EFFICACY, SAFETY, AND TOLERABILITY OF MIRABEGRON IN PATIENTS AGED ≥65 YR WITH OVERACTIVE BLADDER WET: A PHASE IV, DOUBLE-BLIND, RANDOMISED, PLACEBOCONTROLLED STUDY (PILLAR)

Pozadina: Većina bolesnika s prekomjerno aktivnim mokraćnim mjehurom (PAMM) starija je od 65 godina. Dosad nije bilo prospektivnih ispitivanja kojima bi se ocijenila djelotvornost liječenja agonistom β3-adrenoreceptora mirabegronom u ovoj specifi čnoj dobnoj skupini. Cilj: Ispitivanje faze IV u kojem se uspoređuju mirabegron u fl eksibilnoj dozi i placebo u starijih bolesnika s PAMM om i urgentnom inkontinencijom. Dizajn, uvjeti i sudionici: Bolesnici iz lokalne zajednice koji imaju ≥ 65 godina i PAMM u trajanju od ≥ 3 mjeseca. Intervencija: Nakon 2 tjednog uvodnog razdoblja tijekom kojeg se primjenjivao placebo bolesnici s jednom ili više epizoda inkontinencije, tri ili više epizoda urgencije i prosječno osam ili više mokrenja tijekom 24 h bili su randomizirani u omjeru 1:1 za dvostruko zaslijepljenu primjenu 25 mg mirabegrona ili odgovarajuće formulacije placeba na dan tijekom 12 tjedana. Nakon 4. ili 8. tjedna doza se prema odluci bolesnika i ispitivača mogla povećati na 50 mg mirabegrona/odgovarajuće formulacije placeba na dan. Mjere ishoda i statistička analiza: Primarne mjere ishoda: promjena srednjeg broja mokrenja tijekom 24 h i srednjeg broja epizoda inkontinencije tijekom 24 h od početka ispitivanja do završetka liječenja. Sekundarne mjere ishoda: promjena srednjeg izmokrenog volumena nakon mokrenja, srednjeg broja epizoda urgencije tijekom 24 h i srednjeg broja epizoda urgentne inkontinencije tijekom 24 h od početka ispitivanja do završetka liječenja. Za ocjenu srednjeg broja mokrenja tijekom 24 h, srednjeg izmokrenog volumena nakon mokrenju i srednjeg broja epizoda urgencije tijekom 24 h koristila se analiza kovarijance (ANCOVA). Za ocjenu srednjeg broja epizoda inkontinencije tijekom 24 h i srednjeg broja epizoda urgentne inkontinencije tijekom 24 h koristila se stratifi cirana rang ANCOVA. Rezultati i ograničenja: Uz mirabegron su opažena statistički značajna poboljšanja u odnosu na placebo s obzirom na promjenu srednjeg broja mokrenja tijekom 24 h, srednjeg broja epizoda inkontinencije tijekom 24 h, srednjeg izmokrenog volumena nakon mokrenja, srednjeg broja epizoda urgencije tijekom 24 h i srednjeg broja epizoda urgentne inkontinencije tijekom 24 h od početka ispitivanja do završetka liječenja. Sigurnost i podnošljivost odgovarale su poznatom sigurnosnom profi lu mirabegrona. Zaključci: Potvrđene su djelotvornost, sigurnost i podnošljivost mirabegrona tijekom 12 tjedana u bolesnika s PAMM om i inkontinencijom u dobi od ≥ 65 godina. Sažetak za bolesnike: Ispitivali smo učinak mirabegrona u usporedbi s placebom u osoba u dobi od 65 ili više godina s prekomjerno aktivnim mokraćnim mjehurom i inkontinencijom. Mirabegron je ublažio simptome prekomjerno aktivnog mokraćnog mjehura u usporedbi s placebom. Opažene nuspojave bile su slične poznatim nuspojavama mirabegrona.Background: The majority of patients with overactive bladder (OAB) are aged >65 yr. There has been no prospectively designed study assessing treatment effi cacy with the b3-adrenoreceptor agonist, mirabegron, specifi cally in this age group. Objective: A phase IV study comparing fl exibly dosed mirabegron versus placebo in elderly patients with OAB and urgency incontinence. Design, setting, and participants: Community-dwelling patients aged ≥65 yr with OAB for ≥3 mo. Intervention: Following a 2-wk placebo run in, patients with one or more incontinence episodes, three or more urgency episodes, and an average of eight or more micturitions/ 24 h were randomised 1:1 to double-blind 25 mg/d mirabegron or matched placebo, for 12 wk. After week 4 or 8, the dose could be increased to 50 mg/d mirabegron/matched placebo based on patient and investigator discretion. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Coprimary endpoints: change from baseline to end of treatment (EOT) in the mean numbers of micturitions/24 h and incontinence episodes/24 h. Secondary endpoints: change from baseline to EOT in the mean volume voided/micturition, mean number of urgency episodes/24 h, and mean number of urgency incontinence episodes/24 h. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used for the mean number of micturitions/24 h, mean volume voided/micturition, and mean number of urgency episodes/24 h. Stratifi ed rank ANCOVA was used for the mean numbers of incontinence episodes/24 h and urgency incontinence episodes/24 h. Results and limitations: Statistically signifi cant improvements were observed for mirabegron versus placebo in change from baseline to EOT in the mean number of micturitions/24 h, mean number of incontinence episodes/24 h, mean volume voided/micturition, mean number of urgency episodes/24 h, and mean number of urgency incontinence episodes/24 h. Safety and tolerability were consistent with the known mirabegron safety profi le. Conclusions: Mirabegron effi cacy, safety, and tolerability over 12 wk were confi rmed in patients aged ≥65 yr with OAB and incontinence

