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BACKGROUND: Information about the epidemiology of older Internal Medicine patients receiving medical emergency team (MET) calls is limited. We assessed the prevalence, characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of this vulnerable group. METHODS: Internal Medicine patients aged >75 years who were admitted via the Emergency Department to a tertiary hospital between January 2015 to December 2018 and who activated a MET call were compared to patients without MET call activation during the same time period. Outcome measures included management post-MET call, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission rates, discharge disposition, length of hospital stays (LOS), and in-patient mortality. RESULTS: There were 10,803 Internal Medical admissions involving 10,423 patients; median age 85 (IQR 81-89) years. Of these, 995 (10%) patients received at least one MET call. MET call patients had greater physiological instability in the Emergency Department and higher median Charlson comorbidity index values (2, IQR 1-3 vs. 1, IQR 0-2; p < .0001) than non-MET call patients. Overall, 10% of MET call patients were admitted to ICU. MET patients had a longer median length of stay (9 [IQR 5-14] vs. 4 days [IQR 2-7]; p < .001) and higher in-hospital mortality (29% vs. 7%; p < .001). However, mortality of MET call patients without treatment limitations was 48/357 (13%). CONCLUSION: One in ten Internal Medicine patients aged >75 years and admitted via ED had a MET call. Physiological instability in ED and comorbidities were key risk factors. Mortality in MET patients approached 30%. These data can help predict at-risk patients for improving goals of care and pre-MET interventions.

BACKGROUND: Abnormalities in serum potassium are a well known complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but little is known about their impact on inpatient outcomes. AIMS: To better understand the role of dyskalaemia in hospital in-patients, we assessed the epidemiology of potassium disorders among CKD patients, and the association between admission potassium and inpatient mortality or intensive care unit (ICU) requirement. METHODS: This retrospective hospital-based cohort study (n = 11 156) included patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 admitted to Austin Health between 2014 and 2018 and who had an admission potassium value. Dialysis patients or those with a renal transplant were excluded. Multivariate logistic analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with hyperkalaemia (≥5.5 mmol/L) and hypokalaemia (<3.5 mmol/L). Odds ratios for inpatient mortality and ICU admission between potassium categories were obtained by multivariate regression with adjustments for demographics, renal function and comorbidities. RESULTS: Hyperkalaemia and hypokalaemia were present in 6.86% and 2.94% of hospital admissions respectively. In multivariate regression male sex, lower eGFR, diabetes and cardiac failure were associated with higher odds of hyperkalaemia. Thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics, infectious disease and endocrine pathology were associated with higher odds of hypokalaemia. A U-shaped association was noted between potassium and inpatient mortality. Potassium <4.0 mmol/L and ≥5.0 mmol/L was associated with increased mortality. Only patients with potassium ≥5.5 mmol/L had increased ICU admission risk. CONCLUSION: Derangements in potassium frequently occur in CKD inpatients and are independently associated with higher mortality and ICU requirement. Further studies are required to determine whether interventions to maintain normokalaemia improve outcomes in this population.

Early during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly two thirds of unpaid caregivers of adults reported adverse mental or behavioral health symptoms, compared with approximately one third of noncaregivers† (1). In addition, 27% of parents of children aged <18 years reported that their mental health had worsened during the pandemic (2). To examine mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic among U.S. adults on the basis of their classification as having a parenting role (i.e., unpaid persons caring for children and adolescents aged <18 years, referred to as children in this report) or being an unpaid caregiver of adults (i.e., persons caring for adults aged ≥18 years),§ CDC analyzed data from cross-sectional surveys that were administered during December 2020 and February-March 2021 for The COVID-19 Outbreak Public Evaluation (COPE) Initiative.¶ Respondents were categorized as parents only, caregivers of adults only, parents-caregivers (persons in both roles), or nonparents/noncaregivers (persons in neither role). Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for any adverse mental health symptoms, particularly suicidal ideation, were higher among all respondents who were parents, caregivers of adults, or both compared with respondents who were nonparents/noncaregivers and were highest among persons in both roles (parents-caregivers) (any adverse mental health symptoms: aOR = 5.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.1-6.2; serious suicidal ideation: aOR = 8.2, 95% CI = 6.5-10.4). These findings highlight that parents and caregivers, especially those balancing roles both as parents and caregivers, experienced higher levels of adverse mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic than adults without these responsibilities. Caregivers who had someone to rely on for support had lower odds of experiencing any adverse mental health symptoms. Additional measures are needed to improve mental health among parents, caregivers, and parents-caregivers.

