Independent Predictor Of In-hospital Mortality Research Articles

#1858 Delirium among patients admitted to a Nephrology ward-risk factors and association with short-term outcomes: an observational prospective cohort study

Abstract Background and Aims To date, delirium is considered one of the most frequent neuropsychiatric acute syndromes among hospitalized populations. In general medicine, the risk factors for delirium are well-established but there are limited data concerning the incidence and predictors of delirium in nephrological patients. The aims of the study were (i) to assess the prevalence and the risk factors for delirium in hospitalized patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), and (ii) to evaluate the effect of delirium on in-hospital mortality. Method A cohort of 942 patients admitted to the Nephrology Department of a tertiary-care Hospital from January 2023 to December 2023 were enrolled in a prospective observational study. Delirium was diagnosed by a psychiatrist during the hospitalization. The endpoint was defined as hospital death or hospital discharge. Relevant sociodemographic, nephrological- and medical-related clusters were assessed with logistic uni- and multivariable regression methods to evaluate their association with delirium and in-hospital mortality. A two-tailed value <0.05 was considered significant. Results In the studied group, mean age was 62.85 years, 519 (55.09%) patients being males. The prevalence of delirium was 5.41% (51/942 patients). The delirious patients were older (mean 70.04 vs. 62.44 years; P<0.001) and with a longer duration of hospitalization (13.12 ± 7.90 days vs. 10.76 ± 8.92 days; P=0.007). Univariable regression analysis showed that delirium was associated with age (r=0.117, P<0.001), alcohol abuse (r=0.144, P<0.001), history of stroke (r=0.184, P<0.001), vascular dementia (r=0.125, P<0.001), dehydration (r=0.175, P<0.001), sepsis (r=0.144, P<0.001), and acute kidney injury (AKI) stage 2 and 3 (r=0.155, P<0.001). In multivariable regression analysis, the independent predictors of delirium were: age (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.029, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.002–1.056, P=0.034), alcohol abuse (OR=4.728, 95% CI: 1.968-11.359, P=0.001), history of stroke (OR=3.493, 95% CI: 1.849-6.598, P<0.001), and AKI stage 2 and 3 (OR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.152-4.105, P=0.017). Chronic kidney disease was not associated with a higher risk of delirium (OR=0.583, 95% CI: 0.308-1.110, P=0.097). Delirium was associated with increased in-hospital mortality (47.05% vs. no-delirium 14.36%, P<0.001) and was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR=3.074, 95% CI: 1.630-5.797, P=0.001). Conclusion In this study conducted on patients hospitalized in a nephrology ward age, alcohol abuse, history of stroke, and AKI stage 2 and 3 were independent risk factors for delirium. Delirium significantly increased in-hospital mortality. The findings of the study emphasize the strong connectivity between AKI and acute brain dysfunction.

Prediction of Initial CRP/Albumin Ratio on In-Hospital Mortality in Isolated Traumatic Brain Injury Patients.

The CRP/albumin ratio (CAR) is a mortality predictor in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The aim of the current study was to investigate the ability of CAR to predict in-hospital mortality (IHM) in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury (iTBI). We performed a retrospective analysis including 200 patients with iTBI admitted to our neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU) between September 2014 and December 2016. Serum biomarkers, demographic and radiological data, several ICU scores, and cardiopulmonary parameters were analyzed. The rate of IHM was 27.5% (55/200) and significantly associated with a higher AIS head score (p < 0.0001), a lower albumin level (p < 0.0001), and the necessity of a higher level of inspiratory oxygen fraction (p = 0.002). Furthermore, advanced age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.953, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.927-0.981, p = 0.001), a lower GCS score (OR = 1.347, 95% CI = 1.203-1.509, p < 0.0001), a higher level of lactate (OR = 0.506, 95% CI = 0.353-0.725, p < 0.0001), a higher CAR (OR = 0.547, 95% CI = 0.316-0.945, p = 0.031) and a higher norepinephrine application rate (OR = 0.000, 95% CI 0.000-0.090, p = 0.016) were identified as independent predictors of IHM. ROC analysis showed an association between IHM and a CAR cut-off value of >0.38 (Youden index 0.073, sensitivity: 27.9, specificity: 64.8, p = 0.044). We could identify a CAR > 0.38 as a new independent predictor for IHM in patients with iTBI.

