Atención a pacientes COVID-19 durante la primera ola de la pandemia en un hospital de media estancia. Variables asociadas con mortalidad en ingresados en situación aguda

Background and objectiveSpain has been one of the countries most affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics of the patients treated for COVID-19 at Guadarrama Hospital and to identify the associated mortality factors in those admitted in an acute situation.Material and methodsRetrospective observational study of COVID-19 patients admitted from 3/15 to 5/15/2020. Sociodemographic, mental, functional, analytical, clinical, radiological and therapeutic variables were collected. Factors associated with mortality were analysed using a bivariate and multivariate study.ResultsTwo hundred eleven patients were included: 102 (48.3%) in an acute situation and 109 (51.7%) in the convalescent phase, the median (interquartile range) age was 82 (72, 85) years. The most frequent symptoms were fever, cough and respiratory failure. The 89.9% had pneumonia.An acute mortality rate of 26.5% (27/102) was detected and the associated factors were: respiratory failure (P 0.002), Charlson index (ChI)≥3 (P<0.001), CURB≥2 (P 0.011), low SatO₂/FiO₂ ratio (<0.001), elevated urea (P<0.001) and creatinine (P 0.036), hypoproteinemia (P 0.037) and age (P<0.018). The deceased had a worse functional situation than the survivors (P 0.025). In the multivariate analysis, SatO₂/FiO₂ ratio (OR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.07-4.63; P 0.031) and ChI≥3 (OR: 4.25; 95% CI: 1.06-17.04; P 0.041) were independent factors of mortality.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 patients treated were mostly severe cases. The variables associated with mortality were age, respiratory failure, comorbidity, kidney failure, and malnutrition. Respiratory failure and comorbidity outweigh age as independent risk factors for mortality.     

Planificación anticipada de los cuidados y del uso de recursos hospitalarios en pacientes con COVID-19 en un programa de atención integrada para adultos mayores frágiles en residencias

ObjectivesTo estimate the magnitude and importance of a process of stratification and advance care planning and the use of health resources, among patients in an integrated health care program for frail elderls in nursing homes,that were referred to the hospital with COVID-19.Material and methodsProspective cohort study of patients > 64 years old with COVID-19 infection, in a health care program in nursing homes (from 3/15/2020 to 9/15/2020). The identification of patients with palliative needs, the performing and visible registration in electronic health records of the advance care planning and the use of intensive care were assessed.ResultsWe included 374 COVID-19 patients. 88% were women, the median age was 88 years old. The 79% were patients with palliative needs, of which 68% had the advance care planning (P<.001) registered in the electronic health record. Only 1% of patients with palliative needs and severity criteria were admitted to the intensive care unit. Overall mortality was 25%. Of those who died, 74% had severity criteria (P<.001) and 90% had palliative needs (P<.001).ConclusionsCarrying out a care process based on identification of patients with palliative needs and advance care planning and a central and visible registration of advance care planning in health records, could improve the quality and safety of care and optimize the use of intensive care health resources at all times and especially in public health emergencies.     

Resiliencia en las personas mayores durante la primera ola pandémica de la COVID-19 en Chile: una perspectiva desde los determinantes sociales de la salud

ObjectiveTo assess the association between social determinants of health (SDH) and resilience in older people during the first period of confinement in the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile.Materials and methodsAn observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted using a nationally representative survey data-set. In this survey, using a systematic randomization process, a subsample of people aged ≥60 years from the community were interviewed by telephone during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile. Resilience was assessed using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) and depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale. The SDH considered were: age, sex, educational level, employment status, social isolation, loneliness, discontent with housing and health care needs.ResultsA total sample of 582 persons was obtained. The mean age was 71 years (SD: 7.64; 69% women). A significant association was obtained between low resilience and the following conditions: loneliness (OR: 1.776 [95% CI: 1.146–2.751]), high risk of social isolation (OR: 1.667 [95% CI: 1.149-2.419]), and depressive symptoms (OR: 2.602 [95% CI: 1.795-3.774]). Female gender was a protective factor (OR: 0.589 [95% CI: 0.406-0.855]).ConclusionThe SDH, such as loneliness and social isolation, are factors associated with low resilience in older people during the COVID-19 pandemic and may be taken into account in planning public health intervention strategies.     

