The association between renal function and neurological diseases in type 2 diabetes: a multicenter nationwide cross-sectional study

Background: The evidence for an association between renal function and neurological diseases among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, particularly in the Asian population, is limited. This study aimed to assess the association between glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and various neurological diseases among T2DM patients in Thailand using a nationwide patient sample.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study based on the DM/HT study of the Medical Research Network of the Consortium of Thai Medical Schools. This study evaluated adult T2DM patients receiving care at public Thailand hospitals in the year 2014. GFR was categorized into ≥60, 30–59, and < 30 mL/min/1.73 m². Neurological diseases studied included ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), hemorrhagic stroke, dementia, all cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral neuropathy. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the association between GFR and neurological diseases.

Results: A total of 30,423 T2DM patients with available GFR data were included in the analysis. The mean GFR was 68.18 ± 26.45 mL/min/1.73 m². The prevalence of ischemic stroke/TIA, hemorrhagic stroke, dementia, any cerebrovascular diseases and peripheral neuropathy were 2.9%, 0.3%, 0.1%, 3.2%, and 3.1%, respectively. Patients with GFR of 30–59 and <30 mL/min/1.73 m² were significantly associated with increased rates of ischemic stroke/TIA, any cerebrovascular diseases, and peripheral neuropathy when compared with patients with GFR of ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m². This association remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders.

Conclusion: Decreased GFR was associated with increased ischemic stroke/TIA, all cerebrovascular diseases, and peripheral neuropathy. GFR should be monitored in diabetic patients for neurological disease awareness and prevention.     

Utilization and in‐hospital complications of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with obesity and morbid obesity

BackgroundReal‐world data on atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation outcomes in obese populations have remained scarce, especially the relationship between obesity and in‐hospital AF ablation outcome.HypothesisObesity is associated with higher complication rates and higher admission trend for AF ablation.MethodsWe drew data from the US National Inpatient Sample to identify patients who underwent AF ablation between 2005 and 2018. Sociodemographic and patients'' characteristics data were collected, and the trend, incidence of catheter ablation complications and mortality were analyzed, and further stratified by obesity classification.ResultsA total of 153 429 patients who were hospitalized for AF ablation were estimated. Among these, 11 876 obese patients (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11 422–12 330) and 10 635 morbid obese patients (95% CI: 10 200–11 069) were observed. There was a substantial uptrend admission, up to fivefold, for AF ablation in all obese patients from 2005 to 2018 (p < .001). Morbidly obese patients were statistically younger, while coexisting comorbidities were substantially higher than both obese and nonobese patients (p < .01) Both obesity and morbid obesity were significantly associated with an increased risk of total bleeding, and vascular complications (p < .05). Only morbid obesity was significantly associated with an increased risk of ablation‐related complications, total infection, and pulmonary complications (p < .01). No difference in‐hospital mortality was observed among obese, morbidly obese, and nonobese patients.ConclusionOur study observed an uptrend in the admission of obese patients undergoing AF ablation from 2005 through 2018. Obesity was associated with higher ablation‐related complications, particularly those who were morbidly obese.     

Incidence and risk factors of nevirapine-associated skin rashes among HIV-infected patients with CD4 cell counts <250 cells/microL

The objective of the study was to determine cumulative incidence and risk factors of nevirapine (NVP)-associated rashes that lead to NVP discontinuation among HIV-infected patients with CD4 <250 cells/microL. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among antiretroviral-na?ve HIV-infected patients who had baseline CD4 <250 cells/microL and were initiated NVP-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) between January 2003 and October 2005. There were 910 patients with a mean age of 35.4 years and 43% were women. Median CD4 cell count was 27 cells/microL and median HIV RNA was 5.5 log copies/mL. Cumulative incidences of rashes at 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after ART were 3.7%, 6.2%, 8.1%, 8.5% and 8.5%, respectively. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, the higher baseline CD4 cell counts had a higher probability of NVP-associated rashes (log-rank test, P=0.041). By Cox regression analysis, higher baseline CD4 cell count was associated with a higher incidence of rashes (hazard ratio=1.244, 95% confidence interval=1.045-1.482, for every 50 cells/microL increment of baseline CD4 stratum). In conclusion, NVP-associated skin rashes that lead to NVP discontinuation are common among HIV-infected patients with baseline CD4 <250 cells/microL. Despite the low baseline in this population, the higher number of baseline CD4 cells is continuously associated with a higher risk for skin rashes.     

Interruptions of tenofovir/emtricitabine-based antiretroviral therapy in patients with HIV/hepatitis B virus co-infection

Thai patients enrolled in STACCATO with HIV/hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection and tenofovir/emtricitabine-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) were randomly assigned to continuous treatment or CD4 cell count-guided interruptions. HBV replication was suppressed below detection in 15/16 patients. Structured treatment interruption increased transaminases and HBV viraemia in five of six patients; one flare was severe. Conversion to anti-hepatitis Be occurred with continuous treatment only. Tenofovir/emtricitabine-containing ART is highly effective in controlling chronic HIV/HBV co-infection but treatment should not be interrupted.