A. B. Berdalin

Bio: A. B. Berdalin is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Asymptomatic & Cerebral blood flow. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 8 publications receiving 2 citations.

Risk Factors of In-Hospital Mortality in Non-Specialized Tertiary Center Repurposed for Medical Care to COVID-19 Patients in Russia

Abstract: The purpose of our study is to investigate the risk factors of in-hospital mortality among patients who were admitted in an emergency setting to a non-specialized tertiary center during the first peak of coronavirus disease in Moscow in 2020. The Federal Center of Brain and Neurotechnologies of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia was repurposed for medical care for COVID-19 patients from 6th of April to 16th of June 2020 and admitted the patients who were transported by an ambulance with severe disease. In our study, we analyzed the data of 635 hospitalized patients aged 59.1 ± 15.1 years. The data included epidemiologic and demographic characteristics, laboratory, echocardiographic and radiographic findings, comorbidities, and complications of the COVID-19, developed during the hospital stay. Results of our study support previous reports that risk factors of mortality among hospitalized patients are older age, male gender (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.03–3.52), previous myocardial infarction (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.47–6.73), previous acute cerebrovascular event (stroke, OR = 3.78, 95% CI 1.44–9.92), known oncological disease (OR = 3.39, 95% CI 1.39–8.26), and alcohol abuse (OR 6.98, 95% CI 1.62–30.13). According to the data collected, high body mass index and smoking did not influence the clinical outcome. Arterial hypertension was found to be protective against in-hospital mortality in patients with coronavirus pneumonia in the older age group. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio showed a significant increase in those patients who died during the hospitalization, and the borderline was found to be 2.5. CT pattern of “crazy paving” was more prevalent in those patients who died since their first CT scan, and it was a 4-fold increase in the risk of death in case of aortic and coronal calcinosis (4.22, 95% CI 2.13–8.40). Results largely support data from other studies and emphasize that some factors play a major role in patients’ stratification and medical care provided to them.

Особенности атеросклеротического поражения экстракраниальных отделов брахиоцефальных артерий при вертебрально-базилярном ишемическом инсульте

Abstract: Aim. To study echographic and acoustic characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques (ASP) in brachiocephalic arteries (BCA) in patients with acute posterior circulation ischemic stroke (PCIS). Material and methods . In this study we included data of duplex ultrasound from 235 patients (men, 129; women, 106; age, 59±12 and 63±10 years, respectively) with PCIS. Pathogenesis of PCIS was established only in 23 cases: in 17 (74%) — atherothrombosis, in 3 (13%) — cardioembolism, in 3 (13%) — lacunar stroke. Atrial fibrillation was established in 18,5% of patients. A total of 903 asymptomatic individuals were included in the control group, comparable with studied patients by sex and age. Results. The prevalence of ASP in vertebral arteries (VA) was equal in both groups. Also, no significant differences in the degree of VA stenosis were observed. Atherosclerotic lesions of common (CCA) and internal carotid arteries (ICA) on both sides were more often observed in control group, but the degree of their stenosis was higher in PSIS group (р<0,003). In ischemic stroke, stenosis of the right ICA was 47±17%, left ICA — 46±18%, while in asymptomatic individuals, right ICA stenosis was 40±14%, left ICA — 39±15%. In patients with PCIS, ASPs were significantly more often regarded as concentric (22,0% vs 10,4% in PCIS and asymptomatic individuals, respectively), prolonged (24,2% vs 7,5%), homogeneous (41,0% vs 21,1%), as well as were more likely to have an uneven contour (27,7% vs 2,8%). Conclusion. In patients with acute PCIS, the peculiarities of BCA atherosclerosis were recorded, distinguishing it from that in the asymptomatic population.

Echographic features of the structure of atherosclerotic plaques in carotid ischemic stroke

