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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

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.

The prevalence, characteristics, burden and trends of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) hospitalizations in the USA remain unclear. 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. 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. The hospitalization rate and burden of PBC in the USA have increased disproportionately among females and Hispanics with higher mortality in Blacks.

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. 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. 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. 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 Ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract has gained increasing popularity as a sphincter-sparing technique for complex anal fistula. The present review aimed to investigate the pooled success and complication rates of ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract in the published literature and to explore the risk factors for failure after ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract. Methods A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-compliant literature search was conducted. Electronic databases were searched in the period of January 2007 through April 2019 for studies that assessed the outcome of the ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract procedure. The main outcomes of the review were the pooled success and complication rates of ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract, predictors of failure after ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract, operation time, hospital stay, and how failures were managed. Results Twenty-six studies comprising 1,378 patients (996 male) were included in this review. The mean age of patients was 42.3 ± 4.2 years. The weighted mean rate of success was 76.5%. The median follow-up duration was 16.5 months. The weighted mean complication rate was 13.9%. The most common complication was wound dehiscence. Fecal incontinence was recorded in 1.4% of patients. Factors that were statistically significantly associated with failure after the ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract procedure were horseshoe fistulas, fistulas associated with Crohn’s disease, and those with a history of previous fistula surgery. Conclusion The pooled success and complication rates of the ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract procedure were about 76% and 14%, respectively. Horseshoe fistulas, Crohn’s disease, and previous fistula surgery were identified as predictors for failure after ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract procedure.

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

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.

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 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.

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.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.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.The primary study included adult inpatient hospitalizations for sepsis in the United States.Mortality, complicated sepsis, and 10 other metrics of clinical outcomes and health care utilization.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).In 2014, PEM was associated with higher odds for sepsis (3.97 [3.89 to 4.05], P0.0001) and complicated vs uncomplicated sepsis (1.74 [1.67 to 1.81], P0.0001). 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], P0.0001), cost ($160,724 [159,517 to 161,940] vs $86,650 [85,931 to 87,375], P0.0001), length of stay (14.8 [14.9 to 14.8] vs 8.5 [8.5 to 8.6] days, P0.0001), adverse events, and resource utilization. Although mortality in sepsis has been trending down from 2007-2014 (-1.19% per year, P trend0.0001), the decrease was less pronounced among those with PEM vs no-PEM (-0.86% per year vs -1.29% per year, P0.0001).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.

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 identifie

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

In the setting of cardiogenic shock (CS), impaired biventricular function can cause acute decrease in renal function via reduced renal perfusion and increased renal venous pressure. We sought to analyze the characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized with CS who utilized renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis) for acute kidney injury (AKI-HD). We utilized data from the National Inpatient Sample to calculate national rates of in-hospital mortality, use of temporary mechanical support, vascular injury requiring surgery, length of stay (LOS) and hospitalization cost from 2010 to September 2015. We compared the in-hospital outcomes between CS with AKI-HD and a propensity score-matched group without AKI-HD. We identified 6,076 hospitalizations (weighted n = 24,272) with CS and AKI-HD and 76,878 (weighted n = 378,553) with CS not AKI-HD. Among these cases 48.1% (n = 39,403, weighted n = 193,746) had ST elevation myocardial infarction as the cause of CS. Patients with CS and AKI-HD had higher comorbidity burden and they were also more likely to receive mechanical circulatory support device (absolute standardized difference10% for all comparisons) compared with CS patients without AKI-HD. After matching 4,457 cases for patient-level and hospital-level characteristics, CS with AKI-HD was associated with significantly higher in-hospital mortality (75.74% vs 51.58%, p0.001), use of temporary mechanical support (24.0% vs 19.3%, p0.001), LOS (21.4 vs14.4 days, p0.001) and cost ($80,406 vs $52,833, p0.0001). AKI-HD occurred in approximately 6% of patients with CS in years 2010 to 2015 and was associated with significantly increased in-hospital morbidity and mortality, LOS, and cost.

