Heat exposure and hospitalizations for chronic kidney disease in China: a nationwide time series study in 261 major Chinese cities

Background:Climate change profoundly shapes the population health at the global scale.However,there was still insufficient and inconsistent evidence for the association between heat exposure and chronic kidney disease(CKD).Methods:In the present study,we studied the association of heat exposure with hospitalizations for cause-specific CKD using a national inpatient database in China during the study period of hot season from 2015 to 2018.Standard time-series regression models and random-effects Meta-analysis were developed to estimate the city-specific and national averaged associations at a 7 lag-day span,respectively.Results:A total of 768,129 hospitalizations for CKD was recorded during the study period.The results showed that higher temperature was associated with elevated risk of hospitalizations for CKD,especially in sub-tropical cities.With a 1℃ increase in daily mean temperature,the cumulative relative risks(RR)over lag 0-7 d were 1.008[95% confidence interval(CI)1.003-1.012]for nationwide.The attributable fraction of CKD hospitalizations due to high temperatures was 5.50%.Stronger associations were observed among younger patients and those with obstructive nephropathy.Our study also found that exposure to heatwaves was associated with added risk of hospitalizations for CKD compared to non-heatwave days(RR=1.116,95%CI 1.069-1.166)above the effect of daily mean temperature.Conclusions:Short-term heat exposure may increase the risk of hospitalization for CKD.Our findings provide insights into the health effects of climate change and suggest the necessity of guided protection strategies against the adverse effects of high temperatures.

Prediction model establishment and validation for enteral nutrition aspiration during hospitalization in patients with acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a disease caused by abnormal activation of pancreatic enzymes and can lead to self-digestion of pancreatic tissues and dysfunction of other organs.Enteral nutrition plays a vital role in the treatment of AP because it can meet the nutritional needs of patients,promote the recovery of intestinal function,and maintain the barrier and immune functions of the intestine.However,the risk of aspiration during enteral nutrition is high;once aspiration occurs,it may cause serious complications,such as aspiration pneumonia,and suffocation,posing a threat to the patient’s life.This study aims to establish and validate a prediction model for enteral nutrition aspiration during hospitalization in patients with AP.AIM To establish and validate a predictive model for enteral nutrition aspiration during hospitalization in patients with AP.METHODS A retrospective review was conducted on 200 patients with AP admitted to Chengdu Shangjin Nanfu Hospital,West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2020 to February 2024.Clinical data were collected from the electronic medical record system.Patients were randomly divided into a validation group(n=40)and a modeling group(n=160)in a 1:4 ratio,matched with 200 patients from the same time period.The modeling group was further categorized into an aspiration group(n=25)and a non-aspiration group(n=175)based on the occurrence of enteral nutrition aspiration during hospitalization.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors influencing enteral nutrition aspiration in patients with AP during hospitalization.A prediction model for enteral nutrition aspiration during hospitalization was constructed,and calibration curves were used for validation.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was conducted to evaluate the predictive value of the model.RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference in general data between the validation and modeling groups(P>0.05).The comparison of age,gender,body mass index,smoking history,hypertension history,and diabetes history showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).However,patient position,consciousness status,nutritional risk,Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation(APACHE-II)score,and length of nasogastric tube placement showed statistically significant differences(P<0.05)between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patient position,consciousness status,nutritional risk,APACHE-II score,and length of nasogastric tube placement were independent factors influencing enteral nutrition aspiration in patients with AP during hospitalization(P<0.05).These factors were incorporated into the prediction model,which showed good consistency between the predicted and actual risks,as indicated by calibration curves with slopes close to 1 in the training and validation sets.Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.926(95%CI:0.8889-0.9675)in the training set.The optimal cutoff value is 0.73,with a sensitivity of 88.4 and specificity of 85.2.In the validation set,the AUC of the model for predicting enteral nutrition aspiration in patients with AP patients during hospitalization was 0.902,with a standard error of 0.040(95%CI:0.8284-0.9858),and the best cutoff value was 0.73,with a sensitivity of 91.9 and specificity of 81.8.CONCLUSION A prediction model for enteral nutrition aspiration during hospitalization in patients with AP was established and demonstrated high predictive value.Further clinical application of the model is warranted.

