Intensive Care Unit Mortality Research Articles

Cefiderocol in Difficult-to-Treat Nf-GNB in ICU Settings

BackgroundThe efficacy and safety of cefiderocol in ICU patients with difficult-to-treat resistance (DTR) non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria (Nf-GNB) are not as well-established. Consequently, we conducted a cohort study to compare Cefiderocol with the Best Available Therapy (BAT) in ICU patients.MethodsWe included adult patients from 9 different ICUs, including a burn ICU unit, from 2019 to 2023 treated with Cefiderocol for DTR Nf-GNB isolated from the blood or lungs. We matched each patient at a 1:2 ratio based on the same DTR Nf-GBN isolated pathogen, and when possible, within the same type of ICU (burn unit or not). The primary endpoint of the study was the clinical cure at 15 days, with secondary endpoints including clinical cure at 30 days, relapse, and in-ICU mortality. For each outcome, adjusted odds ratios were estimated using bidirectional stepwise regression in a final model, which included 13 preselected confounders.ResultsWe included 27 patients with cefiderocol, matched with 54 patients receiving the BAT. Four patients were not exactly matched on the type of ICU unit. Characteristics were comparable between groups, mostly male with a Charlson Comorbidity Index of 3 [1–5], and 28% had immunosuppression. Cefiderocol patients were most likely to have higher number of antibiotic lines. The main DTR Nf-GNB identified was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (81.5%), followed by Acinetobater baumanii (14.8%) and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (3.7%). Pneumonia was the identified infection in 21 (78.8%) patients in the Cefiderocol group and in 51 (94.4%) patients in the BAT group (p = 0.054). Clinical cure at 15 and 30-day and the in-ICU mortality was comparable between groups, however relapse was higher in the cefiderocol group (8-29.6% vs. 4-7.4%;aOR 10.06[1.96;51.53])ConclusionCefiderocol did not show an improvement in clinical cure or mortality rates compared to BAT in the treatment of DTR Nf-GNB, but it was associated with a higher relapse rate.

Antibiotic regimens tailored by clinical pharmacist supported by intensivist enhance rational use of antibiotics

ABSTRACT Background High antibiotics utility rates have been observed in surgical intensive care units (SICU). The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of engaging a clinical pharmacist in SICU on rational use of antibiotic treatment. Methods This retrospective quasi-experimental experiment involved 505 patients, over a period of one year, admitted to emergency department surgical/trauma ICU of a large tertiary care hospital. Before and during pharmacist participation periods of six months, 226 and 153 patients, respectively, are compared. Results Antibiotics consumption pattern changed with a decrease in total antibiotic consumption from 101.42 to 94.1 Defined Daily Dose/100 patients’ days after the clinical pharmacist participation, in addition to, a statistically significant rise (p = 0.001) in percentage of appropriateness of the prescribed antibiotic therapy from 72.1% to 86.3%. Time to control infection (days) was not statistically different (p = 0.825) in both periods. The average ICU days of stay was statistically significant longer (p = 0.046) during pharmacist attendance (4.42 ± 5.61) in comparison with period without pharmacist attendance (3.31 ± 3.66). The difference in ICU mortality rate was not statistically significance (p = 0.217). Cost per stay increased by 65% during pharmacist intervention period. Conclusions Antibiotic management with pharmacist participation as a part of multidisciplinary team with intensivist can promote rate of the appropriateness of the prescribed antibiotic therapy, lower utility of antibiotic consumption, but with a longer ICU stay, no mortality reduction, and higher expenses per stay. Trial Registry ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04931914.

The use of antibiotics in the early stage of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients without obvious signs of infection: a multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled study

IntroductionChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease with high prevalence and mortality. In some acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) in patients with no obvious signs of infection, early antibiotic treatment seems to clinically improve the disease, but more studies are needed to determine the prognostic impact of antibiotic treatment in AECOPD patients with no obvious signs of infection.PurposeTo clarify the impact of antibiotic treatment on the short-term and long-term prognoses of AECOPD patients without obvious signs of infection.MethodsThe impact of the two treatment methods on the prognosis of patients was compared at 30, 90, 180, and 360 days after discharge. A multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled clinical trial was conducted in a department of respiratory and critical care medicine in Central China. All patients met the inclusion criteria for AECOPD, and the patients were randomly assigned to the antibiotic group or the nonantibiotic group at a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the antibiotic group were given moxifloxacin 400 mg/day intravenously for 7 days. Patients in the nonantibiotic group were intravenously injected with the same amount of normal saline as the amount of moxifloxacin given to those in the antibiotic group for 7 days.ResultsThere were 406 patients in the antibiotic group and 410 patients in the nonantibiotic group. During the short-term and long-term follow-ups, the acute exacerbation frequency, intensive care unit (ICU) treatment rate, mortality, and mMRC and CAT scores were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). At the 180- and 360-day follow-ups, the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). The 30-day readmission rate was significantly lower in the antibiotic group than in the nonantibiotic group (p < 0.05). The time from discharge to the first acute exacerbation was not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). The length of the first hospital stay after discharge was significantly lower in the antibiotic group (5.84 days) than in the nonantibiotic group (6.75 days) (p < 0.05). At the 30-day follow-up, the acute exacerbation frequency, age, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and sputum viscosity were significantly greater in the nonantibiotic group than in the antibiotic group (p < 0.05). In addition, according to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the frequency of acute exacerbations at the 30-day follow-up was significantly greater in COPD patients aged >62.5 years, with a CRP level >12.56 mg/L or with a sputum viscosity >III, in the nonantibiotic group than in those in the antibiotic group, suggesting that the short-term prognosis was poor.ConclusionPatients who are >62.5 years of age, have a CRP concentration >12.56 mg/L, or have a sputum viscosity >III without obvious signs of infection should be treated with antibiotics to improve their short-term prognosis.Clinical Trial Registration:(https://www.chictr.org.cn), (ChiCTR1800018921)

Clinical impact of a cardiac intensivist in an adult cardiac care unit from the RESCUE registry

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None. Purpose Dedicated intensive care unit (ICU) physician staffing is assocated with a reduction in ICU mortality rates in general medical and surgical ICUs. However, limited data area available on the role of cardiac intensivist in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). We investigated the association of cardiac intensivist-directed care with clinical outcomes in adult patients admitted to the CICU. Methods The SMART-RESCUE study is a multicenter, retrospective and prosective registry of patients that presented witth cardiogenic shock (CS). Between January 2014 and December 2018, 1,247 patients with CS were enrolled from 12 major centers in Korea. The study population was divided into 2 groups, according to the presence of a cardiac intensivist. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Results THe analysis with SMART-RESCUE registry included 1,247 patients with CS (n=552 in the group with cardiac intensivist and n=695 in the group without cardiac intensivist) (Table 1). The in-hospital survival rate was significant higher in the group with intensivist than that in the group without intensivist (72.1% vs 59.2%, p < 0.001) (Figure 1). Cardiac intensive care with cardiac intensivist was associated with a reduction in risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio for in hospital death, 0.53; 95% confidence interval: 0.401 to 0.704; p < 0.001). Survival analysis also revealed significantly higher death free survival in te group with intensitivst. In multivariable analysis, cardiac intensivist, chronic kidney disease, ECMO-cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ST elevation myocardial infarction presentation and vasotrope-inotrope score were selected to be significant prognostic predictors for death in the CICU. Concluison: The presence of a dedicated cardiac intensivist was associated with a reduction in hospital mortality rates in patients with cardiovascular disease who required critical care.

What if youth is not enough? Acute coronary syndrome in young patients

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None. Background Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) are the leading cause of mortality in Spain. Further research is needed in order to know risk factors and outcomes in young patients so that medicians could optimize their management and prevention. Purpose Identifying risk factors, clinical characteristics and short-term outcomes in Acute Coronary Syndrome in patients aged 40 and under. Methods A retrospective analysis of patients under 40 years of age who were admitted for ACS, out of 3,859 ACS admissions in Cardiology Intensive Care Unit (CICU) in our hospital between 2012 and 2022. Results 67 patients (1.73%) were included, most of them were males (83.6%). Baseline characteristics are summarized in Table 1. 77.6% had hypertension (HTA), 22.4% had diabetes (DM) and 34.3% had dyslipidemia (DLP). 79.1% were smokers, 9.1% had a history of alcoholism and 29.9% were cocaine users. None of them had a history of stroke, atrial fibrillation (AF). Only 3% had ischemic heart disease. 68.7% of them were ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and inferior STEMI was the most common (38.7%). In anterior STEMI (22 patients), 15 had a severe lesion in the mid-left anterior descending artery (LAD), and 6 in the left main stem (LM). Single-vessel disease was the most common (70.8%), with 3-vessel disease in 4.6%. 75.8% received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and 3% underwent bypass surgery. During admission, 10.5% progressed to Killip class III-IV. The ICU mortality was 1.5%. 9% received vasoactive drugs and 4.5% were intubated. Non-invasive ventilation was used in 3% and high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in 5.3%. 3% received intra-aortic balloon pump support and 1.5% underwent dialysis or ultrafiltration. 4.5% received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), although none of them developed bundle branch block or atrioventricular node block, nor AF. After discharge, 11.1% had recurrent ACS, and up to 5.6% underwent PCI again, with a mortality rate of 11.8%. Conclusion Approximately 2% of ACS occur in people younger than 40 years of age. Substance abuse (smoking, cocaine and alcoholism) becomes more prevalent in this group. Prevalence of comorbidities (such as diabetes and nephropathy) are lower, making them less prone to short-term heart failure. However, they are more susceptible to recurrent ischemic events. There is a high incidence of inferior STEMI and LM-STEMI. For these reasons, medicians may need to find out a substance abuse in this group and further research into other risk factors, such as coronary disease family history.Basal characteristicsClinical evolution of patients

