Inpatient mortality and outcomes of COVID-19 among patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy: A propensity matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic medical conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases, are at a greater risk of adverse outcomes due to COVID-19. The effect of COVID-19 on patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) is not known well. OBJECTIVES: To study the impact of COVID-19 infection on NICM hospital mortality and other outcomes. METHODS: This study included a cohort of patients from the 2020 and 2021 National Inpatient Sample databases. Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 with and without NICM were matched using a 1:1 propensity score-matching ratio. Outcomes analyzed were in-hospital mortality, rates of acute kidney injury (AKI), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, mechanical ventilation, tracheal intubation, pulmonary embolism (PE), ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), length of stay (LOS), and total hospitalization charges. RESULTS: A total of 2,532,652 patients met the inclusion criteria (1,199,008 females [47.3 %], predominantly white 1,456,203 (57.5 %); mean [SD] age 63 [5.4] years), including 64,155 (2.5 %) patients with a history of NICM. Following propensity matching, 10,258 COVID-19 patients with and without NICM were matched. Patients with NICM had higher rates of AMI (11.1 vs. 7.1 %, p < 0.001), cardiogenic shock (2 vs. 0.6 %, p < 0.001), cardiac arrest (4.4 vs. 3.2 %, p < 0.01), mechanical ventilation (13.7 vs 12 %, p < 0.01), VT (8.5 vs. 2.2 %, p < 0.001), and VF (1.0 vs 0.25 %, p < 0.001). The odds ratios for in-hospital mortality, AKI, and PE did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: A History of NICM does not affect COVID-19 mortality but increases the risk of cardiovascular complications.

The impact of smoking on third-degree atrioventricular block outcomes: A propensity-matched analysis.

Background: Third-degree atrioventricular (AV) blocks are rare but cause significant symptoms and require immediate intervention. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is felt to be the most common etiology. Although smoking is a prominent risk factor for CAD, there is a paucity of data assessing the direct effect of smoking on third-degree AV block. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study on adult-weighted admissions in 2019-2020 with a primary diagnosis of third-degree AV block and a history of smoking using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. In-hospital mortality, rates of pacemaker insertion, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, acute kidney injury (AKI), stroke, tracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, mechanical circulatory support, vasopressor use, length of stay (LOS), and total hospitalization costs were analyzed using regression analysis. We performed a secondary analysis using propensity score matching to confirm the results. Results: A total of 77,650 admissions met inclusion criteria (33,625 females [43.3 %], 58,315. Caucasians [75 %], 7030 African American [9 %], 6155 Hispanic [7.9 %]; mean [SD] age 75.4.[10.2] years) before propensity matching. A total of 29,380 (37.8 %) patients with AV block were smokers.A total of 5560 patients with and without a history of smoking were matched for the analysis. Smokers had.decreased odds of mortality (aOR, 0.59; CI, 0.44-0.78; p < 0.001), cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, tracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, shorter LOS, and lower total hospital costs in both the multivariable regression and propensity-matched analyses. Conclusion: Third-degree AV block had lower in-hospital mortality, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, LOS, and total hospitalization cost in patients with smoking history.

Blood Flow Restriction Training for the Shoulder: A Case for Proximal Benefit.

BACKGROUND: Although blood flow restriction (BFR) is becoming increasingly popular in physical therapy and athletic training settings, little is known about the effects of BFR combined with low-intensity exercise (LIX) on muscles proximal to the site of occlusion. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: Determine whether LIX combined with BFR applied distally to the shoulder on the brachial region of the arm (BFR-LIX) promotes greater increases in shoulder lean mass, rotator cuff strength, endurance, and acute increases in shoulder muscle activation compared with LIX alone. We hypothesized that BFR-LIX would elicit greater increases in rotator cuff strength, endurance, and muscle mass. We also hypothesized that the application of BFR would increase EMG amplitude in the shoulder muscles during acute exercise. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: 32 healthy adults were randomized into 2 groups (BFR group, 13 men, 3 women; No-BFR group, 10 men, 6 women) who performed 8 weeks of shoulder LIX (2 times per week; 4 sets [30/15/15/fatigue]; 20% maximum) using common rotator cuff exercises (cable external rotation [ER], cable internal rotation [IR], dumbbell scaption, and side-lying dumbbell ER). The BFR group also trained with an automated tourniquet placed at the proximal arm (50% occlusion). Regional lean mass (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), isometric strength, and muscular endurance (repetitions to fatigue [RTF]; 20% maximum; with and without 50% occlusion) were measured before and after training. Electromyographic amplitude (EMGa) was recorded from target shoulder muscles during endurance testing. A mixed-model analysis of covariance (covaried on baseline measures) was used to detect within-group and between-group differences in primary outcome measures (α = .05). RESULTS: The BFR group had greater increases in lean mass in the arm (mean ± 95% CI: BFR, 175 ± 54 g; No BFR, -17 ± 77 g; P < .01) and shoulder (mean ± 95% CI: BFR, 278 ± 90 g; No BFR, 96 ± 61 g; P < .01), isometric IR strength (mean ± 95% CI: BFR, 2.9 ± 1.3 kg; No BFR, 0.1 ± 1.3 kg; P < .01), single-set RTF volume (repetitions × resistance) for IR (~1.7- to 2.1-fold higher; P < .01), and weekly training volume (weeks 4, 6-8, ~5%-22%; P < .05). Acute occlusion (independent of group or timepoint) yielded increases in EMGa during RTF (~10%-20%; P < .05). CONCLUSION: Combined BFR-LIX may yield greater increases in shoulder and arm lean mass, strength, and muscular endurance compared with fatiguing LIX alone during rotator cuff exercises. These findings may be due, in part, to a greater activation of shoulder muscles while using BFR. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The present study demonstrates that BFR-LIX may be a suitable candidate for augmenting preventive training or rehabilitation outcomes for the shoulder.

