Clustering COVID-19 ARDS patients through the first days of ICU admission. An analysis of the CIBERESUCICOVID Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can be classified into sub-phenotypes according to different inflammatory/clinical status. Prognostic enrichment was achieved by grouping patients into hypoinflammatory or hyperinflammatory sub-phenotypes, even though the time of analysis may change the classification according to treatment response or disease evolution. We aimed to evaluate when patients can be clustered in more than 1 group, and how they may change the clustering of patients using data of baseline or day 3, and the prognosis of patients according to their evolution by changing or not the cluster. METHODS: Multicenter, observational prospective, and retrospective study of patients admitted due to ARDS related to COVID-19 infection in Spain. Patients were grouped according to a clustering mixed-type data algorithm (k-prototypes) using continuous and categorical readily available variables at baseline and day 3. RESULTS: Of 6205 patients, 3743 (60%) were included in the study. According to silhouette analysis, patients were grouped in two clusters. At baseline, 1402 (37%) patients were included in cluster 1 and 2341(63%) in cluster 2. On day 3, 1557(42%) patients were included in cluster 1 and 2086 (57%) in cluster 2. The patients included in cluster 2 were older and more frequently hypertensive and had a higher prevalence of shock, organ dysfunction, inflammatory biomarkers, and worst respiratory indexes at both time points. The 90-day mortality was higher in cluster 2 at both clustering processes (43.8% [n = 1025] versus 27.3% [n = 383] at baseline, and 49% [n = 1023] versus 20.6% [n = 321] on day 3). Four hundred and fifty-eight (33%) patients clustered in the first group were clustered in the second group on day 3. In contrast, 638 (27%) patients clustered in the second group were clustered in the first group on day 3. CONCLUSIONS: During the first days, patients can be clustered into two groups and the process of clustering patients may change as they continue to evolve. This means that despite a vast majority of patients remaining in the same cluster, a minority reaching 33% of patients analyzed may be re-categorized into different clusters based on their progress. Such changes can significantly impact their prognosis.

Latest developments in early diagnosis and specific treatment of severe influenza infection.

Influenza pandemics are unpredictable recurrent events with global health, economic, and social consequences. The objective of this review is to provide an update on the latest developments in early diagnosis and specific treatment of the disease and its complications, particularly with regard to respiratory organ failure. Despite advances in treatment, the rate of mortality in the intensive care unit remains approximately 30%. Therefore, early identification of potentially severe viral pneumonia is extremely important to optimize treatment in these patients. The pathogenesis of influenza virus infection depends on viral virulence and host response. Thus, in some patients, it is associated with an excessive systemic response mediated by an authentic cytokine storm. This process leads to severe primary pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Initial prognostication in the emergency department based on comorbidities, vital signs, and biomarkers (e.g., procalcitonin, ferritin, human leukocyte antigen-DR, mid-regional proadrenomedullin, and lactate) is important. Identification of these biomarkers on admission may facilitate clinical decision-making to determine early admission to the hospital or the intensive care unit. These decisions are reached considering pathophysiological circumstances that are associated with a poor prognosis (e.g., bacterial co-infection, hyperinflammation, immune paralysis, severe endothelial damage, organ dysfunction, and septic shock). Moreover, early implementation is important to increase treatment efficacy. Based on a limited level of evidence, all current guidelines recommend using oseltamivir in this setting. The possibility of drug resistance should also be considered. Alternative options include other antiviral drugs and combination therapies with monoclonal antibodies. Importantly, it is not recommended to use corticosteroids in the initial treatment of these patients. Furthermore, the implementation of supportive measures for respiratory failure is essential. Current recommendations are limited, heterogeneous, and not regularly updated. Early intubation and mechanical ventilation is the basic treatment for patients with severe respiratory failure. Prone ventilation should be promptly performed in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, while early tracheostomy should be considered in case of planned prolonged mechanical ventilation. Clinical trials on antiviral treatment and respiratory support measures specifically for these patients, as well as specific recommendations for different at-risk populations, are necessary to improve outcomes.

