Journal of internal medicine
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Evidence for the association of atrial fibrillation (AF) present on the ECG and cardiovascular outcomes in AF patients is limited. ⋯ The presence of AF in a single office ECG had significant prognostic implications with regard to mortality and CHF hospitalizations in patients with AF. These patients present a high-risk group and might benefit from intensified treatment.
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Hypercoagulability and thromboembolism are prominent features of severe COVID-19, and ongoing anticoagulant use might be protective. ⋯ Ongoing DOAC use was not associated with reduced risk of severe COVID-19, indicating that prognosis would not be modified by early outpatient DOAC initiation.
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Editorial Comment
Lemierre syndrome - treat with antibiotics, anticoagulants or both?
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Controlled Clinical Trial
PCSK9 is associated with mortality in patients with septic shock: data from the ALBIOS study.
Pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) is a proenzyme primarily known to regulate low-density lipoprotein receptor re-uptake on hepatocytes. Whether PCSK9 can concurrently trigger inflammation or not remains unclear. Here, we investigated the potential association between circulating levels of PCSK9 and mortality in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. ⋯ In our sub-analysis of the ALBIOS trial, we found that patients with septic shock presenting with lower plasma PCSK9 levels experienced higher mortality rate. Further studies are warranted to better evaluate the pathophysiological role of PCSK9 in sepsis.
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Extracellular fluid volume (ECF) is independently associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and mortality in patients with CKD, but the prognostic value of the trajectory of ECF over time beyond that of baseline value is unknown. ⋯ The current value of ECF was associated with the risks of ESKD and mortality, independent of multiple potential confounders, including kidney function decline. This highlights the need for a close monitoring and adjustment of treatment to avoid fluid overload in CKD patients.