Randomized Controlled Trial of Telementoring During Resource-Limited Patient Care Simulation Improves Caregiver Performance and Patient Survival.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of telementoring on caregiver performance during a high-fidelity medical simulation model (HFMSM) of a critically ill patient in a resource-limited setting. DESIGN: A two-center, randomized, controlled study using a HFMSM of a patient with community-acquired pneumonia complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome. SETTING: A notional clinic in a remote location staffed by a single clinician and nonmedical assistant. PARTICIPANTS: Clinicians with limited experience managing critically ill patients. INTERVENTIONS: Telemedicine (TM) support. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was clinical performance as measured by accuracy, reliability, and efficiency of care. Secondary outcomes were patient survival, procedural quality, subjective assessment of the HFMSM, and perceived workload. MAIN RESULTS: TM participants (N = 11) performed better than non-TM (NTM, N = 12) in providing expected care (accuracy), delivering care more consistently (reliability), and without consistent differences in efficiency (timeliness of care). Accuracy: TM completed 91% and NTM 42% of expected tasks and procedures. Efficiency: groups did not differ in the mean (± sd) minutes it took to obtain an advanced airway successfully (TM 15.2 ± 10.5 vs. NTM 22.8 ± 8.4, p = 0.10) or decompress a tension pneumothorax with a needle (TM 0.7 ± 0.5 vs. NTM 0.6 ± 0.9, p = 0.65). TM was slower than NTM in completing thoracostomy (22.3 ± 10.2 vs. 12.3 ± 4.8, p = 0.03). Reliability: TM performed 13 of 17 (76%) tasks with more consistent timing than NTM. TM completed 68% and NTM 29% of procedural quality metrics. Eighty-two percent of the TM participants versus 17% of the NTM participants simulated patients survived (p = 0.003). The groups similarly perceived the HFMSM as realistic, managed their patients with personal ownership, and experienced comparable workload and stress. CONCLUSIONS: Remote expertise provided with TM to caregivers in resource-limited settings improves caregiver performance, quality of care, and potentially real patient survival. HFMSM can be used to study interventions in ways not possible with real patients.

Healthcare Burden and Resource Utilization After Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Secondary Analysis of the Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe family healthcare burden and health resource utilization in pediatric survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) at 3 and 9 months. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a prospective multisite cohort study. SETTING: Eight academic PICUs in the United States (2019-2020). PATIENTS: Critically ill children with ARDS and follow-up survey data collected at 3 and/or 9 months after the event. INTERVENTIONS: None. METHODS AND MEASUREMENT: We evaluated family healthcare burden, a measure of healthcare provided by families at home, and child health resource use including medication use and emergency department (ED) and hospital readmissions during the initial 3- and 9-month post-ARDS using proxy-report. Using multivariable logistic regression, we evaluated patient characteristics associated with family healthcare burden at 3 months. MAIN RESULTS: Of 109 eligible patients, 74 (68%) and 63 patients (58%) had follow-up at 3- and 9-month post-ARDS. At 3 months, 46 families (62%) reported healthcare burden including (22%) with unmet care coordination needs. At 9 months, 33 families (52%) reported healthcare burden including 10 families (16%) with unmet care coordination needs. At month 3, 61 patients (82%) required prescription medications, 13 patients (18%) had ED visits and 16 patients (22%) required hospital readmission. At month 9, 41 patients (65%) required prescription medications, 19 patients (30%) had ED visits, and 16 (25%) required hospital readmission were reported. Medication use was associated with family healthcare burden at both 3 and 9 months. In a multivariable analysis, preillness functional status and chronic conditions were associated with healthcare burden at month 3 but illness characteristics were not. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric ARDS survivors report high rates of healthcare burden and health resource utilization at 3- and 9-month post-ARDS. Future studies should assess the impact of improved care coordination to simplify care (e.g., medication management) and improve family burden.

