Background and ObjectivesEvidence is conflicting with regards to the role of vitamin D in statin induced myalgia (SIM). Studies so far have assessed cross-sectional association and were limited by study sample selected predominantly from cardiology clinics. In this retrospective cohort study we assessed the association between vitamin D and SIM and attempted to establish a serum vitamin D cutoff to identify patients at risk for developing SIM.MethodsMedical charts of 5526 consecutive patients from a primary care practice in Scranton, Pennsylvania from 2005–2012 were reviewed. Vitamin D level (25-hydroxy cholecalciferol) at statin initiation was considered “Exposure level”. Vitamin D levels were categorized into quartiles (≤ 10, 11–20, 21–30, >30 ng/ml). SIM was identified by patient report.Results1160 out of 5526 patients were treated with statins. The mean age was 55.9 years. 276 (24%) developed SIM. Unadjusted 7-yr cumulative incidences of SIM for quartiles 1–4 of vitamin D were 32.3, 21.5, 18.3 and 14.6% respectively. The lowest quartile of vitamin D was independently associated with 1.21 times the hazard of the fourth quartile for developing SIM (95% CI: 1.09, 1.33; P-trend  = 0.001). Vitamin D cut-off ≤15 ng/ml, showed a positive predictive value, negative predictive value, likelihood ratio (LR) + and LR- of 81, 90, 5.1 and 0.1, respectively for predicting SIM.ConclusionsLow vitamin D level at statin initiation is associated with SIM, levels ≤15 ng/ml have a high predictive accuracy for SIM. Randomized controlled trials are needed to validate our results.

Abiotrophia defectiva or nutritionally variant Streptococcus (NVS) is rare but important cause of infective endocarditis. We present a case of a 40 year old man with history of aortic valve replacement 14 years ago admitted for fever and chills. Blood culture grew A. defectiva in 4 out of 4 bottles. Patient became a febrile within few days after staring Ceftriaxone but subsequently had renal infarct due to septic embolization. Echocardiogram showed vegetations on aortic valve but no significant aortic regurgitation. After an 8 weeks course of Penicillin and Gentamicin was completed the patient had severe aortic regurgitation. Finally, aortic valve replacement and aortic root replacement was performed and patient did well after the surgery. Clinicians should be aware of this fastidious and aggressive organism when dealing with infective endocarditis. Complications rates are very high even on antibiotics and surgical treatment is needed in at least 50% of the cases.

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Background: The first case of Novel coronavirus disease (COVID 19) was diagnosed in The Gambia on the 17th March 2020. We therefore investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of COVID 19 patients admitted at a Gambian teaching Hospital. Method: Out of 407 suspected COVID 19 patients, 137 (33.7%) tested positive for COVID 19 and were recruited. Clinical features, treatment and outcomes were recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess prognostic factors of survival in our patients. Results: The median age of our patients was 60 years (19-100) and 86 (62.8%) were men. Eighty nine (64.9%) patients had co-morbidities, mostly Hypertension 51 (37.2%) and Diabetes Mellitus 47 (34.3%). The most common symptoms were cough 71 (51.8%) and dyspnea 53 (38.7%) and majority of patients presented with SPO ≤ 93% 75 (54.7%). Patients with SPO2 ≤ 93% were older 63.2 vs. 53.1 years (p=0.001), more likely to present with dyspnea (p=0.002), Cough (0.035), higher respiratory rate (p<0.001) and co-morbidities (p=0.009) compared to patients with SPO2>93%. Non survivors were older 63.2 vs 53.1 years (p=0.001), more likely to present with higher respiratory rate (p=0.014), lower oxygen saturation (p=<0.001), to be referred from lower level health facility (p=0.012) and to have Diabetes mellitus (p=0.007) as compared to survivors. Our cumulative mortality is 49 (35.8%) and mortality rate of patients referred from lower level heath facilities was 46 % as compared to 25 % for self referred patients. Multivariate analysis showed increasing odds of mortality independently associated with Age≥ 60 years (odd ratio, 2.87: 95% CI, 1.21 to 6.83, p=0.012), Diabetes mellitus (odd ratio, 3.47: 95% CI, 1.44 to 8.36, p=0.006), oxygen saturation ≤ 93% (odd ratio, 3.18: 95% CI, 1.27 to 7.99, p=0.014) and referral from lower level health facility (odd ratio, 2.87: 95% CI, 1.11 to 6.82, p=0.017).Conclusion: Older patients, patients with Diabetes Mellitus, hypoxemia or patients referred from lower level health facilities are at increased risk of death. In resource limited countries where critical care/emergency medicine resources are limited, our results may help guide the clinical management of patients with severe COVID-19.