Point-of-Care Serum Proenkephalin as an Early Predictor of Mortality in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Septic Shock.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the prognostic utility of point-of-care (POC)-measured proenkephalin (PENK), a novel biomarker, in terms of predicting in-hospital mortality in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with septic shock. Bedside PENK was measured in consecutive patients presenting to the ED with septic shock according to the Sepsis-3 clinical criteria. The association of PENK with inflammatory and routine biomarkers, and its role as a predictor of in-hospital mortality, was examined. Sixty-one patients with septic shock [53% females, median age 83 years (IQR 71-88)] were evaluated. Median (IQR) values of creatinine, plasma lactate, soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (SuPAR), procalcitonin and PENK were 1.7 (1.0-2.9) mg/dL, 3.6 (2.1-6.8) mmol/L, 13.1 (10.0-21.4) ng/mL, 2.06 (0.84-3.49) ng/mL, and 205 (129-425) pmol/L, respectively. LogPENK significantly correlated with LogLactate (rho = 0.369, p = 0.004), LogCreatinine (rho = 0.537, p < 0.001), LogProcalcitonin (rho = 0.557, p < 0.001), and LogSuPAR (rho = 0.327, p = 0.011). During hospitalization, 39/61 (64%) patients died. In a multivariable logistic regression model, logPENK was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR 11.9, 95% CI: 1.7-84.6, p = 0.013). POC PENK levels measured upon presentation to the ED strongly correlated with metabolic, renal and inflammatory biomarkers, and may serve as a predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with septic shock.

Time to maximum amplitude of thromboelastography can predict mortality in patients with severe COVID-19: a retrospective observational study.

To predict mortality in severe patients with COVID-19 at admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) using thromboelastography (TEG). This retrospective, two-center, observational study involved 87 patients with PCR-and chest CT-confirmed severe COVID-19 who were admitted to at Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital and the 908th Hospital of Chinese PLA Logistic Support Force between February 2020 and February 2023. Clinic demographics, laboratory results, and outcomes were compared between those who survived and those who died during hospitalization. Thromboelastography showed that of the 87 patients, 14 were in a hypercoagulable state, 25 were in a hypocoagulable state, and 48 were normal, based on the time to maximum amplitude (TMA). Patients who died showed significantly lower α angle, but significantly longer R-time, K-time and TMA than patients who survived. Random forest selection showed that K-time, TMA, prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (Tbil) were significant predictors. Multivariate logistic regression identified that TMA and CRP were independently associated with mortality. TMA had a greater predictive power than CRP levels based on time-dependent AUCs. Patients with TMA ≥ 26.4 min were at significantly higher risk of mortality (hazard ratio 3.99, 95% Confidence Interval, 1.92-8.27, p < 0.01). TMA ≥26.4 min at admission to ICU may be an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality for patients with severe COVID-19.

Outcomes of Patients Presenting with Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Surgical Revascularization.

Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is a leading cause of emergency hospitalisation across Europe. This study evaluates the in-hospital and mid-term outcomes of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) following NSTEMI. A retrospective analysis of all cases undergoing isolated CABG following NSTEMI from September/2017 to September/2022 at our Centre. Patients were stratified according to in-hospital survival. Patient characteristics, operative details, and procedural complications were compared between those who survived and those who did not. Predictors of in-hospital and mid-term mortality were evaluated using logistic and Cox regression modelling. Kaplan Meier analysis was used to generate a survival curve for all alive patients at the time of discharge. Among 1011 patients (median age 64 [56 - 72] years, 852 [84.3%] male), 735 (72.7%) underwent urgent, 239 (23.6%) elective, and 37 (3.7%) emergency CABG. The in-hospital mortality was 1.5% (15/1011 patients). Those who died were more likely to be NYHA class III/IV, have LVEF <21%, severe renal impairment, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), or poor mobility. Emergency procedures, pre-operative ventilation, inotropic support, and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use were also more prevalent among those who died. Logistic regression modelling revealed new postoperative stroke (OR:22.0; 95% CI:3.6-135.5; p=0.001), pre-operative IABP use (11.4; 2.4-53.7; p=0.002), new haemodialysis (9.6; 2.7-34.7; p<0.001), PVD (5.6; 1.6-20.0; p=0.008), and poor mobility (OR: 4.8; 95% CI: 1.3-18.2; p=0.022) as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. In conclusion, new postoperative stroke, pre-operative IABP use, new haemodialysis, PVD and poor mobility are independent predictors of mortality in NSTEMI patients undergoing isolated CABG.

