Characteristics and Prognosis of Patients Who Receive Noninvasive Ventilation and Present Limitation of Life Support Treatment: The LLST-NIVCat Multicenter Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients who receive noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in the emergency department (ED) sometimes have a limitation of life support treatment (LLST). The characteristics and prognosis in these patients may be worse, however, few studies have been carried out in this respect. OBJECTIVE: Analyze the differences between patients receiving NIV in the ED with LLST (NIV-LLST) or without LLST (NIV-noLLST) and their impact on in-hospital mortality, as well as investigate in-hospital mortality in the NIV-LLST group. METHOD: We performed a secondary analysis of data from the NIVCat registry. This was a prospective, multicenter, analytical cohort study with consecutive inclusion of patients receiving NIV from February to March 2015 in 11 hospital EDs in Spain. Data on the baseline characteristics, the acute episode, and final patient destination were collected. The dependent variable was all-cause in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: We analyzed 152 cases receiving NIV, 66 (43.4%) of whom had NIV-LLTS. Age ≥ 75 years was associated with NIV-LLST. In-hospital mortality was higher in the NIV-LLST group, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.50 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-6.06). Patients with NIV-LLST presenting an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presented the lowest mortality, with an odds ratio of 0.27 (95% confidence interval 0.08-0.93), compared with the remaining patients. CONCLUSION: In our cohort of patients receiving NIV in the ED, the presence of LLST is frequent and is associated with high hospital mortality. The NIV-LLST patients with a COPD exacerbation have a better prognosis than NIV-LLST patients with other diseases.

[Nontherapeutic international normalized ratio results in hospital emergency patients on vitamin K antagonists: prevalence and associated factors]. / Prevalencia y factores asociados a un International Normalized Ratio (INR) fuera de rango en pacientes en tratamiento con antivitamina K atendidos en servicios de urgencias hospitalarios.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of international normalized ratio (INR) findings outside the normal range in hospital emergency department patients on vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). To identify factors associated with abnormal anticoagulant levels in these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional, multicentric study in 4 hospital emergency departments. We included a convenience sample of patients on VKA treatment for whom INR levels were on record and who had sought emergency care for complications unrelated to anticoagulant treatment. RESULTS: We included 376 patients with a mean (SD) age of 76.8 (10.1) years; 50.3% were women and 86.7% had atrial fibrillation. We found that 60.4% (95% CI, 55.3%-65.2%) had INRs outside the reference range. Multivariate analysis showed that changes in the patients' other long-term medications were independently associated with nontherapeutic INR results (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.02-2.79; P=.035). CONCLUSION: Over 60% of patients on VKA treatment who come to hospital emergency departments with complaints unrelated to anticoagulant therapy have INR values outside the normal range. Changes in a patient's usual medications are significantly associated with nontherapeutic INR findings.

OBJETIVO: Determinar la prevalencia de un International Normalized Ratio (INR) fuera de rango entre los pacientes que acuden a los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH) y se encuentran en tratamiento con fármacos antivitamina K (AVK). Identificar los factores que se asocian con unos valores inadecuados de anticoagulación en estos pacientes. METODO: Estudio multicéntrico, observacional y transversal en cuatro SUH. Se incluyeron pacientes en tratamiento con AVK a los que se les realizó una analítica con determinación de INR, que no acudían por complicaciones asociadas al tratamiento anticoagulante. La inclusión se realizó mediante un muestreo de oportunidad. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron en el estudio un total de 376 pacientes. Edad media de 76,8 (10,1) años, 50,3% fueron mujeres. El 86,7% de los pacientes presentaban fibrilación auricular. El 60,4% (IC 95%: 55,3%-65,2%) de los pacientes tuvieron un INR fuera de rango. El análisis multivariado demostró que los cambios en los medicamentos habituales con odss ratio (OR) de 1,6 (IC 95%: 1,02-2,79; p = 0,035) se asociaron de forma independiente a la presencia de un INR fuera de rango. CONCLUSIONES: El 60,4% de los pacientes en tratamiento con AVK que acuden a un SUH sin complicaciones asociadas al tratamiento anticoagulante presenta un INR fuera de rango. Los cambios en el tratamiento habitual del paciente se relacionaron significativamente con un INR fuera de rango.

[Noninvasive mechanical ventilation in emergency services in Catalonia: the VNICat registry cohort study]. / Estudio de cohortes de pacientes tratados con ventilación no invasiva en servicios de urgencias prehospitalarios y hospitalarios de Cataluña: registro VNICat.

