Returning to work and health status at 12 months among patients with COVID-19 cared for in intensive care-A prospective, longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: Intensive care unit (ICU) stay for a serious illness has a long-term impact on patients' physical and psychological well-being, affecting their ability to return to their everyday life. We aimed to investigate whether there are differences in health status between those who return to work and those who do not, and how demographic characteristics and illness severity impact patients' ability to return to work 12 months after intensive care for COVID-19. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study. The participants were patients who had been in intensive care for COVID-19 and had worked before contracting COVID-19. Data on return to previous occupational status, demographic data, comorbidities, intensive care characteristics, and health status were collected at a 12-month follow-up visit. SETTING: General ICU at the Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden. RESULTS: Seventy-three participants were included in the study. Twelve months after discharge from the ICU, 77 % (n = 56) had returned to work. The participants who were unable to return to work reported more severe health symptoms. The (odds ratio [OR] for not returning to work was high for critical illness OR, 12.05; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 2.07-70.29, p = 0.006) and length of ICU stay (OR, 1.06; 95 % CI, 1.01-1.11, p = 0.01) CONCLUSION: Two-thirds of the participants were able to return to work within 1 year after discharge from the ICU. The primary factors contributing to the failure to work were duration of the acute disease and presence of severe and persistent long-term symptoms. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Patients' health status must be comprehensively assessed and their ability to return to work should be addressed in the rehabilitation process. Therefore, any complications faced by the patients must be identified and treated early to increase the possibility of their successful return to work.

Comorbid burden at ICU admission in COVID-19 compared to sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Comorbidities are similarly associated with short-term mortality for COVID-19, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, but their adjusted frequencies at admission are unknown. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the adjusted distribution, reported as odds ratios, of known risk factors (i.e., age, sex and comorbidities) for ICU admission between COVID-19, sepsis and ARDS patients in this nationwide registry-based study. METHODS: In this cohort study, we included adult patients admitted to Swedish ICUs with COVID-19 (n = 7382) during the pandemic and compared them to patients admitted to ICU with sepsis (n = 22,354) or ARDS (n = 2776) during a pre-COVID-19 period. The main outcomes were the adjusted odds for comorbidities, sex, and age in multivariable logistic regression on diagnostic categories in patients admitted to ICU, COVID-19 or sepsis and COVID-19 or ARDS. RESULTS: We found that most comorbidities, as well as age, had a stronger association with sepsis admission than COVID-19 admission with the exception of male sex, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and asthma that were more strongly associated with COVID-19 admission, while no difference was seen for chronic renal failure and obesity. For COVID-19 and ARDS admission most risk factors were more strongly associated with ARDS admission except for male sex, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, and obesity which were more strongly associated with COVID-19 admission, whereas hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma were not different. CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted to ICU with sepsis or ARDS carry a heavier burden of comorbidity and high age than patients admitted with COVID-19. This is likely caused by a combination of: (1) respiratory failure in COVID-19 being less dependent on comorbidities than in other forms of ARDS, and the cause of critical illness in other infections causing sepsis and (2) COVID-19 patients being deferred admission in situations where patients with the other syndromes were admitted.

Distribution and outcomes of paediatric anaesthesia services in Sweden: an epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: Centralisation of perioperative care for small children to a limited number of specialised paediatric centres has many theoretical advantages, but neither the optimal balance nor the current distribution of paediatric anaesthesia on a national scale are well elucidated. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution, adverse events, and mortality in children undergoing anaesthesia in Sweden. METHODS: In this cohort study, data from all paediatric anaesthesia procedures registered in Sweden during the years 2019-22 were extracted from the Swedish Perioperative Register (SPOR). Data were analysed according to hospital level of care and ASA physical status. RESULTS: Data from 81 hospitals were analysed. During the 4-yr period, 214,964 procedures were registered. Most procedures in neonates and infants were managed in paediatric (73%) and other university hospitals (21%). Adverse events occurred in 2.71% of cases and severe adverse events in 0.067%. The all-cause 24-h mortality rate was 6.6:10,000 anaesthetics and the all-cause 30-day mortality was 14.7:10,000 anaesthetics. The 30-day all-cause estimated mortality was highest in paediatric hospitals (95% confidence interval [CI] 30-39) compared with other university hospitals (95% CI 6.1-12), county (95% CI 1.9-4.8), district (95% CI 0.07-2.2), and smaller hospitals (95% CI 0.0-22). CONCLUSIONS: Most procedures in neonates and infants were performed in tertiary centres, with county hospitals managing mainly older children, in accordance with national recommendations. Mortality was more common in tertiary centres, reflecting increased comorbidity and centralisation of anaesthesia of neonates and infants.

