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Background: End-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients have frequent readmissions to the same facility or a different hospital (care fragmentation). Care fragmentation results in care delivery from an unfamiliar clinical team or setting, a potential source of suboptimal clinical outcomes. We examined the occurrence, trends, and association between care fragmentation and outcomes during readmissions for ESLD., Methods: From the Nationwide Readmissions Database (January to September 2010-2014), we followed adult (age ≥18 years) hospitalizations for ESLD who were discharged alive for 90 days. During 30- and 90-day readmissions, we calculated the frequency, determinants, and clinical outcomes of care fragmentation (SAS 9.4)., Results: Of the 67,480 ESLD hospitalizations surviving at discharge from 2010-2014, 35% (23,872) and 52% (35,549) were readmitted in 30- and 90-days respectively. During readmissions, the frequencies of care fragmentation were similar (30-day: 25.4% and 90-day: 25.8%) and remained stable from 2010 to 2014 (P trends>0.5). Similarly, factors associated with care fragmentation were consistent across 30- and 90-day readmissions. These included ages: 18-44 years, liver cancer, receipt of liver transplantation, hepatorenal syndrome, prolonged length of stay, and hospitalization in non-teaching facilities. During 30- and 90-day readmissions, care fragmentation was associated with higher risk of mortality (adjusted mean ratio: 1.13[1.03-1.24] and 1.14 [1.06-1.23]; P values<0.0001), prolonged length of stay (4.6-days vs. 4.1-days and 5.2-days vs. 4.6-days; P values<0.0001), and higher hospital charges ($36,884 vs. $28,932 and $37,354 vs. $30,851; P values<0.0001)., Conclusions: Care fragmentation is high among readmissions for ESLD and is associated with poorer outcomes.

Background: Cannabis plant extracts suppress gastric acid secretion and inflammation, and promote gastroduodenal ulcer healing, all of which are triggered by Helicobacter Pylori infection (HPI). Here, we evaluate the association between cannabis use and HPI among a representative community sample. Materials and Methods: We identified respondents who completed cannabis use questions and were tested for HPI ( H. pylori IgG antibody seropositivity) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III dataset ( n =4556). Cannabis usage was categorized as ever-use (ever, never), cumulative lifetime use (>10-times, 1-10-times, never), or recent use (>31-days-ago, within-31-days, never). We calculated the crude and adjusted risk (prevalence rate ratio, cPRR and aPRR) of having HPI with cannabis use using generalized Poisson models (SAS 9.4). The models were adjusted for demographics and risk factors for HPI. Results: The prevalence of HPI was lower among ever versus never cannabis users (18.6% vs. 33%, p <0.0001). Cannabis use was associated with a decreased risk of HPI (cPRR: 0.56 confidence interval [95% CI: 0.47-0.67]; p <0.0001), which persisted after adjusting for demographics (aPRR: 0.75 [95% CI: 0.63-0.90]; p =0.0016) and comorbidities (aPRR: 0.79 [95% CI: 0.66-0.95]; p =0.0145). Further, individuals with >10-times lifetime cannabis use had a decreased risk of HPI compared with those with 1-10-times lifetime use (aPRR: 0.70 [95% CI: 0.55-0.89]; p =0.0011) and never-users (aPRR: 0.65 [95% CI: 0.50-0.84]; p =0.0002). Conclusion: Recreational cannabis use is associated with diminished risk of HPI. These observations suggest the need for additional research assessing the effects of medical cannabis formulations on HPI.

Background Aims: This study aimed to evaluate quarterly trends in process and health outcomes among Veterans with cirrhosis and assess the factors associated with cirrhosis outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic., Approach Results: US Veterans with cirrhosis were identified using the Veterans Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse. Quarterly measures were evaluated from September 30, 2018, through March 31, 2022, including twice yearly screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC-6), new HCC, surveillance for or treatment of esophageal varices, variceal bleeding, all-cause hospitalization, and mortality. Joinpoint analyses were used to assess the changes in trends over time. Logistic regression models were used to identify the demographic and medical factors associated with each outcome over time. Among 111,558 Veterans with cirrhosis with a mean Model for End-stage Liver Disease-Sodium of 11±5, rates of HCC-6 sharply declined from a prepandemic peak of 41%, to a nadir of 28%, and rebounded to 36% by March 2022. All-cause mortality did not significantly change over the pandemic, but new HCC diagnosis, EVST, variceal bleeding, and all-cause hospitalization significantly declined over follow-up. Quarterly HCC diagnosis declined from 0.49% to 0.38%, EVST from 50% to 41%, variceal bleeding from 0.15% to 0.11%, and hospitalization from 9% to 5%. Rurality became newly, significantly associated with nonscreening over the pandemic (aOR for HCC-6=0.80, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.86; aOR for EVST=0.95, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.997)., Conclusions: The pandemic continues to impact cirrhosis care. Identifying populations at the highest risk of care disruptions may help to address ongoing areas of need., (Copyright © 2023 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.)