Limitation of life support treatments in Spanish Intensive Care Units: Analysis of the ETHICUS II study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the results of Spanish ICUs in ETHICUS II study. DESIGN: Planned substudy of patients from ETHICUS II study. SETTING: 12 Spanish ICU. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: Patients admitted to Spanish ICU who died or in whom a limitation of life-sustaining treatment (LLST) was decided during a recruitment period of 6 months. INTERVENTIONS: Follow-up of patients was performed until discharge from the ICU and 2 months after the decision of LLST or death. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Demographic characteristics, clinical profile, type of decision of LLST, time and form in which it was adopted. Patients were classified into 4 categories according to the ETHICUS II study protocol: withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining therapy, active shortening of the dying process, failed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and patients with brain death. RESULTS: A total of 795 patients were analyzed; 129 patients died after CPR, 129 developed brain death. LLST was decided in 537 patients, 485 died in the ICU, 90.3%. The mean age was 66.19 years ± 14.36, 63.8% of male patients. In 221 (41%) it was decided to withdraw life-sustaining treatments and in 316 (59%) withholding life-sustaining treatments. Nineteen patients (2.38%) had advance living directives. CONCLUSIONS: The predominant clinical profile when LTSV was established was male patients over 65 years with mostly cardiovascular comorbidity. We observed that survival was higher in LLST decisions involving withholding of treatments compared to those in which withdrawal was decided. Spain has played a leading role in both patient and ICU recruitment participating in this worldwide multicenter study.

Applicability of an unsupervised cluster model developed on first wave COVID-19 patients in second/third wave critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the unsupervised cluster model (USCM) developed during the first pandemic wave in a cohort of critically ill patients from the second and third pandemic waves. DESIGN: Observational, retrospective, multicentre study. SETTING: Intensive Care Unit (ICU). PATIENTS: Adult patients admitted with COVID-19 and respiratory failure during the second and third pandemic waves. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: Collected data included demographic and clinical characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory tests and ICU outcomes. To validate our original USCM, we assigned a phenotype to each patient of the validation cohort. The performance of the classification was determined by Silhouette coefficient (SC) and general linear modelling. In a post-hoc analysis we developed and validated a USCM specific to the validation set. The model's performance was measured using accuracy test and area under curve (AUC) ROC. RESULTS: A total of 2330 patients (mean age 63 [53-82] years, 1643 (70.5%) male, median APACHE II score (12 [9-16]) and SOFA score (4 [3-6]) were included. The ICU mortality was 27.2%. The USCM classified patients into 3 clinical phenotypes: A (n = 1206 patients, 51.8%); B (n = 618 patients, 26.5%), and C (n = 506 patients, 21.7%). The characteristics of patients within each phenotype were significantly different from the original population. The SC was -0.007 and the inclusion of phenotype classification in a regression model did not improve the model performance (0.79 and 0.78 ROC for original and validation model). The post-hoc model performed better than the validation model (SC -0.08). CONCLUSION: Models developed using machine learning techniques during the first pandemic wave cannot be applied with adequate performance to patients admitted in subsequent waves without prior validation.

Aprender de la pandemia: clave para combatir la saturación de los servicios de Urgencias / Learning from the pandemic: the key to the fight against emergency service overcrowding

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Clindamycin but not Intravenous Immunoglobulins reduces mortality in a retrospective cohort of critically ill patients with bacteremic Group A Streptococcal infections / Tratamiento con clindamicina, y no con inmunoglobulinas intravenosas, disminuye la mortalidad en una cohorte retrospectiva de pacientes críticos con bacteriemia por Streptococcus del Grupo A

