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.

Healthcare utilization and costs associated with cholangiocarcinoma

Background and aims.Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare but devastating malignancy associated with a poor prognosis and a high mortality rate.With the recent advances in detection and treatment,it is unclear if the incidence and outcomes of cholangiocarcinoma are improving in the United States.The aim of this study was to evaluate the trends in the incidence,costs and mortality rates of cholangiocarcinoma-related hospital admissions in the USA.Methods.We utilized the National Inpatient Sample Database(NIS)from 1997–2012 for all patients in whom cholangiocarcinoma(ICD-9 code 155.1,156)was the principal discharge diagnosis.The temporal trends in the number of hospital admissions,length of stay and,hospitalization costs along with mortality rates over the study period were determined by using regression analysis for trends.Results.There was a significant increase in the number of hospital admissions for cholangiocarcinoma as the principal diagnosis from 1997 to 2012(10357 vs 11970,P<0.001).The mean length of stay for cholangiocarcinoma decreased by 17%between 1997 and 2012 from 9.5 days to 7.9 days(P<0.001).However,during the same period,the mean hospital charges per patient(adjusted for inflation)increased 113.25% from $36460 in 1997 to$77753 in 2012.The in-hospital mortality rate decreased from 9.3% in 1997 to 6.4% in 2012(P<0.001).Conclusions.There was a significant increase in the number of hospital admissions and associated costs from cholangiocarcinoma in the USA between 1997 and 2012.However,this was accompanied by a decrease in the inpatient mortality rates from cholangiocarcinoma.