[Risk and Mortality Factors for Pleural Effusions Requiring Diagnostic Thoracentesis]. / Factores de riesgo y mortalidad de los derrames pleurales que precisan de una toracocentesis diagnóstica.

Introduction: Occurrence of malignant pleural effusion (PE) is known to be associated with a poor prognosis, but the mortality of patients with non-malignant effusions has not been sufficiently studied. Our objective was to describe the clinical course and explore risk factors associated with all-cause mortality at 1, 5 and 10 years in patients who develop a PE. Methods: Retrospective observational study of patients undergoing diagnostic thoracentesis during the decade 2008-2017 in a pulmonology service. Demographic, biochemical, pathological and evolutionary variables were evaluated. The etiology of the effusions was determined using standardized criteria. Results: Pleural fluid samples from 358 patients with a mean age of 68.9 years (SD 15.1 years), 69.2% males, were analyzed. Malignant (29.4%), parapneumonic (19.8%) and secondary to heart failure (18.9%) effusions predominated. Patients with malignant and heart failure related PE had 1-year mortality rates of 60.0% and 30.8%, respectively, and 85% and 64.7% at 5 years. Male gender (hazard ratio [HR] 1.46; 95% CI: 1.03-2.07), positive cytology for malignancy (HR 1.66; 95% CI: 1.03-2.68) and effusion recurrence (HR 1.61; 95% CI: 1.17-2.21) were associated with a worse prognosis and 5-year mortality. Conclusions: Patients undergoing thoracentesis for effusion have a high short and long-term mortality. In our series of hospitalized patients with PE, the factors associated with higher mortality at 1 and 5 years were age, male sex, recurrence of PE, and coexistence of malignancy.

Prevalence and mortality of patients with palliative needs in an acute respiratory setting / Prevalencia y mortalidad de pacientes con necesidades paliativas en una planta de Neumología. Estudio prospectivo

Introduction: NECPAL is a tool for identification of patients with advanced chronic disease in need of palliative care. The main objective of the study is to know the prevalence of patients with palliative needs in an acute respiratory ward in a Spanish tertiary hospital using NECPAL. A second objective of the study is to know the annual mortality rate of these patients.Materials and methods: Cross sectional study and prospective monitoring of a cohort identified as palliative patients with the NECPAL tool for 12 months. Patient identification was performed in patients admitted to the respiratory ward of our hospital for longer than 3 days. We have assessed the annual vital status (deceased or not deceased) of patients and have recorded demographics, clinical and functional data, as well as the use of healthcare resources.Results: We monitored a cohort of 363 patients. Of them, 87 patients (24.3%) (IC 95% 19–30) were identified as NECPAL positive. 60% of patients (n = 64) died within 12 months of their admission. There was no significant difference in the mortality ratio of oncologic versus non oncologic patients. In a multivariable analysis, mortality was associated with demand by patients or relatives for palliative care and with the presence of specific disease progression markers or indicators.Conclusions: prevalence of patients with palliative needs in acute respiratory wards is high (one out of four patients). 60% of the patients identified as NECPAL positive in our cohort died in the first 12 months. Training of healthcare professionals as well as availability of appropriate resources are indispensable factors to improve care of this population. (AU)

Introducción: El instrumento NECPAL es una herramienta para la identificación de personas en situación de enfermedad crónica avanzada con necesidades paliativas. El objetivo del estudio es conocer la prevalencia de pacientes con necesidades paliativas en un Servicio de Neumología de un hospital terciario mediante la herramienta NECPAL. Como objetivo secundario se plantea conocer la mortalidad al año de estos pacientes.Material y métodos: Estudio trasversal y seguimiento prospectivo de la cohorte de los pacientes identificados como paliativos con la herramienta NECPAL durante 12 meses. La identificación se realiza en pacientes ingresados > 3 días en una planta de Neumología. Hemos evaluado el estatus vital (fallecido o no fallecido) al año, así como datos demográficos clínicos, funcionales y uso de recursos sanitarios.Resultados: Se analizaron 363 pacientes. De ellos, 87 (24,3%) (IC 95%, 19–30) fueron identificados como NECPAL positivos. En el seguimiento durante un año fallecieron 54 pacientes, un 60%. No hubo diferencias en mortalidad entre diagnósticos oncológicos y no oncológicos. En el análisis multivariante, la mortalidad se asoció a la demanda de paciente o familiares de atención paliativa y a la presencia de indicadores específicos de progresión de la enfermedad.Conclusiones: La prevalencia de pacientes con necesidades paliativas en una planta de hospitalización de agudos de Neumología es alta (uno de cada cuatro pacientes). El 60% de los identificados como NECPAL positivos en nuestra serie fallece en los primeros 12 meses. Son necesarios formación y recursos para atender a estos pacientes. (AU)

Alteración funcional pulmonar en el seguimiento precoz de pacientes con neumonía por COVID-19 / Pulmonary Function in Early Follow-up of patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia

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Prevalence and Mortality of Patients with Palliative Needs in an Acute Respiratory Setting. / Prevalencia y mortalidad de pacientes con necesidades paliativas en una planta de Neumología. Estudio prospectivo.

INTRODUCTION: NECPAL is a tool for identification of patients with advanced chronic disease in need of palliative care. The main objective of the study is to know the prevalence of patients with palliative needs in an acute respiratory ward in a Spanish tertiary hospital using NECPAL. A second objective of the study is to know the annual mortality rate of these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross sectional study and prospective monitoring of a cohort identified as palliative patients with the NECPAL tool for 12 months. Patient identification was performed in patients admitted to the respiratory ward of our hospital for longer than 3 days. We have assessed the annual vital status (deceased or not deceased) of patients and have recorded demographics, clinical and functional data, as well as the use of healthcare resources. RESULTS: We monitored a cohort of 363 patients. Of them, 87 patients (24.3%) (IC 95% 19-30) were identified as NECPAL positive. 60% of patients (n = 64) died within 12 months of their admission. There was no significant difference in the mortality ratio of oncologic versus non oncologic patients. In a multivariable analysis, mortality was associated with demand by patients or relatives for palliative care and with the presence of specific disease progression markers or indicators. CONCLUSIONS: prevalence of patients with palliative needs in acute respiratory wards is high (one out of four patients). 60% of the patients identified as NECPAL positive in our cohort died in the first 12 months. Training of healthcare professionals as well as availability of appropriate resources are indispensable factors to improve care of this population.