Mortality predictors in patients with suspected sepsis in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis remains a worldwide major cause of hospitalization, mortality, and morbidity. To enhance the identification of patients with suspected sepsis at high risk of mortality and adverse outcomes in the emergency department (ED), the use of mortality predictors is relevant. This study aims to establish whether quick sofa (qSOFA) and the severity criteria applied in patients with suspicion of sepsis in a monitored ED are in fact predictors of mortality. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study among adult patients with suspicion of sepsis at the ED of a tertiary care hospital in Brazil between January 1st, 2019 and December 31, 2020. All adult patients (ages 18 and over) with suspected sepsis that scored two or more points on qSOFA score or at least one point on the severity criteria score were included in the study. RESULTS: The total of patients included in the study was 665 and the average age of the sample was 73 ± 19 years. The ratio of men to women was similar. Most patients exhibited qSOFA ≥ 2 (58.80%) and 356 patients (53.61%) scored one point in the severity criteria at admission. The overall mortality rate was 19.7% (131 patients) with 98 patients (14.74%) having positive blood cultures, mainly showing Escherichia coli as the most isolated bacteria. Neither scores of qSOFA nor the severity criteria were associated with mortality rates, but scoring any point on qSOFA was considered as an independent factor for intensive care unit (ICU) admission (qSOFA = 1 point, p = 0.02; qSOFA = 2 points, p = 0.03, and qSOFA = 3 points, p = 0.04). Positive blood cultures (RR, 1.63;95% CI, 1.10 to 2.41) and general administration of vasopressors at the ED (RR, 2.14;95% CI, 1.44 to 3.17) were associated with 30-day mortality. The administration of vasopressors at the ED (RR, 2.25; CI 95%, 1.58 to 3.21) was found to be a predictor of overall mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Even though an association was found between qSOFA and ICU admission, there was no association of qSOFA or the severity criteria with mortality. Therefore, patients with a tendency toward greater severity could be identified and treated more quickly and effectively in the emergency department. Further studies are necessary to assess novel scores or biomarkers to predict mortality in sepsis patients admitted to the ED's initial care.

Unmasking the hidden aftermath: postintensive care unit sequelae, discharge preparedness, and long-term follow-up.

A significant portion of individuals who have experienced critical illness encounter new or exacerbated impairments in their physical, cognitive, or mental health, commonly referred to as postintensive care syndrome. Moreover, those who survive critical illness often face an increased risk of adverse consequences, including infections, major cardiovascular events, readmissions, and elevated mortality rates, during the months following hospitalization. These findings emphasize the critical necessity for effective prevention and management of long-term health deterioration in the critical care environment. Although conclusive evidence from well-designed randomized clinical trials is somewhat limited, potential interventions include strategies such as limiting sedation, early mobilization, maintaining family presence during the intensive care unit stay, implementing multicomponent transition programs (from intensive care unit to ward and from hospital to home), and offering specialized posthospital discharge follow-up. This review seeks to provide a concise summary of recent medical literature concerning long-term outcomes following critical illness and highlight potential approaches for preventing and addressing health decline in critical care survivors.

Impact on pulmonary, cardiac, and renal function and long-term quality of life after hospitalization for acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19: Protocol of the Post-COVID Brazil 3 study.

RATIONALE: Evidence about long-term sequelae after hospitalization for acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19 is still scarce. PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in pulmonary, cardiac, and renal function and in quality of life after hospitalization for acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to COVID-19. METHODS: This will be a multicenter case-control study of 220 participants. Eligible are patients who are hospitalized for acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19. In the control group, individuals with no history of hospitalization in the last 12 months or long-term symptoms of COVID-19 will be selected. All individuals will be subjected to pulmonary spirometry with a carbon monoxide diffusion test, chest tomography, cardiac and renal magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium, ergospirometry, serum and urinary creatinine, total protein, and urinary microalbuminuria, in addition to quality-of-life questionnaires. Patients will be evaluated 12 months after hospital discharge, and controls will be evaluated within 90 days of inclusion in the study. For all the statistical analyses, p < 0.05 is the threshold for significance. RESULTS: The primary outcome of the study will be the pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide measured after 12 months. The other parameters of pulmonary, cardiac, and renal function and quality of life are secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: This study aims to determine the long-term sequelae of pulmonary, cardiac, and renal function and the quality of life of patients hospitalized for acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19 in the Brazilian population.

