Hypoglycemia but Not Hyperglycemia Is Associated with Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Both severe hyperglycemia (> 200 mg/dL) and hypoglycemia (≤70 mg/dL) are known to be associated with increased mortality in critically ill patients. Therefore, we investigated associations of a single episode of blood glucose deviation (concentration either ≤70 mg/dL and/or > 200 mg/dL) during an intensive care unit (ICU) stay with mortality in these patients. METHODS: A total of 4,986 patients (age 65 ± 15 years; 39% female; 14% type 2 diabetes [T2DM] based on medical records) admitted to a German ICU in a tertiary care hospital were investigated retrospectively. The intra-ICU and long-term mortality of patients between 4 and 7 years after their ICU submission were assessed. RESULTS: A total 62,659 glucose measurements were analyzed. A single glucose deviation was associated with adverse outcomes compared to patients without a glucose deviation, represented by both intra-ICU mortality (22 vs. 10%; OR 2.62; 95% CI 2.23-3.09; p < 0.001) and long-term mortality (HR 2.01; 95% CI 1.81-2.24; p < 0.001). In patients suffering from T2DM hypoglycemia (30 vs. 13%; OR 2.94; 95% CI 2.28-3.80; p < 0.001) but not hyperglycemia (16 vs. 14%; OR 1.05; 95% CI 0.68-1.62; p = 0.84) was associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: In patients with dia-betes, hypo- but not hyperglycemia was associated with increased mortality, whereas in patients without diabetes, both hyper- and hypoglycemia were associated with adverse outcome. Blood glucose concentration might need differential approaches depending on concomitant diseases.

The Lactate/Albumin Ratio: A Valuable Tool for Risk Stratification in Septic Patients Admitted to ICU.

The lactate/albumin ratio has been reported to be associated with mortality in pediatric patients with sepsis. We aimed to evaluate the lactate/albumin ratio for its prognostic relevance in a larger collective of critically ill (adult) patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). A total of 348 medical patients admitted to a German ICU for sepsis between 2004 and 2009 were included. Follow-up of patients was performed retrospectively between May 2013 and November 2013. The association of the lactate/albumin ratio (cut-off 0.15) and both in-hospital and post-discharge mortality was investigated. An optimal cut-off was calculated by means of Youden's index. The lactate/albumin ratio was elevated in non-survivors (p < 0.001). Patients with an increased lactate/albumin ratio were of similar age, but clinically in a poorer condition and had more pronounced laboratory signs of multi-organ failure. An increased lactate/albumin ratio was associated with adverse in-hospital mortality. An optimal cut-off of 0.15 was calculated and was associated with adverse long-term outcome even after correction for APACHE2 and SAPS2. We matched 99 patients with a lactate/albumin ratio >0.15 to case-controls with a lactate/albumin ratio <0.15 corrected for APACHE2 scores: The group with a lactate/albumin ratio >0.15 evidenced adverse in-hospital outcome in a paired analysis with a difference of 27% (95%CI 10-43%; p < 0.01). Regarding long-term mortality, again, patients in the group with a lactate/albumin ratio >0.15 showed adverse outcomes (p < 0.001). An increased lactate/albumin ratio was significantly associated with an adverse outcome in critically ill patients admitted to an ICU, even after correction for confounders. The lactate/albumin ratio might constitute an independent, readily available, and important parameter for risk stratification in the critically ill.

Differential Impact of Hyperglycemia in Critically Ill Patients: Significance in Acute Myocardial Infarction but Not in Sepsis?

Hyperglycemia is a common condition in critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). These patients represent an inhomogeneous collective and hyperglycemia might need different evaluation depending on the underlying disorder. To elucidate this, we investigated and compared associations of severe hyperglycemia (>200 mg/dL) and mortality in patients admitted to an ICU for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or sepsis as the two most frequent admission diagnoses. From 2006 to 2009, 2551 patients 69 (58-77) years; 1544 male; 337 patients suffering from type 2 diabetes (T2DM)) who were admitted because of either AMI or sepsis to an ICU in a tertiary care hospital were investigated retrospectively. Follow-up of patients was performed between May 2013 and November 2013. In a Cox regression analysis, maximum glucose concentration at the day of admission was associated with mortality in the overall cohort (HR = 1.006, 95% CI: 1.004-1.009; p < 0.001) and in patients suffering from myocardial infarction (HR = 1.101, 95% CI: 1.075-1.127; p < 0.001) but only in trend in patients admitted to an ICU for sepsis (HR = 1.030, 95% CI: 0.998-1.062; p = 0.07). Severe hyperglycemia was associated with adverse intra-ICU mortality in the overall cohort (23% vs. 13%; p < 0.001) and patients admitted for AMI (15% vs. 5%; p < 0.001) but not for septic patients (39% vs. 40%; p = 0.48). A medical history of type 2 diabetes (n = 337; 13%) was not associated with increased intra-ICU mortality (15% vs. 15%; p = 0.93) but in patients with severe hyperglycemia and/or a known medical history of type 2 diabetes considered in combination, an increased mortality in AMI patients (intra-ICU 5% vs. 13%; p < 0.001) but not in septic patients (intra-ICU 38% vs. 41%; p = 0.53) could be evidenced. The presence of hyperglycemia in critically ill patients has differential impact within the different etiological groups. Hyperglycemia in AMI patients might identify a sicker patient collective suffering from pre-diabetes or undiagnosed diabetes with its' known adverse consequences, especially in the long-term. Hyperglycemia in sepsis might be considered as adaptive survival mechanism to hypo-perfusion and consecutive lack of glucose in peripheral cells. AMI patients with hyperglycemic derailment during an ICU-stay should be closely followed-up and extensively screened for diabetes to improve patients' outcome.

Perioperative fluid therapy with tetrastarch and gelatin in cardiac surgery--a prospective sequential analysis*.

OBJECTIVES: To determine clinical outcomes of synthetic colloids, tetrastarch, and gelatin, used before and after cardiac surgery. DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Fifty-bed cardiac ICU. PATIENTS: Six thousand four hundred seventy-eight consecutive patients with cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Fluid therapy in the operating room and on the ICU directed at preset hemodynamic goals: 1) hydroxyethyl starch (predominantly 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4) in 2004-2006, n = 2,137; 2) 4% gelatin in 2006-2008, n = 2,324; and 3) only crystalloids in 2008-2010, n = 2,017. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Renal replacement therapy was more common during periods when patients received synthetic colloids compared to only crystalloids. Risk of renal replacement therapy was greater after hydroxyethyl starch (odds ratio, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.47-3.60) and gelatin (odds ratio, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.84-4.16; both p < 0.001) compared to crystalloid. Propensity score stratification confirmed greater use of renal replacement therapy in the hydroxyethyl starch and gelatin periods compared to the crystalloid period (odds ratio, 1.46 [1.08, 1.97]; p = 0.013 and odds ratio, 1.72 [1.33, 2.24]; p < 0.001, respectively). Time to vasopressor cessation, normalization of serum lactate, and mean arterial pressure did not differ among groups. Total fluid requirement was 163 mL/kg in the hydroxyethyl starch period, 207 mL/kg in the gelatin period, and 224 mL/kg in the crystalloid period. Fluid intake was higher in the crystalloid group only during the first 20 hours. CONCLUSIONS: In cardiac surgery patients, fluid therapy with perioperative administration of synthetic colloids carries a high risk of renal replacement therapy and is not more effective than treating with only crystalloids.

Renal effects of synthetic colloids and crystalloids in patients with severe sepsis: a prospective sequential comparison.

OBJECTIVES: Hydroxyethyl starch 200 is associated with renal impairment in sepsis, but hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 and gelatin are considered to be less harmful. We hypothesized that fluid therapy with only crystalloids would decrease the incidence of acute kidney injury. DESIGN: Prospective sequential comparison during intensive care unit stay. SETTING: Surgical intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Patients with severe sepsis. INTERVENTIONS: Changes in standard fluid therapy, with predominantly 6% hydroxyethyl starch from January 2005 to June 2005, 4% gelatin from January 2006 to June 2006, and only crystalloids from September 2008 to June 2009. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Acute kidney injury was defined by the presence of at least one RIFLE class; 118 patients received hydroxyethyl starch, 87 patients received gelatin, 141 patients received only crystalloids. Baseline serum creatinine values were similar. Patients received median cumulative doses of 46 (interquartile range, 18-92) mL/kg hydroxyethyl starch and 43 (interquartile range, 18-76) mL/kg gelatin. Total median fluid amounts were 649 (interquartile range, 275-1098) mL/kg in the hydroxyethyl starch group, 525 (237-868) mL/kg in the gelatin group, and 355 (173-911) mL/kg in the crystalloid group. The difference was statistically significant for hydroxyethyl starch after adjustment for multiple testing. Mean daily fluid intake and fluid balance were higher on days 0 and 1 in the crystalloid group. Acute kidney injury occurred in 70% of patients receiving hydroxyethyl starch (adjusted p = .002) and in 68% of patients receiving gelatin (adjusted p = .025) vs. 47% patients receiving crystalloids. Need for renal replacement therapy tended to be higher in the hydroxyethyl starch group (34%; adjusted p = .086) and in the gelatin group (34%; adjusted p = .162) in comparison to the crystalloid group (20%). Intensive care unit and hospital mortality were similar in each group (hydroxyethyl starch: 35% and 43%; gelatin: 26% and 31%; crystalloids: 30% and 37%). CONCLUSION: Fluid resuscitation with only crystalloids was equally effective, resulted in a more positive fluid balance only on the first 2 days, and was associated with a lesser incidence of acute kidney injury.