Abstract: An assessment of not only the degree of stenosis, but also the structure of atherosclerotic plaques (ASPs) in the carotid arteries can reveal atheromas that are dangerous for the development of cerebrovascular events in asymptomatic individuals. Objective: to study the echostructure of ASPs in patients in the acutest period of carotid ischemic stroke (IS) and to analyze predictors for its development according to ultrasonic duplex scanning (DS). Patients and methods. A study group included the results of DS in 668 patients (370 men and 298 women aged 63±11 and 69±9 years, respectively) with IS in the middle cerebral artery bed. Out of 222 patients, 160 (72.1%), 56 (25.2%), 4 (1.8%), and 2 (0.9%) people had atherothrombotic, cardioembolic, hemodynamic, and lacunar subtypes of IS, respectively. A control group consisted of 903 asymptomatic individuals matched to the patients for gender and age. Results and discussion . In patients with IS, carotid stenoses were characterized by the higher degree of a reduction in the lumen of both the internal carotid arteries (ICA): on the right (r) (53±23%) and left (l) (54±24%) sides, and the common carotid arteries (CCA): on both sides (40±12%) compared to asymptomatic individuals: rICA (40±14%), lICA (39±15%); and both CCAs (32±9%). At the same time, ASPs in the carotid arteries in the acutest period of IS were significantly more frequently homogeneous hypoechoic (21.2%) or heterogeneous with a hypoechoic component (25.6%), and also more frequently had an uneven contour in the rICA (41.3%) and lICA (33.6%), compared to those in asymptomatic individuals (hypoechoicity (7.0 and 5.6%, respectively); the uneven contour was in the rICA (3.2%) and lICA (4.0%). The study indicated that a set of echo signs (the degree of stenosis in the ICA and CCA; the homogeneity and hypoechoicity of ASP in the ICA; the uneven contour of ASP in the carotid arteries) was formed for primary ultrasound carotid stenosis screening carried out using a routine DS technique. Additional studies that can more accurately identify ASPs that are dangerous for the development of cerebral vascular events are recommended for asymptomatic individuals with ASP and the above signs, which will determine their treatment policy. Conclusion. Atheromas in the carotid arteries in the acutest period of IS are different from those in asymptomatic individuals by a number of features identified during routine ultrasonic DS. The most valuable individual prognostic sign of the development of carotid IS was the uneven contour of ASP in the carotid arteries.

Analysis of the frequency of detection of hypercholesterolemia, carotid atherosclerosis and lipid-lowering therapy prescription in young adults under 45 years old according to the Duplex registry database

Abstract: Aim of the study to analyze the detection of hypercholesterolemia (HCHL) and carotid atherosclerosis (CAS), verified by duplex scanning of the carotid arteries (DSCA) in young adults (YA), and to evaluate the lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) prescription among them according to the local registry database. Material and Methods: The Duplex registry database was used for this study (n=2548). YA up to 45 years old were selected for the final analysis (n=351). Results: HCHL (> 5 mmol/L) was detected in 68.9% of patients (n=241), and only 9.5% of them received LLT (n=23). CAS was detected in 12.8% (n=45), only 17.8% of them had received LLT (n=8). Men and women differed 1.5 times by the incidence of CAS in this age range: 15.7% (30 out of 191) vs 9.4% (15 out of 160), p=0.05. Men also generally have a higher prevalence of other risk factors/diseases: HCHL (78.0% (n=149) vs 58.1% (n=93) in women, p=0.00004), hypertension (AH) (15.7% (n=30) vs 9.4% (n=15) in women, p=0,05), history of myocardial infarction (MI) (1,6% (n=3) vs 0% (n=0) in women, ns). Signs that had a significant impact on LLT intake were the following: CAS (OR 2.8 [1.09;6.6] p=0.036); AH (OR 3.1 [1.32; 7.16] p=0.009); HCHL (> 5 mmol/L) (OR 4.2 [1.12; 26.83] p=0.06); HCHL (ICD-10 code E78) (OR 5.4 [2.04; 13.7] p=0.0003); MI history (OR 22.3 [1.65;675.5] p=0.009). Conclusion: The insufficient LLT prescription in young adults with HCHL and CAS was ascertained in the present study. The use of imaging methods to clarify the degree of cardiovascular risk is advisable for low and intermediate risk patients, which include young adults. DSСA is the main method for subclinical atherosclerosis verification. LLT should be prescribed to all YA patients with CAS (in the absence of contraindications). Graphical Abstract

Differences in Dynamics of Lung Computed Tomography Patterns between Survivors and Deceased Adult Patients with COVID-19.

