Intensive Care Unit Mortality Research Articles

Association between inappropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy and mortality in gram-negative bloodstream infections in patients with febrile neutropenia and hematological malignancy

Background and objectiveInappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy has been associated with high mortality in patients with gram-negative bacilli bloodstream infections during febrile neutropenia following chemotherapy for hematological malignancies. The aim of this study is to determine this association in our hospital. MethodsA single center, retrospective, cohort study of bloodstream infection due to gram-negative bacilli and febrile neutropenia was conducted. Clinical characteristics, microbiological etiology, antimicrobial resistance profile, empirical and targeted antibiotic therapy, intensive care unit admission, persistent bacteremia and mortality were analyzed. ResultsOf the 171 episodes of bloodstream infection due to gram-negative bacilli, empirical antimicrobial therapy was inappropriate in 43 episodes (25.1 %). There was a significant difference in mortality at 7 and 30 days between patients who received appropriate versus inappropriate empirical treatment (4.6 % versus 13.9 %, p = 0.04; 15.6 % versus 32.5 %, p = 0.016). Inappropriate empirical treatment (RR, 2.97 [95 % CI, 1.01–8.74]), shock at the time of febrile neutropenia diagnosis (RR, 6.5 [95 % CI, 1.83–23.05]) carbapenem-resistant microorganism (RR, 3.73 [95 % CI, 1.14–12.24]) and persistent bacteremia (RR, 84.6 [95 % CI, 11.3–629.4]) were associated with an increased mortality at 7 and 30 days. In the multivariate analysis, shock (RR, 4.85 [95 % CI, 2.10–11.65]) and persistent bacteremia was independently associated with increased 30-day mortality, but inappropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy was not an independent prognostic determinant (RR, 1.66 [0.53–4.82]). ConclusionShock at the time of febrile neutropenia diagnosis contributes to mortality in patients with gram-negative bacilli bloodstream infection, in this scenario, appropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy should be encouraged.

Clinical outcomes of antifungal therapy on Candida pulmonary colonisation in immunocompetent patients with invasive ventilation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThis study aimed to use systematic review and meta-analysis to establish the influence of antifungal therapy on pulmonary Candida colonisation of patients with mechanical ventilation (MV).DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesAn...

Relationship between the albumin-corrected anion gap and short-term prognosis among patients with cardiogenic shock: a retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV and eICU databases

ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate the association between the albumin-corrected anion gap (ACAG) and the prognosis of cardiogenic shock (CS).DesignA multicentre retrospective cohort study.SettingData were collected from the Medical Information Mart...

Multimorbidity Patterns and Their Relationship With ICU Admission and Mortality Rates in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 in Northern Iran

Multimorbidity Patterns and Their Relationship With ICU Admission and Mortality Rates in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 in Northern Iran

Frailty and health-related life quality in long-term follow up of intensive care patients above 65 years old: Protocol for a Norwegian prospective, observational multicenter study.

Frailty is strongly correlated with mortality in intensive care unit patients, yet routine screening among intensive care patients is rarely performed. The aim of this study is to assess frailty and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients before intensive care admission and to compare this with outcomes after 3 and 12-months. The Clinical Frailty Scale and EQ-5D-5L will be used to assess frailty and HRQoL, respectively. This is an ongoing, prospective observational study including patients from five Norwegian ICU's. Inclusion criteria are patients aged ≥65 years requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for ≥24 h. The Clinical Frailty Scale and EQ-5D-5L are administered at baseline (before critical illness) and at 3- and 12-months post-inclusion. Additional data collected includes patient characteristics, ICU treatment details, illness severity and mortality. The EQ-5D-5L will be compared to Norwegian population norms and assessed for measurement properties. Inclusion started July 2022 and will be stopped at 350 patients. The study will be completed in 2025. The study will assess the feasibility and measurement properties of the Clinical Frailty Scale and EQ-5D-5L in ICU survivors by telephone at long-term follow-up study and will give additional information on the frailty and HRQoL of intensive care survivors. The study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06012942. Protocol version 2.7.1, 19.05.2023.

