Population-level analysis of antibiotic use and death rates in beef feedlots over ten years in three cattle-feeding regions of the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To assess antibiotic use and other factors associated with death rates in beef feedlots in 3 regions of the US over a 10-year period. SAMPLE: Data for 186,297 lots (groups) of finished cattle marketed between 2010 and 2019 were obtained from a database representing feedlots in the central, high, and north plains of the US. PROCEDURES: Descriptive statistics were generated. Generalized linear mixed models were used to estimate lot death rates for each region, sex (steer or heifer), and cattle origin (Mexico or the US) combination. Death rate was calculated as the (number of deaths/number of cattle placed in the lot) × 100. Lot antibiotic use (TotalActiveMG/KGOut) was calculated as the total milligrams of active antibiotics assigned to the lot per live weight (in kilograms) of cattle marketed from the lot. Rate ratios were calculated to evaluate the respective associations between lot death rate and characteristics of cattle and antibiotic use. RESULTS: Mean death rate increased during the 10-year period, peaking in 2018. Mean number of days on feed also increased over time. Mean TotalActiveMG/KGOut was greatest in 2014 and 2015, lowest in 2017, and moderated in 2018 and 2019. Death rate was positively associated with the number of days on feed and had a nonlinear association with TotalActiveMG/KGOut. Feeding medicated feed articles mitigated death rate. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested a balance between disease prevention and control in feedlots for cattle with various risk profiles. Additional data sources are needed to assess TotalActiveMG/KGOut across the cattle lifetime.

Lifestyle weight-loss intervention outcomes in overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

The majority of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese, and weight loss is a recommended treatment strategy. A systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to answer the following primary question: In overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes, what are the outcomes on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) from lifestyle weight-loss interventions resulting in weight losses greater than or less than 5% at 12 months? Secondary questions are: What are the lipid (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides) and blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) outcomes from lifestyle weight-loss interventions resulting in weight losses greater than or less than 5% at 12 months? And, what are the weight and metabolic outcomes from differing amounts of macronutrients in weight-loss interventions? Inclusion criteria included randomized clinical trial implementing weight-loss interventions in overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes, minimum 12-month study duration, a 70% completion rate, and an HbA1c value reported at 12 months. Eleven trials (eight compared two weight-loss interventions and three compared a weight-loss intervention group with a usual care/control group) with 6,754 participants met study criteria. At 12 months, 17 study groups (8 categories of weight-loss intervention) reported weight loss <5% of initial weight (-3.2 kg [95% CI: -5.9, -0.6]). A meta-analysis of the weight-loss interventions reported nonsignificant beneficial effects on HbA1c, lipids, or blood pressure. Two study groups reported a weight loss of ≥5%: a Mediterranean-style diet implemented in newly diagnosed adults with type 2 diabetes and an intensive lifestyle intervention implemented in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial. Both included regular physical activity and frequent contact with health professionals and reported significant beneficial effects on HbA1c, lipids, and blood pressure. Five trials (10 study groups) compared weight-loss interventions of differing amounts of macronutrients and reported nonsignificant differences in weight loss, HbA1c, lipids, and blood pressure. The majority of lifestyle weight-loss interventions in overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes resulted in weight loss <5% and did not result in beneficial metabolic outcomes. A weight loss of >5% appears necessary for beneficial effects on HbA1c, lipids, and blood pressure. Achieving this level of weight loss requires intense interventions, including energy restriction, regular physical activity, and frequent contact with health professionals. Weight loss for many overweight or obese individuals with type 2 diabetes might not be a realistic primary treatment strategy for improved glycemic control. Nutrition therapy for individuals with type 2 diabetes should encourage a healthful eating pattern, a reduced energy intake, regular physical activity, education, and support as primary treatment strategies.