Goals: The aim was to investigate the impact of night-time emergency department (ED) presentation on outcomes of patients admitted for acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH)., Background: The relationship between time of ED presentation and outcomes of gastrointestinal hemorrhage is unclear., Study: Using the 2016 and 2017 Florida State Inpatient Databases which provide times of ED arrival, we identified and categorized adults hospitalized for UGIH to daytime (07:00 to 18:59 h) and night-time (19:00 to 06:59 h) based on the time of ED presentation. We matched both groups with propensity scores, and assessed their clinical outcomes including all-cause in-hospital mortality, in-hospital endoscopy utilization, length of stay (LOS), total hospitalization costs, and 30-day all-cause readmission rates., Results: Of the identified 38,114 patients with UGIH, 89.4% (n=34,068) had acute nonvariceal hemorrhage (ANVH), while 10.6% (n=4046) had acute variceal hemorrhage (AVH). Compared with daytime patients, ANVH patients admitted at night-time had higher odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 1.06-1.60), lower odds of in-patient endoscopy (odds ratio: 0.83; 95% confidence interval: 0.77-0.90), higher total hospital costs ($9911 vs. $9545, P <0.016), but similar LOS and readmission rates. Night-time AVH patients had a shorter LOS (5.4 vs. 5.8 d, P =0.045) but similar mortality rates, endoscopic utilization, total hospitalization costs, and readmission rates as daytime patients., Conclusions: Patients arriving in the ED at night-time with ANVH had worse outcomes (mortality, hospitalization costs, and endoscopy utilization) compared with daytime patients. However, those with AVH had comparable outcomes irrespective of ED arrival time., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: The prevalence, characteristics, burden and trends of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) hospitalizations in the USA remain unclear., Method: We identified primary PBC hospitalizations from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2007 through 2014 using ICD-9-CM codes. We calculated the rates and trends of hospitalization for PBC per 100,000 US population among each gender (males and females) and racial categories (Whites, Blacks, Hispanics and other racial minorities), and measured the predictors of hospitalization, and of mortality, charges and length of stay (LOS) among PBC hospitalizations., Result: There were 8460 (weighted: 41,191) PBC hospitalizations between 2007 and 2014. The mean national PBC hospitalization rate was 2.2 cases per 100,000 population (2.2/100,000), increasing from 1.7/100,000 (2007) to 2.5/100,000 (2014). From 2007 to 2014, the in-hospital mortality and LOS were unchanged while the charges increased from $65,993 to $73,093 ($225 million to $447 million overall expenses). Compared to Whites, the PBC hospitalization rate was 12% higher among Hispanics (RR: 1.12 [1.09-1.16]), 53% lower in Blacks (RR: 0.47 [0.45-0.49]) and 5% lower among other racial minorities (0.95 [0.91-0.99]). The rate was higher among females (RR:4.02 [3.93-4.12]) compared to males. On multivariate analysis, Blacks and other racial minorities, respectively, had higher odds of mortality (AOR: 1.47 [1.03-2.10] and 1.33 [0.96-1.84]), while other racial minorities had longer LOS (7.0 vs. 5.6 days) and higher hospital charges ($48,984 vs. $41,495) when compared to Whites., Conclusion: The hospitalization rate and burden of PBC in the USA have increased disproportionately among females and Hispanics with higher mortality in Blacks.

Background and Aims: Leaving against medical advice (LAMA) is an unfortunate occurrence in 1-2% of all hospitalized patients and is associated with worse outcomes. While this has been investigated across multiple clinical conditions, studies on patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) are lacking. We aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of this event among patients with CP., Methods: The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2007-2014, was used in the study. Patients with LAMA were identified, and the temporal trend of LAMA was estimated and compared among patients with and without CP. We then extracted patients with a discharge diagnosis of CP from the recent years of HCUP-NIS (2012-2014) and described the characteristics of LAMA in these patients. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate predictors of LAMA., Results: 3.39% of patients with CP discharged against medical advice. LAMA rate in CP patients was higher and increased more steeply at quadruple the rate of those without. More likely to self-discharge were patients who were young, males, non-privately insured, or engaged in alcohol and substance abuse, likewise were those with psychosis and those admitted on a weekend or non-electively. The northeast and for-profit hospitals also had higher odds of LAMA. However, patients transferred from other healthcare facilities have reduced LAMA odds. Among all patients with CP, those with LAMA had shorter length of stay (2.74 [2.62-2.85] days vs. 5.78 [5.71-5.83] days) and lower hospitalization cost $23,271 [$22,171-$24,370] versus $45,472 [$44,381-$46,562] compared to the no-LAMA group., Conclusion: LAMA occurs in approximately 1 in 29 patients with CP and is increasing at almost quadruple the rate of those without. Clinicians need to pay closer attention to the identified at-risk groups for ameliorative targeted interventions.

Background: Patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) suffer from pain and receive increased opioid prescriptions with a high risk of opioid use disorder (OUD). We studied the predictors, trends and outcomes of OUD among patients hospitalized with CP., Methods: Records with CP (with/without OUD) were extracted from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2012-2014, and the association of OUD with the burden of CP was calculated. We then charted the trends of OUD and its interaction with concomitant CP from NIS 2007-2014 (SAS 9.4)., Results: In the period 2012-2014, 4349 (4.99%) of the 87,068 CP patients had concomitant OUD, with higher risk among patients who were young, females, white vs. Hispanics, and individuals with chronic back pain, arthritis, non-opioid substance use, mental health disorders, and those hospitalized in urban centers. OUD was associated with a longer hospital stay (6.9 vs. 6.5 days, P=0.0015) but no significant difference in charges ($47,151 vs. $49,017, P=0.0598) or mortality (1.64% vs. 0.74%, P=0.0506). From 2007-2014, the average yearly rate of OUD was 174 cases per 10,000 hospitalizations (174/10,000), almost 3 times higher among CP vs. non-CP (479/10,000 vs. 173/10,000, P<0.001), and it increased from 2007 to 2014 (135/10,000 to 216/10,000, P<0.001). The yearly increase was 2.7 times higher among patients with CP vs. non-CP (29.9/10,000 vs. 11.3/10,000 hospitalizations/year, P<0.001)., Conclusions: CP is associated with higher rates and trends of OUD. Patients with CP at high risk of OUD may benefit from alternate analgesic regimens or surveillance for OUD when they are prescribed opioids., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: None, (Copyright: © 2021 Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology.)

Objectives: Although acute pancreatitis (AP) is associated with recurrent hospitalizations, the impact of different hospital readmissions (DHR) versus same hospital readmissions (SHR) on outcomes is unknown. We study the burden of DHR among readmissions after survival from AP hospitalizations., Methods: Among adult AP patients (Nationwide Readmissions Database), we calculated the prevalence, trends, and predictors of DHR, and its impact on mortality, hospital stay, and charges during 30- and 90-day readmissions., Results: From 2010 to 2014, 15% and 26% of AP hospitalizations (422,950) were readmitted in 30 and 90 days, respectively. The DHR rates were similar (26.3%, 30 days; 26.4%, 90 days) and unchanged from 2010 to 2014 (Ptrends > 0.10). The predictors of DHR were similar during both readmissions and included younger age category (18-45 years), hospital characteristics (nonteaching, small bed size, nonmicropolitan/metropolitan areas), substance abuse, comorbidities, and nonreception of cholecystectomy and pancreatectomy during index hospitalizations.During readmissions (30 and 90 days), DHR was associated with adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval), higher mortality (1.40 [1.19-1.64] and 1.50 [1.32-1.71]), longer hospital stay (1.3 days [1.1-1.7 days] and 1.1 days [0.9-1.3 days]), and higher charges (US $16,779 [US $13,898-US $20,254] and US $14,299 [US $12,299-US $16,623])., Conclusions: Targeted measures are needed toward patients at risk for DHR to curb the poor outcomes.