Objectives. Mortality of patients requiring Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission for an invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) infection continues being high. In critically ill patients with bacteremic GAS infection we aimed at determining risk factors for mortality. Patients and methods. Retrospective multicentre study carried out in nine ICU in Southern Spain. All adult patients admitted to the participant ICUs from January 2014 to June 2019 with one positive blood culture for S. pyogenes were included in this study. Patient characteristics, infection-related variables, therapeutic interventions, failure of organs, and outcomes were registered. Risk factors independently associated with ICU and in-hospital mortalities were determined by multivariate regression analyses. Results. Fifty-seven patients were included: median age was 63 (45-73) years, median SOFA score at admission was 11 (7-13). The most frequent source was skin and soft tissue infection (n=32) followed by unknown origin of bacteremia (n=12). In the multivariate analysis, age (OR 1.079; 95% CI 1.016-1.145), SOFA score (OR 2.129; 95% CI 1.339-3.383) were the risk factors for ICU mortality and the use of clindamycin was identified as a protective factor (OR 0.049; 95% CI 0.003-0.737). Age and SOFA were the independent factors associated with hospital mortality however the use of clindamycin showed a strong trend but without reaching statistical significance (OR 0.085; 95% CI 0.007-1.095). (AU)

Objetivo. La mortalidad de los pacientes que requieren ingreso en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) por una infección invasiva por estreptococos del grupo A (GAS) continúa siendo inaceptablemente alta. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar los factores de riesgo de mortalidad en pacientes críticos con infección estreptocócica bacterémica del grupo A. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo multicéntrico realizado en nueve UCI del sur de España. Se incluyeron pacientes consecutivos ingresados en las UCI participantes desde enero de 2014 hasta junio de 2019 con un hemocultivo positivo para S. pyogenes. Se registraron las características de los pacientes, las variables relacionadas con la infección, las intervenciones terapéuticas, el fracaso de los órganos y el pronóstico. Se determinaron mediante análisis de regresión multivariante los factores de riesgo asociados de forma independiente con la mortalidad en UCI y hospitalaria. Resultados. Se incluyeron cincuenta y siete pacientes: la mediana de edad fue de 63 (45-73) años, la mediana de la puntuación SOFA al ingreso fue de 11 (7-13). El foco más frecuente fue la infección de la piel y los tejidos blandos (n=32) seguida de la bacteriemia de origen desconocido (n=12). En el análisis multivariante, la edad (OR 1,079; IC del 95%: 1,016-1,145), y la puntuación SOFA (OR 2,129; IC del 95%: 1,339-3,383) se identificaron como factores de riesgo para la mortalidad en UCI. El uso de clindamicina se identificó como un factor protector (OR 0,049; IC del 95%: 0,003-0,737). La edad y la SOFA se asociaron de forma independiente con la mortalidad hospitalaria, mientras que el tratamiento con clindamicina mostró una tendencia fuerte pero sin alcanzar significación estadística (OR 0,085; IC del 95%: 0,007-1,095). (AU)

Del empirismo a la evidencia científica en el tratamiento con antivíricos en los casos graves de infección por Coronavirus en tiempos de epidemia / From empiricism to scientific evidence in antiviral treatment in severe cases of Coronavirus infection in times of epidemic

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From empiricism to scientific evidence in antiviral treatment in severe cases of coronavirus infection in times of epidemic / Del empirismo a la evidencia científica en el tratamiento con antivíricos en los casos graves de infección por Coronavirus en tiempos de epidemia

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Recomendaciones éticas para la toma de decisiones difíciles en las unidades de cuidados intensivos ante la situación excepcional de crisis por la pandemia por covid-19: revisión rápida y consenso de expertos / Ethical recommendations for a difficult decision-making in intensive care units due to the exceptional situation of crisis by the covid-19 pandemia: a rapid review & consensus of experts