Extended use of point-of-care technology versus usual care for in-home assessment by acute community nurses in older adults with signs of potential acute respiratory disease: an open-label randomised controlled trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Due to ageing-related physiological changes, diagnosing older adults is challenging. Delayed disease recognition may lead to adverse health outcomes and increased hospitalisation, necessitating the development of new initiatives for timely diagnosis and treatment of older adults. Point-of-care technology, such as focused lung ultrasound scan and bedside analysis of blood samples (leucocytes with differential count, electrolytes, and creatinine) conducted in the patients' home, may support clinical decision-making, and potentially reduce acute hospital admissions. We present the protocol for a randomized controlled trial, which aims at assessing the effect of focused lung ultrasound scan and bedside blood analysis during in-home assessments among older adults with signs of potential acute respiratory disease on hospital admissions. METHOD: We will use a parallel open-label, individually randomised controlled trial design in an acute community healthcare setting. The trial will initiate on October 2022 and is expected to end one year later. The study population will include older adults (65 + year), with at least one of the following inclusion criteria: Cough, dyspnoea, fever, fall, or rapid functional decline. Expected study sample will comprise 632 participants. Participants in the control group will receive usual care, while the intervention group will undergo extended point-of-care technology (focused lung ultrasound scan and bedside venous blood analysis), in addition to usual care. The primary outcome is acute hospital admission within 30 days follow-up. Secondary outcomes include readmissions, mortality, length of hospital stay, hospital-free days, complications during hospital admission, treatment initiations or changes, functional level, re-referrals to the acute community healthcare service, and contacts to the primary care physician. A tertiary outcome is the diagnostic accuracy of Acute Community Nurses for conducting focused lung ultrasound compared with a specialist. Outcomes will be analysed as intention-to-treat. DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, this is the first randomised controlled trial examining the effect of extended use of point-of-care technology conducted in an in-home setting. We expect that the results may contribute to the development of new interventions aiming to improve timely diagnostics, treatment decisions, and reduce acute hospital admissions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www. CLINICALTRIALS: org NCT05546073 (Date of registration: September 19th, 2022).

Advanced respiratory mechanics assessment in mechanically ventilated obese and non-obese patients with or without acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory mechanics is a key element to monitor mechanically ventilated patients and guide ventilator settings. Besides the usual basic assessments, some more complex explorations may allow to better characterize patients' respiratory mechanics and individualize ventilation strategies. These advanced respiratory mechanics assessments including esophageal pressure measurements and complete airway closure detection may be particularly relevant in critically ill obese patients. This study aimed to comprehensively assess respiratory mechanics in obese and non-obese ICU patients with or without ARDS and evaluate the contribution of advanced respiratory mechanics assessments compared to basic assessments in these patients. METHODS: All intubated patients admitted in two ICUs for any cause were prospectively included. Gas exchange and respiratory mechanics including esophageal pressure and end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) measurements and low-flow insufflation to detect complete airway closure were assessed in standardized conditions (tidal volume of 6 mL kg-1 predicted body weight (PBW), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 5 cmH2O) within 24 h after intubation. RESULTS: Among the 149 analyzed patients, 52 (34.9%) were obese and 90 (60.4%) had ARDS (65.4% and 57.8% of obese and non-obese patients, respectively, p = 0.385). A complete airway closure was found in 23.5% of the patients. It was more frequent in obese than in non-obese patients (40.4% vs 14.4%, p < 0.001) and in ARDS than in non-ARDS patients (30% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.029). Respiratory system and lung compliances and EELV/PBW were similarly decreased in obese patients without ARDS and obese or non-obese patients with ARDS. Chest wall compliance was not impacted by obesity or ARDS, but end-expiratory esophageal pressure was higher in obese than in non-obese patients. Chest wall contribution to respiratory system compliance differed widely between patients but was not predictable by their general characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Most respiratory mechanics features are similar in obese non-ARDS and non-obese ARDS patients, but end-expiratory esophageal pressure is higher in obese patients. A complete airway closure can be found in around 25% of critically ill patients ventilated with a PEEP of 5 cmH2O. Advanced explorations may allow to better characterize individual respiratory mechanics and adjust ventilation strategies in some patients. Trial registration NCT03420417 ClinicalTrials.gov (February 5, 2018).

Influence of socio-economic status on functional recovery after ARDS caused by SARS-CoV-2: the multicentre, observational RECOVIDS study.