The relationship between red cell distribution width, serum calcium ratio, and in-hospital mortality among patients with acute respiratory failure: A retrospective cohort study of the MIMIC-IV database.

To investigate the impact of RDW/CA (the ratio of red cell distribution width to calcium) on in-hospital mortality in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF). This retrospective cohort study analyzed the data of 6981 ARF patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) database 2.0. Critically ill participants between 2008 and 2019 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to determine whether the RDW/CA ratio independently correlated with in-hospital mortality. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot the survival curves of the RDW/CA. Subgroup analyses were performed to measure the mortality across various subgroups. After adjusting for potential covariates, we found that a higher RDW/CA was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.35, P = .0365) in ARF patients. A nonlinear relationship was observed between RDW/CA and in-hospital mortality, with an inflection point of 1.97. When RDW/CA ≥ 1.97 was positively correlated with in-hospital mortality in patients with ARF (HR = 1.554, 95% CI: 1.183-2.042, P = .0015). The Kaplan-Meier curve indicated the higher survival rates for RDW/CA < 1.97 and the lower for RDW/CA ≥ 1.97 after adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, and ethnicity. RDW/CA is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with ARF. Furthermore, a nonlinear relationship was observed between RDW/CA and in-hospital mortality in patients with ARF.

Use of percutaneous mechanical circulatory support for right ventricular failure.

Utilization of right ventricular mechanical circulatory support (RV-MCS) devices has been limited by a lack of recognition of RV failure as well as a lack of availability and experience with RV-MCS. We report a single-center experience with the use of percutaneous RV-MCS and report predictors of adverse outcomes. This was a single-center retrospective cohort study. Data from consecutive patients who received RV-MCS for any indication between June 2015 and January 2022 were included. Data on baseline comorbidities, hemodynamics, and laboratory values were collected. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality analyzed as a logistic outcome in a multivariable model. These variables were further ranked by their predictive value. Among 58 consecutive patients enrolled, the median age was 66 years, 31% were female and 53% were white. The majority of the patients (48%) were hospitalized for acute on chronic heart failure. The majority of the patients were SCAI SHOCK Stage D (67%) and 34 (64%) patients had MCS placed within 24 h of the onset of shock. Before placement of RV-MCS, median central venous pressure (CVP) and RV stroke work index were 20 mmHg and 8.9 g m/m2, respectively. Median serum lactate was 3.5 (1.6, 6.2) mmol/L. Impella RP was implanted in 50% and ProtekDuo in the remaining 50%. Left ventricular MCS was concomitantly used in 66% of patients. Twenty-eight patients (48.3%) died. In these patients, median serum lactate was significantly higher (4.1 [2.3, 13.0] vs. 2.2 [1.4, 4.0] mmol/L, p = 0.007) and a trend toward higher median CVP (24 [18, 31] vs. 19 [14, 24] mmHg, p = 0.052). In the multivariable logistic model, both serum lactate and CVP before RV-MCS placement were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Serum lactate had the highest predictive value. In our real-world cohort, 52% of patients treated with RV-MCS survived their index hospitalization. Serum lactate at presentation and CVP were the strongest predictors of in-hospital mortality.