Ante la situación excepcional de salud pública provocada por la pandemia por COVID-19, desde el grupo de ética de la Sociedad Española de la Sociedad Española de Medicina Intensiva, Crítica y Unidades Coronarias (SEMICYUC) se ha promovido un trabajo de consenso, con el objetivo de encontrar algunas respuestas desde la ética a la encrucijada entre el incremento de personas con necesidades de atención intensiva y la disponibilidad efectiva de medios. En un periodo muy corto de tiempo, se ha cambiado el marco de ejercicio de la medicina hacia un escenario de "medicina de catástrofe", con el consecuente cambio en los parámetros de toma de decisiones. En este contexto la asignación de recursos o la priorización de tratamiento pasan a ser elementos cruciales, y es importante contar con un marco de referencia ético para poder tomar las decisiones clínicas necesarias. Para ello, se ha realizado un proceso de revisión narrativa de la evidencia, seguida de u. consenso de expertos no sistematizado, que ha tenido como resultado tanto la publicación de un documento de posicionamiento y recomendaciones de la propia SEMICYUC, como el consenso entre 18 sociedades científicas y 5 institutos/cátedras de bioética y cuidados paliativos de un documento marco de referencia de recomendaciones éticas generales en este contexto de crisis

In view of the exceptional public health situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a consensus work has been promoted from the ethics group of the Spanish Society of the Spanish Society of Intensive, Critical Medicine and Coronary Units (SEMICYUC), with the objective of finding some answers from ethics to the crossroads between the increase of people with intensive care needs and the effective availability of means. In a very short period, the medical practice framework has been changed to a "catastrophe medicine" scenario, with the consequent change in the decision-making parameters. In this context, the allocation ofresources or the prioritization of treatment become crucial elements, and it is important to have an ethical reference framework to be able to make the necessary clinical decisions.For this, a process of narrative review of the evidence has been carried out, followed by u. Unsystematic consensus of experts, which has resulted in both the publication of a position paper and recommendations from SEMICYUC itself, and the consensus between 18 scientific societies and 5 institutes / chairs of bioethics and palliative care of a framework document of reference for general ethical recommendations in this context of crisis

Association of obesity on the outcome of critically ill patients affected by COVID-19 / Asociación de la obesidad en la evolución de los pacientes críticos afectados por COVID-19

Objective To evaluate the impact of obesity on ICU mortality. Design Observational, retrospective, multicentre study. Setting Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Patients Adults patients admitted with COVID-19 and respiratory failure. Interventions None. Primary variables of interest Collected data included demographic and clinical characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory tests and ICU outcomes. Body mass index (BMI) impact on ICU mortality was studied as (1) a continuous variable, (2) a categorical variable obesity/non-obesity, and (3) as categories defined a priori: underweight, normal, overweight, obesity and Class III obesity. The impact of obesity on mortality was assessed by multiple logistic regression and Smooth Restricted cubic (SRC) splines for Cox hazard regression. Results 5,206 patients were included, 20 patients (0.4%) as underweight, 887(17.0%) as normal, 2390(46%) as overweight, 1672(32.1) as obese and 237(4.5%) as class III obesity. The obesity group patients (n = 1909) were younger (61 vs. 65 years, p < 0.001) and with lower severity scores APACHE II (13 [9–17] vs. 13[10−17, p < 0.01) than non-obese. Overall ICU mortality was 28.5% and not different for obese (28.9%) or non-obese (28.3%, p = 0.65). Only Class III obesity (OR = 2.19, 95%CI 1.44–3.34) was associated with ICU mortality in the multivariate and SRC analysis. Conclusions COVID-19 patients with a BMI > 40 are at high risk of poor outcomes in the ICU. An effective vaccination schedule and prolonged social distancing should be recommended. (AU)

