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Background: Several clinical prediction rules (CPRs) for complications and mortality of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) have been developed but only a few have gone through external validation, and none is widely recommended in clinical practice. Methods: CPRs were identified through a systematic review. We included studies that predicted severe or complicated CDI (cCDI) and mortality, reported at least an internal validation step, and for which data were available with minimal modifications. Data from a multicenter prospective cohort of 1380 adults with confirmed CDI were used for external validation. In this cohort, cCDI occurred in 8% of the patients and 30-day all-cause mortality occurred in 12%. The performance of each tool was assessed using individual outcomes, with the same cut-offs and standard parameters. Results: Seven CPRs were assessed. Three predictive scores for cCDI showed low sensitivity (25–61%) and positive predictive value (PPV; 9–31%), but moderate specificity (54–90%) and negative predictive value (NPV; 82–95%). One model [using age, white blood cell count (WBC), narcotic use, antacids use, and creatinine ratio > 1.5× the normal level as covariates] showed a probability of 25% of cCDI at the optimal cut-off point with 36% sensitivity and 84% specificity. Two scores for mortality had low sensitivity (4–55%) and PPV (25–31%), and moderate specificity (71–78%) and NPV (87–92%). One predictive model for 30-day all-cause mortality [Charlson comorbidity index, WBC, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), diagnosis in ICU, and delirium] showed an AUC-ROC of 0.74. All other CPRs showed lower AUC values (0.63–0.69). Errors in calibration ranged from 12%- 27%. Conclusions: Included CPRs showed moderate performance for clinical use in a large validation cohort with a majority of patients infected with ribotype 027 strains and a low rate of cCDI and mortality. These data show that better CPRs need to be developed and validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Domperidone is used to treat gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and is linked to an increased risk of mortality. We sought to examine the risk of all‐cause mortality associated with domperidone exposure in PD. Methods: We conducted a cohort study using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink database (1987–2011). The first recorded PD diagnosis defined index date. Time‐dependent Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) of all‐cause mortality associated with domperidone use. PD patients were stratified by domperidone use (current/recent/past), with never used as the referent. Current domperidone users were stratified by daily dose, domperidone duration and other anti‐Parkinson's medications. A secondary analysis compared PD patients to matched (1:1) non‐PD patients. Results: A total of 5114 PD patients were identified. Current use of domperidone among PD patients was associated with a two‐fold increase in all‐cause mortality (HRadj = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.64–2.45), as compared to patients never exposed to domperidone. All‐cause mortality risk was highest in those starting domperidone in the previous month [HRadj = 2.97, 95% CI: 2.06–4.27]. When compared to matched non‐PD patients, PD was associated with a 43% increased risk of all‐cause mortality, yet this increased to a 2.4‐fold increased risk among PD patients currently using domperidone. Conclusion: Current use of domperidone was associated with a two‐fold increased mortality risk in PD patients, as compared to PD patients that never used domperidone. The risk is highest in the first month of use and does not appear to be attributable to PD alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]