A Retrospective Multicenter Study of Operating Room Extubation and Extubation Timing following Cardiac Surgery

BackgroundIn an effort to enhance recovery after cardiac surgery, intraoperative extubation has been targeted as possibly beneficial. This multi-center cohort study aimed to assess this by evaluating the outcomes of OR extubation versus extubation within six hours of intensive care unit arrival (early ICU extubation). Furthermore, we assessed time to ICU extubation and mortality and morbidity. MethodsPatients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery across 79 hospitals between 2011-2020 were included to 1) compare outcomes among OR extubation and early ICU extubation patients, and 2) assess time to overall ICU extubation and outcomes. ResultsThe overall study cohort comprised 163,982 patients, including 95,982 patients [ [ OR extubation : n= 2,529 (2.6%)and early ICU extubation : n= 93,453 (97.4%)] who underwent comparison of OR with early ICU extubation. Following overlap weighting, OR extubation patients had longer OR times (5.6 vs. 5.1 hours, p < 0.0001), and higher rates of reintubation (5.2% vs 2.9%, p=0.003), prolonged ventilation (3% vs 2%, p = 0.021), reoperation for bleeding (1.5% vs 0.7%, p < 0,01), pneumonia (1.9% vs. 1.1% , p < 0.006), and greater in-hospital mortality on multivariable regression (OR 1.34, p < 0.001). OR extubation patients at centers with low OR extubation rates (< 10%, N=60) had higher mortality (odds ratio 1.6, p = 0.001). Beyond 22 hours of postoperative ICU ventilation, the risk of morbidity and mortality increased significantly . ConclusionsFew cardiac surgery patients are extubated in the OR, which is associated with no clinical benefit and with increased morbidity. Cardiac surgery programs should reconsider OR extubation following cardiopulmonary bypass. Additionally, increased intubation time, in particular > 22 hours, is associated with an increase in adverse outcomes.

Short-term mortality among very elderly cancer patients in the intensive care unit: A retrospective cohort study based on the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database.

The objective of this study is to examine the epidemiological characteristics of very elderly patients (aged over 80 years) with cancer admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and to elucidate the association between Acute Physiology Score III (APS-III) and 28-day mortality. A retrospective analysis was conducted using data extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Patients aged 80 years and above were assigned to three groups: non-cancer group, non-metastatic cancer group, and metastatic cancer group, based on their cancer diagnosis and its extent, Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed among these patient groups. Furthermore, patients were divided into a survival group and a non-survival group based on their 28-day survival status after ICU admission. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to detect the risk factors for 28-day mortality among these patients. Additionally, this investigation sought to establish a dose-response relationship by exploring the graded association between APS-III scores and the 28-day mortalities among patients diagnosed with cancer. A total of 42,037 medical records were screened, from which 11,461 elderly patients aged over 80 years were included, comprising 1020 (8.90%) with non-metastatic cancer, 537 (4.68%) with metastatic cancer, and 9904 (86.41%) without cancer. Significant differences in 28-day mortality were observed between both the non-metastatic and metastatic cancer groups compared to the non-cancer group (20.98% and 22.35% vs. 15.75%, p < 0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was detected in the 28-day mortality rate when comparing the non-metastatic cancer group directly with the metastatic cancer group (20.98% vs. 22.35%, p = 0.576). Univariate analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.001) in age, gender, BMI, aCCI excluding cancer point, ventilation, presence of cancer, and status of metastatic cancer between the survival and non-survival groups. In the multivariate logistic regression, the odds ratio (OR) for ventilation was found to be 2.154 (95% CI: 1.799-2.578), cancer conferred an OR of 1.499 (95% CI: 1.137-1.975), metastatic cancer showed an OR of 1.171 (95% CI: 0.745-1.841), APS-III showed an OR of 1.038 (95% CI: 1.034-1.042). A dose-response relationship was observed, demonstrating that when the APS-III score exceeded 80 points, the 28-day mortality rate surpassed 50% among the very elderly cancer patients in ICU. More than one-tenth of critically ill very elderly patients admitted to the ICU are diagnosed with cancer. Among ICU patients, those with cancer face a short-term mortality risk approximately 1.5 times higher than those without a cancer diagnosis. Interestingly, while our findings do not indicate an escalated mortality risk due to metastasis within the cancer patient cohort, the presence of cancer itself remains a significant factor influencing ICU mortality rates in this very elderly population.

