Intensive Care Unit Admission Rate Research Articles

Falls from ladders: Injury patterns and outcomes.

Our contemporary understanding of the impact of falls from ladders remains limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the injury patterns and outcomes of falls from ladders. Our hypothesis was that age affects both injury type and outcomes. The National Trauma Data Bank was queried for all patients who fell from a ladder (January 2007 to December 2017). Participants were stratified into four groups according to age: 15 years or younger, 16 years to 50 years, 51 years to 65 years, and older than 65 years. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare the injury patterns and outcomes between the groups. A total of 168,227 patients were included for analysis. Median age was 56 years (interquartile range, 45-66 years), 86.1% were male, and median ISS was 9 (interquartile range, 4-13). Increasing age was associated with a higher risk of severe trauma (ISS > 15: 8.8% vs. 13.7% vs. 17.5% vs. 22.0%; p < 0.001). Head injuries followed a U-shaped distribution, with pediatric and elderly patients representing the most vulnerable groups. Overall, fractures were the most common type of injury, in the following order: lower extremity, 27.3%; spine, 24.9%; rib, 23.1%; upper extremity, 20.1%; and pelvis, 10.3%. The overall intensive care unit admission rate was 21.5%; however, it was significantly higher in the elderly (29.1%). In-hospital mortality was 1.8%. The risk of death progressively increased with age with a mortality rate of 0.3%, 0.9%, 1.5%, and 3.6%, respectively ( p < 0.001). Strong predictors of mortality were Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 or lower on admission (odds ratio, 29.80; 95% confidence interval, 26.66-33.31; p < 0.001) and age >65 years (odds ratio 4.07; 95% confidence interval, 3.535-4.692; p < 0.001). Only 50.8% of the elderly patients were discharged home without health services, 16.5% were discharged to nursing homes, and 15.2% to rehabilitation centers. Falls from ladders are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, especially in the elderly. Head injuries and fractures are common and often severe. An intensified approach to safe ladder use in the community is warranted. Therapeutic/care management; Level III.

Association Between Intensive Care Unit Admission Practices and Outcomes in Patients with Isolated Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Nationwide Inpatient Database Analysis in Japan.

Patients with traumatic brain injury associated with intracranial hemorrhage are commonly admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU); however, the need for ICU care for patients with isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between the ICU admission practices and outcomes in patients with isolated tSAH. This observational study used a nationwide administrative database in Japan. We identified patients with isolated tSAH from the Japanese Diagnostic Procedure Combination inpatient database from July 1, 2010, to March 31, 2020. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, whereas the secondary outcomes were neurosurgical interventions, activities of daily living at discharge, and total hospitalization cost. We performed a risk-adjusted mixed-effect regression analysis to evaluate the association between hospital-level ICU admission rates and study outcomes. The ICU admission rates were categorized into quartiles: lowest, middle-low, middle-high, and highest. Moreover, we assessed the robustness of the results with a patient-level instrumental variable analysis. Of the 61,883 patients with isolated tSAH treated at 962 hospitals, 16,898 (27.3%) patients were admitted to the ICU on the day of admission. Overall, 2465 (4.0%) patients died in the hospital, and 783 (1.3%) patients underwent neurosurgical interventions. There was no significant difference between the lowest and highest ICU admission quartile in terms of in-hospital mortality (3.7% vs. 4.3%; adjusted odds ratio 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78-1.10), neurosurgical interventions, and activities of daily living at discharge. However, the total hospitalization cost in the lowest ICU admission quartile was significantly lower than that in the highest quartile (US $3032 vs. $4095; adjusted difference US $560; 95% CI 33-1087). The patient-level instrumental variable analysis did not reveal a significant difference in in-hospital mortality between the patients who were admitted to the ICU and those who were not (risk difference 0.2%; 95% CI - 0.1 to 0.5). There was no significant association between the ICU admission practices and outcomes in patients with isolated tSAH, whereas higher ICU admission rates were associated with significantly higher hospitalization costs. Our results provide an opportunity for improved health care allocation in the management of patients with isolated tSAH.

Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity in Clinical Outcomes Among Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the disproportionate risk of poor clinical outcomes among population subgroups. The study investigates length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and in-hospital death across age, sex, and race among patients hospitalized with COVID-19. A pooled cross-sectional study analyzed hospital discharge data of state-licensed hospitals in Texas from April to December 2020. Of 98,879 patients, males accounted for 52.3%. The age distribution was 31.9% for the 65–79 age group, 29.6% for those aged 50–64, and 16.3% for those older than 79. Whites constituted the largest proportion (42.6%), followed by Hispanics (36.2%) and Blacks (13.1%). Higher in-hospital death rates were found among patients aged 80 and over (Adjusted Risk Ratio (aRR) 1.12, 95%CI 1.11–1.13) and patients aged 65–79 (aRR 1.08, 95%CI 1.07–1.09) compared to patients aged 19 and below. Hispanics (aRR 1.03, 95%CI 1.02–1.03) and other minorities (aRR 1.02, 95%CI 1.02–1.03) exhibited higher in-hospital death rates than whites, and these patients also had longer LOS and higher ICU admission rates. Patients aged 65–79, 50–64, and 80 and over all had longer hospital stays and higher ICU admission rates. Males experienced poor health outcomes in all assessed outcomes. Findings showed that disparities in clinical outcomes among population subgroups existed and remained throughout 2020. While the nation has to continue practicing public health measures to minimize the harm caused by the novel virus, serious consideration must be given to improving the health of marginalized populations during and beyond the pandemic.

Non-Intubated Versus Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery in Patients Aged 75 Years and Older: A Propensity Matching Study

IntroductionIn most developed countries, lung cancer is associated with the highest mortality rate among all cancers. The number of elderly patients with lung cancer is increasing, reflecting the global increase in aging population. Patients with impaired lung or cardiac function are at a high risk during intubated general anesthesia, which may preclude them from surgical lung cancer treatment. We evaluated the safety and survival of non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) versus those of intubated thoracoscopic surgery for surgical resection for lung cancer in older patients.MethodsPatients aged ≥75 years who underwent non-intubated and intubated VATS resection with pathologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer, using a combination of thoracic epidural anesthesia or intercostal nerve block and intra-thoracic vagal block with target-controlled sedation, from January 2011 to December 2019 were included. Ultimately, 79 non-intubated patients were matched to 158 patients based on age, sex, body mass index, family history, comorbidity index, pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in one second/ forced vital capacity [%]), and disease stage. The endpoints were overall survival and recurrence progression survival.ResultsAll patients had malignant lung lesions. Data regarding conversion data and the postoperative result were collected. Both groups had comparable preoperative demographic and cancer staging profiles. The anesthetic duration in the non-intubated group was shorter than that in the intubated group, which showed a significantly higher mean number of lymph nodes harvested (intubated vs non-intubated, 8.3 vs. 6.4) and lymph stations dissected (3.0 vs. 2.6). Intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate and postoperative ICU stay were significantly longer in the intubated group. The complication rate was higher and hospital stay were longer in the intubated group, but these differences were not significant (12% vs. 7.6%; p = .07, respectively).ConclusionsIn the elderly, non-intubated thoracoscopic surgery provides similar survival results as the intubated approach, although fewer lymph nodes are harvested. Non-intubated surgery may serve as an alternative to intubated general anesthesia in managing lung cancer in carefully selected elderly patients with a high risk of impaired pulmonary and cardiac function.

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in Women vs Men: Analysis of 1496 Cases at a Single Site.

Studies of alcohol withdrawal syndrome indicate a higher prevalence in men than in women. However, it is unknown how the condition differs between the sexes. To assess alcohol withdrawal syndrome in women versus men at a single site. All cases of alcohol withdrawal syndrome at a public hospital from 2010 to 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. For all 1496 episodes, age, sex, and admission to a general care unit (ward) versus the medical intensive care unit were ascertained, along with patient survival. A detailed analysis was performed of 437 cases: all 239 patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit, all 99 female patients admitted to the ward, and 99 randomly selected male patients admitted to the ward. Also analyzed were administration of benzodiazepines, disease course, length of stay, and complications. Men accounted for 92% of all cases (1378 of 1496; P < .001) and medical intensive care unit admissions (220 of 239; P < .05). Sixteen percent of both men and women were admitted to the medical intensive care unit. Men were older (mean age, 45.6 vs 43.9 years; P < .01), and women required more benzodiazepines. Similar rates of complications occurred in both sexes, although women had a higher rate of pancreatitis and men had higher rates of pneumonia, higher rates of sepsis, and longer stays. Men and women with alcohol withdrawal syndrome have similar complications, courses, and intensive care unit admission rates, although men are more prone to pneumonia and have longer stays.

