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.     

尿蛋白定性与ICU 危重患者预后的相关性研究

目的:探讨尿蛋白定性结果在ICU危重症患者病情和预后的预测价值。方法:对2008年1月～2011年5月我院ICU收治的190例患者,按照尿蛋白定性分为尿蛋白阴性组和尿蛋白定性阳性组,分别比较两组患者的肾功能不全、多器官功能衰竭、病死率及APACHE II评分,并进一步分析尿蛋白含量与上述指标的关系。结果:190例患者尿蛋白定性为阳性的为124例患者,阴性的66例患者,经过比较发现ARF发生率、MODS发生率、病死率,APACHE II评分,阳性组患者均明显高于阴性组患者,差异有显著的统计学意义(P<0.01);并且经过比较发现ARF发生率、MODS发生率、病死率,APACHE II评分不同组尿蛋白阳性组之间差异有显著的统计学意义(P<0.01),随着尿蛋白+的增加,ARF发生率、MODS发生率、病死率、APACHE II评分逐渐增加。结论:尿蛋白定性能很好的预测ICU危重患者肾功能不全、多器官功能衰竭和死亡的发生,反应患者病情的严重程度。     

Predictors of mortality of patients with acute respiratory failure secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admitted to an intensive care unit: A one year study

Background

Patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) commonly require hospitalization and admission to intensive care unit (ICU). It is useful to identify patients at the time of admission who are likely to have poor outcome. This study was carried out to define the predictors of mortality in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD and to device a scoring system using the baseline physiological variables for prognosticating these patients.

Methods

Eighty-two patients with acute respiratory failure secondary to COPD admitted to medical ICU over a one-year period were included. Clinical and demographic profile at the time of admission to ICU including APACHE II score and Glasgow coma scale were recorded at the time of admission to ICU. In addition, acid base disorders, renal functions, liver functions and serum albumin, were recorded at the time of presentation. Primary outcome measure was hospital mortality.

Results

Invasive ventilation was required in 69 patients (84.1%). Fifty-two patients survived to hospital discharge (63.4%). APACHE II score at the time of admission to ICU {odds ratio (95 % CI): 1.32 (1.138–1.532); p < 0.001} and serum albumin (done within 24 hours of admission) {odds ratio (95 % CI): 0.114 (0.03-0.432); p = 0.001}. An equation, constructed using the adjusted odds ratio for the two parameters, had an area under the ROC curve of 91.3%. For the choice of cut-off, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for predicting outcome was 90%, 86.5%, 79.4% and 93.7%.

Conclusion

APACHE II score at admission and SA levels with in 24 hrs after admission are independent predictors of mortality for patients with COPD admitted to ICU. The equation derived from these two parameters is useful for predicting outcome of these patients.     

Glucose Variability is an Independent Predictor of Mortality in Hospitalized Patients Treated with Total Parenteral Nutrition

ObjectiveHyperglycemia is associated with increased mortality in critically ill patients treated with total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The role of glucose variability (GV) in predicting outcomes in these patients is not known.MethodsThis retrospective study included medical and surgical patients receiving TPN in a community teaching hospital. GV was calculated by standard deviation (SD) of blood glucose (BG) values and by mean BG daily (Δ) change (daily max – daily minimum).ResultsA total of 276 medical and surgical patients (mean age: 51 ± 18 years), 19% with a history of diabetes mellitus (DM), and 74% with intensive care unit (ICU) admission were treated with TPN. During TPN, the mean daily BG was 142.9 ± 33 mg/dL; frequencies of hypoglycemia < 70 and < 40 mg/dL were 41% and 3%, respectively; and hospital mortality was 27.2%. The mean GV by SD was 38 ± 21 mg/dL and by mean (Δ) change 58 ± 34 mg/dL. GV was significantly higher in deceased patients (SD: 48 ± 25 vs. 34 ± 18 mg/dL and Δ change: 75 ± 39 vs. 51 ± 29 mg/dL, both P < .01) than surviving patients. Multivariate analysis adjusted for age, DM status, gender, APACHE (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) score, mean daily glucose, and hypoglycemia revealed that GV was an independent predictor of hospital mortality (P < .05). The association between GV and mortality was limited to patients without a history of DM and was not present in patients with DM.ConclusionHigh GV is associated with increased hospital mortality independent of the presence and severity of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia during TPN therapy. Prospective randomized trials are needed to determine if reduction in GV with intensive glycemic control improves clinical outcomes in patients treated with TPN. (Endocr Pract. 2014;20:41-45)     