Background/aims: Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) can lead to sudden and severe hepatic decompensation necessitating recurrent hospitalizations. We evaluated the trends, predictors, and healthcare cost burden of AH-related readmissions in the USA., Methods: Utilizing the National Readmissions Database 2010-2014, we performed a retrospective longitudinal analysis to identify the index readmission with AH for up to 90 days after discharge. Annual trends of 30- and 90-day AH-related readmissions were calculated. Predictors of 30- and 90-day readmission were determined by multivariate logistic regression. Annual healthcare cost burden associated with AH-linked readmissions was estimated., Results: Of the 21,572 (unweighted: 50,769) AH-related hospitalizations, 4917 (22.8%) and 7890 (36.6%) were readmitted in 30 and 90 day, respectively, with rates that were statistically unchanged from 2010 to 2014. Predictors of 30-day readmissions included female gender, hepatitis C virus infection, cirrhosis, ascites, acute kidney injury, urinary tract infection, history of bariatric surgery, chronic pancreatitis, and high medical comorbidity index. Acute pancreatitis and palliative care consultation were associated with a lower risk of 30-day readmission. Predictors of 90-day readmission were similar to risk factors for 30-day readmission. From 2010 to 2014, the annual cost (and total hospitalization days) burden increased in 2014 to $164 million (22,244 days) and $321 million (42,772 days) for 30- and 90-day AH-related readmissions, respectively., Conclusion: Despite relatively stable trends in AH-related readmission, the total LOS and cost has been rising. A target-directed approach with a focus on high-risk subpopulations may help understand the unique challenges associated with the rising cost of AH-related readmissions.

Background: Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) diminishes amino acid and energy availability, impairing the body's healing capability after injury, such as in myocardial damage following acute myocardial infarction (AMI)., Aims: We sought to investigate the influence of PEM on clinical outcomes of AMI., Methods: We identified records with a primary discharge diagnosis of AMI from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2012-2014), stratified by concomitant PEM. We matched PEM to no-PEM (1:1) using a greedy algorithm-based propensity methodology and estimated the impact of PEM on health outcomes (SAS 9.4)., Results: Of the 332,644 hospitalizations for AMI, 11,675 had concomitant PEM accounting for roughly $US 1.5 billion and over 119,792 hospital days. PEM was associated with older age (74.43- vs. 66.90-years; P < 0.0001), female sex (49.19% vs. 38.44%; P < 0.0001), black race (12.78% vs. 10.46%; P < 0.0001), and higher comorbidity burden (Deyo > 3: 32.77% vs. 16.69%; P < 0.0001). After propensity matching, PEM was associated with higher mortality (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.59 [1.46-1.73]), cardiogenic shock (AOR: 2.26 [2.08-2.44]), discharge to secondary facilities (AOR: 2.21 [2.10-2.33]), charges ($135,500 [$131,956-139,139] vs. $81,084 [$79,241-82,970]), cardiac artery bypass surgery (AOR:1.81 [1.66-1.97]), intra-aortic balloon pump placement (AOR: 1.83 [1.65-2.04]) and longer length of stay (10.15- vs. 5.52-days)., Conclusions: PEM is a predisposing factor for devastating clinical outcomes among AMI hospitalizations. Higher prevention, identification and management of PEM among high-risk individuals (older age, female sex, and black race) residing in the community are needed., (© 2019 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Background: The prevalence of Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI), the most notorious hospital acquired disease, and of excessive cannabis use (cannabis use disorder (CUD)) have both been steadily rising. Although cannabidiol, an active ingredient of cannabis, maintains gut integrity and suppresses entero-toxins from Clostridioides difficile, the relationship between CUD and CDI has not been studied., Methods: We selected adult records (age ≥ 18 years) from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2014, and identified CUD and other clinical conditions using ICD-9-CM codes. We used propensity scores derived from a multivariate logistic model to match CUD to non-CUD in a 1:1 ratio (29,912:29,912). We estimated the relative risk for CDI using log-binomial regression models with generalized estimating equations [SAS 9.4]., Results: Among the matched hospitalizations (n = 59,824), cannabis usage was associated with a reduced prevalence of CDI (prevalence: 455.5 [95% CI: 385.1-538.8] vs. 636.4 [95% CI: 549.9-736.5] per 100,000 hospitalizations), resulting in a 28% reduced risk of CDI (relative risk: 0.72 [95% CI: 0.58-0.88]; p = 0002). Non-dependent and dependent CUD respectively had 23% and 80% reduced likelihood of CDI when compared to non-cannabis users (0.77 [95% CI: 0.60-0.95] and 0.20 [95% CI: 0.06-0.54]; p < 0.05). Furthermore, dependent users had less risk of CDI compared to non-dependent users (0.26 [95% CI: 0.08-0.88]; p = 0.01)., Conclusions: CUD was associated with a decreased risk of CDI amongst hospitalized patients. Prospective and molecular mechanistic studies are required to elucidate how cannabis and its contents impacts CDI., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, hyperammonemia, and hepatorenal syndrome predispose to cardiac arrhythmias in End-stage liver disease (ESLD)., Objectives: Among ESLD hospitalizations, we evaluate the distribution and predictors of arrhythmias and their impact on hospitalization outcomes., Methods: We selected ESLD records from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2007-2014), identified concomitant arrhythmias (tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias), and their demographic and comorbid characteristics, and estimated the effect of arrhythmia on outcomes (SAS 9.4)., Results: Of 57,119 ESLD hospitalizations, 6,615 had arrhythmias with higher odds with increasing age, males, jaundice, hepatorenal syndrome, alcohol use, and cardiopulmonary disorders. The most common arrhythmias were atrial fibrillation, cardiac arrest/asystole, and ventricular tachycardia. After propensity-matching (arrhythmia: no-arrhythmia, 6,609:6,609), arrhythmias were associated with 200% higher mortality, 1.7-days longer stay, $32,880 higher cost, and higher rates of shock, respiratory and kidney failures., Conclusions: Due to worse outcomes with arrhythmias, there is a need for better screening and follow-up of ESLD patients for dysrhythmias., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background/Aims: Patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) have a high risk for readmission. We studied the role of palliative care consultation (PCC) in ESLD-related readmissions with a focus on health care resource utilization in the United States. Methods: We performed a retrospective longitudinal analysis on patients surviving hospitalizations with ESLD from January 2010 to September 2014 utilizing the Nationwide Readmissions Database with a 90-day follow-up after discharge. We analyzed annual trends in PCC among patients with ESLD. We matched PCC to no-PCC (1:1) using propensity scores to create a pseudorandomized clinical study. We estimated the impact of PCC on readmission rates (30- and 90-day), and length of stay (LOS) and cost during subsequent readmissions. Results: Of the 67,480 hospitalizations with ESLD, 3485 (5.3%) received PCC, with an annual increase from 3.6% to 6.7% ( p for trend <0.01). The average 30- and 90-day annual readmission rates were 36.2% and 54.6%, respectively. PCC resulted in a lower risk for 30- and 90-day readmissions (hazard ratio: 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38-0.47 and 0.38, 95% CI: 0.34-0.42, respectively). On subsequent 30- and 90-day readmissions, PCC was associated with decreased LOS (5.6- vs. 7.4 days and 5.7- vs. 6.9 days, p  < 0.01) and cost (US $48,752 vs. US $75,810 and US $48,582 vs. US $69,035, p  < 0.01). Conclusion: Inpatient utilization of PCC for ESLD is increasing annually, yet still remains low in the United States. More importantly, PCC was associated with a decline in readmission rates resulting in a lower burden on health care resource utilization and improvement in cost savings during subsequent readmissions.

