Hospital Length of Stay Independently Predicts Mortality in Patients Emergently Admitted for Esophageal Hemorrhage: Sex, Frailty, and Age as Additional Mortality Factors.

INTRODUCTION: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding results in greater than $7.6 billion of in-hospital economic burden in the United States yearly. With a worldwide incidence between 40-100/100,000 individuals and a mortality rate of approximately 2-10%, upper gastrointestinal bleeding represents a major source of mortality and morbidity. The goal of this study was to describe mortality risk factors in patients emergently admitted with esophageal hemorrhage, the second most common etiology of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients emergently admitted with esophageal hemorrhage between 2005-2014 were evaluated using the National Inpatient Sample database. Patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, and therapeutic trends were obtained. Relationships between morality and all other variables were determined via univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: In total, 4,607 patients were included, of which 2,045 (44.4%) were adults, 2,562 (55.6%) were elderly, 2,761 (59.9%) were males, and 1,846 (40.1%) were females. The average age of adult and elderly patients were 50.1 and 78.7 years, respectively. The multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed, for every additional day of hospitalization, the odds of mortality for nonoperatively treated adult and elderly patients increased by 7.5% (p=<0.001) and 6.6% (p=<0.001), respectively. Every additional year of age was associated with a 5.4% (p=0.012) increase in mortality odds for nonoperatively managed adult patients. Frailty increased the odds of mortality by 31.1% (p=0.009) in nonoperatively treated elderly patients. Undergoing invasive diagnostic procedures in conservatively treated adults reduced mortality significantly (odds ratio=0.400, p=0.021). Frailty, age, and hospital length of stay demonstrated no significant association with mortality in surgically managed adult and elderly patients. CONCLUSION: Nonoperatively managed patients emergently admitted for esophageal hemorrhage with longer hospital length of stay and higher modified frailty index exhibited higher odds of mortality. Invasive diagnostic procedures were negatively correlated with mortality in nonoperatively treated adult patients. Age is only associated with higher mortality rates in adults, while elderly patients revealed no association between age and mortality.

Age Increases the Risk of Mortality by Four-Fold in Patients with Emergent Paralytic Ileus: Hospital Length of Stay, Sex, Frailty, and Time to Operation as Other Risk Factors.

Background: In the United States, ileus accounts for USD 750 million of healthcare expenditures annually and significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality. Despite its significance, the complete picture of mortality risk factors for these patients have yet to be fully elucidated; therefore, the aim of this study is to identify mortality risk factors in patients emergently admitted with paralytic ileus. Methods: Adult and elderly patients emergently admitted with paralytic ileus between 2005−2014 were investigated using the National Inpatient Sample Database. Clinical outcomes, therapeutic management, demographics and comorbidities were collected. Associations between mortality and all other variables were established via univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: A total of 81,674 patients were included, of which 45.2% were adults, 54.8% elderly patients, 45.8% male and 54.2% female. The average adult and elderly ages were 48.3 and 78.8 years, respectively. Elderly patients displayed a significantly (p < 0.01) higher mortality rate (3.0%) than adults (0.7%). The final multivariable logistic regression model showed that for every one-day delay in operation, the odds of mortality for adult and elderly patients increased by 4.1% (p = 0.002) and 3.2% (p = 0.014), respectively. Every additional year of age corresponded to 3.8% and 2.6% increases in mortality for operatively managed adult (p = 0.026) and elderly (p = 0.015) patients. Similarly, non-operatively treated adult and elderly patients displayed associations between mortality and advanced age (p = 0.001). The modified frailty index exhibited associations with mortality in operatively treated adults, conservatively managed adults and conservatively managed elderly patients (p = 0.001). Every additional day of hospitalization increased the odds of mortality in non-operative adult and elderly patients by 7.6% and 5.8%, respectively. Female sex correlated to lower mortality rates in non-operatively managed adult patients (odds ratio = 0.71, p = 0.028). Undergoing invasive diagnostic procedures in non-operatively managed elderly patients related to reduced mortality (odds ratio = 0.78, p = 0.026). Conclusions: Patients emergently admitted for paralytic ileus with increased hospital length of stay, longer time to operation, advanced age or higher modified frailty index displayed higher mortality rates. Female sex and invasive diagnostic procedures were negatively correlated with death in nonoperatively managed patients with paralytic ileus.