PURPOSE: Survivors after acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at high risk of developing respiratory sequelae and functional impairment. The healthcare crisis caused by the pandemic hit socially disadvantaged populations. We aimed to evaluate the influence of socio-economic status on respiratory sequelae after COVID-19 ARDS. METHODS: We carried out a prospective multicenter study in 30 French intensive care units (ICUs), where ARDS survivors were pre-enrolled if they fulfilled the Berlin ARDS criteria. For patients receiving high flow oxygen therapy, a flow ≥ 50 l/min and an FiO2 ≥ 50% were required for enrollment. Socio-economic deprivation was defined by an EPICES (Evaluation de la Précarité et des Inégalités de santé dans les Centres d'Examens de Santé - Evaluation of Deprivation and Inequalities in Health Examination Centres) score ≥ 30.17 and patients were included if they performed the 6-month evaluation. The primary outcome was respiratory sequelae 6 months after ICU discharge, defined by at least one of the following criteria: forced vital capacity < 80% of theoretical value, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide < 80% of theoretical value, oxygen desaturation during a 6-min walk test and fibrotic-like findings on chest computed tomography. RESULTS: Among 401 analyzable patients, 160 (40%) were socio-economically deprived and 241 (60%) non-deprived; 319 (80%) patients had respiratory sequelae 6 months after ICU discharge (81% vs 78%, deprived vs non-deprived, respectively). No significant effect of socio-economic status was identified on lung sequelae (odds ratio (OR), 1.19 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.72-1.97]), even after adjustment for age, sex, most invasive respiratory support, obesity, most severe P/F ratio (adjusted OR, 1.02 [95% CI 0.57-1.83]). CONCLUSIONS: In COVID-19 ARDS survivors, socio-economic status had no significant influence on respiratory sequelae 6 months after ICU discharge.

Relationship between lung ultrasound and electrical impedance tomography as regional assessment tools during PEEP titration in acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by multi-lobar pneumonia: a pilot study.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by multilobar pneumonia (MLP) is markedly different from typical ARDS in pathology, imaging characteristics, and lung mechanics. Regional lung assessment is required. We aimed to analyze the relationship between two regional assessment tools, lung ultrasound (LUS) and electrical impedance tomography (EIT) during positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) titration, and determine an appropriate PEEP level. We conducted a prospective study of patients with ARDS caused by MLP with PaO2/FiO2 < 150 mmHg. All subjects were equipped with two EIT belts connected with a single EIT machine to measure upper and lower hemithorax impedance change alternatingly at each PEEP level. LUS score was simultaneously determined in chest wall regions corresponding to the EIT regions during PEEP titration. We acquired EIT and LUS data in eight regions of interest at seven PEEP levels in 12 subjects. Therefore, 672 pairs of data were obtained for analysis. There were significant relationships between LUS score and tidal impedance variation and pixel compliance (Cpix). The Spearman's rho between LUS score vs. tidal impedance variation and LUS score vs. the Cpix were - 0.142, P < 0.001, and - 0.195, P < 0.001, respectively. The relationship between the LUS score and Cpix remained the same at every PEEP level but did not reach statistical significance. The individual's mean expected PEEP by LUS was similar to the EIT [10.33(± 1.67) vs. 10.33(± 1.44) cm H2O, P = 0.15]. Regarding the MLP, the LUS scores were associated with EIT parameters, and LUS scores might proof helpful for finding individual PEEP settings in MLP.

One-Year Mental and Physical Health Assessment in Survivors after Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for COVID-19-related Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Rationale: Long-term outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-related acute respiratory distress syndrome treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are unknown. Objectives: To assess physical examination, pulmonary function tests, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and quality of life at 6 and 12 months after ECMO onset. Methods: Multicenter, prospective study in patients who received ECMO for COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome from March to June 2020 and survived hospital discharge. Measurements and Main Results: Of 80 eligible patients, 62 were enrolled in seven French ICUs. ECMO and invasive mechanical ventilation duration were 18 (11-25) and 36 (27-62) days, respectively. All were alive, but only 19/50 (38%) returned to work and 13/42 (31%) had recovered a normal sex drive at 1 year. Pulmonary function tests were almost normal at 6 months, except for DlCO, which was still impaired at 12 months. Mental health, role-emotional, and role-physical were the most impaired domain compared with patients receiving ECMO who did not have COVID-19. One year after ICU admission, 19/43 (44%) patients had significant anxiety, 18/43 (42%) had depression symptoms, and 21/50 (42%) were at risk for post-traumatic stress disorders. Conclusions: Despite the partial recovery of the lung function tests at 1 year, the physical and psychological function of this population remains impaired. Based on the comparison with long-term follow-up of patients receiving ECMO who did not have COVID-19, poor mental and physical health may be more related to COVID-19 than to ECMO in itself, although this needs confirmation.

