4C mortality score and COVID-19 mortality risk score: an analysis in four different age groups of an Italian population.

To evaluate the prognostic stratification ability of 4C Mortality Score and COVID-19 Mortality Risk Score in different age groups. Retrospective study, including all patients, presented to the Emergency Department of the University Hospital Careggi, between February, 2020 and May, 2021, and admitted for SARS-CoV2. Patients were divided into four subgroups based on the quartiles of age distribution: patients < 57 years (G1, n = 546), 57-71 years (G2, n = 508), 72-81 years (G3, n = 552), and > 82 years (G4, n = 578). We calculated the 4C Mortality Score and COVID-19 Mortality Risk Score. The end-point was in-hospital mortality. In the whole population (age 68 ± 16 years), the mortality rate was 19% (n = 424), and increased with increasing age (G1: 4%, G2: 11%, G3: 22%, and G4: 39%, p < 0.001). Both scores were higher among non-survivors than survivors in all subgroups (4C-MS, G1: 6 [3-7] vs 3 [2-5]; G2: 10 [7-11] vs 7 [5-8]; G3: 11 [10-14] vs 10 [8-11]; G4: 13 [12-15] vs 11 [10-13], all p < 0.001; COVID-19 MRS, G1: 8 [7-9] vs 9 [9-11], G2: 10 [8-11] vs 11 [10-12]; G3: 11 [10-12] vs 12 [11-13]; G4: 11 [10-13] vs 13 [12-14], all p < 0.01). The ability of both scores to identify patients at higher risk of in-hospital mortality, was similar in different age groups (4C-MS: G1 0.77, G2 0.76, G3 0.68, G4 0.72; COVID-19 MRS: G1 0.67, G2 0.69, G3 0.69, G4 0.72, all p for comparisons between subgroups = NS). Both scores confirmed their good performance in predicting in-hospital mortality in all age groups, despite their different mortality rate.

Clinical characteristics of patients hospitalized for COVID-19: comparison between different age groups.

BACKGROUND: To test whether known prognosticators of COVID-19 maintained their stratification ability across age groups. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study. We included all patients (n = 2225), who presented to the Emergency Department of the Careggi University Hospital for COVID-19 in the period February 2020-May 2021, and were admitted to the hospital. The following parameters were analyzed as dichotomized: 1) SpO2/FiO2 ≤ or > 214; 2) creatinine < or ≥ 1.1 mg/dL; 3) Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) < or ≥ 250 U/mL; 4) C Reactive Protein (CRP) < or ≥ 60 mg/100 mL. We divided the study population in four subgroups, based on the quartiles of distribution of age (G1 18-57 years, G2 57-71 years, G3 72-81 years, G4 > 82). The primary end-point was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: By the univariate analysis, the aforementioned dichotomized variables demonstrated a significant association with in-hospital mortality in all subgroups. We introduced them in a multivariate model: in G1 SpO2/FiO2 ≤ 214 (Relative Risk, RR 15.66; 95%CI 3.98-61,74), in G2 creatinine ≥ 1.1 mg/L (RR 2.87, 95%CI 1.30-6.32) and LDH ≥ 250 UI/L (RR 8.71, 95%CI 1,15-65,70), in G3 creatinine ≥ 1.1 mg/L (RR 1.98, 95%CI 1,17-3.36) and CRP ≥ 60 ng/L (RR 2.14, 95%CI 1.23-3.71), in G4 SpO2/FiO2 ≤ 214 (RR 5.15, 95%CI 2.35-11.29), creatinine ≥ 1.1 mg/L (RR 1.75, 95%CI 1.09-2.80) and CRP ≥ 60 ng/L (RR 1.82, 95%CI 1.11-2.98) were independently associated with an increased in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: A mild to moderate respiratory failure showed an independent association with an increased mortality rate only in youngest and oldest patients, while kidney disease maintained a prognostic role regardless of age.

Role of prognostic scores in predicting in-hospital mortality and failure of non-invasive ventilation in adults with COVID-19.