Increasing percutaneous coronary interventions for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in the United States: progress and opportunity.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to quantify changes in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and mortality rates for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and the proportion of hospitals providing STEMI-related PCI in the United States. BACKGROUND: Health care systems have recently emphasized rapid access to PCI for STEMI, but the effects of these efforts in a broad population are unknown. METHODS: We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a discharge database representative of all short-term, nonfederal hospitals in the United States. STEMI discharges were included based on primary discharge diagnosis. We calculated the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of PCI and in-hospital death over time and the changing proportion of hospitals providing STEMI-related PCI. RESULTS: From 2003 to 2011, STEMI accounted for 380,254 hospital discharges. The rate of PCI increased from 53.6% to 80.0% with an adjusted OR of 4.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.71 to 4.66) in 2011 compared with 2003. The proportion of hospitals providing STEMI-related PCI increased from 25.1% in 2003 to 33.7% in 2011. In-hospital death rates ranged from 7.2% to 9.5%, with the lowest rate in 2009. The OR of death decreased from 2003 to 2011 (adjusted OR: 0.79 in 2011 compared with 2003; 95% CI: 0.74 to 0.84). After accounting for PCI, the OR of in-hospital death did not change between 2003 and 2011 (adjusted OR: 1.01 in 2011 compared with 2003; 95% CI: 0.95 to 1.07). CONCLUSIONS: PCI rates and hospitals providing STEMI-related PCI increased from 2003 to 2011, whereas in-hospital death rates decreased. PCI was an important mediator of decreasing mortality in this nationally representative sample.

Incidence and causes of sudden death in U.S. college athletes.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to reliably define the incidence and causes of sudden death in college student-athletes. BACKGROUND: The frequency with which cardiovascular-related sudden death occurs in competitive athletes importantly influences considerations for pre-participation screening strategies. METHODS: We assessed databases (including autopsy reports) from both the U.S. National Registry of Sudden Death in Athletes and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (2002 to 2011). RESULTS: Over the 10-year study period, 182 sudden deaths occurred (age 20 ± 1.7 years; 85% male; 64% white), 52 resulting from suicide (n = 31) or drug abuse (n = 21) and 64 probably or likely attributable to cardiovascular causes (6/year). Of these 64 athletes, 47 had a confirmed post-mortem diagnosis; the most common were hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 21 and congenital coronary anomalies in 8. The 4,052,369 athlete participations (in 30 sports over 10 years) incurred mortality risks as follows: suicide and drugs combined, 1.3/100,000 athlete participation-years (5 deaths/year); and documented cardiovascular disease, 1.2/100,000 athlete participation-years (4 deaths/year). Notably, cardiovascular deaths were 5-fold more common in African-American athletes than in white athletes (3.8 vs. 0.7/100,000 athlete participation-years; p < 0.01) but did not differ from the general population of the same age and race (p = 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: In college student-athletes, risk of sudden death due to cardiovascular disease is relatively low, with mortality rates similar to suicide and drug abuse, but less than expected in the general population, although highest in African-American athletes. A substantial minority of confirmed cardiovascular deaths would not likely have been reliably detected by pre-participation screening with 12-lead electrocardiograms.

ST-elevation myocardial infarction diagnosed after hospital admission.

BACKGROUND: Treatment times for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients presenting to percutaneous coronary intervention hospitals have improved dramatically over the past 10 years, particularly for patients using emergency medical services. Limited data exist regarding treatment times and outcomes for patients who develop STEMI after hospital admission. METHODS AND RESULTS: With the use of a comprehensive prospective regional STEMI program database, we evaluated the characteristics and outcomes for patients who develop STEMI after hospital admission. Of the 3795 consecutive STEMI patients treated by the use of the Minneapolis Heart Institute regional STEMI program from March 2003 to January 2013, 990 (26.1%) presented initially to the percutaneous coronary intervention facility, including 640 arriving via emergency medical services, 267 self/family driven, and 83 already admitted to the hospital. Patients with in-hospital presentation were older with higher body mass indexes, were more likely to have hypertension, and to present with pre-percutaneous coronary intervention cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock. Door-to-balloon times (diagnostic ECG-to-balloon for in-hospital patients) were longer than for patients using emergency medical services (76 versus 51 minutes; P<0.001), but similar to self/family-driven patients (76 versus 66 minutes; P=0.13). In-hospital patients had longer lengths of stay (5 versus 3 versus 3 days; P<0.001) and higher 1-year mortality (16.9% versus 10.3% versus 7.1%; P=0.032). These patients frequently had high-risk and complex reasons for admission, including 30.1% with acute coronary syndrome, 22.9% postsurgery, 13.3% respiratory failure, and 8.4% ventricular fibrillation. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who develop STEMI while in-hospital represent a unique, high-risk subset of patients. They have increased treatment time and lengths of stay and higher mortality rates than the patients presenting via emergency medical services or who are self/family driven.

