Positive end-expiratory pressure induced changes in airway driving pressure in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome patients.

BACKGROUND: The profile of changes in airway driving pressure (dPaw) induced by positive-end expiratory pressure (PEEP) might aid for individualized protective ventilation. Our aim was to describe the dPaw versus PEEP curves behavior in ARDS from COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Patients admitted in three hospitals were ventilated with fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) and PEEP initially adjusted by oxygenation-based table. Thereafter, PEEP was reduced from 20 until 6 cmH2O while dPaw was stepwise recorded and the lowest PEEP that minimized dPaw (PEEPmin_dPaw) was assessed. Each dPaw vs PEEP curve was classified as J-shaped, inverted-J-shaped, or U-shaped according to the difference between the minimum dPaw and the dPaw at the lowest and highest PEEP. In one hospital, hyperdistention and collapse at each PEEP were assessed by electrical impedance tomography (EIT). RESULTS: 184 patients (41 including EIT) were studied. 126 patients (68%) exhibited a J-shaped dPaw vs PEEP profile (PEEPmin_dPaw of 7.5 ± 1.9 cmH2O). 40 patients (22%) presented a U (PEEPmin_dPaw of 12.2 ± 2.6 cmH2O) and 18 (10%) an inverted-J profile (PEEPmin_dPaw of 14,6 ± 2.3 cmH2O). Patients with inverted-J profiles had significant higher body mass index (BMI) and lower baseline partial pressure of arterial oxygen/FiO2 ratio. PEEPmin_dPaw was associated with lower fractions of both alveolar collapse and hyperinflation. CONCLUSIONS: A PEEP adjustment procedure based on PEEP-induced changes in dPaw is feasible and may aid in individualized PEEP for protective ventilation. The PEEP required to minimize driving pressure was influenced by BMI and was low in the majority of patients.

Predictive Accuracy of the Quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment Score in Brazil. A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Rationale: Although proposed as a clinical prompt to sepsis based on predictive validity for mortality, the Quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score is often used as a screening tool, which requires high sensitivity.Objectives: To assess the predictive accuracy of qSOFA for mortality in Brazil, focusing on sensitivity.Methods: We prospectively collected data from two cohorts of emergency department and ward patients. Cohort 1 included patients with suspected infection but without organ dysfunction or sepsis (22 hospitals: 3 public and 19 private). Cohort 2 included patients with sepsis (54 hospitals: 24 public and 28 private). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The predictive accuracy of qSOFA was examined considering only the worst values before the suspicion of infection or sepsis.Measurements and Main Results: Cohort 1 contained 5,460 patients (mortality rate, 14.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 13.1-15.0), among whom 78.3% had a qSOFA score less than or equal to 1 (mortality rate, 8.3%; 95% CI, 7.5-9.1). The sensitivity of a qSOFA score greater than or equal to 2 for predicting mortality was 53.9% and the 95% CI was 50.3 to 57.5. The sensitivity was higher for a qSOFA greater than or equal to 1 (84.9%; 95% CI, 82.1-87.3), a qSOFA score greater than or equal to 1 or lactate greater than 2 mmol/L (91.3%; 95% CI, 89.0-93.2), and systemic inflammatory response syndrome plus organ dysfunction (68.7%; 95% CI, 65.2-71.9). Cohort 2 contained 4,711 patients, among whom 62.3% had a qSOFA score less than or equal to 1 (mortality rate, 17.3%; 95% CI, 15.9-18.7), whereas in public hospitals the mortality rate was 39.3% (95% CI, 35.5-43.3).Conclusions: A qSOFA score greater than or equal to 2 has low sensitivity for predicting death in patients with suspected infection in a developing country. Using a qSOFA score greater than or equal to 2 as a screening tool for sepsis may miss patients who ultimately die. Using a qSOFA score greater than or equal to 1 or adding lactate to a qSOFA score greater than or equal to 1 may improve sensitivity.Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03158493).