The Social Economic Return of a Positive End-Expiratory Pressure-Based Lung Recruitment Clinical Trial Program in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the socioeconomic return from the value of lives saved by the protocol indicated by the Alveolar Recruitment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Trial (ART). ART was conducted through a multicenter randomized trial at 120 intensive care units from 9 countries, enrolling adults with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. It investigated whether lung recruitment associated with positive end-expiratory pressure titration according to the best respiratory system compliance decreases 28-day mortality of patients compared with a conventional low-positive end-expiratory pressure strategy. METHODS: The value of lives saved was estimated by considering whether the trial findings were implemented in the eligible patient populations for 1 year, and then the social economic return was computed by subtracting the clinical trial costs from the gross benefit. The return was computed by subtracting the ART costs from its gross benefit. RESULTS: The ART net benefit is approximately 152 million dollars if it is implemented in 50% of eligible patients in Brazil under the baseline assumptions. For every dollar spent in the clinical trial, a return of 114 dollars was achieved in Brazil alone. If the trial findings are implemented in all eligible patients, then the trial return would be 229.5 dollars for every dollar invested with a net benefit of 304 million dollars. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the substantial economic benefit of clinical trials on acute respiratory distress syndrome treatments for society. It also points out that the public return of clinical trials can be potentialized when the new trial findings are fully implemented on eligible patients.

Outcome and Post-Surgical Lung Biopsy Change in Management of ARDS: A Proportional Prevalence Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Limited epidemiological data are available on changes in management, benefits, complications, and outcomes after open lung biopsy in patients with ARDS. METHODS: We performed a literature search of PubMed, Ovid, and Cochrane databases for articles from the inception of each database till November 2020 that provided outcomes of lung biopsy in ARDS patients. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients that had a change in management with alteration of treatment plan, after lung biopsy. Secondary outcomes included pathological diagnoses and complications related to the lung biopsy. Pooled proportions with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for the prevalence of outcomes. RESULTS: After analysis of 22 articles from 1994 to 2018, a total of 851 ARDS patients (mean age 59.28 ± 7.41, males 56.4%) that were admitted to the ICU who underwent surgical lung biopsy for ARDS were included. Biopsy changed the management in 539 patients (pooled proportion 75%: 95% CI 64-84%). There were 394 deaths (pooled proportion 49%: 95% CI 41-58%). The most common pathologic diagnosis was diffuse alveolar damage that occurred in 30% (95% CI 19-41%), followed by interstitial lung disease in 10% (95% CI 3-19%), and viral infection in 9% (95% CI 4-16%). Complications occurred among 201 patients (pooled proportion 24%, 95% CI 17-31%). The most common type of complication was persistent air-leak among 115 patients (pooled estimate 13%, 95% CI 9-17%). CONCLUSION: Despite the high mortality risk associated with ARDS, lung biopsy changed management in about 3/4 of the patients. However, 1/4 of the patients had a complication due to lung biopsy. The risks from the procedure should be carefully weighed before proceeding with lung biopsy.

Human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19 (phase I clinical trial): safety profile assessment.