Body mass index is associated with pulmonary gas and blood distribution mismatch in COVID-19 acute respiratory failure. A physiological study.

Background: The effects of obesity on pulmonary gas and blood distribution in patients with acute respiratory failure remain unknown. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is a X-ray-based method used to study regional distribution of gas and blood within the lung. We hypothesized that 1) regional gas/blood mismatch can be quantified by DECT; 2) obesity influences the global and regional distribution of pulmonary gas and blood; 3) regardless of ventilation modality (invasive vs. non-invasive ventilation), patients' body mass index (BMI) has an impact on pulmonary gas/blood mismatch. Methods: This single-centre prospective observational study enrolled 118 hypoxic COVID-19 patients (92 male) in need of respiratory support and intensive care who underwent DECT. The cohort was divided into three groups according to BMI: 1. BMI<25 kg/m2 (non-obese), 2. BMI = 25-40 kg/m2 (overweight to obese), and 3. BMI>40 kg/m2 (morbidly obese). Gravitational analysis of Hounsfield unit distribution of gas and blood was derived from DECT and used to calculate regional gas/blood mismatch. A sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the influence of the chosen ventilatory modality and BMI on gas/blood mismatch and adjust for other possible confounders (i.e., age and sex). Results: 1) Regional pulmonary distribution of gas and blood and their mismatch were quantified using DECT imaging. 2) The BMI>40 kg/m2 group had less hyperinflation in the non-dependent regions and more lung collapse in the dependent regions compared to the other BMI groups. In morbidly obese patients, gas and blood were more evenly distributed; therefore, the mismatch was lower than in other patients (30% vs. 36%, p < 0.05). 3) An increase in BMI of 5 kg/m2 was associated with a decrease in mismatch of 3.3% (CI: 3.67% to -2.93%, p < 0.05). Neither the ventilatory modality nor age and sex affected the gas/blood mismatch (p > 0.05). Conclusion: 1) In a hypoxic COVID-19 population needing intensive care, pulmonary gas/blood mismatch can be quantified at a global and regional level using DECT. 2) Obesity influences the global and regional distribution of gas and blood within the lung, and BMI>40 kg/m2 improves pulmonary gas/blood mismatch. 3) This is true regardless of the ventilatory mode and other possible confounders, i.e., age and sex. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04316884, NCT04474249.

Paediatric postoperative acute kidney injury after non-cardiac surgery: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with significant adverse outcomes such as increased mortality, progression to chronic kidney disease and longer length of stay in hospital. Postoperative AKI is a common and recognized complication after surgery in adults. In the paediatric population, AKI postoperatively to cardiac surgery has been extensively studied. However, the incidence of postoperative AKI after non-cardiac surgery is less clear. Therefore, we aim to assess the available literature on this topic. METHODS: We will conduct a systematic review of observational and randomized controlled trials assessing the incidence of paediatric postoperative AKI after non-cardiac surgery. Pairs of reviewers will independently screen the literature and extract data and assess risk of bias from eligible studies. The databases Pubmed, Cochrane and Web of Sciences will be searched. We will conduct the review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. If sufficient homogeneity within the included trials we will conduct meta-analyses. DISCUSSION: This systematic review aims to investigate the incidence of postoperative AKI in the paediatric non-cardiac surgery population. The results of this review will provide a foundation for future research in the field of paediatric postoperative AKI.