Lipase elevation on admission predicts worse clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19

Background and objectivesHyperlipasemia is highly prevalent among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of lipase activity, measured at the time of admission, on the clinical course and mortality in COVID-19 patients. MethodsThe population of this study comprised 12,139 patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 between June 2020 and June 2021 in a pandemic hospital. Of these, 8819 patients were excluded from the study due to missing data, four patients were excluded due to a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (according to the revised Atlanta criteria), and 72 patients were excluded due to alcohol use or having a history of chronic pancreatitis. The final study sample consisted of the remaining 3244 COVID-19 patients. Laboratory results, intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up periods, the need for mechanical ventilation, and mortality rates were compared between the normal lipase activity and high lipase activity groups. ResultsThere were 968 (29.8%) patients with high lipase activity at the time of admission. The rate of ICU admission was 36.1% vs. 9.9% (p < 0.001), mechanical ventilation requirement rates were 33.7% vs. 8.3% (p < 0.001), and mortality rates were as 24.6% vs. 6.4% (p < 0.001) in the high lipase activity group compared to the normal lipase activity group. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that high lipase activity was an independent factor in predicting mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients (odds ratio [OR]: 3.191, p < 0.001). ConclusionElevated lipase activity without acute pancreatitis at the time of admission in COVID-19 patients was determined as an independent predictor of poor prognosis.

Fetal Heart Tracing Patterns and the Outcomes of Newborns With Meconium-Stained Amniotic Fluid.

ObjectiveTo determine if the presence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) by itself or in combination with abnormal fetal heart tracing (FHT) (category II and III) is associated with poor neonatal outcomes in full-term newborns.Design/methodsThis is a retrospective cohort study. Cases included singleton and full-term neonates with MSAF. Cases were compared to matched controls (clear amniotic fluids) for the outcomes. SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0, Armonk, NY, USA) and SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) were used for data analysis.ResultsFrom 5512 deliveries, 210 cases (MSAF group) and 210 matched controls were identified. Cases and controls were similar in most maternal characteristics. Abnormal FHT was present in 43.2% of cases compared to 17.6% of controls (p<0.001). Low Apgar scores (<7) at one and five minutes were more common in the MSAF group (p=0.03 and 0.007, respectively). The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission rate was also higher in the MSAF group (p=0.002). However, the mean hospital stay was similar in both groups (p=0.44). Twenty-two (10.5%) cases required resuscitation at birth compared to six (2.9%) controls (p=0.003). After applying the logistic regression model to adjust for the FHT pattern and Apgar scores at one minute, the association of MSAF with resuscitation lost significance. The factors associated with resuscitation requirement at birth were Apgar score at one minute (adjusted odds ratios (aOR) 4.1; 95% CI 2.8-5.1, p<0.001) and abnormal FHTs (aOR, 0.03; 95% CI 0.004-0.257, p=0.001).ConclusionsNeonates born with MSAF were more likely to have abnormal FHT and require resuscitation at birth. However, after adjusting for confounding factors, abnormal FHT and one-minute Apgar scores were the only variables predictive of resuscitation needs at birth.