Background: Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), resulting from depleted energy and nutrient stores, compromises the body's defense systems and may exacerbate sepsis and its impact. However, population-based studies examining the association of PEM on the prevalence and health-care burden of sepsis are lacking., Objective: To investigate the relationship between PEM and sepsis, influence of PEM on clinical outcomes of sepsis, and impact of PEM on trends in sepsis mortality., Design: The primary study is a retrospective cohort analysis of the 2012-2014 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) patient discharge records. Secondary analyses are cross-sectional study on the 2014 NIS and trend analysis on 2007-2014 NIS., Participants/setting: The primary study included adult inpatient hospitalizations for sepsis in the United States., Main Outcome Measures: Mortality, complicated sepsis, and 10 other metrics of clinical outcomes and health care utilization., Statistical Analysis: First, patients with sepsis (2014 NIS) were stratified into two groups: uncomplicated (without shock) and complicated (with shock). The adjusted odds ratio of having sepsis (total, uncomplicated, and complicated) was estimated with PEM as predictor using logistic regressions (binomial and multinomial). Second, among patients with sepsis (2012-2014 NIS), PEM cases were matched to cases without PEM (no-PEM) using a greedy-algorithm based propensity-matching methodology (1:1), and the outcomes were measured with conditional regression models. Finally, the trend in mortality from sepsis was calculated, stratified by PEM status, as an effect modifier, using Poisson models (2007-2014 NIS). All models accounted for the complex sampling methodology (SAS 9.4)., Results: In 2014, PEM was associated with higher odds for sepsis (3.97 [3.89 to 4.05], P<0.0001) and complicated vs uncomplicated sepsis (1.74 [1.67 to 1.81], P<0.0001). From 2012-2014, about 18% (167,133 of 908,552) of hospitalizations for sepsis had coexisting PEM. After propensity matching, PEM was associated with higher mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 1.35 [1.32 to 1.37], P<0.0001), cost ($160,724 [159,517 to 161,940] vs $86,650 [85,931 to 87,375], P<0.0001), length of stay (14.8 [14.9 to 14.8] vs 8.5 [8.5 to 8.6] days, P<0.0001), adverse events, and resource utilization. Although mortality in sepsis has been trending down from 2007-2014 (-1.19% per year, P trend<0.0001), the decrease was less pronounced among those with PEM vs no-PEM (-0.86% per year vs -1.29% per year, P<0.0001)., Conclusions: PEM is a risk factor for sepsis and associated with poorer outcomes among patients with sepsis. A concerted effort involving all health care workers in the prevention, identification, and treatment of PEM in community-dwelling people before hospitalization might mitigate against these devastating outcomes., (Copyright © 2019 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: About 50% of patients with cancer who have undergone surgery suffer from cancer-related pain (CP). The use of opioids for postoperative pain management presents the potential for overdose, especially among these patients., Objective: The primary objective of this study was to determine the association between CP and postoperative opioid overdose among inpatients who had undergone major elective procedures. The secondary objective was to assess the relationship between CP and inpatient mortality, total hospital charge, and length of stay in this population., Methods: Data of adults 18 years and older from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) were analyzed. Variables were identified using ICD-9 codes. Propensity-matched regression models were employed in evaluating the association between CP and outcomes of interest., Results: Among 4,085,355 selected patients, 0.8% (N = 2,665) had CP, whereas 99.92% (N = 4,082,690) had no diagnosis of CP. We matched patients with CP (N = 2,665) and no CP (N = 13,325) in a 1:5 ratio. We found higher odds of opioid overdose (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.68-8.67, P < 0.0001) and inpatient mortality (aOR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.11-1.74, P = 0.0043) in patients with CP vs no CP. Also, patients with CP were more likely to stay longer in the hospital (12.76 days vs 7.88 days) with higher total hospital charges ($140,220 vs $88,316)., Conclusions: CP is an independent risk factor for opioid overdose, increased length of stay, and increased total hospital charges., (© 2019 American Academy of Pain Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objectives: Although the endogenous cannabinoid system modulates bowel function, our understanding of the impact of recreational marijuana (MJ) use on bowel motility is limited. This study examines the effect of MJ on self-reported bowel function among a large cohort of US adults., Methods: We identified adults (age: 20-59 years) who completed both the drug use and bowel health questionnaires in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey over a 6-year period from 2005 to 2010 (n = 9,645). Constipation and diarrhea were defined according to stool form (Bristol Stool Form Scale) and/or frequency criteria. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for likelihood of constipation or diarrhea were estimated in a multinomial logistic model according to MJ use status., Results: Overall, constipation prevalence was lower among those with recent MJ use compared with those with past/never use (7.5% vs 10.2%, P = 0.03). Recent MJ use was associated with a 30% decreased odds of constipation (crude odds ratio: 0.71 [0.56-0.98], P = 0.005), which persisted after stepwise adjustment for age and other demographic factors including sex, ethnicity, education, body mass index, and socioeconomic status (AOR: 0.64 [0.49-0.83], P = 0.001); comorbidities, substance use (alcohol, tobacco, heroin, and cocaine), constipating medications, general health condition, rigorous physical activity, and emotional disturbances (AOR: 0.68 [0.48-0.93], P = 0.016); and diet (AOR: 0.68 [0.52-0.89], P = 0.006). There was no association between recent MJ use and diarrhea., Discussion: In a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling US adults, recent MJ use was associated with decreased odds of constipation, counter to the known physiologic effects of cannabinoids on colonic motility.