Quality Improvement Initiatives in Sepsis in an Emerging Country: Does the Institution's Main Source of Income Influence the Results? An Analysis of 21,103 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the results of a quality improvement initiative in sepsis in an emerging setting and to analyze it according to the institutions' main source of income (public or private). DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of the Latin American Sepsis Institute database from 2005 to 2014. SETTINGS: Brazilian public and private institutions. PATIENTS: Patients with sepsis admitted in the participant institutions. INTERVENTIONS: The quality improvement initiative was based on a multifaceted intervention. The institutions were instructed to collect data on 6-hour bundle compliance and outcomes in patients with sepsis in all hospital settings. Outcomes and compliance was measured for eight periods of 6 months each, starting at the time of the enrollment in the intervention. The primary outcomes were hospital mortality and compliance with 6-hour bundle. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We included 21,103 patients; 9,032 from public institutions and 12,071 from private institutions. Comparing the first period with the eigth period, compliance with the 6-hour bundle increased from 13.5% to 58.2% in the private institutions (p < 0.0001) and from 7.4% to 15.7% in the public institutions (p < 0.0001). Mortality rates significantly decreased throughout the program in private institutions, from 47.6% to 27.2% in the eighth period (adjusted odds ratio, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.32-0.64). However, in the public hospitals, mortality diminished significantly only in the first two periods. CONCLUSION: This quality improvement initiative in sepsis in an emerging country was associated with a reduction in mortality and with improved compliance with quality indicators. However, this reduction was sustained only in private institutions.

Correlation of 6-min walk test with left ventricular function and quality of life in heart failure due to Chagas disease.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the correlation of the total distance walked during the six-minute walk test (6MWT) with left ventricular function and quality of life in patients with Chagas Disease (ChD) complicated by heart failure. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of adult patients with ChD and heart failure diagnosed based on Framingham criteria. 6MWT was performed following international guidelines. New York Heart Association functional class, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) serum levels, echocardiographic parameters and quality of life (SF-36 and MLHFQ questionnaires) were determined and their correlation with the distance covered at the 6MWT was tested. RESULTS: Forty adult patients (19 male; 60 ± 12 years old) with ChD and heart failure were included in this study. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 35 ± 12%. Only two patients (5%) ceased walking before 6 min had elapsed. There were no cardiac events during the test. The average distance covered was 337 ± 105 metres. The distance covered presented a negative correlation with BNP (r = -0.37; P = 0.02), MLHFQ quality-of-life score (r = -0.54; P = 0.002), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (r = -0.42; P = 0.02) and the degree of diastolic dysfunction (r = -0.36; P = 0.03) and mitral regurgitation (r = -0.53; P = 0.0006) and positive correlation with several domains of the SF-36 questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: The distance walked during the 6MWT correlates with BNP, quality of life and parameters of left ventricular diastolic function in ChD patients with heart failure. We propose this test to be adopted in endemic areas with limited resources to aid in the identification of patients who need referral for tertiary centres for further evaluation and treatment.

Six-month survival of critically ill patients with HIV-related disease and tuberculosis: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of death from infectious diseases worldwide, mainly after the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics. Patient with HIV-related illness are more likely to present with severe TB due to immunosuppression. Very few studies have explored HIV/TB co-infection in critically ill patients. The goal of this study was to analyze factors associated with long-term mortality in critically ill patient with HIV-related disease coinfected with TB. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in an infectious disease reference center in Brazil that included all patient with HIV-related illness admitted to the ICU with laboratory-confirmed tuberculosis from March 2007 until June 2012. Clinical and laboratory variables were analyzed based on six-month survival. RESULTS: Forty-four patients with HIV-related illness with a confirmed diagnosis of tuberculosis were analyzed. The six-month mortality was 52 % (23 patients). The main causes of admission were respiratory failure (41 %), severe sepsis/septic shock (32 %) and coma/torpor (14 %). The median time between HIV diagnosis and ICU admission was 5 (1-60) months, and 41 % of patients received their HIV infection diagnosis ≤ 30 days before admission. The median CD4 count was 72 (IQR: 23-136) cells/mm(3). The clinical presentation was pulmonary tuberculosis in 22 patients (50 %) and disseminated TB in 20 patients (45.5 %). No aspect of TB diagnosis or treatment was different between survivors and nonsurvivors. Neurological dysfunction was more prevalent among nonsurvivors (43 % vs. 14 %, p = 0.04). The nadir CD4 cell count lower than 50 cells/mm(3) was independently associated with Six-month mortality (hazard ratio 4.58 [1.64-12.74], p < 0.01), while HIV diagnosis less than three months after positive serology was protective (hazard ratio 0.27, CI 95 % [0.10-0.72], p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The Six-month mortality of HIV critically ill patients with TB coinfection is high and strongly associated with the nadir CD4 cell count less than 50 cels/mm(3).