La salud de las personas mayores en España durante la crisis económica

Introduction

Numerous studies have shown that economic crises are linked to a worsening of health conditions of the population. During the current economic crisis in Spain, there have been significant cuts in social and health services and a general worsening of the emotional well-being of the population. All these changes could have an impact on the health of the population, especially in the most vulnerable groups like older people.

Valoración de la musculatura isquiosural en personas mayores

Objectiveto evaluate hamstring flexibility in older adults.Materials and methodsa total of 177 subjects (13 men and 164 women) aged between 43 and 80 years old (mean age = 63.4 ± 6.7 years) who attended fitness classes were evaluated. The mean height was 161 ± 10 cm and the mean weight was 74 ± 5.6 kg. Hamstring flexibility was evaluated using the straight leg raise test.Resultsthe mean flexion in the right hip was 72° ± 13.2° and the mean flexion of the left hip was 72.4° ± 13.8°. No significant differences were found in the values obtained from the straight leg raise test in the left and right legs. For the right leg, 48.02% of the subjects’ values were within the normal range, while 28.81% showed grade I shortness, and 23.61% showed grade II shortness. For the left leg, 49.94% showed normal values, 29.94% showed grade I shortness, and 22.03% showed grade II shortness.Conclusionshalf of the adults and elderly individuals that took part in the present study had hamstring shortness, which increased in frequency with age.     

Análisis de los factores implicados en la evolución de los pacientes mayores de 80 años,ingresados en la unidad de cuidados intensivos: ¿debemos cambiar nuestro proceder?

Background and objectivesThe care of older patients in intensive care units (ICU) is becoming more frequent.To describe characteristics of elderly patients admitted to the ICU and to analyze the factors associated with mortality.Patients and methodsRetrospective cross-sectional study, with patients ≥80 years, admitted to the ICU of the Rey Juan Carlos University Hospital, from March 2012 to December 2018. Demographic variables, comorbidities and mortality in the ICU, in hospital and at one year were collected, analyzed by univariate analysis and binary logistic regression.ResultsSix hundred twenty patients, mean age 83.6 years (SD: 3.25), 31% required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), 25% vasopressors and 29% renal replacement therapy (RRT) due to acute renal failure (ARF). The 60% were admissions of medical origin. In-hospital mortality was 156 patients (25%), 91 died in the ICU and 65 on the ward, with shorter ICU stays for the survivors (2.72; SD: 0.22) compared to the deceased (3.74; SD: 0.38), with statistically significant differences. 63% remained alive one year after ICU discharge.An explanatory model of ICU mortality was obtained by logistic regression that included the following factors: IMV (OR: 5.78, 95% CI 2.73-12.22), vasopressors (OR: 2.54, 95% CI 1.24-5.19), AKI/TRS (OR: 2.69, 95% CI 1.35-5.35), medical admission (OR: 2.88, 95% CI 1.40-5.92), urgent admission (OR: 2.33, 95% CI 1.30-4.18) and limitation of life support (LTSV) (OR: 47.35, 95% CI 22.96-97.68). The days in the ICU (OR: 0.93, 95% CI 0.87-0.99) would be inversely related to mortality.ConclusionsIn older patients, there is no increase in mortality, with a 1-year survival >63%. The need for IMV, the use of vasopressor drugs and ARF/RTS were factors associated with mortality in the multivariate analysis.     