Background & Aims: Trends of mortality associated with extrahepatic complications of chronic liver disease might be changing. We studied trends in mortality from extrahepatic complications of viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease (ALD), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the United States., Methods: We performed a population-based study using US Census and the National Center for Health Statistics mortality records from 2007 through 2017. We identified trends in age-standardized mortality using Joinpoint trend analysis with estimates of annual percent change., Results: The liver-related mortality among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection increased from 2007 through 2013 and then decreased once patients began receiving treatment with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents, from 2014 through 2017. Among patients with HCV infection, the age-standardized mortality for extrahepatic cancers was 2.6%, for cardiovascular disease was 1.9%, and for diabetes was 3.3%. Among individuals with hepatitis B virus infection, liver-related mortality decreased steadily from 2007 through 2017. During the study, age-standardized mortality from hepatitis B virus-related extrahepatic complications increased by an average of 2.0% each year. Although liver-related mortality from ALD continued to increase, mortality from extrahepatic complications of ALD did not change significantly during the 11-year study. Among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, the cause of death was most frequently cardiovascular disease, which increased gradually over the study period, whereas liver-related mortality increased rapidly., Conclusions: In an analysis of US Census and the National Center for Health Statistics mortality records, we found that after widespread use of DAA agents for treatment of viral hepatitis, cause-specific mortality from extrahepatic cancers increased, whereas mortality from cardiovascular disease or diabetes increased only among patients with HCV infection. These findings indicate the need to reassess risk and risk factors for extrahepatic cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in individuals successfully treated for HCV infection with DAA agents., (Copyright © 2019 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is associated with high rates of recurrent hospitalizations, which predisposes to Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). We investigate the burden of CDI in CP., Methods: We identified records of patients with CP from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2012-2014 and estimated the impact of CDI on their outcomes. We calculated the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of CP on having CDI (NIS 2014). From NIS 2007-2014, we plotted the trends of CDI and its interaction with CP., Results: From 2012 to 2014, 886 (2.72%) of the 32,614 CP patients had concomitant CDI, which was associated with poorer outcomes: acute kidney injury (AOR, 2.57 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 2.11-3.13]), length of stay (13.3 vs 7.4 days), and charges (US $127,496 vs US $72,767), but not mortality (AOR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.28-3.05]). In 2014, CP was associated with an increased risk of CDI (crude odds ratio, 2.10 [95% CI, 1.95-2.26]), which persisted after multivariate adjustment (AOR, 2.03 [95% CI, 1.87-2.19]). From 2007 to 2014, the annual prevalence of CDI was 106.4 cases per 10,000 hospitalizations, increasing from 2007 (95.5/10,000) to 2014 (118.4/10,000), with a 3.7 times higher annual rate of increase among CP versus no-CP patients (13.4/10,000 vs 3.7/10,000 population/year)., Conclusions: Chronic pancreatitis patients have high burden of CDI and may benefit from CDI prophylaxis.

Background: As the frequency of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) continues to rise in the United States (US) community, more patients are hospitalized with NAFLD. However, data on the prevalence and outcomes of hospitalizations with NAFLD are lacking. We investigated the prevalence, trends and outcomes of NAFLD hospitalizations in the US., Methods: Hospitalizations with NAFLD were identified in the National Inpatient Sample (2007-2014) by their ICD-9-CM codes, and the prevalence and trends over an 8-year period were calculated among different demographic groups. After excluding other causes of liver disease among the NAFLD cohorts (n=210,660), the impact of sex, race and region on outcomes (mortality, discharge disposition, length of stay [LOS], and cost) were computed using generalized estimating equations (SAS 9.4)., Results: Admissions with NAFLD tripled from 2007-2014 at an average rate of 79/100,000 hospitalizations/year (P<0.0001), with a larger rate of increase among males vs. females (83/100,000 vs. 75/100,000), Hispanics vs. Whites vs. Blacks (107/100,000 vs. 80/100,000 vs. 48/100,000), and government-insured or uninsured patients vs. privately-insured (94/100,000 vs. 74/100,000). Males had higher mortality, LOS, and cost than females. Blacks had longer LOS and poorer discharge destination than Whites; while Hispanics and Asians incurred higher cost than Whites. Uninsured patients had higher mortality, longer LOS, and poorer discharge disposition than the privately-insured., Conclusions: Hospitalizations with NAFLD are rapidly increasing in the US, with a disproportionately higher burden among certain demographic groups. Measures are required to arrest this ominous trend and to eliminate the disparities in outcome among patients hospitalized with NAFLD., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: None

Background and Aims: Providing diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, lower gastrointestinal endoscopy is a salient investigative modality for ischemic bowel disease (IB). As studies on the role of endoscopic timing on the outcomes of IB are lacking, we sought to clarify this association., Methods: After identifying 18-to-90-year-old patients with a primary diagnosis of IB from the 2012-2014 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we grouped them based on timing of endoscopy into three: early (n = 9268), late (n = 3515), and no endoscopy (n = 18,452). We explored the determinants of receiving early endoscopy, the impact of endoscopic timing on outcomes (mortality and 13 others), and the impact of the type of endoscopy (colonoscopy vs. sigmoidoscopy) on these outcomes among the early group (SAS 9.4)., Results: Less likely to receive early endoscopy were Blacks compared to Whites (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.81 95% CI [0.70-0.94]), and individuals on Medicaid, Medicare, and uninsured compared to the privately insured group (aOR 0.80 [0.71-0.91], 0.70 [0.58-0.84], and 0.68 [0.56-0.83]). Compared to the late and no endoscopy groups, patients with early endoscopy had less mortality (aOR 0.53 [0.35-0.80] and 0.09 [0.07-0.12]), shorter length of stay (LOS, 4.64 [4.43-4.87] days vs. 8.87 [8.40-9.37] and 6.62 [6.52-7.13] days), lower total hospital cost (THC, $41,055 [$37,995-$44,361] vs. $72,598 [$66,768-$78,937] and $68,737 [$64,028-$73,793]), and better outcomes. Similarly, among those who received early endoscopy, colonoscopy had better outcomes than sigmoidoscopy for mortality, THC, LOS, and adverse events., Conclusion: Early endoscopy, especially colonoscopy, is associated with better clinical outcomes and decreased healthcare utilization in IB. Unfortunately, there are disparities against Blacks, and non-privately insured individuals in receiving early endoscopy.