Non-sedated, free breathing cardiac CT for evaluation of complex congenital heart disease in neonates.

BACKGROUND: Neonates with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk of adverse events from anesthesia. CT angiography (CTA) performed free breathing and without sedation has not been reported for evaluation of complex CHD in neonates. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to evaluate the image quality and risk of free breathing, non-sedated cardiac CTA for definition of CHD in the neonatal period and to determine accuracy compared with interventional findings. METHODS: This is a combined retrospective-prospective single institution review of all non-sedated, free breathing cardiac CT angiograms performed in patients <1 month of age with complex CHD. Diagnosis, scan acquisition parameters, image quality (1- to 4-point scale), adverse events, radiation dose estimates, and accuracy compared with operative and interventional catheterization findings were recorded. Results are reported as median and interquartile range. RESULTS: Nineteen non-sedated, free breathing, neonatal cardiac CT angiograms were performed during the time of review. All studies were diagnostic with a mean image quality score of 1.1 ± 0.3. Median total procedural dose-length product was 11 (range, 10-14), CT dose index volume was 0.47 (range, 0.31-0.5). Median unadjusted radiation dose was 0.15 mSv (range, 0.14-0.2 mSv), age- and size-adjusted radiation dose was 0.86 mSv (range, 0.78-1.1 mSv). No adverse events and no discrepancies compared with surgical or catheterization findings were found in the 17 of 19 patients that had subsequent intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac CTA can be performed in the neonatal period free breathing and without sedation. Image quality is excellent, and there is high accuracy compared with surgical and catheterization findings at the time of intervention.

Cardiovascular imaging trends in congenital heart disease: a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT are available in the recent era at many pediatric cardiac centers. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to provide a contemporary description of diagnostic imaging trends for definition of congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, cardiac MRI, and cardiac CT use in patients with congenital heart disease at a single institution was retrospectively recorded (2005-2012). Surgical procedures were recorded. Total and modality-specific rates were estimated by Poisson regression and compared. The median age, studies in patients aged >17 years, and referral diagnosis were tabulated for the last year of review. RESULTS: An average of 11,940 cardiovascular diagnostic tests was performed annually. The number of total studies, echocardiograms, catheterizations, and surgical procedures, did not change significantly across time. Echocardiography comprised 95% to 97% of all studies performed during each year of review. The use of cardiac MRI (2%) and cardiac CT (1%) increased linearly (P < .001), and the use of diagnostic catheterization decreased (0.7%; P = .0005). The median age was 3 years for echocardiography, 15 years for MRI, 11 years for CT, and 3 years for catheterization. The percentage of patients aged >17 years was 9% for echocardiography, 33% for cardiac MRI, 29% for cardiac CT, and 8% for catheterization. Most patients undergoing CT, MRI, and diagnostic catheterization had moderate or complex CHD. CONCLUSION: Cardiac CT is used increasingly in the recent era for evaluation of CHD. The increased use of both cardiac CT and cardiac MRI are temporally associated with a decrease in diagnostic cardiac catheterization.

Comparison of functional recovery following percutaneous coronary intervention for ST elevation myocardial infarction in three age groups (<70, 70 to 79, and ≥80 years).

