Epidemiology and Economic Burden of Acute Infectious Gastroenteritis Among Adults Treated in Outpatient Settings in US Health Systems.

INTRODUCTION: Acute infectious gastroenteritis (AGE) is a common reason for outpatient visits and hospitalizations in the United States. This study aimed to understand the demographic and clinical characteristics, common pathogens detected, health care resource utilization (HRU), and cost among adult outpatients with AGE visiting US health systems. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using one of the largest hospital discharge databases (PINC AI Healthcare Database) in the United States. Adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with a principal diagnosis of AGE during an outpatient visit between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2021, were included. Pathogen detection analysis was performed in those with microbiology data available. RESULTS: Among 248,896 patients, the mean age was 44.3 years (range 18-89+ years), 62.9% were female, and 68.5% were White. More than half (62.0%) of the patients did not have any preexisting comorbidity, and only 18.3% underwent stool workup at the hospital. Most patients (84.7%) were seen in the emergency department, and most (96.4%) were discharged home. Within 30 days of discharge, 1.0% were hospitalized, and 2.8% had another outpatient visit due to AGE. The mean cost of the index visit plus 30-day AGE-related follow-up was $1,338 per patient, amounting to $333,060,182 for the total study population. Among patients with microbiology data available (n = 12,469), common pathogens detected were Clostridioides difficile (32.2%), norovirus (6.3%), and Campylobacter spp. (4.0%). DISCUSSION: AGE is a common and costly disease affecting adults of all ages and more females than males, including individuals with or without baseline conditions in a hospital-based outpatient setting. C. difficile was the most common pathogen detected.

Relationship between Diagnostic Method and Pathogen Detection, Healthcare Resource Use, and Cost in U.S. Adult Outpatients Treated for Acute Infectious Gastroenteritis.

A retrospective observational study was performed to assess the relationship between diagnostic method (traditional work-up [TW], multiplex PCR panel with < 12 target pathogens [PCR < 12], or multiplex PCR panel with ≥ 12 target pathogens [PCR12]), and diagnostic yield, health care resource use (HRU), and cost in adult outpatients visiting U.S. hospitals for acute infectious gastroenteritis (AGE). Using data from PINC AI Healthcare Database during January 1, 2016-June 30, 2021, we analyzed adult patients with an AGE diagnosis and stool testing performed during an outpatient visit. Detection rates for different pathogens were analyzed for those with microbiology data available. Among 36,787 patients, TW was most often performed (57.0%). PCR12 testing was more frequent in patients from large, urban, and teaching hospitals, compared to TW (all P < 0.01). PCR12 was associated with a higher mean index visit cost (by $97) but lower mean 30-day AGE-related follow-up cost (by $117) than TW. Patients with PCR12 had a lower 30-day AGE-related hospitalization risk than TW (1.7% versus 2.7% P < 0.01). Among the 8,451 patients with microbiology data, PCR12 was associated with fewer stool tests per patient (mean 1.61 versus 1.26), faster turnaround time (mean 6.3 versus 25.7 h) and lower likelihood of receiving in-hospital antibiotics (39.4% versus 47.1%, all P < 0.01) than TW. A higher percentage of patients with PCR12 had a target pathogen detected (73.1%) compared to PCR < 12 (63.6%) or TW (45.4%, P < 0.01). Thus, we found that large multiplex PCR panels were associated with lower 30-day AGE-related follow-up cost and risk of AGE-related hospitalization, and increased diagnostic yield compared to TW.

In-hospital mortality, length of stay, and hospitalization cost of COVID-19 patients with and without hyperkalemia.

BACKGROUND: Hyperkalemia (HK) may be associated with poor clinical outcomes among COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of HK and evaluate the associations between HK and in-hospital mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, length of hospital stay (LOS), and hospitalization cost among COVID-19 inpatients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a large hospital discharge database (PINC AI Healthcare Database) for COVID-19 inpatients discharged between April 1 and August 31, 2020. HK was defined with discharge diagnosis and potassium binder use. RESULTS: Of 192,182 COVID-19 inpatients, 12% (n = 22,702) had HK. HK patients were more likely to be older (median age 67 vs 63 years), male (63% vs 50%), black (30% vs 22%), and have a history of chronic kidney disease (45% vs 16%) or diabetes mellitus (55% vs 35%) than non-HK patients (all p<.001). A significantly higher proportion of patients with HK had in-hospital mortality (42% vs 11%, p<.001) than those without HK; this was persistent after adjusting for confounders (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI]1.62-1.77). Patients with HK were also more likely to be admitted to ICU (aOR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09), incur higher cost of care (adjusted mean difference $5,389) and have longer LOS (adjusted mean difference 1.3 days) than non-HK patients. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of HK was independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality, LOS, and cost of care among COVID-19 inpatients. Detecting and closely monitoring HK are recommended to improve clinical outcomes and reduce LOS and healthcare cost among COVID-19 patients.