OBJECTIVES: To study how noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is used in prehospital emergency services and hospital emergency departments. To explore associations between NIV use and hospital mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective analysis of a consecutive multicenter cohort of patients who were treated with NIV between February and March 2015. The study was undertaken in emergency medical services in Catalonia and 8 Catalan hospital emergency departments. We collected information during the acute episode and on discharge, as well as data describing the patients' condition when stable. The dependent variable was all-cause hospital mortality. RESULTS: We studied 184 acute episodes requiring NIV, in the prehospital setting in 25 cases (13.6%) and in the hospital in 159 (86.4%). The most common scenario was acute heart failure (AHF) (38.0%). The second most common was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (34.2%). In most cases, NIV was discontinued in the emergency department. Mortality was 7.5% during prehospital care and 21.4% in the hospital. Hospital mortality was associated with limiting the use of life support. We detected no significant differences in mortality between the groups of patients with AHF vs COPD. CONCLUSION: The use of NIV in prehospital and hospital emergency care follows current evidence-based recommendations and is required more often for AHF than for exacerbated COPD. Hospital mortality is high in this context and is associated with frequent limiting of life support.

OBJETIVO: Conocer las características de la ventilación no invasiva (VNI) en los servicios de urgencias prehospitalarios y hospitalarios. Comparar los resultados obtenidos en función de la mortalidad hospitalaria. METODO: Estudio de cohortes multicéntrico, analítico, prospectivo con inclusión consecutiva de pacientes en los que se realizó VNI durante febrero y marzo de 2015 en el ámbito prehospitalario por el Sistema d'Emergències Mèdiques (SEM) y en 8 servicios de urgencias (SU) hospitalarios de Cataluña. Se recogieron las características basales, del episodio agudo y de destino, y la variable dependiente fue la mortalidad hospitalaria por todas las causas. RESULTADOS: Se recogieron 184 episodios de VNI, 25 episodios (13,6%) prehospitalarios y 159 (86,4%) hospitalarios. El escenario más frecuente para su uso fue la insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (ICA) (38,0%) seguido de la agudización de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) (34,2%). En la mayoría de casos la VNI se retira en los SU. La mortalidad fue del 7,5% y del 21,4% en urgencias prehospitalarias y hospitalarias, respectivamente. La mortalidad hospitalaria se relacionó con más presencia de limitación del tratamiento de soporte vital (LTSV). No hubo diferencias de mortalidad entre los diferentes escenarios clínicos. CONCLUSIONES: La VNI en los SU prehospitalarios y hospitalarios sigue las recomendaciones de la evidencia científica actual y se realiza principalmente en la ICA y en la agudización de la EPOC. La mortalidad hospitalaria es elevada y se relaciona con la LTSV, que es muy frecuente.

Prevalencia y factores asociados a un International Normalized Ratio (INR) fuera de rango en pacientes en tratamiento con antivitamina K atendidos en servicios de urgencias hospitalarios / Nontherapeutic international normalized ratio results in hospital emergency patients on vitamin K antagonists: prevalence and associated factors

Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de un International Normalized Ratio (INR) fuera de rango entre los pacientes que acuden a los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH) y se encuentran en tratamiento con fármacos antivitamina K (AVK). Identificar los factores que se asocian con unos valores inadecuados de anticoagulación en estos pacientes. Método: Estudio multicéntrico, observacional y transversal en cuatro SUH. Se incluyeron pacientes en tratamiento con AVK a los que se les realizó una analítica con determinación de INR, que no acudían por complicaciones asociadas al tratamiento anticoagulante. La inclusión se realizó mediante un muestreo de oportunidad. Resultados: Se incluyeron en el estudio un total de 376 pacientes. Edad media de 76,8 (10,1) años, 50,3% fueron mujeres. El 86,7% de los pacientes presentaban fibrilación auricular. El 60,4% (IC 95%: 55,3%-65,2%) de los pacientes tuvieron un INR fuera de rango. El análisis multivariado demostró que los cambios en los medicamentos habituales con odss ratio (OR) de 1,6 (IC 95%: 1,02-2,79; p = 0,035) se asociaron de forma independiente a la presencia de un INR fuera de rango. Conclusiones: El 60,4% de los pacientes en tratamiento con AVK que acuden a un SUH sin complicaciones asociadas al tratamiento anticoagulante presenta un INR fuera de rango. Los cambios en el tratamiento habitual del paciente se relacionaron significativamente con un INR fuera de rango (AU)

Aims: To determine the prevalence of international normalized ratio (INR) findings outside the normal range in hospital emergency department patients on vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). To identify factors associated with abnormal anticoagulant levels in these patients. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, multicentric study in 4 hospital emergency departments. We included a convenience sample of patients on VKA treatment for whom INR levels were on record and who had sought emergency care for complications unrelated to anticoagulant treatment. Results: We included 376 patients with a mean (SD) age of 76.8 (10.1) years; 50.3% were women and 86.7% had atrial fibrillation. We found that 60.4% (95% CI, 55.3%-65.2%) had INRs outside the reference range. Multivariate analysis showed that changes in the patients' other long-term medications were independently associated with nontherapeutic INR results (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.02-2.79; P=.035). Conclusions: Over 60% of patients on VKA treatment who come to hospital emergency departments with complaints unrelated to anticoagulant therapy have INR values outside the normal range. Changes in a patient's usual medications are significantly associated with nontherapeutic INR findings (AU)

Estudio de cohortes de pacientes tratados con ventilación no invasiva en servicios de urgencias prehospitalarios y hospitalarios de Cataluña: registro VNICat / Non invasive mechanical ventilation in emergency services in Catalonia: the VNICat registry cohort study