Predictors of bleeding and thrombotic events among patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 and elevated D-dimer: insights from the ACTION randomized clinical trial.

Therapeutic anticoagulation showed inconsistent results in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and selection of the best patients to use this strategy still a challenge balancing the risk of thrombotic and hemorrhagic outcomes. The present post-hoc analysis of the ACTION trial evaluated the variables independently associated with both bleeding events (major bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding) and the composite outcomes thrombotic events (venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, stroke, systemic embolism, or major adverse limb events). Variables were assessed one by one with independent logistic regressions and final models were chosen based on Akaike information criteria. The model for bleeding events showed an area under the curve of 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53 to 0.73), while the model for thrombotic events had an area under the curve of 0.72 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.79). Non-invasive respiratory support was associated with thrombotic but not bleeding events, while invasive ventilation was associated with both outcomes (Odds Ratio of 7.03 [95 CI% 1.95 to 25.18] for thrombotic and 3.14 [95% CI 1.11 to 8.84] for bleeding events). Beyond respiratory support, creatinine level (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.01 95% CI 1.00 to 1.02 for every 1.0 mg/dL) and history of coronary disease (OR 3.67; 95% CI 1.32 to 10.29) were also independently associated to the risk of thrombotic events. Non-invasive respiratory support, history of coronary disease, and creatinine level may help to identify hospitalized COVID-19 patients at higher risk of thrombotic complications.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04394377.

Assessing the cost-effectiveness of capnography for end-tidal CO2 monitoring during in-hospital cardiac arrest: A middle-income country perspective analysis.

Study objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of EtCO2 monitoring during in-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest (CA) care outside the intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency room department. Design: We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis based on a simple decision model cost analysis and reported the study using the CHEERS checklist. Model inputs were derived from a retrospective Brazilian cohort study, complemented by information obtained through a literature review. Cost inputs were gathered from both literature sources and contacts with hospital suppliers. Setting: The analysis was carried out from the perspective of a tertiary referral hospital in a middle-income country. Participants: The study population comprised individuals experiencing in-hospital CA who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by rapid response team (RRT) in a hospital ward, not in the ICU or emergency room department. Interventions: Two strategies were assumed for comparison: one with an RRT delivering care without capnography during CPR and the other guiding CPR according to the EtCO2 waveform. Main outcome measures: Incremental cost-effectiveness rate (ICER) to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), hospital discharge, and hospital discharge with good neurological outcomes. Results: The ICER for EtCO2 monitoring during CPR, resulting in an absolute increase of one more case with ROSC, hospital discharge, and hospital discharge with good neurological outcome, was calculated at Int$ 515.78 (361.57-1201.12), Int$ 165.74 (119.29-248.4), and Int$ 240.55, respectively. Conclusion: In managing in-hospital CA in the hospital ward, incorporating EtCO2 monitoring is likely a cost-effective measure within the context of a middle-income country hospital with an RRT.

Anticipating ICU discharge and long-term follow-up.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to summarize recent literature findings on long-term outcomes following critical illness and to highlight potential strategies for preventing and managing health deterioration in survivors of critical care. RECENT FINDINGS: A substantial number of critical care survivors experience new or exacerbated impairments in their physical, cognitive or mental health, commonly named as postintensive care syndrome (PICS). Furthermore, those who survive critical illness often face an elevated risk of adverse outcomes in the months following their hospital stay, including infections, cardiovascular events, rehospitalizations and increased mortality. These findings underscore the need for effective prevention and management of long-term health deterioration in the critical care setting. While robust evidence from well designed randomized clinical trials is limited, potential interventions encompass sedation limitation, early mobilization, delirium prevention and family presence during intensive care unit (ICU) stay, as well as multicomponent transition programs (from ICU to ward, and from hospital to home) and specialized posthospital discharge follow-up. SUMMARY: In this review, we offer a concise overview of recent insights into the long-term outcomes of critical care survivors and advancements in the prevention and management of health deterioration after critical illness.

Long-Term Mortality and Health-Related Quality of Life After Continuous Versus Intermittent Renal Replacement Therapy in ICU Survivors: A Secondary Analysis of the Quality of Life After ICU Study.