Healthcare Resource Utilization of Patients With COVID-19 Visiting US Hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: Severe cases of COVID-19 have overwhelmed hospital systems across the nation. This study aimed to describe the healthcare resource utilization of patients with COVID-19 from hospital visit to 30 days after discharge for inpatients and hospital-based outpatients in the United States. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Premier Healthcare Database COVID-19 Special Release, a large geographically diverse all-payer hospital administrative database. Adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) were identified by their first, or "index," visit between April 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021, with a principal or secondary discharge diagnosis of COVID-19. RESULTS: Of 1 454 780 adult patients with COVID-19, 33% (n = 481 216) were inpatients and 67% (n = 973 564) were outpatients. Among inpatients, mean age was 64.4 years and comorbidities were common. Most patients (80%) originated from home, 10% from another acute care facility, and 95% were admitted through the emergency department. Of these patients, 23% (n = 108 120) were admitted to intensive care unit and 14% (n = 66 706) died during index hospitalization; 44% were discharged home, 15% to nursing or rehabilitation facility, and 12% to home health. Among outpatients, mean age was 48.8 years, 44% were male, and 60% were emergency department outpatients (n = 586 537). During index outpatient visit, 79% were sent home but 10% had another outpatient visit and 4% were hospitalized within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 is associated with high level of healthcare resource utilization and in-hospital mortality. More than one-third of inpatients required post hospital healthcare services. Such information may help healthcare providers better allocate resources for patients with COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Cytomegalovirus infection and associated hospitalization and costs among individuals undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Objective: This study utilized a large, national US database to explore the impact of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on hospital services utilization and costs during the first 100 days following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT).Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort study used data from the Premier Healthcare database to identify patients undergoing their first (index) allo-HSCT procedure between 1 January 2006 and 31 March 2015. Three subgroups were analyzed according to CMV-related readmissions during the 100-day follow-up (0, 1, or 2+ readmissions) to compare healthcare utilization and costs.Results: A total of 1610 patients (mean age, 50.5 years; 56.9% male) from 52 US hospitals met the inclusion criteria. During follow-up, 212 (13.2%) patients had 1 (n = 161; 10.0%) or 2+ (n = 51; 3.2%) CMV-related readmissions. The mean ± SD number of all follow-up encounters (inpatient admissions and hospital-based outpatient visits) was similar for the no CMV (3.9 ± 3.9), 1 CMV (3.7 ± 3.9), and 2+ CMV (4.5 ± 3.8) readmission groups (p = .439). Mean total costs of hospital-based healthcare encounters (inpatient admissions and hospital-based outpatient visits) during follow-up were significantly greater in patients who had a CMV readmission ($111,729 [1 CMV readmission]; $184,021 [2+ CMV readmissions]) compared to those without a CMV readmission ($46,064; p < .001]. 100-day follow-up mortality was higher in the CMV vs. non-CMV readmission groups (30.2 vs. 8.2%; p < .001).Conclusions: This large, national database study revealed significantly higher healthcare utilization and costs, as well as mortality, among patients with CMV-related re-hospitalization during the first 100 days post-transplant as compared to patients without CMV-related hospitalization.

Impact of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea on acute care length of stay, hospital costs, and readmission: A multicenter retrospective study of inpatients, 2009-2011.

BACKGROUND: The recent epidemiologic changes of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) have resulted in substantial economic burden to U.S. acute care hospitals. Past studies evaluating CDAD-attributable costs have been geographically and demographically limited. Here, we describe CDAD-attributable burden in inpatients, overall, and in vulnerable subpopulations from the Premier hospital database, a large, diverse cohort with a wide range of high-risk subgroups. METHODS: Discharges from the Premier database were retrospectively analyzed to assess length of stay (LOS), total inpatient costs, readmission, and inpatient mortality. RESULTS: Patients with CDAD had significantly worse outcomes than matched controls in terms of total LOS, rates of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and inpatient mortality. After adjustment for risk factors, patients with CDAD had increased odds of inpatient mortality, total and ICU LOS, costs, and odds of 30-, 60- and 90-day all-cause readmission versus non-CDAD patients. CDAD-attributable costs were higher in all studied vulnerable subpopulations, which also had increased odds of 30-, 60- and 90-day all-cause readmission than those without CDAD. CONCLUSION: Given the significant economic impact CDAD has on hospitals, prevention of initial episodes and targeted therapy to prevent recurrences in vulnerable patients are essential to decrease the overall burden to hospitals.