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) during critical illness increases the risk of subsequent chronic kidney disease. Guidelines recommend inpatient nephrology assessment and review at 3 months. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the prevalence and predictors of inpatient and outpatient nephrology follow-up of AKI patients admitted to critical care areas within a tertiary hospital. METHODS: Retrospective study of all critically ill adults with AKI between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016 with a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and alive and independent of renal replacement therapy for 30 days after hospital discharge. We used logistic regression models to examine the primary outcome of nephrology review at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included inpatient nephrology review, renal recovery at discharge and the development of a major adverse kidney event (MAKE) at 1 year. RESULTS: Of 702 critically ill patients with AKI (mean age 66 years, 64% male, baseline eGFR 78 mL/min/1.73 m2 ), 43 patients (6%) received nephrology follow-up at 3 months and 63 patients (9%) at 1 year. Nephrology follow-up occurred more frequently in patients with a higher baseline creatinine, a higher discharge creatinine and greater severity of AKI. Seventy patients (10%) underwent inpatient nephrology review. Overall, 414 (59%) had recovery of renal function by the time of discharge and 239 (34%) developed a MAKE at 12 months. CONCLUSION: Inpatient and outpatient nephrology follow-up of AKI patients after admission to a critical care area was uncommon although one-third developed a MAKE. These findings provide the rationale for controlled studies of nephrology follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Governments worldwide recommended unprecedented measures to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As pressure mounted to scale back measures, understanding public priorities was critical. We assessed initial public adherence with and support for stay-at-home orders in nations and cities with different SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 death rates. METHODS: Cross-sectional surveys were administered to representative samples of adults aged ≥18 years from regions with different SARS-CoV-2 prevalences from April 2-8, 2020. Regions included two nations [the United States (US-high prevalence) and Australia (AU-low prevalence)] and two US cities [New York City (NY-high prevalence) and Los Angeles (LA-low prevalence)]. Regional SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 prevalence (cumulative SARS-CoV-2 infections, COVID-19 deaths) as of April 8, 2020: US (363,321, 10,845), AU (5956, 45), NY (81,803, 4571), LA (7530, 198). Of 8718 eligible potential respondents, 5573 (response rate, 63.9%) completed surveys. Median age was 47 years (range, 18-89); 3039 (54.5%) were female. RESULTS: Of 5573 total respondents, 4560 (81.8%) reported adherence with recommended quarantine or stay-at-home policies (range of samples, 75.5-88.2%). Additionally, 29.1% of respondents screened positive for anxiety or depression symptoms (range of samples, 28.6-32.0%), with higher prevalences among those of younger age, female gender, and those in quarantine or staying at home most of the time versus those who did not report these behaviours. Despite elevated prevalences of adverse mental health symptoms and significant life disruptions, 5022 respondents (90.1%) supported government-imposed stay-at-home orders (range of samples, 88.9-93.1%). Of these, 90.8% believed orders should last at least three more weeks or until public health or government officials recommended, with support spanning the political spectrum. CONC

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) survivors are at increased risk of major adverse kidney events (MAKEs), including chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and death. High-risk AKI patients may benefit from specialist follow-up, but factors associated with increased risk have not been reported. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of AKI patients admitted to a single centre between 2012 and 2016 who had a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and were alive and independent of renal replacement therapy (RRT) at 30 days following discharge. AKI was identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes and staged according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria. Patients were excluded if they were kidney transplant recipients or if AKI was attributed to intrinsic kidney disease. We performed Cox regression models to examine MAKEs in the first year, defined as the composite of CKD (sustained 25% drop in eGFR), ESKD (requirement for chronic RRT or sustained eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73 m2) or death. We examined secondary outcomes (CKD, ESKD and death) using Cox and competing risk regression analyses. RESULTS: We studied 2101 patients (mean ± SD age 69 ± 15 years, baseline eGFR 72 ± 23 mL/min/1.73 m2). Of these, 767 patients (37%) developed at least one MAKE (429 patients developed CKD, 21 patients developed ESKD, 375 patients died). MAKEs occurred more frequently with older age [hazard ratio (HR) 1.16 per decade, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-1.24], greater severity of AKI (Stage 2 HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.16-1.64; Stage 3 HR 1.62, 95% CI 1.31-2.01), higher serum creatinine at discharge (HR 1.04 per 10 µmol/L, 95% CI 1.03-1.06), chronic heart failure (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.19-1.67), liver disease (HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.39-2.03) and malignancy (non-metastatic HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.14-1.82; metastatic HR 2.26, 95% CI 1.80-2.83). Traditional risk factors (e.g. diabetes and cardiovascula