Prediction and stratification for the surgical adverse events after minimally invasive esophagectomy:A two-center retrospective study

BACKGROUND Minimally invasive esophagectomy(MIE)is a widely accepted treatment for esophageal cancer,yet it is associated with a significant risk of surgical adverse events(SAEs),which can compromise patient recovery and long-term survival.Accurate preoperative identification of high-risk patients is critical for improving outcomes.AIM To establish and validate a risk prediction and stratification model for the risk of SAEs in patients with MIE.METHODS This retrospective study included 747 patients who underwent MIE at two centers from January 2019 to February 2024.Patients were separated into a train set(n=549)and a validation set(n=198).After screening by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression,multivariate logistic regression analyzed clinical and intraoperative variables to identify independent risk factors for SAEs.A risk stratification model was constructed and validated to predict the probability of SAEs.RESULTS SAEs occurred in 10.2%of patients in train set and 13.6%in the validation set.Patients with SAE had significantly higher complication rate and a longer hospital stay after surgery.The key independent risk factors identified included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,a history of alcohol consumption,low forced expiratory volume in the first second,and low albumin levels.The stratification model has excellent prediction accuracy,with an area under the curve of 0.889 for the training set and an area under the curve of 0.793 for the validation set.CONCLUSION The developed risk stratification model effectively predicts the risk of SAEs in patients undergoing MIE,facilitating targeted preoperative interventions and improving perioperative management.

Prevention and Nursing of Adverse Reactions of Novel Coronavirus Inactivated Vaccine (Vero Cells)

Objective:To discuss and analyze the causes of adverse reactions caused by the inactivated novel coronavirus vaccine(Vero cells),and to propose methods of prevention and care.Methods:A questionnaire was used to randomly select 229 adults who were vaccinated with the inactivated novel coronavirus vaccine(Vero cells)at Xi’an People’s Hospital(Xi’an Fourth Hospital).The adverse reactions were statistically analyzed.Results:Among the 229 adults vaccinated with the inactivated novel coronavirus vaccine(Vero cells),30 experienced vaccination reactions.The main reaction was local induration at the inoculation site,and dizziness was the primary systemic symptom.Conclusion:To reduce the incidence of adverse reactions to the inactivated novel coronavirus vaccine(Vero cells),it is necessary to effectively evaluate the health status of adults before vaccination,select the correct vaccination site,and strictly implement the rules of 3-inspections,7-checks,and 1-verification.Standardizing the operation process and providing thorough health education after vaccination can effectively reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions.

Prediabetes: An overlooked risk factor for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in atrial fibrillation patients

BACKGROUND Prediabetes is a well-established risk factor for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events(MACCE).However,the relationship between prediabetes and MACCE in atrial fibrillation(AF)patients has not been extensively studied.Therefore,this study aimed to establish a link between prediabetes and MACCE in AF patients.AIM To investigate a link between prediabetes and MACCE in AF patients.METHODS We used the National Inpatient Sample(2019)and relevant ICD-10 CM codes to identify hospitalizations with AF and categorized them into groups with and without prediabetes,excluding diabetics.The primary outcome was MACCE(all-cause inpatient mortality,cardiac arrest including ventricular fibrillation,and stroke)in AF-related hospitalizations.RESULTS Of the 2965875 AF-related hospitalizations for MACCE,47505(1.6%)were among patients with prediabetes.The prediabetes cohort was relatively younger(median 75 vs 78 years),and often consisted of males(56.3%vs 51.4%),blacks(9.8%vs 7.9%),Hispanics(7.3%vs 4.3%),and Asians(4.7%vs 1.6%)than the non-prediabetic cohort(P<0.001).The prediabetes group had significantly higher rates of hypertension,hyperlipidemia,smoking,obesity,drug abuse,prior myocardial infarction,peripheral vascular disease,and hyperthyroidism(all P<0.05).The prediabetes cohort was often discharged routinely(51.1%vs 41.1%),but more frequently required home health care(23.6%vs 21.0%)and had higher costs.After adjusting for baseline characteristics or comorbidities,the prediabetes cohort with AF admissions showed a higher rate and significantly higher odds of MACCE compared to the non-prediabetic cohort[18.6%vs 14.7%,odds ratio(OR)1.34,95%confidence interval 1.26-1.42,P<0.001].On subgroup analyses,males had a stronger association(aOR 1.43)compared to females(aOR 1.22),whereas on the race-wise comparison,Hispanics(aOR 1.43)and Asians(aOR 1.36)had a stronger association with MACCE with prediabetes vs whites(aOR 1.33)and blacks(aOR 1.21).CONCLUSION This population-based study found a significant association between prediabetes and MACCE in AF patients.Therefore,there is a need for further research to actively screen and manage prediabetes in AF to prevent MACCE.