Purpose: We assessed long-term outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU) survivors with acute kidney injury (AKI) submitted to intermittent or continuous renal replacement therapy (RRT) for comparisons between groups. Methods: The multicenter prospective cohort study included 195 adult ICU survivors with an ICU stay >72 h in 10 ICUs that had at least one episode of AKI treated with intermittent RRT (IRRT) or continuous RRT (CRRT) during ICU stay. The main outcomes were mortality and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Hospital readmissions and physical dependence were also assessed. Results: Regarding RRT, 83 (42.6%) patients received IRRT and 112 (57.4%) received CRRT. Despite the similarity regarding sociodemographic characteristics, pre-ICU state of health and type of admission between groups, the risk of death (23.5% vs 42.7%; P < .001), the prevalence of sepsis (60.7%) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (17%) were higher at ICU admission among CRRT patients. The severity of critical illness was higher among CRRT patients, regarding the need for mechanical ventilation (75.0% vs 50.6%, P = .002) and vasopressors (91.1% vs 63.9%, P < .001). One year after ICU discharge, 67 of 195 ICU survivors died (34.4%) and, after adjustment for confounders, there were no significant differences in mortality when comparing IRRT and CRTT patients (34.9% vs 33.9%; P = .590), on HRQoL in both physical (41.9% vs 42.2%; P = .926) and mental dimensions (57.6% vs 56.6%; P = .340), and on the number of hospital readmissions and physical dependence. Conclusions: Our study suggests that among ICU survivors RRT modality (IRRT vs CRRT) in the ICU does not impact long-term outcomes after ICU discharge.

Unmasking the hidden aftermath: postintensive care unit sequelae, discharge preparedness, and long-term follow-up / Desmascarando as consequências ocultas: sequelas pós-unidade de terapia intensiva, planejamento da alta e acompanhamento a longo prazo

ABSTRACT A significant portion of individuals who have experienced critical illness encounter new or exacerbated impairments in their physical, cognitive, or mental health, commonly referred to as postintensive care syndrome. Moreover, those who survive critical illness often face an increased risk of adverse consequences, including infections, major cardiovascular events, readmissions, and elevated mortality rates, during the months following hospitalization. These findings emphasize the critical necessity for effective prevention and management of long-term health deterioration in the critical care environment. Although conclusive evidence from well-designed randomized clinical trials is somewhat limited, potential interventions include strategies such as limiting sedation, early mobilization, maintaining family presence during the intensive care unit stay, implementing multicomponent transition programs (from intensive care unit to ward and from hospital to home), and offering specialized posthospital discharge follow-up. This review seeks to provide a concise summary of recent medical literature concerning long-term outcomes following critical illness and highlight potential approaches for preventing and addressing health decline in critical care survivors.

RESUMO Parcela significativa de indivíduos que enfrentaram doença crítica sofre de síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos, caracterizada por comprometimento novo ou exacerbado da função física, cognitiva ou de saúde mental. Além disso, os sobreviventes geralmente apresentam maior risco de consequências adversas, como infecção, eventos cardiovasculares maiores, reinternação e taxas de mortalidade elevadas, durante os meses após a hospitalização. Esses achados reforçam a necessidade urgente de prevenção e manejo eficazes da deterioração da saúde a longo prazo no ambiente de cuidados intensivos. Embora haja poucas evidências conclusivas de ensaios clínicos randomizados bem desenhados, potenciais intervenções incluem estratégias como limitação da sedação, mobilização precoce, presença da família durante a internação na unidade de terapia intensiva, implementação de programas de transição multidisciplinares (da unidade de terapia intensiva para a enfermaria e do hospital para o domicílio) e acompanhamento especializado após a alta hospitalar. Esta revisão objetiva fornecer um resumo conciso da literatura médica recente sobre os desfechos a longo prazo após doenças críticas e destacar potenciais abordagens para prevenir e abordar a deterioração da saúde de sobreviventes de cuidados intensivos.

Cardiovascular Safety of Azithromycin in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19: A Prespecified Pooled Analysis of the COALITION I and COALITION II Randomized Clinical Trials.

