Mohamad Assaf

Mr. Mohamad Assaf

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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29 July 2022 in Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
RCRalph Bou Chebl
Ralph Bou Chebl
MAMohamad Assaf
Mohamad Assaf
NKNadim Kattouf
Nadim Kattouf
SHSaadeddine Haidar
Saadeddine Haidar
MKMohamed Khamis
Mohamed Khamis
GDGilbert Abou Dagher
Gilbert Abou Dagher
The Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was shown to be associated with disease severity, poor prognosis and increased mortality in sepsis. However, the association between NLR and sepsis prognosis remains controversial. Our study aims to prospectively examine the prognostic ability of NLR in predicting in-hospital mortality among sepsis patients and determine the optimal cutoff of NLR that can most accurately predict in-hospital mortality in sepsis patients. This study was a prospective cohort study that included adult sepsis patients that presented to the emergency department of a tertiary care center between September 2018 and February 2021. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the optimal cutoff of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio that predicts in-hospital mortality. Patients were divided into 2 groups: above and below the optimal cutoff. Stepwise logistic regression was performed to assess the magnitude of the association between NLR and in-hospital mortality. A total of 865 patients were included in the study. The optimal cutoff for the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio that predicts in-hospital mortality was found to be 14.20 with a sensitivity of 44.8% and a specificity of 65.3% (with PPV = 0.27 and NPV = 0.80). The area under the curve for the ratio was 0.552 with a 95% confidence intervals = [0.504–0.599] with a P value = .03. Patients that have a NLR above the cutoff were less likely to survive with time compared to patients below the cutoff based on the Kaplan–Meier curves. In the stepwise logistic regression, the optimal neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio cutoff was not associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratios = 1.451, 95% confidence intervals = [0.927–2.270], P = .103). In conclusion the optimal cutoff of the NLR that predicts in-hospital mortality among sepsis patients was 14.20. There was no association between the NLR and in-hospital mortality in sepsis patients after adjusting for confounders. Further studies with a larger sample size should be done to determine the optimal NLR cutoff and its prognostic role in septic patients (in-hospital mortality and other clinically significant outcomes).

30 December 2022 in Emergency Medicine International
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
NKNadim Kattouf
Nadim Kattouf
MAMohamad Assaf
Mohamad Assaf
SHSaadeddine Haidar
Saadeddine Haidar
RBRana Bachir
Rana Bachir
MSMazen El Sayed
Mazen El Sayed
RBRalph BouChebl
Ralph BouChebl
Introduction. In trauma patients, the development of sepsis as a hospital complication is significantly associated with morbidity and mortality. We aimed to assess the risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality among trauma patients who developed sepsis during their hospital stay. Material and methods. Using the 2017 National Trauma Data Bank, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to identify adult trauma patients who developed sepsis during their hospital stay. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Results. 1782 trauma patients developed sepsis. 567 patients (31.8) died during their hospital stay. The following patient factors were associated with higher odds of in-hospital mortality: age (OR=1.045 95 CI=1.0361.054), chronic renal failure (OR=2.564 95 CI=1.5284.301), and liver cirrhosis (OR=3.699 95 CI=2.2676.033). Patients who developed cardiac arrest (OR=4.994 95 CI=3.3817.378), acute kidney injury (OR=3.808 95 CI=2.8375.110), acute respiratory distress syndrome (OR=1.688 95 CI=1.1972.379), and stroke (OR=1.998 95 CI=1.0753.714) during their hospital stay had higher odds of mortality. Higher Glasgow Coma Scale (1315) at presentation was associated with lower odds of mortality (OR=0.467 95 CI=0.3280.667). Conclusion. Among trauma patients who developed sepsis, age, chronic renal failure, cirrhosis, the development of cardiac arrest, acute kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and stroke in the hospital were associated with in-hospital mortality. These factors can be used to identify patients who are at higher risk of adverse outcomes and implement standardized or protocol-driven methods to improve patient care.

26 June 2022 in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
GDGilbert Abou Dagher
Gilbert Abou Dagher
AGAlain S. Abi Ghanem
Alain S. Abi Ghanem
SHSaadeddine Haidar
Saadeddine Haidar
NKNadim Kattouf
Nadim Kattouf
MAMohamad Assaf
Mohamad Assaf
RCRalph Bou Chebl
Ralph Bou Chebl