Respiratory Complications in the Immediate Postoperative Period after Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Nowadays: An Observational Study.

Several respiratory complications have been described after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) after CRS and HIPEC during 10 years. Demographic characteristics; severity of illness; complete blood sample; chest radiographs; type of cancer and extension; HIPEC drug and temperature; ICU and hospital stay; and mortality. Of the 124 patients included, 67 patients (54.0%) presented respiratory complications: 56 (83.6%) acute respiratory failure, 25 (37.3%) pleural effusion, 13 (19.4%) atelectasis, and 3 (4.5%) other; only 1 (3.0%) developed pneumonia. They had higher severity scores at ICU admission. 1 patient required initiation of invasive mechanical ventilation during ICU admission due to pneumonia, and 1 patient needed placement of a pleural chest tube due to symptomatic pleural effusion.Only the need for a high fluid balance during surgery was correlated to the development of respiratory complications on multivariate analysis.Median ICU stay was 5 (4.0-5.0) days. ICU mortality was 0.8.0%. In our study, 54% of patients treated with CRS and HIPEC developed respiratory complications during the postoperative period. However, the majority of these complications were not severe and did not significantly impact mortality rates or hospital stays. Pintado MC, Oñoro A, Beltran D, Nevado E. Respiratory Complications in the Immediate Postoperative Period after Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Nowadays: An Observational Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(10):952-957.

Relationship between the number of nurses on staff and the outcomes of nurse-sensitive patients in acute specialized units: A systematic review

Background: The relationship between hospital acquired infections, patient outcomes, adverse events and death, and nursing workloads has been shown in several research. In order to examine the relationship between patient outcomes and the number of nurses on an acute specialty unit, we conducted this systematic review. Method: To enhance the quality of the systematic review, we followed the PRISMA declaration. We searched electronic sources; Pubmed, Google Scholar, and CINAHL to find research publications that looked into the relationship between patient outcomes and the number of nurses on acute specialty units. The search was limited to the English language and published between 2014 and 2023. Result: Six cross-sectional studies were considered in this systematic review. The majority of the research focused on two outcomes: morality and length of ICU hospitalization. Two studies do not include the typical NPR definition. One comprised 69 ICUs, found that a lower bed-to-nurse ratio and a daily plan of care review were both associated with a lower yearly ICU mortality. Instead than focusing on ICU personnel, improving communication is a low-cost, process-specific intervention strategy that may improve clinical outcomes in patients receiving ICU care. Conclusion: A negative association was seen in the majority of the included studies between hospital mortality, length of stay in the intensive care unit, and a rise of nurses in relation to the number of hospital beds or admitted patients.

Recent Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment of Invasive Candidiasis in Neonates.

