Fatores de risco para óbito em pacientes idosos gravemente enfermos / Risk factors for death among critically ill elderly patients

OBJETIVO: A população idosa está aumentando em todo o mundo, assim como a necessidade de cuidados intensivos para os idosos. Existem poucos estudos que investiguem os fatores de risco para óbito em pacientes idosos gravemente enfermos. Este estudo teve o objetivo de investigar os fatores associados ao óbito em uma população de pacientes idosos gravemente enfermos admitidos a uma unidade de terapia intensiva no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo de coorte que incluiu todos os pacientes idosos (idade ≥ 60 anos) admitidos a uma unidade de terapia intensiva em Fortaleza, Brasil, de janeiro a dezembro de 2007. Foi realizada uma comparação entre os sobreviventes e os não sobreviventes, e os fatores de risco para óbito foram investigados por meio de análise univariada e multivariada. RESULTADOS: Foi incluído um total de 84 pacientes, com uma média de idade de 73 ± 7,6 anos, sendo 59 por cento do gênero feminino. A mortalidade foi de 62,8 por cento. A principal causa de morte foi disfunção de múltiplos órgãos (42,3 por cento), seguido por choque séptico (36,5 por cento) e choque cardiogênico (9,7 por cento). As complicações durante a permanência na unidade de terapia intensiva associadas com óbito foram insuficiência respiratória (OR = 61; p<0.001), lesão renal aguda (OR =23, p<0,001), sepse (OR = 12; p<0,001), acidose metabólica (OR = 17; p<0,001), anemia (OR = 8,6; p<0,005), distúrbios da coagulação (OR = 5,9; p<0,001) e fibrilação atrial (OR = 4,8; P<0,041). Os fatores de risco independentes para óbito foram idade (OR = 1,15; p<0,005), coma (OR = 7,51; p<0,003), hipotensão (OR = 21,75; p=0,003), insuficiência respiratória (OR = 9,93; p<0,0001), e lesão renal aguda (OR = 16,28; p<0,014). CONCLUSÕES: A mortalidade é elevada em pacientes idosos gravemente enfermos. Os fatores associados ao óbito foram idade, coma, hipotensão, insuficiência respiratória e lesão renal aguda.

BACKGROUND: The elderly population is increasing all over the world. The need of intensive care by the elderly is also increasing. There is a lack of studies investigating the risk factors for death among critically ill elderly patients. This study aims to investigate the factors associated with death in a population of critically ill elderly patients admitted to an intensive care unit in Brazil. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study including all elderly patients (>60 years) admitted to an intensive care unit in Fortaleza, Brazil, from January to December 2007. A comparison between survivors and nonsurvivors was done and the risk factors for death were investigated through univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients were included, with an average age of 73 ± 7.6 years; 59 percent were female. Mortality was 62.8 percent. The main cause of death was multiple organ dysfunction (42.3 percent), followed by septic shock (36.5 percent) and cardiogenic shock (9.7 percent). Complications during intensive care unit ICU stay associated with death were respiratory failure (OR=61, p<0.001), acute kidney injury (OR=23, p<0.001), sepsis (OR=12, p<0.001), metabolic acidosis (OR=17, p<0.001), anemia (OR=8.6, p<0.005), coagulation disturbance (OR=5.9, p<0.001) and atrial fibrillation (OR=4.8, p<0.041). Independent risk factors for death were age (OR=1.15, p<0.005), coma (OR=7.51, p<0.003), hypotension (OR=21.75, p=0.003), respiratory failure (OR=9.93, p<0.0001) and acute kidney injury (OR=16.28, p<0.014). CONCLUSION: Mortality is high among critically ill elderly patients. Factors associated with death were age, coma, hypotension, respiratory failure and acute kidney injury.

Effects of L-Argine on in vivo concentration of metabolites in the blood and in myocutaneous flaps with surgical scars, in wistar rats

The epithelialization, contraction and deposition of connective tissue are the mechanisms by which wounds heal Studies have shown that L-Arginine favors wound hearing by increasing the synthesis of collagen. This paper aimed at studying the effects of L-Arginine supplementation on in vivo concentrations of glucose, pyruvate, lactate and ketone bodies in the blood and in myocutaneous flaps undergoing hearing.Forty-four white male Wistar rats were distributed in two groups: (G-l/Control) and (G-2/Expeiiment). The G-1 animals received iso-proteic casein supplementation and the G-2 group received L-Arginine by gavage daily. Beth groups were submitted to pediculated and dorsal myocutaneous flaps. In the post-operative period, each group was subdivided into three subgroups and, after 7, 14 and 30 days, blood and scar tissue samples were collected for analyses of enzymes. The drop in blood concentrations of pyruvate, lactate and ketone bodies on the 14th day suggests higher utilization of these metabolites in peripheral tissues by a possible anabolic action of L-Arginine. The increase of tissue concentrations of ketone bodies in the myocutaneous flap on the 30th post-operative day in animals treated with L-Arginine food supplementation indicates a probable increase in the utilization of these metabolites by tissues under scarring. The results suggest that L-Arginine supplementation has an effect on serum concentrations of substrates and on skin and muscle scarring.