A Comparative Study of Maternal-Fetal Outcomes in Pregnant Women With Induction of Labor and Spontaneous Onset of Labor in a Rural Tertiary Care Center

OBJECTIVEThe present prospective observational study was conducted to study the incidence, indications, and outcomes of induction of labor in a tertiary care center.MATERIAL AND METHODThe study group of this prospective cross-sectional study was constituted by all term pregnant women underwent trial of labor. The whole study group was further subdivided in two groups, group 1: Was having all pregnant women with spontaneous onset of labor pains and group 2 was containing all pregnant women underwent induction of labor. For induction only prostaglandins (PGE1 25 microgram tablet and PGE2 gel) were used. The measure of outcome included assessment of the incidence of induction in term pregnant women, major indications of induction of labor, duration of labor, mode of delivery, intrapartum and postpartum maternal-fetal complications and duration of hospital stay. The study group included 3264 pregnant women and was differentiated into group 1 with 2,588 pregnant women and group 2 with 676 pregnant women.RESULTSThe incidence of induction was 20.71%. Major indications of induction were a fetus who was postdates, premature rupture of membranes, and preeclampsia. The average duration of the induction to delivery interval was 19.13 ± 15.14 hours (hrs.) and admission to delivery interval in the spontaneous labor group was 8.79 ± 07.18 hrs. The incidence of cesarean delivery was 19.52% in the induction group (gp2). Failed induction was the most common indication of lower segment cesarean section (CS). The incidence of CS was 15.99% in spontaneous group (gp1) and fetal distress was most common indication in this group. With this study, we found the importance of rest after the induction process was completed. During this watchful rest period, 51 pregnant women delivered vaginally. The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and neonatal death rate was more in group 1.CONCLUSIONThis study revealed that the incidence and indications of induction of labor among term pregnant women were similar to developed countries in spite of active physical life. The complication rate, operative intervention and hospital stay was more with induction group.

Use of an extended KDIGO definition to diagnose acute kidney injury in patients with COVID-19: A multinational study using the ISARIC-WHO clinical characterisation protocol.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most common and significant problems in patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, little is known about the incidence and impact of AKI occurring in the community or early in the hospital admission. The traditional Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) definition can fail to identify patients for whom hospitalisation coincides with recovery of AKI as manifested by a decrease in serum creatinine (sCr). We hypothesised that an extended KDIGO (eKDIGO) definition, adapted from the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) 0by25 studies, would identify more cases of AKI in patients with COVID-19 and that these may correspond to community-acquired AKI (CA-AKI) with similarly poor outcomes as previously reported in this population. All individuals recruited using the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC)-World Health Organization (WHO) Clinical Characterisation Protocol (CCP) and admitted to 1,609 hospitals in 54 countries with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection from February 15, 2020 to February 1, 2021 were included in the study. Data were collected and analysed for the duration of a patient's admission. Incidence, staging, and timing of AKI were evaluated using a traditional and eKDIGO definition, which incorporated a commensurate decrease in sCr. Patients within eKDIGO diagnosed with AKI by a decrease in sCr were labelled as deKDIGO. Clinical characteristics and outcomes-intensive care unit (ICU) admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital death-were compared for all 3 groups of patients. The relationship between eKDIGO AKI and in-hospital death was assessed using survival curves and logistic regression, adjusting for disease severity and AKI susceptibility. A total of 75,670 patients were included in the final analysis cohort. Median length of admission was 12 days (interquartile range [IQR] 7, 20). There were twice as many patients with AKI identified by eKDIGO than KDIGO (31.7% versus 16.8%). Those in the eKDIGO group had a greater proportion of stage 1 AKI (58% versus 36% in KDIGO patients). Peak AKI occurred early in the admission more frequently among eKDIGO than KDIGO patients. Compared to those without AKI, patients in the eKDIGO group had worse renal function on admission, more in-hospital complications, higher rates of ICU admission (54% versus 23%) invasive ventilation (45% versus 15%), and increased mortality (38% versus 19%). Patients in the eKDIGO group had a higher risk of in-hospital death than those without AKI (adjusted odds ratio: 1.78, 95% confidence interval: 1.71 to 1.80, p-value < 0.001). Mortality and rate of ICU admission were lower among deKDIGO than KDIGO patients (25% versus 50% death and 35% versus 70% ICU admission) but significantly higher when compared to patients with no AKI (25% versus 19% death and 35% versus 23% ICU admission) (all p-values <5 × 10-5). Limitations include ad hoc sCr sampling, exclusion of patients with less than two sCr measurements, and limited availability of sCr measurements prior to initiation of acute dialysis. An extended KDIGO definition of AKI resulted in a significantly higher detection rate in this population. These additional cases of AKI occurred early in the hospital admission and were associated with worse outcomes compared to patients without AKI.