Clinical features, etiologies, and outcomes of central nervous system infections in intensive care: A multicentric retrospective study in a large Brazilian metropolitan area.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to investigate severe central nervous system infections (CNSI) in adults admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). We analyzed the clinical presentation, causes, and outcomes of these infections, while also identifying factors linked to higher in-hospital mortality rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 2012 to 2019. Using a prediction tool, we selected ICU patients suspected of having CNSI and reviewed their medical records. Multivariate analyses identified variables associated with in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: In a cohort of 451 CNSI patients, 69 (15.3%) died after a median 11-day hospitalization (5-25 IQR). The distribution of cases was as follows: 29 (6.4%) had brain abscess, 161 (35.7%) had encephalitis, and 261 (57.8%) had meningitis. Characteristics: median age 41 years (27-53 IQR), 260 (58%) male, and 77 (17%) HIV positive. The independent mortality predictors for encephalitis were AIDS (OR = 4.3, p = 0.01), ECOG functional capacity limitation (OR = 4.0, p < 0.01), ICU admission from ward (OR = 4.0, p < 0.01), mechanical ventilation ≥10 days (OR = 6.1, p = 0.04), SAPS 3 ≥ 55 points (OR = 3.2, p = 0.02). Meningitis: Age > 60 years (OR = 234.2, p = 0.04), delay >3 days for treatment (OR = 2.9, p = 0.04), mechanical ventilation ≥10 days (OR = 254.3, p = 0.04), SOFA >3 points (OR = 2.7, p = 0.03). Brain abscess: No associated factors found in multivariate regression. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' overall health, prompt treatment, infection severity, and prolonged respiratory support in the ICU all significantly affect in-hospital mortality rates. Additionally, the implementation of CNSI surveillance with the used prediction tool could enhance public health policies.

Timing and dose of statin therapy define its impact on inflammatory and endothelial responses during myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical trials of statins during myocardial infarction (MI) have differed in their therapeutic regimes and generated conflicting results. This study evaluated the role of the timing and potency of statin therapy on its potential mechanisms of benefit during MI. METHODS AND RESULTS: ST-elevation MI patients (n=125) were allocated into 5 groups: no statin; 20, 40, or 80 mg/day simvastatin starting at admission; or 80 mg/day simvastatin 48 hours after admission. After 7 days, all patients switched their treatment to 20 mg/day simvastatin for an additional 3 weeks and then underwent flow-mediated dilation in the brachial artery. As of the second day, C-reactive protein (CRP) differed between non-statin users (12.0±4.1 mg/L) and patients treated with 20 (8.5±4.0 mg/L), 40 (3.8±2.5 mg/L), and 80 mg/day (1.4±1.5 mg/L), and the daily differences remained significant until the seventh day (P<0.0001). The higher the statin dose, the lower the elevation of interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α, the greater the reduction of 8-isoprostane and low-density lipoprotein(-), and the greater the increase in nitrate/nitrite levels during the first 5 days (P<0.001). Later initiation of statin was less effective than its early introduction in relation to attenuation of CRP, interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, 8-isoprostane, and low-density lipoprotein(-), as well as in increase in nitrate/nitrite levels (P<0.0001). At the 30th day, there was no longer a difference in lipid profile or CRP between groups; the flow-mediated dilation, however, was proportional to the initial statin dose and was higher for those who started the treatment early (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the timing and potency of statin treatment during MI are key elements for their main mechanisms of benefit. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00906451.

Fatal Brazilian spotted fever in a healthy military man during field training in Rio de Janeiro city, southeastern Brazil.

Brazilian spotted fever, a zoonotic disease transmitted by ticks, is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. We report a fulminant case of this zoonosis in a healthy 46-year-old military man in the urban region of Rio de Janeiro city, in October, 2021. Ticks and capybaras (Amblyomma sculptum, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, respectively) were identified in the military fields, pointing to the participation of this large synanthropic rodent, recognized as an efficient amplifier host of Rickettsia rickettsii in Brazil. As the military population is considered a risk group for spotted fever, it is necessary to alert health professionals to the importance of the early detection of the disease and its adequate management, mainly in populations that are particularly at risk of exposure to ticks, in order to avoid fatal outcomes.