Peptidylarginine deiminase 4 concentration,but not PADI4 polymorphisms,is associated with ICU mortality in septic shock patients

The objective of our study was to evaluate the association between peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) concentration and its polymorphisms with mortality in patients with septic shock . We prospectively evaluated 175 patients aged over 18 years with septic shock upon intensive care unit (ICU) admission. However, 48 patients were excluded. Thus, 127 patients were enrolled in the study. At the time of the patients’ enrollment, demographic information was recorded. Blood samples were taken within the first 24 hours of the patient's admission to determine serum PAD4 concentrations and its polymorphism PADI4_89 [rs11203366], PADI4_94 [rs2240340] and PADI4_104 [rs1748033]. The mean age was 63.3 ± 15.2 years, 56.7% were male, PAD4 concentration was 4.62 (2.48‐6.20) ng/mL and the ICU mortality rate was 67.7%. The patients who died in the ICU had higher APACHE II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores. In addition, PAD4 concentration was higher in patients who died during ICU stay. However, there were no differences regarding PADI4 polymorphisms and ICU mortality. In the logistic regression models, PAD4 concentrations were associated with ICU mortality when adjusted for APACHE II score and lactate (OR: 1.477; CI 95%: 1.186‐1.839; P < .001), and when adjusted for age, gender and APACHE II score (OR: 1.392; CI 95%: 1.145‐1.692; P < .001). In conclusion, PAD4 concentration, but not PADI4_89, PADI4_94 and PADI4_104 polymorphisms, is associated with ICU mortality in septic shock patients.     

Fungal Infections in COVID-19 Intensive Care Patients

Opportunistic fungal infections increase morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients monitored in intensive care units (ICU). As patients’ hospitalization days in the ICU and intubation period increase, opportunistic infections also increase, which prolongs hospital stay days and elevates costs. The study aimed to describe the profile of fungal infections and identify the risk factors associated with mortality in COVID-19 intensive care patients. The records of 627 patients hospitalized in ICU with the diagnosis of COVID-19 were investigated from electronic health records and hospitalization files. The demographic characteristics (age, gender), the number of ICU hospitalization days and mortality rates, APACHE II scores, accompanying diseases, antibiotic-steroid treatments taken during hospitalization, and microbiological results (blood, urine, tracheal aspirate samples) of the patients were recorded. Opportunistic fungal infection was detected in 32 patients (5.10%) of 627 patients monitored in ICU with a COVID-19 diagnosis. The average APACHE II score of the patients was 28 ± 6. While 25 of the patients (78.12%) died, seven (21.87%) were discharged from the ICU. Candida parapsilosis (43.7%) was the opportunistic fungal agent isolated from most blood samples taken from COVID-19 positive patients. The mortality rate of COVID-19 positive patients with candidemia was 80%. While two out of the three patients (66.6%) for whom fungi were grown from their tracheal aspirate died, one patient (33.3%) was transferred to the ward. Opportunistic fungal infections increase the mortality rate of COVID-19-positive patients. In addition to the risk factors that we cannot change, invasive procedures should be avoided, constant blood sugar regulation should be applied, and unnecessary antibiotics use should be avoided.     

