Objectives To evaluate the demographic and comorbid risk factors for cerebrovascular disease (CVD) hospitalization in patients with retinal artery occlusion (RAO) and study the impact on hospitalization outcomes. Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS, 2019). We included 62,255 adults (age 18-65 years) with the primary diagnosis of CVD. The study sample was divided by the co-diagnosis of RAO (N=1,700). A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) of association for risk factors leading to CVD hospitalization in patients with RAO, with the non-RAO cohort as the reference category. Results The majority of the CVD patients with RAO were elderly (51-65 years, 68%), females (54%), and whites (47%). Yet, demographics did not significantly impact the association with CVD hospitalization between RAO and non-RAO patients. There was a significant difference in the geographic distribution of CVD hospitalizations with RAO, with the highest prevalence in the East North Central Atlantic (21%) and South Atlantic (18%) regions, and the lowest in the Mountain (4%) and East South Central (4%) regions. Comorbid diabetes with complications (69%), and complicated hypertension (55%) were most prevalent in patients with RAO thereby increasing the risk for CVD hospitalization by 7.8 (95% CI 6.9-8.8) and 1.8 times (95% CI 1.6-1.9), respectively. Patients with RAO and having major severity of illness were at increased risk of CVD hospitalization (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.9-3.9). Patients with RAO had a significant difference in adverse disposition, including transfer to the skilled nursing facility (SNF)/intermediate care facility (ICF) (32% vs. 24%) and requiring home health care (16% vs. 11%) compared to non-RAO patients. Conclusion The prevalence of RAO in CVD hospitalization was 2.7%, and demographics did not have any impact on the increasing risk of CVD. Comorbid diabetes (by 685%) and hypertension (by 78%) potentially increase the risk of CVD hospitalization in patients with RAO. These patients have a major severity of illness, leading to an adverse disposition. This calls for a collaborative care model to improve the quality of life in these at-risk patients with RAO.

Nearly 90% of Americans are exposed to a traumatic event at some point in their lives, and over 8% of those individuals will develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our study examined the demographic differences and psychiatric comorbidities in inpatients with PTSD with and without somatic symptom disorders (SSDs), using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 2018 and 2019. Our sample included 12,760 adult patients with a primary diagnosis of PTSD, which was further subdivided based on a codiagnosis of SSD. We used a logistic regression model to determine the odds ratio (OR) of association for SSD and identify demographic predictors and comorbid risk factors in inpatients with PTSD. The prevalence of SSD in inpatients with PTSD was 0.43%, and it was more commonly seen in women and Caucasians. Personality disorders (OR, 5.55; p < 0.001) and anxiety disorders (OR, 1.93; p = 0.018) were found to increase the likelihood of codiagnoses of SSD in inpatients with PTSD. These findings support the need for a systematic, modular approach that includes evidence-based interventions to treat at-risk populations.

The primary goal of this study is to explore demographic and comorbid factors that increase the hospitalization risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with vasculitis along with the utilization rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)/angioplasty. Additionally, we aim to study the prevalence of AMI in vasculitis inpatients based on geographical distribution. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) in 2019 involving 33,210 inpatients hospitalized on emergency-based admissions with a co-diagnosis of vasculitis, subdivided into cohorts without AMI (N = 31,790) and with AMI (N = 1,420) as the primary diagnosis. A binomial logistic regression model was used to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) of predictors associated with AMI in patients with vasculitis compared to the non-AMI cohort. ResultsThe prevalence of AMI in the total inpatient population with vasculitis was 4.28%, with a majority of patients being in the older age group of 51-65 years (63%), males (59.2%), and white (59%). Inpatients with vasculitis having pre-existing co-morbid conditions were at greater risk for AMI, such as obesity (OR 2.84, 95%CI 2.78-2.89), metastatic cancer (OR 1.73, 95%CI 1.26-2.37), complicated hypertension (OR 1.64, 95%CI 1.46-1.85), and arthropathies (OR 1.48, 95%CI 1.30-1.68). The in-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher in the AMI cohort compared to the non-AMI cohort (13% vs 2.9%). The utilization rate of PCI/endovascular angioplasty was 13.02% (185 out of 1,420) and had a lower in-hospital mortality rate compared to those managed by medical treatment (8.1% vs 13.8%). ConclusionAMI is an important differential diagnosis to consider in vasculitis patients admitted into the hospital with chest pain. Due to the low prevalence of vasculitis and diagnostic challenges, these primary conditions can be often missed. There is a greater risk of inpatient mortality among vasculitis patients with AMI. Therefore, a higher index of suspicion should be exercised, especially in elderly males with risk factors. Vasculitis patients with chronic comorbidities such as arthropathies, obesity and hypertension are at a greater risk for suffering from AMI. Careful screening and management of cardiovascular risk factors is mandatory in vasculitis patients.

The objective is to study factors that increase the likelihood of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in hospitalized adult non-elderly patients with pneumonia compared to other medical inpatients and to understand the utilization rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for AMI in inpatients with pneumonia and its related impact on hospitalization stay and cost. A population-based study was conducted using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS, 2019) with adult non-elderly inpatients (age 18–65 years) with a medical condition as their primary diagnosis and a co-diagnosis of pneumonia during hospitalization stay. This study sample was divided by the primary diagnosis of AMI versus other medical conditions (non-AMI). A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) of predictors associated with AMI in patients with pneumonia. The results showed a direct relationship between increasing age and the likelihood of AMI in pneumonia inpatients with three times higher odds seen in 51–65 years of age (OR 2.95, 95% CI 2.82–3.09). The comorbidities included complicated hypertension (OR 2.84, 95% CI 2.78–2.89), diabetes with complications (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.24–1.29), and drug abuse (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.22–1.31) that increased the likelihood of AMI-related hospitalization. The utilization rate of surgical treatment (PCI) was 14.37% for the management of AMI in inpatients with pneumonia. Inpatients co-diagnosed with pneumonia and comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes were more likely to be hospitalized for AMI. These at-risk patients should be considered for early risk stratification. Utilization of PCI was associated with a lower in-hospital mortality rate.