Background: Urgency of and time to antibiotic administration has often been highlighted to prevent complications of community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Adult literature is mixed on whether administration of antibiotics within four hours of diagnosis of CAP reduces morbidity and mortality, however this has not been studied in pediatric patients. We evaluated whether time to antibiotics [...]

Background: Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) are frequently hospitalized, however up to 25% of these encounters end in patient directed discharge (PDD), leading to interruptions in care, increased mortality, and higher hospital readmission rates.1-4 Receipt of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) has been shown to decrease odds of PDD.5 However, to date, less [...]

Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a leading cause of mortality globally and in the United States which necessitates an understanding of long-term trends to inform interventions. IHD encompasses various conditions such as coronary artery disease and heart attacks, contributing significantly to the global burden of cardiovascular diseases. The high prevalence of risk factors, including [...]

Background: Patients with acute severe asthma exacerbations that are unresponsive to standard therapy are said to be in status asthmaticus (SA). Patients with SA need hospitalization and are at risk of considerable morbidity and mortality along with high healthcare costs. Understanding regional differences in clinical outcomes and healthcare utilization among patients hospitalized with SA may [...]

Background: Tobacco use remains a major public health issue in the United States as it is linked to a broad spectrum of serious diseases. Although intensive inpatient tobacco treatment programs have shown success, the impact of prescription of smoking cessation medications alone on hospital readmissions has not been thoroughly studied. This study aims to assess [...]

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MALSD) is a recent classification that better reflects the cardiometabolic factors contributing to the condition, while reducing stigma associated with previous terminology. Characterized by triglyceride accumulation, MALSD can progress to inflammation and fibrosis if untreated. Although the FIB-4 score is commonly used to assess liver fibrosis, its association with [...]

Background: Sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. Previous studies have demonstrated that rates of sepsis and its complications – including organ failure, readmission, and death – are higher among Black patients than white patients (1, 2). While some of these differences can be explained by socioeconomic inequities, comorbidities, and [...]

Background: Certain infections, such as mucormycosis and Fournier gangrene, were initially linked to diabetes via case reports (1). Subsequent studies using electronic health record (EHR) data and frequentist methods have provided new insights, including increased mortality among patients with diabetes and infections (2). However, infection risk among patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 [...]

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is closely associated with obesity, and weight reduction is a critical component of its management. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonists have shown promise in promoting weight loss, potentially improving outcomes in OSA patients. We aimed to calculate the mean reduction in BMI and waist circumference after [...]

Background: Murine typhus, a flea-borne rickettsial disease traditionally found in warm, humid climates, is increasingly reported in non-endemic regions due to factors such as climate change and urbanization. Characterized by nonspecific symptoms including fever, headache, rash, and elevated liver enzymes, murine typhus often mimics common febrile illnesses such as influenza, viral exanthems, or sepsis. Delays [...]