Remdesivir treatment in hospitalized patients affected by COVID-19 pneumonia: A case-control study.

To date the optimal antiviral treatment against severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has not been proven; remdesivir is a promising drug with in vitro activity against several viruses, but in COVID‐19 the clinical results are currently not definitive. In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed the clinical outcomes (survival analysis, efficacy, and safety) in a group of hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 treated with remdesivir in comparison with a control group of patients treated with other antiviral or supportive therapies. We included 163 patients treated with remdesivir and 403 subjects in the control group; the baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups; the mortality rate was higher in the control group (24.8% vs. 2.4%, p < 0.001), the risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission was higher in the control group (17.8% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.008); hospitalization time was significantly lower in patients treated with remdesivir (9.5 vs. 12.5 days, p < 0.001). The safety of remdesivir was good and no significant adverse events were reported. In multivariate analysis, the remdesivir treatment was independently associated with a 34% lower mortality rate (odds ratio = 0.669; p = 0.014). In this analysis, the treatment with remdesivir was associated with lower mortality, lower rate of ICU admission, and shorter time of hospitalization. No adverse events were observed. This promising antiviral treatment should also be confirmed by other studies.

The Effects of COVID-19 on Patients with Acute Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate how COVID-19 affects patients with acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke outcome. Materials and methodsThis retrospective study was performed on adult patients (> 18 years old) with stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) who were admitted to hospital with or without COVID-19. The primary outcome was stroke-related disability, which was measured by mRS at baseline and discharge. Hospital duration, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality were considered the secondary outcomes. ResultsFrom February 2019 until August 2020, we recruited and analyzed 151 patients, 42 of whom had COVID-19 based on RT-PCR tests or lung CT scan findings. COVID-19 positive patients had higher baseline and final mRS scores than the control group (4.46 ± 0.67 vs 4.79 ± 0.61, P: 0.001, 3.83 ± 1.22 vs 4.46 ± 0.67, P: 0.001). Moreover, stroke patients with COVID-19 experienced a more severe disease and required a higher rate of ICU admission (17 vs 0, P:0.001) and longer hospitalization compared to those without COVID-19 (8.50 ± 7.86 vs 7.5 ± 11.20, P: 0.021). Also, mortality was higher in the COVID-19 group (19 vs 13, P:0.001). There was not any significant differences between the two groups in terms of the involvement of cerebral arteries and type of stroke. Male sex, COVID-19, and ICU admission were the main independent risk factors for death. ConclusionThe results of the study showed stroke patients (ischemic or hemorrhagic) with COVID-19 can have more disabilities and incur more hospital complications and mortality than non-COVID-19 patients.

Sledding Accidents at a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center Between 2006 and 2016.

Sledding is not a risk-free winter sport. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were an estimated 13,954 sledding accidents requiring medical care in 2010. However, specific information concerning pediatric injuries related to sledding is not well defined. This study aimed to identify the most common types of injuries associated with sledding accidents and demographic factors related to risk of injury in pediatric patients, and to compare injuries associated with 2 different age groups and sexes. This is a retrospective descriptive study of pediatric patients (<18 years of age) presenting to a regional level I pediatric trauma center secondary to a sledding injury between 2006 and 2016. Demographic information including sex, age, mechanism of injury, and injury severity score was captured and analyzed using descriptive statistics. There were 209 patients identified for 10 years. There were no mortalities. There were 85 patients with primary head injury, of which 82 (96.5%) were hospitalized and 33 (38.8%) required an intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Seventy-five patients primarily suffered from extremity injuries, of which 56 (74.6%) had lower extremity fractures requiring operative intervention. There was no difference in ICU or length of stay between younger children (0-11 years) and adolescents (12-18 years) or between male and female patients. Childhood sledding can result in a variety of significant injuries requiring surgical intervention and hospitalization. Children pulled on sleds behind motorized vehicles are at higher risk for more severe injuries resulting in a higher rate of ICU admission.

