From 1993 to 2003, the prevalence of CDC discharge diagnoses increased from 261 to 546 cases per 100,000; the colectomy rate due to CDC increased from 1.2 up to 3.4 per 1000, and the case fatality rate statistically significantly increased from 7.84% to 9.26%.
Bottom line: Despite the limitations of using discharge coding abstracts, this study confirms the significantly increasing prevalence (particularly in older, non-Caucasian men) and severity of CDC over the previous decade. This has resulted in a higher incidence of colectomy and death.
Citation: Ricciardi R, Rothenberger DA, Madoff RD. Increasing prevalence and severity of Clostridium difficile colitis in hospitalized patients in the United States. Arch Surg. 2007;142(7):624-631.
How Often Do Clinicians Deviate from Recommended Enoxaparin Doses?
Background: Low molecular heparins have been increasingly utilized in the setting of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (NSTEMI) in place of unfractionated heparin. They require careful dose adjustment to ensure appropriate therapeutic effect and prevent bleeding and thrombotic complications.
Study design: Retrospective observational cohort study.
Setting: Medical centers throughout the U.S. that participated in the Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress Adverse Outcomes with Early Implementation of the ACC/AHA Guidelines (CRUSADE) initiative.
Synopsis: A total of 10,687 patients from 332 hospitals received enoxaparin for NSTEMI as part of CRUSADE. Patients were stratified by whether they received:
- The recommended dose of enoxaparin (1 mg/kg twice daily for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) more than 30 mL/min versus 0.5 mg/kg twice daily for estimated GFR of 30 mL/min or less; 52.1%);
- An excess dose (more than 10 mg/day over recommended dose; 18.7%); or
- A lower-than-recommended dose (more than 10 mg/day less than the recommended dose; 29.2%).
Those receiving an excess dose were more likely to be older, have lower body-mass indexes (BMI), weigh less, be female, have estimated GFRs less than 60 mL/min, and smoke. Those receiving less-than-recommended dosing were more likely to have a higher BMI, weigh more, and be male. Major bleeding episodes (14.2%) and deaths (5.6%) were more common statistically in the excess dose group compared with the recommended dose group (7.3% and 2.4%, respectively). Deaths, but not bleeding, also were higher in the lower-than-recommended dose group (3.3% versus 2.4%).
Bottom line: A little more than half of patients received the correct dose of enoxaparin in NSTEMIs. Those who received too high a dose had marked increases in risk of bleeding and death, and those receiving subtherapeutic doses suffered increased mortality.
Citation: LaPointe NMA, Chen AY, Alexander KP, et al. Enoxaparin dosing and associated risk of in-hospital bleeding and death in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(14):1539-1344.
Does Poor Health Literacy Predict Mortality?
Background: Prior studies have shown increased hospitalization rates in patients with poor health literacy (e.g., inability to comprehend prescriptions or educational materials). At least one study has shown an increase in mortality in 70-to-79-year-olds with impaired health literacy.
Study design: Prospective cohort study.
Setting: Four U.S. metropolitan areas.
Synopsis: Poor health literacy predicts patients’ inability to understand basic health information, such as prescription information, drug dosing intervals, or follow-up schedules. In 1997, 3,260 patients age 65 or older were included in the study, which used a face-to-face standardized test to quantify health literacy.
Patients were tracked via the National Death Index through 2003. Patients were stratified as having adequate, marginal, or inadequate health literacy (64.2%, 11.2%, and 24.5% of patients, respectively). Marginal and inadequate health literacy were strongly associated with increasing age, African American race, lower incomes, lower levels of education, worse physical and mental health, limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs), and lower BMIs. These patients were also less likely to perform vigorous exercise, and less likely to have smoked or used alcohol.