Although mortality due to acute alcoholic hepatitis (AH) correlates with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores, biomarkers are critically needed to manage this disease. Increases in inflammatory markers and macrophage activation are associated with acute AH and could be potential biomarkers of clinical events and/or mortality. We enrolled 89 clinically diagnosed AH patients in four US academic medical centers. Plasma from AH patients had a significant increase in gut microbial translocation indicators (endotoxin, bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA) and host response indicators (soluble cluster of differentiation 14 [sCD14] and lipopolysaccharide binding protein [LBP]) compared to controls. Patient MELD score and Glasgow Alcoholic Hepatitis score (GAHS) correlated with endotoxin levels. AH patients also had a significant increase in high mobility group protein 1 (HMGB1), a sterile danger signal molecule, and osteopontin (OPN), a multifunctional phosphoprotein involved in neutrophil activation, compared to controls. Increased levels of OPN positively correlated with increasing MELD score, GAHS, and LBP levels. Consistent with these results, AH patients had significantly increased circulating levels of macrophage activation (sCD163 and sCD206) markers compared to healthy controls, and sCD163 and sCD206 significantly and positively correlated with OPN, HMGB1, and LBP levels as well as with MELD score and GAHS. These findings indicate a connection between microbial translocation, immune cell activation, and AH severity. Plasma sCD14, OPN, sCD163, and sCD206 levels were significantly higher in nonsurvivors than survivors. In multivariate regression models, we identified sCD14, sCD163, and OPN as independent predictors of 90-day mortality, infection, and organ failure development, respectively. Conclusion: Our study suggests that sCD14, LBP, OPN, sCD163, and sCD206 are biomarkers to indicate severity and predict clinical outcomes in AH.

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.

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. 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. 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

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.

Cardiac tamponade is a severe complication of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantations. We provide a contemporary large-scale study evaluating the incident trends, predictors and impact of cardiac tamponade in patients undergoing CRT.Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) of 2007 through 2014. Trends in the annual rates of tamponades in CRT implantation were assessed using negative binomial regressions. Hierarchical mixed-effects logistic regression models were built to determine the independent predictors of tamponade in CRT implantation and 1:1 propensity-matched analysis performed to examine the impact of tamponade on outcomes.An estimated 310,704 CRT implantations were performed in the United States between 2007 and 2014, out of which 536 patients (0.17%) developed procedure-related cardiac tamponade. A significant increasing trend in the tamponade incidence was observed over the 8-year study period [1.65 per 10,000 CRT implantation in 2007 to 38.16 in 2014 (p 0.001)]. After multivariable adjustment, female sex and coagulation disorder were found to be independently associated with higher odds of tamponade. Conversely, prior history of CABG procedure was associated with lower odds of tamponade. CRT complicated with tamponade had significantly increased in-hospital mortality, bleeding requiring transfusion, prolonged hospital stay and increased cost.We found an increasing trend in the incidence of post CRT tamponade among hospitalized patients between 2007 and 2014. Female gender and coagulation disorder were associated with the development of tamponade among recipients of CRT. Risk stratification of patients who are undergoing CRT is crucial to improving outcome in CRT implantation.

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.

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.

A salient feature of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is Kupffer cell (KC) activation and recruitment of inflammatory monocytes and macrophages (MOs). These key cellular events of ALD pathogenesis may be mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs transfer biomaterials, including proteins and microRNAs, and have recently emerged as important effectors of intercellular communication. We hypothesized that circulating EVs from mice with ALD have a protein cargo characteristic of the disease and mediate biological effects by activating immune cells. The total number of circulating EVs was increased in mice with ALD compared to pair-fed controls. Mass spectrometric analysis of circulating EVs revealed a distinct signature for proteins involved in inflammatory responses, cellular development, and cellular movement between ALD EVs and control EVs. We also identified uniquely important proteins in ALD EVs that were not present in control EVs. When ALD EVs were injected intravenously into alcohol-naive mice, we found evidence of uptake of ALD EVs in recipient livers in hepatocytes and MOs. Hepatocytes isolated from mice after transfer of ALD EVs, but not control EVs, showed increased monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 mRNA and protein expression, suggesting a biological effect of ALD EVs. Compared to control EV recipient mice, ALD EV recipient mice had increased numbers of F4/80hi cluster of differentiation 11b (CD11b)lo KCs and increased percentages of tumor necrosis factor alpha-positive/interleukin 12/23-positive (inflammatory/M1) KCs and infiltrating monocytes (F4/80int CD11bhi ), while the percentage of CD206+ CD163+ (anti-inflammatory/M2) KCs was decreased. In vitro, ALD EVs increased tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1β production in MOs and reduced CD163 and CD206 expression. We identified heat shock protein 90 in ALD EVs as the mediator of ALD-EV-induced MO activation. Conclusion Our study indicates a specific protein signature of ALD EVs and demonstrates a functional role of circulating EVs containing heat shock protein 90 in mediating KC/MO activation in the liver. (Hepatology 2018;67:1986-2000).

