Abdalrhim, Ahmed D.

Ramadan is the Islamic holy month when Muslims around the world fast from dawn to sunset. This 30-day pattern of intermittent diurnal fasting can have a significant physiologic impact on the body. Importantly, oral intake is forbidden during this time, and many patients do not wish to take medications. From a clinical perspective, this potentially impacts healthcare delivery and chronic disease states. Despite these important changes, awareness of individual patient practices remains limited among healthcare providers in North America, which may worsen health disparities in Muslim patients. A fundamental understanding of the cultural and physiological implications of fasting during Ramadan can improve cultural competence and patient outcomes. In this paper, we review the physiologic changes during fasting, medical exemptions to fasting, and special considerations for the care of Muslim patients with chronic conditions who may fast during Ramadan.

Abstract Background We compared long-term mortality and readmission rates after COVID-19 hospitalization based on rural-urban status and assessed the impact of COVID-19 vaccination introduction on clinical outcomes by rurality. Methods The study comprised adults hospitalized for COVID-19 at 17 hospitals in 4 US states between March 2020 and July 2022, followed until May 2023. The main analysis included all patients, whereas a sensitivity analysis focused on residents from 4 states containing 17 hospitals. Additional analyses compared the pre- and postvaccination periods. Results The main analysis involved 9325 COVID-19 hospitalized patients: 31% were from 187 rural counties in 31 states; 69% from 234 urban counties in 44 states; the mean age was 65 years (rural, 66 years; urban, 64 years); 3894 women (rural, 41%; urban, 42%); 8007 Whites (rural, 87%; urban, 83%); 1738 deaths (rural, 21%; urban, 17%); and 2729 readmissions (rural, 30%; urban, 29%). During a median follow-up of 602 days, rural residence was associated with a 22% higher all-cause mortality (log-rank, P < .001; hazard ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-1.34, P < .001), and a trend toward a higher readmission rate (log-rank, P = .038; hazard ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, .98-1.15; P = .130). The results remained consistent in the sensitivity analysis and in both pre- and postvaccination time periods. Conclusions and Relevance Patients from rural counties experienced higher mortality and tended to be readmitted more frequently following COVID-19 hospitalization over the long term compared with those from urban counties, a difference that remained even after the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines.

Abstract BACKGROUND Uncertainty remains over the relationship between blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV), measured in hospital settings, and clinical outcomes following acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We examined the association between within-person systolic blood pressure (SBP) variability (SBPV) during hospitalization and readmission-free survival, all-cause readmission, or all-cause mortality 1 year after AIS. METHODS In a cohort of 862 consecutive patients (age [mean ± SD] 75 ± 15 years, 55% women) with AIS (2005–2018, follow-up through 2019), we measured SBPV as quartiles of standard deviations (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) from a median of 16 SBP readings obtained throughout hospitalization. RESULTS In the cumulative cohort, the measured SD and CV of SBP in mmHg were 16 ± 6 and 10 ± 5, respectively. The hazard ratios (HR) for readmission-free survival between the highest vs. lowest quartiles were 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.81) for SD and 1.29 (95% CI 0.94–1.78) for CV after adjustment for demographics and comorbidities. Similarly, incident readmission or mortality remained consistent between the highest vs. lowest quartiles of SD and CV (readmission: HR 1.29 [95% CI 0.90–1.78] for SD, HR 1.29 [95% CI 0.94–1.78] for CV; mortality: HR 1.15 [95% CI 0.71–1.87] for SD, HR 0.86 [95% CI 0.55–1.36] for CV). CONCULSIONS In patients with first AIS, SBPV measured as quartiles of SD or CV based on multiple readings throughout hospitalization has no independent prognostic implications for the readmission-free survival, readmission, or mortality. This underscores the importance of overall patient care rather than a specific focus on BP parameters during hospitalization for AIS.

BACKGROUNDElevated cardiac troponin (cTn) is often observed in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). We assessed the magnitude of association and quality of supporting evidence between cTn and clinically important outcomes in persons hospitalized for ADHF.METHODSWe searched MEDLINE In‐Process & Other Non‐Indexed Citations, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus from inception through February 28, 2015. The outcomes analyzed included hospital length of stay (LOS), readmissions, and mortality. Random effects meta‐analysis was used to combine outcomes across studies.RESULTSWe included 26 clinical studies. A detectable or elevated cTn was associated with increased LOS (odds ratio [OR]: 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01‐1.10), increased in‐hospital mortality (OR: 2.57; 95% CI: 2.27‐2.91), and a composite of mortality and major adverse events (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.03‐1.71) during hospitalization. ADHF patients with a detectable or elevated cTn were at increased risk for mortality and composite of mortality and readmission over the short term (mortality OR: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.43‐3.12; composite OR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.60‐4.92), intermediate term (mortality OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.46‐3.35; composite OR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.78‐2.99), and long term (mortality OR: 3.69; 95% CI: 2.64‐5.18; composite OR: 3.49; 95% CI: 2.08‐5.84). The overall confidence in estimates was moderate.CONCLUSIONSAmong ADHF patients, a detectable or elevated cTn identifies subjects at increased risk for adverse clinical outcomes during acute hospitalization and those at higher risk for postdischarge mortality and composite of readmission and mortality. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:446–454. 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine