Need For Mechanical Ventilation Research Articles

Fever as a Predictor of COVID-19 Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients.

With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous questions have arisen regarding the screening, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of infected patients. Among these, screening infected patients through body temperature measurement has proven ineffective. However, doubts persist regarding the role of fever as a prognostic factor in the disease. To assess the prevalence of fever and its relevance as a marker of mortality in COVID-19. This prospective and longitudinal cohort study was conducted between April 2020 and December 2021 and analyzed 1400 COVID-19 patients systematically admitted to the emergency department of a reference hospital during the period from April 2020 to December 2021, in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. [LG1]The study evaluated [LG2]the presence of fever (body temperature above 37,7ºC) upon admission and/or during hospitalization, patient profiles, and outcomes (in-hospital death, discharge, admission at the intensive care unit, need of mechanical ventilation). Fever was present in 128 participants (9.1%), with a higher prevalence in males (71%) and obese individuals (42.9%). Among the febrile patients, 39 required intubation (30.4%), with two intubated upon admission (1.5%), 104 were discharged (81.2%), and 24 deceased (18.7%). Fever was not associated with a higher mortality rate. Fever showed low prevalence, is more common in males and obese individuals, and is not related to worse clinical outcomes.

Age-dependent ventilator-induced lung injury: Mathematical modeling, experimental data, and statistical analysis.

A variety of pulmonary insults can prompt the need for life-saving mechanical ventilation; however, misuse, prolonged use, or an excessive inflammatory response, can result in ventilator-induced lung injury. Past research has observed an increased instance of respiratory distress in older patients and differences in the inflammatory response. To address this, we performed high pressure ventilation on young (2-3 months) and old (20-25 months) mice for 2 hours and collected data for macrophage phenotypes and lung tissue integrity. Large differences in macrophage activation at baseline and airspace enlargement after ventilation were observed in the old mice. The experimental data was used to determine plausible trajectories for a mathematical model of the inflammatory response to lung injury which includes variables for the innate inflammatory cells and mediators, epithelial cells in varying states, and repair mediators. Classification methods were used to identify influential parameters separating the parameter sets associated with the young or old data and separating the response to ventilation, which was measured by changes in the epithelial state variables. Classification methods ranked parameters involved in repair and damage to the epithelial cells and those associated with classically activated macrophages to be influential. Sensitivity results were used to determine candidate in-silico interventions and these interventions were most impact for transients associated with the old data, specifically those with poorer lung health prior to ventilation. Model results identified dynamics involved in M1 macrophages as a focus for further research, potentially driving the age-dependent differences in all macrophage phenotypes. The model also supported the pro-inflammatory response as a potential indicator of age-dependent differences in response to ventilation. This mathematical model can serve as a baseline model for incorporating other pulmonary injuries.

Comparing COVID-19 severity in patients hospitalized for community-associated Delta, BA.1 and BA.4/5 variant infection.

Despite decreasing COVID-19 disease severity during the Omicron waves, a proportion of patients still require hospitalization and intensive care. To compare demographic characteristics, comorbidities, vaccination status, and previous infections in patients hospitalized for community-associated COVID-19 (CAC) in predominantly Delta, Omicron BA.1 and BA.4/5 SARS-CoV-2 waves. Data were extracted from three national databases-the National COVID-19 Database, National Vaccination Registry and National Registry of Hospitalizations. Among the hospitalized CAC patients analyzed in this study, 5,512 were infected with Delta, 1,120 with Omicron BA.1, and 1,143 with the Omicron BA.4/5 variant. The age and sex structure changed from Delta to BA.4/5, with the proportion of women (9.5% increase), children and adolescents (10.4% increase), and octa- and nonagenarians increasing significantly (24.5% increase). Significantly more patients had comorbidities (measured by the Charlson Comorbidity Index), 30.3% in Delta and 43% in BA.4/5 period. The need for non-invasive ventilatory support (NiVS), ICU admission, mechanical ventilation (MV), and in-hospital mortality (IHM) decreased from Delta to Omicron BA.4/5 period for 12.6, 13.5, 11.5, and 6.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed significantly lower odds for ICU admission (OR 0.68, CI 0.54-0.84, p < 0.001) and IHM (OR 0.74, CI 0.58-0.93, p = 0.011) during the Delta period in patients who had been fully vaccinated or boosted with a COVID-19 vaccine within the previous 6 months. In the BA.1 variant period, patients who had less than 6 months elapsed between the last vaccine dose and SARS-CoV-2 positivity had lower odds for MV (OR 0.38, CI 0.18-0.72, p = 0.005) and IHM (OR 0.56, CI 0.37- 0.83, p = 0.005), but not for NIVS or ICU admission. The likelihood of developing severe CAC in hospitalized patients was higher in those with the Delta and Omicron BA.1 variant compared to BA.4/5.

Mortality Predictors in Patients with Cardiovascular Involvement by COVID-19

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is a new coronavirus responsible for one of the most evident diseases today, COVID-19, registering approximately 419,000 deaths until 2020. Some risk factors for infection and mortality must be assessed in clinical and research scenarios, such as the presence of cardiovascular diseases, with clinical and laboratory alterations. Objective: Our study aims to analyze the association between clinical and laboratory data and in-hospital mortality in patients with cardiovascular involvement by COVID-19 in Brazil. Method: This is a retrospective, observational, single-center cohort study. The sample consisted of patients admitted to a reference hospital from July 2020 to April 2021. We included patients over 18 years of age, hospitalized with COVID-19 infection, who developed heart involvement identified by clinical or laboratory findings. Patients who were pregnant or had negative serological tests for COVID-19 were excluded. Clinical variables such as gender, age, comorbidities, medications used during hospitalization, chest computed-tomography findings, need for intensive care unit, need for mechanical ventilation, and need for intravenous vasoactive drugs were analyzed. The laboratory variables analyzed were: troponin, NT-proBNP and D-dimer levels. The endpoint of the study was in-hospital death. Statistical analysis of the collected data was performed using Pearson&amp;apos;s Chi-square test, Student&amp;apos;s T test; p values &amp;lt; 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: 139 patients were included, and 30 (21.58%) patients died during hospitalization. The group that evolved to death, compared to the discharge group, was older (71 vs 65 years; p = 0.03), had more pleural effusion on chest computed-tomography (36% vs 17%; p = 0.023), had higher troponin levels (40% vs 20%; p = 0.02), more need for intensive care (83% vs 52%; p = 0.002), orotracheal intubation (83% vs 26%; p = 0.001), use of norepinephrine (76% vs 18%; p = 0.001), use of dobutamine (16% vs 4%; p = 0.023), and use of unfractioned heparin (46% vs 21%; p = 0.005). Conclusion: Advanced age was significantly associated with in-hospital death. In radiological patterns, despite the high incidence of ground-glass opacities, pleural effusion was the only finding associated with mortality. Increased troponin levels, but not NT-proBNP or D-dimer, was associated with in-hospital mortality. The need for norepinephrine and dobutamine, in addition to Intensive Care Unit admission and orotracheal Intubation, were also more frequent in the group that presented death during hospitalization, as wells as the use of unfractionated heparin rather than enoxaparin.

Machine learning modelling for predicting the utilization of invasive and non-invasive ventilation throughout the ICU duration.

The goal of this work is to develop a Machine Learning model to predict the need for both invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Using the Philips eICU Research Institute (ERI) database, 2.6 million ICU patient data from 2010 to 2019 were analyzed. This data was randomly split into training (63%), validation (27%), and test (10%) sets. Additionally, an external test set from a single hospital from the ERI database was employed to assess the model's generalizability. Model performance was determined by comparing the model probability predictions with the actual incidence of ventilation use, either invasive or non-invasive. The model demonstrated a prediction performance with an AUC of 0.921 for overall ventilation, 0.937 for invasive, and 0.827 for non-invasive. Factors such as high Glasgow Coma Scores, younger age, lower BMI, and lower PaCO2 were highlighted as indicators of a lower likelihood for the need for ventilation. The model can serve as a retrospective benchmarking tool for hospitals to assess ICU performance concerning mechanical ventilation necessity. It also enables analysis of ventilation strategy trends and risk-adjusted comparisons, with potential for future testing as a clinical decision tool for optimizing ICU ventilation management.