Prognostic relevance of serum lactate kinetics in critically ill patients.

PURPOSE: Changes of lactate concentration over time were reported to be associated with survival in septic patients. We aimed to evaluate delta-lactate (ΔLac) 24 h after admission (Δ24Lac) to an intensive care unit (ICU) in critically ill patients for short- and long-term prognostic relevance. METHODS: In total, 26,285 lactate measurements of 2191 patients admitted to a German ICU were analyzed. Inclusion criterion was a lactate concentration at admission above 2.0 mmol/L. Maximum lactate concentrations of day 1 and day 2 were used to calculate Δ24Lac. Follow-up of patients was performed retrospectively. Association of Δ24Lac and both in-hospital and long-term mortality were investigated. An optimal cut-off was calculated by means of the Youden index. RESULTS: Patients with lower Δ24Lac were of similar age, but clinically sicker. As continuous variable, higher Δ24Lac was associated with decreased in-hospital mortality (per 1% Δ24Lac; HR 0.987 95%CI 0.985-0.990; p < 0.001) and an optimal Δ24Lac cut-off was calculated at 19%. Δ24Lac ≤ 19% was associated with both increased in-hospital (15% vs 43%; OR 4.11; 95%CI 3.23-5.21; p < 0.001) and long-term mortality (HR 1.54 95%CI 1.28-1.87; p < 0.001), even after correction for APACHE II, need for catecholamines and intubation. We matched 256 patients with Δ24Lac ≤ 19% to case-controls > 19% corrected for APACHE II scores, baseline lactate level and sex: Δ24Lac ≤ 19% remained associated with lower in-hospital and long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Lower Δ24Lac was robustly associated with adverse outcome in critically ill patients, even after correction for confounders. Δ24Lac might constitute an independent, easily available and important parameter for risk stratification in the critically ill.

Real-world extravascular lung water index measurements in critically ill patients : Pulse index continuous cardiac output measurements: time course analysis and association with clinical characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Pulse index continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) is used for hemodynamic assessment. This study describes real world extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) measurements at three time points and relates them to other hemodynamic parameters and mortality in critically ill patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: A total of 198 patients admitted to a tertiary medical university hospital between February 2004 and December 2010 were included in this retrospective analysis. Patients were admitted for various diseases such as sepsis (n = 22), myocardial infarction (n = 53), pulmonary embolism (n = 3), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (n = 15), acute heart failure (AHF; n = 21) and pneumonia (n = 25). RESULTS: Patients included in this analysis were severely ill as represented by the high simplified acute physiology score 2 (SAPS2, 42 ± 18) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score 2 (APACHE2' 22 ± 9). Real-world values at three time points are provided. Intra-ICU mortality rates did not differ between the EVLWI > 7 vs. the ELVWI < 7 groups (15% vs. 13%; p = 0.82) and no association between hemodynamic measurements obtained by PiCCO with long-term mortality could be shown. CONCLUSION: There were no associations of any PiCCO measurements with mortality most probably due to selection bias towards severely ill patients. Future prospective studies with predefined inclusion criteria and treatment algorithms are necessary to evaluate the value of PiCCO for prediction of mortality against simple clinical tools such as jugular venous pressure, edema and auscultation.

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) is independently associated with mortality in critically ill patients admitted to ICU.