Objetivo Evaluar el impacto de la obesidad en la mortalidad de la UCI. Diseño Estudio observacional, retrospectivo y multicéntrico. Ámbito Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI). Pacientes Pacientes adultos con COVID-19 e insuficiencia respiratoria. Intervenciones Ninguna. Variables de interés principales Características demográficas y clínicas, comorbilidades, pruebas de laboratorio y evolución en la UCI. El impacto del índice de masa corporal (IMC) sobre la mortalidad se estudió como (1) una variable continua, (2) una variable categórica obesidad/no obesidad, y (3) como categorías definidas a priori: bajo peso, normal, sobrepeso, obesidad y obesidad clase III. El impacto de la obesidad se evaluó mediante regresión logística múltiple y splines cúbicos suaves restringidos (SRC) para la regresión de riesgos de Cox. Resultados Se incluyeron 5.206 pacientes, 20 (0,4%) con bajo peso, 887 (17,0%) con peso normal, 2.390 (46%) con sobrepeso, 1.672 (32,1%) con obesidad y 237 (4,5%) con obesidad clase III. Los pacientes obesos (n = 1909) eran más jóvenes (61 vs. 65 años, p < 0,001) y con un nivel más bajo de APACHE II (13 [9–17] frente a 13[10−17, p < 0,01) que los no obesos. La mortalidad global en la UCI fue del 28,5% y no fue diferente entre obesos (28,9%) y no obesos (28,3%,p = 0,65). Sólo la obesidad clase III (OR = 2,19; IC del 95%: 1,44−3,34) se asoció con la mortalidad en la UCI en el análisis multivariante y SRC. Conclusiones Los pacientes con COVID-19 con un IMC > 40 tienen un alto riesgo de mala evolución en la UCI. Debe recomendarse un calendario de vacunación eficaz y un distanciamiento social prolongado. (AU)

Limitación de tratamientos de soporte vital en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos españolas: análisis del estudio ETHICUS II / Limitation of life support treatments in Spanish Intensive Care Units: Analysis of the ETHICUS II study

Objetiv Describir los resultados obtenidos en UCI españolas en el estudio ETHICUS II. Diseño Subestudio planificado de pacientes del ETHICUS II. Ámbito 12 UCI españolas. Pacientes o participantes Pacientes que fallecieron o en los que se decidió una limitación de tratamiento de soporte vital (LTSV) durante un periodo de reclutamiento de 6 meses. Intervenciones Se realizó seguimiento hasta el alta de la UCI y 2 meses tras la decisión de LTSV o fallecimiento. Variables de interés principales Características demográficas, clínicas, tipo de decisión de LTSV. Se clasificaron en 4 categorías: omisión o retirada de tratamientos de soporte, acortar el proceso de morir, resucitación cardiopulmonar ineficaz y muerte cerebral. Resultados Un total de 12 UCI participaron en el ETHICUS II. Incluyeron 795 pacientes; 129 fallecieron tras realizarse RCP, 129 desarrollaron muerte encefálica. Se decidió LTSV en 537, fallecieron en UCI 485, el 90,3%. La edad media fue 66,19 años±14,36, el 63,8% fueron hombres. En un 41% se decidió retirada de tratamientos de soporte total y en un 59% se procedió a no iniciar medidas. Diecinueve pacientes (2,38%) disponían de documento de voluntades vitales anticipadas. Conclusiones El perfil clínico predominante cuando se estableció una LTSV fue el de pacientes varones mayores de 65 años con comorbilidad mayoritariamente cardiovascular. La supervivencia fue mayor en las decisiones de LTSV que comprendían la omisión de tratamientos respecto a aquellas en las que se decidió la retirada. España ha ocupado un papel destacado en este estudio multicéntrico de ámbito mundial. (AU)

Objective The aim of this study is to describe the results of Spanish ICUs in ETHICUS II study. Design Planned substudy of patients from ETHICUS II study. Setting 12 Spanish ICU. Patients or participants Patients admitted to Spanish ICU who died or in whom a limitation of life-sustaining treatment (LLST) was decided during a recruitment period of 6 months. Interventions Follow-up of patients was performed until discharge from the ICU and 2 months after the decision of LLST or death. Main variables of interest Demographic characteristics, clinical profile, type of decision of LLST, time and form in which it was adopted. Patients were classified into 4 categories according to the ETHICUS II study protocol: withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining therapy, active shortening of the dying process, failed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and patients with brain death. Results A total of 795 patients were analyzed; 129 patients died after CPR, 129 developed brain death. LLST was decided in 537 patients, 485 died in the ICU, 90.3%. The mean age was 66.19 years±14.36, 63.8% of male patients. In 221 (41%) it was decided to withdraw life-sustaining treatments and in 316(59%) withholding life-sustaining treatments. Nineteen patients (2.38%) had advance living directives. Conclusions The predominant clinical profile when LTSV was established was male patients over 65 years with mostly cardiovascular comorbidity. We observed that survival was higher in LLST decisions involving withholding of treatments compared to those in which withdrawal was decided. Spain has played a leading role in both patient and ICU recruitment participating in this worldwide multicenter study. (AU)