The cardiovascular safety from azithromycin in the treatment of several infectious diseases has been challenged. In this prespecified pooled analysis of 2 multicenter randomized clinical trials, we aimed to assess whether the use of azithromycin might lead to corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation or clinically relevant ventricular arrhythmias. In the COALITION COVID Brazil I trial, 667 patients admitted with moderate COVID-19 were randomly allocated to hydroxychloroquine, hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin, or standard of care. In the COALITION COVID Brazil II trial, 447 patients with severe COVID-19 were randomly allocated to hydroxychloroquine alone versus hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin. The principal end point for the present analysis was the composite of death, resuscitated cardiac arrest, or ventricular arrhythmias. The addition of azithromycin to hydroxychloroquine did not result in any prolongation of the QTc interval (425.8 ± 3.6 ms vs 427.9 ± 3.9 ms, respectively, mean difference -2.1 ms, 95% confidence interval -12.5 to 8.4 ms, p = 0.70). The combination of azithromycin plus hydroxychloroquine compared with hydroxychloroquine alone did not result in increased risk of the primary end point (proportion of patients with events at 15 days 17.2% vs 16.0%, respectively, hazard ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 0.78 to 1.49, p = 0.65). In conclusion, in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 already receiving standard-of-care management (including hydroxychloroquine), the addition of azithromycin did not result in the prolongation of the QTc interval or increase in cardiovascular adverse events. Because azithromycin is among the most commonly prescribed antimicrobial agents, our results may inform clinical practice. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04322123, NCT04321278.

Evidence-Based Checklist to Delay Cardiac Arrest in Brain-Dead Potential Organ Donors: The DONORS Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The effectiveness of goal-directed care to reduce loss of brain-dead potential donors to cardiac arrest is unclear. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based, goal-directed checklist in the clinical management of brain-dead potential donors in the intensive care unit (ICU). Design, Setting, and Participants: The Donation Network to Optimize Organ Recovery Study (DONORS) was an open-label, parallel-group cluster randomized clinical trial in Brazil. Enrollment and follow-up were conducted from June 20, 2017, to November 30, 2019. Hospital ICUs that reported 10 or more brain deaths in the previous 2 years were included. Consecutive brain-dead potential donors in the ICU aged 14 to 90 years with a condition consistent with brain death after the first clinical examination were enrolled. Participants were randomized to either the intervention group or the control group. The intention-to-treat data analysis was conducted from June 15 to August 30, 2020. Interventions: Hospital staff in the intervention group were instructed to administer to brain-dead potential donors in the intervention group an evidence-based checklist with 13 clinical goals and 14 corresponding actions to guide care, every 6 hours, from study enrollment to organ retrieval. The control group provided or received usual care. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was loss of brain-dead potential donors to cardiac arrest at the individual level. A prespecified sensitivity analysis assessed the effect of adherence to the checklist in the intervention group. Results: Among the 1771 brain-dead potential donors screened in 63 hospitals, 1535 were included. These patients included 673 males (59.2%) and had a median (IQR) age of 51 (36.3-62.0) years. The main cause of brain injury was stroke (877 [57.1%]), followed by trauma (485 [31.6%]). Of the 63 hospitals, 31 (49.2%) were assigned to the intervention group (743 [48.4%] brain-dead potential donors) and 32 (50.8%) to the control group (792 [51.6%] brain-dead potential donors). Seventy potential donors (9.4%) at intervention hospitals and 117 (14.8%) at control hospitals met the primary outcome (risk ratio [RR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.46-1.08; P = .11). The primary outcome rate was lower in those with adherence higher than 79.0% than in the control group (5.3% vs 14.8%; RR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.22-0.78; P = .006). Conclusions and Relevance: This cluster randomized clinical trial was inconclusive in determining whether the overall use of an evidence-based, goal-directed checklist reduced brain-dead potential donor loss to cardiac arrest. The findings suggest that use of such a checklist has limited effectiveness without adherence to the actions recommended in this checklist. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03179020.

The II Brazilian Guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Joint Guidelines of the Associação Brasileira de Medicina de Emergência, Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, Associação Médica Brasileira, Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e Cirurgia Vascular, Sociedade Brasileira de Infectologia, Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia and Sociedade Brasileira de Reumatologia.

