Sex differences in treatments and outcomes of patients with cardiogenic shock: a systematic review and epidemiological meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Women are at higher risk of mortality from many acute cardiovascular conditions, but studies have demonstrated differing findings regarding the mortality of cardiogenic shock in women and men. To examine differences in 30-day mortality and mechanical circulatory support use by sex in patients with cardiogenic shock. MAIN BODY: Cochrane Central, PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched in April 2024. Studies were included if they were randomised controlled trials or observational studies, included adult patients with cardiogenic shock, and reported at least one of the following outcomes by sex: raw mortality, adjusted mortality (odds ratio) or use of mechanical circulatory support. Out of 4448 studies identified, 81 met inclusion criteria, pooling a total of 656,754 women and 1,018,036 men. In the unadjusted analysis for female sex and combined in-hospital and 30-day mortality, women had higher odds of mortality (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26-1.44, p < 0.001). Pooled unadjusted mortality was 35.9% in men and 40.8% in women (p < 0.001). When only studies reporting adjusted ORs were included, combined in-hospital/30-day mortality remained higher in women (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06-1.15, p < 0.001). These effects remained consistent across subgroups of acute myocardial infarction- and heart failure- related cardiogenic shock. Overall, women were less likely to receive mechanical support than men (OR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.57-0.79, p < 0.001); specifically, they were less likely to be treated with intra-aortic balloon pump (OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.71-0.89, p < 0.001) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (OR = 0.84, 95% 0.71-0.99, p = 0.045). No significant difference was seen with use of percutaneous ventricular assist devices (OR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.51-1.33, p = 0.42). CONCLUSION: Even when adjusted for confounders, mortality for cardiogenic shock in women is approximately 10% higher than men. This effect is seen in both acute myocardial infarction and heart failure cardiogenic shock. Women with cardiogenic shock are less likely to be treated with mechanical circulatory support than men. Clinicians should make immediate efforts to ensure the prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment of cardiogenic shock in women.

Early quantitative infrared pupillometry for prediction of neurological outcome in patients admitted to intensive care after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative pupillometry is recommended for neuroprognostication after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest 72 h or more after ICU admission, but the feasibility and utility of earlier assessment is unknown. METHODS: This was a study of the utility of an early quantitative pupillometry index in predicting neurological outcome in patients with reduced consciousness after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Quantitative infrared pupillometry index was measured at 0, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h from admission. Acceptable predictive utility was defined as a positive predictive value of >95% and false positive rate of zero, with a narrow 95% confidence interval (95% CI). RESULTS: At least one quantitative pupillometry index measurement was available from within the first 6 h for all 77 patients who met inclusion criteria. A quantitative pupillometry index ≤2.4 at baseline and ≤2.3 within the first 6 h met the criteria for utility. The positive predictive value of the baseline cut-off (≤2.4) for poor neurological outcome was 1.00 (95% CI, 0.54-1.00) with an estimated false positive rate of 0% (95% CI, 0-9%). The positive predictive value of the 6 h cut-off (≤2.3) for poor neurological outcome was 1.00 (95% CI, 0.59-1.00) with an estimated false positive rate of 0% (95% CI, 0-8%). Sensitivities of these cut-offs for ruling out poor neurological outcomes at 0 and 6 h were 19% and 22%, respectively. Of seven patients with a quantitative pupillometry index ≤2.3 within 6 h of ICU admission, none survived. Analyses that used quantitative pupillometry index measurements from 24 to 72 h, but excluded baseline and 6 h values, were not predictive by the utility criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative pupillometry within 6 h of ICU admission after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest may identify patients with a very low chance of neurologically intact survival. Further studies of early quantitative pupillometry in this population are warranted.