Cardiogenic shock in general intensive care unit: a nationwide prospective analysis of epidemiology and outcome

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements None. Background Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a heterogenous, life-threatening disease burdened by a mortality up to 50%. An increasing incidence of the CS related to other etiological causes, including acute decompensated heart failure, has been reported. However, most of the epidemiological data are derived from patients admitted to dedicated acute cardiac care units. Epidemiology and management of CS patients admitted to general intensive care unit (ICU) in Italy is yet unexplored. Purpose To describe the epidemiology, patients feature, management and outcome of CS patients admitted to Italian general ICUs. Methods Prospective multicentric epidemiological study. Over 600 thousand patients admitted to 316 hundred Italian general intensive care units from 2011 to 2018 were screened trough PROSAFE software. The Margherita PROSAFE project is an observational project for the continuous electronic collection of data on patients admitted to ICUs; it is developed by the GiViTI (Gruppo italiano per la valutazione degli interventi in terapia intensiva - Italian Group for the Evaluation of Interventions in Intensive Care Medicine). The primary outcome of the analysis was hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included description of patients features and management. Results 11661 patients (72.1±12.1 years old.; 39.5% women) with a diagnosis of CS were included in the analysis. ICU and in-hospital mortality were respectively 45.5 % and 53.9%. Highest mortality was observed for pulmonary embolism (58.4%), right heart failure (56.3%) and acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) (44.2%). 46.9% of patients presented with more than 3 organ failure (panel A). CS commonest aetiologies were ADHF (63,3%), acute myocardial infarction (19.8%) and right heart failure (11%). Invasive mechanical ventilation was used in the 88.6% of cases. Intra-aortic balloon pump was placed in 15.2%, with higher frequency in ischemic aetiologies (43.9%) and ADHF (13.7%); VA-ECMO was most frequently placed in the right heart failure (3.7%) and acute myocardial infarction (2.6%) groups. The factors independently associated with increased hospital mortality were increasing age (p <0.001), lower Glasgow coma scale (p <0.001), hypoxemia (PaO2 <100, OR: 1.91; 95% Cl: 1.58 – 2.3; p <0.001), bradycardia (OR: 1.84; 95% Cl: 1.49 – 2.26; p <0.001), hypotension (OR: 1.27; 95% Cl: 1.12 – 1.43; p <0.001), bilirubin above 12 mg/dl (OR: 7.90; 95% Cl: 2.56 – 24.3), increased creatinine (p <0.001) and reduced platelets (<50000 U/mL, OR: 2.43; 95% Cl: 1.78 – 3.31; p <0.001) (panel B). Curiously, in the predictive model a BMI above normal values was protective as well as tachycardia compared to severe bradycardia (panel C). Conclusions The etiology of CS in general intensive care units is heterogeneous with acute heart failure being the commonest. The mortality rate remains unacceptably high with right heart failure and acute heart failure being burden by the worst outcome.