PURPOSE: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was reported to be associated with mortality in heart failure patients. We aimed to evaluate admission BUN concentration in a heterogeneous critically ill patient collective admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) for prognostic relevance. METHODS: A total of 4176 medical patients (67±13 years) admitted to a German ICU between 2004 and 2009 were included. Follow-up of patients was performed retrospectively between May 2013 and November 2013. Association of admission BUN and both intra-hospital and long-term mortality were investigated by Cox regression. An optimal cut-off was calculated by means of the Youden-Index. RESULTS: Patients with higher admission BUN concentration were older, clinically sicker and had more pronounced laboratory signs of multi-organ failure including kidney failure. Admission BUN was associated with adverse long-term mortality (HR 1.013; 95%CI 1.012-1.014; p<0.001). An optimal cut-off was calculated at 28 mg/dL which was associated with adverse outcome even after correction for APACHE2 (HR 1.89; 95%CI 1.59-2.26; p<0.001), SAPS2 (HR 1.85; 95%CI 1.55-2.21; p<0.001) and several parameters including creatinine in an integrative model (HR 3.34; 95%CI 2.89-3.86; p<0.001). We matched 614 patients with admission BUN >28 mg/dL to case-controls ≤ 28mg/dL corrected for APACHE2 scores: BUN above 28 mg/dL remained associated with adverse outcome in a paired analysis with the difference being 5.85% (95%CI 1.23-10.47%; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: High BUN concentration at admission was robustly associated with adverse outcome in critically ill patients admitted to an ICU, even after correction for co-founders including renal failure. BUN might constitute an independent, easily available and important parameter for risk stratification in the critically ill.

Are we ever too old?: Characteristics and outcome of octogenarians admitted to a medical intensive care unit.

The aging population increases the demand of intensive care unit (ICU) treatments. However, the availability of ICU beds is limited. Thus, ICU admission of octogenarians is considered controversial. The population above 80 years is a very heterogeneous group though, and age alone might not be the best predictor. Aim of this study was to analyze resource consumption and outcome of octogenarians admitted to a medical ICU to identify reliable survival predictors in a senescent society.This retrospective observational study analyzes 930 octogenarians and 5732 younger patients admitted to a medical ICU. Admission diagnosis, APACHE II and SAPS II scores, use of ICU resources, and mortality were recorded. Long-term mortality was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and multivariate cox regression analysis.Patients ≥80 years old had higher SAPS II (43 vs 38, P < .001) and APACHE II (23 vs 21, P = .001) scores. Consumption of ICU resources by octogenarians was lower in terms of length of stay, mechanical ventilation, and renal replacement therapy. Among octogenarians, ICU survivors got less mechanical ventilation or renal replacement therapy than nonsurvivors. Intra-ICU mortality in the very old was higher (19% vs 12%, P < .001) and long-term survival was lower (HR 1.76, P < .001). Multivariate cox regression analysis of octogenarians revealed that admission diagnosis of myocardial infarction (HR 1.713, P = .023), age (1.08, P = .002), and SAPS II score (HR 1.02, 95%, P = .01) were independent risk factors, whereas admission diagnoses monitoring post coronary intervention (HR .253, P = .002) and cardiac arrhythmia (HR .534, P = .032) had a substantially reduced mortality risk.Octogenarians show a higher intra-ICU and long-term mortality than younger patients. Still, they show a considerable life expectancy after ICU admission even though they get less invasive care than younger patients. Furthermore, some admission diagnoses like myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia and monitoring post cardiac intervention are much stronger predictors for long-term survival than age or SAPS II score in the very old.

High peak PaO2 values associated with adverse outcome in patients treated with noninvasive ventilation for acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema and pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has a sigificant impact on mortality in acute respiratory failure (ARF). Predictive parameters for mortality are of high interest. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 3759 blood gas analysis and clinical parameters of 475 patients presenting with ARF based on acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema and/or pneumonia. The influence of peak arterial oxygen partial pressure levels (PaO2) with respect to its predictive value for in-hopital and long-term mortality was investigated. RESULTS: Overall intra-hospital mortality was 24%. Peak PaO2 levels in kPa were significantly higher in non-survivors (20.01±10.11) compared to survivors (15.65±6.79, P<0.001). A univariate Cox proportional-hazards analysis for long-term mortality revealed associations with maximum PaO2 levels (overall cohort: HR= 1.02; 95% CI: 1.007-1.03; P=0.003; CPE: HR= 1.02; 95% CI: 0.99-1.04, P=0.05, pneumonia: HR= 1.02; 95% CI: 1-1.4, P=0.02). A PaO2 cut-off value of 13 kiloPascal (kPa) was calculated by means of Youden Index and remained true even after correction for APACHE 2 Score (HR= 1.50; 95% CI: 1.00-2.25; P=0.05) and for PaCO2 (HR= 1.63; 95% CI: 1.14-2.33; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Peak PaO2 levels were associated with worse in-hopital and long-term mortality in patients treated with NIV due to ARF. These findings may indicate that application of high oxygen may be detrimental in such patients.