Background: The endogenous cannabinoid system modulates many brain-gut and gut-brain physiologic pathways, which are postulated to be dysfunctional in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Herein, we examine the relationship between cannabis use disorder (CUD) and having IBS., Patients and Methods: After selecting patients aged 18 years and above from the 2014 Nationwide Inpatient Survey, we used the International Classification of Diseases, 9th ed. codes to identify individuals with CUD, IBS, and the established risk factors for IBS. We then estimated the crude and adjusted odds ratios of having a diagnosis of IBS with CUD and assessed for the interactions of CUD with other risk factors (SAS 9.4). We confirmed our findings in two ways: conducting a similar analysis on a previous Nationwide Inpatient Survey data (2012); and using a greedy algorithm to design a propensity-scored case-control (1 : 10) study, approximating a pseudorandomized clinical trial., Results: Out of 4 709 043 patients evaluated, 0.03% had a primary admission for IBS and 1.32% had CUD. CUD was associated with increased odds of IBS [adjusted odds ratio: 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.53-2.71]. CUD was related to higher odds for IBS among males compared with females (3.48; 1.98-6.12 vs. 1.48; 0.88-2.50), and Hispanics and Caucasians compared with Blacks (5.28; 1.77-15.76, 1.80; 1.02-3.18 vs. 1.80; 0.65-5.03). On propensity-matching, CUD was associated with 80% increased odds for IBS (1.82; 1.27-2.60)., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that CUD is significantly associated with IBS among the general population. Males, Caucasians, and Hispanics might be more impacted by CUD associated IBS. Additional biomedical studies are required to elucidate this relationship.

Chronically elevated cytokines from un-abating low-grade inflammation in heart failure (HF) results in Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM). However, the impact of PEM on clinical outcomes of admissions for HF exacerbations has not been evaluated in a national data. From the 2012 to 2014 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) patient's discharge records for primary HF admissions, we identified patients with concomitant PEM, and their demographic and comorbid factors. We propensity-matched PEM cohorts (32,771) to no-PEM controls (1:1) using a greedy algorithm-based methodology and estimated the effect of different clinical outcomes (SAS 9.4). There were 32,771 (∼163,885) cases of PEM among the 541,679 (∼2,708,395) primary admissions for HF between 2012 and 2014 in the US. PEM cases were older (PEM:76 vs no-PEM:72 years), Whites (70.75% vs 67.30%), and had higher comorbid burden, with Deyo-comorbidity index >3 (31.61% vs 26.30%). However, PEM cases had lower rates of obesity, hyperlipidemia and diabetes. After propensity-matching, PEM was associated with higher mortality (AOR:2.48 [2.31 to 2.66]), cardiogenic shock (3.11[2.79 to 3.46]), cardiac arrest (2.30[1.96 to 2.70]), acute kidney failure (1.49[1.44 to 1.54]), acute respiratory failure (1.57[1.51 to 1.64]), mechanical ventilation (2.72[2.50 to 2.97]). PEM also resulted in higher non-routine discharges (2.24[2.17 to 2.31]), hospital cost ($80,534[78,496 to 82,625] vs $43,226[42,376 to 44,093]) and longer duration of admission (8.6[8.5 to 8.7] vs 5.3[5.2 to 5.3] days). In conclusion, PEM is a prevailing comorbidity among hospitalized HF subjects, and results in devastating health outcomes. Early identification and prevention of PEM in HF subjects during clinic visits and prompt treatment of PEM both in the clinic and during hospitalization are essential to decrease the excess burden of PEM., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aim: Advanced fibrosis associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been reported to have a higher risk of hepatic and non-hepatic mortality. We aim to study the recent trends in the prevalence of NAFLD-related advanced fibrosis in a large population sample., Methods: Cross-sectional data from 28,739 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2016 were utilized. NAFLD was defined using the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) and the US fatty liver index (USFLI) in the absence of other causes of chronic liver disease. The presence and absence of advanced fibrosis in NAFLD was determined by the NAFLD fibrosis score, FIB-4 score, and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index., Results: The prevalence of NAFLD-related advanced fibrosis increased from 2.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1-3.1] in 2005-2008 and 4.4% (95% CI 3.7-5.1) in 2009-2012, to 5.0% (95% CI 4.2-5.9) in 2013-2016 using HSI as the NAFLD prediction model; and from 3.3% (95% CI 2.5-4.5) in 2005-2008 and 6.4% (95% CI 3.7-5.1) in 2009-2012, to 6.8% (95% 5.3-8.7) in 2013-2016 using USFLI (p < 0.01). A similar trend was observed in entire NHANES cohort regardless of NAFLD status. While the prevalence of advanced fibrosis increased steadily in non-Hispanic whites through the duration of the study, it leveled off during 2013-2016 in non-Hispanic blacks., Conclusions: Prevalence of advanced fibrosis associated with NAFLD increased steadily from 2005 to 2016. More importantly, race/ethnicity-based temporal differences were noted in the prevalence of NAFLD-related advanced fibrosis during the study.

Background: Pancreatitis is an increasingly common clinical condition that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Cannabis use causes conflicting effects on pancreatitis development. We conducted a larger and more detailed assessment of the impact of cannabis use on pancreatitis., Methods: We analyzed data from 2012 to 2014 of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample discharge records of patients 18 years and older. We used the International Classification of Disease, Ninth Edition codes, to identify 3 populations: those with gallstones (379,125); abusive alcohol drinkers (762,356); and non-alcohol-non-gallstones users (15,255,464). Each study population was matched for cannabis use record by age, race, and gender, to records without cannabis use. The estimation of the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of having acute and chronic pancreatitis (AP and CP) made use of conditional logistic models., Results: Concomitant cannabis and abusive alcohol use were associated with reduced incidence of AP and CP (aOR: 0.50 [0.48 to 0.53] and 0.77 [0.71 to 0.84]). Strikingly, for individuals with gallstones, additional cannabis use did not impact the incidence of AP or CP. Among non-alcohol-non-gallstones users, cannabis use was associated with increased incidence of CP, but not AP (1.28 [1.14 to 1.44] and 0.93 [0.86 to 1.01])., Conclusions: Our findings suggest a reduced incidence of only alcohol-associated pancreatitis with cannabis use., (© 2018 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.)

