TMAO and Gut Microbial-Derived Metabolites TML and γBB Are Not Associated with Thrombotic Risk in Patients with Venous Thromboembolism

Background: The present work evaluates the association between circulating concentrations of Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), gamma butyrobetaine (gamma BB), and trimetyllisine (TML) in controls and patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) with coagulation parameters. Methods: The study involved 54 VTE patients and 57 controls. Platelet function, platelet hyperreactivity, platelet adhesiveness, thrombosis-associated parameters, and thrombin generation parameters were studied. Plasma TMAO, gamma BB, and TML determination was performed using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography system coupled with mass spectrometry. Results: No differences were found for TMAO, gamma BB, or TML concentrations between controls and VTE patients. In thrombin generation tests, TMAO, gamma BB, and TML showed a positive correlation with lag time and time to peak. TMAO, gamma BB, and TML negatively correlated with peak height. No significant differences were observed regarding TMAO, gamma BB, and TML concentrations between the two blood withdrawals, nor when the control and VTE patients were analyzed separately. No correlation was observed between these gut metabolites and platelet function parameters. Conclusions: No differences were found regarding TMAO, gamma BB, and TML concentrations between the control and VTE groups. Some correlations were found; however, they were mild or went in the opposite direction of what would be expected if TMAO and its derivatives were related to VTE risk

Validation of a score to identify inpatients at risk of a drug-related problem during a 4-year period

Drug-related problems (DRP) produce high morbidity and mortality. It is therefore essential to identify patients at higher risk of these events. This study aimed to validate a DRP risk score in a large number of inpatients. Validation of a previously designed score to identify inpatients at risk of experiencing at least one DRP in a tertiary university hospital from 2010 to 2013. DRP were detected by a pharmacy warning system integrated in the electronic medical record. The score included the following variables associated with a higher risk of DRP: prescription of a higher number of drugs, greater comorbidity, advanced age, specific ATC groups and certain major diagnostic categories. The study included a total of 52,987 admissions; of these, at least one DRP occurred in 14.9%. After validation of the score (period range, 2010-2013: 0.746-0.764), the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.751 (95% CI: 0.745-0.756). This value is higher than those reported in other studies describing validation of risk scores. The score showed good capacity to identify those patients at higher risk of DRP in a much larger sample of inpatients than previously described in the literature. This tool allows optimization of drug therapy monitoring in admitted patients

Cost and detection rate of glaucoma screening with imaging devices in a primary care center

Alfonso Anton,1–4 Monica Fallon,3,5 Francesc Cots,2 María A Sebastian,6 Antonio Morilla-Grasa,4 Sergi Mojal,3 Xavier Castells2 1Medicine School, Universidad Internacional de Cataluña, 2Servei d’Estudies, Parc de Salut Mar, 3Instituto Hospital del Mar de Investigaciones Médicas (IMIM), 4Glaucoma Department, Instituto Catalán de Retina (ICR), 5Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 6Centro de Atención Primaria Larrard, Barcelona, Spain Purpose: To analyze the cost and detection rate of a screening program for detecting glaucoma with imaging devices. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, a glaucoma screening program was applied in a population-based sample randomly selected from a population of 23,527. Screening targeted the population at risk of glaucoma. Examinations included optic disk tomography (Heidelberg retina tomograph [HRT]), nerve fiber analysis, and tonometry. Subjects who met at least 2 of 3 endpoints (HRT outside normal limits, nerve fiber index ≥30, or tonometry ≥21 mmHg) were referred for glaucoma consultation. The currently established (“conventional”) detection method was evaluated by recording data from primary care and ophthalmic consultations in the same population. The direct costs of screening and conventional detection were calculated by adding the unit costs generated during the diagnostic process. The detection rate of new glaucoma cases was assessed. Results: The screening program evaluated 414 subjects; 32 cases were referred for glaucoma consultation, 7 had glaucoma, and 10 had probable glaucoma. The current detection method assessed 677 glaucoma suspects in the population, of whom 29 were diagnosed with glaucoma or probable glaucoma. Glaucoma screening and the conventional detection method had detection rates of 4.1% and 3.1%, respectively, and the cost per case detected was 1,410 and 1,435€, respectively. The cost of screening 1 million inhabitants would be 5.1 million euros and would allow the detection of 4,715 new cases. Conclusion: The proposed screening method directed at population at risk allows a detection rate of 4.1% and a cost of 1,410 per case detected. Keywords: screening, glaucoma, cost, imaging devices, detection rat