Utility of Platelet Indices as Prognostic Markers of Sepsis: A Medical Intensive Care Unit-Based Cross-Sectional Study at a Rural Setup.

Introduction Even after the breakthrough advancements in the management and prognostic scoring of sepsis, it remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality encountered in intensive care units (ICUs) throughout the globe. This study highlights the utility of platelet indices as prognostic markers of sepsis. Methods In the present prospective cross-sectional study, a total of 177 patients with sepsis were enrolled using the Sepsis-3 criteria. The platelet indices were then linked to severity using the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score. The correlation of platelet indices to morbidity in terms of the length of ICU stay, need for a mechanical ventilator, types of infection, and mortality was also assessed. Results The results showed that mean platelet volume (p = 0.004) and platelet distribution width (PDW; p = 0.009) were positively correlated with the severity of sepsis. Among all the parameters, plateletcrit (%) was the best predictor of the need for an invasive mechanical ventilator at a cutoff point of ≤0.22 with a 60.90% chance of correctly predicting the need for an invasive mechanical ventilator, as was mortality at a cutoff point of ≤0.22 with a 67.30% chance of correct prediction. Among the platelet indices, only PDW showed a significant association with growth in culture because patients with growth had significantly higher PDW as compared to those who did not have growth (22.4 ± 4.47 vs 20.81 ± 4.29, p = 0.011). Conclusion The difference between the survivors and non-survivor groups was statistically significant for platelet indices, making them easily available, cost-effective, and useful prognostic markers for patients in septic shock. This will help in easy understanding and preventing its morbid complications, even at the primary care physician level.

Effect of Thoracoscopic Surgery under Spontaneous Respiration on Inflammatory Indicators and Postoperative Complications in Elderly Patients with Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Background: In thoracoscopic surgery under spontaneous respiration, patients could breathe spontaneously during surgery without the need for mechanical ventilation via tracheal intubation. This technique can effectively avoid the injuries caused by tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation and the side effects of muscle relaxants, thus reducing postoperative complications and benefitting patients. This study aims to explore the application of thoracoscopic surgery under spontaneous respiration in the elderly with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) and its effect on inflammatory indices and postoperative complications. Methods: The medical records of 181 elderly patients with PSP who underwent thoracoscopic surgery in our hospital from June 2021 to June 2022 were chosen for retrospective analysis. After excluding 15 patients who did not meet inclusion criteria, 80 patients receiving spontaneous respiration via laryngeal mask ventilation were included in the study group and 86 patients undergoing pulmonary ventilation via single-lumen tracheal intubation were included in the control group in accordance with the different schemes used in the surgery. Preoperative anaesthesia induction, surgical and hospitalisation times were compared, and the haemodynamics and inflammatory indices and complication incidences of the two groups were analysed. Results: Recovery time and hospitalisation time significantly differed between the two groups (p &lt; 0.001). Compared with the control group, the study group had significantly lower mean arterial pressure at T2 and faster heart rates at T2 and T3 (p &lt; 0.001). At T5, T6 and T7, the levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and C-reactive protein in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p &lt; 0.05). The incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications did not significantly differ between the two groups (p &gt; 0.05). Conclusion: Thoracoscopic surgery under spontaneous respiration is safe and effective in the treatment of elderly patients with PSP. It reduces the levels of inflammatory factors and accelerates postoperative rehabilitation, showing certain value for clinical promotion.

Effect of High-Dose Vitamin D on Mortality and Hospital Length of Stay in ICU Patients with COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Evidence indicating the effect of vitamin D supplementation on improving the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 is limited. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of high-dose vitamin D on mortality and hospital length of stay in ICU patients with COVID-19. Methods: A single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 61 patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 hospitalized in the ICU of Golestan Hospital, Kermanshah, Iran. Participants were randomly divided to receive a single dose of 300 000 IU vitamin D3 intramuscularly (n = 31) or placebo (n = 30). The primary outcomes were the length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were the length of stay in the ICU, the number of patients requiring mechanical ventilation, and the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Results: Out of 61 randomized patients, 44 patients with a mean age of 53.49 ± 13.2 years, body mass index of 29.80 ± 5.0 kg/m2, and serum vitamin D level of 24.36 ± 4.47 mg/dL were included in the study for primary analysis, of whom 31 (70.5%) cases were men. Median (interquartile range), the length of hospital stay between the vitamin D group (5.0 [6.0 - 11.0] days), placebo group (11.0 [6.0 - 17.0] days) (log-rank P = 0.23; unadjusted hazard ratio [HR] for hospital discharge, 3.4 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.4 - 28.05]; P = 0.25; adjusted HR, 0.04 [95%CI, 11.52 - 0.0001]; P = 0.27) and mortality (unadjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.63 [95% CI,0.09 - 4.21]; P = 0.63; adjusted OR, 0.46 [95%CI, 0.03 - 6.55]; P = 0.57) showed no significant difference between the two groups before and after the adjustment of confounding factors. No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the need for mechanical ventilation (unadjusted OR for intubation = 2.1 [95% CI, 0.17 - 25.01]; P = 0.55), adjusted OR = 1.16 [95%CI, 0.04 - 27.57]; P = 0.92), and the length of stay in ICUs (log-rank = 2.49, P = 0.114; unadjusted HR for ICU discharge, 6.28 [95%CI, 0.5 - 78.42]; P = 0.15; adjusted HR = 21.48 [95%CI, 0.12 - 3677.48]; P = 0.24). Conclusions: Based on the results, A high dose of vitamin D did not significantly reduce mortality and hospital length of stay in ICU patients with COVID-19.

IMPACT OF ANTENATAL STEROID ADMINISTRATION ON NEONATAL RESPIRATORY OUTCOMES

The administration of antenatal steroids represents a pivotal intervention in obstetric care with profound implications for neonatal respiratory outcomes. The study's main objective is to find the impact of antenatal steroid administration on neonatal respiratory outcomes. This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from July 2019 to June 2023. The study included all infants born at the hospital who met the criteria for preterm birth (gestational age less than 37 weeks). Maternal demographic information was extracted, encompassing maternal age, parity, and medical history. The data collection's primary focus was antenatal steroid administration, including the type of steroid used, dosage, and timing of the gestational age at delivery. Data was collected from 550 preterm infants. The mean maternal age in the antenatal steroid group was 28.5 ± 4.2 years, and 29.1 ± 4.5 years in the no antenatal steroid group. The mean gestational age was 32.2 ± 2.1 weeks and 31.8 ± 2.3, respectively, in both groups. In the antenatal steroid group (n=300), the majority received betamethasone (90.0%) compared to dexamethasone (10.0%). The timing of administration varied, with 16.7% receiving steroids before 28 weeks, 50.0% between 28-32 weeks, and 33.3% between 32-34 weeks. The mean dosage for betamethasone was 10.5 ± 2.3 mg, while dexamethasone had a mean dosage of 8.0 ± 1.5 mg. It is concluded that antenatal steroid administration was associated with a significant reduction in RDS incidence and a lower need for mechanical ventilation among preterm infants. These findings emphasize the clinical importance of timely antenatal steroid administration in improving neonatal respiratory outcomes.

Assessment of sleep quality in severe COVID-19 hospitalised patients.

To evaluate the quality of sleep in patients hospitalised with coronavirus disease-2019, and its impact on hospitalisation duration, need for intensive care unit admission and mortality. The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan, from May 2, 2021 to April 30, 2022, and comprised hospitalised coronavirus disease-2019 patients. Data was gathered using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire, including demographics, comorbidities, length of hospital stay, need for intensive care unit admission, C-reactive protein and D-dimer values at admission, and the outcome. The patients were divided into group A having good sleep quality score >5 and group B having poor sleep quality score <5. Data was analysed using SPSS 25. Of the 1,250 patients, 559(44.7%) were males and 691(55.3%) were females. There were 560(44.8%) patients in group A with mean age 53.80±14.85 years, and 690(55.2%) patients in group B with mean age 53.71±14.32 years. There were no significant intergroup differences in terms of age and high-resolution computed tomography scan (p>0.05). The difference was significant with respect to gender, comorbid conditions, education status as well C-reactive protein and D-dimer levels (p<0.001). Group B patients had a longer duration of hospitalisation (p<0.001) and a higher need for intensive care unit admission (p<0.001) compared to group A. The outcome was death in 166(13.28%) patients in group B compared to 40(3.2%) in group A (p<0.001). Poor sleep quality was found to be associated with longer hospital stay, increased need for mechanical ventilation, and higher mortality rate in coronavirus disease-2019 patients.

Dyselectrolytemia in Children With Severe Pneumonia: A Prospective Study.

Background Pneumonia is a condition characterized by inflammation of the lung parenchyma. It is one of the leading causes of mortality in children below five years of age. While predominantly prevalent in developing countries, it is also associated with significant healthcare-associated costs in developed countries. Among the many risk factors for childhood pneumonia, incomplete immunization, nonexclusive breastfeeding for less than six months, delayed weaning, poor household air quality, malnutrition, and low birth weight are the most commonly found. Electrolyte disturbances, also known as dyselectrolytemia, have been associated with a broad spectrum of acute infections, including pneumonia, particularly hyponatremia. It occurs in the majority of community-acquired pneumonia. Hyper- and hypokalemia are less frequently occurring electrolyte disturbances. Electrolyte disturbances are due to impairment of the intrarenal mechanism of urine dilutiondue to extracellular fluid volume depletion and inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone. The central nervous system is imminently affected by acute hyponatremia. This condition frequently culminates in cerebral edema, a result of the rapid fluid shift, and causes sudden fatality. Aim of the study This study aims to study dyselectrolytemia in children with severe pneumonia. Objectives The study objectives are to assess dyselectrolytemia in children with severe pneumonia and to correlate dyselectrolytemia with morbidity and hospital stay. Methodology This prospective study was conducted on 80 children in the age group of two months up to five years who visited our tertiary care center and had severe pneumonia. We evaluated the extent of dyselectrolytemia in our study population by analyzing the frequency correlation of different kinds of electrolyte imbalances. We also analyzed the correlation between morbidity and hospital stay. Results Out of 80 children in this study with severe pneumonia, 47 (59%) had electrolyte imbalance. Among the patients with electrolyte imbalance, 31 (39%) patients had hyponatremia followed by hypokalemia in 12 (15%) patients, hypernatremia in 3 (4%) patients, and hyperkalemia in 1 (1%) patient. Among the 17 (21%) children with pneumonia requiring ICU admission, 16 (94%) had dyselectrolytemia and 4 (24%) experienced fatal outcomes. Conclusions The majority of the children who were admitted to the ICU had severe pneumonia along with electrolyte imbalance. This necessitates the monitoring of the electrolyte and nutritional status of the patients with pneumonia. Providing proper nutrition advice for children with pneumonia may reduce morbidity and mortality. Early detection and treatment of electrolyte imbalances in pneumonia cases can decrease prolonged hospital stays, ICU admissions, and the need for mechanical ventilation, ultimately contributing to a reduction in morbidity and mortality.

Long-Term Particulate Matter Exposure and Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in South Korea.

Rationale: Particulate matter (PM) exposure exacerbates health outcomes by causing lung damage. Objectives: To investigate whether prior exposure to particulate matter ⩽10 μm and ⩽2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10 and PM2.5) was associated with clinical outcomes among patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods: Data from the nationwide registration database of the National Health Insurance and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in South Korea were used. The study included adult patients who were admitted to monitoring centers or hospitals between October 8, 2020 and December 31, 2021, after COVID-19 confirmation. AirKOREA database, which compiles air pollutant data from 642 stations in 162 cities and counties across South Korea, was used to extract data on PM levels. Average values of monthly exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 from the year previous to hospital admission because of COVID-19 to the date of confirmation of COVID-19 were calculated and used to define PM exposures of patients with COVID-19. Results: In total, 322,289 patients with COVID-19 were included, and 4,633 (1.4%) died during hospitalization. After adjusting for covariates, a 1-μg/m3 increase in PM10 and PM2.5 exposure was associated with 4% (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.05; P < 0.001) and 6% (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.04-1.07; P < 0.001) increase in the risk of in-hospital mortality, respectively. In addition, a 1-μg/m3 increase in PM10 and PM2.5 was associated with 5% (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.04-1.07; P < 0.001) and 8% (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.06-1.10; P < 0.001) increase in the risks of requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mechanical ventilation, respectively. Conclusions: PM10 and PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased in-hospital mortality and the need for ICU admission and mechanical ventilation among patients with COVID-19 in South Korea.

Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting mechanical ventilation need among acutely intoxicated patients with impaired consciousness.

A considerable portion of acutely intoxicated patients is presented with impaired consciousness. Early identification of those patients who require advanced medical care, such as mechanical ventilation (MV), can improve their prognosis. This study included 330 acutely intoxicated patients who were presented with impaired consciousness and admitted to Tanta University Poison Control Center, Egypt, in the period from January 2021 to December 2023. Patients were enrolled in derivation (257 patients) and validation (73 patients) cohorts. Patients' data were analyzed to develop and validate a predictive nomogram to determine the probability of MV need in acutely intoxicated patients. Significant predictors for MV need were mean arterial blood pressure (OR = 0.96, p = .014), PaO2 (OR = 0.96, p = .001), pH (OR = 0.00, p < . 001), and glucose/potassium ratio (OR = 1.59, p = .030). These four parameters were used to formulate a bedside nomogram. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for the proposed nomogram shows that area under the curve (AUC) = 95.7%, accuracy = 93.4%, sensitivity = 88.9%, and specificity = 95.1%. The internal validation for the developed nomogram was assessed using a bootstrapping method and calibration curve. Regarding external validation, AUCs for the developed nomogram probability was 96.5%, and for predicted probability using the developed nomogram was 97.8%. The current study provides a validated nomogram that could be used as a reliable tool for the accurate prediction of MV need among acutely intoxicated patients with impaired consciousness. It could assist in the early identification of patients who will require MV, especially in low-income countries with limited resources.

Postnatal Hospitalization Rates and Short-Term Follow-up Results of Late Preterm, Early Term, and Term Newborns

Objective: Late preterm newborns are defined as infants born at 34-36 weeks of gestation, while early term newborns are those born at 37-38 weeks. Late preterm and early term newborns have higher risks of morbidity and mortality compared to term infants. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality in late preterm and early term newborns with reference to term newborns.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: A total of 1000 newborns born between 34 and 42 weeks of gestation in our hospital were included in this study. These cases were evaluated according to maternal age, birth weight, APGAR score, mode of delivery, need for postnatal resuscitation, family income, hospitalization rate, and need for mechanical ventilation.&#x0D; Results: Among the 1000 newborns included in the study, respiratory problems were more common in male newborns. As income levels increased, the rate of births closer to term increased. The hospitalization rate of late preterm newborns was higher compared to early term and term newborns while APGAR scores were lower. Finally, the need for mechanical ventilation was higher among late preterm newborns.&#x0D; Conclusion: In evaluations of late preterm and early term newborns, their physiological immaturity should be considered and it should not be forgotten that they have higher risks in terms of morbidity and mortality. Delivery should not be planned before the 39th week of gestation unless there is a medical indication.

The effect of taking antibacterial therapy on the outpatient stage and outcomes of community-acquired pneumonia in Tomsk hospitals

Background. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains one of the most common diseases requiring urgent hospitalization, with a significant part of patients already receiving antibiotics before admission to the hospital.&#x0D; Aim. To assess the relationship between outpatient antibacterial therapy and in-hospital mortality and the severity of the CAP.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The retrospective study included the data of adult patients with CAP who were hospitalized in Tomsk from January 1 to December 31, 2017.&#x0D; Results. Among 1412 patients, 22.2% received antibiotics before admission to the hospital, the proportion of deaths in this group was significantly lower – 3.8% compared with 10.6% among patients without antibiotic therapy (p0.001). Subjects who received antibiotics on outpatient basis were less likely to require being in the intensive care unit and administering vasopressors, in contrast to patients without prior antibiotic therapy: 5.1 and 10.6% (p=0.003); 7.1 and 4.7% (p=0.018) respectively. In patients with severe CAP on a scale IDSA/ATS, only 11.8% of cases were detected with antibiotics before hospitalization, while in mild CAP the frequency of administration was 16.6% (p0.001).&#x0D; Conclusion. Ambulatory antibacterial therapy had a positive effect on the subsequent course and outcomes of CAP in a hospital setting. Patients had a predominantly mild course of the disease, needing for vasopressors, and being in the intensive care unit, but was not consistent with the need for invasive mechanical ventilation.

Rehabilitation in children with home invasive mechanical ventilation.

Children with home invasive mechanical ventilation need special health care and rehabilitation services due to complications caused by both the pulmonary system and physical inactivity. Children who are dependent on invasive mechanical ventilators due to breathing difficulties and lung problems can benefit from rehabilitation programs. Rehabilitation requires a close relationship between the child, parents and/or caregivers, and healthcare professionals. The main goal of rehabilitation is to improve breathing, lung function and overall quality of life. In this review, although full standard approaches have not been determined yet, rehabilitation approaches for children dependent on home-type invasive mechanical ventilator will be discussed.

Low handgrip strength is associated with worse functional outcomes in long COVID

The diagnosis of long COVID is troublesome, even when functional limitations are present. Dynapenia is the loss of muscle strength and power production that is not caused by neurologic or muscular diseases, being mostly associated with changes in neurologic function and/or the intrinsic force-generating properties of skeletal muscle, which altogether, may partially explain the limitations seen in long COVID. This study aimed to identify the distribution and possible associations of dynapenia with functional assessments in patients with long COVID. A total of 113 patients with COVID-19 were evaluated by functional assessment 120 days post-acute severe disease. Body composition, respiratory muscle strength, spirometry, six-minute walk test (6MWT, meters), and hand-grip strength (HGS, Kilogram-force) were assessed. Dynapenia was defined as HGS < 30 Kgf (men), and < 20 Kgf (women). Twenty-five (22%) participants were dynapenic, presenting lower muscle mass (p < 0.001), worse forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (p = 0.0001), lower forced vital capacity (p < 0.001), and inspiratory (p = 0.007) and expiratory (p = 0.002) peek pressures, as well as worse 6MWT performance (p < 0.001). Dynapenia, independently of age, was associated with worse FEV1, maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and 6MWT, (p < 0.001) outcomes. Patients with dynapenia had higher intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates (p = 0.01) and need for invasive mechanical ventilation (p = 0.007) during hospitalization. The HGS is a simple, reliable, and low-cost measurement that can be performed in outpatient clinics in low- and middle-income countries. Thus, HGS may be used as a proxy indicator of functional impairment in this population.

The impact of obesity in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundObesity is believed to be a risk factor for COVID-19 and unfavorable outcomes, although data on this remains to be better elucidated.ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of obesity on the endpoints of patients hospitalized due to SARS-CoV-2.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study evaluated patients hospitalized at a tertiary hospital (Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP) from March to December 2020. Only patients positive for COVID-19 (real-time PCR or serology) were included. Data were collected from medical records and included clinical and demographic information, weight and height, SAPS-3 score, comorbidities, and patient-centered outcomes (mortality, and need for mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, or vasoactive drugs). Patients were divided into categories according to their BMI (underweight, eutrophic, overweight and obesity) for comparison porpoise.ResultsA total of 2547 patients were included. The mean age was 60.3 years, 56.2% were men, 65.2% were white and the mean BMI was 28.1 kg/m2. SAPS-3 score was a risk factor for all patient-centered outcomes (HR 1.032 for mortality, OR 1.03 for dialysis, OR 1.07 for vasoactive drug use, and OR 1.08 for intubation, p < 0.05). Male sex increased the risk of death (HR 1.175, p = 0.027) and dialysis (OR 1.64, p < 0.001), and underweight was protective for vasoactive drug use (OR 0.45, p = 0.027) and intubation (OR 0.31, p < 0.003).ConclusionObesity itself was not an independent factor for worse patient-centered outcomes. Critical clinical state (indirectly evaluated by SAPS-3) appears to be the most important variable related to hard outcomes in patients infected with COVID-19.