Background: Alcoholic gastritis, a superficial erosive disease of the stomach, is a common manifestation of risky alcohol use. In contrast, cannabis which is frequently co-used with alcohol suppresses gastric acidity and might counteract the deleterious effect of alcohol on the gastric mucosa. However, no clinical study has examined the impact of cannabis use on the development of alcoholic gastritis among risky alcohol users., Methods: We analyzed hospital discharge records of adults (age ≥ 18 years), from 2014 of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, with a diagnosis of risky alcohol use (n = 316,916). We used a propensity-based matching algorithm to match cannabis users to nonusers on 1:1 ratio (30,713: 30,713). We then measured the adjusted relative risk (aRR) for having alcoholic gastritis using conditional Poisson regression models with generalized estimating equations., Results: Our study revealed that among risky alcohol users, cannabis co-users have a lower prevalence of alcoholic gastritis compared to noncannabis users (1,289 [1,169 to 1,421] vs. 1,723 [1,583 to 1,875] per 100,000 hospitalizations for risky alcohol use), resulting in a 25% decreased probability of alcoholic gastritis (aRR: 0.75 [0.66 to 0.85]; p-value <0.0001). Furthermore, dependent cannabis usage resulted in a lower prevalence of alcoholic gastritis when compared to both nondependent cannabis users (0.72 [0.52 to 0.99]) and to noncannabis users (0.56 [0.41 to 0.76])., Conclusions: We reveal that risky alcohol drinking combined with cannabis use is associated with reduced prevalence of alcohol-associated gastritis in patients. Given increased cannabis legislation globally, understanding whether and how the specific ingredients in cannabis plant extract can be used in the treatment of alcoholic gastritis is paramount. In this regard, further molecular mechanistic studies are needed to delineate the mechanisms of our novel findings not only for alcoholic gastritis but also for gastritis from other causes., (© 2018 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.)

A significant proportion of patients with acute myocarditis experience sudden cardiac death presumably due to cardiac arrhythmia. In this study, we explore the burden, the predictors of arrhythmia in acute myocarditis and the association between arrhythmias and adverse in-hospital outcomes. After evaluating the frequency of various tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmia in myocarditis population, we built a logistic model to determine the independent predictors of arrhythmias in myocarditis and a 1:1 propensity-matched analysis to examine the impact of arrhythmias. Overall, cardiac arrhythmias were identified in 33.71% of the hospitalized myocarditis cases. Ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation were most common arrhythmias. There were increased odds of in-hospital mortality, cardiogenic shock, use of mechanical circulatory support, pacemaker implantation, and nonroutine hospital discharges in the arrhythmia cohorts. Length of stay and cost of hospitalization were also significantly higher. A significant proportion of patients with myocarditis have cardiac arrhythmias. As the occurrence of arrhythmias in myocarditis is associated with worse outcomes, it may be important to risk stratify patient to identify those who will benefit from early intervention., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background and Aims: Clinical conditions resulting in hypoxia, hypoperfusion, anaerobic milieu within the gut, and intestinal epithelial breakdown, such as seen in heart failure, precipitates Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Given that ischemic bowel disease (IB) typically results in similar changes within the gut, we investigated the relationship between CDI and IB, and the impact of CDI on the clinical outcomes of IB., Patients and Methods: We initially performed a cross-sectional analysis on the 2014 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project - Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) patient's discharge records of ages 18 years and older, by estimating the crude and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of CDI and IB as the outcome and predictor respectively. We then pooled data from the 2012-2014 NIS, identified, and compared mortality (and 15 other outcomes) between three groups: IB+CDI, IB-alone, and CDI-alone (Statistical Analysis System 9.4)., Results: In the 2014 NIS, records with IB (n=27 609), had higher rate and odds of CDI [3.95 vs. 1.17%, aOR: 1.89 (1.77-2.02)] than records without IB (n=5 879 943). The 2012-2014 NIS contained 1105 IB+CDI, 30 960 IB-alone, and 60 758 CDI-alone groups. IB+CDI had higher mortality [aOR: 1.44 (1.11-1.86)], length of stay [9.59 (9.03-10.20) vs. 6.12 (5.99-6.26) days], cost [$93 257 (82 892-104 919) vs. $63 257 (61 029-65 567)], unfavorable discharge disposition [aOR: 2.24 (1.91-2.64)] and poorer results across most of the other outcomes than IB-alone. Comparable results were found for IB+CDI versus CDI-alone., Conclusion: IB is a risk factor for CDI in hospitals. CDI is associated with higher mortality, longer length of stay, higher cost, unfavorable discharge, and many other poorer health outcomes in patients with IB.

Background and Aim: The effect of cannabis use on chronic liver disease (CLD) from Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection, the most common cause of CLD, has been controversial. Here, we investigated the impact of cannabis use on the prevalence of CLD among HCV infected individuals., Methods: We analyzed hospital discharge records of adults (age ≥ 18 years) with a positive HCV diagnosis. We evaluated records from 2007 to 2014 of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). We excluded records with other causes of chronic liver diseases (alcohol, hemochromatosis, NAFLD, PBC, HBV, etc.). Of the 188,333 records, we matched cannabis users to nonusers on 1:1 ratio (4,728:4,728), using a propensity-based matching system, with a stringent algorithm. We then used conditional regression models with generalized estimating equations to measure the adjusted prevalence rate ratio (aPRR) for having liver cirrhosis (and its complications), carcinoma, mortality, discharge disposition, and the adjusted mean ratio (aMR) of total hospital cost and length of stay (LOS) [SAS 9.4]., Results: Our study revealed that cannabis users (CUs) had decreased prevalence of liver cirrhosis (aPRR: 0.81[0.72-0.91]), unfavorable discharge disposition (0.87[0.78-0.96]), and lower total health care cost ($39,642[36,220-43,387] versus $45,566[$42,244-$49,150]), compared to noncannabis users (NCUs). However, there was no difference among CUs and NCUs on the incidence of liver carcinoma (0.79[0.55-1.13]), in-hospital mortality (0.84[0.60-1.17]), and LOS (5.58[5.10-6.09] versus 5.66[5.25-6.01]). Among CUs, dependent cannabis use was associated with lower prevalence of liver cirrhosis, compared to nondependent use (0.62[0.41-0.93])., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that cannabis use is associated with decreased incidence of liver cirrhosis, but no change in mortality nor LOS among HCV patients. These novel observations warrant further molecular mechanistic studies.