Invasive Candida infections represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), particularly among preterm and low birth weight neonates. The nonspecific clinical presentation of invasive candidiasis, resembling that of bacterial sepsis with multiorgan involvement, makes the diagnosis challenging. Given the atypical clinical presentation and the potential detrimental effects of delayed treatment, empirical treatment is often initiated in cases with high clinical suspicion. This underscores the need to develop alternative laboratory methods other than cultures, which are known to have low sensitivity and a prolonged detection time, to optimize therapeutic strategies. Serum biomarkers, including mannan antigen/anti-mannan antibody and 1,3-β-D-glucan (BDG), both components of the yeast cell wall, a nano-diagnostic method utilizing T2 magnetic resonance, and Candida DNA detection by PCR-based techniques have been investigated as adjuncts to body fluid cultures and have shown promising results in improving diagnostic efficacy and shortening detection time in neonatal populations. This review aims to provide an overview of the diagnostic tools and the current management strategies for invasive candidiasis in neonates. Timely and accurate diagnosis followed by targeted antifungal treatment can significantly improve the survival and outcome of neonates affected by Candida species.

Feature Selection Methods for ICU Mortality Prediction Model

Feature Selection Methods for ICU Mortality Prediction Model

Efficacy of methylene blue in refractory septic shock: study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

BackgroundSeptic shock is now the leading cause of mortality in intensive care units (ICUs). Refractory septic shock requires high doses of vasopressors. Some previous studies have revealed that methylene blue could improve hypotension status and help reduce the dosage of catecholamines. This study aims to investigate the clinical effect of methylene blue in septic shock and explore whether it can increase arterial pressure and reduce the usage of vasopressors.MethodsThis study is a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial planning to include 100 refractory septic shock patients. The protocol is to administer a bolus of 2 mg/kg methylene blue intravenously followed by a continuous infusion of 0.5 mg/kg/h for 48 h. The primary outcome is the total dose of vasopressor required in refractory septic shock in the first 48 h. Secondary outcomes include other hemodynamic parameters, oxygen metabolism indexes, tissue perfusion indexes, major organ function indexes, and certain plasma cytokines and other factors.DiscussionThis protocol aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of methylene blue as adjuvant therapy for refractory septic shock. The main outcome measure will be vasopressor requirements and hemodynamic parameters. Additionally, bedside ultrasonography, blood gases, and cytokines will be assessed to evaluate perfusion, respiratory, and metabolic effects. The results are intended to provide evidence on the safety and efficacy of methylene blue in refractory septic shock, guiding clinical decision-making.Trial registrationThis clinical trial has been registered at ChiCTR (https://www.chictr.org.cn/) on March 16, 2023. ChiCTR registration number: ChiCTR2300069430.

Relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and ICU-acquired candidemia in critically ill medical patients: a multicenter prospective cohort study

BackgroundWhile SARS-CoV2 infection has been shown to be a significant risk-factor for several secondary bacterial, viral and Aspergillus infections, its impact on intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired candidemia (ICAC) remains poorly explored.MethodUsing the REA-REZO network (French surveillance network of ICU-acquired infections), we included all adult patients hospitalized for a medical reason of admission in participating ICUs for at least 48 h from January 2020 to January 2023. To account for confounders, a non-parsimonious propensity score matching was performed. Rates of ICAC according to SARS-CoV2 status were compared in matched patients. Factors associated with ICAC in COVID-19 patients were also assessed using a Fine-Gray model.ResultsA total of 55,268 patients hospitalized at least 48 h for a medical reason in 101 ICUs were included along the study period. Of those, 13,472 were tested positive for a SARS-CoV2 infection while 284 patients developed an ICAC. ICAC rate was higher in COVID-19 patients in both the overall population and the matched patients’ cohort (0.8% (107/13,472) versus 0.4% (173/41,796); p < 0.001 and 0.8% (93/12,241) versus 0.5% (57/12,241); p = 0.004, respectively). ICAC incidence rate was also higher in those patients (incidence rate 0.51 per 1000 patients-days in COVID-19 patients versus 0.32 per 1000 patients-days; incidence rate ratio: 1.58 [95% CI:1.08–2.35]; p = 0.018). Finally, patients with ICAC had a higher ICU mortality rate (49.6% versus 20.2%; p < 0.001).ConclusionIn this large multicenter cohort of ICU patients, although remaining low, the rate of ICAC was higher among COVID-19 patients.