Predictors and prognostic impact of post-operative atrial fibrillation in patients with hip fracture surgery.

BACKGROUNDAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia developing in post-operative patients. Limited data are available regarding pre-operative risk factors and prognostic impact of post-operative AF (POAF) following hip fracture surgery (HFS) in Korean population. AIMWe aimed to investigate the incidence, predictors, and hospital prognosis of POAF in HFS patients. METHODSThis study included 245 patients without history of AF who underwent HFS between August 2014 and November 2016. POAF was defined as new-onset AF that occurred during hospitalization after HFS. RESULTSTwenty patients (8.2%) experienced POAF after HFS. POAF developed on median post-operative day 2 (interquartile range, 1–3). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age [odds ratio (OR), 1.111; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.022–1.209], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR, 6.352; 95%CI, 1.561–25.841) and E/e’ ratio (OR, 1.174; 95%CI, 1.002–1.376) were significant predictors of POAF. Patients with POAF had a significantly higher intensive care unit admission rate (55.0% vs 14.7%, P < 0.001) and incidence of congestive heart failure (45.0% vs 10.7%, P < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, POAF was significantly associated with increased incidence of congestive heart failure (OR, 4.856; 95%CI, 1.437–16.411) and intensive care unit admission (OR, 6.615; 95%CI, 2.112–20.718).CONCLUSIONPOAF was frequently developed in elderly patients following HFS. Age, COPD and elevated E/e’ ratio were found as significant predictors of POAF in HFS patients. Patients with POAF significantly experienced intensive care unit admission and incident congestive heart failure during hospitalization.

Effectiveness of Casirivimab-Imdevimab Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Among High-Risk Patients With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 B.1.617.2 (Delta Variant) Infection.

SummaryRetrospective analysis of the post–propensity score (PS)–matched cohort of 8426 outpatients balanced in clinical and demographic covariates showed that treatment with casirivimab-imdevimab monoclonal antibody was effective against the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant to reduce hospitalization, mortality, and intensive care unit admission rates within 30 days.BackgroundReal-world data on the effectiveness of neutralizing casirivimab-imdevimab monoclonal antibody (Cas-Imd mAb) against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among high-risk patients may inform the response to future SARS-CoV-2 variants.MethodsThis study covers an observational retrospective data analysis in Banner Health Care System sites, mainly in Arizona. During the study period, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant was between 95% and 100%. Of 29 635 patients who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between 1 August 2021 and 30 October 2021, in the Banner Health Care System, the study cohort was split into 4213 adult patients who received Cas-Imd mAb (1200 mg) treatment compared to a PS-matched 4213 untreated patients. The primary outcomes were the incidence of all-cause hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality within 30 days of Cas-Imd mAb administration or Delta variant infection.ResultsCompared to the PS-matched untreated cohort, the Cas-Imd mAb cohort had significantly lower all-cause hospitalization (4.2% vs 17.6%; difference in percentages, −13.4 [95% confidence interval {CI}, −14.7 to −12.0]; P < .001), ICU admission (0.3% vs 2.8%; difference, −2.4 [95% CI, −3.0 to −1.9]; P < .001), and mortality (0.2% vs 2.0%; difference, −1.8 [95% CI, −2.3 to −1.3]; P < .001) within 30 days. The Cas-Imd mAb treatment was associated with lower rate of hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR], 0.22 [95% CI, .19–.26]; P < .001) and mortality (HR, 0.11 [95% CI, .06–.21]; P < .001).ConclusionsCas-Imd mAb treatment was associated with a lower hospitalization rate, ICU admission, and mortality within 30 days among patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant.

A comparative study on analgesic and non-analgesic outcomes of inter pleural analgesia compared to thoracic epidural analgesia in open pancreatico-duodenectomy.