Model for End-stage Liver Disease excluding INR (MELD-XI) score in critically ill patients: Easily available and of prognostic relevance.

PURPOSE: MELD-XI, an adapted version of Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score excluding INR, was reported to predict outcomes e.g. in patients with acute heart failure. We aimed to evaluate MELD-XI in critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) for prognostic relevance. METHODS: A total of 4381 medical patients (66±14 years, 2862 male) admitted to a German ICU between 2004 and 2009 were included and retrospectively investigated. Admission diagnoses were e.g. myocardial infarction (n = 2034), sepsis (n = 694) and heart failure (n = 688). We divided our patients in two cohorts basing on their MELD-XI score and evaluated the MELD-XI score for its prognostic relevance regarding short-term and long-term survival. Optimal cut-offs were calculated by means of the Youden-Index. RESULTS: Patients with a MELD-XI score >12 had pronounced laboratory signs of organ failure and more comorbidities. MELD-XI >12 was associated with an increase in short-term (27% vs 6%; HR 4.82, 95%CI 3.93-5.93; p<0.001) and long-term (HR 3.69, 95%CI 3.20-4.25; p<0.001) mortality. In a univariate Cox regression analysis for all patients MELD-XI was associated with increased long-term mortality (changes per score point: HR 1.06, 95%CI 1.05-1.07; p<0.001) and remained to be associated with increased mortality after correction in a multivariate regression analysis for renal failure, liver failure, lactate concentration, blood glucose concentration, oxygenation and white blood count (HR 1.04, 95%CI 1.03-1.06; p<0.001). Optimal cut-off for the overall cohort was 11 and varied remarkably depending on the admission diagnosis: myocardial infarction (9), pulmonary embolism (9), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (17) and pneumonia (17). We performed ROC-analysis and compared the AUC: SAPS2 (0.78, 95%CI 0.76-0.80; p<0.0001) and APACHE (0.76, 95%CI 0.74-0.78; p<0.003) score were superior to MELD-XI (0.71, 95%CI 0.68-0.73) for prediction of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The easily calculable MELD-XI score is a robust and reliable tool to predict both intra-ICU and long-term mortality in critically ill medical patients admitted to an ICU. Optimal cut-off values for MELD-XI scores seem to depend on the primary disease and need to be validated in future prospective studies. Compared to SAPS2 and APACHE score, MELD-XI lacks precision but might have comparable and even additive value, as it is easily available and independent of subjective values.

Pulse contour cardiac output monitoring in acute heart failure patients : Assessment of hemodynamic measurements.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure is known to be a major public health problem. Fluid redistribution contributes to acute heart failure; therefore, knowledge of hemodynamic parameters could be important for optimizing outcomes. The pulse contour cardiac output monitor PiCCO uses the single thermal indicator technique and pulse contour analysis to calculate hemodynamic parameters of preload, afterload, cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance and extravascular lung water. OBJECTIVES: We primarily aimed to describe values and parameters seen in acute heart failure patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and secondly to investigate associations between hemodynamic measurements and survival data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study 420 consecutive patients admitted to a tertiary medical university hospital ICU between January 2004 and December 2009 were retrospectively investigated. The study sample was divided into two subgroups: patients monitored by PiCCO (n = 47) and those not monitored by thermodilution measurements (n = 373). No predetermined treatment algorithm based on knowledge obtained by the PiCCO monitor was used and measurements were individually interpreted by the treating physician. The PiCCO monitor measurements were carried out according to manufacturer's directions. RESULTS: Patients with PiCCO monitoring were clinically in poorer health with a mean simplified acute physiology score II (SAPS2) of 45 ± 17 vs. 56 ± 20 (p < 0.01). The ICU mortality (22 % vs. 38 %, p = 0.02) and, at least as a tendency, long-term-mortality were increased in patients monitored by PiCCO (RR 1.49, 95 % CI 0.96-2.31, p = 0.08). We provide hemodynamic measurements in acute heart failure patients: cardiac index (2.7 ± 1.2 l/min/m²) was reduced, preload and extravascular lung water index (EVLWI, 11.5 ± 5.1 ml/kg body weight), representing lung edema, were increased. CONCLUSION: We provide real world values for PiCCO parameters in acutely decompensated heart failure. In our study patients who were clinically in poorer health were monitored with PiCCO, resulting in increased mortality in this group. Further prospective studies to investigate the effects of treatment decisions triggered by information obtained by PiCCO monitoring for patients in acute heart failure are needed.

