Oral DHA supplementation and retinopathy of prematurity: the Joinville DHA Clinical Trial.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of blindness in premature infants. The condition is associated with DHA deficiency. This study aimed to investigate the effect of DHA supplementation on the occurrence of ROP in infants receiving oral oil drops. It is part of the Joinville DHA study, a non-parallel-group cohort study conducted from March 2020 to January 2023 at a public maternity hospital in Brazil. Infants born before 33 weeks of gestational age or with a birth weight ≤ 1500 g were recruited. Among 155 infants, 81 did not receive and 74 received DHA supplementation until complete vascularisation of the peripheral retina. There was a higher incidence of infants with ROP in the unsupplemented group (58·6 %) compared with the DHA group (41·4 %), but this difference was NS (P = 0·22). Unadjusted logistic regression analysis showed that patent ductus arteriosus and neonatal corticosteroids were significantly (P < 0·05) associated with ROP in both groups. In the DHA group, surfactant use was also associated with ROP (P = 0·003). After adjusting for important covariates, patent ductus arteriosus and neonatal corticosteroids continued to be significant for infants in the unsupplemented group (OR = 3·99; P = 0·022 and OR = 5·64; P = 0·019, respectively). In the DHA group, only surfactant use continued to be associated with ROP (OR = 4·84; P = 0·015). In summary, DHA supplementation was not associated with ROP. Further studies are necessary to better understand the relationship between DHA supplementation, ROP and associated comorbidities.

Incidência de Injúria Renal Aguda em Pacientes Críticos com COVID-19 e Sobrevida em 90 dias: Coorte Retrospectiva de Uma Unidade de Tratamento Intensivo Pública, Joinville/Brasil / Incidence of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients with COVID-19 and 90-day survival: Retrospective Cohort of a Public Intensive Care Unit, Joinville/Brazil

Cerca de um terço dos pacientes com COVID-19 em unidades de terapia intensiva (UTI) apresentam injúria renal aguda (IRA) dialítica. Poucos estudos têm avaliado a sobrevida de pacientes com IRA em UTI exclusivamente pública. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a sobrevida intra-hospitalar em 90 dias de pacientes com e sem IRA dialítica internados com COVID-19 grave. Trata-se de uma coorte histórica de um hospital geral em Joinville, Santa Catarina/Brasil. Foram incluídos todos os pacientes admitidos na UTI entre março e dezembro de 2020 com diagnóstico confirmado de COVID-19. Definiu-se IRA como a presença de alteração de função renal aguda com necessidade de hemodiálise. Utilizou-se modelo multivariado por regressão de Cox para avaliar a sobrevida de pacientes com e sem IRA dialítica. Os resultados do estudo demonstraram que dos 187 pacientes incluídos (55,5% homens) com média de idade de 62,8±13,6 anos, 37,4% apresentaram IRA dialítica. Pacientes com IRA dialítica usaram mais drogas vasoativas, tinham maior gravidade na admissão e maior mortalidade (84,3% vs. 63,2%; p=0,002) em relação àqueles sem IRA. O risco de morte nos pacientes com IRA foi maior (RR bruto= 1,60; IC 95% 1,13-2,26; p= 0,007). Após ajustes para idade, sexo, comorbidades e gravidade clínica, a presença de IRA dialítica se manteve associada a uma frequência maior de mortalidade em 90 dias (RR= 1,49; IC 95% 1,03-2.15; p=0,032). A sobrevida de pacientes com COVID-19 grave e IRA dialítica na amostra estudada foi menor em relação a UTIs privadas no Brasil, o que sugere desigualdades no sistema público.

About one third of patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units (ICU) have acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring dialysis. Few studies have evaluated the survival ratel of patients with AKI in exclusively public ICUs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 90-day in-hospital survival of patients with and without AKI requiring dialysis hospitalized with severe COVID-19. This is a historical cohort of a general hospital in Joinville, Santa Catarina/Brazil. All patients admitted to the ICU between March and December of 2020 with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were included. AKI was defined by the presence of acute renal function alteration requiring hemodialysis. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to assess the survival of patients with and without AKI requiring dialysis. The results of the study showed that, of the 187 patients included (55.5% men) with a mean age of 62.8±13.6 years, 37.4% had AKI requiring dialysis. Patients with AKI requiring dialysis used more vasoactive drugs, had greater severity on admission and higher mortality rate (84.3% vs. 63.2%; p=0.002) compared to those without AKI. The risk of death in patients with AKI was higher (crude RR= 1.60; 95% CI 1.13-2.26; p= 0.007). After adjustments for age, sex, comorbidities and clinical severity, the presence of AKI requiring dialysis remained associated with a higher frequency of 90-day mortality (RR= 1.49; 95% CI 1.03-2.15; p=0.032). The survival of patients with severe COVID-19 and AKI requiring dialysis in the studied sample was lower compared to private ICUs in Brazil, which suggests inequalities in the public system.