The Effect of Implementation of the National Early Warning Scoring System 2 on the Outcomes of COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients

Abstract Introduction It is crucial to have tools to predict the clinical deterioration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. We aimed to study the efficacy of the National Early Warning Scoring System (NEWS2) application in predicting the risk of clinical relapse and outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients at Palestinian specialized centers for COVID-19. Patients and Methods A quasi-experimental design was applied. A sample of 384 adult patients was divided into two groups. For the pre-NEWS phase (control group) and the post-NEWS phase (study group), all study participants were observed until death or hospital discharge. Results Comparing the pre-NEWS phase with the post-NEWS phase, a significant decrease was found in the mean length of hospital stay from 8.1 ± 5.5 to 6.4 ± 5.3 days (p = 0.002) and a reduction in the mortality rate from 19.8% during the pre-NEWS phase to 12.5% during the post-NEWS phase (p = 0.071). The predictive value of NEWS was an excellent predictor of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), as indicated by an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.91 (95% confidence interval: 0.87–0.96, p < 0.001). Also, a significant difference in the frequency of monitoring patients' vital signs was observed between the control group (pre-NEWS phase) and the study group (post-NEWS phase) following clinical deterioration (10.1 ± 7.8 [pre-NEWS phase] vs. 23.4 ± 0.7 [post-NEWS phase], p < 0.001). Conclusion Implementation of NEWS2 showed a significant improvement in hospitalized COVID-19 patient outcomes (length of stay, predicted ICU admissions, mortality rate, and frequency of vital signs measurements), which indirectly raised the follow-up of those patients by the medical team and attributed to a significant prediction of their deterioration.

Clinical characteristics and the prognostic impact of acute kidney injury in critically ill patients with invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis in the intensive care unit: A retrospective, single-center study

Introduction: The incidence and impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) are unknown. Methods: This retrospective study included 140 patients who were diagnosed IPA and admitted to the medical ICU of China–Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing, China. AKI was defined according to the kidney disease improving global outcomes guidelines. Data on demographic characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory tests, treatments, and prognosis at ICU admission were collected. Results: The rate of AKI was 71.4% (n = 100), and approximately 30% of the patients had preadmission acute kidney dysfunction. Of the 100 patients with AKI, 19, 8, and 73 patients had stage I, II, and III AKI, respectively, and 64 (87.6%) patients required continuous renal replacement therapy. Overall ICU mortality rate was 52.1%. Irreversible AKI was a strong independent risk factor for ICU mortality (odds ratio 13.36, 95% confidence interval 4.52–39.48, p < 0.001), followed by chronic lung disease, use of intermittent positive-pressure ventilation, and long-term corticosteroid treatment within 1 year prior to ICU admission. Higher cardiac troponin I levels at admission and worse volume control during the first 7 days of ICU stay were potential predictive factors of irreversible kidney dysfunction. Patients with irreversible AKI and those who died during the ICU stay had greater volume overload during the first 14 days of ICU stay. Patients who survived received earlier renal replacement therapy support after ICU admission compared to those who died (median, 2 vs. 5 days; p = 0.026). Conclusion: Compared to the patients with IPA in the absence of AKI, those with AKI presented with more volume overload, worse disease burden, and required stronger respiratory support, while experiencing worse prognosis. Irreversible AKI was a strong predictor of mortality in patients with critical IPA. Better volume control and earlier CRRT initiation should be considered key points in AKI management and prognostic improvement.

Personalized mechanical ventilation guided by ultrasound in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (PEGASUS): study protocol for an international randomized clinical trial

BackgroundAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a frequent cause of hypoxemic respiratory failure with a mortality rate of approximately 30%. Identifying ARDS subphenotypes based on “focal” or “non-focal” lung morphology has the potential to better target mechanical ventilation strategies of individual patients. However, classifying morphology through chest radiography or computed tomography is either inaccurate or impractical. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a non-invasive bedside tool that can accurately distinguish “focal” from “non-focal” lung morphology. We hypothesize that LUS-guided personalized mechanical ventilation in ARDS patients leads to a reduction in 90-day mortality compared to conventional mechanical ventilation.MethodsThe Personalized Mechanical Ventilation Guided by UltraSound in Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (PEGASUS) study is an investigator-initiated, international, randomized clinical trial (RCT) that plans to enroll 538 invasively ventilated adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients with moderate to severe ARDS. Eligible patients will receive a LUS exam to classify lung morphology as “focal” or “non-focal”. Thereafter, patients will be randomized within 12 h after ARDS diagnosis to receive standard care or personalized ventilation where the ventilation strategy is adjusted to the morphology subphenotype, i.e., higher positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and recruitment maneuvers for “non-focal” ARDS and lower PEEP and prone positioning for “focal” ARDS. The primary endpoint is all-cause mortality at day 90. Secondary outcomes are mortality at day 28, ventilator-free days at day 28, ICU length of stay, ICU mortality, hospital length of stay, hospital mortality, and number of complications (ventilator-associated pneumonia, pneumothorax, and need for rescue therapy). After a pilot phase of 80 patients, the correct interpretation of LUS images and correct application of the intervention within the safe limits of mechanical ventilation will be evaluated.DiscussionPEGASUS is the first RCT that compares LUS-guided personalized mechanical ventilation with conventional ventilation in invasively ventilated patients with moderate and severe ARDS. If this study demonstrates that personalized ventilation guided by LUS can improve the outcomes of ARDS patients, it has the potential to shift the existing one-size-fits-all ventilation strategy towards a more individualized approach.Trial registrationThe PEGASUS trial was registered before the inclusion of the first patient, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ (ID: NCT05492344).