Impact of body mass index on adverse kidney events in diabetes mellitus patients: A systematic-review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The incidence of chronic kidney disease among patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)remains a global concern.Long-term obesity is known to possibly influence the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus.However,no previous meta-analysis has assessed the effects of body mass index(BMI)on adverse kidney events in patients with DM.AIM To determine the impact of BMI on adverse kidney events in patients with DM.METHODS A systematic literature search was performed on the PubMed,ISI Web of Science,Scopus,Ovid,Google Scholar,EMBASE,and BMJ databases.We included trials with the following characteristics:(1)Type of study:Prospective,retrospective,randomized,and non-randomized in design;(2)participants:Restricted to patients with DM aged≥18 years;(3)intervention:No intervention;and(4)kidney adverse events:Onset of diabetic kidney disease[estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)of<60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and/or microalbuminuria value of≥30 mg/g Cr],serum creatinine increase of more than double the baseline or end-stage renal disease(eGFR<15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or dialysis),or death.RESULTS Overall,11 studies involving 801 patients with DM were included.High BMI(≥25 kg/m2)was significantly associated with higher blood pressure(BP)[systolic BP by 0.20,95%confidence interval(CI):0.15–0.25,P<0.00001;diastolic BP by 0.21 mmHg,95%CI:0.04–0.37,P=0.010],serum albumin,triglycerides[standard mean difference(SMD)=0.35,95%CI:0.29–0.41,P<0.00001],low-density lipoprotein(SMD=0.12,95%CI:0.04–0.20,P=0.030),and lower high-density lipoprotein(SMD=–0.36,95%CI:–0.51 to–0.21,P<0.00001)in patients with DM compared with those with low BMIs(<25 kg/m2).Our analysis showed that high BMI was associated with a higher risk ratio of adverse kidney events than low BMI(RR:1.22,95%CI:1.01–1.43,P=0.036).CONCLUSION The present analysis suggested that high BMI was a risk factor for adverse kidney events in patients with DM.

Predicting major adverse cardiovascular events after orthotopic liver transplantation using a supervised machine learning model:A cohort study

BACKGROUND Liver transplant(LT)patients have become older and sicker.The rate of post-LT major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)has increased,and this in turn raises 30-d post-LT mortality.Noninvasive cardiac stress testing loses accuracy when applied to pre-LT cirrhotic patients.AIM To assess the feasibility and accuracy of a machine learning model used to predict post-LT MACE in a regional cohort.METHODS This retrospective cohort study involved 575 LT patients from a Southern Brazilian academic center.We developed a predictive model for post-LT MACE(defined as a composite outcome of stroke,new-onset heart failure,severe arrhythmia,and myocardial infarction)using the extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost)machine learning model.We addressed missing data(below 20%)for relevant variables using the k-nearest neighbor imputation method,calculating the mean from the ten nearest neighbors for each case.The modeling dataset included 83 features,encompassing patient and laboratory data,cirrhosis complications,and pre-LT cardiac assessments.Model performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC).We also employed Shapley additive explanations(SHAP)to interpret feature impacts.The dataset was split into training(75%)and testing(25%)sets.Calibration was evaluated using the Brier score.We followed Transparent Reporting of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis guidelines for reporting.Scikit-learn and SHAP in Python 3 were used for all analyses.The supplementary material includes code for model development and a user-friendly online MACE prediction calculator.RESULTS Of the 537 included patients,23(4.46%)developed in-hospital MACE,with a mean age at transplantation of 52.9 years.The majority,66.1%,were male.The XGBoost model achieved an impressive AUROC of 0.89 during the training stage.This model exhibited accuracy,precision,recall,and F1-score values of 0.84,0.85,0.80,and 0.79,respectively.Calibration,as assessed by the Brier score,indicated excellent model calibration with a score of 0.07.Furthermore,SHAP values highlighted the significance of certain variables in predicting postoperative MACE,with negative noninvasive cardiac stress testing,use of nonselective beta-blockers,direct bilirubin levels,blood type O,and dynamic alterations on myocardial perfusion scintigraphy being the most influential factors at the cohort-wide level.These results highlight the predictive capability of our XGBoost model in assessing the risk of post-LT MACE,making it a valuable tool for clinical practice.CONCLUSION Our study successfully assessed the feasibility and accuracy of the XGBoost machine learning model in predicting post-LT MACE,using both cardiovascular and hepatic variables.The model demonstrated impressive performance,aligning with literature findings,and exhibited excellent calibration.Notably,our cautious approach to prevent overfitting and data leakage suggests the stability of results when applied to prospective data,reinforcing the model’s value as a reliable tool for predicting post-LT MACE in clinical practice.