Objetivo: Conocer las características de la ventilación no invasiva (VNI) en los servicios de urgencias prehospitalarios y hospitalarios. Comparar los resultados obtenidos en función de la mortalidad hospitalaria. Método: Estudio de cohortes multicéntrico, analítico, prospectivo con inclusión consecutiva de pacientes en los que se realizó VNI durante febrero y marzo de 2015 en el ámbito prehospitalario por el Sistema d’Emergències Mèdiques (SEM) y en 8 servicios de urgencias (SU) hospitalarios de Cataluña. Se recogieron las características basales, del episodio agudo y de destino, y la variable dependiente fue la mortalidad hospitalaria por todas las causas. Resultados: Se recogieron 184 episodios de VNI, 25 episodios (13,6%) prehospitalarios y 159 (86,4%) hospitalarios. El escenario más frecuente para su uso fue la insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (ICA) (38,0%) seguido de la agudización de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) (34,2%). En la mayoría de casos la VNI se retira en los SU. La mortalidad fue del 7,5% y del 21,4% en urgencias prehospitalarias y hospitalarias, respectivamente. La mortalidad hospitalaria se relacionó con más presencia de limitación del tratamiento de soporte vital (LTSV). No hubo diferencias de mortalidad entre los diferentes escenarios clínicos. Conclusiones: La VNI en los SU prehospitalarios y hospitalarios sigue las recomendaciones de la evidencia científica actual y se realiza principalmente en la ICA y en la agudización de la EPOC. La mortalidad hospitalaria es elevada y se relaciona con la LTSV, que es muy frecuente (AU)

Objectives: To study how noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is used in prehospital emergency services and hospital emergency departments. To explore associations between NIV use and hospital mortality. Methods: Prospective analysis of a consecutive multicenter cohort of patients who were treated with NIV between February and March 2015. The study was undertaken in emergency medical services in Catalonia and 8 Catalan hospital emergency departments. We collected information during the acute episode and on discharge, as well as data describing the patients' condition when stable. The dependent variable was all-cause hospital mortality. Results: We studied 184 acute episodes requiring NIV, in the prehospital setting in 25 cases (13.6%) and in the hospital in 159 (86.4%). The most common scenario was acute heart failure (AHF) (38.0%). The second most common was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (34.2%). In most cases, NIV was discontinued in the emergency department. Mortality was 7.5% during prehospital care and 21.4% in the hospital. Hospital mortality was associated with limiting the use of life support. We detected no significant differences in mortality between the groups of patients with AHF vs COPD. Conclusions: The use of NIV in prehospital and hospital emergency care follows current evidence-based recommendations and is required more often for AHF than for exacerbated COPD. Hospital mortality is high in this context and is associated with frequent limiting of life support (AU)

Integrated Health Care Barcelona Esquerra (Ais-Be): A Global View of Organisational Development, Re-Engineering of Processes and Improvement of the Information Systems. The Role of the Tertiary University Hospital in the Transformation.

The Integrated Health Area "Barcelona Esquerra" (Área Integral de Salud de Barcelona Esquerra - AIS-BE), which covers a population of 524,000 residents in Barcelona city, is running a project to improve healthcare quality and efficiency based on co-ordination between the different suppliers in its area through the participation of their professionals. Endowed with an Organisational Model that seeks decision-taking that starts out from clinical knowledge and from Information Systems tools that facilitate this co-ordination (an interoperability platform and a website) it presents important results in its structured programmes that have been implemented such as the Reorganisation of Emergency Care, Screening for Colorectal Cancer, the Onset of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Teledermatology and the Development of Cross-sectional Healthcare Policies for Care in Chronicity.

Assessment of health status and program performance in patients on long-term oxygen therapy.

BACKGROUND: Despite well established clinical guidelines, performance of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) programs shows marked variability among territories. The current study assessed the LTOT program and the health status of patients on LTOT prior to the deployment of community-based integrated care in an urban health district of Barcelona (Spain). AIMS: To assess: i) the LTOT program and health status of the patients on LTOT in the health district; ii) their frailty profile; and, iii) the requirements for effective deployment of integrated care services for these patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study design including all patients (n = 406) on LTOT living in the health district. Health status, frailty, arterial blood gases, forced spirometry and hand-grip muscle strength were measured. Network analysis of frailty was carried out. RESULTS: Adequacy of LTOT prescription (n = 362): 47% and 31% of the patients had PaO2 ≤ 60 mmHg and ≤55 mmHg, respectively. Adherence to LTOT: 31% of all patients used LTOT ≥15 h/d; this figure increased to 67% in those with PaO2≤60 mmHg. Assessment of frailty: Overall, LTOT patients presented moderate to severe frailty. Care complexity was observed in 42% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Adequacy and adherence to LTOT was poor and many patients were frail and complex. The outcomes of the network analysis may contribute to enhance assessment of frailty in LTOT patients. These observations suggest that an integrated care strategy has the potential to improve the health outcomes of these patients.