In-hospital mortality and severe outcomes after hospital discharge due to COVID-19: A prospective multicenter study from Brazil.

Background: We evaluated in-hospital mortality and outcomes incidence after hospital discharge due to COVID-19 in a Brazilian multicenter cohort. Methods: This prospective multicenter study (RECOVER-SUS, NCT04807699) included COVID-19 patients hospitalized in public tertiary hospitals in Brazil from June 2020 to March 2021. Clinical assessment and blood samples were performed at hospital admission, with post-hospital discharge remote visits. Hospitalized participants were followed-up until March 31, 2021. The outcomes were in-hospital mortality and incidence of rehospitalization or death after hospital discharge. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional-hazard models were performed. Findings: 1589 participants [54.5% male, age=62 (IQR 50-70) years; BMI=28.4 (IQR,24.9-32.9) Kg/m² and 51.9% with diabetes] were included. A total of 429 individuals [27.0% (95%CI,24.8-29.2)] died during hospitalization (median time 14 (IQR,9-24) days). Older age [vs<40 years; age=60-69 years-aHR=1.89 (95%CI,1.08-3.32); age=70-79 years-aHR=2.52 (95%CI,1.42-4.45); age≥80-aHR=2.90 (95%CI 1.54-5.47)]; noninvasive or mechanical ventilation at admission [vs facial-mask or none; aHR=1.69 (95%CI 1.30-2.19)]; SAPS-III score≥57 [vs<57; aHR=1.47 (95%CI 1.13-1.92)] and SOFA score≥10 [vs <10; aHR=1.51 (95%CI 1.08-2.10)] were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. A total of 65 individuals [6.7% (95%CI 5.3-8.4)] had a rehospitalization or death [rate=323 (95%CI 250-417) per 1000 person-years] in a median time of 52 (range 1-280) days post-hospital discharge. Age ≥ 60 years [vs <60, aHR=2.13 (95%CI 1.15-3.94)] and SAPS-III ≥57 at admission [vs <57, aHR=2.37 (95%CI 1.22-4.59)] were independently associated with rehospitalization or death after hospital discharge. Interpretation: High in-hospital mortality rates due to COVID-19 were observed and elderly people remained at high risk of rehospitalization and death after hospital discharge. Funding: Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Programa INOVA-FIOCRUZ.

Bioenergetic failure of human peripheral blood monocytes in patients with septic shock is mediated by reduced F1Fo adenosine-5'-triphosphate synthase activity.

OBJECTIVE: Increasing evidence points to the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Previous data indicate that mitochondrial function is affected in monocytes from septic patients, but the underlying mechanisms and the impact of these changes on the patients' outcome are unknown. We aimed to determine the mechanisms involved in mitochondrial dysfunction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with septic shock. DESIGN: A cohort of patients with septic shock to study peripheral blood mononuclear cell mitochondrial respiration by high-resolution respirometry analyses and to compare with cells from control subjects. SETTING: Three intensive care units and an academic research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Twenty patients with septic shock and a control group composed of 18 postoperative patients without sepsis or shock. INTERVENTIONS: Ex vivo measurements of mitochondrial oxygen consumption were carried out in digitonin-permeabilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 20 patients with septic shock taken during the first 48 hrs after intensive care unit admission as well as in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from control subjects. Clinical parameters such as hospital outcome and sepsis severity were also analyzed and the relationship between these parameters and the oxygen consumption pattern was investigated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We observed a significant reduction in the respiration specifically associated with adenosine-5'-triphosphate synthesis (state 3) compared with the control group (5.60 vs. 9.89 nmol O2/min/10(7) cells, respectively, p < .01). Reduction of state 3 respiration in patients with septic shock was seen with increased prevalence of organ failure (r = -0.46, p = .005). Nonsurviving patients with septic shock presented significantly lower adenosine diphosphate-stimulated respiration when compared with the control group (4.56 vs. 10.27 nmol O2/min/10(7) cells, respectively; p = .004). Finally, the presence of the functional F1Fo adenosine-5'-triphosphate synthase complex (0.51 vs. 1.00 ng oligo/mL/10(6) cells, p = .02), but not the adenine nucleotide translocator, was significantly lower in patients with septic shock compared with control cells. CONCLUSION: Mitochondrial dysfunction is present in immune cells from patients with septic shock and is characterized as a reduced respiration associated to adenosine-5'-triphosphate synthesis. The molecular basis of this phenotype involve a reduction of F1Fo adenosine-5'-triphosphate synthase activity, which may contribute to the energetic failure found in sepsis.