Different distances between central venous catheter tips can affect antibiotic clearance during continuous renal replacement therapy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this experimental study was to elucidate whether different distances between central venous catheter tips can affect drug clearance during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Central venous catheters (CVCs) are widely used in intensive care patients for drug infusion. If a patient receives CRRT, a second central dialysis catheter (CDC) is required. Where to insert CVCs is directed by guidelines, but recommendations regarding how to place multiple catheters are scarce. There are indications that a drug infused in a CVC with the tip close to the tip of the CDC, could be directly aspirated into the dialysis machine, with a risk of increased clearance. However, studies on whether clearance is affected by different CVC and CDC tip positions, when the two catheters are in the same vessel, are few. METHODS: In this model with 18 piglets, gentamicin (GM) and vancomycin (VM) were infused through a CVC during CRRT. The CVC tip was placed in different positions in relation to the CDC tip from caudal, i.e., proximal to the heart, to cranial, i.e., distal to the heart. Serum and dialysate concentrations were sampled after approximately 30 min of CRRT at four different positions: when the CVC tip was 2 cm caudally (+ 2), at the same level (0), and at 2 (- 2) and 4 (- 4) cm cranially of the tip of the CDC. Clearance was calculated. A mixed linear model was performed, and level of significance was set to p < 0.05. RESULTS: Clearance of GM had median values at + 2 cm, 0 cm, - 2 cm and - 4 cm of 17.3 (5.2), 18.6 (7.4), 20.0 (16.2) and 26.2 (12.2) ml/min, respectively (p = 0.04). Clearance of VM had median values at + 2 cm, 0 cm, - 2 cm and - 4 cm of 16.2 (4.5), 14.7 (4.9), 19.0 (10.2) and 21.2 (11.4) ml/min, respectively (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The distance between CVC and CDC tips can affect drug clearance during CRRT. A cranial versus a caudal tip position of the CVC in relation to the tip of the CDC led to the highest clearance.

Adapting the Cornell assessment of pediatric delirium for Swedish context: translation, cultural validation and inter-rater reliability.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric delirium causes prolonged hospital stays, increased costs, and distress for children and caregivers. Currently, there is no delirium screening tool available in Sweden that has been translated, culturally validated, and tested for reliability. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and assess the suitability of the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) for implementation in Swedish healthcare settings. METHODS: The CAPD was translated and culturally adapted to Swedish context following the ten-step process recommended by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Task Force for Translation and Cultural Adaptation. The Swedish CAPD was tested in the pediatric intensive care unit of Uppsala University Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Sweden. Inter-rater reliability was tested using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), with both Registered Nurses (RNs) and Assistant Nurses (ANs) conducting parallel measurements using the Swedish CAPD. A reliability score of ICC > 0.75 was considered indicative of good reliability. RESULTS: After translation of the CAPD into Swedish, 10 RNs participated in the cultural adaptation process. Issues related to word choice, education, and instructions were addressed. Wording improvements were made to ensure accurate interpretation. Supplementary training sessions were organized to strengthen users' proficiency with the Swedish CAPD. Additional instructions were provided to enhance clarity and usability. Inter-rater reliability testing resulted in an ICC of 0.857 (95% CI: 0.708-0.930), indicating good reliability. CONCLUSION: This study successfully translated and culturally adapted the CAPD to align with Swedish contextual parameters. The resulting Swedish CAPD demonstrated good inter-rater reliability, establishing its viability as a tool for measuring delirium among pediatric patients in Swedish pediatric intensive care units. TRAIL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Metabolomic pattern associated with physical sequelae in patients presenting with respiratory symptoms validates the aestivation concept in dehydrated patients.