Patient risk factors for developing a drug-related problem in a cardiology ward

Olatz Urbina,1 Olivia Ferrández,1 Sònia Luque,1 Santiago Grau,1,2 Sergi Mojal,3 Rosa Pellicer,1 Marta Riu,4 Esther Salas,1 Josep Comin-Colet5 1Pharmacy Department, Hospital Universitari del Mar, Barcelona, Spain; 2Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; 3Department of Statistics, Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain; 4Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation, CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Hospital Universitari del Mar, Barcelona, Spain; 5Heart Failure Unit, Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitari del Mar, Barcelona, Spain Background: Because of the high incidence of drug-related problems (DRPs) among hospitalized patients with cardiovascular diseases and their potential impact on morbidity and mortality, it is important to identify the most susceptible patients, who therefore require closer monitoring of drug therapy.Purpose: To identify the profile of patients at higher risk of developing at least one DRP during hospitalization in a cardiology ward.Method: We consecutively included all patients hospitalized in the cardiology ward of a teaching hospital in 2009. DRPs were identified through a computerized warning system designed by the pharmacy department and integrated into the electronic medical record.Results: A total of 964 admissions were included, and at least one DRP was detected in 29.8%. The variables associated with a higher risk of these events were polypharmacy (odds ratio [OR]=1.228; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.153–1.308), female sex (OR=1.496; 95% CI=1.026–2.180), and first admission (OR=1.494; 95% CI=1.005–2.221).Conclusion: Monitoring patients through a computerized warning system allowed the detection of at least one DRP in one-third of the patients. Knowledge of the risk factors for developing these problems in patients admitted to hospital for cardiovascular problems helps in identifying the most susceptible patients. Keywords: cardiovascular diseases, patient safety, drug therapy monitoring, computerized provider order entry, clinical pharmacist, pharmacy warning syste

Determinants of Mortality for Cancer Patients With Unscheduled Admission to the ICU: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Objectives To analyze clinical features associated to mortality in oncological patients with unplanned admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and to determine whether such risk factors differ between patients with solid tumors and those with hematological malignancies. Design An observational study was carried out. Setting A total of 123 Intensive Care Units across Spain. Patients All cancer patients with unscheduled admission due to acute illness related to the background oncological disease. Interventions None. Main variables Demographic parameters, severity scores and clinical condition were assessed, and mortality was analyzed. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed. Results A total of 482 patients were included: solid cancer (n=311) and hematological malignancy (n=171). Multivariate regression analysis showed the factors independently associated to ICU mortality to be the APACHE II score (OR 1.102; 95% CI 1.064–1.143), medical admission (OR 3.587; 95% CI 1.327–9.701), lung cancer (OR 2.98; 95% CI 1.48–5.99) and mechanical ventilation after the first 24h of ICU stay (OR 2.27; 95% CI 1.09–4.73), whereas no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor (OR 0.15; 95% CI 0.09–0.28). In solid cancer patients, the APACHE II score, medical admission, antibiotics in the previous 48h and lung cancer were identified as independent mortality indicators, while no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor. In the multivariate analysis, the APACHE II score and mechanical ventilation after 24h of ICU stay were independently associated to mortality in hematological cancer patients, while no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor. Neutropenia was not identified as an independent mortality predictor in either the total cohort or in the two subgroups. Conclusions The risk factors associated to mortality did not differ significantly between patients with solid cancers and those with hematological malignancies. Delayed intubation in patients requiring mechanical ventilation might be associated to ICU mortality.pre-print151 K

Determinants of mortality in cancer patients with unscheduled admission to the Intensive Care Unit: A prospective multicenter study.

Objectives To analyze clinical features associated to mortality in oncological patients with unplanned admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and to determine whether such risk factors differ between patients with solid tumors and those with hematological malignancies. Design An observational study was carried out. Setting A total of 123 Intensive Care Units across Spain. Patients All cancer patients with unscheduled admission due to acute illness related to the background oncological disease. Interventions None. Main variables Demographic parameters, severity scores and clinical condition were assessed, and mortality was analyzed. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed. Results A total of 482 patients were included: solid cancer (n = 311) and hematological malignancy (n = 171). Multivariate regression analysis showed the factors independently associated to ICU mortality to be the APACHE II score (OR 1.102; 95% CI 1.064–1.143), medical admission (OR 3.587; 95% CI 1.327–9.701), lung cancer (OR 2.98; 95% CI 1.48–5.99) and mechanical ventilation after the first 24 h of ICU stay (OR 2.27; 95% CI 1.09–4.73), whereas no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor (OR 0.15; 95% CI 0.09–0.28). In solid cancer patients, the APACHE II score, medical admission, antibiotics in the previous 48 h and lung cancer were identified as independent mortality indicators, while no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor. In the multivariate analysis, the APACHE II score and mechanical ventilation after 24 h of ICU stay were independently associated to mortality in hematological cancer patients, while no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor. Neutropenia was not identified as an independent mortality predictor in either the total cohort or in the two subgroups. Conclusions The risk factors associated to mortality did not differ significantly between patients with solid cancers and those with hematological malignancies. Delayed intubation in patients requiring mechanical ventilation might be associated to ICU mortality.post-print151 K

Validation of a score to identify inpatients at risk of a drug-related problem during a 4-year period

OBJECTIVE: Drug-related problems (DRP) produce high morbidity and mortality. It is therefore essential to identify patients at higher risk of these events. This study aimed to validate a DRP risk score in a large number of inpatients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Validation of a previously designed score to identify inpatients at risk of experiencing at least one DRP in a tertiary university hospital from 2010 to 2013. DRP were detected by a pharmacy warning system integrated in the electronic medical record. The score included the following variables associated with a higher risk of DRP: prescription of a higher number of drugs, greater comorbidity, advanced age, specific ATC groups and certain major diagnostic categories. RESULTS: The study included a total of 52,987 admissions; of these, at least one DRP occurred in 14.9%. After validation of the score (period range, 2010-2013: 0.746-0.764), the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.751 (95% CI: 0.745-0.756). CONCLUSIONS: This value is higher than those reported in other studies describing validation of risk scores. The score showed good capacity to identify those patients at higher risk of DRP in a much larger sample of inpatients than previously described in the literature. This tool allows optimization of drug therapy monitoring in admitted patients