Prognosis and management of acute coronary syndrome in Spain in 2012: the DIOCLES study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To identify the current mortality and management of patients admitted for suspected acute coronary syndrome in Spain. The last available registry (2004-2005) reported an in-hospital mortality of 5.7%. METHODS: The study included patients consecutively admitted between January and June 2012 at 44 hospitals selected at random. Information was collected on clinical course at admission and on events at 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 2557 patients admitted with suspected acute coronary syndrome were included: 788 (30.8%) with ST-segment elevation, 1602 (62.7%) without ST-segment elevation, and 167 (6.5%) with unclassified acute coronary syndrome. In-hospital mortality was 4.1% (6.6%, 2.4%, and 7.8% respectively), significantly lower than that observed for 2004-2005. Reperfusion treatment (most commonly, primary percutaneous coronary intervention) was administered to 85.7% of patients with ST-segment elevation attended within 12h. The median time from first medical contact to thrombolysis was 40 min and to balloon inflation, 120 min. Among patients without ST-segment elevation, coronary angiography was performed in 80.6%, percutaneous intervention in 52.0%, and surgery was indicated in 6.4%. Secondary prevention treatments at discharge was prescribed more often than in earlier registries. In patients alive at discharge (follow-up available for 97.1%), 6-month mortality was 3.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality among patients with acute coronary syndrome in Spain was lower than that reported in the most recent published studies, in parallel with a more frequent use of the main treatments recommended.

Intensive care adult patients with severe respiratory failure caused by Influenza A (H1N1)v in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with influenza A (H1N1)v infection have developed rapidly progressive lower respiratory tract disease resulting in respiratory failure. We describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of the first 32 persons reported to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to influenza A (H1N1)v infection in Spain. METHODS: We used medical chart reviews to collect data on ICU adult patients reported in a standardized form. Influenza A (H1N1)v infection was confirmed in specimens using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT PCR) assay. RESULTS: Illness onset of the 32 patients occurred between 23 June and 31 July, 2009. The median age was 36 years (IQR = 31 - 52). Ten (31.2%) were obese, 2 (6.3%) pregnant and 16 (50%) had pre-existing medical complications. Twenty-nine (90.6%) had primary viral pneumonitis, 2 (6.3%) exacerbation of structural respiratory disease and 1 (3.1%) secondary bacterial pneumonia. Twenty-four patients (75.0%) developed multiorgan dysfunction, 7 (21.9%) received renal replacement techniques and 24 (75.0%) required mechanical ventilation. Six patients died within 28 days, with two additional late deaths. Oseltamivir administration delay ranged from 2 to 8 days after illness onset, 31.2% received high-dose (300 mg/day), and treatment duration ranged from 5 to 10 days (mean 8.0 +/- 3.3). CONCLUSIONS: Over a 5-week period, influenza A (H1N1)v infection led to ICU admission in 32 adult patients, with frequently observed severe hypoxemia and a relatively high case-fatality rate. Clinicians should be aware of pulmonary complications of influenza A (H1N1)v infection, particularly in pregnant and young obese but previously healthy persons.