Impact of COVID-19 on liver transplant recipients: A nationwide cohort study evaluating hospitalization, transplant rejection, and inpatient mortality

BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has posed a major public health concern worldwide.Patients with comorbid conditions are at risk of adverse outcomes following COVID-19.Solid organ transplant recipients with concurrent immunosuppression and comorbidities are more susceptible to a severe COVID-19 infection.It could lead to higher rates of inpatient complications and mortality in this patient population.However,studies on COVID-19 outcomes in liver transplant(LT)recipients have yielded inconsistent findings.AIM To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital-related outcomes among LT recipients in the United States.METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the 2019–2020 National Inpatient Sample database.Patients with primary LT hospitalizations and a secondary COVID-19 diagnosis were identified using the International Classi-fication of Diseases,Tenth Revision coding system.The primary outcomes included trends in LT hospitalizations before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Secondary outcomes included comparative trends in inpatient mortality and transplant rejection in LT recipients.RESULTS A total of 15720 hospitalized LT recipients were included.Approximately 0.8% of patients had a secondary diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.In both cohorts,the median admission age was 57 years.The linear trends for LT hospitalizations did not differ significantly before and during the pandemic(P=0.84).The frequency of in-hospital mortality for LT recipients increased from 1.7% to 4.4% between January 2019 and December 2020.Compared to the pre-pandemic period,a higher association was noted between LT recipients and in-hospital mortality during the pandemic,with an odds ratio(OR)of 1.69[95% confidence interval(CI):1.55-1.84),P<0.001].The frequency of transplant rejections among hospitalized LT recipients increased from 0.2%to 3.6% between January 2019 and December 2020.LT hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic had a higher association with transplant rejection than before the pandemic[OR:1.53(95%CI:1.26-1.85),P<0.001].CONCLUSION The hospitalization rates for LT recipients were comparable before and during the pandemic.Inpatient mortality and transplant rejection rates for hospitalized LT recipients were increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease on COVID-19 hospitalizations:A propensity-matched analysis of the United States

BACKGROUND Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD),formally known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,is the most common chronic liver disease in the United States.Patients with MASLD have been reported to be at a higher risk of developing severe coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)and death.However,most studies are single-center studies,and nationwide data in the AIM To study the influence of MASLD on COVID-19 hospitalizations during the initial phase of the pandemic.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the 2020 National Inpatient Sample(NIS)database to identify primary COVID-19 hospitalizations based on an underlying diagnosis of MASLD.A matched comparison cohort of COVID-19 hospit-alizations without MASLD was identified from NIS after 1:N propensity score matching based on gender,race,and comorbidities,including hypertension,heart failure,diabetes,and cirrhosis.The primary outcomes included inpatient mortality,length of stay,and hospitalization costs.Secondary outcomes included the prevalence of systemic complications.RESULTS A total of 2210 hospitalizations with MASLD were matched to 2210 hospitalizations without MASLD,with a good comorbidity balance.Overall,there was a higher prevalence of severe disease with more intensive care unit admissions(9.5%vs 7.2%,P=0.007),mechanical ventilation(7.2%vs 5.7%,P=0.03),and septic shock(5.2%vs 2.7%,P<0.001)in the MASLD cohort than in the non-MASLD cohort.However,there was no difference in mortality(8.6%vs 10%,P=0.49),length of stay(5 d vs 5 d,P=0.25),and hospitalization costs(42081.5$vs 38614$,P=0.15)between the MASLD and non-MASLD cohorts.CONCLUSION The presence of MAFLD with or without liver cirrhosis was not associated with increased mortality in COVID-19 hospitalizations;however,there was an increased incidence of severe COVID-19 infection.This data(2020)predates the availability of COVID-19 vaccines,and many MASLD patients have since been vaccinated.It will be interesting to see if these trends are present in the subsequent years of the pandemic.