BACKGROUND: High morbidity and mortality rates of the COVID-19 pandemic have made it a global health priority. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the most important causes of death in COVID-19 patients. Mesenchymal stem cells have been the subject of many clinical trials for the treatment of ARDS because of their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative potentials. The aim of this phase I clinical trial was the safety assessment of allogeneic placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PL-MSCs) intravenous injection in patients with ARDS induced by COVID-19. METHODS: We enrolled 20 patients suffering from ARDS caused by COVID-19 who had been admitted to the intensive care unit. PL-MSCs were isolated and propagated using a xeno-free/GMP compliant protocol. Each patient in the treatment group (N = 10) received standard treatment and a single dose of 1 × 106 cells/kg PL-MSCs intravenously. The control groups (N = 10) only received the standard treatment. Clinical signs and laboratory tests were evaluated in all participants at the baseline and during 28 days follow-ups. RESULTS: No adverse events were observed in the PL-MSC group. Mean length of hospitalization, serum oxygen saturation, and other clinical and laboratory parameters were not significantly different in the two groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that intravenous administration of PL-MSCs in patients with COVID-19 related ARDS is safe and feasible. Further studies whit higher cell doses and repeated injections are needed to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment modality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT); IRCT20200621047859N4. Registered 1 March 2021, https://en.irct.ir/trial/52947 .

Efficacy and Safety of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients under Mechanical Ventilation with COVID-19 and Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Health Technology Assessment.

We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients under mechanical ventilation with COVID-19 and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A systematic review of the literature published in PubMed, Cochrane Library and LILACS databases, was performed. A manual search was also conducted using the reference lists of the studies included in the full-text assessment, as well as a grey-literature search on Google. Additionally, websites of state institutions and organizations developing clinical practice guidelines and health technology assessments were reviewed. The ClinicalTrials.gov website was screened along with the websites of the International Clinical Trial Registry Platform and the National Registry of Health Research Projects of the Peruvian National Institute of Health. No restrictions were applied in terms of language, time, or country. A total of 13 documents were assessed, which included 7 clinical practice guidelines, 3 health technology assessments, 1 systematic review, 1 randomized clinical trial, and 1 observational study. A critical appraisal was conducted for each document. After this, we considered that the currently available evidence is insufficient for a conclusion supporting the use of ECMO in patients under mechanical ventilation with severe ARDS associated to COVID-19 in terms of mortality, safety, and quality of life.

Trends in Mortality, Treatment, and Costs of Management of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in South Korea: Analysis of Data between 2010 and 2019.

PURPOSE: Despite recent advances in the understanding and management of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), trends in treatment, mortality, and healthcare costs following these advancements remain to be identified. In the present study, we aimed to investigate these trends using real-world data from a national cohort database in South Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the National Health Insurance Service database, we collected and analyzed data for critically ill adult patients with ARDS who were admitted to intensive care units in South Korea between 2010 and 2019. RESULTS: The final analysis included 25431 patients with ARDS. The 30-, 90-, and 365-day mortality rates in 2010 were 43.8%, 56.5%, and 68.2%, respectively. These rates had gradually decreased to 36.6%, 50.2%, and 58.8%, respectively, by 2019. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for patients with ARDS started in 2014 at a rate of 5.1% (118/2309), which gradually increased to 8.3% (213/2568) by 2019. The rate of neuromuscular blockade treatment gradually increased from 22.6% (626/2771) in 2010 to 30.9% (793/2568) in 2019. The renal replacement therapy rate gradually increased from 5.7% (157/2771) in 2010 to 12.0% (307/2568) in 2019. The mean total cost of hospitalization increased from 5986.7 USD in 2010 to 12336.4 USD in 2019. CONCLUSION: Real-world data for 2010-2019 indicate that patients with ARDS in South Korea have experienced changes in mortality, treatment, and healthcare costs. Despite the increased financial burden, mortality among patients with ARDS has decreased due to advances in disease management.

Assessment of Patient Health-Related Quality of Life and Functional Outcomes in Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To describe health-related quality of life (HRQL) and functional outcomes in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and to determine risk factors associated with poor outcome defined as death or severe reduction in HRQL at 28 days or ICU discharge. DESIGN: Prospective multisite cohort-outcome study conducted between 2019 and 2020. SETTING: Eight academic PICUs in the United States. PATIENTS: Children with ARDS based on standard criteria. INTERVENTIONS: Patient characteristics and illness severity were collected during PICU admission. Parent proxy-report measurements were obtained at baseline, day 28/ICU discharge, month 3, and month 9, utilizing Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and Functional Status Scale (FSS). A composite outcome evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis was death or severe reduction in HRQL (>25% reduction in the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory at day 28/ICU discharge. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: This study enrolled 122 patients with a median age of 3 years (interquartile range, 1-12 yr). Common etiologies of ARDS included pneumonia ( n = 63; 52%) and sepsis ( n = 27; 22%). At day 28/ICU discharge, half (50/95; 53%) of surviving patients with follow-up data reported a greater than 10% decrease in HRQL from baseline, and approximately one-third of participants ( n = 19/61; 31%) reported a greater than 10% decrease in HRQL at 9 months. Trends in FSS were similar. Of 104 patients with data, 47 patients (45%) died or reported a severe decrease of greater than 25% in HRQL at day 28/ICU discharge. Older age was associated with an increased risk of death or severe reduction in HRQL (odds ratio, 1.08; CI, 1.01-1.16). CONCLUSIONS: Children with ARDS are at risk for deterioration in HRQL and FSS that persists up to 9 months after ARDS. Almost half of children with ARDS experience a poor outcome including death or severe reduction in HRQL at day 28/ICU discharge.