Acute non-traffic traumatic spinal cord injury in the aging population: Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample 2005–2018

BackgroundThis study aimed to determine risk factors for poor in-hospital outcomes in a large cohort of older adult patients with acute non-traffic traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI). MethodsThis is a population-based, retrospective, observational study. Data of older adults ≥65 years with a primary discharge diagnosis of acute non-traffic tSCI were extracted from the US National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database 2005–2018. Traffic-related tSCI admissions or patients lacking complete data on age, sex and outcomes of interest were excluded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine associations between variables and in-hospital outcomes. ResultsData of 49,449 older patients (representing 246,939 persons in the US) were analyzed. The mean age was 79.9 years. Multivariable analyses revealed that severe International Classification of Disease (ICD)-based injury severity score (ICISS) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.77–3.57), quadriplegia (aOR = 2.79, 95%CI: 2.34–3.32), paraplegia (aOR = 2.60, 95%CI:1.89–3.58), cervical injury with vertebral fracture (aOR = 2.19, 95%CI: 1.90–2.52), and severe liver disease (aOR = 2.33, 95%CI: 1.34–4.04) were all strong independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. In addition, malnutrition (aOR = 3.19, 95% CI: 2.93–3.48) was the strongest predictors of prolonged length of stay (LOS). ConclusionsSeveral critical factors for in-hospital mortality, unfavorable discharge, and prolonged LOS among US older adults with acute non-traffic tSCI were identified. In addition to the factors associated with initial severity, the presence of severe liver disease and malnutrition emerged as strong predictors of unfavorable outcomes, highlighting the need for special attention for these patient subgroups.

Impact of Hemoglobin Level, White Blood Cell Count, Renal Dysfunction, and Staphylococcus as the Causative Organism on Prediction of In-Hospital Mortality from Infective Endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a highly fatal disease in cases of delayed diagnosis and treatment, although its incidence is low. However, there have been few single-center studies in which the risk of in-hospital death from IE was stratified according to laboratory findings on admission and the organism responsible for IE. In this study, a total of 162 patients who were admitted to our hospital during the period from 2009 to 2021, who were suspected of having IE according to the modified Duke classification, and for whom IE was confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were observed for a mean-period of 43.7 days with the primary endpoint being in-hospital death. The in-hospital death group had a lower level of hemoglobin (Hb), higher white blood cell (WBC) count, lower level of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and higher frequency of Staphylococcus being the causative agent than those in the non-in-hospital death group. In overall multivariate analysis, Hb, WBC count, eGFR, and Staphylococcus as the causative agent were identified to be significant prognostic determinants. IE patients with Hb < 10.6 g/dL, WBC count > 1.4 × 104/μL, eGFR < 28.1 mL/minute/1.7 m2, and Staphylococcus as the causative agent had significantly and synergistically increased in-hospital death rates compared to those in other IE patients. Low level of Hb, high WBC count, low eGFR, and Staphylococcus as the causative agent of IE were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality, suggesting that these 4 parameters may be combined to additively stratify the risk of in-hospital mortality.

End-stage renal disease should not Be considered a contraindication for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

PurposeThis study aims to determine whether end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a true contraindication for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adult patients. Materials and methodsAdult patients who received VA-ECMO at National Taiwan University Hospital between January 2010 and December 2021 were included. Patients who received regular dialysis before the index admission were included in the ESRD group. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Results1341 patients were included in the analysis, 121 of whom had ESRD before index admission. The ESRD group was older (62.3 versus 56.8 years; P < 0.01) and had more comorbidities. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) was used more frequently in the ESRD group (66.1% versus 51.6%; P < 0.001). The ESRD group had higher in-hospital mortality rates (72.7% versus 63.3%; P = 0.03). In the ECPR subgroup, there was no difference of survival between ESRD and others(P = 0.56). In the multivariate Cox regression, ESRD was not an independent predictor for mortality (P = 0.20). ConclusionsESRD was not an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality after VA-ECMO. The survival of ESRD patients was not inferior to those without ESRD when receiving ECPR. Therefore, ESRD should not be considered a contraindication to VA-ECMO in adults.

Association of the triglyceride-glucose index with severity of coronary stenosis and in-hospital mortality in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention: a multicentre retrospective analysis cohort study

ObjectivesTo explore the impact of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index on the severity of coronary stenosis and the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction...

