RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Influenza is a common cause of hospital admissions globally with regional variations in epidemiology and clinical profile. We evaluated the characteristics and outcomes of patients with influenza admitted to a tertiary-care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort of adult patients admitted with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed influenza to King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh between January 1, 2018, and May 31, 2022. We compared patients who required intensive care unit (ICU) admission to those who did not and performed multivariable logistic regression to assess the predictors of ICU admission and hospital mortality. RESULTS: During the study period, 675 adult patients were hospitalized with influenza (median age 68.0 years, females 53.8%, hypertension 59.9%, diabetes 55.1%, and chronic respiratory disease 31.1%). Most admissions (83.0%) were in the colder months (October to March) in Riyadh with inter-seasonal cases even in the summertime (June to August). Influenza A was responsible for 79.0% of cases, with H3N2 and H1N1 subtypes commonly circulating in the study period. Respiratory viral coinfection occurred in 12 patients (1.8%) and bacterial coinfection in 42 patients (17.4%). 151 patients (22.4%) required ICU admission, of which 62.3% received vasopressors and 48.0% mechanical ventilation. Risk factors for ICU admission were younger age, hypertension, bilateral lung infiltrates on chest X-ray, and Pneumonia Severity Index. The overall hospital mortality was 7.4% (22.5% for ICU patients, p < 0.0001). Mortality was 45.0% in patients with bacterial coinfection, 30.9% in those requiring vasopressors, and 29.2% in those who received mechanical ventilation. Female sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.096; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.070, 4.104), ischemic heart disease (OR, 3.053; 95% CI 1.457, 6.394), immunosuppressed state (OR, 7.102; 95% CI 1.803, 27.975), Pneumonia Severity Index (OR, 1.029; 95% CI, 1.017, 1.041), leukocyte count and serum lactate level (OR, 1.394; 95% CI, 1.163, 1.671) were independently associated with hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza followed a seasonal pattern in Saudi Arabia, with H3N2 and H1N1 being the predominant circulating strains during the study period. ICU admission was required for > 20%. Female sex, high Pneumonia Severity Index, ischemic heart disease, and immunosuppressed state were associated with increased mortality.

Asunto(s)

Mortalidad Hospitalaria , Gripe Humana , Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos , Centros de Atención Terciaria , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Arabia Saudita/epidemiología , Anciano , Estudios Retrospectivos , Gripe Humana/mortalidad , Gripe Humana/epidemiología , Gripe Humana/complicaciones , Persona de Mediana Edad , Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos/estadística & datos numéricos , Factores de Riesgo , Adulto , Hospitalización/estadística & datos numéricos , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Coinfección , Modelos Logísticos , Respiración Artificial/estadística & datos numéricos , Subtipo H1N1 del Virus de la Influenza A

RESUMEN

Background Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is the most common form of nephrotic syndrome (NS) in children. It is often associated with minimal change disease (MCD). Corticosteroid therapy is the initial treatment, but many patients experience relapses, leading to steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) or frequently relapsing steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (FR-SSNS). To avoid prolonged steroid use, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is used as an immunosuppressive alternative. MMF is safe and effective for treating SDNS and FR-SSNS in children, with studies showing reduced relapse rates. The current study aims to evaluate MMF's effectiveness and safety in Saudi children with NS and identify factors that affect its efficacy. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital (KASCH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study included children aged one to 14 years diagnosed with NS who received MMF therapy. Data were collected from medical records from 2000 to 2020. Ethical considerations were followed, and statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 25 (released 2017; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Baseline characteristics and responsiveness to MMF were examined. Results In our study, 45 participants (25 males, 20 females) with NS were treated with MMF. Most participants were steroid-dependent (84.44%) and had frequent relapses. MMF was effective in 84.4% of cases, with a significant reduction in relapse; the mean number of relapses decreased from 3.5 before MMF to 1.6 after MMF (p-value = 0.00002). Moreover, 40% of the participants were completely free of relapse after the introduction of MMF. The average duration of the MMF therapy was 45 months. Post-MMF side effects were rare but documented. Gastrointestinal symptoms were extremely rare. Elevated liver enzyme levels were reported in 8.88% (four cases) of the participants. Leukopenia, a more common adverse effect, was reported in 26.66% of cases during the MMF therapy. The average daily dose of steroid was reduced from 12.5 mg/day pre MMF to 2 mg/day post MMF with a p-value of 0.00229. Conclusion Our study evaluated the use of MMF in 45 participants with NS. We found that MMF was effective in 84.4% of cases, leading to a significant reduction in the number of relapses. Post-MMF side effects were relatively rare, except for leukopenia that was reported in 26.66%. In addition, the average rate of reduction of steroid exposure before and after MMF was significant. These findings suggest that MMF is a promising treatment option for children with NS and an alternative therapy to long-term steroid use, due to its safety and effectiveness, although close monitoring for potential side effects is essential.