Backgrounds/AimsThoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is an established analgesic method in open Kausch-Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy (KWPD). Although, it can cause hemodynamic instability and neurological complications. Inter pleural analgesia (IPA) is an alternative option. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of IPA versus TEA after KWPD.MethodsWe retrospectively studied the efficacy of IPA against TEA in patients, operated by a single surgeon. The primary outcome was the analgesic efficacy and secondary outcomes were analgesia-related complications, inotrope use, and duration.ResultsForty patients (TEA, 22; IPA, 18) were included. Both groups were well matched for patient characteristics, type, and duration of surgery. TEA was associated with higher analgesia-related complications (n = 8, 36.4% vs. n = 1, 5.6%; p = 0.027). TEA complications included analgesia not working (n = 4), leakage (n = 2), refractory hemodynamic instability (n = 1), and lower limb anaesthesia (n = 1). One patient in the IPA group encountered leakage. TEA was associated with longer inotrope requirement (35 vs. 18 hours; p = 0.047). There was no significant difference in intensive care unit (ITU) admission rate (81.8% vs. 77.8%; p > 0.999), median ITU stay (3 vs. 2 days, p = 0.385), or hospital stay (11 days in both groups).ConclusionsIn open KWPD, IPA is not inferior to TEA in its efficacy of pain control. IPA was associated with less analgesia-related complications and shorter inotrope requirements. However, this was a small retrospective study. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to study the effectiveness of IPA.

Predictors of severe illness in children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a multicentre cohort study.

Background:SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). We sought to investigate risk factors for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and explored changes in disease severity over time.Methods:We obtained data from chart reviews of children younger than 18 years with confirmed or probable MIS-C who were admitted to 15 hospitals in Canada, Iran and Costa Rica between Mar. 1, 2020, and Mar. 7, 2021. Using multivariable analyses, we evaluated whether admission date and other characteristics were associated with ICU admission or cardiac involvement.Results:Of 232 children with MIS-C (median age 5.8 yr), 130 (56.0%) were male and 50 (21.6%) had comorbidities. Seventy-three (31.5%) patients were admitted to the ICU but none died. We observed an increased risk of ICU admission among children aged 13–17 years (adjusted risk difference 27.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.3% to 47.2%), those aged 6–12 years (adjusted risk difference 25.2%, 95% CI 13.6% to 36.9%) or those with initial ferritin levels greater than 500 μg/L (adjusted risk difference 18.4%, 95% CI 5.6% to 31.3%). Children admitted to hospital after Oct. 31, 2020, had numerically higher rates of ICU admission (adjusted risk difference 12.3%, 95% CI −0.3% to 25.0%) and significantly higher rates of cardiac involvement (adjusted risk difference 30.9%, 95% CI 17.3% to 44.4%). At Canadian sites, the risk of ICU admission was significantly higher for children admitted to hospital between December 2020 and March 2021 than those admitted between March and May 2020 (adjusted risk difference 25.3%, 95% CI 6.5% to 44.0%).Interpretation:We observed that age and higher ferritin levels were associated with more severe MIS-C. We observed greater severity of MIS-C later in the study period. Whether emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants pose different risks of severe MIS-C needs to be determined.

People with HIV have a higher risk of COVID‐19 diagnosis but similar outcomes to the general population

BackgroundWe investigated the effect of HIV on COVID‐19 outcomes with attention to selection bias due to differential testing and comorbidity burden.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort analysis using four hierarchical outcomes: positive SARS‐CoV‐2 test, COVID‐19 hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and hospital mortality. The effect of HIV status was assessed using traditional covariate‐adjusted, inverse probability‐weighted (IPW) analysis based on covariate distributions for testing bias (testing IPWs), HIV infection status (HIV‐IPWs) and combined models. Among people living with HIV (PWH), we evaluated whether CD4 count and HIV plasma viral load (pVL) discriminated between those who did and those who did not develop study outcomes using receiver operating characteristic analysis.ResultsBetween March and November 2020, 63 319 people were receiving primary care services at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), of whom 4017 were PWH. The PWH had 2.1 times the odds of a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 test compared with those without HIV after weighting for potential testing bias, comorbidity burden and HIV‐IPW [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6–2.8]. Relative to people without HIV, PWH did not have an increased rate of COVID‐19 hospitalization after controlling for comorbidities and testing bias [adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.1–1.4]. PWH did not have a different rate of ICU admission (aIRR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.31–3.80) or of in‐hospital death (aIRR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.08–10.94) in any examined model. Neither CD4 count nor pVL predicted any of the hierarchical outcomes among PWH.ConclusionsPeople living with HIV have a higher risk of COVID‐19 diagnosis than those without HIV but the outcomes are similar in both groups.