Outcomes of the NHS England National Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Service for adults with respiratory failure: a multicentre observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly used to support adults with severe respiratory failure refractory to conventional measures. In 2011, NHS England commissioned a national service to provide ECMO to adults with refractory acute respiratory failure. Our aims were to characterise the patients admitted to the service, report their outcomes, and highlight characteristics potentially associated with survival. METHODS: An observational cohort study was conducted of all patients treated by the NHS England commissioned ECMO service between December 1, 2011 and December 31, 2017. Analysis was conducted according to a prespecified protocol (NCT: 03979222). Data are presented as median [inter-quartile range, IQR]. RESULTS: A total of 1205 patients were supported with ECMO during the study period; the majority (n=1150; 95%) had veno-venous ECMO alone. The survival rate at ECMO ICU discharge was 74% (n=887). Survivors had a lower median age (43 yr [32-52]), compared with non-survivors (49 y [39-60]). Increased severity of hypoxaemia at time of decision-to-cannulate was associated with a lower probability of survival: survivors had a median Sao2 of 90% (84-93%; median Pao2/Fio2, 9.4 kPa [7.7-12.6]), compared with non-survivors (Sao2 88% [80-92%]; Pao2/Fio2 ratio: 8.5 kPa [7.1-11.5]). Patients requiring ECMO because of asthma were more likely to survive (95% survival rate (95% CI, 91-99%), compared with a survival of 71% (95% CI, 69-74%) in patients with respiratory failure attributable to other diagnoses. CONCLUSION: A national ECMO service can achieve good short-term outcomes for patients with undifferentiated respiratory failure refractory to conventional management. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03979222.

EPidemiology Of Cardiogenic sHock in Scotland (EPOCHS): A multicentre, prospective observational study of the prevalence, management and outcomes of cardiogenic shock in Scotland.

Background: Despite high rates of cardiovascular disease in Scotland, the prevalence and outcomes of patients with cardiogenic shock are unknown. Methods: We undertook a prospective observational cohort study of consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) or coronary care unit at 13 hospitals in Scotland for a 6-month period. Denominator data from the Scottish Intensive Care Society Audit Group were used to estimate ICU prevalence; data for coronary care units were unavailable. We undertook multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Results: In total, 247 patients with cardiogenic shock were included. After exclusion of coronary care unit admissions, this comprised 3.0% of all ICU admissions during the study period (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.6%-3.5%). Aetiology was acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 48%. The commonest vasoactive treatment was noradrenaline (56%) followed by adrenaline (46%) and dobutamine (40%). Mechanical circulatory support was used in 30%. Overall in-hospital mortality was 55%. After multivariable logistic regression, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.06), admission lactate (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.05-1.19), Society for Cardiovascular Angiographic Intervention stage D or E at presentation (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.10-4.29) and use of adrenaline (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.40-5.40) were associated with mortality. Conclusions: In Scotland the prevalence of cardiogenic shock was 3% of all ICU admissions; more than half died prior to discharge. There was significant variation in treatment approaches, particularly with respect to vasoactive support strategy.

In perspective: the patient at the heart of research in acute cardiovascular care.

Patient and public involvement is a fundamental part of research design and is increasingly required by research funders and regulators. In addition to the moral and ethical arguments in its favour, it has the potential to improve the accessibility and transparency of research and to optimize study recruitment and retention. Whilst clinical trials in acute cardiovascular care have traditionally focussed on 'hard' outcomes, such as mortality or major adverse cardiovascular events, there is increasing recognition that these fail to capture the full breadth of patient experience. Patient-centred outcomes aim to measure things of greater value to patients, using validated tools to quantify symptoms, patient self-reports, or novel outcomes such as days alive and outside hospital. This In Perspective commentary explores the rationale behind patient and public involvement and the background to and evidence supporting the use of patient-centred outcomes and discusses potential challenges and how they can be mitigated.

Effect of Hypoxemia on Outcome in Respiratory Failure Supported With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Cardinality Matched Cohort Study.