Abstract: This study's aim was to investigate CT (computed tomography) pattern dynamics differences within surviving and deceased adult patients with COVID-19, revealing new prognostic factors and reproducing already known data with our patients' cohort: 635 hospitalized patients (55.3% of them were men, 44.7%-women), of which 87.3% had a positive result of RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) at admission. The number of deaths was 53 people (69.8% of them were men and 30.2% were women). In total, more than 1500 CT examinations were performed on patients, using a GE Optima CT 660 computed tomography (General Electric Healthcare, Chicago, IL, USA). The study was performed at hospital admission, the frequency of repetitive scans further varied based on clinical need. The interpretation of the imaging data was carried out by 11 radiologists with filling in individual registration cards that take into account the scale of the lesion, the location, contours, and shape of the foci, the dominating types of changes, as well as the presence of additional findings and the dynamics of the process-a total of 45 parameters. Statistical analysis was performed using the software packages SPSS Statistics version 23.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) and R software version 3.3.2. For comparisons in pattern dynamics across hospitalization we used repeated measures general linear model with outcome and disease phase as factors. The crazy paving pattern, which is more common and has a greater contribution to the overall CT picture in different phases of the disease in deceased patients, has isolated prognostic significance and is probably a reflection of faster dynamics of the process with a long phase of progression of pulmonary parenchyma damage with an identical trend of changes in the scale of the lesion (as recovered) in this group of patients. Already known data on typical pulmonological CT manifestations of infection, frequency of occurrence, and the prognostic significance of the scale of the lesion were reproduced, new differences in the dynamics of the process between recovered and deceased adult patients were also found that may have prognostic significance and can be reflected in clinical practice.

Impact of Alcohol Misuse on Requirements for Critical Care Services and Development of Hospital Delirium in Patients With COVID-19 pneumonia

Abstract: Alcohol misuse has been associated with increased morbidity in the setting of pulmonary infections, including the need for critical care resource utilization and development of delirium. How alcohol misuse impacts morbidity and outcomes among patients admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia is not well described. We sought to determine if alcohol misuse was associated with an increased need for critical care resources and development of delirium among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia.Retrospective cohort study.Twelve University of Colorado hospitals between March 2020 and April 2021.Adults with a COVID-19 diagnosis.None.The primary outcome was admission to the ICU. Secondary outcomes included need for mechanical ventilation, development of delirium, and in-hospital mortality. Alcohol misuse was defined by International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes. Of 5,979 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 26% required ICU admission and 15.4% required mechanical ventilation. Delirium developed in 4.5% and 10.5% died during hospitalization. Alcohol misuse was identified in 4%. In analyses adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, and liver disease, alcohol misuse was associated with increased odds of ICU admission (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.46; p < 0.01), mechanical ventilation (aOR, 1.43; p = 0.03), and delirium (aOR, 5.55; p < 0.01) compared with patients without misuse. Mortality rates were not associated with alcohol misuse alone, although the presence of both alcohol misuse and in-hospital delirium significantly increased odds of in-hospital death (aOR, 2.60; p = 0.04).Among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, alcohol misuse was associated with increased utilization of critical care resources including ICU admission and mechanical ventilation. Delirium was an important modifiable risk factor associated with worse outcomes in hospitalized patients with alcohol misuse, including increased odds of death.

Stress test with physical activity: features of hemodynamics and kinetics of carotid arteries in atherosclerotic stenosis

Abstract: Aim. To analyze the effect of exercise on cerebral hemodynamics in borderline ste­­nosis of internal carotid artery (ICA) (40-69%) in asymptomatic patients.Material and methods. The study included 120 patients: group I (n=40) — without signs of carotid bifurcation atherosclerosis; II (40) — with hemo­dynamically insignificant stenosis of ICA (40-69%): IIA — with ICA stenosis of 40-59% (18); IIB — 60-69% (22); III (40) — with hemodynamically significant stenosis of ICA (≥70%, without occlusion). All patients underwent following investigations: blood coagulation and lipid profile tests; doppler ultrasound of extracranial vessels, sphygmography of the common carotid artery (CCA), brain computed tomography, transcranial doppler ultrasound, cycle ergometer stress echocardiography with determination of ICA stenosis hemo­dynamics.Results. In most (29 (72,5%)) patients of group II, stress test revealed a de­crease in ICA flow, CCA kinetics according to sphygmography compared with group I, as well as a direct correlation between the degree of stenosis and a blood flow decrease. The indicators approached the data of group III patients.Conclusion. With stenosis of the ICA (40-69%), when a submaximal heart rate (HR) is reached, a functional hemodynamically significant stenosis of the ICA develops. An additional indication for carotid endarterectomy is a combination of 40-69% stenosis and functional hemodynamically significant stenosis when submaximal heart rate is reached. Patients with ICA stenosis (40-69%) require a stress test to assess functional hemodynamically significant stenosis when submaximal heart rate is reached.