Functional outcomes of elderly patients ≥80 years who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are unknown. Registry data indicate that up to 55% of elderly patients with STEMI do not receive reperfusion therapy despite a suggested mortality benefit, and only limited data are available regarding outcomes in elderly patients treated with primary PCI. Therefore, prospective data from a regional STEMI transfer program were analyzed to determine major adverse cardiac events, length of stay, and discharge status of consecutive patients with STEMI ≥80 years from March 2003 to November 2006. Of the 1,323 consecutive patients with STEMI treated in this regional STEMI system from March 2003 to November 2006, 199 (15.0%) were ≥80 years old. In-hospital mortality in elderly patients was 11.6%, with a 1-year mortality rate of 25.6%. Of the 166 patients with age ≥80 who lived independently or in assisted living before hospital admission and survived, 150 (90.4%) were discharged to a similar living situation or projected to such a living situation after temporary nursing home care. The median length of hospital stay was 4 days for these patients. In conclusion, elderly patients with age ≥80 receiving PCI for STEMI in a regional STEMI program have short hospital stays and excellent functional recovery on the basis of a very high rate of return to a similar previous living situation.

Incidence of cardiovascular sudden deaths in Minnesota high school athletes.

BACKGROUND: Sudden death (SD) in young competitive athletes due to cardiovascular disease is an important community issue with relevance to designing effective screening initiatives. However, the frequency with which these tragic events occur importantly affects considerations for selecting the most appropriate screening strategy. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and causes of cardiovascular SDs in Minnesota high school athletes. METHODS: The forensic case records of the US National Registry of Sudden Death in Athletes were interrogated to identify those events judged to be cardiovascular in origin, occurring in organized competitive interscholastic sports participants. RESULTS: Over the 26-year period, 1986-2011, 13 SDs occurred in high school student-athletes related to physical exertion, during competition (n = 7) or at practice (n = 6). Ages were 12-18 years (median 16 years); each was a white man. Most common sports involved were basketball, wrestling, or cross-country running. Forensic examination found cardiac causes in 7: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (in 2), anomalous coronary artery (2), myocarditis (1), aortic stenosis (1), and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (1); 4 had structurally normal hearts (with negative toxicity). There were 4,440,161 sports participations, including 1,930,504 individual participants among 24 sports. SD risk was 1:341,551 participations and 148,500 participants/academic year (0.7/100,000 person-years). In only 4 (31%) athletes could the responsible cardiovascular diseases have been reliably detected by screening with history/physical examination or 12-lead electrocardiogram, equivalent to 1:1,000,000 participations (2:1,000,000 participants/year). CONCLUSIONS: In this high school athlete population, risk of cardiovascular SD was small, in the range of 1:150,000 participants/year. Based on autopsy data, only about 30% of the SDs were due to diseases that could be reliably detected by preparticipation screening, even with 12-lead electrocardiograms.

Outcome of performance-based removal and replacement decisions in commercial swine herds.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success of removal and replacement decisions in commercial swine herds when sow removal was attributed to problems with fertility, fecundity, or old age. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. ANIMALS: 3,000 sows removed from 3 commercial swine herds (case sows), 3,000 matched control sows retained in the herds, and 3,000 replacement gilts. PROCEDURES: Control sows were included to generate an estimate of reproductive performance that could have been expected had case sows been retained in the herds. Control sows and replacement gilts were followed up until the next farrowing or until removed from the herd, and reproductive performance, calculated as number of pigs born alive per mated female per year, was compared between groups. RESULTS: In 2 of the 3 herds, reproductive performance was significantly higher for replacement gilts than for control sows matched with case sows removed for reasons of fertility, and in all 3 herds, reproductive performance was significantly higher for replacement gilts than for control sows matched with case sows removed for reasons of fecundity. In the 2 herds with case sows removed because of age, reproductive performance did not differ significantly between replacement gilts and control sows. The odds of greater performance among replacement gilts relative to control sows ranged from 1.305 to 1.955 for removals attributed to fertility, 1.305 to 1.955 for removals attributed to fecundity, and 1.000 to 3.999 for removals attributed to age. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that performance-based removal and replacement programs in commercial swine herds may not yield the anticipated results.