Indirect calorimetry directed feeding and cycling in the older ICU population: a pilot randomised controlled trial

BackgroundOlder critically ill patients experience rapid muscle loss during stay in an intensive care unit (ICU) due to physiological stress and increased catabolism. This may lead to increased ICU length of stay, delayed weaning from ventilation and persistent functional limitations. We hypothesized that with optimal nutrition and early physical therapy acting in synergism, we can reduce muscle mass loss and improve functional outcomes.MethodsThis was a prospective, single blinded randomized, controlled single-center pilot study to compare the lean muscle mass (measured at bilateral quadriceps femoris using ultrasound) of older ICU patients at 4 time points over 14 days between the control and intervention groups. The control group received standard weight-based empiric feeding and standard ICU physiotherapy. The intervention group received indirect calorimetry directed feeding adjusted daily and 60 min per day of cycle ergometry. 21 patients were recruited and randomized with 11 patients in the control arm and 10 patients in the intervention arm. Secondary outcome measures included ICU and hospital mortality, length of stay, functional assessments of mobility and assessment of strength.ResultsMedian age was 64 in the control group and 66 in the intervention group. Median calories achieved was 24.5 kcal/kg per day in the control group and 23.3 kcal/kg per day in the intervention group. Cycle ergometry was applied to patients in the intervention group for a median of 60 min a day and a patient had a median of 8.5 sessions in 14 days. Muscle mass decreased by a median of 4.7cm2 in the right quadriceps femoris in the control group and 1.8cm2 in the intervention group (p = 0.19), while the left quadriceps femoris decreased by 1.9cm2 in the control group and 0.1cm2 in the intervention group (p = 0.51).ConclusionIn this pilot study, we found a trend towards decrease muscle loss in bilateral quadriceps femoris with our combined interventions. However, it did not reach statistical significance likely due to small number of patients recruited in the study. However, we conclude that the intervention is feasible and potentially beneficial and may warrant a larger scale study to achieve statistical significance.Trial RegistrationThis study was registered on Clinicaltrials.gov on 30th May 2018 with identifier NCT03540732.

Effect of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Severe COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, vitamin D has attracted interest due to its immunomodulatory properties. Numerous studies show a correlation between vitamin D levels and COVID-19 cases and mortality. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis in order to assess the relationship between vitamin D3 supplementation and COVID-19 severity. We included 13 randomized clinical trials that contained the analyzed endpoints: length of COVID-19 hospitalization, number of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, length of stay in the ICU, number of cases requiring any supplemental oxygenation, duration of any supplemental oxygenation, number of overall mortality and number of deaths associated with COVID-19. The relative risk with 95% confidence interval (CI) and the mean difference with 95% CI were calculated to compare the effect. A random effects model was used to calculate effect sizes. Our meta-analysis showed a positive effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on ICU admission (RR = 0.73; 95% CI [0.57; 0.95], p = 0.02, I2 = 19.6%) and mortality associated with COVID-19 among patients (RR = 0.56; 95% CI [0.34; 0.91]; p = 0.02; I2 = 0%). Vitamin D3 supplementation may potentially reduce the risk of ICU admission and death associated with COVID-19.

Golf cart injuries have similar severity to all-terrain vehicle injuries in children: a multicenter comparison over a 5-year period

BackgroundGolf carts (GCs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are popular forms of personal transport. Although ATVs are considered adventurous and dangerous, GCs are perceived to be safer. Anecdotal experience suggests increasing...

Blood RNA Biomarkers Identify Bacterial and Biofilm Coinfections in COVID-19 Intensive Care Patients.