Hypertonic dehydration is associated with muscle wasting and synthesis of organic osmolytes. We recently showed a metabolic shift to amino acid production and urea cycle activation in coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19), consistent with the aestivation response. The aim of the present investigation was to validate the metabolic shift and development of long-term physical outcomes in the non-COVID cohort of the Biobanque Québécoise de la COVID-19 (BQC19). We included 824 patients from BQC19, where 571 patients had data of dehydration in the form of estimated osmolality (eOSM = 2Na + 2K + glucose + urea), and 284 patients had metabolome data and long-term follow-up. We correlated the degree of dehydration to mortality, invasive mechanical ventilation, acute kidney injury, and long-term symptoms. As found in the COVID cohort, higher eOSM correlated with a higher proportion of urea and glucose of total eOSM, and an enrichment of amino acids compared with other metabolites. Sex-stratified analysis indicated that women may show a weaker aestivation response. More severe dehydration was associated with mortality, invasive mechanical ventilation, and acute kidney injury during the acute illness. Importantly, more severe dehydration was associated with physical long-term symptoms but not mental long-term symptoms after adjustment for age, sex, and disease severity. Patients with water deficit in the form of increased eOSM tend to have more severe disease and experience more physical symptoms after an acute episode of care. This is associated with amino acid and urea production, indicating dehydration-induced muscle wasting.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We have previously shown that humans exhibit an aestivation-like response where dehydration leads to a metabolic shift to urea synthesis, which is associated with long-term weakness indicating muscle wasting. In the present study, we validate this response in a new cohort and present a deeper metabolomic analysis and pathway analysis. Finally, we present a sex-stratified analysis suggesting weaker aestivation in women. However, women show less dehydration, so the association warrants further study.

Smoking is associated with higher risk of contracting bacterial infection and pneumonia, intensive care unit admission and death.

BACKGROUND: Smoking has been associated with a higher risk of contracting pneumonia, but contradictory results have shown that smoking may or may not decrease the risk of dying in pneumonia. The aim of this study is to investigate how smoking is associated with contracting any infection and pneumonia and death. METHOD AND FINDINGS: Participants were drawn from the population-based Cohort of Swedish Men and the Swedish Mammography Cohort, which are representative of the Swedish population. Participants have answered detailed lifestyle questionnaires and have been followed in national registers, such as the Patient Register, Cause of Death register and Swedish Intensive Care Registry. The risks of contracting infection and pneumonia or dying in infection and pneumonia were assessed using Cox regression. Of 62,902 cohort participants, 25,297 contracted an infection of which 4,505 died; and 10,471 contracted pneumonia of which 2,851 died. Compared to never smokers, former smokers at baseline had hazard ratio (HR) 1.08 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.12) of contracting and HR 1.19 (95% CI 1.11-1.28) of dying in infection and HR 1.17 (95% CI 1.12-1.23) of contracting and HR 1.16 (95% CI 1.06-1.27) of dying in pneumonia during follow-up. Compared to never smokers, current smokers at baseline had HR 1.17 (95% CI 1.13-1.21) of contracting infection and HR 1.64 (95% CI 1.52-1.77) dying in infection; HR 1.42 (95% CI 1.35-1.49) of contracting pneumonia and HR 1.70 (95% CI 1.55-1.87) of dying in pneumonia during follow-up. The risk of contracting and dying in infection and pneumonia increased in a dose-response manner with number of pack years smoked and decreased with years since smoking cessation. CONCLUSION: Smoking is associated with contracting and dying in any infection and pneumonia and the risk increases with pack years smoked, highlighting the importance of both primary prevention and smoking cessation.