Analysis of Hospitalization Costs and Influencing Factors of AKI in Adult Patients

Objective:To investigate the economic burden of patients with acute kidney injury(AKI)by analyzing the distribution of hospitalization expenses and its influencing factors in the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University.Methods:The hospitalization information of patients with AKI from January 2020 to January 2023 was collected and sorted through the hospital charging system and the factors affecting the total hospitalization cost were analyzed by multiple linear regression.Results:Univariate analysis showed that age,occupation,marriage,length of hospitalization,recovery of renal function,and stage of AKI had significant effects on hospitalization cost(P<0.05).The result of the multiple linear regression analysis model showed that age(t=4.11,P<0.0001),length of hospitalization(t=16.10,P<0.0001),recovery of renal function(t=3.26,P<0.0001),AKI stage(t=5.23,P=0.002)are factors affecting the economic burden of patients with AKI.Conclusion:AKI patients should be managed according to age stratification to effectively control the progression of the disease and improve the quality of the medical services provided.This will reduce the economic burden of patients.

Racial and gender-based disparities and trends in common psychiatric conditions in liver cirrhosis hospitalizations:A ten-year United States study

BACKGROUND Chronic liver disease is associated with various neuropsychiatric conditions.There are currently no large studies assessing and comparing the prevalence of psy-chiatric illnesses based on patient profiles and the etiology of cirrhosis.AIM To examine the trends of hospitalizations among psychiatric conditions in cirrhosis.METHODS We used the National Inpatient Sample database 2016-2019 for the primary diagnosis of liver cirrhosis.The outcomes included the prevalence,trends,and associations of psychiatric diagnoses in these hospitalizations.Chi-square for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon rank test for continuous variables were utilized.RESULTS The prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder(GAD)in liver cirrhosis hospitalizations increased from 0.17%in 2009 to 0.92%in 2019(P<0.001).The prevalence of depression increased from 7%in 2009 to 12%in 2019(P<0.001).Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)prevalence increased from 0.06%to 0.24%.The prevalence of schizophrenia increased from 0.59%to 0.87%(P<0.001).Schizoaffective disorder prevalence increased from 0.10%to 0.35%(P<0.001).Posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD)prevalence displayed increasing trends from 0.36%in 2009 to 0.93%in 2019(P<0.001).The prevalence of suicidal ideation increased from 0.23%to 0.56%in 2019.Cirrhosis related to alcoholic liver disease[adjusted odds ratios(aOR)1.18,95%CI 1.08-1.29,P<0.001]and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)(aOR 1.14,95%CI 1.01-1.28,P=0.025)was associated with depression more than other causes.Alcohol-and NAFLD-associated cirrhosis had a stronger link to psychiatric disorders.Females had a higher association with GAD(aOR 2.56,95%CI 2.14-3.06,P<0.001),depression(aOR 1.78,95%CI 1.71-1.84,P<0.001),bipolar disorder(aOR 1.64,95%CI 1.52-1.77,P<0.001]and chronic fatigue(aOR 2.31,95%CI 1.31-4.07,P<0.001)when compared to males.Blacks,Hispanics,and Asian/Native Americans had a significantly lower association with GAD,depression,bipolar disorder,PTSD,and ADHD when compared to the white race.CONCLUSION The prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities in liver cirrhosis hospitalizations has increased over the last decade.Females had a higher association with psychiatric disorders compared to males.Blacks,Hispanics,and Asian/Native Americans had lower associations with psychiatric comorbidities compared to the white race.

