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• Covid-19 infection is associated with elevation of inflammatory markers and coagulopathy. • Anticoagulation practice for severely ill covid-19 patients is variable among physicians. • Inflammatory markers levels may impact anticoagulation dosages. • Anticoagulation does not improve 28-day survival. Covid-19 has affected 16Millions people worldwide with 644 K death as of July 26th, 2020. It is associated with inflammation and microvascular thrombosis—anticoagulation in widely used in these patients especially in patients with elevated d -Dimers. The significance of anticoagulation in these patients is not yet established. We aim to define the anticoagulation pattern and its impact on outcomes (28-day survival, LOSICU, DVT, and PE and bleeding complications. We also observe if levels of d -Dimers affect the anticoagulation prescription. Methods: We analyzed data of all consecutive patients with Covid-19 ARDS admitted to ICU retrospectively. The primary variable of interest was anticoagulation. The daily dose of anticoagulant medication for each patient was recorded. Survival (28-day survival), Length of stay in ICU (LOSICU), the occurrence of DVT, PE, or bleeding were primary outcome variables. We also recorded confounding factors with potential impact on clinical outcomes. We assign Patients to one of the four groups based on anticoagulant dosing during the ICU (increasing dose, decreasing dose, increase followed by a decrease, multiple changes). We analyze the effect of different anticoagulation dosing strategies on 28-day survival, LOSICU, the occurrence of DVT, PE, and bleeding. We also observe if levels of d -Dimers affect the anticoagulation prescription. Results: The sample includes 149 patients. The most frequently used medication was subcutaneous Enoxaparin (85.2%). The Enoxaparin mean dose per day for the whole sample was 49.5 mg + 15.7 (mean + SD). There was no significant difference in doses of anticoagulants between survivors and nonsurvivors (62.8 mg + 21.7 mg vs. 61.2 mg + 25.7 mg, p 0.3). Multinomial regression showed no difference in 28-day survival among four-dose modification (increasing dose, decreasing dose, increase followed by a decrease, multiple changes). Logistic regression showed that BMI, d -Dimers, platelets, and the use of mechanical ventilation predict 28-day survival. Kaplan-Meier Survival plots for 4 anticoagulant groups showed no survival advantage for any anticoagulant strategy. Secondary outcome analysis showed that d -dimer levels significantly affect anticoagulants doses. Conclusion: Prescription of anticoagulation is quite variable in patients admitted to ICU for Covid-19 associated ARDS. Anticoagulation dosing strategy has no significant effect on 28-day survival, LOSICU, the occurrence of DVT, PE, or bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endotracheal intubation outside the operating room (OR) is mainly performed by intensive care (IC) physicians and emergency department (ED) physicians. We hypothesized that difference in practice patterns exists between these two groups of physicians. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on all endotracheal intubations that were performed out of OR over a fi ve year period at our health care facility. Practice patterns of IC and ED physicians were compared regarding use of (a) video laryngoscopy, (b) paralytic agents, (c) waveform capnography, and (d) use of larger size of endotracheal tube (internal diameter #8805; 8 mm). Results: A total of 201 patients underwent out of OR intubations over a 5 year period. IC physicians used more often than ED physicians video laryngoscopy (67% vs. 49%; p = 0.008), waveform capnography (99% vs. 86%; p = 0.001) and larger size endotracheal tubes (95% vs. 60%; p < 0.001). Conversely, paralytic agents were used less frequently by IC than ED physicians (12% vs. 51%; p < 0.001). The success of fi rst intubation attempt was higher by IC than ED physicians (82% vs. 67%; p = 0.018). Conclusions: IC physicians more often adhered to currently considered preferable practices for endotracheal intubation than ED physicians in this single center retrospective study. Although larger scale studies are needed to unveil the effects of different practice patterns on short and long term outcomes, the present study identifies opportunity to bridge practice gaps that could lead to improved outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a potent risk factor for ischemic cerebrovascular accident (ICVA). Inflammation is a potential pathogenic factor for atherosclerosis and ICVA. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with increased inflammatory markers. Subjects who frequently experience COPD and AF together may have higher risk of ICVA. The objective of the study is to compare the prevalence of ICVA in patients with atrial fibrillation and COPD together versus atrial fibrillation alone. Methods Subjects diagnosed with COPD, AF, and ICVA were categorized into 3 groups: COPD, AF, and COPD plus AF. Prevalence of ICVA was compared. Confounding factors affecting ICVA risk were recorded: age, diabetes, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, dyslipidemia, and congestive cardiac failure. Results Total charts reviewed were 500: COPD alone 244, AF alone 188, and both together 68. ICVA was documented in 132 (26.4%) subjects. Prevalence of ICVA was 11.8% (COPD alone), 29.8% (AF alone), and 39.7% (AF plus COPD). COPD plus AF group had ICVA 2.05 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.203-3.94; P = .007) times compared with others. ICVA was also higher in patients with AF only versus COPD only ( P < .001). Logistic regression showed AF plus COPD was a stronger predictor of ICVA ( P = .001) than AF only ( P = .07) or COPD only ( P = .8). Odds ratio for ICVA was 2.85 (CI, 1.57-5.16; P = .001) for AF plus COPD versus 1.81 (CI, .94-3.47; P = .71) for AF only and 1.08 (CI, .58-2.10; P = .8) for COPD only. Conclusions COPD may increase the risk of ischemic stroke in subjects with AF. Presence of COPD may increase the risk of ischemic stroke in subjects with AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: CPAP is considered to be the cornerstone of therapy for obstructive sleep apnea. However, adherence to this treatment is frequently poor, which may lead to ongoing symptoms, including daytime sleepiness and poor cognitive function. We aimed to determine the efficacy of showing patients their raw graphic polysomnography (PSG) data in increasing their CPAP adherence. METHODS: The subjects were patients with obstructive sleep apnea (n = 37, diagnosed on prior PSG), who were prospectively randomized into an experimental arm or a control arm. The patients in the experimental arm (n = 18) were shown detailed PSG data, including graphic data from PSG prior to prescription of CPAP. The patients in the control arm (n = 19) were shown the non-graphic paper report of the PSG. Adherence data, collected using CPAP devices with internal microprocessors (adherence cards), was read at 4 weeks after treatment initiation. RESULTS: There was no difference in age (57.3 ± 11.8 y vs 55.5± 11.6 y, P =.64), body mass index (BMI) (32.7± 6.3 kg/m2 vs 32.3 ± 6.6 kg/m2, P = .85), and apnea-hypopnea index (36.0 ± 27.8 events/h vs 30.5 ± 19.1 events/h, P=.48) between the experimental and control arms. There was no difference in percent of days CPAP was used (58% vs 64%, P = .59) and average number of hours each night CPAP was used (3.9 ± 2.1 h vs 4.1 ± 2.5 h, P=.76) between the experimental and control arms, respectively. In multi logistic regression models, which ± included age, BMI > 30 kg/m2, apnea-hypopnea index, and experimental intervention, only BMI was found to increase likelihood of improved adherence (odds ratio = 13.3, P =.007). CONCLUSIONS: Showing patients raw graphic PSG data does not seem to improve adherence to CPAP. BMI is a very strong predictor of CPAP adherence [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]