Early assessment of the efficacy of noninvasive ventilation tested by HACOR score to avoid delayed intubation in patients with moderate to severe ARDS.

BACKGROUND: Use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in patients with moderate to severe ARDS is controversial. We aimed to use HACOR (combination of heart rate, acidosis, consciousness, oxygenation and respiratory rate) score to comprehensively assess the efficacy of NIV in ARDS patients with PaO2/FiO2 ⩽ 150 mmHg. METHODS: Secondary analysis was performed using the data collected from two databases. We screened the ARDS patients who used NIV as a first-line therapy. Patients with PaO2/FiO2 ⩽ 150 mmHg were enrolled. NIV failure was defined as requirement of intubation. RESULTS: A total of 224 moderate to severe ARDS patients who used NIV as a first-line therapy were enrolled. Of them, 125 patients (56%) experienced NIV failure and received intubation. Among the intubated patients, the survivor had shorter time from initiation of NIV to intubation than nonsurvivors (median 10 vs 22 h, p < 0.01). The median differences of HACOR score before and 1-2 h of NIV were 1 point (interquartile range: 0-3). We defined the patients with △HACOR >1 as responders (n = 102) and the rest to non-responders (n = 122). Compared to non-responders, the responders had higher HACOR score before NIV. However, the HACOR score was lower in the responders than non-responders after 1-2 h, 12 h, and 24 h of NIV. The responders also had lower NIV failure rate (36% vs 72%, p < 0.01) and lower 28-day mortality (32% vs 47%, p = 0.04) than non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: NIV failure was high among patients with moderate to severe ARDS. Delayed intubation is associated with increased mortality. The reduction of HACOR score after 1-2 h of NIV can identify the patients who respond well to NIV.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome readmissions: A nationwide cross-sectional analysis of epidemiology and costs of care.

BACKGROUND: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome affects approximately 10% of patients admitted to intensive care units internationally, with as many as 40%-52% of patients reporting re-hospitalization within one year. RESEARCH QUESTION/AIM: To describe the epidemiology of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome who require 30-day readmission, and to describe associated costs. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of the 2016 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Readmission Database, which is a population-based administrative database which includes discharge data from U.S. hospitals. Inclusion criteria: hospital discharge records for adults age > 17 years old, with a diagnosis of ARDS on index admission, with associated procedure codes for endotracheal intubation and/or invasive mechanical ventilation, who were discharged alive. Primary exposure is adult hospitalization for meeting criteria as described. The primary outcome measure is 30-day readmission rate, as well as patient characteristics and time distribution of readmissions. RESULTS: Nationally, 25,170 admissions meeting criteria were identified. Index admission mortality rate was 37.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 36.2-38.8). 15,730 records of those surviving hospitalization had complete discharge information. 30-day readmission rate was 18.4%, with 14% of total readmissions occurring within 2 calendar days of discharge; these early readmissions had higher mortality risk (odds ratio 1.82, 95% CI 1.05-6.56) compared with readmission in subsequent days. For the closest all-cause readmission within 30 days, the mean cost was $26,971, with a total national cost of over $75.6 million. INTERPRETATION: Thirty-day readmission occurred in 18.4% of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome in this sample, and early readmission is strongly associated with increased mortality compared to late readmission. Further research is needed to clarify whether the rehospitalizations or associated mortalities are preventable.