Factors influencing erythrocyte sedimentation rate in adults New evidence for an old test

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a routine test for inflammation. Few studies have investigated the potential influence of lifestyle factors and common metabolic abnormalities on the ESR. This study investigates the influence of demographic factors, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, obesity, and metabolic syndrome on the ESR in adults.This cross-sectional study covered 1472 individuals (44.5% males; age range, 18-91 years) randomly selected from the population of a Spanish municipality. The ESR was measured using a standardized method. We assessed habitual alcohol consumption in standard drinking units, along with tobacco smoking, regular physical exercise (by questionnaire), body mass index, and variables defining metabolic syndrome. Multivariate analyses were performed, including mean corpuscular volume and hemoglobin concentration in the models.The ESR was higher in females than in males, and increased steadily with age. Median ESR of females was 2-fold higher than that of males, and median ESR of individuals aged >65 years was 2-fold higher than that of individuals in the youngest category (ages 18-35 years). Body mass index, presence of metabolic syndrome, and smoking were independently and positively associated with higher ESR values. Light alcohol drinkers and individuals with high regular physical activity displayed lower ESR values than did alcohol abstainers and individuals with low physical activity, respectively.ESR varies greatly with age and sex, and corresponding reference values are proposed. Lifestyle factors (physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption) and common metabolic abnormalities (obesity and related metabolic syndrome) may also influence ESR values

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Marcadores de inflamación en la población general adulta: relación con factores comunes (demográficos, metabólicos y de estilo de vida) y su influencia en la determinación de valores de referencia

El objetivo de esta tesis es investigar, en la población general adulta sin aparente enfermedad inflamatoria, la influencia de factores comunes en los marcadores de inflamación como VSG, PCR, IL-6 y sIL2-r séricas así como la la discordancia entre la VSG y la PCR séricas. Para ello realizamos un estudio observacional, transversal, de 1499 sujetos seleccionados aleatoriamente. Encontramos que la edad se asocia con un incremento de la VSG y de la IL-6, mientras que el efecto de la edad en la PCR es menor. El sexo se asocia de forma no uniforme con diferentes niveles de marcadores de inflamación: el sexo femenino se asocia con mayores niveles de VSG, el sexo masculino se asocia con mayores niveles de IL-6 y no se demuestra efecto independiente del sexo en los niveles de PCR. El consumo regular de alcohol ligero o moderado se asocia con unos menores niveles de VSG, PCR e IL-6, en comparación con los bebedores ocasionales y abstemios. El tabaquismo activo se asocia con unos mayores niveles de VSG, PCR e IL-6. El ejercicio físico regular moderado y alto se asocia con unos menores niveles de VSG. La obesidad y los trastornos metabólicos con ella relacionados se asocian con unos mayores niveles de VSG, de IL-6 y de PCR, de la que es el principal determinante. El aumento de PCR con VSG normal se asocia con un mayor IMC, mientras que el aumento de VSG con cifras normales de PCR se asocia con la edad. En lo que respecta a la sIL-2R, sus niveles séricos aumentan con la edad, son mayores en varones, fumadores y sujetos con obesidad, al igual que son menores en bebedores ligeros

Miliary pattern, a classic pulmonary finding of tuberculosis disease

Introduction: The increase in age of the population and in the use of immunosuppressive treatment makes tuberculosis (TB) with hematogenous or lymphatic dissemination a current problem. Methods: We collected all the patients diagnosed with tuberculosis with miliary pulmonary pattern at the Santiago de Compostela University Teaching Hospital (NW Spain) from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2015. Results: A total of 27 patients were included, 70.4% women, with a median age of 69.0 years old. A cause of immunosuppression was observed only in 51.9% of patients. The majority of the cases (65.0%) presented pulmonary affectation. The most frequently isolated species was Mycobacterium tuberculosis (88.9%). Multiresistance to first-line antituberculosis drugs was observed only in 3.7%. 92.6% of the patients received treatment with Isoniazid, Rifampicin and Pyrazinamine, associated in 48.1% of them with Ethambutol. Two patients died during admission and there were no recurrences in the 2-years follow-up. Conclusions: Miliary tuberculosis remains a current pathology. Most patients do not have a known cause of immunosuppression. The response to the typical treatment is usually good

Characteristics and predictors of death among 4035 consecutively hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Spain

Objectives: To analyse the characteristics and predictors of death in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Spain. Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed of the first consecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 confirmed by real-time PCR assay in 127 Spanish centres until 17 March 2020. The follow-up censoring date was 17 April 2020. We collected demographic, clinical, laboratory, treatment and complications data. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with death. Results: Of the 4035 patients, male subjects accounted for 2433 (61.0%) of 3987, the median age was 70 years and 2539 (73.8%) of 3439 had one or more comorbidity. The most common symptoms were a history of fever, cough, malaise and dyspnoea. During hospitalization, 1255 (31.5%) of 3979 patients developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, 736 (18.5%) of 3988 were admitted to intensive care units and 619 (15.5%) of 3992 underwent mechanical ventilation. Virus- or host-targeted medications included lopinavir/ritonavir (2820/4005, 70.4%), hydroxychloroquine (2618/3995, 65.5%), interferon beta (1153/3950, 29.2%), corticosteroids (1109/3965, 28.0%) and tocilizumab (373/3951, 9.4%). Overall, 1131 (28%) of 4035 patients died. Mortality increased with age (85.6% occurring in older than 65 years). Seventeen factors were independently associated with an increased hazard of death, the strongest among them including advanced age, liver cirrhosis, low age-adjusted oxygen saturation, higher concentrations of C-reactive protein and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate. Conclusions: Our findings provide comprehensive information about characteristics and complications of severe COVID-19, and may help clinicians identify patients at a higher risk of death.Fundación SEIMC/GeSIDAPlan Nacional de I+D+i 2013-2016Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y UniversidadesEuropean Regional Develpment Fund (ERDF)Operative Program Intelligent Growth 2014-2020Spanish AIDS Research Network (RIS)Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Disease