Impact of fragmented QRS on in-hospital mortality in emergency coronary artery bypass grafting for STEMI: A retrospective analysis

Objective: Fragmented QRS complex (fQRS) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, sudden cardiac death, and recurrent cardiovascular events. The role of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the primary treatment of acute myocardial infarction remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to assess the predictive value of fQRS in-hospital mortality among acute STEMI patients undergoing emergency CABG for primary revascularization. Patients and Methods: Between 2010 and 2020, we retrospectively included 99 consecutive STEMI patients who were not eligible for primary percutaneous intervention and required emergency CABG. The study population was divided into two groups: survivors and non-survivors. We compared the two groups regarding demographic, clinical, and operative characteristics. Results: fQRS was identified as an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (p = 0.037). Additionally, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (p = 0.028). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), glucose levels, and Killip class ≥ III were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality (p = 0.002), (p = 0.001) and (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: fQRS emerged as an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality among patients undergoing emergency CABG for primary revascularization in cases of STEMI.

Outcomes of Impella 5.0 and 5.5 for cardiogenic shock: A single-center 137 patient experience.

This study evaluated the outcomes of patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) supported with Impella 5.0 or 5.5 and identified risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Adults with CS who were supported with Impella 5.0 or 5.5 at a single institution were included. Patients were stratified into three groups according to their CS etiology: (1) acute myocardial infarction (AMI), (2) acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), and (3) postcardiotomy (PC). The primary outcome was survival, and secondary outcomes included adverse events during Impella support and length of stay. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality. One hundred and thirty-seven patients with CS secondary to AMI (n = 47), ADHF (n = 86), and PC (n = 4) were included. The ADHF group had the highest survival rates at all time points. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was the most common complication during Impella support in all 3 groups. Increased rates of AKI and de novo renal replacement therapy were observed in the PC group, and the AMI group experienced a higher incidence of bleeding requiring transfusion. Multivariable analysis demonstrated diabetes mellitus, elevated pre-insertion serum lactate, and elevated pre-insertion serum creatinine were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality, but the etiology of CS did not impact mortality. This study demonstrates that Impella 5.0 and 5.5 provide effective mechanical support for patients with CS with favorable outcomes, with nearly two-thirds of patients alive at 180 days. Diabetes, elevated pre-insertion serum lactate, and elevated pre-insertion serum creatinine are strong risk factors for in-hospital mortality.

Association between estimated pulse wave velocity and in-hospital mortality of patients with acute kidney injury: a retrospective cohort analysis of the MIMIC-IV database

Background Estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) has been found to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality and kidney injury, which can be estimated noninvasively. This study aimed to investigate the association between ePWV and in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods This study included 5960 patients with AKI from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. The low and high ePWV groups were compared using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve to evaluate the differences in survival status. Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore the association between ePWV and in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with AKI. To further examine the dose-response relationship, we used a restricted cubic spline (RCS) model. Stratification analyses were conducted to investigate the effect of ePWV on hospital mortality across various subgroups. Results Survival analysis indicated that patients with high ePWV had a lower survival rate than those with low ePWV. Following adjustment, high ePWV demonstrated a statistically significant association with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality among AKI patients (HR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.36-1.71, p < 0.001). Analysis using the RCS model confirmed a linear increase in the risk of hospital mortality as the ePWV values increased (P for nonlinearity = 0.602). Conclusions A high ePWV was significantly associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality among patients with AKI. Furthermore, ePWV was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with AKI.

Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR), and Eosinophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (ELR) as Biomarkers in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD).

The study comprehensively evaluated the prognostic roles of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), basophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (BLR), and eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (ELR) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Six hundred and nineteen patients with AECOPD and 300 healthy volunteers were retrospectively included into the study. The clinical characteristics of the patients with AECOPD and the complete blood counts (CBCs) of the healthy volunteers were collected. The associations of PLR, NLR, MLR, BLR, and ELR with airflow limitation, hospital length of stay (LOS), C-reactive protein (CRP), and in-hospital mortality in patients with AECOPD were analyzed. Compared with the healthy volunteers, PLR, NLR, MLR, BLR, and ELR were all elevated in COPD patients under stable condition. PLR, NLR, MLR, and BLR were further elevated while ELR was lowered during exacerbation. In the patients with AECOPD, PLR, NLR, and MLR were positively correlated with hospital LOS as well as CRP. In contrast, ELR was negatively correlated with hospital LOS as well as CRP. Elevated PLR, NLR, and MLR were all associated with more severe airflow limitation in AECOPD. Elevated PLR, NLR, and MLR were all associated with increased in-hospital mortality while elevated ELR was associated with decreased in-hospital mortality. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that smoking history, FEV1% predicted, pneumonia, pulmonary heart disease (PHD), uric acid (UA), albumin, and MLR were significant independent predictors ofin-hospital mortality. These predictors along with ELR were used to construct a nomogram for predicting in-hospital mortality in AECOPD. The nomogram had a C-index of 0.850 (95% CI: 0.799-0.901), and the calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact curve (CIC) further demonstrated its good predictive value and clinical applicability. In summary, PLR, NLR, MLR, and ELR served as useful biomarkers in patients with AECOPD.

