Capillary refill time during fluid resuscitation in patients with sepsis-related hyperlactatemia at the emergency department is related to mortality.

INTRODUCTION: Acute circulatory dysfunction in patients with sepsis can evolve rapidly into a progressive stage associated with high mortality. Early recognition and adequate resuscitation could improve outcome. However, since the spectrum of clinical presentation is quite variable, signs of hypoperfusion are frequently unrecognized in patients just admitted to the emergency department (ED). Hyperlactatemia is considered a key parameter to disclose tissue hypoxia but it is not universally available and getting timely results can be challenging in low resource settings. In addition, non-hypoxic sources can be involved in hyperlactatemia, and a misinterpretation could lead to over-resuscitation in an unknown number of cases. Capillary refill time (CRT) is a marker of peripheral perfusion that worsens during circulatory failure. An abnormal CRT in septic shock patients after ICU-based resuscitation has been associated with poor outcome. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of abnormal CRT in patients with sepsis-related hyperlactatemia in the early phase after ED admission, and its relationship with outcome. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study. Septic patients with hyperlactemia at ED admission subjected to an initial fluid resuscitation (FR) were included. CRT and other parameters were assessed before and after FR. CRT-normal or CRT-abnormal subgroups were defined according to the status of CRT following initial FR, and major outcomes were registered. RESULTS: Ninety-five hyperlactatemic septic patients were included. Thirty-one percent had abnormal CRT at ED arrival. After FR, 87 patients exhibited normal CRT, and 8 an abnormal one. Patients with abnormal CRT had an increased risk of adverse outcomes (88% vs. 20% p<0.001; RR 4.4 [2.7-7.4]), and hospital mortality (63% vs. 9% p<0.001; RR 6.7 [2.9-16]) as compared to those with normal CRT after FR. Specifically, CRT-normal patients required less frequently mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, and ICU admission, and exhibited a lower hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperlactatemic sepsis patients with abnormal CRT after initial fluid resuscitation exhibit higher mortality and worse clinical outcomes than patients with normal CRT.

[Social capital and health in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review]. / Capital social y salud en América Latina y el Caribe: una revisión sistemática.

OBJECTIVE: To identify validated information available on the relationship between social capital (SC) and health in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). METHODS: A systematic search for papers published from January 1990-June 2007 was conducted on the Medline, SciELO, LILACS, and the Cochrane Library databases. All of the research and review articles published by scientific journals that evaluated CS and its relationship to health in LAC were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen articles were found (11 original research and 4 reviews). The health topics examined by the research articles were: (a) mortality and life expectancy, (b) mental health, (c) injuries, (d) nutritional status, and (e) immunization. The validity of these works, the results, and the principal conclusions were analyzed in depth. CONCLUSIONS: Despite limitations inherent to the CS concept and the studies identified, it was confirmed that scientific evidence exists to support the possible association between CS and health in LAC. CS could play a protective role in certain health areas, such as injury prevention and mental health; not withstanding, the relationship between CS and health could vary according to CS subtype and socioeconomic context and culture. It is therefore imperative to continue social epidemiology research that thoroughly investigates the relationship between social determinants and specific aspects of health in LAC context.

Capital social y salud en América Latina y el Caribe: una revisión sistemática: [revisão] / Social capital and health in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review: [revision]