Central nervous system infection in the intensive care unit: Development and validation of a multi-parameter diagnostic prediction tool to identify suspected patients.

BACKGROUND: Central nervous system infections (CNSI) are diseases with high morbidity and mortality, and their diagnosis in the intensive care environment can be challenging. Objective: To develop and validate a diagnostic model to quickly screen intensive care patients with suspected CNSI using readily available clinical data. METHODS: Derivation cohort: 783 patients admitted to an infectious diseases intensive care unit (ICU) in Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil, for any reason, between 01/01/2012 and 06/30/2019, with a prevalence of 97 (12.4%) CNSI cases. Validation cohort 1: 163 patients prospectively collected, between 07/01/2019 and 07/01/2020, from the same ICU, with 15 (9.2%) CNSI cases. Validation cohort 2: 7,270 patients with 88 CNSI (1.21%) admitted to a neuro ICU in Chicago, IL, USA between 01/01/2014 and 06/30/2019. Prediction model: Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to construct the model, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used for model validation. Eight predictors-age <56 years old, cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell count >2 cells/mm3, fever (≥38°C/100.4°F), focal neurologic deficit, Glasgow Coma Scale <14 points, AIDS/HIV, and seizure-were included in the development diagnostic model (P<0.05). RESULTS: The pool data's model had an Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristics (AUC) curve of 0.892 (95% confidence interval 0.864-0.921, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A promising and straightforward screening tool for central nervous system infections, with few and readily available clinical variables, was developed and had good accuracy, with internal and external validity.

Resuscitation fluid practices in Brazilian intensive care units: a secondary analysis of Fluid-TRIPS. / Práticas de ressuscitação volêmica em unidades de terapia intensiva brasileiras: uma análise secundária do estudo Fluid-TRIPS.

OBJECTIVE: To describe fluid resuscitation practices in Brazilian intensive care units and to compare them with those of other countries participating in the Fluid-TRIPS. METHODS: This was a prospective, international, cross-sectional, observational study in a convenience sample of intensive care units in 27 countries (including Brazil) using the Fluid-TRIPS database compiled in 2014. We described the patterns of fluid resuscitation use in Brazil compared with those in other countries and identified the factors associated with fluid choice. RESULTS: On the study day, 3,214 patients in Brazil and 3,493 patients in other countries were included, of whom 16.1% and 26.8% (p < 0.001) received fluids, respectively. The main indication for fluid resuscitation was impaired perfusion and/or low cardiac output (Brazil: 71.7% versus other countries: 56.4%, p < 0.001). In Brazil, the percentage of patients receiving crystalloid solutions was higher (97.7% versus 76.8%, p < 0.001), and 0.9% sodium chloride was the most commonly used crystalloid (62.5% versus 27.1%, p < 0.001). The multivariable analysis suggested that the albumin levels were associated with the use of both crystalloids and colloids, whereas the type of fluid prescriber was associated with crystalloid use only. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that crystalloids are more frequently used than colloids for fluid resuscitation in Brazil, and this discrepancy in frequencies is higher than that in other countries. Sodium chloride (0.9%) was the crystalloid most commonly prescribed. Serum albumin levels and the type of fluid prescriber were the factors associated with the choice of crystalloids or colloids for fluid resuscitation.

