Background: Cardiac arrest, as characterized by an abrupt loss of cardiac function, remains to be a main event preceding death with low survival rates nationwide. Although many factors can serve as the underlying etiology, it is agreed upon that prompt response with the initiation of advanced cardiac life support is the cornerstone of preventing mortality. [...]

Background: The Center for Health Evaluations, Education, Research and Engagement (CHEVERE) study is a research program at Lincoln Hospital designed to explore the cultural, social and psychological factors that either facilitate or serve as barriers to behavioral change in the South Bronx community. The focus of our Phase II, non-blinded, prospective study is to develop [...]

Background: While prescription opioids have a role in treating certain pain conditions, their injudicious use has led to an epidemic with myriad adverse outcomes. We sought to evaluate the association of socioeconomic and racial disparities with healthcare utilization and outcomes in opioid overdose related hospitalizations using National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2012 through 2014. [...]

Background: Involvement of a cardiologist in the care of hospitalized patients with a primary diagnosis of heart failure (HF) has been shown to improve outcomes and may affect their readmission rates. However, less is known about the patients admitted for a different reason who carry a secondary diagnosis of HF and the effect of cardiology [...]

Background: Standard risk prediction tools including the quick-Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) have been validated using in-hospital outcomes (mortality [Died-Hosp] or intensive care unit stay >72 hours [ICU72]). Yet, risk models are often applied to predict outcomes beyond hospitalization, and it is unclear what effect outcome selection has on model performance. We derived independent robust [...]

Background: Anemia in patients with heart failure (HF) is common. Data reported shows a variable prevalence ranging from 10-40%. Additionally, it has also been demonstrated that it is associated with poor outcomes. Multiple risk factors have been shown to contribute to the presence of anemia in HF patients. The population of the Rio Grande Valley [...]

Background: Prognostic risk scores allow clinicians to rapidly identify patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) at a low risk for mortality and morbidity. Current guidelines recommend that these patients be considered for outpatient treatment. Despite this, most patients with low-risk PE are still hospitalized for monitoring and initiation of anticoagulation. Interventions to improve provider awareness [...]

Background: Delays in antibiotic administration in sepsis – particularly after the development of hypotension – are associated with increased mortality. Current guidelines recommend antibiotic initiation within one hour of sepsis recognition. However, it is not known how timing of hypotension relates to the timing of meeting sepsis diagnostic criteria and the initiation of treatment. We [...]

Background: Chronic respiratory diseases lead to co-morbid conditions, including osteoporosis, that impact quality of life and healthcare expense. Environmental exposures are risk factors for the development and severity of chronic respiratory diseases. We evaluated the relationship between the environmental exposures of agriculture and nutrition and respiratory health in postmenopausal women to better understand how these [...]

Background: Foot amputation rates in Black patients with diabetic foot complications have been historically higher than White patients. To determine if improvements in this disparity occurred, we carried out trend analysis of lower extremity amputation rates for patients hospitalized with diabetic foot ulcers and infections (DFU/Is). Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample database, we conducted [...]