Validation of the nutritrauma concept for the detection of potential harmful effects of medical nutritional treatment in critically ill patients in real life.

INTRODUCTION: medical nutritional treatment (MNT) can be complex and may be associated with potential metabolic complications, which has been recently described as nutritrauma. OBJECTIVE: the aim of our work is to describe whether the application of the nutritrauma concept in real life is feasible and useful to detect the metabolic complications associated with the prescription of MNT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: in this descriptive, prospective study at a single center we enrolled 30 consecutive critically ill patients in a 14-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit. The nutritrauma strategy implementation was based in four "M" steps: Metabolic screening, MNT prescription, biochemical Monitoring, and nutritional Management. RESULTS: we analyzed 28 patients (mean age, 69.7 ± 11.3 years; APACHE II, 18.1 ± 8.1; SOFA, 7.5 ± 3.7; Nutric Score, modified, 4.3 ± 2.01, and mean BMI, 27.2 ± 3.8). The main cause of admission was sepsis (46.4 %). Length of ICU stay was 20.6 ± 15.1 days; 39.3 % of subjects died during their ICU stay. Enteral nutrition (82.1 %) was more frequent than parenteral nutrition (17.9 %). During nutritional monitoring, 54 specific laboratory determinations were made. Hyperglycemia was the most frequent metabolic alteration (83.3 % of measurements). Electrolyte disturbances included hypocalcemia (50 %), hypophosphatemia (29.6 %) and hypokalemia (27.8 %). The most frequent lipid profile abnormalities were hypocholesterolemia (64.8 %) and hypertriglyceridemia (27.8 %). Furthermore, nutritional prescription was modified for 53.6 % of patients: increased protein dosage (25 %), increased calorie dosage (21.4 %) and change to organ-specific diet (17.8 %). CONCLUSIONS: in conclusion, the application of the nutritrauma approach facilitates detection of metabolic complications and an evaluation of the appropriate prescription of MNT.

Real-world effectiveness and durability of dual antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: While randomised controlled trials in HIV-infected patients have shown that certain dual antiretroviral therapy (DAT) regimens are non-inferior in terms of efficacy compared with classical triple-drug regimens, few real clinical experiences have been described. The aim of the study was to investigate, in real clinical practice, DAT effectiveness, durability, and risk factors for treatment discontinuation. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study that included HIV-infected patients treated with DAT (2015-2020). DAT was considered effective when patients achieved or maintained virological suppression and was assessed at 24 and 48 weeks. DAT durability was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Adherence and treatment cost were compared with patients' previous antiretroviral regimens. RESULTS: 51 patients were included, 27.5% with HIV-1 RNA ≥50 copies/mL at baseline, treated with a wide range of dual combinations. At 48 weeks follow-up, 83.8% and 50.0% of patients who started DAT with HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL and ≥50 copies/mL, respectively, were suppressed. 39 out of 51 patients (76.5%) maintained DAT for a mean treatment duration of 40.5±14.8 weeks. Full adherence was observed in 78.4% of patients compared with 70.2% in the previous regimen. Mean daily cost was €18.6±4.3 compared with €16.1±7.9 in the previous regimen (p=0.008). CONCLUSION: DAT effectiveness and durability were higher in patients who were virologically suppressed at baseline. DAT is a possible alternative for virologically non-suppressed patients who cannot be treated with a triple-drug regimen.

Cost-minimisation analysis of rectal cancer neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy based on fluoropyrimidines (capecitabine versus 5-fluorouracil).

OBJECTIVES: The current standard treatment for patients with rectal cancer stage II-III is neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy can be performed with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or capecitabine (CPC) considered to be equivalent therapies. Medication cost is higher for CPC than for 5-FU, however, the administration of continuous 5-FU intravenous infusion is related to other costs such as those associated with outpatient facilities or central venous catheter insertion. METHODS: This retrospective study analysed the direct sanitary costs associated with the treatments and their complications from a hospital perspective. Costs in patients treated with 5-FU or CPC were measured between January 2010 and July 2018 at Mataró Hospital. The aim of this study was to perform a cost-minimisation analysis between the two treatments. We aimed to assess the cost associated with the complications related to each drug and the economic impact of applying the most efficient option. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients were analysed: 32 were treated with CPC and 66 with 5-FU. Treatment cost was significantly higher for 5-FU than for CPC (2560.86±99.17 and 563.10±9.52 respectively, P=0.0001). No significant differences were found in the costs associated with treatment complications between groups (148.21±934.91 and 41.41±102.50 euros respectively, P=0.322). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the clinical equivalence shown in the available trials and previous reviews, the most efficient treatment is neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with CPC. Complications associated with the treatments did not significantly modify these results. Other studies gave similar results both in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant context, reaffirmed in this study.