Adverse drug reactions of first-line antitubercular drugs:A retrospective study on characteristics,management,factors,and impacts

Objective:To elucidate the characteristics,management strategies,risk factors,and clinical impacts associated with adverse drug reactions(ADRs)induced by first-line antitubercular drugs to enhance tuberculosis(TB)management.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted by retrieving drug-susceptible TB records among adult patients who received TB treatment from 2018 to 2021 at 10 public health clinics in Sarawak,Malaysia.Only the initial TB treatment and occurrence of specific ADRs within the study period were considered.Regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors associated with both overall ADRs and individual types of ADRs.Results:Among 2953 cases,705(23.9%)developed ADRs.Cutaneous reactions were the most prevalent(47.1%),followed by hepatotoxicity(32.8%)and gastrointestinal disturbances(29.8%).Six out of seven types of ADRs investigated occurred within the intensive phase,mostly manifesting at approximately 2 weeks of initiation.Hepatotoxicity resulted in the majority(85.3%)of treatment discontinuations,while vision problems led to treatment modifications in half of the cases.Risk factors for all ADRs included age≥60 years,females,illicit drug use,and comorbidities such as HIV-positive,diabetes,and chronic liver disease.Alcohol consumption was independently associated with hepatotoxicity.ADRs caused around one-third of interruptions exceeding 2 weeks(33.0%)and subsequently necessitated treatment restarts(34.5%).Conclusions:Understanding these various aspects contributes to improving the overall management of ADRs in TB treatment.Close ADR monitoring and reporting are essential to strengthen ADR management.

Stock Volatility Increases the Mortality Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and Suicide:A Case-Crossover Study of 12 Million Deaths

Stock volatility constitutes an adverse psychological stressor,but few large-scale studies have focused on its impact on major adverse cardiovascular events(MACEs)and suicide.Here,we conducted an individual-level time-stratified case-crossover study to explore the association of daily stock volatility(daily returns and intra-daily oscillations for three kinds of stock indices)with MACEs and suicide among more than 12 million individual decedents from all counties in the mainland of China between 2013 and 2019.For daily stock returns,both stock increases and decreases were associated with increased mortal-ity risks of all MACEs and suicide.There were consistent and positive associations between intra-daily stock oscillations and mortality due to MACEs and suicide.The excess mortality risks occurred at the cur-rent day(lag 0 d),persisted for two days,and were greatest for suicide and hemorrhagic stroke.Taking the present-day Shanghai and Shenzhen 300 Index as an example,a 1%decrease in daily returns was associated with 0.74%-1.04%and 1.77%increases in mortality risks of MACEs and suicide,respectively;the corresponding risk increments were 0.57%-0.85%and 0.92%for a 1%increase in daily returns and 0.67%-0.77%and 1.09%for a 1%increase in intra-daily stock oscillations.The excess risks were more pro-nounced among individuals aged 65-74 years,males,and those with lower education levels.Our findings revealed considerable health risks linked to sociopsychological stressors,which are helpful for the gov-ernment and general public to mitigate the immediate cardiovascular and mental health risks associated with stock market volatility.

