Tong Liu
Profile Url: tong-liu
Researcher at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
0
0
0
Video Abstract (AI generated)
Paper
Preprint
AimsRenin-angiotensin system blockers such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may increase the risk of adverse outcomes in COVID-19. In this study, the relationships between ACEI/ARB use and COVID-19 related mortality were examined. MethodsConsecutive patients diagnosed with COVID-19 by RT-PCR at the Hong Kong Hospital Authority between 1st January and 28th July 2020 were included. ResultsThis study included 2774 patients. The mortality rate of the COVID-19 positive group was 1.5% (n=42). Those who died had a higher median age (82.3[76.5-89.5] vs. 42.9[28.2-59.5] years old; P<0.0001), more likely to have baseline comorbidities of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease (P<0.0001). They were more frequently prescribed ACEI/ARBs at baseline, and steroids, lopinavir/ritonavir, ribavirin and hydroxychloroquine during admission (P<0.0001). They also had a higher white cell count, higher neutrophil count, lower platelet count, prolonged prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, higher D-dimer, troponin, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase (P<0.0001). Multivariate Cox regression showed that age, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, diabetes mellitus, the use of ACEIs/ARBs and diuretics, and various laboratory tests remained significant predictors of mortality. ConclusionsWe report that an association between ACEIs/ARBs with COVID-19 related mortality even after adjusting for cardiovascular and other comorbidities, as well as medication use. Patients with greater comorbidity burden and laboratory markers reflecting deranged clotting, renal and liver function, and increased tissue inflammation, and ACEI/ARB use have a higher mortality risk. Key PointsO_LIWe report that an association between ACEIs/ARBs with COVID-19 related mortality even after adjusting for cardiovascular and other comorbidities, as well as medication use. C_LIO_LIPatients with greater comorbidity burden and laboratory markers reflecting deranged clotting, renal and liver function, and increased tissue inflammation, and ACEI/ARB use have a higher mortality risk. C_LI
0
0
0
Video Abstract (AI generated)
Paper
Preprint
BackgroundRecent studies have reported numerous significant predictors for adverse outcomes in COVID-19 disease. However, there have been few simple clinical risk score for prompt risk stratification. The objective is to develop a simple risk score for severe COVID-19 disease using territory-wide healthcare data based on simple clinical and laboratory variables. MethodsConsecutive patients admitted to Hong Kongs public hospitals between 1st January and 22nd August 2020 diagnosed with COVID-19, as confirmed by RT-PCR, were included. The primary outcome was composite intensive care unit admission, need for intubation or death with follow-up until 8th September 2020. ResultsCOVID-19 testing was performed in 237493 patients and 4445 patients (median age 44.8 years old, 95% CI: [28.9, 60.8]); 50% male) were tested positive. Of these, 212 patients (4.8%) met the primary outcome. A risk score including the following components was derived from Cox regression: gender, age, hypertension, stroke, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease/heart failure, respiratory disease, renal disease, increases in neutrophil count, monocyte count, sodium, potassium, urea, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, high sensitive troponin-I, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, D-dimer and C-reactive protein, as well as decreases in lymphocyte count, base excess and bicarbonate levels. The model based on test results taken on the day of admission demonstrated an excellent predictive value. Incorporation of test results on successive time points did not further improve risk prediction. ConclusionsA simple clinical score accurately predicted severe COVID-19 disease, even without including symptoms, blood pressure or oxygen status on presentation, or chest radiograph results.
0
0
0
Video Abstract (AI generated)
Paper
Preprint
BackgroundIn this territory-wide, observational, propensity score-matched cohort study, we evaluate the development of transient ischaemic attack and ischaemic stroke (TIA/Ischaemic stroke) in patients with AF treated with edoxaban or warfarin. MethodsThis was an observational, territory-wide cohort study of patients between January 1st, 2016 and December 31st, 2019, in Hong Kong. The inclusion were patients with i) atrial fibrillation, and ii) edoxaban or warfarin prescription. 1:2 propensity score matching was performed between edoxaban and warfarin users. Univariate Cox regression identifies significant risk predictors of the primary, secondary and safety outcomes. Hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence interval [CI] and p values were reported. ResultsThis cohort included 3464 patients (54.18% males, median baseline age: 72 years old, IQR: 63-80, max: 100 years old), 664 (19.17%) with edoxaban use and 2800 (80.83%) with warfarin use. After a median follow-up of 606 days (IQR: 306-1044, max: 1520 days), 91(incidence rate: 2.62%) developed TIA/ischaemic stroke: 1.51% (10/664) in the edoxaban group and 2.89% (81/2800) in the warfarin group. Edoxaban was associated with a lower risk of TIA or ischemic stroke when compared to warfarin. ConclusionsEdoxaban use was associated with a lower risk of TIA or ischemic stroke after propensity score matching for demographics, comorbidities and medication use.