A tidal volume of 7 mL/kg PBW or higher may be safe for COVID-19 patients

PurposeThe novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has revived the debate on the optimal tidal volume during acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Some experts recommend 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight (PBW) for all patients, while others suggest 7–9 mL/kg PBW for those with compliance >50 mL/cmH2O. We investigated whether a tidal volume ≥ 7 ml/kg PBW may be safe in COVID-19 patients, particularly those with compliance >50 mL/cmH2O. Materials and methodsThis secondary analysis of a multicenter study compares the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) mortality among 600 patients ventilated with <7 or ≥ 7 mL/kg PBW. Compliance was categorized as <40, 40–50, or > 50 mL/cmH2O. Results346 patients were ventilated with <7 (6.2 ± 0.5) mL/kg PBW and 254 with ≥7 (7.9 ± 0.9) mL/kg PBW. ICU mortality was 33 % and 29 % in the two groups (p = 0.272). At multivariable regression analysis, tidal volume ≥ 7 mL/kg PBW was associated with lower ICU mortality in the overall population (odds ratio: 0.62 [95 %-confidence interval: 0.40–0.95]) and in each compliance category. ConclusionsA tidal volume ≥ 7 (up to 9) mL/kg PBW was associated with lower ICU mortality in these COVID-19 patients, including those with compliance <40 mL/cmH2O. This finding should be interpreted cautiously due to the retrospective study design.Trial registration: ClinicalTrails.govNCT04388670.

Rapid response system and mortality in intensive care unit: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

The beneficial effects of a rapid response system (RRS) on clinical outcomes in patients admitted to a ward have been established. However, the relationship between RRS implementation and clinical outcomes in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) has not yet been established. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the RRS affects clinical outcomes in critically ill patients admitted to the ICU. As a nationwide, population-based cohort study, all adult patients who were admitted to the ICU from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 in South Korea were included. Patients in hospitals with an RRS formed the RRS group; those in hospitals lacking an RRS constituted the non-RRS group. In total, 900,606 patients admitted to the ICU were included in the final analysis. Among them, 365,305 (40.6%) were assigned to the RRS group, and 535,301 (59.4%) were assigned to the non-RRS group. After propensity score (PS) matching, a total of 454,748 patients (227,374 in each group) were included in the final analysis. In the PS-matched cohort, the RRS group showed 8% (odds ratio [OR]: 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91, 0.94; P < 0.001) and 11% (hazard ratio: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.88, 0.90; P < 0.001) lower in-hospital mortality rates and 1-year all-cause mortality rates than the non-RRS group, respectively. In addition, ICU readmission rates and the occurrence rate for adverse events during hospitalization in the RRS group were 3% (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95, 0.98; P < 0.001) and 21% (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.78, 0.80; P < 0.001) lower than those in the non-RRS group, respectively. RRS deployment was linked to lower in-hospital and 1-year all-cause mortality rates, ICU readmission rates, and the occurrence of adverse events during hospitalization among ICU patients. The findings indicate that using the RRS could assist not only patients in the ward but also critically ill patients in the ICU.