Comparación de distintas estrategias para la predicción de muerte a corto plazo en el paciente anciano infectado / Comparison of different strategies for short-term death prediction in the infected older patient

Objetivo: Evaluar la capacidad del lactato o el índice de Charlson para mejorar la capacidad del SIRS y el qSOFA para identificar el riesgo de muerte a corto plazo de los pacientes ancianos, sin deterioro funcional grave, atendidos por sospecha de infección en urgencias. Metodología: Estudio de cohorte observacional prospectivo que incluyó a todos los pacientes de 75 años o más, sin deterioro funcional, atendidos por una infección aguda en 69 servicios de urgencias españoles durante 2 días en cada periodo estacional. Se recogieron datos demográficos, clínicos y analíticos. La variable de resultado principal fue la mortalidad por cualquier causa a los 30 días de la visita índice. Resultados: Se incluyeron 739 pacientes con una edad media de 84,9 (DE 6,0) años y 375 (50,7%) fueron mujeres. Noventa y un (12,3%) pacientes fallecieron dentro de los 30 días posteriores a la visita a urgencias. El ABC para el SIRS ≥ 2 y el qSOFA ≥ 2 fue de 0,637 (IC 95% 0,587-0,688; p<0,001) y 0,698 (IC 95% 0,635-0,761; p<0,001), respectivamente. La comparación entre esta curvas muestra una mejor capacidad de clasificación por parte del qSOFA ≥ 2 (p=0,041). Ambas escalas incrementan su capacidad de clasificación al añadir el lactato, siendo el ABC para SIRS más lactato de 0,705 (IC95% 0,652-0,758; p<0,001) y para qSOFA más lactato de 0,755 (IC95% 0,696-0,814; p<0,001), existiendo una tendencia estadística a un mejor rendimiento pronóstico de la segunda estrategia (p=0,0727). No ocurre lo mismo con el índice de Charlson, que no tiene efectos de mejora en la clasificación realizada con el SIRS (p=0,2269) ni con qSOFA (p=0,2573). Conclusiones: La inclusión de la valoración del lactato a las escalas SIRS y qSOFA mejoran su capacidad para identificar pacientes ancianos atendidos por infección en riesgo de muerte a corto plazo. La valoración del índice de Charlson no tiene efecto

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the utility of a post hoc lactate added to SIRS and qSOFA score to predict 30-day mortality in older non-severely dependent patients attended for infection in the Emergency Department (ED). Methods: We performed an analytical, observational, prospective cohort study including patients of 75 years of age or older, without severe functional dependence, attended for an infectious disease in 69 Spanish ED for 2-day three seasonal periods. Demographic, clinical and analytical data were collected. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality after the index event. Results: We included 739 patients with a mean age of 84.9 (SD 6.0) years; 375 (50.7%) were women. Ninety-one (12.3%) died within 30 days. The AUC was 0.637 (IC 95% 0.587-0.688; p<0.001) for SIRS ≥ 2 and 0.698 (IC 95% 0.635-0.761; p<0,001) for qSOFA ≥ 2. Comparing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) there was a better accuracy of qSOFA vs SIRS (p=0.041). Both scales improve the prognosis accuracy with lactate inclusion. The AUC was 0.705 (IC95% 0.652-0.758; p<0.001) for SIRS plus lactate and 0.755 (IC95% 0.696-0.814; p<0.001) for qSOFA plus lactate, showing a trend to statistical significance for the second strategy (p=0.0727). Charlson index not added prognosis accuracy to SIRS (p=0.2269) or qSOFA (p=0.2573). Conclusions: Lactate added to SIRS and qSOFA score improve the accuracy of SIRS and qSOFA to predict short-term mortality in older non-severely dependent patients attended for infection. There is not effect in adding Charlson index