Fatigue and Mental Illness Symptoms in Long COVID: Protocol for a Prospective Cohort Multicenter Observational Study.

The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect millions worldwide, resulting in persisting postvirus complaints and impacting peoples' quality of life. Long COVID, characterized by lingering symptoms like fatigue and mental illness, can extend beyond a few months, necessitating further research to understand its implications. This study aims to quantify the degree of physical and psychological fatigue in patients following COVID-19 infection and examine its correlation with mental health disorders. Using a consecutive nonrandom sampling technique, we will conduct a prospective cohort multicenter observational study in 5 Portuguese hospitals. Symptomatic adult patients with previous COVID-19 attending follow-up consultations will be enrolled. We will include patients who had mild, moderate, and severe acute disease. We will assess clinical outcomes related to COVID-19, including the type of respiratory support such as high-flow nasal cannula, noninvasive ventilation, and invasive mechanical ventilation. The exclusion criteria will include previous severe psychiatric disorders confirmed by a psychiatrist; refusal or inability to respond to the questionnaire; concomitant neurological disorder; persistent fatigue symptoms during the 6 months before infection; and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation during COVID-19 infection due to a high prevalence of postintensive care syndrome. Our primary outcome is the prevalence of fatigue in patients with post-COVID-19 depression and/or anxiety, as measured by the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ-11) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The secondary outcomes will include an assessment of health-related quality of life via the EQ-5D questionnaire and an exploration of the prevalence of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using the 14-item Posttraumatic Stress Scale (PTSS-14). We will also examine the association between mental health symptoms and the severity of acute COVID-19. The post-COVID-19 data will be collected at least 6 months after the positive test and no longer than 9 months during the clinical appointment. We expect our multicenter study on patients post COVID-19 to reveal a significant link between mental illness symptoms and both physical and psychological fatigue. Patients with heightened depression and anxiety may report increased levels of fatigue. Additionally, we expect to find persistent PTSD symptoms in a subset of participants, indicating the enduring psychological impact of the virus. This study may underscore the need for integrated care addressing physical and mental health in patients post COVID-19. The observed connections emphasize the importance of considering mental well-being for long-term health outcomes. Despite study limitations, our findings contribute valuable insights for future treatment strategies and highlight the necessity for comprehensive mental health support in post-COVID-19 care. This research provides valuable insights into the mental health implications of COVID-19 and its impact on post-COVID-19 fatigue and the overall well-being of affected individuals. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05323318; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05323318. DERR1-10.2196/51820.

EEG changes in critically ill patients with sepsis associated encephalopathy and its correlation with morbidity and mortality

ABSTRACT Background Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) refers to multifactorial syndrome manifested by generalized cerebral dysfunction induced by systemic response to infections with no clinical or laboratory evidence of directly cerebral infections or other forms of encephalopathy. The electroencephalogram (EEG) is one of the methods that allow physicians to continuously monitor the cerebrum and help management decisions. We studied the EEG changes in predicting morbidity and mortality of SAE in critically ill cases suffering sepsis or septic shock. Patients and Methods In this prospective observational study, 80 cases with sepsis or septic shock were subjected to EEG recording to assess EEG changes in critically ill patients with SAE and its correlation with their morbidity and mortality. Results There was a statistically significant difference in prognostic performance for EEG grading between survivors and non survivors to predict mortality. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.887, cut off was > 2#, sensitivity was 87.50 and specificity was 81.25 and accuracy was 83.75 as the higher the score was associated with higher mortality. There was statistically significant association between EEG grading and 28-day mortality (p-value ˂0.001). Also, there was statistically significant association between EEG grading and the need for mechanical ventilation and vasopressors (p-value ˂0.001). There was a significant association between EEG within 72 hours of admission and length of ICU stay (p-value ˂ 0.017). Conclusion Early EEG changes have a positive correlation with morbidity and mortality and can be used as a good predictor in cases suffering sepsis or septic shock presenting with SAE.