Trends in gastrointestinal disease hospitalizations and outcomes during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic

BACKGROUND The impact of the coronavirus on hospitalizations for gastrointestinal(GI)disease,particularly at a population level is understudied.AIM To investigate trends in hospitalizations,inpatient endoscopy resource utilization,and outcomes during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.METHODS Using the California State Inpatient Database for 2018-2020,we explored year-toyear and 2020 month-to-month trends in hospitalizations,length of stay,and inpatient mortality(all-cause&viral pneumonia-specific)for common inpatient GI diagnoses including acute pancreatitis,diverticulitis,cholelithiasis,noninfectious gastroenteritis,upper and lower GI bleeding(LGIB),Clostridium difficile,viral gastroenteritis,inflammatory bowel disease,and acute cholangitis.RESULTS Disease-specific hospitalizations decreased for all included conditions except nonvariceal upper GI bleeding(NVUGIB),LGIB,and ulcerative colitis(UC)(ptrend<0.0001).Allcause inpatient mortality was higher in 2020 vs 2019,for acute pancreatitis(P=0.029),diverticulitis(P=0.04),NVUGIB(P=0.003),and Crohn’s disease(P=0.004).In 2020,hospitalization rates were lowest in April,November,and December.There was no significant corresponding increase in inpatient mortality except in UC(ptrend=0.048).Viral pneumonia and viral pneumonia complicated by respiratory failure increased(P<0.001)among GI hospitalizations.Endoscopy utilization within 24 h of admission was unchanged for GI emergencies except NVUGIB(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that hospitalization rates for common GI conditions significantly declined in California during the COVID pandemic,particularly in April,November and December 2020.Allcause mortality was significantly higher among acute pancreatitis,diverticulitis,NVUGIB,and Crohn’s disease hospitalizations.Emergency endoscopy rates were mostly comparable between 2020 and 2019.

Hospitalization and Occurrence of Death in Frail Older Adults: An Integrative Review

Objective: To identify the relationship between hospitalization and occurrence of death among frail older adults in the scientific productions on the topic. Method: An integrative literature review is conducted by elaborating the research question, searching in the databases using descriptors, presenting and interpreting the results, and synthesizing the knowledge. Results: The search performed in April 2023 yielded 5804 studies, of which seven remained after applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria. There was an association between frailty and postoperative mortality in the older adults, p p Conclusion: An association was verified between frailty and in-hospital death, signaling frailty as a prognosis for negative outcomes. It is considered fundamental to assess frailty in frail aged people.

Elderly Feeding and Nutrition during Hospitalization: An Integrative Review

Objective: to search in the current literature the elements that exert an influence on feeding and nutrition in hospitalized aged people. Method: the following strategies were used for the integrative review stages: research question (Population or Patients;Exposure;Outcomes);analysis flowchart (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses);and levels of evidence corresponding to the studies (Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine). The searches were conducted in the MEDLINE/PubMed, Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus databases. Results: the initial search yielded 1808 studies, of which 34 comprised the analysis corpus after applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The assessments corresponding to nutritional status and to the risk factors for hospitalized aged people are fundamental in defining the diet. An association was found between inadequate energy intake, lack of appetite, infections, malignity, delirium and need for assistance in feeding. Dysphagia affected nutritional status and was associated with multimorbidities, cognitive impairment, malnutrition, higher dependence for the activities of daily living, and greater care need. Nutritional support improved the perioperative nutritional status, in addition to reducing the hospitalization times and the number of infectious complications. Conclusion: the main disorder that hinders meeting the nutritional needs is dysphagia, and is associated with aged people’s multimorbidity and dependence. The results provide geriatric and gerontological knowledge about elderly nutrition, in addition to targeting preventive and intervention treatments and care during hospitalization. .