Performance of the EDACS-ADP incorporating high-sensitivity troponin assay:Do components of major adverse cardiac events matter?

BACKGROUND:The accelerated diagnostic protocol(ADP)using the Emergency Department Assessment of Chest pain Score(EDACS-ADP),a tool to identify patients at low risk of a major adverse cardiac event(MACE)among patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department,was developed using a contemporary troponin assay.This study was performed to validate and compare the performance of the EDACS-ADP incorporating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I between patients who had a 30-day MACE with and without unstable angina(MACE I and II,respectively).METHODS:A single-center prospective observational study of adult patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome was performed.The performance of EDACS-ADP in predicting MACE was assessed by calculating the sensitivity and negative predictive value.RESULTS:Of the 1,304 patients prospectively enrolled,399(30.6%;95%confidence interval[95%CI]:27.7%–33.8%)were considered low-risk using the EDACS-ADP.Among them,the rates of MACE I and II were 1.3%(5/399)and 1.0%(4/399),respectively.The EDACS-ADP showed sensitivities and negative predictive values of 98.8%(95%CI:97.2%–99.6%)and 98.7%(95%CI:97.0%–99.5%)for MACE I and 98.7%(95%CI:96.8%–99.7%)and 99.0%(95%CI:97.4%–99.6%)for MACE II,respectively.CONCLUSION:EDACS-ADP could help identify patients as safe for early discharge.However,when unstable angina was added to the outcome,the 30-day MACE rate among the designated lowrisk patients remained above the level acceptable for early discharge without further evaluation.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio:Markers predicting immune-checkpoint inhibitor efficacy and immune-related adverse events

We conducted a comprehensive review of existing prediction models pertaining to the efficacy of immune-checkpoint inhibitor(ICI)and the occurrence of immune-related adverse events(irAEs).The predictive potential of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR)in determining ICI effectiveness has been extensively investigated,while limited research has been conducted on predicting irAEs.Furthermore,the combined model incor-porating NLR and PLR,either with each other or in conjunction with additional markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen,exhibits superior predictive capabilities compared to individual markers alone.NLR and PLR are promising markers for clinical applications.Forthcoming models ought to incorporate established efficacious models and newly identified ones,thereby constituting a multifactor composite model.Furthermore,efforts should be made to explore effective clinical application approaches that enhance the predictive accuracy and efficiency.

Value of improved nursing measures and enhanced nursing management to reduce the occurrence of adverse events in pediatric infusion

BACKGROUND Intravenous infusion is a common method of drug administration in clinical practice.Errors in any aspect of the infusion process,from the verification of medical orders,preparation of the drug solution,to infusion by nursing staff,may cause adverse infusion events.AIM To analyzed the value of improving nursing measures and enhancing nursing management to reduce the occurrence of adverse events in pediatric infusion.METHODS The clinical data of 130 children who received an infusion in the pediatric department of our hospital from May 2020 to May 2021 were analyzed and divided into two groups according to the differences in nursing measures and nursing management:65 patients in the control group received conventional nursing and nursing management interventions,while 65 patients in the observation group received improved nursing measure interventions and enhanced nursing management.The occurrence of adverse events,compliance of children,satisfaction of children’s families,and complaints regarding the transfusion treatment were recorded in both groups.RESULTS The incidence of fluid extravasation and infusion set dislodgement in the observation group were 3.08%and 1.54%,respectively,which were significantly lower than 12.31%and 13.85%in the control group(P<0.05),while repeated punctures and medication addition errors in the observation group were 3.08%and 0.00%,respectively,which were lower than 9.23%and 3.08%in the control group,but there was no significant difference(P>0.05).The compliance rate of children in the observation group was 98.46%(64/65),which was significantly higher than 87.69%(57/65)in the control group,and the satisfaction rate of children’s families was 96.92%(63/65),which was significantly higher than 86.15%(56/65)in the control group(P<0.05).The observation group did not receive any complaints from the child’s family,whereas the control group received four complaints,two of which were due to the crying of the child caused by repeated punctures,one due to the poor attitude of the nurse,and one due to medication addition errors,with a cumulative complaint rate of 6.15%.The cumulative complaint rate of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Improving nursing measures and enhancing nursing management can reduce the incidence of fluid extravasation and infusion set dislodgement in pediatric patients,improve children’s compliance and satisfaction of their families,and reduce family complaints.