The Human Phospholipase B-II Precursor (HPLBII-P) in Urine as a Novel Biomarker of Glomerular Activity in COVID-19 and Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: The human phospholipase B-II precursor (HPLBII-P) was originally purified from white blood cells but is also found in other cellular structures, such as kidney glomeruli and tubuli. The objective of this report was to investigate the relationship of HPLBII-P in urine to acute kidney injury in patients with COVID-19. Methods: Urine was collected at admission from 132 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) because of respiratory failure. HPLBII-P was measured using a sensitive ELISA. For comparison, human neutrophil lipocalin (HNL) was measured in urine, using the ELISA configured with the monoclonal antibody 763/8F, as a sign of tubular affection in addition to routine biomarkers of kidney disease. Results: Overall, the concentrations of urinary HPLBII-P were almost 3-fold higher in patients with COVID-19 compared to healthy controls (p < 0.0001) and with significantly higher concentrations even in patients with COVID-19 without signs of acute kidney injury (AKI) (p < 0.001). HPLBII-P was further increased in patients with AKI (p < 0.02). HPLBII-P was significantly increased in patients with diabetes mellitus (p = 0.0008) and correlated to plasma glucose (r = 0.29, p = 0.001) and urine albumin concentrations (r = 0.55, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Urine concentrations of HPLBII-P are highly raised in the urine of patients with COVID-19 and relate to AKI and diabetes mellitus. HPLBII-P may reflect glomerular injury and/or increased glomerular cell activity in SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Sustained IFN signaling is associated with delayed development of SARS-CoV-2-specific immunity.

Plasma RNAemia, delayed antibody responses and inflammation predict COVID-19 outcomes, but the mechanisms underlying these immunovirological patterns are poorly understood. We profile 782 longitudinal plasma samples from 318 hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Integrated analysis using k-means reveals four patient clusters in a discovery cohort: mechanically ventilated critically-ill cases are subdivided into good prognosis and high-fatality clusters (reproduced in a validation cohort), while non-critical survivors segregate into high and low early antibody responders. Only the high-fatality cluster is enriched for transcriptomic signatures associated with COVID-19 severity, and each cluster has distinct RBD-specific antibody elicitation kinetics. Both critical and non-critical clusters with delayed antibody responses exhibit sustained IFN signatures, which negatively correlate with contemporaneous RBD-specific IgG levels and absolute SARS-CoV-2-specific B and CD4+ T cell frequencies. These data suggest that the "Interferon paradox" previously described in murine LCMV models is operative in COVID-19, with excessive IFN signaling delaying development of adaptive virus-specific immunity.

Case series of peripherally inserted central catheter insertion in young children: A new approach to the axillary vein.

BACKGROUND: We have developed a new approach for peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) insertion that we think has several advantages, including ease of insertion, access to a larger vein and patient comfort. METHODS: In this case series report, the first 19 cases were audited. RESULTS: All PICCs were inserted without complications; 17 on the first attempt. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the novel approach to the axillary vein for PICC insertion is feasible and appears to be safe when performed by an experienced operator.

Tumor Predisposing Post-Zygotic Chromosomal Alterations in Bladder Cancer-Insights from Histologically Normal Urothelium.

Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) is the 10th most common cancer with a low survival rate and strong male bias. We studied the field cancerization in BLCA using multi-sample- and multi-tissue-per-patient protocol for sensitive detection of autosomal post-zygotic chromosomal alterations and loss of chromosome Y (LOY). We analysed 277 samples of histologically normal urothelium, 145 tumors and 63 blood samples from 52 males and 15 females, using the in-house adapted Mosaic Chromosomal Alterations (MoChA) pipeline. This approach allows identification of the early aberrations in urothelium from BLCA patients. Overall, 45% of patients exhibited at least one alteration in at least one normal urothelium sample. Recurrence analysis resulted in 16 hotspots composed of either gains and copy number neutral loss of heterozygosity (CN-LOH) or deletions and CN-LOH, encompassing well-known and new BLCA cancer driver genes. Conservative assessment of LOY showed 29%, 27% and 18% of LOY-cells in tumors, blood and normal urothelium, respectively. We provide a proof of principle that our approach can characterize the earliest alterations preconditioning normal urothelium to BLCA development. Frequent LOY in blood and urothelium-derived tissues suggest its involvement in BLCA.