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

Abstract Aims Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a life-threatening disease burdened by a mortality up to 50%. The epidemiology has changed with non-ischaemic aetiologies being predominant, although data were mainly derived from patients admitted to dedicated acute cardiac care. We report the epidemiology and outcome of patients with CS admitted to general intensive care unit (ICU). Methods and results Prospective multicentric epidemiological study including 314 general ICU adhering to the GiViTI nationwide registry from 2011 to 2018, excluding cardiac arrest. The primary endpoint of the study was mortality. The association between clinical factors and mortality was evaluated using a logistic regression model. The odds ratios (ORs) of the covariates quantify their association with mortality during hospitalization. A total of 11 052 patients admitted to general ICU {incidence 2.17%; median age 72 [interquartile range (66–81)], 38.7% were women} with CS were included. Forty-seven per cent of patients had more than three organ insufficiency at the time of admission. The most common CS aetiologies were left heart failure (LHF, 5247—47.5%); acute myocardial infarction (3612—32.6%); right heart failure (RHF, 515—4.6%); and biventricular failure (532—4.8%). A total of 85.5% were mechanically ventilated during the ICU hospitalization. The overall ICU mortality was 44.8%, increasing to 53.4% during the hospitalization in the index hospital and to 54.3% at the latest hospital. Right heart failure–cardiogenic shock patients exhibited the highest mortality risk [OR: 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.94–1.50); P &amp;lt; 0.001], followed by biventricular CS [OR 1.04, 95% CI (0.82–1.32)]. Respiratory failure [OR 1.13 (95% CI 1.08–1.19)], coagulation disorder [1.17 (95% CI 1.1–1.24)], renal dysfunction [OR 1.55 (95% CI 1.50–1.61)], and neurological alteration [OR 1.45 (95% CI 1.39–1.50)] were associated with worsen outcome along with severe hypotension [systolic blood pressure &amp;lt; 70 mmHg—OR 2.35, 95% CI (2.06–2.67)], increasing age [OR 2.21 95% CI (2.01–2.42)], and longer ICU stay prior to admission (two-fold increase for each 4.7 days). Conclusion In the general ICU, the aetiology of CS, excluding cardiac arrest, remains characterized mostly by LHF with RHF–CS burdened by higher mortality. Multiorgan failure at admission and longer hospital stay before ICU admission predispose to worsen outcome.

Elevated serum albumin-to-creatinine ratio as a protective factor on clinical outcomes among critically ill patients with sepsis: a retrospective study.

The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic significance of serum albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) in critically ill patients with sepsis. This retrospective study analyzed sepsis cases admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University between January 2015 and November 2023. The patients were divided into four groups based on their ACR upon admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Laboratory data were collected at the time of ICU admission, and the primary outcome measure was in-hospital all-cause mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated to illustrate the differences in 30-/60-day mortality among the various groups. Multivariate Cox regression models and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were utilized to explore the association between ACR and all-cause mortality in sepsis patients. Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the impact of other covariates on the relationship between ACR and all-cause mortality. A total of 1,123 eligible patients were included in the study, with a median ACR of 0.169. The in-hospital mortality rate was 33.7%, the ICU mortality rate was 31.9%, and the 30-day mortality rate was 28.1%. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that patients with higher ACR had a significantly lower risk of 30-/60-day mortality (log-rank p < 0.001). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses revealed that ACR was an independent predictor of in-hospital death (HR: 0.454, 95% CI 0.271-0.761, p = 0.003), ICU death (HR: 0.498, 95% CI 0.293-0.847, p = 0.010), and 30-day death (HR: 0.399, 95% CI 0.218-0.730, p = 0.003). For each 1-unit increase in ACR, there was a 1.203-fold decrease in the risk of death during the hospital stay. The RCS curve illustrated a non-linear negative correlation between ACR and in-hospital mortality (p for non-linear =0.018), ICU mortality (p for non-linear =0.005), and 30-day mortality (p for non-linear =0.006). Sensitivity analysis indicated consistent effect sizes and directions in different subgroups, confirming the stability of the results. Low ACR levels were identified as independent risk factors associated with increased in-hospital, ICU, and 30-day mortality in sepsis patients. ACR can serve as a significant predictor of the clinical outcome of sepsis.

