Faculty Bibliography

Background: The risk-benefit ratio of ACE-I/ARB therapy after an AKI episode is unclear.
Method(s): We studied 1570 patients recently discharged from hospital and enrolled in a multi-center prospective cohort study (ASSESS-AKI). Follow-up began 3 months after index hospitalization and continued through November 2018. Half of the participants had AKI during the index hospitalization. ACE-I/ARB use and covariates were ascertained 3 months after discharge from the index hospitalization. We used multivariable Cox regression adjusting for demographics, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, heart failure (HF), blood pressure, urine protein to creatinine ratio, and eGFR to examine the association between ACE-I/ARB use and subsequent death, AKI (>=50% difference between peak and nadir inpatient serum creatinine), renal progression (ESRD or halving of eGFR), and adjudicated HF events.
Result(s): Among study participants who did not have AKI during index hospitalization (N=806), mean age was 65 years, mean eGFR 74 ml/min/1.73m2, and 45% self-reported use of ACE-I/ARB 3 months after hospitalization. Among study participants who did have AKI during index hospitalization (N=764), mean age was 64 years, mean eGFR 65 ml/min/1.73m2, and 50% self-reported use of ACE-I/ARB 3 months after hospitalization. Mean follow-up time was 3.6 years. ACE-I/ARB therapy 3 months after an AKI hospitalization was associated with a lower risk of another hospitalized AKI event and a lower risk of death (Table).
Conclusion(s): Use of ACE-I/ARB in survivors of hospitalized AKI was not associated with increased risk of subsequent AKI but was associated with lower risk of death

Reports have correlated the use of estrogen for the treatment of menopausal symptoms with beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. Molecular, biochemical, preclinical, and clinical studies have furnished a wealth of evidence in support of this outcome of estrogen action. The prospective randomized Women's Health Initiative (WHI) and the Early Versus Late Intervention Trial (ELITE) showed that starting menopausal hormone treatment (MHT) within 5 to 10 years of menopause is fundamental to the success of estrogen's cardioprotection in post-menopausal women without adverse effects. Age stratification of the WHI data has shown that starting hormone treatment within the first decade after menopause is both safe and effective, and the long-term WHI follow-up studies are supportive of cardioprotection. This is especially true in estrogen-treated women who underwent surgical menopause. A critique of the WHI and other relevant studies is presented, supporting that the timely use of estrogens protects against age- and hormone-related cardiovascular complications. Salutary long-term hormone treatment for menopausal symptoms and prevention of complications has been widely reported, but there are no prospective trials defining the correct length to continue MHT. At present, women undergoing premature menopause receive estrogen treatment (ET) until evidence of hormone-related complications intervenes. Normal women started on MHT who receive treatment for decades without hormone-related complications have been reported, and the WHI follow-up studies are promising of long-term post-treatment cardioprotection. A prevention-based holistic approach is proposed for timely and continuing MHT/ET administration as part of the general management of the menopausal woman. But this should be undertaken only with scheduled, annual patient visits including evaluations of cardiovascular status. Because of the continued occurrence of reproductive cancers well into older ages, these visits should include genital and breast cancer screening.

Background: The growing opioid overdose epidemic has grappled the nation with the CDC now reporting that drug overdose deaths have become the most common cause of death for young people. Medical education has historically ignored substance use disorders, and though they generally require all medical students to learn basic life support, they have not taught how to respond to opioid overdoses. Further, medical education is moving towards modalities which utilize adult learning theory. One such modality are online modules. However, there are few studies comparing their outcomes with traditional lectures. Previously, the authors compared in-person and online training of medical students to respond to opioid overdoses using naloxone in a non-randomized controlled setting, which showed no meaningful differences in knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness outcomes for students. In this paper, the authors attempt to use a randomized controlled trial to compare the two educational modalities at a second urban medical school.
Objective(s): The author's primary objective was to demonstrate non-inferiority of online compared to in-person training for knowledge. Our secondary objective were to show non-inferiority of online compared to in-person training attitudes, and preparedness.
Method(s): Our study received IRB exemption as an education intervention. As a part of a transition to clinical clerkships curriculum used for second year medical students, second year medical students in an urban medical school were randomized into training sessions by the office of medical education without foreknowledge of the planned study. Students taking the online training were provided with a link to online modules with pre- and post-tests and video based lectures. Students randomized to the in-person training group took a pre-test just prior to receiving an oral lecture, and then immediately completed a post-test. Paired student's t-tests were used to compare measurements for each group in knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness, and Cohen's D was used to measure the effect size of the change. We calculated 99% confidence intervals for each measure and utilized a margin of non-inferiority of 5%.
Result(s): The in-person group demonstrated a statistically significant increase in knowledge, a non-statistically significant decrease in self-reported preparedness, and a small non-statistically significant increase in attitudes, see Table 1. The online group demonstrated a statistically significant increase in knowledge and self-reported preparedness, without a statistically significant change in attitudes, see Table 1. 99% CIs were [-0.20, 1.09] for knowledge, [6.51, 10.93] for preparedness, and [-2.32, 1.59] for attitudes, see Figure 1.
Conclusion(s): Online training for opioid overdose prevention training provided non-inferior outcomes for knowledge, preparedness, and attitudes. This study supports the use of online opioid overdose prevention training as a non-inferior alternative to in-person training

Background: Whether the trajectory of kidney function 72 hours after AKI informs long-term clinical outcomes, including CKD, dialysis and death, is unknown.
Method(s): We prospectively enrolled patients who survived 90 days after hospitalization with or without AKI in ASSESS-AKI. Resolving AKI was defined as a decrease in SCr of 0.3 mg/dL or 25% from maximum in the first 72 hours after AKI diagnosis. Non-resolving AKI was defined as all AKI cases not meeting the 'resolving' definition. The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse kidney events (MAKE), defined as incident or progressive CKD, incident dialysis or death. Time to event analyses were completed conditioning on: demographics, comorbidites and KDIGO stage of AKI.
Result(s): We evaluated 772 participants with AKI and 831 participants without AKI over a median of 4.8 years. Among the AKI group, 479 (62%) had a resolving AKI pattern and 294 (38%) had a non-resolving pattern. The unadjusted incidence rate for MAKE was 5.5 events per 100 patient years in participants without AKI, 11.1 events in resolving AKI and 15.4 events in non-resolving AKI (Figure 1). The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for MAKE was higher for both resolving (aHR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.17 to 2.63; p=0.006) and non-resolving (aHR 2.54; 95% CI, 1.69 to 3.81; p<0.001) AKI compared to participants without AKI. Within the AKI population, non-resolving AKI was associated with a 45% greater risk of MAKE (95% CI, 17% to 78% greater; p<0.001) compared to resolving AKI. The higher risk of MAKE in non-resolving AKI was due to a higher risk of incident and progressive CKD.
Conclusion(s): The 72-hour time period post AKI diagnosis distinguishes the risk of MAKE. The identification of AKI recovery patterns may improve patient risk stratification, facilitate prognostic enrichment in AKI clinical trials, and recognize patients who may benefit from nephrology consultation