Purpose: Secondary opportunistic coinfections are a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, but can be difficult to identify. Presently, new blood RNA biomarkers were tested in ICU patients to diagnose viral, bacterial, and biofilm coinfections. Methods: COVID-19 ICU patients had whole blood drawn in RNA preservative and stored at -80°C. Controls and subclinical infections were also studied. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) quantified 6 RNA biomarkers of host neutrophil activation to bacterial (DEFA1), biofilm (alkaline phosphatase [ALPL], IL8RB/CXCR2), and viral infections (IFI27, RSAD2). Viral titer in blood was measured by ddPCR for SARS-CoV2 (SCV2). Results: RNA biomarkers were elevated in ICU patients relative to controls. DEFA1 and ALPL RNA were significantly higher in severe versus incidental/moderate cases. SOFA score was correlated with white blood cell count (0.42), platelet count (-0.41), creatinine (0.38), and lactate dehydrogenase (0.31). ALPL RNA (0.59) showed the best correlation with SOFA score. IFI27 (0.52) and RSAD2 (0.38) were positively correlated with SCV2 viral titer. Overall, 57.8% of COVID-19 patients had a positive RNA biomarker for bacterial or biofilm infection. Conclusions: RNA biomarkers of host neutrophil activation indicate the presence of bacterial and biofilm coinfections in most COVID-19 patients. Recognizing coinfections may help to guide the treatment of ICU patients.

Practice and Predictors of Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders in a Tertiary-Care Intensive Care Unit in Saudi Arabia

Introduction. The objective of this study was to describe Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) practices in a tertiary-care intensive care unit (ICU) in Saudi Arabia, and determine the predictors and outcomes of patients who had DNR orders. Methods. This retrospective cohort study was based on a prospectively collected database for a medical-surgicalIntensive CareDepartment in a tertiary-care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (1999–2017). We compared patients who had DNR orders during the ICU stay with those with “full code.” The primary outcome was hospital mortality. The secondary outcomes included ICU mortality, tracheostomy, duration of mechanical ventilation, and length of stay in the ICU and hospital. Results. Among 24790 patients admitted to the ICU over the 19-year study period, 3217 (13%) had DNR orders during the ICU stay. Compared to patients with “full code,” patients with DNR orders were older (median 67 years [Q1, Q3: 55, 76] versus 57 years [Q1, Q3: 33, 71], p<0.0001), were more likely to be females (43% versus 38%, p<0.0001), had worse premorbid functional status (WHO performance status scores 4-5: 606[18.9%] versus 1894[8.8%], p<0.0001), higher prevalence of comorbid conditions, and higher APACHE II score (median 28 [Q1, Q3: 23, 34] versus 19 [Q1, Q3: 13, 25], p<0.0001) and were more likely to be mechanically ventilated (83% versus 55%, p<0.0001). Patients had DNR orders were more likely to die in the ICU (67.8% versus 8.5%, p<0.0001) and hospital (82.4% versus 18.1%, p<0.0001). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, the following were associated with an increased likelihood of DNR status: increasing age (odds ratio (OR) 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.02), higher APACHE II score (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.08–1.10), and worse WHO performance status score. Patients admitted in recent years (2012–2017 versus 2002–2005) were less likely to have DNR orders (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.32–0.39, p<0.0001). Patients with DNR orders had higher ICU mortality, more tracheostomies, longer duration of mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay compared to patients with with “full code” but they had shorter length of hospital stay. Conclusion. In a tertiary-care hospital in Saudi Arabia, 13% of critically ill patients had DNR orders during ICU stay. This study identified several predictors of DNR orders, including the severity of illness and poor premorbid functional status.

Hemorrhage and thrombosis in COVID-19-patients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: an international study based on the COVID-19 critical care consortium

BackgroundExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a rescue therapy in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to COVID-19. While bleeding and thrombosis complicate ECMO, these events may also occur secondary to COVID-19. Data regarding bleeding and thrombotic events in COVID-19 patients on ECMO are sparse.MethodsUsing the COVID-19 Critical Care Consortium database, we conducted a retrospective analysis on adult patients with severe COVID-19 requiring ECMO, including centers globally from 01/2020 to 06/2022, to determine the risk of ICU mortality associated with the occurrence of bleeding and clotting disorders.ResultsAmong 1,248 COVID-19 patients receiving ECMO support in the registry, coagulation complications were reported in 469 cases (38%), among whom 252 (54%) experienced hemorrhagic complications, 165 (35%) thrombotic complications, and 52 (11%) both. The hazard ratio (HR) for Intensive Care Unit mortality was higher in those with hemorrhagic-only complications than those with neither complication (adjusted HR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.28–1.99, p < 0.001). Death was reported in 617 of the 1248 (49.4%) with multiorgan failure (n = 257 of 617 [42%]), followed by respiratory failure (n = 130 of 617 [21%]) and septic shock [n = 55 of 617 (8.9%)] the leading causes.ConclusionsCoagulation disorders are frequent in COVID-19 ARDS patients receiving ECMO. Bleeding events contribute substantially to mortality in this cohort. However, this risk may be lower than previously reported in single-nation studies or early case reports.Trial registration ACTRN12620000421932 (https://covid19.cochrane.org/studies/crs-13513201).