Explainable machine learning and online calculators to predict heart failure mortality in intensive care units

Explainable machine learning and online calculators to predict heart failure mortality in intensive care units

Patients with influenza admitted to a tertiary-care hospital in Riyadh between 2018 and 2022: characteristics, outcomes and factors associated with ICU admission and mortality

BackgroundInfluenza is a common cause of hospital admissions globally with regional variations in epidemiology and clinical profile. We evaluated the characteristics and outcomes of patients with influenza admitted to a tertiary-care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort of adult patients admitted with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed influenza to King Abdulaziz Medical City-Riyadh between January 1, 2018, and May 31, 2022. We compared patients who required intensive care unit (ICU) admission to those who did not and performed multivariable logistic regression to assess the predictors of ICU admission and hospital mortality.ResultsDuring the study period, 675 adult patients were hospitalized with influenza (median age 68.0 years, females 53.8%, hypertension 59.9%, diabetes 55.1%, and chronic respiratory disease 31.1%). Most admissions (83.0%) were in the colder months (October to March) in Riyadh with inter-seasonal cases even in the summertime (June to August). Influenza A was responsible for 79.0% of cases, with H3N2 and H1N1 subtypes commonly circulating in the study period. Respiratory viral coinfection occurred in 12 patients (1.8%) and bacterial coinfection in 42 patients (17.4%). 151 patients (22.4%) required ICU admission, of which 62.3% received vasopressors and 48.0% mechanical ventilation. Risk factors for ICU admission were younger age, hypertension, bilateral lung infiltrates on chest X-ray, and Pneumonia Severity Index. The overall hospital mortality was 7.4% (22.5% for ICU patients, p < 0.0001). Mortality was 45.0% in patients with bacterial coinfection, 30.9% in those requiring vasopressors, and 29.2% in those who received mechanical ventilation. Female sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.096; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.070, 4.104), ischemic heart disease (OR, 3.053; 95% CI 1.457, 6.394), immunosuppressed state (OR, 7.102; 95% CI 1.803, 27.975), Pneumonia Severity Index (OR, 1.029; 95% CI, 1.017, 1.041), leukocyte count and serum lactate level (OR, 1.394; 95% CI, 1.163, 1.671) were independently associated with hospital mortality.ConclusionsInfluenza followed a seasonal pattern in Saudi Arabia, with H3N2 and H1N1 being the predominant circulating strains during the study period. ICU admission was required for > 20%. Female sex, high Pneumonia Severity Index, ischemic heart disease, and immunosuppressed state were associated with increased mortality.

Association between base excess and mortality in critically ill patients with ischemic stroke: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundBase excess (BE) is associated with mortality from many diseases. However, the relationship between BE and mortality in patients with ischemic stroke remains uncertain. Our aim is to investigate the relationship between BE values upon admission to the ICU and mortality rates in critically ill stroke patients.MethodsThe current study enrolled 1,572 patients with ischemic stroke (863 males and 709 females). The associations of BE with intensive care unit (ICU), hospital, 28-day, and 1-year mortalities were assessed using multivariable logistic regression or Cox proportional hazards model. The potential impact of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (< 5 or ≥ 5) on the prognostic value of BE was further evaluated with interaction and subgroup analyses.ResultsBE values less than − 3 mmol/L, greater than 3 mmol/L, and within − 3 to 3 mmol/L (normal BE) were observed in 316 (20.1%), 175 (11.1%), and 1,081 (68.8%) patients, respectively. The restricted cubic splines analyses revealed that a U-shaped curve between BE and the mortality risk. Multivariable analysis indicated that patients with low BE (<-3 mmol/L) had higher rates of ICU mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.829; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.281–2.612; P = 0.001), hospital mortality (OR, 1.484; 95% CI, 1.077–2.045; P = 0.016), 28-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.522; 95% CI, 1.200–1.929; P = 0.001), and 1-year mortality (HR, 1.399; 95% CI, 1.148–1.705; P = 0.001) than patients with normal BE. Subgroup analyses showed consistent results pertaining to SOFA scores ≥ 5.ConclusionsIn critically ill patients with ischemic stroke, an initial BE of <-3 mmol/L at ICU admission may indicate an increased risk of ICU, hospital, 28-day, and 1-year mortalities.