Physical activity is associated with a lower risk of contracting and dying in infection and sepsis: a Swedish population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a condition where the immune response to infection becomes dysregulated and life-threatening. It is not known whether lifestyle factors influence the risk of sepsis. The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between physical activity and the risk of acquiring and dying in infection or sepsis. METHODS: The population-based Swedish Mammography Cohort and Cohort of Swedish Men sent participants lifestyle questionnaires in 1997 and have subsequently followed participants in national Swedish registers, including the National Patient Register, the Swedish Intensive Care Registry and the Cause of Death Register. The risk of contracting infection and sepsis, the risk of intensive care unit admission and the risk of death were estimated using multivariable Cox regression. RESULTS: Among 64,850 cohort participants, 26,124 individuals suffered at least one episode of infection or sepsis and 4708 individuals died of infection or sepsis during the study period. In adjusted analyses, compared to exercising less than one hour per week, stated exercise one hour per week was associated with lower risk of contracting infection or sepsis, hazard ratio (HR) 0.93 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90-0.97), and lower risk of dying in infection or sepsis, HR 0.87 (95% CI 0.80-0.96). Further exercise was associated with even lower risk, and similar patterns were observed for walking. The population-attributable risks of contracting and dying in infection or sepsis for not exercising were 2.6% and 4.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise and walking demonstrate inverse dose-response associations with both the risk of contracting and dying in infection and sepsis, presenting possible preventative interventions for this critical condition.

Surviving COVID-19: patients' experiences of care and path to recovery.

PURPOSE: To examine patients' experiences of receiving care on an ICU for COVID-19 and the subsequent rehabilitation process. METHODS: An explorative and inductive design was used. Participants were recruited from two university hospitals in Sweden. Patients admitted to the ICU due to COVID-19 from March 2020 to April 2021, who enrolled in the ICU follow-up, and understood and spoke Swedish were invited to participate. In total, 20 participants completed a semi-structured interview, of whom 18 were included in the thematic analysis. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in two themes: "An isolated world with silver linings" and "Recovery in the wake of the pandemic". Findings show that patients cared for on an ICU for COVID-19 during the pandemic felt safe but experienced a sense of vulnerability. After discharge, physical rehabilitation was a slow process with frustrating day-to-day fluctuations. Mentally, participants felt isolated, fatigued, and emotionally sensitive. Patients reported that love and support from family and friends were crucial for the recovery process. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the challenges of recovering from COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of continued support from health care, public services, family and friends. It provides important insights into patients' experiences and can inform future healthcare strategies and policies.

Acute and long-term renal effects after iodine contrast media-enhanced computerised tomography in the critically ill-a retrospective bi-centre cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if current clinical use of iodine contrast media (ICM) for computerised tomography (CT) increases the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) and long-term decline in renal function in patients treated in intensive care. METHODS: A retrospective bi-centre cohort study was performed with critically ill subjects undergoing either ICM-enhanced or unenhanced CT. AKI was defined and staged based on the Kidney Disease Improve Global Outcome AKI criteria, using both creatinine and urine output criteria. Follow-up plasma creatinine was recorded three to six months after CT to assess any long-term effects of ICM on renal function. RESULTS: In total, 611 patients were included in the final analysis, median age was 65.0 years (48.0-73.0, quartile 1-quartile 3 (IQR)) and 62.5% were male. Renal replacement therapy was used post-CT in 12.9% and 180-day mortality was 31.2%. Plasma creatinine level on day of CT was 100.0 µmol/L (66.0-166.5, IQR) for non-ICM group and 77.0 µmol/L (59.0-109.0, IQR) for the ICM group. The adjusted odds ratio for developing AKI if the patient received ICM was 1.03 (95% confidence interval 0.64-1.66, p = 0.90). No significant association between ICM and increase in plasma creatinine at long-term follow-up was found, with an adjusted effect size of 2.92 (95% confidence interval - 6.52-12.36, p = 0.543). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study do not indicate an increased risk of AKI or long-term decline in renal function when ICM is used for enhanced CT in patients treated at intensive care units. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Patients treated in intensive care units had no increased risk of acute kidney injury or persistent decline in renal function after contrast-enhanced CT. This information underlines the need for a proper risk-reward assessment before denying patients a contrast-enhanced CT. KEY POINTS: • Iodine contrast media is considered a risk factor for the development of acute kidney injury. • Patients receiving iodine contrast media did not have an increased incidence of acute kidney injury or persistent decline in renal function. • A more clearly defined risk of iodine contrast media helps guide clinical decisions whether to perform contrast-enhanced CTs or not.

