmacy staff related to stigma around drug use and HCV is required both before and ongoing for successful integration of pharmacy-led HCV testing and treatment in Canada.

DISPARITIES IN HEALTHCARE UTILIZATION BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN

Introduction: In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, hospitals nationwide opted to temporarily replace traditional in-person visits with telehealth visits. Unfortunately, due to socio-economic disparities, some groups may be at a disadvantage as a result of these changes. This observational study aimed to determine the temporal trends in demographic, socio-economic, and educational factors contributing to the disparities in access to health care during and after the lockdown. Methods: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a state of emergency was declared in Ohio between March 9th, 2020 and June 18th, 2020. The study cohort consisted of patients receiving outpatient care in the Cleveland Clinic Gastroenterology department during this period. To assess disparities, this group was compared to patients receiving care during the corresponding time periods in 2019 and 2021. The following variables were collected and compared between the three groups: demographics, substance abuse, education status, household income, insurance data, employment status, and type of visit (in person, virtual, or telephone). Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables and student's t-test for continuous variables. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. SPSS software was used. Results: There were a total of 66,796 visits scheduled during the three study periods of which 19,764 patients had multiple visits. Only the first visit was considered for study purposes, thus yielding 47,032 visits. The mean age was 56.3 ± 17.6 years of which 36.9% were ³ 65 years. The cohort was predominantly female (61.9%), white (76.4%), and had private insurance (61.7%). The characteristics of patients seen in 2019, 2020, and 2021 are presented in table 1. Patients age ≥65 years, whites, those with Medicare insurance, non-English speakers and retired individuals sought healthcare less frequently during and after the pandemic. Women utilized healthcare more often than men before, during, and after the pandemic. There were also variations depending upon education level and median house hold income (table 1). The number of in-person visits rapidly declined during the pandemic, yet have not returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2021. The number of no shows/cancelled visits and tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use have steadily increased during and after the pandemic. Conclusion: There was reduced utilization of healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic among elderly, non-English speaking, retired, and less educated individuals;these negative effects persisted for elderly and non-English speaking individuals even after the lockdown was lifted. The continued increase in no show/cancellation rates and substance abuse is an alarming trend. Therefore, efforts should be targeted on improving healthcare access for these vulnerable groups.