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inheritable hematologic disorder in the USA and is associated with ischemic organ diseases. SCD-associated ischemic bowel disease is increasing being recognized, and studies on the hospitalization outcomes of such patients are limited., Objective: This study aimed to compare the inpatient outcomes of ischemic bowel disease among patients with SCD compared with patients without SCD., Materials and Methods: This is a case-control study using data from the National Inpatient Sample Database (2007-2014). We analyzed and compared outcomes between cases (ischemic bowel disease with SCD) and controls (ischemic bowel disease without SCD), matched in a 1 : 5 ratio. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and the secondary outcomes were healthcare resource utilization including mechanical ventilation, hemodialysis, transfusion, length of stay, and hospital charges., Results: Of the 194 262 patients admitted with ischemic bowel disease, 98 had a diagnosis of SCD and were matched successfully to the controls. In multivariate analysis, patients with SCD had twice the mortality odds of those without (adjusted odds ratio=2.06, 95% confidence intervals: 1.13-3.74). They were more likely to require mechanical ventilation and blood transfusion, and to be discharged to secondary health facilities [1.68 (1.02-2.76), 3.32 (2.15-5.12), and 1.84 (1.02-3.35)]. Patients with SCD also had a higher frequency of pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, and hemodialysis for acute renal failure. There was no significant difference in the length of stay or the total hospital charge between the two groups., Conclusion: In patients hospitalized with ischemic bowel disease, SCD is associated with significantly increased mortality and healthcare burden.

Background: Abusive alcohol use has well-established health risks including causing liver disease (ALD) characterized by alcoholic steatosis (AS), steatohepatitis (AH), fibrosis, cirrhosis (AC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Strikingly, a significant number of individuals who abuse alcohol also use Cannabis, which has seen increased legalization globally. While cannabis has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, its combined use with alcohol and the development of liver disease remain unclear., Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of cannabis use on the incidence of liver disease in individuals who abuse alcohol., Methods: We analysed the 2014 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) discharge records of patients 18 years and older, who had a past or current history of abusive alcohol use (n = 319 514). Using the International Classification of Disease, Ninth Edition codes, we studied the four distinct phases of progressive ALD with respect to three cannabis exposure groups: non-cannabis users (90.39%), non-dependent cannabis users (8.26%) and dependent cannabis users (1.36%). We accounted for the complex survey sampling methodology and estimated the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for developing AS, AH, AC and HCC with respect to cannabis use (SAS 9.4)., Results: Our study revealed that among alcohol users, individuals who additionally use cannabis (dependent and non-dependent cannabis use) showed significantly lower odds of developing AS, AH, AC and HCC (AOR: 0.55 [0.48-0.64], 0.57 [0.53-0.61], 0.45 [0.43-0.48] and 0.62 [0.51-0.76]). Furthermore, dependent users had significantly lower odds than non-dependent users for developing liver disease., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that cannabis use is associated with a reduced incidence of liver disease in alcoholics., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Left ventricular dysfunction triggers the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, providing inotropic support to the failing heart and concomitantly increasing the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). The cardiovascular effects of cannabis have been characterized as biphasic on the autonomic nervous system with an increased sympathetic effect at low doses and an inhibitory sympathetic activity at higher doses. It is unknown if the autonomic effect of cannabis impacts the occurrence of AF in patients with heart failure (HF). We used data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-National Inpatient Sample for patients admitted with a diagnosis of HF in 2014. The outcome variable was the diagnosis of AF, with the main exposure being cannabis use. We identified a cannabis user group and a 1:1 propensity-matched non-cannabis user group, each having 3,548 patients. We then estimated the odds of AF diagnosis in cannabis users. An estimated 3,950,392 patients were admitted with a diagnosis of HF in the United States in 2014. Among these, there were 17,755 (0.45%) cannabis users. In the matched cohort, cannabis users were less likely to have AF (19.08% vs 21.39%; AOR 0.87 [0.77 to 0.98]). In conclusion, cannabis users have lower odds of AF when compared with nonusers, which was not explained by co-morbid conditions, age, insurance type, and socioeconomic status., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cannabis use is associated with reduced prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) in humans and mouse disease models. Obesity and DM are a well-established independent risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most prevalent liver disease globally. The effects of cannabis use on NAFLD prevalence in humans remains ill-defined. Our objective is to determine the relationship between cannabis use and the prevalence of NAFLD in humans. We conducted a population-based case-control study of 5,950,391 patients using the 2014 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Nationwide Inpatient Survey (NIS) discharge records of patients 18 years and older. After identifying patients with NAFLD (1% of all patients), we next identified three exposure groups: non-cannabis users (98.04%), non-dependent cannabis users (1.74%), and dependent cannabis users (0.22%). We adjusted for potential demographics and patient related confounders and used multivariate logistic regression (SAS 9.4) to determine the odds of developing NAFLD with respects to cannabis use. Our findings revealed that cannabis users (dependent and non-dependent) showed significantly lower NAFLD prevalence compared to non-users (AOR: 0.82[0.76-0.88]; p<0.0001). The prevalence of NAFLD was 15% lower in non-dependent users (AOR: 0.85[0.79-0.92]; p<0.0001) and 52% lower in dependent users (AOR: 0.49[0.36-0.65]; p<0.0001). Among cannabis users, dependent patients had 43% significantly lower prevalence of NAFLD compared to non-dependent patients (AOR: 0.57[0.42-0.77]; p<0.0001). Our observations suggest that cannabis use is associated with lower prevalence of NAFLD in patients. These novel findings suggest additional molecular mechanistic studies to explore the potential role of cannabis use in NAFLD development.