Plasma pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels and outcome prediction in unselected critically ill patients

Purpose. To determine the inter-relationships between cytokine levels and physiological scores in predicting outcome in unselected, critically ill patients. Methods. To this end, 127 patients (96 men), having a mean ± SD age of 45 ± 20 years, with a wide range in admission diagnoses (medical, surgical, and multiple trauma patients) were prospectively investigated. Severity of critical illness and organ dysfunction were graded by acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores, respectively. Blood samples were drawn on admission in the ICU to determine pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10. The main outcome measure was 28-day mortality. Results. Overall, 88 patients survived and 39 patients died. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that SOFA, APACHE II, IL-8, IL-6, and IL-10 on admission in the ICU were related to mortality. Multiple logistic regression analysis in the entire cohort of critically ill patients revealed that SOFA (OR = 1.341, p < 0.001) and IL-6 (OR = 1.075, p = 0.01) constituted independent outcome predictors. receiver operator characteristics curve analysis showed that SOFA, APACHE II, and IL-6 had the highest area under the curve values. IL-6 correlated with APACHE II (r_s = 0.44, p < 0.0001) and SOFA (r_s = 0.40, p < 0.0001) scores. Conclusions. In mixed ICU patients cytokine concentrations on admission in the ICU represent independent outcome predictors in the presence of disease severity scores.     

The Incidence,Clinical Outcomes,and Risk Factors of Thrombocytopenia in Intra-Abdominal Infection Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

Studies on the incidence and risk factors of thrombocytopenia among intra-abdominal infection patients remain absent, hindering efficacy assessments regarding thrombocytopenia prevention strategies.

Methods

We retrospectively studied 267 consecutively enrolled patients with intra-abdominal infections. Occurrence of thrombocytopenia was scanned for all patients. All-cause 28-day mortality was recorded. Variables from univariate analyses that were associated with occurrence of hospital-acquired thrombocytopenia were included in a multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine thrombocytopenia predictors.

Results

Median APACHE II score and SOFA score of the whole cohort was 12 and 3 respectively. The overall ICU mortality was 7.87% and the 28-day mortality was 8.98%. The incidence of thrombocytopenia among intra-abdominal infection patients was 21.73%. Regardless of preexisting or hospital-acquired one, thrombocytopenia is associated with an increased ICU mortality and 28-day mortality as well as length of ICU or hospital stay. A higher SOFA and ISTH score at admission were significant hospital-acquired thrombocytopenia risk factors.

Conclusions

This is the first study to identify a high incidence of thrombocytopenia in patients with intra-abdominal infections. Our findings suggest that the inflammatory milieu of intra-abdominal infections may uniquely predispose those patients to thrombocytopenia. More effective thrombocytopenia prevention strategies are necessary in intra-abdominal infection patients.     

ISS与APACHEⅡ评分对急诊多发伤患者伤情评估的价值分析

目的:探讨损伤严重程度计分法(Injuryseverityscore,ISS)和慢性健康评分(Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation scoreⅡ,APACHEⅡ)评分对急诊多发伤患者伤情评估的应用价值。方法:将我院自2016年6月至2019年6月急诊收治的多发伤患者85例作为研究对象,分别使用ISS和APACHEⅡ评分,追踪患者住院期间的伤情严重程度和预后情况。结果:急诊多发伤患者入院时ISS评分和APACHEⅡ评分越高,患者ICU收住率和死亡率越高,患者预后越差(P0.05);死亡的急诊多发伤患者ISS评分和APACHE-Ⅱ评分均明显高于存活组(P0.05)。ISS评分预测急诊多发伤患者死亡的灵敏度为87.06%,特异性为85.88%,APACHE-Ⅱ评分预测急诊多发伤患者死亡的灵敏度和特异性分别为88.24%和87.06%,差异无统计学意义(P0.05),两者联合预测急诊多发伤患者死亡的灵敏度为95.29%,特异性为94.12%,均优于单独预测(P0.05)。结论:ISS评分和APACHE-Ⅱ评分能够较为准确的评估急诊多发伤患者的病情严重程度,对患者预后具有较好的预测价值,两者结合使用的应用价值更高。     