Heart Failure: Organization of Care after Hospitalization at the Abidjan Cardiology Institute

Introduction: The care pathway for heart failure (HF) patients is poorly documented in sub-Saharan Africa. A multidisciplinary management reduces hospitalizations and mortality. In our context of frequent rehospitalization of heart failure patients, the objective of this study was to analyse the post-hospital follow-up health care. Methods: We conducted a prospective study in the medical department of a Heart Institute from January 1st to December 31, 2015. Patients over 18 years of age, hospitalized for heart failure, consenting and followed up on an outpatient basis for 2 years were included. Results: We collected 396 patients hospitalized for HF. The mean age was 57.4 ± 16 years with a male predominance (59.3%). Retired and unemployed people represented 27% and 16.2% respectively. During the post-hospitalization follow-up, patients who were regularly followed up represented 10.8% of the cases. 74.1% of the cases were regular patients. Patients were not followed up by the usual practitioner (58.2%). Only 94 patients had undergone a cardiovascular rehabilitation programme, of which 21.3% for exercise rehabilitation and 78.7% for therapeutic education. Patients who had attended titration sessions (n = 59) had reached optimal doses of ACE inhibitors, ARB II and beta blockers in 67.8%, 7.3% and 38.5% respectively. The rates of decompensation (73.3%) and rehospitalization (49.5%) were higher. The paraclinic check-up (ECG, X-ray, Cardiac Doppler ultrasonography, Biology) was rarely requested. The probability of survival was higher in patients regularly monitored than in those irregularly monitored. Conclusion: The organisation of care and coordination between professionals should be structured or planned. Therapeutic strategies need to be intensified in order to optimise their long-term benefits.

Comparison of Mortality, Length of Stay, and Hospitalization Costs of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients with Cardiac and Non-Cardiac Disease

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to global healthcare systems. As the pandemic unfolded, it became evident that certain groups of individuals were at an elevated risk of experiencing severe disease outcomes. Among these high-risk groups, individuals with pre-existing cardiac conditions emerged as particularly vulnerable. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the length of stay, mortality, and costs of COVID-19 patients with and without a history of cardiac disease. Design: This retrospective study was conducted in Jam Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from March 21, 2021, to March 21, 2022. All patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who were hospitalized during this period were included. Results: A total of 500 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized, with 31.6% having a history of cardiac disease and 68.4% without any cardiac disease. Patients with cardiac disease were significantly older (median [range] age, 69.35 [37 - 94] years) compared to non-cardiac patients (54.95 [13 - 97] years) (p Conclusion: Patients with cardiac disease who are hospitalized with COVID-19 have a higher mortality rate, longer hospital stays, greater disease severity, ICU admission, and higher costs. Therefore, improved prevention and management strategies are crucial for these patients.

Predictors of re-hospitalization in patients with chronic heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic, progressive illness that is highly prevalent in the United States and worldwide. This morbid illness carries a very poor prognosis, and leads to frequent hospitalizations. Repeat hospitalization in HF is both largely burdensome to the patient and the healthcare system, as it is one of the most costly medical diagnoses among Medicare recipients. For years, investigators have strived to determine methods to reduce hospitalization rates of HF patients. Despite such efforts, recent reports indicate that rehospitalization rates remain persistently high, without any improvement over the past several years and thus, this topic clearly needs aggressive attention. We performed a key-word search of the literature for relevant citations. Published articles, limited to English abstracts indexed primarily in the PubMed database through the year 2011, were reviewed. This article discusses various clinical parameters, serum biomarkers, hemodynamic parameters, and psychosocial factors that have been reviewed in the literature as predictors of re-hospitalization of HF patients. With this information, ourhope is that the future holds better risk-stratification models that will allow providers to identify high-risk patients, and better customize effective interventions according to the needs of each individual HF patient.