Red cell distribution width and survival in patients hospitalized on a medical ICU.

OBJECTIVES: Red cell distribution width was shown to reliably predict mortality and morbidity in numerous clinical settings, including patients hospitalized on surgical intensive care units (ICU). Patients hospitalized on an ICU usually comprise a very heterogeneous patient population. The aim of this analysis was to investigate whether (1) RDW is related to survival outcomes in patients hospitalized on a medical ICU and (2) the prognostic value of RDW is dependent on the diagnosis that led to ICU admission. METHODS: 829 patients hospitalized on the medical ICU of a tertiary care hospital were retrospectively investigated. Patients were divided in two groups according to the main diagnosis that led to ICU admission. Group 1: non-infectious cardiac disease and group 2: other. The prognostic value of RDW for ICU- and long-term mortality was investigated for the entire patient cohort as well as for the two subgroups. RESULTS: The median RDW of the whole study population was 16.1%. Patients with an RDW above this threshold were exposed to an increased risk for ICU mortality (34.4% vs. 17.2%, p<0.001) and long-term mortality (log-rank p<0.001). Similarly, this cut-off was able to distinguish patients with an elevated risk for death in subgroup 2 (ICU mortality: 37.9% vs. 19.2%, p<0.001; long-term mortality: log-rank p<0.001). In subgroup 1, this value was not able to identify patients with an increased risk for ICU-mortality (17.6% vs. 11.8%, p=0.26) as well as long-term mortality (log-rank p=0.3). CONCLUSIONS: Data of this analysis revealed that (1) RDW is a powerful predictor for ICU- and long-term mortality in patients hospitalized on a medical ICU and (2) RDW cut-offs to assess risk for death differ according to the main diagnosis that led to ICU admission.

Impact of diabetes mellitus and its complications: survival and quality-of-life in critically ill patients.

PURPOSE: Diabetes mellitus represents an increasing problem for patients and health care systems worldwide. We sought to investigate the effect of diabetes and its associated comorbidities on long-term survival and quality of life following an admission to a medical intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: A total of 6662 consecutive patients admitted to ICU between 2004 and 2009 were included (patients with diabetes n=796, non-diabetic patients n=5866). The primary endpoint of the study was death of any cause. Data on mortality was collected upon review of medical records or phone interviews. Moreover, a questionnaire was sent to 500 randomly selected patients addressing Health related Quality of Life (HrQoL) after ICU treatment. RESULTS: Overall mortality did not differ significantly between diabetic and non-diabetic patients after ICU treatment (mean follow-up time: 490 days). For a subgroup of patients already exhibiting comorbidities associated with diabetes, the mortality rate was significantly higher (p=0.022). Regarding quality of life, no differences were found between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes was not associated with increased mortality or reduced quality of life in a general population of medical ICU patients. However, once comorbidities associated with diabetes occurred, the survival rate of patients with comorbidities associated with hyperglycemia was significantly reduced.

Are written advance directives helpful to guide end-of-life therapy in the intensive care unit? A retrospective matched-cohort study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine whether treatment preferences in patients' advance directives (ADs) are associated with life-supporting treatments received during end-of-life care in the intensive care unit (ICU). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study, including patients who died in 4 ICUs of a university hospital in Germany. Patients with ADs were matched with 2 patients each without ADs using propensity scores. RESULTS: Sixty-four (13%) of 477 patients had ADs, written a median of 109 weeks before admission. Five categories of applicability conditions were identified, most of them difficult to interpret in the ICU (eg, "advanced brain impairment" or "imminent death"). Advance directives contained a number of treatment refusals. Specifically, 63 of 64 refused "life-sustaining measures." Compared to patients without ADs, patients with ADs were less likely to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (9% vs 23%, P = .029) and more likely to have do-not-resuscitate orders (77% vs 56%, P = .007). Therapy-limiting decisions and ICU length of stay did not differ between those with or without ADs. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ADs are less likely to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation but otherwise receive similar life-sustaining treatments compared to matched patients without ADs. More research is needed to explore reasons for potential noncompliance with patient preferences.