Excess mortality is associated with influenza A (H1N1) in patients with severe acute respiratory illness.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory infections caused by viruses are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The inflammatory response that follows viral infection is important for the control of virus proliferation. However, if overwhelming, may be associated with complicated outcomes. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the clinical characteristics of patients with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) evolving to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the factors related to death. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study in 273 adult patients with SARI performed in a university-affiliated 800-bed hospital serving an area of epidemiologic vigilance of 102 municipalities and more than 2 million inhabitants. Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (A/H1N1), influenza A H3N2, and influenza B were tested in all patients by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The overall hospital mortality rate was 17.6%. A total of 30.4% of patients tested positive for influenza A/H1N1. Patients with SARI that evolved to ARDS took significantly longer to take the first dose of oseltamivir (6.0 vs 1.0 days, p=0.002). Patients with H1N1 positive tests had almost 3 times higher probability of death, despite having significantly less comorbidities (p=0.027). The influenza A/H1N1 pdm09 vaccine reduced the odds of death by 78%. Nonsurvivors had a more intense inflammatory response than did survivors at 48 h (C-reactive protein: 31.0 ± 17.5 vs. 14.6 ± 8.9 mg/dl, p=0.001) as well as a more positive fluid balance. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital mortality associated with influenza H1N1-associated SARI and ARDS continued to be high years after the 2009 pandemic in a population with low vaccine coverage. Antiviral treatment started more than two days after onset of symptoms was more frequently associated with ARDS and death and, having had vaccine against influenza A (H1N1) was a factor independently related to survival.

Epidemiological profile of ICU patients at Faculdade de Medicina de Marília.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the epidemiological profile of the hospitalized population in the ICU of Hospital das Clínicas de Marília (Famema). METHOD: A retrospective, descriptive and quantitative study. Data regarding patients admitted to the ICU Famema was obtained from the Technical Information Center (Núcleo Técnico de Informações, NTI, Famema). For data analysis, we used the distribution of absolute and relative frequencies with simple statistical treatment. RESULTS: 2,022 ICU admissions were recorded from June 2010 to July 2012 with 1,936 being coded according to the ICD-10. The epidemiological profile comprised mostly males (57.91%), predominantly seniors ≥ 60 years (48.89%), at an average age of 56.64 years (±19.18), with limited formal education (63.3% complete primary school), mostly white (77.10%), Catholic (75.12%), from the city of Marília, state of São Paulo, Brazil (53.81%). The average occupancy rate was 94.42%. The predominant cause of morbidity was diseases of the circulatory system with 494 admissions (25.5%), followed by traumas and external causes with 446 admissions (23.03%) and neoplasms with 213 admissions (11.00%). The average stay was 8.09 days (±10.73). The longest average stay was due to skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases, with average stay of 12.77 days (±17.07). There were 471 deaths (24.32%), mainly caused by diseases of the circulatory system (30.99%). The age group with the highest mortality was the range from 70 to 79 years with 102 deaths (21.65%). CONCLUSION: The ICU Famema presents an epidemiological profile similar to other intensive care units in Brazil and worldwide, despite the few studies available in the literature. Thus, we feel in tune with the treatment of critical care patients.

Epidemiological profile of ICU patients at Faculdade de Medicina de Marília / Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes da UTI da Faculdade de Medicina de Marília

SUMMARY Objective: To characterize the epidemiological profile of the hospitalized population in the ICU of Hospital das Clínicas de Marília (Famema). Method: A retrospective, descriptive and quantitative study. Data regarding patients admitted to the ICU Famema was obtained from the Technical Information Center (Núcleo Técnico de Informações, NTI, Famema). For data analysis, we used the distribution of absolute and relative frequencies with simple statistical treatment. Results: 2,022 ICU admissions were recorded from June 2010 to July 2012 with 1,936 being coded according to the ICD-10. The epidemiological profile comprised mostly males (57.91%), predominantly seniors ≥ 60 years (48.89%), at an average age of 56.64 years (±19.18), with limited formal education (63.3% complete primary school), mostly white (77.10%), Catholic (75.12%), from the city of Marília, state of São Paulo, Brazil (53.81%). The average occupancy rate was 94.42%. The predominant cause of morbidity was diseases of the circulatory system with 494 admissions (25.5%), followed by traumas and external causes with 446 admissions (23.03%) and neoplasms with 213 admissions (11.00%). The average stay was 8.09 days (±10.73). The longest average stay was due to skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases, with average stay of 12.77 days (±17.07). There were 471 deaths (24.32%), mainly caused by diseases of the circulatory system (30.99%). The age group with the highest mortality was the range from 70 to 79 years with 102 deaths (21.65%). Conclusion: The ICU Famema presents an epidemiological profile similar to other intensive care units in Brazil and worldwide, despite the few studies available in the literature. Thus, we feel in tune with the treatment of critical care patients.

RESUMO Objetivo: caracterizar o perfil epidemiológico da população internada na UTI do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Marília (Famema). Método: estudo retrospectivo, descritivo, quantitativo. Os dados foram obtidos do Núcleo Técnico de Informações (NTI) da Famema dos pacientes internados na UTI Famema. Para a análise dos dados, utilizou-se distribuição de frequências absoluta e relativa com tratamento de estatística simples. Resultados: foram registradas 2.022 internações no período de junho de 2010 a julho de 2012 na UTI Famema, sendo 1.936 codificadas de acordo com a CID-10. O perfil epidemiológico mostrou predominância do sexo masculino (57,91%), população idosa ≥ 60 anos (48,89%), média de idade de 56,64 anos (±19,18) e baixa escolaridade com até 1º grau completo (63,30%), cristão católico (75,12%), brancos (77,10%), procedentes de Marília, SP (53,81%). A taxa média de ocupação foi de 94,42%. A morbidade predominante foram as doenças do aparelho circulatório com 494 internações (25,5%), seguida dos traumas e causas externas com 446 admissões (23,03%) e neoplasias com 213 admissões (11,00%). A média de permanência foi 8,09 dias (±10,73), sendo as doenças de pele e tecido subcutâneo as com maior tempo (12,77 dias; ±17,07). Ocorreram 471 óbitos (24,32%), cuja causa mais prevalente foram as doenças do aparelho circulatório (30,99%). A faixa etária de maior mortalidade foi 70 a 79 anos com 102 óbitos (21,65%). Conclusão: a UTI Famema apresentou um perfil epidemiológico semelhante ao de outras unidades no Brasil e no mundo, apesar dos poucos estudos na literatura. Com isso, nos sentimos em sintonia no atendimento ao paciente crítico.