Effect of probiotics on length of hospitalization in mild acute pancreatitis:A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND Acute pancreatitis is the leading cause of hospitalization for acute gastrointestinal disease worldwide.The effects of probiotics in mild acute pancreatitis have not been studied.We hypothesized that the administration of probiotics may accelerate the recovery of intestinal function and shorten the length of hospital stay(LOS)in patients with mild pancreatitis.AIM To investigate the value of probiotics in reducing the LOS in patients with mild acute pancreatitis.METHODS We conducted a double-blind randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effects of probiotics administered to patients with mild acute pancreatitis at a tertiary medical center.The patients were given probiotics capsules(a mixed preparation of Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium)or placebo.The primary study endpoint was the LOS.The secondary endpoints included time to abdominal pain relief,recurrent abdominal pain,and time to successful oral feeding.RESULTS A total of 128 patients were included,with 64 patients in each arm.The severity of illness and the etiological distribution of disease were similar in the two groups.There was a significant reduction in the LOS in the probiotics treatment group vs the placebo group(5.36±0.15 vs 6.02±0.17 d,P<0.05).The probiotics group was associated with a shorter time to abdominal pain relief and time to successful oral feeding(P<0.01 for both)than the placebo group.No statistical difference was found in recurrent abdominal pain between the two groups.CONCLUSION The study results showed that the administration of probiotics capsules is associated with a shorter duration of hospitalization in patients with mild acute pancreatitis.

Prevalence and associated factors of hospitalization for dysglycemia among elderly type 2 diabetes patients: A nationwide study

BACKGROUND The prevalence of older individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing due to the aging population and improved medical care. These patients are very susceptible to disease and treatment-related hospitalizations, resulting in higher health care costs, morbidity, and decreased quality of life. However, data of treatment-related complications, especially dysglycemiarelated hospitalizations, are lacking. AIM To assess the prevalence and associated factors for dysglycemia-related hospitalizations among elderly diabetic patients in Thailand using nationwide patient sample. METHODS T2DM patients aged ≥ 65 years who received medical care at public hospitals in Thailand in the year 2014 were included. The prevalence of hospitalization due to dysglycemia within one year was examined. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the independent factors associated with hospitalization due to hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia RESULTS A total of 11404 elderly T2DM patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 72.9 ± 5.5 years. The prevalence of hospital admissions due to diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, hyperglycemic dehydration syndrome, and hypoglycemia among elderly T2DM patients in the year 2014 was 0.1%, 0.1%, 1.7% and 3.1%, respectively. Increased hospitalization due to hypoglycemia was associated with older age, female sex, had hypertension, dementia, lower body mass index, elevated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), decreased kidney function, insulin use. Increased hospitalization due to hyperglycemia was associated with dementia, depression, lower body mass index, elevated HbA1C, and insulin use. CONCLUSION The prevalence of dysglycemia-related hospitalization in elderly T2DM patients in Thailand was 4.9%. Close monitoring of blood glucose should be provided in high-risk patients for prevention and early detection for these complications.

Prevalence and predictors of hospitalization in Crohn's disease in a prospective population-based inception cohort from 2000-2012

AIM: To analyze the prevalence, length and predictors of hospitalization in the biological era in the populationbased inception cohort from Veszprem province.METHODS: Data of 331 incident Crohn's disease(CD) patients diagnosed between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2010 were analyzed(median age at diagnosis: 28; IQR: 21-40 years). Both in- and outpatient records were collected and comprehensively reviewed.RESULTS: Probabilities of first CD-related hospitalization and re-hospitalization were 32.3%, 45.5%,53.7% and 13.6%, 23.9%, 29.8%, respectively after one, three and five years of follow-up in Kaplan-Meier analysis. First-year hospitalizations were related to diagnostic procedures(37%), surgery or disease activity(27% and 21%). Non-inflammatory disease behavior at diagnosis(HR = 1.32, P = 0.001) and perianal disease(HR = 1.47, P = 0.04) were associated with time to first CD-related hospitalization, while disease behavior change(HR = 2.38, P = 0.002) and need for steroids(HR = 3.14, P = 0.003) were associated with time to first re-hospitalization in multivariate analyses.Early CD-related hospitalization(within the year of diagnosis) was independently associated with need for immunosuppressives(OR = 2.08, P = 0.001) and need for surgeries(OR = 7.25, P < 0.001) during the disease course.CONCLUSION: Hospitalization and re-hospitalization rates are still high in this cohort, especially during the first-year after the diagnosis. Non-inflammatory disease behavior at diagnosis was identified as the pivotal predictive factor of both hospitalization and rehospitalization.