Contemporary nationwide trends in major adverse cardiovascular events in young cannabis users without concomitant tobacco,alcohol,cocaine use

BACKGROUND Cannabis use has increased among young individuals in recent years.Although dependent cannabis use disorder(CUD)has been associated with various cardiac events,its effects on young adults without concurrent substance use remain understudied.AIM To examine trends in hospitalizations for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events(MACCE)in this cohort.METHODSWe used the National Inpatient Sample(2016-2019)to identify hospitalized young individuals(18-44 years),excluding those with concurrent substance usage(tobacco,alcohol,and cocaine).They were divided into CUD+and CUD-.Using International Classification of Diseases-10 codes,we examined the trends in MACCE hospitalizations,including all-cause mortality(ACM),acute myocardial infarction(AMI),cardiac arrest(CA),and acuteischemic stroke(AIS).RESULTSOf 27.4 million hospitalizations among young adults without concurrent substance abuse,4.2%(1.1 million)hadco-existent CUD.In CUD+group,hospitalization rates for MACCE(1.71%vs 1.35%),AMI(0.86%vs 0.54%),CA(0.27%vs 0.24%),and AIS(0.49%vs 0.35%)were higher than in CUD-group(P<0.001).However,rate of ACMhospitalizations was lower in CUD+group(0.30%vs 0.44%).From 2016 to 2019,CUD+group experienced arelative rise of 5%in MACCE and 20%in AMI hospitalizations,compared to 22%and 36%increases in CUDgroup(P<0.05).The CUD+group had a 13%relative decrease in ACM hospitalizations,compared to a 10%relative rise in CUD-group(P<0.05).However,when adjusted for confounders,MACCE odds among CUD+cohort remain comparable between 2016 and 2019.CONCLUSIONThe CUD+group had higher rates of MACCE,but the rising trends were more apparent in the CUD-group overtime.Interestingly,the CUD+group had lower ACM rates than the CUD-group.

Predictive Effect of CA125 on Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Objective: To study the expression of CA125 in the serum of patients with CHF and the relationship between CA125 level and the occurrence of adverse cardiovascular events. Methods: The clinical data of 132 patients with CHF admitted to Shizuishan Second People’s Hospital from January 2023 to December 2023 were collected and divided into heart function II group, heart function III group, heart function IV group according to cardiac function. 44 healthy subjects who underwent physical examination during the same period were selected as the control group. The clinical data of CA125, NT-proBNP, echocardiography and other clinical data of the four groups were compared, and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events was followed up for 12 months. Results: Compared with the control group, the CA125 level in the CHF group was significantly increased (P Conclusion: Serum CA125 level is related to the cardiac function level in CHF patients and increases with the deterioration of cardiac function. The increase of the index is related to the mortality rate and re-hospitalization rate, suggesting that CA125 can be used as an indicator to reflect the severity of heart failure and prognosis monitoring.

Why Don’t We Adequately Identify and Manage Adverse Drug Reactions despite Having the Needed Information?

Importance/Objective: Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are unavoidable, but recognizing and addressing ADRs early can improve wellness and prevent permanent injury. We suggest that available medical information and digital/electronic methods could be used to manage this major healthcare problem for individual patients in real time. Methods: We searched the available digital applications and three literature databases using the medical subject heading terms, adverse drug reaction reporting systems or management, filtered by clinical trial or systemic reviews, to detect publications with data about ADR identification and management approaches. We reviewed the reports that had abstract or summary data or proposed or implemented methods or systems with potential to identify or manage ADRs in clinical settings. Results: The vast majority of the 481 reports used retrospectively collected data for groups of patients or were limited to surveying one population group or class of medication. The reports showed potential and definite associations of ADRs for specific drugs and problems, mostly, but not exclusively, for patients in hospitals and nursing homes. No reports described complete methods to collect comprehensive data on ADRs for individual patients in a healthcare system. The digital applications have ADR information, but all are too cumbersome or incomplete for use in active clinical settings. Several studies suggested that providing information about potential ADRs to clinicians can reduce these problems. Conclusion and Relevance: Although investigators and government agencies agree with the need, there is no comprehensive ADR management program in current use. Informing the patient’s healthcare practitioners of potential ADRs at the point of service has the potential for reduction of these complications, which should improve healthcare and reduce unneeded costs.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided therapies in the treatment of gastric varices:An in-depth examination of associated adverse events