OBJETIVO: Descrever as práticas de ressuscitação volêmica em unidades de terapia intensiva brasileiras e compará-las com as de outros países participantes do estudo Fluid-TRIPS. MÉTODOS: Este foi um estudo observacional transversal, prospectivo e internacional, de uma amostra de conveniência de unidades de terapia intensiva de 27 países (inclusive o Brasil), com utilização da base de dados Fluid-TRIPS compilada em 2014. Descrevemos os padrões de ressuscitação volêmica utilizados no Brasil em comparação com os de outros países e identificamos os fatores associados com a escolha dos fluidos. RESULTADOS: No dia do estudo, foram incluídos 3.214 pacientes do Brasil e 3.493 pacientes de outros países, dos quais, respectivamente, 16,1% e 26,8% (p < 0,001) receberam fluidos. A principal indicação para ressuscitação volêmica foi comprometimento da perfusão e/ou baixo débito cardíaco (Brasil 71,7% versus outros países 56,4%; p < 0,001). No Brasil, a percentagem de pacientes que receberam soluções cristaloides foi mais elevada (97,7% versus 76,8%; p < 0,001), e solução de cloreto de sódio a 0,9% foi o cristaloide mais comumente utilizado (62,5% versus 27,1%; p < 0,001). A análise multivariada sugeriu que os níveis de albumina se associaram com o uso tanto de cristaloides quanto de coloides, enquanto o tipo de prescritor dos fluidos se associou apenas com o uso de cristaloides. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados sugerem que cristaloides são usados mais frequentemente do que coloides para ressuscitação no Brasil, e essa discrepância, em termos de frequências, é mais elevada do que em outros países. A solução de cloreto de sódio 0,9% foi o cristaloide mais frequentemente prescrito. Os níveis de albumina sérica e o tipo de prescritor de fluidos foram os fatores associados com a escolha de cristaloides ou coloides para a prescrição de fluidos.

Sepsis is a major determinant of outcome in critically ill HIV/AIDS patients.

INTRODUCTION: New challenges have arisen for the management of critically ill HIV/AIDS patients. Severe sepsis has emerged as a common cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admission for those living with HIV/AIDS. Contrastingly, HIV/AIDS patients have been systematically excluded from sepsis studies, limiting the understanding of the impact of sepsis in this population. We prospectively followed up critically ill HIV/AIDS patients to evaluate the main risk factors for hospital mortality and the impact of severe sepsis on the short- and long-term survival. METHODS: All consecutive HIV-infected patients admitted to the ICU of an infectious diseases research center, from June 2006 to May 2008, were included. Severity of illness, time since AIDS diagnosis, CD4 cell count, antiretroviral treatment, incidence of severe sepsis, and organ dysfunctions were registered. The 28-day, hospital, and 6-month outcomes were obtained for all patients. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis measured the effect of potential factors on 28-day and 6-month mortality. RESULTS: During the 2-year study period, 88 HIV/AIDS critically ill patients were admitted to the ICU. Seventy percent of patients had opportunist infections, median CD4 count was 75 cells/mm3, and 45% were receiving antiretroviral therapy. Location on a ward before ICU admission, cardiovascular and respiratory dysfunctions on the first day after admission, and the presence of severe sepsis/septic shock were associated with reduced 28-day and 6-month survival on a univariate analysis. After a multivariate analysis, severe sepsis determined the highest hazard ratio (HR) for 28-day (adjusted HR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.21-8.07) and 6-month (adjusted HR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.42-7.86) mortality. Severe sepsis occurred in 44 (50%) patients, mainly because of lower respiratory tract infections. The survival of septic and nonseptic patients was significantly different at 28-day and 6-month follow-up times (log-rank and Peto test, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Severe sepsis has emerged as a major cause of admission and mortality for hospitalized HIV/AIDS patients, significantly affecting short- and longer-term survival of critically ill HIV/AIDS patients.

Quality Indicators of End-of-Life Care Among Privately Insured People With Cancer in Brazil.

PURPOSE: To examine quality indicators of end-of-life (EOL) care among privately insured people with cancer in Brazil. METHODS: We evaluated medical records linked to health insurance databank to study consecutive patients who died of cancer. We collected information about demographics, cancer type, and quality indicators of EOL care including emergency department (ED) visits, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, chemotherapy use, medical imaging utilization, blood transfusions, home care support, days of inpatient care, and hospital deaths. RESULTS: We included 865 patients in the study. In the last 30 days of life, 62% visited the ED, 33% were admitted to the ICU, 24% received blood transfusions, and 51% underwent medical imaging. Only 1% had home care support in the last 60 days of life, and 29% used chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life. Patients had an average of 8 days of inpatient care and 52% died in the hospital. Patients with advanced cancer who used chemotherapy were more likely to visit the ED (78% vs 59%; P < .001), undergo medical imaging (67% vs 51%; P < .001), and die in the hospital (73% vs 50%; P = .03) than patients who did not use chemotherapy. In the multivariate analysis, chemotherapy use near death and advanced cancer were associated with ED visits and ICU admissions, respectively (odds ratio >1). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that privately insured people with cancer receive poor quality EOL care in Brazil. Further research is needed to assess the impact of improvements in palliative care provision in this population.

