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Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a relatively rare myocardial disorder which is characterized by trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses within the left ventricle. LVNC is often asymptomatic but may present with heart failure, arrhythmias, or systemic thromboembolism. Uncommonly, patients with LVNC can present with syncope. In this article, we report one such presentation of this rare medical condition.

Background Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Viral organisms have been identified as the causal pathogen in approximately 20% of CAP. Nutritional status plays an important role in the response to pneumonia. This study aims to identify whether protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is an independent risk factor for mortality and morbidity in viral CAP. Materials and methods This was a retrospective cohort study involving adult hospitalizations for viral CAP in the United States using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. This cohort was further divided based on the presence or absence of a secondary discharge diagnosis of PEM. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes included the rate of mechanical ventilation among other complications. Results The in-hospital mortality for viral CAP was 2.22%. Patients with PEM had over two-fold high adjusted odds of inpatient mortality (aOR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.746-3.351, p < 0.001) compared with patients without PEM. Patients with PEM had higher adjusted odds of having septic shock (aOR: 3.34, 95% CI: 2.158-5.160, p < 0.001). NSTEMI (aOR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.163-2.621, p = 0.007), need for mechanical ventilation (aOR: 3.13, 95% CI: 2.448-4.006, p < 0.001), CVA (aOR: 3.49, 95% CI: 1.687-7.220, p = 0.001), DVT (aOR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.453-3.295, p < 0.001), and PE (aOR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.152-4.357, p = 0.017) relative to patients without PEM. Conclusion In conclusion, coexisting PEM is associated with a higher rate of in-hospital morbidity and mortality in patients with viral CAP. Early identification and treatment of nutritional deficiencies can lead to improved outcomes and reduced costs.

Background Obesity is now a recognized chronic comorbid condition which is highly prevalent in the United States. Obesity poses several health risks, affecting multiple organ systems. The cardiovascular system is particularly affected by obesity including its role in atherosclerotic disease and hence myocardial infarction (MI) from atheromatous plaque events. However, multiple population-based studies have shown mixed outcomes in obese patients who have acute MI. This study aimed to determine if obesity paradoxically improved outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as well as compare outcomes of mild to moderately obese patients and morbidly obese patients to non-obese patients. Materials and methods Data was obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for 2016 and 2017. The study included adult patients with a principal discharge diagnosis of AMI. This group was divided into ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Obese patients were subdivided into two groups: mild-moderate obesity and morbid obesity. Primary outcome compared inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes included rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), composite revascularization, mean length of hospitalization, total hospital charges, and rates of complications. Results In patients with STEMI, mild to moderately obese patients had lower odds of mortality (aOR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.715-0.906, p < 0.001) compared to non-obese patients. However, morbidly obese patients had higher odds of mortality (aOR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.100-1.446, p < 0.001) compared to non-obese patients. Mild to moderately obese patients had higher odds of composite revascularization (aOR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.158-1.334, p < 0.001), PCI (aOR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.054-1.150, p = 0.014), and CABG (aOR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.313-1.626, p < 0.001). Conclusion The degree of obesity affects outcome of patients with AMI. Cardiovascular interventions during hospitalizations for AMI also varied with degree of obesity. This may have affected the outcome, especially among morbidly obese patients.

Background Viral pneumonia is an important cause of respiratory morbidity and mortality. Cases of viral pneumonia are becoming increasingly more common as at-risk populations increase globally. We sought to highlight the racial distribution of hospitalized patients with viral pneumonia and compare their outcomes. Materials and methods Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for 2016 and 2017. The study involved adults who had a principal discharge diagnosis of viral pneumonia. The primary outcome analyzed was inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes included the development of sepsis, septic shock, acute respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), acute kidney failure, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, cerebrovascular accident, need for mechanical ventilation, and use of vasopressors as well as mean length of hospitalization and mean total hospital charges. Results Blacks and Hispanics had lower inpatient mortality adjusted odds (aOR: 0.39, 95% CI = 0.229 - 0.662, p

Background: There is a scarcity of literature on co-existing psoriasis (Ps) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We used a large national population database to determine if there is any association between Ps and SLE. The primary objective was to compare the odds of being admitted for SLE in patients with Ps compared to those without Ps. The secondary objective was to compare hospital outcomes of patients admitted for SLE with co-existing Ps to those without Ps. Methods: Data were abstracted from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2016 and 2017 Databases. We search for hospitalizations using ICD-10 codes. Multivariate logistic and linear regression analysis was used accordingly to adjust for confounders. Results: There were over 71 million discharges included in the database. A total of 20,630 hospitalizations had SLE as the principal diagnosis. One hundred fifty (0.7%) of these SLE hospitalizations have co-existing Ps. Hospitalizations for SLE with co-existing Ps had similar length of stay (LOS), total hospital charges, need for blood transfusion, odds of having a secondary discharge diagnosis of venous thrombosis or embolism/pulmonary embolus, and acute kidney injury compared to those without Ps. Hospitalizations with a secondary diagnosis of Ps have an adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.73 (95% CI 1.86-4.02, P

Background Knee arthroplasty is one of the most common reasons for hospitalizations in the United States. Diabetes mellitus is thought to be associated with adverse perioperative outcomes. We sought to demonstrate the effect of comorbid diabetes on hospitalizations involving patients with knee osteoarthritis who had knee arthroplasty. Materials and methods Data was obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) for 2016 and 2017. ICD-10 codes were used to obtain a cohort of patient who were principally admitted for knee osteoarthritis who underwent knee arthroplasty. The patients were further divided according to diabetic status. The primary outcome compared inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes included mean length of hospital stay, total hospital charges, presence of secondary diagnoses on discharge of acute kidney injury, surgical site infection, sepsis, thromboembolic events, non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Results Patients with diabetes mellitus had a lower adjusted odds ratio for mortality (aOR: 0.45 95% CI: 0.221 - 0.920, p = 0.029), with no significant difference in total hospital charges and length of hospital stay. Interestingly, patients with diabetes had lower odds of NSTEMI; 0.53 (95% CI: 0.369 - 0.750, p < 0.001) sepsis; 0.64 (95% CI: 0.449 - 0.924, p = 0.017) and DVT; 0.67 (95% CI: 0.546 - 0.822, p < 0.001). Conclusion Uncomplicated diabetes mellitus is not associated with adverse outcomes in patients hospitalized with knee osteoarthritis who had knee arthroplasty.