Major Risk Factors for Mortality in Elderly and Non-Elderly Adult Patients Emergently Admitted for Blunt Chest Wall Trauma: Hospital Length of Stay as an Independent Predictor.

Background: Blunt thoracic trauma is responsible for 35% of trauma-related deaths in the United States and significantly contributes to morbidity and healthcare-related financial strain. The goal of this study was to evaluate factors influencing mortality in patients emergently admitted with the primary diagnosis of blunt chest wall trauma. Methods: Adults emergently admitted for blunt chest trauma were assessed using the National Inpatient Sample Database, 2004-2014. Data regarding demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were collected. Relationships were determined using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: In total, 1120 adult and 1038 elderly patients emergently admitted with blunt chest trauma were assessed; 46.3% were female, and 53.6% were male. The average ages of adult and elderly patients were 46.6 and 78.9 years, respectively. Elderly and adult patients both displayed mortality rates of 1%. The regression model showed HLOS and several comorbidities as the main risk factors of mortality Every additional day of hospitalization increased the odds of mortality by 9% (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.01-1.18, p = 0.033). Mortality and liver disease were significantly associated (OR = 8.36, 95% CI = 2.23-31.37, p = 0.002). Respiratory disease and mortality rates demonstrated robust correlations (OR = 7.46, 95% CI = 1.63-34.11, p = 0.010). Trauma, burns, and poisons were associated with increased mortality (OR = 3.72, 95% CI = 1.18-11.71, p = 0.025). The presence of platelet/white blood cell disease correlated to higher mortality. (OR = 4.42, 95% CI = 1.09-17.91, p = 0.038).

Pediatric Patients With Sickle Cell Disease at a Public Hospital: Nutrition, Compliance and Early Experience With L-Glutamine Therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hydration and hydroxyurea (HU) can modify sickle cell disease (SCD) severity. Optimal nutrition and L-glutamine (Gln) may provide further amelioration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Reviews of medical records and nutrition surveys were used to investigate severity of pediatric patients with SCD in relation to nutrition, growth, hematologic parameters, and diseasemodifying agents. RESULTS: Among 25 females and 25 males (9.1±7 years), beta-globin genotypes were: HbSS/Sß°, 60%; HbSC, 32%; HbSß+, 8%. The mean number of annual pain crises (APC) was 0.97±1.1. APCs increased ≥2-fold as HbF dropped to <10% with age. Proper hydration and nutrition correlated with younger ages and fewer APCs. Height and weight Z-scores were ≤-1SD in 20% of 35 surveyed patients (12±7.8 years), who had more APCs (2.5±2.5 vs. 1±1.3, p=0.03). Prealbumin levels were overall low. Twenty-two of 28 patients on HU reported ≥90% adherence - with higher mean corpuscular volume (92±9.6 vs. 74±10 f/l, p<0.01). Seventy percent of Gln prescriptions were filled. Compliance over 23 months was ≥70% in 12 patients, including 2 on chronic transfusion. Of 10 evaluable patients, 6 (8.8±2.2 years) had fewer APCs with Gln (mean 0.2 vs. 0.9, p=0.016), with increasing prealbumin levels (14.1 to 15.8 mg/dl, p=0.1). CONCLUSION: Younger, and well-nourished, well-hydrated patients have a milder clinic course. Disease severity was the worse in undernourished teenagers with suboptimal compliance. L-Glutamine with prealbumin monitoring should be considered for further evaluation in pediatric SCD.