Risk factors and outcomes for surgical repair of obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

Surgical repair of obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a high-risk surgical cohort. This study aimed to assess surgical risk factors and outcomes in infants with TAPVC treated at a single centre. This was a prospective single-centre, observational study that included consecutive patients presenting with obstructed TAPVC. Patients with obstructed supra-cardiac, cardiac, and infra-cardiac TAPVC were included in the study. In-hospital mortality was the primary outcome. Multivariable logistic regression was carried out to identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Of the 41 patients, 31 (75.6%) were males. Ages were distributed as follows: 20 (48.8%) between 1 and 3 months, 11 (26.88%) between >3 months, and 10 (24.4%) neonates. The in-hospital mortality was 19.5% (n=8). Of the remaining 33 patients, there were no deaths during the follow-up. Short-term follow-up was achieved for 100% of cases (up to 6 months post-operatively). The mean duration of follow-up was 43.6± 3.6 months. One (3%) early and 2 (6%) late pulmonary vein obstructions were observed during follow-up. Age less than 30 days and pre-operative ventilation were associated with significantly increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Despite logistical challenges, reasonable surgical outcomes are attainable in obstructed TAPVC cases. Age less than 30 days and need for pre-operative ventilation were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality, while pulmonary venous obstruction in the post-operative period contributed to re-interventions.

Prognostic value of overhydration and bioelectrical impedance vector on short- and long-term outcomes in hospitalized patients with cancer

Water, an essential component of body composition, appears to be a significant predictor of adverse outcomes in clinical populations, despite being frequently underexplored. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and vector analysis (BIVA) are easy and cost-effective bedside tools for estimating body composition, particularly water content. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the impact of hydration and fluid status using both BIA and BIVA on outcomes in hospitalized patients with cancer. A prospective cohort study involving hospitalized individuals with cancer was conducted. Total body water (TBW) was estimated using BIA. Extracellular-water/TBW (ECW/TBW) and ECW/intracellular-water (ECW/ICW) ratios were calculated. BIVA ellipses vectors were constructed to enhance our analysis of hydration status. Participants were followed during their hospital stay and up to six months after discharge to assess outcomes, including in-hospital mortality, 6-month non-elective rehospitalization, and 6-month mortality. TBW, ECW/TBW, ECW/ICW ratios, and BIVA plots were not associated with non-elective rehospitalization during the follow-up period. However, TBW and an elevated ECW/ICW ratio were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 1.07 (1.01; 1.13) p=0.020; HR: 4.23 (1.69; 10.58) p=0.002]. Elevated ratios ECW/TBW and ECW/ICW were independent predictors of 6-month mortality [HR: 1.87 (1.10; 3.21) p=0.022; HR: 2.49 (1.37; 4.51) p=0.003]. BIVA vectors for in-hospital and 6-month mortality shifted significantly to the right, leading to cachexia and overhydration quadrants (p<0.05). Abnormalities related to overhydration were important predictors of short- and long-term mortality in hospitalized patients with cancer.