The Baveno VII consensus,released in 2023,recommends that the endoscopic treatment of choice for managing bleeding gastric varices(GV)is endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)-guided treatment,specifically EUS-guided cyanoacrylate(CYA)glue injection.This approach has been endorsed due to its efficacy in controlling bleeding while reducing rebleeding rates,compared to other endoscopic techniques.Despite its efficacy,CYA injection for GV has been linked to rare but serious adverse events,such as glue embolization leading to pulmonary embolism,infection/bacteremia,splenic infarction,intra-procedural and post-procedural complications.The technique for endoscopic obliteration of GV was subsequently refined using EUS guidance,aiming to more accurately direct the injection into the varix,reduce the volume of injected glue,target the perforating vein when possible,and confirm obliteration of GV via Doppler examination.

Biomarkers associated with immune-related adverse events induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors

Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)constitute a pivotal class of immunotherapeutic drugs in cancer treatment.However,their widespread clinical application has led to a notable surge in immune-related adverse events(irAEs),significantly affecting the efficacy and survival rates of patients undergoing ICI therapy.While conventional hematological and imaging tests are adept at detecting organ-specific toxicities,distinguishing adverse reactions from those induced by viruses,bacteria,or immune diseases remains a formidable challenge.Consequently,there exists an urgent imperative for reliable biomarkers capable of accurately predicting or diagnosing irAEs.Thus,a thorough review of existing studies on irAEs biomarkers is indispensable.Our review commences by providing a succinct over-view of major irAEs,followed by a comprehensive summary of irAEs biomarkers across various dimensions.Furthermore,we delve into innovative methodologies such as machine learning,single-cell RNA sequencing,multiomics analysis,and gut microbiota profiling to identify novel,robust biomarkers that can facilitate precise irAEs diagnosis or prediction.Lastly,this review furnishes a concise exposition of irAEs mechanisms to augment understanding of irAEs prediction,diagnosis,and treatment strategies.

Monitoring Adverse Events during Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Campaigns for Children Aged 3 - 59 Months in Benin in 2023

Background: Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) is crucial for reducing the burden of malaria in children. However, adverse events (AEs) can affect treatment adherence and efficacy. This study assesses the prevalence of AEs associated with SMC and identifies factors associated with treatment discontinuation. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 3115 children receiving SMC was conducted. The study was conducted in two departments in northern Benin. The prevalence of AEs and factors associated with discontinuation of treatment were analyzed. Results: Among the children, 578 (18.6%, 95% CI: 17.2 - 19.9) reported AEs, mainly vomiting (63.5%), fever (43.8%) and diarrhea (23.0%). Boys (51.9%) had slightly more AEs than girls (48.1%). The prevalence of AEs was higher in rural areas (64.0%) than in urban areas (36.0%). Only 2.8% of children stopped taking SMC because of AEs. There was no significant association between AEs and discontinuation of SMC (p = 0.608). Children referred to health centers for management of AEs were less likely to discontinue treatment (p = 0.015). Conclusion: AEs were common, but the rate of discontinuation of SMC due to AEs was low, indicating good treatment tolerance. Effective management of AEs in health centers reduces treatment interruptions.