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is recommended in adult patients with refractory acute respiratory failure (ARF), but there is limited evidence for its use in patients with less severe hypoxemia. Prior research has suggested a lower PaO 2 /FiO 2 at cannulation is associated with higher short-term mortality, but it is unclear whether this is due to less severe illness or a potential benefit of earlier ECMO support. In this exploratory cardinality-matched observational cohort study, we matched 668 patients who received venovenous ECMO as part of a national severe respiratory failure service into cohorts of "less severe" and "very severe" hypoxemia based on the median PaO 2 /FiO 2 at ECMO institution of 68 mmHg. Before matching, ICU mortality was 19% in the 'less severe' hypoxemia group and 28% in the "very severe" hypoxemia group (RR for mortality = 0.69, 95% CI 0.54-0.88). After matching on key prognostic variables including underlying diagnosis, this difference remained statistically present but smaller: (23% vs. 30%, RR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.59-0.99). This may suggest the observed survival benefit of venovenous ECMO is not solely due to reduced disease severity. Further research is warranted to examine the potential role of ECMO in ARF patients with less severe hypoxemia.

Brain death in early pregnancy: A legal and ethical challenge coming to your intensive care unit?

Increasingly, reports are emerging of maternal physiological support after brain death in pregnant women declared brain dead long before the gestational age of foetal viability. While these 'miracle babies' often receive significant media attention - such as the recent case of Catarina Sequeira - it is difficult to estimate the probability of a live birth in such circumstances given a clear publication bias in favour of reporting good outcomes. In a number of highly publicised cases, continuation of maternal physiological support after brain death has been attempted against the express wishes of the patient's family in jurisdictions where a foetal right to life is given weight in law. The legal issues around discontinuation of maternal physiological support after brain death have not yet been assessed by a UK court. The scenario is easily envisioned, however, where conflict emerges as to the appropriateness of such support. While there is no statutory definition of death in the UK, the courts have accepted brain-dead patients as legally dead upon completion of brainstem testing. However, as UK law grants few explicit legal rights to a foetus, it is unclear as to how conflicts are to be resolved. This article is not intended as a systematic review of the medical or legal academic literature, nor as a review of the clinical management of the pregnant brain-dead patient; rather, it aims to summarise the evidence base for maternal physiological support after brain death and the relevant case law. Using a recent case as an example, this article will outline the legal approach to death in the UK, contrast the status in law of a brain-dead mother and her foetus, and advance an argument of the circumstances in which maternal physiological support after brain death may be ethically justifiable. The authors hope this will assist the UK intensivist in the complex decision-making such cases demand.

Long-term outcome of patients with liver cirrhosis admitted to a general intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of liver cirrhosis is increasing, and many patients have acute conditions requiring consideration of intensive care. This study aims to: (a) report the outcome at 12 months of patients with cirrhosis admitted to ICU, (b) identify factors predictive of long-term mortality and (c) evaluate the ability of scoring systems to predict long-term outcome. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: General adult critical care unit in a UK teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Eighty-four patients admitted to critical care between June 2012 and December 2013. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Cumulative survival at ICU discharge, hospital discharge and 12 months. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients with diagnosed cirrhosis were followed up at 12 months. Clinical variables collected at ICU admission were entered into a multivariate regression analysis for mortality and eight predetermined scoring systems calculated. Cumulative survival at ICU discharge, hospital discharge and 12 months was 64.8, 47.1 and 44.1%, respectively. Twelve months of cumulative survival in patients with Child-Pugh class A was 100%, class B was 50% and class C was 25% (log rank p = 0.002). Independent predictors of mortality at 12 months were lactate, bilirubin, PT ratio and age. The Child-Pugh + Lactate score was modified to produce an objective score comprising Albumin, Bilirubin and Clotting (PT ratio) added to serum lactate concentration in mmol L-1 (ABC + Lactate). This score was the best predictor of 12-month survival, with an AUC of 0.83. A proposed classification by ABC + Lactate score was highly significant (p = 0.001), with those in the highest class having ICU mortality of 75% and hospital and 12-month mortality of 93%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cirrhosis admitted to ICU have high initial mortality but low mortality after hospital discharge. Child-Pugh class at ICU admission predicts outcome at 12 months. The ABC + Lactate classification system may be useful in identifying critically ill cirrhotic patients with very high long-term mortality.