Gait speed and hospitalization among ambulatory hemodialysis patients: USRDS special study data

AIM： To assess the association of measured gait speed with hemodialysis （HD） patients’ hospitalization, in conjunction with, and apart from, recent fall history.METHODS： Gait speed was measured by a standard protocol and falls during the past 12 mo were ascertained for a prevalent multi-center HD cohort （n = 668） aged 20-92. Hospitalization during the past 12 mo was identified in the patient’s clinic records, and the first hospitalization after gait speed assessment （or the competing event of death） was identifed in the 2013 United States Renal Data System Standard Analysis Files.characterized 34.7% of the patients, and 27.1% had experienced a recent fall. Patients with slow gait speed but without a history of recent falls were 1.79 times more likely to have been hospitalized during the past 12 mo （OR = 1.79, 95%CI： 1.11-2.88, P = 0.02）, and patients with slow gait speed and a history of recent falls were over two times more likely to have been hospitalized （OR = 2.10, 95%CI： 1.19-3.73, P = 0.01）, compared with patients having faster gait speed and no recent fall history. Prospective examination of gait speed/fall history status in relation to frst hospitaliza-tion （or death） incurred by the end of follow-up Decem-ber 31, 2011 also showed that slow gait speed was as-sociated with these events in conjunction with a history of falls （HR = 1.54, 95%CI： 1.04-2.30, P = 0.03）.CONCLUSION： The International Task Force on Nutri-tion and Aging reported that gait speed is a powerful predictor for older adults of adverse outcomes such as hospitalization. In our data, gait speed-apart from, as well as in conjunction with, recent fall history-was as-sociated with HD patients’ hospitalization for multiple causes. Gait speed may be a sensitive health indicator among HD patients across the age spectrum.

Immunization status and hospitalization for vaccine-preventable and non-vaccine-preventable infections in liver-transplanted children

BACKGROUND Infections and associated morbidity and mortality may be more frequent in children who have undergone liver transplant than in healthy children.Immunization strategies to prevent vaccine-preventable infections(VPIs)can effectively minimize this infection burden.However,data on age-appropriate immunization and VPIs in children after liver transplant in Asia are limited.AIM To evaluate the immunization status,VPIs and non-VPIs requiring hospitalization in children who have undergone a liver transplant.METHODS The medical records of children who had a liver transplant between 2004 and 2018 at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital(Bangkok,Thailand)were retrospectively reviewed.Immunization status was evaluated via their vaccination books.Hospitalization for infections that occurred up to 5 years after liver transplantation were evaluated,and divided into VPIs and non-VPIs.Hospitalizations for cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus were excluded.Severity of infection,length of hospital stay,ventilator support,intensive care unit requirement,and mortality were assessed.RESULTS Seventy-seven children with a mean age of 3.29±4.17 years were included in the study,of whom 41(53.2%)were female.The mean follow-up duration was 3.68±1.45 years.Fortyeight children(62.3%)had vaccination records.There was a significant difference in the proportion of children with incomplete vaccination according to Thailand’s Expanded Program on Immunization(52.0%)and accelerated vaccine from Infectious Diseases Society of America(89.5%)(P<0.001).Post-liver transplant,47.9%of the children did not catch up with ageappropriate immunizations.There were 237 infections requiring hospitalization during the 5 years of follow-up.There were no significant differences in hospitalization for VPIs or non-VPIs in children with complete and incomplete immunizations.The risk of serious infection was high in the first year after receiving a liver transplant,and two children died.Respiratory and gastrointestinal systems were common sites of infection.The most common pathogens that caused VPIs were rotavirus,influenza virus,and varicella-zoster virus.CONCLUSION Incomplete immunization was common pre-and post-transplant,and nearly all children required hospitalization for non-VPIs or VPIs within 5 years posttransplant.Infection severity was high in the first year post-transplant.