Mortalidad en pacientes con demencia que cursaron internación en unidades de cuidados críticos

ObjectiveTo determine the mortality and comorbidities associated of patients with dementia admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on the hospitalization and at one year of follow-up.Materials and methodsA retrospective observational cohort study was carried out between 2012 and 2017 at the Hospital Italiano de San Justo, of patients who were admitted to the ICU, these were observed up to hospitalary death, out hospital death one year of hospitalization, the disenrollment from the institution's health plan or the end of the follow-up.ResultsA total of 163 patients were included for analysis. We recorded those 79 patients (48.47%) died one year after the hospitalization, of them 25 (15.34%) in ICU and 8 (4.91%) in general room. The most frequent causes of death were respiratory. The factors most associated with mortality were: orotracheal intubation (HR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.11-3.65; P = .02), history of leukemia (HR = 8.55; 95% CI: 1.82-40.05; P ≤ .05), elevated Charlson (HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04-1.41; P = .05), and elevated APACHE II at admission (HR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.03-1.11; P ≤ .05).ConclusionsThe present study expresses the prognosis of patients with a diagnosis of dementia admitted to the ICU and that depends not only on their baseline neurological status but also on the severity at admission and comorbidities.     

Hyperglycemia is Associated With Increased Mortality in Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between hyperglycemia in the presence and absence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and adverse outcomes in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsThe study included 133 patients with COVID-19 admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) at an urban academic quaternary-care center between March 10 and April 8, 2020. Patients were categorized based on the presence or absence of DM and early-onset hyperglycemia (EHG), defined as a blood glucose >180 mg/dL during the first 2 days after ICU admission. The primary outcome was 14-day all-cause in-hospital mortality; also examined were 60-day all-cause in-hospital mortality and the levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, procalcitonin, and lactate.ResultsCompared to non-DM patients without EHG, non-DM patients with EHG exhibited higher adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality at 14 days (HR 7.51, CI 1.70-33.24) and 60 days (HR 6.97, CI 1.86-26.13). Non-DM patients with EHG also featured higher levels of median C-reactive protein (306.3 mg/L, P = .036), procalcitonin (1.26 ng/mL, P = .028), and lactate (2.2 mmol/L, P = .023).ConclusionAmong critically ill COVID-19 patients, those without DM with EHG were at greatest risk of 14-day and 60-day in-hospital mortality. Our study was limited by its retrospective design and relatively small cohort. However, our results suggest the combination of elevated glucose and lactate may identify a specific cohort of individuals at high risk for mortality from COVID-19. Glucose testing and control are important in individuals with COVID-19, even those without preexisting diabetes.     

Circulating chromogranin B levels in patients with acute respiratory failure: data from the FINNALI Study

Purpose: Circulating chromogranin B (CgB) levels are increased in situations characterized by systemic and myocardial stress, but whether CgB provides prognostic information in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) is unknown.

Methods: We included 584 patients with ARF, defined as ventilatory support?>6?h, and with blood samples available on Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and day 3 (n?=?479). CgB levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and follow-up was 90 days.

Results: One-hundred-sixty-nine patients (29%) died during follow-up. Admission CgB levels separated non-survivors from survivors: median 1234 (Q1-3 989–1742) vs. 917 (753–1224) pmol/L, respectively, p?<?0.001. CgB levels on ICU admission (logarithmically transformed) were associated with time to death after adjustment for established risk indices available on ICU admission, including N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic levels: HR 2.62 (95%C.I. 1.82–3.77), p?<?0.001. Admission CgB levels also improved prognostication on top of SOFA and SAPS II scores as assessed by Cox regression analyses and the category-free net reclassification index. The area under the curve (AUC) for admission CgB levels to separate survivors and non-survivors was 0.72 (95%CI 0.67–0.76), while the AUC on day 3 was 0.60 (0.54–0.66).