Predictive performance of two types of urinary biomarkers for renal non-recovery in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury: a prospective observational study

Background and purposeRenal non-recovery is known to have negative prognostic implications in patients suffering from acute kidney injury (AKI). Nevertheless, the identification of biomarkers for predicting renal non-recovery in sepsis-associated AKI (SA-AKI) within clinical settings remains unresolved. This study aims to evaluate and compare the predictive ability for renal non-recovery, use of kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 30-day mortality after SA-AKI by two urinary biomarkers, namely C-C motif chemokine ligand 14 (CCL14) and [TIMP-2]•[IGFBP7].MethodsWe prospectively screened adult patients who met the criteria for AKI stage 2–3 and Sepsis-3.0 in two ICUs from January 2019 to May 2022. Patients who developed new-onset SA-AKI after ICU admission were enrolled and urinary biomarkers including [TIMP-2]•[IGFBP7] and CCL14 were detected at the time of SA-AKI diagnosis. The primary endpoint was non-recovery from SA-AKI within 7 days. The secondary endpoints were the use of KRT in the ICU and 30-day mortality after SA-AKI. The individual discriminative ability of [TIMP-2]•[IGFBP7] and CCL14 to predict renal non-recovery were evaluated by the area under receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC).Results141 patients with stage 2–3 SA-AKI were finally included, among whom 54 (38.3%) experienced renal non-recovery. Urinary CCL14 exhibited a higher predictive capability for renal non-recovery compared to [TIMP-2]•[IGFBP7], with CCL14 showing an AUC of 0.901, versus an AUC of 0.730 for [TIMP-2]•[IGFBP7] (P = 0.001). Urinary CCL14 and [TIMP-2]•[IGFBP7] demonstrated a moderate predictive value for the need for KRT in ICU, with AUC values of 0.794 and 0.725, respectively; The AUC of [TIMP-2]•[IGFBP7] combined with CCL14 reached up to 0.816. Urinary CCL14 and [TIMP-2]•[IGFBP7] exhibited poor predictive power for 30-day mortality, with respective AUC values of 0.623 and 0.593.ConclusionUrinary CCL14 had excellent predictive value for renal non-recovery in SA-AKI patients. For predicting the use of KRT in the ICU, the predictive capability of urinary [TIMP-2]•[IGFBP7] or CCL14 was fair. However, a combination of [TIMP-2]•[IGFBP7] and CCL14 showed good predictive ability for the use of KRT.

Assessing glycemic variability in critically ill patients: A prospective cohort study comparing insulin infusion therapy with insulin sliding scale

Glycemic variability (GV) has been associated with an increased mortality rate among critically ill patients. The clinical outcomes of having less GV even with slight hyperglycemia are better than those having tight glycemic control but higher GV. Insulin infusion remains the preferred method to control stress hyperglycemia in critically ill patients. However, its impacts on GV and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients still need further investigation. This study intended to evaluate the impact of insulin infusion therapy (IIT) compared to the insulin sliding scale (ISS) on the extent of GV and explore its impact on the clinical outcomes for critically ill patients. A prospective, single-center observational cohort study was conducted at a tertiary academic hospital in Saudi Arabia between March 2021 and November 2021. The study included adult patients admitted to ICUs who received insulin for stress hyperglycemia management. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the regimen of insulin therapy during ICU stay (IIT versus ISS). The primary outcome was the GV between the two groups. Secondary outcomes were ICU mortality, the incidence of hypoglycemia, and ICU length of stay (LOS). A total of 381 patients were screened; out of them, eighty patients met the eligibility criteria. The distribution of patients having diabetes and a history of insulin use was similar between the two groups. The GV was lower in the IIT group compared to the ISS group using CONGA (− 0.65, 95% CI [− 1.16, − 0.14], p-value = 0.01). Compared with ISS, patients who received IIT had a lower incidence of hypoglycemia that required correction (6.8% vs 2.77%; p-value = 0.38). In contrast, there were no significant differences in ICU LOS and ICU mortality between the two groups. Our study demonstrated that the IIT is associated with decreased GV significantly in critically ill patients without increasing the incidence of severe hypoglycemia. There is no survival benefit with the use of the IIT. Further studies with larger sample size are required to confirm our findings and elaborate on IIT's potential effect in reducing ICU complications in critically ill patients.