Utility of emergency department triage tools in predicting the need for intensive respiratory or vasopressor support in adult patients with COVID-19

BackgroundSerum and radiological parameters used to predict prognosis in COVID patients are not feasible in the Emergency Department. Due to its damaging effect on multiple organs and lungs, scores used to assess multiorgan damage and pneumonia such as Pandemic Medical Early Warning Score (PMEWS), National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2), WHO score, quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA), and DS-CRB 65 can be used to triage patients in the Emergency Department. They can be used to predict patients with the highest risk of seven-day mortality and need for intensive respiratory or vasopressor support (IRVS). PurposeThe primary purpose was to find the score with the highest AUC in predicting IRVS and mortality at seven days. Additional objective was to find out any independent factors associated with IRVS and mortality. MethodsThe data of adult patients who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) between April 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021 were collected. The WHO score, CRB-65, DS-CRB 65, PMEWS, NEWS2, and qSOFA score were calculated for all patients. Statistical analysis was done and an ROC curve was calculated for all the tools for mortality and need for IRVS at seven days. Findings677 patients presented to the Emergency Department with COVID-19 during the period above. Presence of Diabetes Mellitus (p = 0.001), Hypertension (p = 0.001), and chronic kidney disease(CKD) (p = 0.04) was significantly associated with need for IRVS. Age, duration of symptoms, pulse rate, respiratory rate, room air saturation, mental status at admission, and time to IRVS need were identified as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. The longer the time to IRVS need from ED arrival, the higher the likelihood of mortality. PMEWS (0.830) had the highest AUC, followed by NEWS2 (0.805). A PMEWS cut-off of 6.5 was 74.2% sensitive and 78.3% specific in predicting the need for IRVS. ROC analysis to predict 7-day mortality showed that PMEWS had an AUC of 0.802 (0.766–0.839). QSOFA performed poorly in predicting IRVS (AUC 0.645) and 7-day mortality (AUC 0.677). ConclusionPMEWS may be used for triaging patients presenting to the Emergency Department with COVID-19 and accurately predicts the need for IRVS and seven day mortality.

Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram for predicting in-hospital mortality of patients with acute paraquat poisoning

This study aimed to develop and validate a predictive model to determine the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with acute paraquat poisoning. This retrospective observational cohort study included 724 patients with acute paraquat poisoning whose clinical data were collected within 24 h of admission. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Patients were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts (7/3 ratio). In the training cohort, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression models were used for data dimension reduction and feature selection. Multivariate logistic regression was used to generate a predictive nomogram for in-hospital mortality. The prediction model was assessed for both the training and validation cohorts. In the training cohort, decreased level of consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale score < 15), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, carbon dioxide combining power, and paraquat plasma concentrations at admission were identified as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with acute paraquat poisoning. The calibration curves, decision curve analysis, and clinical impact curves indicated that the model had a good predictive performance. It can be used on admission to the emergency department to predict mortality and facilitate early risk stratification and actionable measures in clinical practice after further external validation.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes among critically ill patients with cancer and COVID-19-related acute respiratory failure

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected individuals worldwide, and patients with cancer are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19-related severe illness, respiratory failure, and mortality. The relationship between COVID-19 and cancer remains a critical concern, and a comprehensive investigation of the factors affecting survival among patients with cancer who develop COVID-19-related respiratory failure is warranted. We aim to compare the characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19-related acute respiratory failure in patients with and without underlying cancer, while analyzing factors affecting in-hospital survival among cancer patients.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective observational study at Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan from May to September 2022, a period during which the omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was circulating. Eligible patients had COVID-19 and acute respiratory failure. Clinical data, demographic information, disease severity markers, treatment details, and outcomes were collected and analyzed.ResultsOf the 215 enrolled critically ill patients with COVID-19, 65 had cancer. The patients with cancer were younger and had lower absolute lymphocyte counts, higher ferritin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations, and increased vasopressor use compared with those without cancer. The patients with cancer also received more COVID-19 specific treatments but had higher in-hospital mortality rate (61.5% vs 36%, P = 0.002) and longer viral shedding (13 vs 10 days, P = 0.007) than those without cancer did. Smoking [odds ratio (OR): 5.804, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.847–39.746], elevated LDH (OR: 1.004, 95% CI: 1.001–1.012), vasopressor use (OR: 5.437, 95% CI: 1.202–24.593), and new renal replacement therapy (OR: 3.523, 95% CI: 1.203–61.108) were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality among patients with cancer and respiratory failure.ConclusionCritically ill patients with cancer experiencing COVID-19-related acute respiratory failure present unique clinical features and worse clinical outcomes compared with those without cancer. Smoking, elevated LDH, vasopressor use, and new renal replacement therapy were risk factors for in-hospital mortality in these patients.