OBJETIVO: Identificar la información validada disponible sobre la relación entre el capital so cial (CS) y la salud en América Latina y el Caribe (ALC). MÉTODOS: Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática de los trabajos publicados entre enero de 1990 y junio de 2007 en las bases de datos Medline, SciELO, LILACS y The Cochrane Library. Se analizaron todos los artículos de investigación y revisión publicados en revistas científicas, que evaluaran el CS y su relación con la salud en ALC. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron 15 artículos (11 de investigación original y 4 de revisión). Las áreas de salud exploradas por las investigaciones originales fueron: a) mortalidad y esperanza de vida, b) salud mental, c) traumas, d) estado nutricional y e) vacunación. Se analiza detalla damente la validez de estos trabajos, sus resultados y principales conclusiones. CONCLUSIONES: A pesar de las limitaciones propias del concepto de CS y de los estudios iden tificados, se puede afirmar que existe evidencia científica incipiente de la posible relación entre el CS y la salud en ALC. El CS podría desempeñar un papel protector en ciertas áreas sanita rias, como la prevención de traumas y la salud mental; no obstante, la relación entre el CS y la salud podría variar según los subtipos de CS y los contextos socioeconómicos y culturales es pecíficos. Resulta fundamental continuar desarrollando investigaciones en el ámbito de la epi demiología social, en las que se analice en profundidad la relación entre los determinantes so ciales y los aspectos específicos de la salud en el contexto de ALC.

OBJECTIVE: To identify validated information available on the relationship between social capital (SC) and health in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). METHODS: A systematic search for papers published from January 1990-June 2007 was conducted on the Medline, SciELO, LILACS, and the Cochrane Library databases. All of the research and review articles published by scientific journals that evaluated CS and its relationship to health in LAC were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen articles were found (11 original research and 4 reviews). The health topics examined by the research articles were: (a) mortality and life expectancy, (b) mental health, (c) injuries, (d) nutritional status, and (e) immunization. The validity of these works, the results, and the principal conclusions were analyzed in depth. CONCLUSIONS: Despite limitations inherent to the CS concept and the studies identified, it was confirmed that scientific evidence exists to support the possible association between CS and health in LAC. CS could play a protective role in certain health areas, such as injury prevention and mental health; not withstanding, the relationship between CS and health could vary according to CS subtype and socioeconomic context and culture. It is therefore imperative to continue social epidemiology research that thoroughly investigates the relationship between social determinants and specific aspects of health in LAC context.

[High prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among psychiatric inpatients]. / Alta prevalencia de disfunción tiroidea en pacientes psiquiátricos hospitalizados.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid dysfunction is frecuent in psychiatric outpatients and in the general Chilean population but there is no information about the prevalence of thyroid diseases in Chilean psychiatric inpatients. AIM: To retrospectively assess the frequency of thyroidal diseases in psychiatric inpatients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical charts and thyroid assessment of 241 psychiatric inpatients (147 women, mean age 33+/-16 years) attended in a University Psychiatric Clinic, were reviewed. Psychiatric diagnosis at discharge was made according to DSM IV criteria and endocrine diagnosis was made based on international criteria. RESULTS: Forty nine patients (20.7%) had thyroid abnormalities. Forty four patients had hypothyroidism (18.3%) and five had hyperthyroidism (2.35%). No specific associations were found between gender or psychiatric diagnosis and endocrine abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, the prevalence of thyroid abnormalities was similar to other reports in psychiatric inpatiens and higher than in the general population in Chile.

Alta prevalencia de disfunción tiroidea en pacientes psiquiátricos hospitalizados / High prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among psychiatric inpatients

Background: Thyroid dysfunction is frecuent in psychiatric outpatients and in the general Chilean population but there is no information about the prevalence of thyroid diseases in Chilean psychiatric inpatients. Aim: To retrospectively assess the frequency of thyroidal diseases in psychiatric inpatients. Material and Methods: Clinical charts and thyroid assessment of 241 psychiatric inpatients (147 women, mean age 33±16 years) attended in a University Psychiatric Clinic, were reviewed. Psychiatric diagnosis at discharge was made according to DSM IV criteria and endocrine diagnosis was made based on international criteria. Results: Forty nine patients (20.7%) had thyroid abnormalities. Forty four patients had hypothyroidism (18.3%) and five had hyperthyroidism (2.35%). No specific associations were found between gender or psychiatric diagnosis and endocrine abnormalities. Conclusions: In this sample, the prevalence of thyroid abnormalities was similar to other reports in psychiatric inpatiens and higher than in the general population in Chile.