Revisiting steroid treatment for septic shock: molecular actions and clinical effects--a review.

Corticosteroids are widely used to treat a diversity of pathological conditions including allergic, autoimmune and some infectious diseases. These drugs have complex mechanisms of action involving both genomic and non-genomic mechanisms and interfere with different signal transduction pathways in the cell. The use of corticosteroids to treat critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and severe infections, such as sepsis and pneumonia, is still a matter of intense debate in the scientific and medical community with evidence both for and against its use in these patients. Here, we review the basic molecular mechanisms important for corticosteroid action as well as current evidence for their use, or not, in septic patients. We also present an analysis of the reasons why this is still such a controversial point in the literature.

Trends in Health-Care Utilization at the End of Life Among Patients With Hematologic Malignancies in a Middle-Income Country: Challenges and Opportunities in Brazil.

Patients with hematologic malignancies (HMs) often receive poor-quality end-of-life care. This study aimed to identify trends in end-of-life care among patients with HM in Brazil. We conducted a retrospective cohort study (2015-2018) of patients who died with HM, using electronic medical records linked to health insurance databank, to evaluate outcomes consistent with health-care resource utilization at the end of life. Among 111 patients with HM, in the last 30 days of life, we found high rates of emergency department visits (67%, n = 75), intensive care unit admissions (56%, n = 62), acute renal replacement therapy (10%, n = 11), blood transfusions (45%, n = 50), and medical imaging utilization (59%, n = 66). Patients received an average of 13 days of inpatient care and the majority of them died in the hospital (53%, n = 58). We also found that almost 40% of patients (38%, n = 42) used chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life. These patients were more likely to be male (64% vs 22%; P < .001), to receive blood transfusions (57% vs 38%; P = .05), and to die in the hospital (76% vs 39%; P = .009) than patients who did not use chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life. This study suggests that patients with HM have high rates of health-care utilization at the end of life in Brazil. Patients who used chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life were more likely to receive blood transfusions and to die in the hospital.

Epidemiology of sepsis in Brazil: Incidence, lethality, costs, and other indicators for Brazilian Unified Health System hospitalizations from 2006 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is considered a major worldwide health burden, with high mortality and associated costs. Health indicators are essential to define strategies to improve the treatment of diseases, and the epidemiology information of sepsis in developing countries is scarce. Thus, the aim of this work is to assess trends in the incidence, lethality, costs, and other indicators of sepsis for Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS-Sistema Único de Saúde) hospitalizations for the period from January 2006 to December 2015. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted this study using data from the SUS hospital information system. We selected registries of SUS hospitalizations of patients diagnosed with sepsis (total of 724,458 cases from 4,271 public and private Brazilian hospitals). RESULTS: From 2006 to 2015, the annual sepsis incidence increased 50.5% from 31.5/100,000 to 47.4/100,000 persons. The mean hospital length of stay (LOS) was 9.0 days. A total of 29.1% of the hospitalizations had admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) with a mean ICU LOS of 8.0 days. The mean cost per hospitalization was US$624.0 and for hospitalizations requiring intensive care was U$1,708.1. The overall sepsis lethality rate was 46.3%, and for hospitalizations with admission to the ICU, it was 64.5%. During the study period, the lethality rate for children/teenagers decreased 40.1%, but for all other age groups it increased 11.4%. The sepsis lethality rate in public hospitals (55.5%) was higher than private hospitals (37.0%) (p < 0.001). The mean hospitalization LOS for public hospitals (10.3 days) was higher than private hospitals (7.6 days) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence and lethality rate of sepsis increased in SUS hospitalizations during the study period. The SUS's low reimbursement to hospitals for treating sepsis may be one of the reasons for the high lethality rate.