29 September 2023 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MAMohamad Assaf
Mohamad Assaf
DCDaniela Costa
Daniela Costa
JMJanka Massag
Janka Massag
CWChristoph Weber
Christoph Weber
RMRafael Mikolajczyk
Rafael Mikolajczyk
SSSara L. Schröder
Sara L. Schröder
Aims: Risk factors and outcomes of in-hospital ST elevation myocardial infraction (STEMI) are well explored. Recent findings show that non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) accounts for the majority of in-hospital infarctions (IHMIs). Our aim was to identify differences between IHMI and out-of-hospital myocardial infraction (OHMI) in terms of risk factors, treatment and outcomes, including both STEMI and NSTEMI. Methods: We analyzed the Regional Myocardial Infarction Registry of Saxony-Anhalt dataset. Patient characteristics, treatments and outcomes were compared between IHMI and OHMI. The association between clinical outcomes and myocardial infarction type was assessed using generalized additive models. Results: Overall, 11.4% of the included myocardial infractions were IHMI, and the majority were NSTEMI. Patients with IHMI were older and had more comorbidities than those with OHMI. Compared to OHMI, in-hospital myocardial infarction was associated with higher odds of 30-day mortality (OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.32–2.59) and complications (OR = 2.36, 95 % CI 1.84–3.01). Conclusions: We provided insights on the full spectrum of IHMI, in both of its classifications. The proportion of IHMI was one ninth of all AMI cases treated in the hospital. Previously reported differences in the baseline characteristics and treatments, as well as worse clinical outcomes, in in-hospital STEMI compared to out-of-hospital STEMI persist even when including NSTEMI cases.

10 April 2024 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MAMohamad Assaf
Mohamad Assaf
DCDaniela Costa
Daniela Costa
LELjupcho Efremov
Ljupcho Efremov
KHKaren Alejandra Holland
Karen Alejandra Holland
RMRafael Mikolajczyk
Rafael Mikolajczyk
Background/Objectives: In-hospital myocardial infarctions (AMIs) are less often treated with invasive intervention, compared to out-of-hospital AMIs. We aimed to identify the determinants of invasive intervention in patients with in-hospital AMIs and assess its association with mortality, compared to conservative treatment. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of in-hospital AMIs in The Regional Myocardial Infarction Registry of Saxony-Anhalt. Patients’ characteristics and outcomes were compared based on the treatment strategy (invasive intervention vs. conservative treatment). Logistic regression was performed to assess the determinants of invasive intervention (vs. conservative treatment) and its association with 30-day mortality. Results: Nearly 67% of the patients (259/386) received invasive intervention, and the rest were treated conservatively. Those who were treated with an invasive intervention were younger and had a lower proportion of chronic heart failure than those treated conservatively. Age > 75 years compared to younger patients, pre-existing heart failure, and higher heart rate upon presentation were associated with lower odds of receiving invasive intervention. Hypertension (OR = 2.86, 95% CI [1.45–5.62]) and STEMI vs. NSTEMI (1.96, [1.10–3.68]) were associated with higher odds of invasive intervention. The adjusted odds of 30-day mortality were lower with invasive intervention compared to conservative treatment (0.25, [0.10–0.67]). Conclusions: One-third of the patients with in-hospital AMIs received conservative treatment. Younger age, absence of heart failure, lower heart rate, hypertension, and STEMI were determinants of invasive intervention usage. Invasive intervention had lower odds of 30-day mortality, but longitudinal studies are still needed to assess the efficacy of conservative vs. invasive strategies in in-hospital AMIs.

9 November 2024 in Healthcare
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
KHKaren Alejandra Holland
Karen Alejandra Holland
SSSara L. Schröder
Sara L. Schröder
MAMohamad Assaf
Mohamad Assaf
RMRafael Mikolajczyk
Rafael Mikolajczyk
Background/Objectives: the timely and effective management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is crucial to improve patient outcomes. ‘Self-Referral’ is defined as instances either where patients arrive at the hospital by their own means or are transported by someone else, rather than through professional emergency medical services. This approach can lead to treatment delays and potentially worsen outcomes. This study aims to identify the factors associated with the choice of self-referral among patients with AMI in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Methods: We used the data from the Regional Myocardial Infarction Registry of Saxony-Anhalt (RHESA), which included 4044 patients with confirmed acute myocardial infarction (AMI), including 48.7% from urban areas (city of Halle) and 51.3% from rural areas (Altmark). The gender distribution was 65% male and 35% female, covering an age range from 25 to over 80 years. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with self-referral and its impact on reaching a hospital with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) capability. Results: Rural residents were more likely to self-refer compared to those in urban settings (adjusted odds ratio 2.43 [95% CI: 2.00–2.94]). Odds of self-referral decreased with age, while metabolic factors, including hypertension, high body mass index (BMI), and diabetes, as well as sex were not associated with self-referral. Self-referral did not increase the odds of arriving in a hospital without PCI capability. (Adjusted odds ratio 1.12 [95% CI: 0.85–1.47]). Furthermore, in cases of self-referral, women did not have a disadvantage in reaching a hospital with PCI (0.91; 0.59–1.41) compared to men. However, in medically attended transports, women were at a disadvantage (odds ratio: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.06–1.67). Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for public education on self-referral and for medical personnel training to prevent gender bias in AMI transport to PCI-capable hospitals.