EFFICACY, SAFETY, AND TOLERABILITY OF MIRABEGRON IN PATIENTS AGED ≥65 YR WITH OVERACTIVE BLADDER WET: A PHASE IV, DOUBLE-BLIND, RANDOMISED, PLACEBOCONTROLLED STUDY (PILLAR)

Pozadina: Većina bolesnika s prekomjerno aktivnim mokraćnim mjehurom (PAMM) starija je od 65 godina. Dosad nije bilo prospektivnih ispitivanja kojima bi se ocijenila djelotvornost liječenja agonistom β3-adrenoreceptora mirabegronom u ovoj specifi čnoj dobnoj skupini. Cilj: Ispitivanje faze IV u kojem se uspoređuju mirabegron u fl eksibilnoj dozi i placebo u starijih bolesnika s PAMM om i urgentnom inkontinencijom. Dizajn, uvjeti i sudionici: Bolesnici iz lokalne zajednice koji imaju ≥ 65 godina i PAMM u trajanju od ≥ 3 mjeseca. Intervencija: Nakon 2 tjednog uvodnog razdoblja tijekom kojeg se primjenjivao placebo bolesnici s jednom ili više epizoda inkontinencije, tri ili više epizoda urgencije i prosječno osam ili više mokrenja tijekom 24 h bili su randomizirani u omjeru 1:1 za dvostruko zaslijepljenu primjenu 25 mg mirabegrona ili odgovarajuće formulacije placeba na dan tijekom 12 tjedana. Nakon 4. ili 8. tjedna doza se prema odluci bolesnika i ispitivača mogla povećati na 50 mg mirabegrona/odgovarajuće formulacije placeba na dan. Mjere ishoda i statistička analiza: Primarne mjere ishoda: promjena srednjeg broja mokrenja tijekom 24 h i srednjeg broja epizoda inkontinencije tijekom 24 h od početka ispitivanja do završetka liječenja. Sekundarne mjere ishoda: promjena srednjeg izmokrenog volumena nakon mokrenja, srednjeg broja epizoda urgencije tijekom 24 h i srednjeg broja epizoda urgentne inkontinencije tijekom 24 h od početka ispitivanja do završetka liječenja. Za ocjenu srednjeg broja mokrenja tijekom 24 h, srednjeg izmokrenog volumena nakon mokrenju i srednjeg broja epizoda urgencije tijekom 24 h koristila se analiza kovarijance (ANCOVA). Za ocjenu srednjeg broja epizoda inkontinencije tijekom 24 h i srednjeg broja epizoda urgentne inkontinencije tijekom 24 h koristila se stratifi cirana rang ANCOVA. Rezultati i ograničenja: Uz mirabegron su opažena statistički značajna poboljšanja u odnosu na placebo s obzirom na promjenu srednjeg broja mokrenja tijekom 24 h, srednjeg broja epizoda inkontinencije tijekom 24 h, srednjeg izmokrenog volumena nakon mokrenja, srednjeg broja epizoda urgencije tijekom 24 h i srednjeg broja epizoda urgentne inkontinencije tijekom 24 h od početka ispitivanja do završetka liječenja. Sigurnost i podnošljivost odgovarale su poznatom sigurnosnom profi lu mirabegrona. Zaključci: Potvrđene su djelotvornost, sigurnost i podnošljivost mirabegrona tijekom 12 tjedana u bolesnika s PAMM om i inkontinencijom u dobi od ≥ 65 godina. Sažetak za bolesnike: Ispitivali smo učinak mirabegrona u usporedbi s placebom u osoba u dobi od 65 ili više godina s prekomjerno aktivnim mokraćnim mjehurom i inkontinencijom. Mirabegron je ublažio simptome prekomjerno aktivnog mokraćnog mjehura u usporedbi s placebom. Opažene nuspojave bile su slične poznatim nuspojavama mirabegrona.Background: The majority of patients with overactive bladder (OAB) are aged >65 yr. There has been no prospectively designed study assessing treatment effi cacy with the b3-adrenoreceptor agonist, mirabegron, specifi cally in this age group. Objective: A phase IV study comparing fl exibly dosed mirabegron versus placebo in elderly patients with OAB and urgency incontinence. Design, setting, and participants: Community-dwelling patients aged ≥65 yr with OAB for ≥3 mo. Intervention: Following a 2-wk placebo run in, patients with one or more incontinence episodes, three or more urgency episodes, and an average of eight or more micturitions/ 24 h were randomised 1:1 to double-blind 25 mg/d mirabegron or matched placebo, for 12 wk. After week 4 or 8, the dose could be increased to 50 mg/d mirabegron/matched placebo based on patient and investigator discretion. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Coprimary endpoints: change from baseline to end of treatment (EOT) in the mean numbers of micturitions/24 h and incontinence episodes/24 h. Secondary endpoints: change from baseline to EOT in the mean volume voided/micturition, mean number of urgency episodes/24 h, and mean number of urgency incontinence episodes/24 h. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used for the mean number of micturitions/24 h, mean volume voided/micturition, and mean number of urgency episodes/24 h. Stratifi ed rank ANCOVA was used for the mean numbers of incontinence episodes/24 h and urgency incontinence episodes/24 h. Results and limitations: Statistically signifi cant improvements were observed for mirabegron versus placebo in change from baseline to EOT in the mean number of micturitions/24 h, mean number of incontinence episodes/24 h, mean volume voided/micturition, mean number of urgency episodes/24 h, and mean number of urgency incontinence episodes/24 h. Safety and tolerability were consistent with the known mirabegron safety profi le. Conclusions: Mirabegron effi cacy, safety, and tolerability over 12 wk were confi rmed in patients aged ≥65 yr with OAB and incontinence

SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

peer reviewe

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Clinical experience with regadenoson SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging: insights into patient characteristics, safety, and impact of results on clinical management

The Henry Ford Hospital (HFH) regadenoson (REG) registry includes patients with a variety of comorbidities allowing for the evaluation of outcomes in a large, unselected population. Using a database of electronic medical records and nuclear cardiology reports, patients aged \u3e 18 years who underwent REG-facilitated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) testing at HFH between January 2009 and August 2012 were identified. The primary objective was to describe the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients who had undergone REG only vs REG WALK (REG + low-level exercise) SPECT. A total of 2104 patients were included in the analysis (mean age 65.3 years; 50% women; 51% African American, 43% Caucasian). For the REG only (n = 1318) and REG WALK (n = 786) cohorts, SPECT was abnormal in 37% of patients (REG only, 39%; REG WALK, 34%; P \u3c 0.01). No differences in diagnostic modalities or interventions in 90 days after SPECT were observed. Immediate safety analysis showed no deaths 48 h after REG SPECT testing. Although they guide invasive therapy, abnormal scans do not automatically lead to invasive testing. This demonstrates the focus on initial medical management, which reflects the existing evidence of initial goal-directed medical management of stable coronary disease