Conclusions: CgB levels measured on ICU admission provided additional prognostic information to established risk indices in ARF patients.     

Blood Lactate/ATP Ratio,as an Alarm Index and Real-Time Biomarker in Critical Illness

Objective

The acute physiology, age and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score and other related scores have been used for evaluation of illness severity in the intensive care unit (ICU), but there is still a need for real-time and sensitive prognostic biomarkers. Recently, alarmins from damaged tissues have been reported as alarm-signaling molecules. Although ATP is a member of the alarmins and its depletion in tissues closely correlates with multiple-organ failure, blood ATP level has not been evaluated in critical illness. To identify real-time prognostic biomarker of critical illness, we measured blood ATP levels and the lactate/ATP ratio (ATP-lactate energy risk score, A-LES) in critically ill patients.

Methods and Results

Blood samples were collected from 42 consecutive critically ill ICU patients and 155 healthy subjects. The prognostic values of blood ATP levels and A-LES were compared with APACHE II score. The mean ATP level (SD) in healthy subjects was 0.62 (0.19) mM with no significant age or gender differences. The median ATP level in severely ill patients at ICU admission was significantly low at 0.31 mM (interquartile range 0.25 to 0.44) than the level in moderately ill patient at 0.56 mM (0.38 to 0.70) (P<0.01). Assessment with ATP was further corrected by lactate and expressed as A-LES. The median A-LES was 2.7 (2.1 to 3.3) in patients with satisfactory outcome at discharge but was significantly higher in non-survivors at 38.9 (21.0 to 67.9) (P<0.01). Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that measurement of blood ATP and A-LES at ICU admission are as useful as APACHE II score for prediction of mortality.

Conclusion

Blood ATP levels and A-LES are sensitive prognostic biomarkers of mortality at ICU admission. In addition, A-LES provided further real-time evaluation score of illness severity during ICU stay particularly for critically ill patients with APACHE II scores of ≥20.0.     

Acute Kidney Injury Enhances Outcome Prediction Ability of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score in Critically Ill Patients

Introduction

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious complication in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and also often part of a multiple organ failure syndrome. The sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score is an excellent tool for assessing the extent of organ dysfunction in critically ill patients. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome prediction ability of SOFA and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score in ICU patients with AKI.

Methods

A total of 543 critically ill patients were admitted to the medical ICU of a tertiary-care hospital from July 2007 to June 2008. Demographic, clinical and laboratory variables were prospectively recorded for post hoc analysis as predictors of survival on the first day of ICU admission.

Results

One hundred and eighty-seven (34.4%) patients presented with AKI on the first day of ICU admission based on the risk of renal failure, injury to kidney, failure of kidney function, loss of kidney function, and end-stage renal failure (RIFLE) classification. Major causes of the ICU admissions involved respiratory failure (58%). Overall in-ICU mortality was 37.9% and the hospital mortality was 44.7%. The predictive accuracy for ICU mortality of SOFA (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves: 0.815±0.032) was as good as APACHE III in the AKI group. However, cumulative survival rates at 6-month follow-up following hospital discharge differed significantly (p<0.001) for SOFA score ≤10 vs. ≥11 in these ICU patients with AKI.

Conclusions

For patients coexisting with AKI admitted to ICU, this work recommends application of SOFA by physicians to assess ICU mortality because of its practicality and low cost. A SOFA score of ≥ “11” on ICU day 1 should be considered an indicator of negative short-term outcome.     