High-flow nasal cannula oxygen in patients with haematological malignancy: a retrospective observational study.

Patients with haematological malignancies (HM) face high rates of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality. High-flow nasal cannula oxygen (HFNCO) is increasingly used to support HM patients in ward settings, but there is limited evidence on the safety and efficacy of HFNCO in this group. We retrospectively reviewed all HM patients receiving ward-based HFNCO, supervised by a critical care outreach service (CCOS), from January 2014 to January 2019. We included 130 consecutive patients. Forty-three (33.1%) were weaned off HFNCO without ICU admission. Eighty-seven (66.9%) were admitted to ICU, 20 (23.3%) required non-invasive and 34 (39.5%) invasive mechanical ventilation. ICU and hospital mortality were 42% and 55% respectively. Initial FiO2 < 0.4 (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.09-0.81, p = 0.019) and HFNCO use on the ward > 1day (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.04, 0.59, p = 0.006) were associated with reduced likelihood for ICU admission. Invasive ventilation was associated with reduced survival (OR 0.27, 95%CI 0.1-0.7, p = 0.007). No significant adverse events were reported. HM patients receiving ward-based HFNCO have higher rates of ICU admission, but comparable hospital mortality to those requiring CCOS review without respiratory support. Results should be interpreted cautiously, as the model proposed depends on the existence of CCOS.

Association between Stress Hyperglycemia and Adverse Outcomes in Children Visiting the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Stress hyperglycemia (SH) is often identified in patients visiting the pediatric emergency department (PED), and SH in adults has been associated with adverse outcomes, including mortality. In this retrospective study, we determined the adverse outcomes according to blood glucose (BG) levels of children visiting the PED of tertiary hospitals. Data were collected from the electronic medical records of children aged <18 years between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2020. A total of 44,905 visits were included in the analysis. SH was identified in 1506 patients, with an incidence rate of 3.4%. Compared to those without SH, patients with SH had significantly higher ward admission rates (52.6% vs. 35.9%, p < 0.001), intensive care unit admission rates (2.6% vs. 0.7%, p < 0.001), and mortality rates (2.7% vs. 0.3%, p < 0.001). Compared to the normoglycemic group of 45 ≤ BG < 150 mg/dL, the odds ratios (95% CI) for mortality were 5.61 (3.35–9.37), 27.96 (14.95–52.26), 44.22 (17.03–114.82), and 39.94 (16.31–97.81) for levels 150 ≤ BG < 200, 200 ≤ BG < 250, 250 ≤ BG < 300 and ≥300 mg/dL, respectively. This suggests that SH is common in children visiting the PED and is associated with higher adverse outcomes. Thus, there is a need to quickly identify its cause and take prompt intervention to resolve it.

Planning for the Worst: The impact of a comprehensive, risk associated treatment protocol on unanticipated ICU admissions in patients affected by rib fractures

BackgroundThere is no agreed upon triage criteria to identify traumatic rib fracture patients at the highest risk for decline. We developed a comprehensive triage tool that assigns patients to high, moderate, and low risk categories. The primary outcome of our study was to evaluate unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. MethodsWe conducted a single-center, retrospective review at our level 1 trauma center comparing two cohorts of patients (≥18 years of age) six months before and after implementation of our risk-associated rib fracture protocol. ResultsAfter implementation of the risk-associated rib fracture protocol, the unplanned ICU admission rate decreased from 6.60% (PRE) to 2.60% (POST) (p = 0.014). ConclusionsImplementation of our rib fracture protocol demonstrates that a comprehensive triage tool with a cascading risk associated treatment plan reduces in-hospital clinical decline of patients with traumatic rib fractures, as measured by unplanned ICU admissions.