Triglyceride-glucose index as a potential predictor for in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients with intracerebral hemorrhage: a multicenter, case-control study.

The correlation between the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) and the prognosis of ischemic stroke has been well established. This study aims to assess the influence of the TyG index on the clinical outcomes of critically ill individuals suffering from intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Patients diagnosed with ICH were retrospectively retrieved from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) and the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD). Various statistical methods, including restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression, multivariable logistic regression, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis, were employed to examine the relationship between the TyG index and the primary outcomes of ICH. A total of 791 patients from MIMIC-IV and 1,113 ones from eICU-CRD were analyzed. In MIMIC-IV, the in-hospital and ICU mortality rates were 14% and 10%, respectively, while in eICU-CRD, they were 16% and 8%. Results of the RCS regression revealed a consistent linear relationship between the TyG index and the risk of in-hospital and ICU mortality across the entire study population of both databases. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between the TyG index and the likelihood of in-hospital and ICU death among ICH patients in both databases. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis further revealed an interaction between patients' age and the TyG index in relation to in-hospital and ICU mortality among ICH patients. Notably, for patients over 60years old, the association between the TyG index and the risk of in-hospital and ICU mortality was more pronounced compared to the overall study population in both MIMIC-IV and eICU-CRD databases, suggesting a synergistic effect between old age (over 60years) and the TyG index on the in-hospital and ICU mortality of patients with ICH. This study established a positive correlation between the TyG index and the risk of in-hospital and ICU mortality in patients over 60years who diagnosed with ICH, suggesting that the TyG index holds promise as an indicator for risk stratification in this patient population.

The association between enteral nutrition with survival of critical patients with COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) results in several complications and mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Limited studies have investigated the effect of enteral nutrition (EN) on the survival of COVID-19 patients in the ICU. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of EN with biochemical and pathological indices associated with mortality in ICU patients with COVID-19. This case-control study was conducted on 240 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in the ICU including 120 eventual nonsurvived as the cases and 120 survived patients as the controls. All of the patients received EN as a high protein high volume or standard formula. Data on general information, anthropometric measurements, and the results of lab tests were collected. The recovered patients received significantly more high protein (60.8% vs. 39.6%, p = .004) and high volume (61.6% vs. 42.3%, p = .005) formula compared to the nonsurvived group. Mortality was inversely associated with high volume (odds ratio [OR]: 0.45 confidence interval [CI]95%, p = .008) and high protein (OR: 0.42 CI95%, p = .003) formula. The results remained significant after adjusting for age and sex. Further adjustment for underlying diseases, smoking, body mass index, and the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score did not change the results. The findings of the study showed that there was a significant inverse association between mortality and high volume and high protein formula in patients with COVID-19. Further investigation is warranted.

Effect of cortisol and glycosylated-hemoglobin levels on mortality in intensive care unit.

To research the effects of blood cortisol and hemoglobinA1c (HBA1C) levels on mortality in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and whether these factors could be used as reliable indicators for mortality risk assessment in these patients. After receiving approval from the ethics committee, 79 patients admitted to ICU were included in the study. From patient files, we collected data on demographics (age, gender), presence of diabetes mellitus, and levels of cortisol, HbA1C, glucose, and lactate measured during hospitalization, along with acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II scores calculated within the first 24 hours. In our study, we planned to investigate the relationship between patients' cortisol and HbA1C levels and mortality. A total of 79 patients were included in the study. The mortality rate of the patients included in the study was 65.8%. In the model established with all variables, only cortisol level (p=0.017) and APACHE II score (p=0.005) were defined to affect mortality. Cortisol levels at the time of admission to the ICU were found to affect mortality and can be considered a predictive factor, while HBA1C levels showed no such effect. Our findings indicate that neither cortisol nor HBA1C levels had an impact on the duration of mechanical ventilation or length of stay in the ICU.