Evaluation of Admission Blood Glucose Levels in The Intensive Care Unit

ObjectiveTo assess the availability and clinical value of blood glucose (BG) testing at the time of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) after such testing was implemented as routine care in the ICU.MethodsWe studied ICU admission BG testing rates and the prevalence of hyperglycemia. In this effort, we assessed the frequency of baseline BG testing in 330 consecutive patients during a period of 3 months and then implemented routine BG monitoring in 1,147 consecutive ICU patients during a 7-month period.ResultsOf the total study population, 25% had previously diagnosed diabetes (PDD). At baseline, 70% had BG measured within 4 hours before or after ICU admission (99% of patients with and 60% of patients without PDD). After implementation of routine BG monitoring, there was a significant increase in testing (70% before versus 87% after, /40.001; 70% during the baseline 3-month period versus 93% in the final 3 months of the study, P < 0.001). In patients without PDD, 41% had BG levels ≥ 140 mg/dL, and 8% had BG concentrations ≥ 200 mg/dL. Overall in the ICU setting, 57% of BG values ≥ 140 mg/dL and 33% of BG levels > 200 mg/dL were in patients without PDD. Frequencies of BG testing by admission diagnosis included the following (at baseline and during the final 3 months after implementation of routine BG tests): post-surgical status (46%, 85%), peripheral vascular disease (51%, 90%), neurologic disease (52%, 83%), gastrointestinal disease (58%, 91%), infection (69%, 100%), and diabetes (100%, 100%).ConclusionRates of routine BG testing are low in ICU patients without PDD. Elevations in BG levels were detected in 41% of our study patients without PDD, suggesting that routine implementation of BG monitoring in an ICU will identify patients at increased risk for hyperglycemia-associated higher morbidity and mortality. (Endocr Pract. 2007;13:705-710)     

Epidemiologic study of clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis and anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibodies in central Japan

Introduction

Several reports have found the onset or activity of inflammatory myopathies to show spatial clustering and seasonal association. We recently detected autoantibodies against melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA-5) in more than 20% of patients with dermatomyositis. Anti-MDA-5 antibodies were associated with the presence of rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease in clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM). The present study aims to assess the growing prevalence of CADM and the geographical incidence of anti-MDA-5-positive patients.

Methods

We reviewed medical charts and examined the presence of anti-MDA-5 antibodies in 95 patients, including 36 CADM patients. Sera were obtained from 1994 through 2011. Statistical analyses were performed to assess whether CADM development and the presence of anti-MDA-5 antibodies were associated with various parameters, including age at disease onset, season of onset, annual positivity, and population of resident city.

Results

Tertiles based on the year when the sera were collected showed increasing tendencies of CADM and anti-MDA-5-positive patients among all of the dermatomyositis patients. From 1994 to 2010, the relative prevalence of CADM and anti-MDA-5 antibody-positive patients significantly increased. Interestingly, the presence of anti-MDA-5 antibodies in 26 patients was inversely associated with the population of their city of residence.

Conclusions

This is the first study to examine the distribution of anti-MDA-5-positive dermatomyositis phenotypes in Japan. Regional differences in the incidences of these phenotypes would suggest that environmental factors contribute to the production of antibodies against MDA-5, which triggers innate antiviral responses.     

Vitamin D Status and the Risk for Hospital-Acquired Infections in Critically Ill Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study

Introduction

To identify patient characteristics associated with low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) and examine the relationship between serum 25(OH)D and the risk for hospital-acquired infections.

Methods

This is a prospective observational cohort of adult patients admitted to the medical ICU at an urban safety net teaching hospital in Atlanta, Georgia from November 1, 2011 through October 31, 2012 with an anticipated ICU stay ≥ 1 day. Phlebotomy for serum 25(OH)D measurement was performed on all patients within 5 days of ICU admission. Patients were followed for 30 days or until death or hospital discharge, whichever came first. Hospital-acquired infections were determined using standardized criteria from review of electronic medical record.