OBJECTIVE: To update the recommendations to support decisions regarding the pharmacological treatment of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Brazil. METHODS: Experts, including representatives of the Ministry of Health and methodologists, created this guideline. The method used for the rapid development of guidelines was based on the adoption and/or adaptation of existing international guidelines (GRADE ADOLOPMENT) and supported by the e-COVID-19 RecMap platform. The quality of the evidence and the preparation of the recommendations followed the GRADE method. RESULTS: Twenty-one recommendations were generated, including strong recommendations for the use of corticosteroids in patients using supplemental oxygen and conditional recommendations for the use of tocilizumab and baricitinib for patients on supplemental oxygen or on noninvasive ventilation and anticoagulants to prevent thromboembolism. Due to suspension of use authorization, it was not possible to make recommendations regarding the use of casirivimab + imdevimab. Strong recommendations against the use of azithromycin in patients without suspected bacterial infection, hydroxychloroquine, convalescent plasma, colchicine, and lopinavir + ritonavir and conditional recommendations against the use of ivermectin and remdesivir were made. CONCLUSION: New recommendations for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were generated, such as those for tocilizumab and baricitinib. Corticosteroids and prophylaxis for thromboembolism are still recommended, the latter with conditional recommendation. Several drugs were considered ineffective and should not be used to provide the best treatment according to the principles of evidence-based medicine and to promote resource economy.

Impact of vertical positioning on lung aeration among mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients: a randomized crossover clinical trial / Impacto do posicionamento vertical na aeração pulmonar em pacientes de unidades de terapia intensiva ventilados mecanicamente: um estudo clínico transversal randomizado

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the impact of different vertical positions on lung aeration in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. Methods: An open-label randomized crossover clinical trial was conducted between January and July 2020. Adults receiving invasive mechanical ventilation for > 24 hours and < 7 days with hemodynamic, respiratory and neurological stability were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to the sitting position followed by passive orthostasis condition or the passive orthostasis followed by the sitting position condition. The primary outcome was lung aeration assessed using the lung ultrasound score (score ranges from 0 [better] to 36 [worse]). Results: A total of 186 subjects were screened; of these subjects, 19 were enrolled (57.8% male; mean age, 73.2 years). All participants were assigned to receive at least one verticalization protocol. Passive orthostasis resulted in mean lung ultrasound scores that did not differ significantly from the sitting position (11.0 versus 13.7; mean difference, -2.7; [95%CI -6.1 to 0.71; p = 0.11). Adverse events occurred in three subjects in the passive orthostasis group and in one in the sitting position group (p = 0.99). Conclusion: This analysis did not find significant differences in lung aeration between the sitting and passive orthostasis groups. A randomized crossover clinical trial assessing the impact of vertical positioning on lung aeration in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation is feasible. Unfortunately, the study was interrupted due to the need to treat COVID-19 patients. ClinicalTrials.gov registry: NCT04176445

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto de diferentes posicionamentos verticais na aeração pulmonar em pacientes em ventilação mecânica invasiva. Métodos: Trata-se de ensaio clínico aberto, randomizado e transversal, realizado entre janeiro e julho de 2020. Adultos em ventilação mecânica invasiva por mais de 24 horas e menos de 7 dias com estabilidade hemodinâmica, respiratória e neurológica foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em uma proporção de 1:1 à postura sentada seguida da condição de ortostatismo passivo ou o ortostatismo passivo seguido de postura sentada. O desfecho primário foi a aeração pulmonar avaliada pelo lung ultrasound score. O escore varia de zero (melhor) a 36 (pior). Resultados: Foram selecionados 186 indivíduos; destes, 19 foram incluídos (57,8% do sexo masculino; média idade de 73,2 anos). Todos os participantes foram selecionados para receber pelo menos um protocolo de verticalização. O ortostatismo passivo resultou em escores médios de aeração pulmonar por ultrassonografia que não diferiram significativamente da postura sentada (11,0 versus 13,7; diferença média, -2,7; IC95% -6,1 a 0,71; p = 0,11). Ocorreram eventos adversos em três indivíduos no grupo ortostatismo passivo e em um no grupo postura sentada (p = 0,99). Conclusão: Esta análise não encontrou diferenças significativas na aeração pulmonar entre os grupos ortostatismo passivo e postura sentada. É factível conduzir um estudo clínico transversal randomizado para avaliar o impacto do posicionamento vertical na aeração pulmonar em pacientes em ventilação mecânica invasiva. Infelizmente, o estudo foi interrompido devido à necessidade de tratar pacientes com COVID-19. Registro ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04176445