Prospective observational cohort study of patients with weaning failure admitted to a specialist weaning, rehabilitation and home mechanical ventilation centre.

OBJECTIVES: According to National Health Service England (NHSE) specialist respiratory commissioning specification for complex home ventilation, patients with weaning failure should be referred to a specialist centre. However, there are limited data reporting the clinical outcomes from such centres. SETTING: Prospective observational cohort study of patients admitted to a UK specialist weaning, rehabilitation and home mechanical ventilation centre between February 2005 and July 2013. PARTICIPANTS: 262 patients admitted with a median age of 64.2 years (IQR 52.6-73.2 years). 59.9% were male. RESULTS: 39.7% of patients had neuromuscular and/or chest wall disease, 21% were postsurgical, 19.5% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 5.3% had obesity-related respiratory failure and 14.5% had other diagnoses. 64.1% of patients were successfully weaned, with 38.2% weaned fully from ventilation, 24% weaned to nocturnal non-invasive ventilation (NIV), 1.9% weaned to nocturnal NIV with intermittent NIV during the daytime. 21.4% of patients were discharged on long-term tracheostomy ventilation. The obesity-related respiratory failure group were most likely to wean (relative risk (RR) for weaning success=1.48, 95% CI 1.35 to 1.77; p<0.001), but otherwise weaning success rates did not significantly vary by diagnostic group. The median time-to-wean was 19 days (IQR 9-33) and the median duration of stay was 31 days (IQR 16-50), with no difference observed between the groups. Weaning centre mortality was 14.5%, highest in the COPD group (RR=2.15, 95% CI 1.19 to 3.91, p=0.012) and lowest in the neuromuscular and/or chest wall disease group (RR=0.34, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.75, p=0.007). Of all patients discharged alive, survival was 71.7% at 6 months and 61.8% at 12 months postdischarge. CONCLUSIONS: Following NHSE guidance, patients with weaning delay and failure should be considered for transfer to a specialist centre where available, which can demonstrate favourable short-term and long-term clinical outcomes.

Amelioration of insulin requirement in patients undergoing duodenal bypass for reasons other than obesity implicates foregut factors in the pathophysiology of type II diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Foregut diversion and weight loss have been proposed as potential mechanisms for resolution of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) observed in patients undergoing gastric bypass for obesity. To support or refute the role of the foregut, we analyzed glycemic control in T2DM patients before and after foregut bypass for reasons other than morbid obesity. STUDY DESIGN: Using ICD9/CPT codes, we identified patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy (RY) or Billroth II (BII) reconstruction over 10 years. Fasting blood glucose, insulin or oral diabetic agent requirement, and body mass index (BMI) before and after surgery were tabulated and compared using the Student's t-test. Linear regression was applied to determine specific factors predictive of resolution or improvement in glycemic control including age, duration of diabetes, antidiabetic regimen, type of operation, and surgical indication. RESULTS: Between 1996 and 2006, we identified 24 patients with T2DM out of a cohort of 209 who underwent either RY (12 of 24) or BII reconstruction (12 of 24) for cancer or peptic ulcer disease and survived more than 30 days after operation. Of this group, 75% were overweight (18 of 24 with BMI < 30 kg/m(2)) and 25% were class I morbidly obese (6 of 24 with BMI 30 to 35 kg/m(2)). Seventeen patients (71%) had either complete resolution (7 of 24 or 29%) or significant reduction (10 of 24 or 42%) in medication requirements; 7 patients (29%) did not have any improvement. Logistic regression failed to identify specific factors predicting improved glycemic control. CONCLUSIONS: Complete resolution of T2DM in patients undergoing duodenal diverting surgery occurs in about one-third of nonobese patients. Improved glycemic control occurs in more than two-thirds and cannot be explained by surgically related weight loss alone. Surgical cure of T2DM may be possible in carefully selected nonobese patients.