Preventable adverse drug events in critically ill HIV patients: Is the detection of potential drug-drug interactions a useful tool?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a strategy to identify adverse drug events associated with drug-drug interactions by analyzing the prescriptions of critically ill patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included HIV/AIDS patients who were admitted to an intensive care unit between November 2006 and September 2008. Data were collected in two stages. In the first stage, three prescriptions administered throughout the entire duration of these patients' hospitalization were reviewed, with the Micromedex database used to search for potential drug-drug interactions. In the second stage, a search for adverse drug events in all available medical, nursing and laboratory records was performed. The probability that a drug-drug interaction caused each adverse drug events was assessed using the Naranjo algorithm. RESULTS: A total of 186 drug prescriptions of 62 HIV/AIDS patients were analyzed. There were 331 potential drug-drug interactions, and 9% of these potential interactions resulted in adverse drug events in 16 patients; these adverse drug events included treatment failure (16.7%) and adverse reactions (83.3%). Most of the adverse drug reactions were classified as possible based on the Naranjo algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: The approach used in this study allowed for the detection of adverse drug events related to 9% of the potential drug-drug interactions that were identified; these adverse drug events affected 26% of the study population. With the monitoring of adverse drug events based on prescriptions, a combination of the evaluation of potential drug-drug interactions by clinical pharmacy services and the monitoring of critically ill patients is an effective strategy that can be used as a complementary tool for safety assessments and the prevention of adverse drug events.

Post-Acute Care Facility as a Discharge Destination for Patients in Need of Palliative Care in Brazil.

Patients with complex palliative care needs can experience delayed discharge, which causes an inappropriate occupancy of hospital beds. Post-acute care facilities (PACFs) have emerged as an alternative discharge destination for some of these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of admissions and characteristics of palliative care patients discharged from hospitals to a PACF. We conducted a retrospective analysis of PACF admissions between 2014 and 2016 that were linked to hospital discharge reports and electronic health records, to gather information about hospital-to-PACF transitions. In total, 205 consecutive patients were discharged from 6 different hospitals to our PACF. Palliative care patients were involved in 32% (n = 67) of these discharges. The most common conditions were terminal cancer (n = 42, 63%), advanced dementia (n = 17, 25%), and stroke (n = 5, 8%). During acute hospital stays, patients with cancer had significant shorter lengths of stay (13 vs 99 days, P = .004), a lower use of intensive care services (2% vs 64%, P < .001) and mechanical ventilation (2% vs 40%, P < .001), when compared to noncancer patients. Approximately one-third of discharges from hospitals to a PACF involved a heterogeneous group of patients in need of palliative care. Further studies are necessary to understand the trajectory of posthospitalized patients with life-limiting illnesses and what factors influence their decision to choose a PACF as a discharge destination and place of death. We advocate that palliative care should be integrated into the portfolio of post-acute services.

Prevalence and intensity of dyspnea, pain, and agitation among people dying with late stage dementia compared with people dying with advanced cancer: a single-center preliminary study in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: As death approaches, there may be similarities in terms of physical symptoms among dementia and cancer. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and intensity of dyspnea, pain, and agitation among people dying with late stage dementia versus those dying with advanced cancer. Methods: A retrospective analysis, conducted in a post-acute care facility (PACF) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We reviewed the electronic charts for the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) scores, from death backwards in time (3 days). METHODS: A retrospective analysis, conducted in a post-acute care facility (PACF) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We reviewed the electronic charts for the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) scores, from death backwards in time (3 days). RESULTS: We included 57 patients who died with dementia and 54 patients who died with cancer. The prevalence of dyspnea (dementia: n=34, 60% vs. cancer: n=39, 72%; P=0.23), and agitation (dementia: n=7, 13% vs. cancer: n=14, 25%; P=0.17) were statically similar between the two groups. Pain was less common in dementia (dementia: n=19, 34% vs. cancer: n=31, 57%; P=0.02). There were no significant differences in the percentage of patients with moderate to severe dyspnea (dementia: n=28, 49% vs. cancer: n=33, 61%; P=0.28), and moderate to severe agitation (dementia: n=4, 7% vs. cancer: n=12, 23%; P=0.09). Dementia patients were less likely to experience moderate to severe pain than cancer patients (dementia: n=14, 25% vs. cancer: n=25, 46%; P=0.03). The diagnosis of cancer was independently associated with pain, severe symptoms, and the co-occurrence of dyspnea, pain, and agitation (odds ratio >1). CONCLUSIONS: People dying with dementia and those dying with cancer experienced similar rates of dyspnea, and agitation. However, pain was significantly more prevalent and intense among people dying with cancer.