We tested the prognostic performance of different scores for the identification of subjects with acute respiratory failure by COVID-19, at risk of in-hospital mortality and NIV failure. We conducted a retrospective study, in the Medical High-Dependency Unit of the University-Hospital Careggi. We included all subjects with COVID-19 and ARF requiring non-invasive ventilation (NIV) between March 2020 and January 2021. Clinical parameters, the HACOR score (Heart rate, Acidosis, Consciousness, Oxygenation, Respiratory Rate) and ROX index ((SpO2/FiO2)/respiratory rate) were collected 3 (-3) and 1 day (-1) before the NIV initiation, the first day of treatment (Day0) and after 1 (+1), 2 (+2), 5 (+5), 8 (+8) and 11 (+11) of treatment. The primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and NIV failure. We included 135 subjects, mean age 69±13 years, 69% male. Patients, who needed mechanical ventilation, showed a higher HACOR score (Day0: 6 [5-7] vs 6 [6-7], p=.057; Day+2: 6 [6-6] vs 6 [4-6], p=.013) and a lower ROX index (Day0: 4.2±2.3 vs 5.1±2.3, p=.055; Day+2: 4.4±1.2.vs 5.5±1.3, p=.001) than those with successful NIV. An HACOR score >5 was more frequent among nonsurvivors (Day0: 82% vs 58%; Day2: 82% vs 48%, all p<0.01) and it was associated with in-hospital mortality (Day0: RR 5.88, 95%CI 2.01-17.22; Day2: RR 4.33, 95%CI 1.64-11.41) independent to age and Charlson index. In conclusion, in subjects treated with NIV for ARF caused by COVID19, respiratory parameters collected after the beginning of NIV allowed to identify those at risk of an adverse outcome. An HACOR score >5 was independently associated with increased mortality rate.

Comparison of Troponin I levels versus myocardial dysfunction on prognosis in sepsis.

In the context of sepsis, we tested the relationship between echocardiographic findings and Troponin, and their impact on prognosis. In this prospective study, we enrolled 325 septic patients (41% with shock), not mechanically ventilated, between October, 2012 and June, 2019 among those admitted to our High-Dependency Unit. By echocardiography within 24 h from the admission, sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD) was defined as left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction (speckle-tracking-based global longitudinal peak systolic strain, GLS, > - 14%) and/or right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction (Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion, TAPSE < 16 mm). Troponin I levels were measured upon admission (T0) and after 24 h (T1); it was considered normal if > 0.1 ng/mL. Mortality was assessed at day-7 and day-28 end-points. One-hundred and forty-two patients had normal Troponin level at T0 and T1 (G1), 69 had abnormal levels at T0 or T1 (G2) and 114 showed abnormal Troponin levels at both T0 and T1 (G3). Compared to G1, patients in G3 had worse LV and RV systolic function (GLS - 11.6 ± 3.4% vs - 14.0 ± 3.5%, p < 0.001; TAPSE 18 ± 0.5 vs 19 ± 0.5 mm, p = 0.047) and greater day-28 (34% vs 20%, p = 0.015) mortality. In a Cox survival analysis including age, Troponin and SOFA score, mortality was predicted by the presence of SIMD (RR 3.24, 95% CI 1.72-6.11, p < 0.001) with no contribution of abnormal Troponin level. While abnormal Troponin levels were associated with SIMD diagnosed by echocardiography, only the presence of SIMD predicted the short- and medium-term mortality rate, without an independent contribution of increased Troponin levels.

Prognostic stratification in septic patients with overt and cryptic shock by speckle tracking echocardiography.

We evaluated the prevalence and prognostic value of left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular systolic dysfunction in the presence of overt and cryptic shock. In this prospective study, between October 2012 and June 2019, we enrolled 354 patients with sepsis, 41% with shock, among those admitted to the Emergency Department High-Dependency Unit. Patients were grouped based on the presence of shock, or by the presence of lactate levels ≥ (LAC +) or < 2 mmol/L (LAC-) evaluated within the first 24 h. By echocardiography performed within 24 h from the admission, LV systolic dysfunction was defined as global longitudinal strain (GLS) > -14%; RV systolic dysfunction as Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE) < 16 mm. All-cause mortality was assessed at day-7 and day-28 follow-up. Mean values of LV GLS (-12.3 ± 3.4 vs -12.9 ± 3.8%) and TAPSE (1.8 ± 0.7 vs 1.8 ± 0.5 cm, all p = NS) were similar in patients with and in those without shock. LV GLS was significantly worse in LAC + than LAC- patients (- 11.2 ± 3.1 vs - 12.9 ± 3.7%, p = 0.001). In patients without shock, as well as in those LAC-, LV dysfunction was associated with increased day-28 mortality rate (78% vs 57% in non-survivors and survivors without shock and 74% vs 53% in non-survivors and survivors LAC-, all p < 0.01). LV (RR 2.26, 95% CI 1.37-3.74) and RV systolic dysfunction (RR 1.85, 95% CI 1.22-2.81) were associated with increased 28-day mortality rate in addition and independent to LAC + (RR 1.81, 95% CI 1.15-2.84). In conclusion, LV and RV ventricular dysfunction were independently associated with an increased mortality rate, altogether with the presence of cryptic shock.