Cuidados al final de la vida en las UCI españolas / End of life care in Spanish intensive care units

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Infección en el paciente anciano. Consenso de recomendaciones para su abordaje en los servicios de Urgencias / Infection in the elderly patient. Consensus recommendations for management in the Emergency Department

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Actividad asistencial en la unidad de observación de un hospital de segundo nivel / Observation unit activity in a community hospital

Objetivos: Describir el perfil de los enfermos ingresados en el área de observación(AO), cuantificar el porcentaje de enfermos dados de alta, ingresados o derivados a otros centros hospitalarios y evaluar, en los enfermos ingresados, los criterios de ingreso hospitalario y la correlación con el diagnóstico al alta de la planta de hospitalización. Método: Se analizaron de forma prospectiva los enfermos ingresados en un AO de 24camas. Las variables del estudio fueron: edad, sexo, comorbilidad, destino (alta, observación, ingreso, traslado a otro hospital), correlación entre el diagnóstico en urgencias y en planta de hospitalización, días de ingreso en planta y el parámetro “ingreso adecuado”, definido como estancia en planta de hospitalización superior a 72 horas. Resultados: Se incluyeron 307 enfermos (edad media 63 ± 20 años, 41% mujeres). El51% presentaba comorbilidad relacionada con el motivo de consulta en urgencias. El motivo de ingreso más prevalente en el AO fue la evolución de dolor torácico (16,6%).El 46% fue dado de alta desde el AO y otro 46% fue ingresado, principalmente en salas de especialidades médicas. Los diagnósticos de alta hospitalaria más frecuentes fueron el síndrome coronario agudo (12,1%), la neumonía (10%), la insuficiencia cardiaca (7,1%), la insuficiencia respiratoria (6,4%) y el accidente cerebrovascular (6,4%). La concordancia diagnóstica entre urgencias y el alta hospitalaria fue del 89,3%, y el porcentaje de “ingreso adecuado” en planta fue del 93%.Conclusiones: Los enfermos ingresados en el AO suelen ser mayores de 60 años, con enfermedades crónicas relacionadas con el motivo de consulta, y la mayoría de ingresos que se realizan desde el AO son adecuados y existe una buena correlación entre el diagnóstico de urgencias y el diagnóstico final al alta (AU)

Objective: To describe the characteristics of patients admitted to our community hospital emergency observation unit; calculate the percentage of patients discharged, admitted, or transferred to other hospitals; and evaluate the reasons for hospital admission and consistency between emergency and hospital ward discharge diagnoses. Methods: Data for patients admitted to a 24-bed observation unit were studied. Variables analyzed were age, sex, comorbidity, destination on discharge from the emergency department (home, observation unit, hospital ward, or transfer to another hospital), consistency between emergency department and hospital ward diagnoses, and admission appropriateness (defined by a stay of > 72 hours on the hospital ward).Results: A total of 307 patients were included. The mean (SD) age was 63 (20) years and 41% were female. Fifty-one percent had a chronic condition related to the reason for seeking emergency care. The reason for observation unit admission that was of highest prevalence was chest pain (16.6%). Forty-six percent were discharged home from the observation unit and 46% were admitted, primarily to specialized medical wards. The most common discharge diagnoses were acute coronary syndrome (12.1%), pneumonia (10%), heart failure (7.1%), respiratory failure (6.4%),and stroke (6.4%). The hospital discharge diagnosis was consistent with the emergency department diagnosis in 89.3%of the cases and admission to a ward was considered appropriate in 93%.Conclusions: Observation unit patients are usually over 60 years old and have chronic diseases related to the reason they require emergency care. Most hospital admissions made from the observation unit are appropriate and there is good consistency between the emergency department diagnosis and the ultimate hospital discharge diagnosis (AU)