Correction: Berghäll et al. The Evolution of Blood Cell Phenotypes, Intracellular and Plasma Cytokines and Morphological Changes in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients. Biomedicines 2022, 10, 934.

In original publication [...].

Effect of controlled hypotensive hemorrhage on plasma sodium levels in anesthetized pigs: An exploratory study.

Perioperative hyponatremia, due to non-osmotic release of the antidiuretic hormone arginine vasopressin, is a serious electrolyte disorder observed in connection with many types of surgery. Since blood loss during surgery contributes to the pathogenesis of hyponatremia, we explored the effect of bleeding on plasma sodium using a controlled hypotensive hemorrhage pig model. After 30-min baseline period, hemorrhage was induced by aspiration of blood during 30 min at mean arterial pressure <50 mmHg. Thereafter, the animals were resuscitated with retransfused blood and a near-isotonic balanced crystalloid solution and monitored for 180 min. Electrolyte and water balances, cardiovascular response, renal hemodynamics, and markers of volume regulation and osmoregulation were investigated. All pigs (n = 10) developed hyponatremia. All animals retained hypotonic fluid, and none could excrete net-free water. Urinary excretion of aquaporin 2, a surrogate marker of collecting duct responsiveness to antidiuretic hormone, was significantly reduced at the end of the study, whereas lysine vasopressin, i.e., the pig antidiuretic hormone remained high. In this animal model, hyponatremia developed due to net positive fluid balance and generation of electrolyte-free water by the kidneys. A decreased urinary aquaporin 2 excretion may indicate an escape from antidiuresis.

Health-related quality of life after surviving intensive care for COVID-19: a prospective multicenter cohort study.

In survivors of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incomplete mental and physical recovery may considerably impact daily activities and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HRQoL can be evaluated with the RAND-36 questionnaire, a multidimensional instrument that assesses physical and mental aspects of health in eight dimensions. The objective was to investigate HRQoL in intensive care patients previously treated for COVID-19 at three Nordic university hospitals, in a prospective multi-center cohort study. HRQoL was measured using RAND-36, 3-9 months after discharge from intensive care units (ICU). One hospital performed a second follow-up 12 months after discharge. A score under the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval in the reference cohorts was considered as significantly reduced HRQoL. We screened 542 and included 252 patients. There was more than twice as many male (174) as female (78) patients and the median age was 61 (interquartile range, IQR 52-69) years. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity observed in 132 (52%) patients and 121 (48%) patients were mechanically ventilated for a median of 8 (IQR 4-14) days. In RAND-36 physical functioning, physical role functioning, general health (p < 0.001 for all) and social functioning (p < 0.05) were below reference, whereas bodily pain, emotional role functioning and mental health were not. In a time-to-event analysis female sex was associated with a decreased chance of reaching the reference HRQoL in the physical function, bodily pain and mental health dimensions. Higher body mass index was found in the physical functioning dimension and hypertension in the physical functioning, vitality and social functioning dimensions. Similar results were seen for diabetes mellitus in general health, vitality and mental health dimensions, as well as pulmonary illness in the physical role functioning dimension and psychiatric diagnosis in the social functioning dimension. Mechanical ventilation was associated with a decreased likelihood of achieving reference HRQoL in the bodily pain and physical functioning dimensions. Patients treated in an ICU because of COVID-19 had lower HRQoL 3-9 months after ICU discharge than 95% of the general population. Physical dimensions were more severely affected than mental dimensions. Female sex and several comorbidities were associated with a slower rate of recovery.Study registration: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04316884 registered on the 13th of March 2020, NCT04474249 registered on the 29th of June 2020 and NCT04864938 registered on the 4th of April 2021.