Adverse Events following AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Study in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Introduction: Pharmaceutical companies have boosted vaccine production following the global COVID-19 pandemic. In Côte d’Ivoire, the first vaccination campaign with the AstraZeneca vaccine began on March 1, 2021, as part of the Covax program. Despite the positive benefit/risk balance, the adverse effects of vaccination should not be minimized. Objective: To identify adverse events of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccination for better management. Materials and Methods: This is a case of a 57-year-old obese (BMI = 39 kg/m2) female health care worker who experienced adverse events in March 2021 after the second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine administered 4 weeks apart. These were subject to mandatory case reporting. Results: Major post-vaccination events occurred in a noisy systemic picture with parameters showing significant disturbances. Biological surveillance remains costly and makes the accountability of the vaccine complex. Conclusion: Vaccination remains the ultimate weapon in the fight against endemic diseases but should not overshadow the reporting of adverse events.

Epidemiology and prevention of adverse drug reactions in the elderly

Many studies have demonstrated a correlation between increasing age and adverse drug reactions. This increased risk is related to aged-related changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. In addition, chronic illnesses such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and hypertension are more prevalent in the elderly who also have an increased risk of diabetes, arthritis and cancer. Consequently elderly patients are often treated with multiple medications, which may cause drug interactions and adverse drug reactions. Adequate undergraduate training in clinical pharmacology and continued professional development in evidence-based therapeutics will undoubtedly reduce inappropriate prescribing and improve the quality of medications. Good communications between physicians and patients are also critically important in avoidance or prevention of adverse drug reactions in the elderly.

A Time to Event Analysis of Adverse Drug Reactions Due to Tenofovir, Zidovudine and Stavudine in a Cohort of Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Treatment at an Outpatient Clinic in Zimbabwe

Background: Achieving the long terms goals of antiretroviral treatment (ART) requires a careful approach during treatment initiation that takes into account patient’s psychosocial state, availability and accessibility of treatment combinations, and adherence support. Adverse drug reactions that occur during the initial phases have a bearing on treatment outcomes and thus need to be monitored and treated. Objective: This study was done to assess length of time (survival time) it took for clinically significant adverse drug reactions to occur in patients taking Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (N(t)RTI) available for treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in Zimbabwe. Methods: A retrospective cohort of patient data collected from January 2009 to December 2012 was extracted from an Electronic Health Record database. Data from patients who were initiated on antiretroviral (ARV) drug regimens containing N(t)RTI drugs were analysed for survival time. A sample of 205 patient files was extracted for the time period for survival analysis using adverse drug reactions due to N(t)RTI drugs. Results: After data extraction, a total of 205 patient records were used in determining the time to event analysis of ADR’s in the cohort. The age range for the patients included in the study was 9 - 76 with a mean of 41 years (s.d = 14.8). Patients initiated on stavudine had a lower survival time before a clinically significant ADR compared to tenofovir (-365 days, p-value < 0.0005). Patients on zidovudine also had a less time before a significant reaction compared to those on tenofovir (-230 days;p-value = 0.008). Patients on zidovudine fared better compared to those on stavudine (-134 days;p-value < 0.0005). The mean survival time was highest for tenofovir (618 days), followed by zidovudine (388 days), and then stavudine (254 days).Conclusion: Patients on tenofovir have a longer survival time before a clinically significant adverse reaction. Treatment programmes need to continue commencing patients on tenofovir containing regimens as patients can be maintained for longer periods on this regimen.

Analysis of Innovations in Monitoring Adverse Drug Reaction and Application

Objective To systematically study foreign adverse drug reaction monitoring technologies and applications to extract valuable experience,and provide reference for promoting its application in China.Methods Literature research,comparative research and other methods were used to investigate foreign adverse drug reaction(ADR)monitoring technologies and applications such as passive reporting systems,active monitoring systems,electronic health records and real-world data,and analyze the problems in the application of the above technologies in China.Results and Conclusion At present,China is relatively mature in the application of ADR passive reporting system,but there are some problems in the application of ADR active monitoring system,electronic health records and real-world data.In the future,we should improve the application of adverse drug reaction active monitoring system,establish close cooperation with universities,research institutes and other institutions to improve the evaluation of adverse drug reactions.Besides,we should promote the construction of the Chinese medical language processing system and strengthen the understanding of real-world data.This will improve the level of monitoring adverse drug reactions in China and promote rational drug use.