Results

Among the 314 patients analyzed, 178 (57%) had a low vitamin D at a serum 25(OH)D concentration < 15 ng/mL. The patient characteristics associated with low vitamin D included admission during winter months (28% vs. 18%, P = 0.04), higher PaO2/FiO2 (275 vs. 226 torr, P = 0.03) and a longer time from ICU admission to study phlebotomy (1.8 vs. 1.5 days, P = 0.02). A total of 36 (11%) patients were adjudicated as having a hospital-acquired infection and in multivariable analysis adjusting for gender, alcohol use, APACHE II score, time to study phlebotomy, ICU length of stay and net fluid balance, serum 25(OH)D levels < 15 ng/mL were not associated with risk for hospital-acquired infections (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.40-1.80, P = 0.7).

Conclusions

In this prospective, observational cohort of adults admitted to a single-center medical ICU, we did not find a significant association between low 25(OH)D and the risk for hospital-acquired infections.     

ISAR Score (Identification of Seniors At Risk) predice la mortalidad en mayores de 75 años ingresados en Cuidados Intensivos

Background and objectivesCurrently, the patient's baseline situation is a more important prognostic factor than age. The purpose of this study is to estimate the prognostic value of the ISAR score (Identification of Senior at Risk) in patients ≥75 years admitted to intensive care (ICU).Patients and methodsProspective multicenter study including patients ≥75 years admitted to the ICU > 24 hours. On admission, 28 days and 6 months after discharge from the ICU, mortality and baseline were evaluated using the ISAR score, the Lawton and Brody scale (LB) and the Barthel index (BI), the Frail fragility scale. scale (FS), the Charlson comorbidity index (ICC), Dementia rating score (DRC).Results38 of 94 patients (40%) were high risk (ISAR ≥ 3) and were characterized by BI 90 (65-100), LB 4 (3-5), and CDR 1 (0-2), ICC 7.5 (6-10). 58% had FS ≥ 3. In the long term, they were in a situation of dependency [BI 50 (2.5-77.5), LB 3 (0-4), CDR 1 (0-1.5)]. The ICU mortality at 28 days and 6 months was 18.4%, 25.7% and 35.3%, respectively, being statistically significant. The area under the ISAR score ROC curve was 0.749 to 0.797, in all the mortality periods studied, although the difference with other predictive variables was not significant, but the p value was the lowest.ConclusionsThe ISAR score predicts mortality in critically elderly patients with a discriminative capacity comparable to other predictive variables.     

Endothelial adhesion molecules and multiple organ failure in patients with severe sepsis

ObjectiveTo determine if serum levels of endothelial adhesion molecules were associated with the development of multiple organ failure (MOF) and in-hospital mortality in adult patients with severe sepsis.DesignThis study was a secondary data analysis of a prospective cohort study.SettingPatients were admitted to two tertiary intensive care units in San Antonio, TX, between 2007 and 2012.PatientsPatients with severe sepsis at the time of intensive care unit (ICU) admission were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were consistent with previously published criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock in adults. Exclusion criteria included immunosuppressive medications or conditions.InterventionsNone.MeasurementsBaseline serum levels of the following endothelial cell adhesion molecules were measured within the first 72 h of ICU admission: Intracellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1), Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). The primary and secondary outcomes were development of MOF (⩾2 organ dysfunction) and in-hospital mortality, respectively.Main resultsForty-eight patients were enrolled in this study, of which 29 (60%) developed MOF. Patients that developed MOF had higher levels of VCAM-1 (p = 0.01) and ICAM-1 (p = 0.01), but not VEGF (p = 0.70) compared with patients without MOF (single organ failure only). The area under the curve (AUC) to predict MOF according to VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and VEGF was 0.71, 0.73, and 0.54, respectively. Only increased VCAM-1 levels were associated with in-hospital mortality (p = 0.03). These associations were maintained even after adjusting for APACHE and SOFA scores using logistic regression.ConclusionsHigh levels of serum ICAM-1 was associated with the development of MOF. High levels of VCAM-1 was associated with both MOF and in-hospital mortality.