Monocytes and macrophages (MΦs) play a central role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The tissue microenvironment triggers monocyte differentiation into MΦs, with polarization ranging within the spectrum of M1 (classical) to M2 (alternative) activation. Recently, we demonstrated that HCV infection leads to monocyte differentiation into polarized MΦs that mediate stellate cell activation via TGF-β. In this study, we aimed to identify the viral factor(s) that mediate monocyte-to-MΦ differentiation. We performed coculture experiments using healthy monocytes with exosome-packaged HCV, cell-free HCV, or HCV ssRNA. Coculture of monocytes with exosome-packaged HCV, cell-free HCV, or HCV ssRNA induced differentiation into MΦs with high M2 surface marker expression and production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The HCV ssRNA–induced monocyte activation and differentiation into MΦs could be prevented by TLR7 or TLR8 knockdown. Furthermore, TLR7 or TLR8 stimulation, independent of HCV, caused monocyte differentiation and M2 MΦ polarization. In vivo, in chronic HCV–infected patients, we found increased expression of TLR7/8 in circulating monocytes that was associated with increased intracellular expression of procollagen. Furthermore, knockdown of TLR8 completely attenuated collagen expression in monocytes exposed to HCV, and knockdown of TLR7 partially attenuated this expression, suggesting roles for TLR7/8 in induction of fibrocytes in HCV infection. We identified TLR7/8 as mediators of monocyte differentiation and M2 MΦ polarization during HCV infection. Further, we demonstrated that HCV ssRNA and other TLR7/8 ligands promote MΦ polarization and generation of circulating fibrocytes.

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.

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.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.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.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 : Improving survival rates among patients with breast cancer has been associated with an increase in the prevalence of co-morbidities like cancer-related pain. Opioids are an important component in the management of pain among these patients. However, the progression from judicious use to abuse defeats the aim of pain control. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended as the first step in cancer-related pain management. Due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic and neuroprotective properties, NSAIDs have been shown to reduce the risk of progression of certain cancers including breast cancers. In this study, we assessed whether an association exists between long-term NSAID use and opioid abuse among breast cancer survivors. We also explored the relationship between long-term NSAID use and inpatient mortality and length of stay (LOS). METHODS Using ICD-9-CM codes, we identified and selected women aged 18 years and older with breast cancer from the National Inpatient Sample. Our primary predictor was a history of long-term NSAID use. Multivariable regression models were employed in assessing the association between long-term NSAID use and opioid abuse, inpatient mortality and LOS . RESULTS Among 170,644 women with breast cancer, 7,838 (4.6%) reported a history of long-term NSAID use. Patients with a history of long-term NSAID use had lower odds of opioid abuse (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.53; 95% CI [0.32-0.88]), lower in-hospital mortality (aOR 0.52; 95% CI [0.45-0.60]) and shorter LOS (7.12 vs. 8.11 days). DISCUSSION Further studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanism of the association between long-term NSAID use and opioid abuse.

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.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.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).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.

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.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].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).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.

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).We sought to investigate the influence of PEM on clinical outcomes of AMI.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).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 (Deyo3: 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).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.

Introduction Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTCM), an entity first described in Japan over two decades ago following myocardial stunning cases without evidence of coronary stenosis, has emerged as a unique entity with global recognition. We sought to investigate the extent and magnitude of regional variations in its outcomes. Method We used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2010–2014). Risk-adjusted rates of outcomes across the US geographical regions were calculated by fitting a Poisson regression model with a robust error variance under generalized estimating equations. Discrete numeric variables with over-dispersed count distributions -length of stay and continuous variables with a right skewed spread- cost of hospitalization were modeled using a generalized linear regression with a negative binomial function and gamma function respectively. Result We found significant regional variations in-patient mortality. While there was significantly higher risk of in-hospital death in the West (5.28 [4.34–6.44]) vs 4.40 [3.57–5.43] vs 4.10 [3.38–498] vs 4.78 [3.96–5.77]), there was a different pattern of variation in the length of days with longer hospital stay in the Northeast. Likewise, the risk-adjusted rate of non-routine home discharges was highest for Northeast. The West had the highest cost of hospitalization (West: $40,217 vs. South: $28,465) Conclusion Significant geographic variation exists in the cost of hospitalization and in-hospital mortality of TTCM across the US. Understanding this variation requires a detailed understanding of the processes of care and identification of effective strategies to eliminate these disparities.

International audience; 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.

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.

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.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.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-value0.0001). 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]).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.

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.