Obesity and alcoholic etiology as risk factors for multisystem organ failure in acute pancreatitis: Multinational study.

BACKGROUND: Multisystem organ failure (MSOF) is the most important determinant of mortality in acute pancreatitis (AP). Obesity and alcoholic etiology have been examined as potential risk factors for MSOF, but prior studies have not adequately elucidated their independent effects on the risk of MSOF. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the adjusted effects of body mass index (BMI) and alcoholic etiology on the risk of MSOF in subjects with AP. METHODS: A prospective observational study of 22 centers from 10 countries was conducted. Patients admitted to an APPRENTICE consortium center with AP between August 2015 and January 2018 were enrolled. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted effects of BMI, etiology, and other relevant covariates on the risk of MSOF. Models were stratified by sex. RESULTS: Among 1544 AP subjects, there was a sex-dependent association between BMI and the risk of MSOF. Increasing BMI was associated with increased odds of MSOF in males (OR 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.15) but not in females (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.90-1.1). Male subjects with AP, whose BMIs were 30-34 and >35 kg/m2 , had odds ratios of 3.78 (95% CI 1.62-8.83) and 3.44 (95% CI 1.08-9.99), respectively. In females, neither higher grades of obesity nor increasing age increased the risk of MSOF. Alcoholic etiology was independently associated with increased odds of MSOF compared with non-alcohol etiologies (OR 4.17, 95% CI 2.16-8.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with alcoholic etiology and obese men (but not women) are at substantially increased risk of MSOF in AP.

Use of Continuous Glucose Monitor in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients Requiring Insulin Infusion: An Observational Study.

CONTEXT: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created a need for remote blood glucose (BG) monitoring in the intensive care unit (ICU). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate feasibility and patient safety of a hybrid monitoring strategy of point-of-care (POC) BG plus continuous glucose monitor (CGM) in the ICU. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: ICU of an academic medical center. PATIENTS: Patients with COVID-19 on IV insulin. INTERVENTION: After meeting initial validation criteria, CGM was used for IV insulin titration and POC BG was performed every 6 hours or as needed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes included frequency of POC BG, workflow, safety, and accuracy measures. RESULTS: The study included 19 patients, 18 with CGM data, mean age 58 years, 89% on mechanical ventilation, 37% on vasopressors, and 42% on dialysis. The median time to CGM validation was 137 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] 114-206). During IV insulin, the median number of POC values was 7 (IQR 6-16) on day 1, and declined slightly thereafter (71% reduction compared with standard of 24/day). The median number of CGM values used nonadjunctively to titrate IV insulin was 11.5 (IQR 0, 15) on day 1 and increased thereafter. Time in range 70 to 180 mg/dL was 64 ± 23% on day 1 and 72 ± 16% on days 2 through 7, whereas time <70 mg/dL was 1.5 ± 4.1% on day 1 and <1% on days 2 through 7. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides data to support that CGM using a hybrid protocol is feasible, accurate, safe, and has potential to reduce nursing and staff workload.

Changes in colorectal cancer knowledge and screening intention among Ohio African American and Appalachian participants: The screen to save initiative.

African Americans and Appalachians experience greater incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer due to factors, such as reduced prevalence of screening. An educational session (the Screen to Save Initiative) was conducted to increase intent to screen for colorectal cancer among African Americans and Appalachians in Ohio. Using a community-based approach, from April to September 2017, 85 eligible participants were recruited in Franklin County and Appalachia Ohio. Participants completed a knowledge assessment on colorectal cancer before and after participating in either an educational PowerPoint session or a guided tour through an Inflatable Colon. Logistic regression models were used to determine what factors were associated with changes in colorectal cancer knowledge and intent to screen for colorectal cancer. The majority (71.79%) of participants gained knowledge about colorectal cancer after the intervention. Multivariate results showed that race (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.11-0.80 for African Americans versus White participants) and intervention type (OR = 5.97; 95% CI: 1.94-18.43 for PowerPoint versus Inflatable Colon) were associated with a change in knowledge. The association between education and intent to screen was marginally statistically significant (OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.16-1.13 for college graduate versus not a college graduate). A change in colorectal cancer knowledge was not associated with intent to screen. Future educational interventions should be modified to increase intent to screen and screening for colorectal cancer. Further research with these modified interventions should aim to reduce disparities in CRC among underserved populations while listening to the voices of the communities.