Acute Physiologic Effects of Performing Yoga in The Heat on Energy Expenditure, Range of Motion, and Inflammatory Biomarkers.

Performing yoga in a heated environment (HY) is a popular exercise mode purported to improve range of motion (ROM), body composition, and aerobic fitness. The purpose of this investigation was to compare a session of HY to room temperature yoga (RTY) with regards to ROM, oxygen consumption, caloric expenditure, and biomarkers of acute stress and inflammation. Sixteen experienced yoga practitioners (F14, M2; 40 ± 11yr; 22.6 ± 1.8 kg/m2) completed a 1-hour standardized Bikram sequence in HY (105°F, 40°C) and RTY (74°F, 23.3°C) conditions (order of conditions randomized, humidity standardized at 40%). Intra-exercise metabolic gas exchange and heart rate (HR) was monitored using a metabolic cart. ROM measures were taken pre and post-exercise at the elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee. Cytokines interleukin 6,10 (IL-6, IL-10) and tumor-necrosis-factor alpha (TNF-α) were analyzed from blood samples collected pre- and 30-minutes post-exercise. Intra-exercise metabolic gas exchange and heart rate (HR) was monitored using a metabolic cart. Both bouts elicited similar acute changes in ROM although HY elicited a greater increase in hip abduction (RTYΔ° = 2.3 ± 1.3|HYΔ° = 6.6 ± 1.5; p < 0.05). Mean VO2, peak VO2, %VO2max, HR, and kcal expenditure did not differ between conditions. RER was lower during the HY (RTY = 0.95 ± 0.02| HY = 0.89 ± 0.02; p < 0.05) with a concomitant elevation in fat oxidation (RTY = 0.05 ± 0.01|HY = 0.09 ± 0.01, g·min-1; p < 0.05) and decrease in carbohydrate oxidation (RTY = 0.51 ± 0.04|HY = 0.44 ± 0.03, g·min-1; p < 0.05). Serum IL-6 was increased (15.5 ± 8.0-fold) following HY only (p < 0.05). HY does not significantly elevate aerobic energy cost compared to RTY but may acutely increase fat substrate utilization and hip ROM. Future studies remain needed to establish dose-response relationships for including HY or RTY into well-rounded fitness programs.

The Usefulness of Meta-Analyses to Hip and Knee Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive systematic reviews of results from homogenous or heterogeneous clinical trials, meta-analyses are used to summarize and to interpret studies. Proponents believe that their use can increase study power and improve precision results. Critics emphasize that heterogeneity between studies and bias of individual studies compromise the value of results. The methodology of meta-analyses has improved over time, utilizing statistical analysis to reduce bias and examining heterogeneity. With an increasing trend of meta-analyses in orthopaedic literature, this study aimed to investigate quality and clinical utility of meta-analyses for total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: A systematic review of total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty meta-analyses in 3 major orthopaedic journals from January 2000 to August 2017 was performed. Three authors independently reviewed eligible meta-analyses. A quality assessment was conducted using the Oxman-Guyatt Index. Reporting quality was assessed using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Two high-volume, fellowship-trained, attending surgeons specializing in total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty independently, in a blinded fashion, reviewed 24 of the highest-scored meta-analyses. RESULTS: There were 114 studies meeting eligibility criteria, 25 published from 2000 to 2009 and 89 published from 2010 to 2017, a 3.6-fold increase. The mean Oxman-Guyatt Index score was 3.89 points, with 12 high-quality studies, 87 moderate-quality studies, and 15 low-quality studies. The mean PRISMA score for all meta-analyses was 22.2 points, with 79% classified as low to moderate. Only 23 studies listed the Level of Evidence, and 8 were Level-I studies and 9 were Level-II studies. Studies with >15 randomized controlled trials were associated with higher PRISMA and Oxman-Guyatt Index scores. In 12 articles, we were unable to decipher the types of studies included. Only 39.4% of studies showed the risk of bias. Of the 24 studies identified as high quality per the PRISMA statement, 71% were determined to be either clinically unimportant or inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: The number of total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty meta-analyses has markedly increased over the past decades. The majority of published meta-analyses from 3 major orthopaedic journals were not performed in accordance with established PRISMA guidelines. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Many published meta-analyses are low to moderate quality, and clinicians should cautiously draw conclusions from poorly executed meta-analyses.