Asociación entre la longitud de los telómeros y deterioro cognitivo en adultos mayores

IntroductionCognitive impairment is a transition stage between normal aging and dementia, the prevalence of last one increases with age; the damage of the functions and physical integrity, places the older adult in a greater susceptibility to get sick. Telomere length is a hallmark of aging to characterize this phenotype, as well as a biomarker that reflects the underlying state of the cell. In this work, the relative length of telomeres in older adults with cognitive impairment was correlated.Material and methodsObservational-analytical study, in samples of adult patients older than 65 years with and without cognitive impairment, in whom the relative length of telomeres was measured.ResultsNinety samples of older adults were included in the study and in the association analysis according to multivariate logistic models, cognitive impairment showed almost five times more risk for telomere shortening in relation to the presence of the diagnosis of cognitive impairment (Odds ratio 4.88, p = 0.027).ConclusionsWhen correlating the relative length of telomeres in older adults diagnosed with cognitive impairment, this association was confirmed for shorter.     

Análisis de la sedación paliativa en pacientes mayores hospitalizados: efectividad de un protocolo

ObjectiveTo measure changes in the practice of palliative sedation during agony in hospitalised elderly patients before and after the implementation of a palliative sedation protocol.Material and methodsA retrospective before-after study was performed in hospitalised patients over 65 years old who received midazolam during hospital admission and died in the hospital in two 3-month periods, before and after the implementation of the protocol. Non-sedative uses of midazolam and patients in intensive care were excluded. Patient and admission characteristics, the consent process, withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments, and the sedation process (refractory symptom treated, drug doses, assessment and use of other drugs) were recorded. Association was analysed using the Chi² and Student t tests.ResultsA total of 143 patients were included, with no significant differences between groups in demographic characteristics or symptoms. Do not resuscitate (DNR) orders were recorded in approximately 70% of the subjects of each group, and informed consent for sedation was recorded in 91% before vs. 84% after the protocol. Induction and maintenance doses of midazolam followed protocol recommendations in 1.3% before vs 10.4% after the protocol was implemented (P=.02) and adequate rescue doses were used in 1.3% vs 11.9% respectively (P=.01). Midazolam doses were significantly lower (9.86 mg vs 18.67 mg, P<.001) when the protocol was used than when it was not used. Ramsay sedation score was used in 8% vs. 12% and the Palliative Care Team was involved in 35.5% and 16.4% of the cases (P=.008) before and after the protocol, respectively.ConclusionsUse of midazolam slightly improved after the implementation of a hospital protocol on palliative sedation. The percentage of adequate sedations and the general process of sedation were mostly unchanged by the protocol. More education and further assessment is needed to gauge the effect of these measures in the future.     

Evolución del estado de nutrición de yodo en los escolares de la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco

BackgroundAn epidemiologic survey showed in 1992 iodine deficiency and endemic goiter in schoolchildren from the Basque Country.Objectives1) To determine the percentage of homes of schoolchildren where iodized salt (IS) is used; 2) to assess iodine nutrition status in schoolchildren and to compare the data collected to those available from previous epidemiological studies.Design and MethodsA cross-sectional study in 720 randomly selected schoolchildren. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) with electrochemical detection.ResultsIS was used at 53.0% of the homes (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.2-56.7%). Median UIC has increased by 226%, from 65 μg/L in 1992 to 147 μg/L (percentile [P], P₂₅, 99 μg/L; P₇₅, 233 μg/L) today. Both schoolchildren consuming IS and those using unfortified salt at their homes had UICs corresponding to adequate iodine intakes (165 and 132 μg/L respectively). UICs experienced great seasonal fluctuations, being 55% higher during the November-February period than in June-September period (191 μg/L vs 123 μg/L; p < 0.001)ConclusionsSchoolchildren from the Basque Country have normalized their iodine nutrition status. The strong seasonal pattern of UICs suggests that consumption of milk and iodine-rich dairy products coming from cows feed iodized fodder is one of the most significant factors involved in the increase in iodine intake since 1992.