Financial Sustainability of the Japanese Medical Payment System: Analysis of the Japanese Medical Expenditure for Educational Hospitalization of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Japanese medical expenditures have increased rapidly in recent years and are predicted to continue rising. Indeed, it remains uncertain whether the current Japanese medical system can be sustained. In this paper, we analyzed the medical expenditures for educational hospitalization of patients with type 2 diabetes. A dataset of 6173 patients from 36 hospitals was used in the analysis. The sample period was from July 2008 to March 2012. We analyzed the medical expenditures in two ways. First, we analyzed the length of hospital stay (LOS). Next, we analyzed the daily expenditure per patient. The Box-Cox transformation model was used in the first analysis and the ordinary least squares method in the second. Comorbidities and complications prolonged LOS and increased daily expenditures. The LOS was significantly different among hospitals. On the other hand, the differences in daily expenditures among hospitals were relatively small, such that LOS was the main determinant of medical expenditures. Previous studies suggested that LOS could be shortened without degradation of medical quality. Moreover, LOS could be controlled by introducing proper critical paths and improving and standardizing educational programs. Hence, it would be possible to control the medical expenditures for this disease.

Development of Nursing Protocol for Preventing Interruptions during Clinical Examinations and Treatments in the Early Days of Hospitalization for Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Heart Failure in Patients with Impaired Cognitive Function

The purpose of this study is to prepare a nursing protocol for preventing interruptions during clinical examinations and treatments performed in the early days of hospitalization for acute exacerbation of chronic heart failure in patients with impaired cognitive function. For the first stage of the research, we prepared a draft of the nursing protocol based on a basic survey. For the second stage, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 5 nurses specialized in chronic heart failure and 11 nurses in dementia care to ensure content validity of the draft protocol. For the third stage, we examined the possibility of clinical application of the revised version of the protocol draft prepared in the second stage of the study. For assessment items, significant points of nursing care, and specific nursing care practice in this revised version, 73 subjects (84.9%) considered effective for patients, in terms of prevention of interruptions during clinical examinations and treatments in the early days of hospitalization. All items and contents were considered useful by more than 60% of the nurses. Considering that the nurses working in the clinical setting reported 84.9% of usefulness, we concluded that this nursing protocol remained valid at a certain level. We consider that this nursing protocol will be useful especially for newly graduated/employed nurses as a procedure manual which can reduce their anxiety or stress caused by lack of knowledge or experiences.

Nutritional status as a predictor of hospitalization in inflammatory bowel disease:A review

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) presents an inflammatory picture that in the long run can lead to complications and consequently more hospitalizations compared to other diseases.AIM To evaluate the influence of nutritional status on the occurrence of IBD-related hospitalization.METHODS This integrative review was conducted in the online databases PubMed and MEDLINE, using the terms "obesity" and "malnutrition" accompanied by"hospitalization", each combined with "Crohn's disease" or "ulcerative colitis".Only studies conducted with humans, adults, and published in English or Spanish were selected, and those that were not directly associated with nutritional status and hospitalization were excluded from this review. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes guide was used as the basis for selection of studies.RESULTS Of the 80 studies identified, only five met the proposal of this review. None evaluated the association of good nutritional status with the risk of hospitalization. Malnutrition had a strong correlation with the risk of hospitalization related to IBD, and there was disagreement among three studies regarding the association of obesity and hospitalization rates.CONCLUSION Few studies have evaluated nutritional status as a predictor of IBD-related hospitalization. The presence of malnutrition appears to be associated with hospitalization in these patients, but further studies are needed to elucidate the issue.