0
0
0
Video Abstract (AI generated)
Paper
Preprint
BackgroundElectronic frailty indices can be useful surrogate measures of frailty. We assessed the role of machine learning to develop an electronic frailty index, incorporating demographics, baseline comorbidities, healthcare utilization characteristics, electrocardiographic measurements, and laboratory examinations, and used this to predict all-cause mortality in patients undergoing transaortic valvular replacement (TAVR). MethodsThis was a multi-centre retrospective observational study of patients undergoing for TAVR. Significant univariate and multivariate predictors of all-cause mortality were identified using Cox regression. Importance ranking of variables was obtained with a gradient boosting survival tree (GBST) model, a supervised sequential ensemble learning algorithm, and used to build the frailty models. Comparisons were made between multivariate Cox, GBST and random survival forest models. ResultsA total of 450 patients (49% females; median age at procedure 82.3 (interquartile range, IQR 79.0-86.0)) were included, of which 22 died during follow-up. A machine learning survival analysis model found that the most important predictors of mortality were APTT, followed by INR, severity of tricuspid regurgitation, cumulative hospital stays, cumulative number of readmissions, creatinine, urate, ALP, and QTc/QT intervals. GBST significantly outperformed random survival forests and multivariate Cox regression (precision: 0.91, recall: 0.89, AUC: 0.93, C-index: 0.96, and KS-index: 0.50) for mortality prediction. ConclusionsAn electronic frailty index incorporating multi-domain data can efficiently predict all-cause mortality in patients undergoing TAVR. A machine learning survival learning model significantly improves the risk prediction performance of the frailty models.
0
0
0
Video Abstract (AI generated)
Paper
Preprint
BackgroundThere is a bidirectional relationship between blood pressure variability (BPV) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), but few studies have examined the gender- and age-specific effects of visit-to-visit BPV on GAD incidence. We examined the predictive value of BPV for the incidence of GAD in a family clinic cohort. MethodsConsecutive patients with a first attendance to family medicine clinics in Hong Kong between January 1st, 2000, and December 31st, 2002, with at least three blood pressure measurements available thereafter were included. The primary endpoint was incident GAD as identified by ICD-9 coding from the local Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System. ResultsThis study included 48023 (50% males) patients with a median follow-up of 224 (IQR: 217-229) months. Females were more likely to develop GAD compared to males (incidence rate: 7% vs. 2%), as were patients of older age. Significant univariate predictors were female gender, older age, pre-existing cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and gastrointestinal diseases, various laboratory examinations and the number of blood pressure measurements. Higher baseline, maximum, minimum, SD, CV, and variability score of diastolic blood pressure significantly predicted GAD, as did all systolic blood pressure measures (baseline, latest, maximum, minimum, mean, median, variance, SD, RMS, CV, variability score). ConclusionsThe relationships between longer term visit-to-visit BPV and incident GAD were identified. Female and older patients with higher blood pressure and higher BPV were at the highest risks of GAD.
0
0
0
Video Abstract (AI generated)
Paper
Preprint
ObjectiveFrailty may be found in heart failure patients especially in the elderly and is associated with a poor prognosis. However, assessment of frailty status is time-consuming and the electronic frailty indices developed using health records have served as useful surrogates. We hypothesized that an electronic frailty index developed using machine learning can improve short-term mortality prediction in patients with heart failure. MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study included patients admitted to nine public hospitals for heart failure from Hong Kong between 2013 and 2017. Age, sex, variables in the modified frailty index, Deyos Charlson comorbidity index ([≥]2), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were analyzed. Gradient boosting, which is a supervised sequential ensemble learning algorithm with weak prediction submodels (typically decision trees), was applied to predict mortality. Comparisons were made with decision tree and multivariate logistic regression. ResultsA total of 8893 patients (median: age 81, Q1-Q3: 71-87 years old) were included, in whom 9% had 30-day mortality and 17% had 90-day mortality. PNI, age and NLR were the most important variables predicting 30-day mortality (importance score: 37.4, 32.1, 20.5, respectively) and 90-day mortality (importance score: 35.3, 36.3, 14.6, respectively). Gradient boosting significantly outperformed decision tree and multivariate logistic regression (area under the curve: 0.90, 0.86 and 0.86 for 30-day mortality; 0.92, 0.89 and 0.86 for 90-day mortality). ConclusionsThe electronic frailty index based on comorbidities, inflammation and nutrition information can readily predict mortality outcomes. Their predictive performances were significantly improved by gradient boosting techniques.
Loading Projects...