The costs of fluid overload in the adult intensive care unit: is a small-volume infusion model a proactive solution?

PURPOSE: Fluid overload (FO) in critically ill patients remains a challenging clinical dilemma, and many continuous intravenous (IV) medications in the US are being delivered as a dilute solution, adding significantly to a patient's daily intake. This study describes the costs and outcomes of FO in patients receiving multiple continuous infusions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using a hospital administrative database covering >500 US hospitals. An FO cohort included adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients with a central line receiving IV loop diuretics and 2+ continuous IV infusions on 50%+ of their ICU days; a directly matched non-FO cohort included patients without IV diuretic use. The primary outcome of the study was total hospitalization costs per visit. Additional outcomes were ICU costs, mortality, total and ICU length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission rates, and ventilator use. Unadjusted descriptive analysis was performed using chi-squared or paired t-tests to compare outcomes between the two cohorts. RESULTS: A total of 63,974 patients were identified in each cohort. The total hospitalization cost per visit for the FO cohort was US$15,344 higher than the non-FO cohort (US$42,386 vs US$27,042), and the ICU cost for the FO cohort was US$5,243 higher than the non-FO cohort (US$10,902 vs US$5,659). FO patients had higher mortality (20% vs 16.8%), prolonged LOS (11.5 vs 8.0 days), longer ICU LOS (6.2 vs 3.6 days), higher risk of 30-day readmission (21.8% vs 21.3%), and ventilator usage (47.7% vs 28.3%) than the non-FO cohort (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients receiving multiple continuous infusions, FO is associated with increased health care resources and costs. Maximally concentrating medications and proactively providing continuous medications in small-volume infusions (SVI) could be a potential solution to prevent iatrogenic FO in critically ill patients. Further prospective research is warranted to assess the impact of the SVI dispensing model on patient outcomes and health care costs.

Abortion on demand in France? a five-year trial for the "time limit solution"

PIP: France's Assemblee Nationale and Senate passed a "time-limit solution" abortion law on December 20, 1974. Abortion is permitted on demand by a physician in a hospital during the 1st 10 weeks of pregnancy. The tone of the law stresses the concept of respect for life and suggests the undesirability of abortion. The developing child is recognized as a human being whose life has begun. The woman herself is responsible for her distress is sufficient to warrant abortion. Further provisions insure that the woman is as well-informed as possible concerning medical risks and possibilities of adoption and requires consultation with an information, consultation, or family counseling service, family planning center, or other social service organization. French scientists, physicians, magistrates, and religious leaders opposed the permissive law. The victory of the proabortionists was created by the political decision of the Socialists and Communists to impose party discipline and to require a unanimous vote for liberalization.^ieng

Abortion: rights or technicalities? A comparison of Roe v. Wade with the abortion decision of the German Federal Constitutional Court.

PIP: A comparison of the difference in approach, philosophy, and percepti on of social implications of abortion in the United States and Germany is examined by contrasting the Roe v. Wade decision of the U.S. Supreme Court with the abortion decision of the German Federal Constitutional Court. Roe v. Wade effectively established abortion on demand prior to "viability" (approximately 6 months) and makes it difficult to prevent it for any reason at any time prior to live birth. When the West German Federal Diet passed the Fifth Law for the Reform of the Penal Code which allowed abortion on request up to 12 weeks of conception and for reasons of maternal health up to 22 weeks, the Constitutional Court declared it null and void 8 months later. The 2 courts reached their decisions for quite different reasons. In the U.S. "Jane Roe" was a real, though anonymous, woman. Other real persons had been trying to overturn abortion statutues in various states. The German court acted on a petition brought by 193 members of the Federal Diet and 4 of the states. It was thus, under the German system, obligated to decide the constitutionality of the revisions in abortion legislation and the decision returned the question to the legislative body. The fundamental difference between the German and the American approach is the "right to life." In America the conflict is between the mother's "right to privacy" and the compelling interest of the state to protect the right to life. At no point does the U.S. Supreme Court consider whether the unborn has rights but only whether they constitute a value the protection of which is a legitimate state interest. In Germany, by contrast, the Federal Constitution explicitly establishes the right to life as a subjective human right; the state not only has no right to take life but acknowledges that this right belongs to the human being himself. The U.S. court reasoned that the unborn have been protected "only" for the last century while the German court stated the right has "already" been recognized for a century. The U.S. Court made no mention of the wider social implications of the decision except for a few brief references; the German court's major consideration was the social implication of the law. An appendix with 6 refs. give a translation of the German court's decision.^ieng