Severe loss of mechanical efficiency in COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information about the impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the muscular dysfunction, despite the generalized weakness and fatigue that patients report after overcoming the acute phase of the infection. This study aimed to detect impaired muscle efficiency by evaluating delta efficiency (DE) in patients with COVID-19 compared with subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ischaemic heart disease (IHD), and control group (CG). METHODS: A total of 60 participants were assigned to four experimental groups: COVID-19, COPD, IHD, and CG (n = 15 each group). Incremental exercise tests in a cycle ergometer were performed to obtain peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak). DE was obtained from the end of the first workload to the power output where the respiratory exchange ratio was 1. RESULTS: A lower DE was detected in patients with COVID-19 and COPD compared with those in CG (P ≤ 0.033). However, no significant differences were observed among the experimental groups with diseases (P > 0.05). Lower VO2 peak, peak ventilation, peak power output, and total exercise time were observed in the groups with diseases than in the CG (P < 0.05). A higher VO2 , ventilation, and power output were detected in the CG compared with those in the groups with diseases at the first and second ventilatory threshold (P < 0.05). A higher power output was detected in the IHD group compared with those in the COVID-19 and COPD groups (P < 0.05) at the first and second ventilatory thresholds and when the respiratory exchange ratio was 1. A significant correlation (P < 0.001) was found between the VO2 peak and DE and between the peak power output and DE (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 showed marked mechanical inefficiency similar to that observed in COPD and IHD patients. Patients with COVID-19 and COPD showed a significant decrease in power output compared to IHD during pedalling despite having similar response in VO2 at each intensity. Resistance training should be considered during the early phase of rehabilitation.

Pharmaceutical interventions in the emergency department: cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis.

OBJECTIVE: It has been shown that pharmacists, as members of multidisciplinary patient care teams, can decrease the number of medicine errors. The objective of the present study was to analyse pharmaceutical interventions (PI) in emergency departments, to assess their clinical relevance, the cost-effectiveness and the potential economic benefits. METHODS: We designed a 5-month observational prospective study of PI in the emergency department (ED) of a 330-bed hospital in Spain. We analysed PI made by a pharmacist during a period of 3 hours a day from Monday to Friday in the ED, and classified detected medication errors according to their relevance and severity using the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP) severity index, and whether or not the drug involved was on the High-Alert Medications Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) list. We used statistical analysis to study the relationship between the relevance of PI and age, gender, the number of interventions per patient, and whether or not the drug was on the High-Alert Medications ISMP list. We also estimated the incremental cost incurred for each PI (cost-effectiveness) and the potential economic benefits (cost-benefit). RESULTS: A total of 529 interventions for 390 patients (median age 72.7±8.6 years, 53.1% women) were performed during the study period, representing 1.4 interventions per patient with an acceptance rate of 84.9%. Of all potential medication errors, 112 (21.2%) were related to drugs on the High-Alert Medications ISMP list, and using the NCC MERP severity index, we found that 150 (28.3%) of those errors could cause harm. We also found a relationship between patients on high-risk medications according to the ISMP and the relevance of PI. Finally, this study showed an incremental cost for each PI of 20.23 Euros and a cost-benefit ratio of 3.46 Euros per intervention. CONCLUSION: These results show that clinical pharmacist can positively identify and reduce medication errors and costs associated, considering the number of interventions observed and those of clinical relevance. Based on these results, drug safety therapy in the ED can be improved by the revision of prescriptions by a clinical pharmacist.

Nutritrauma: A Key Concept for Minimising the Harmful Effects of the Administration of Medical Nutrition Therapy.

Critically ill patients often require life support measures such as mechanical ventilation or haemodialysis. Despite the essential role of nutrition in patients' recovery, the inappropriate use of medical nutrition therapy can have deleterious effects, as is the case with the use of respiratory, circulatory, or renal support. To increase awareness and to monitor the effects of inappropriate medical nutrition therapy, we propose to introduce the concept of nutritrauma in clinical practice, defined as metabolic adverse events related to the inappropriate administration of medical nutrition therapy or inadequate nutritional monitoring.

Reduction of pharmaceutical expenditure by a drug appropriateness intervention in polymedicated elderly subjects in Catalonia (Spain) / Reducción del gasto farmacéutico mediante una intervención de adecuación de medicamentos en ancianos polimedicados de Cataluña (España

Objective: To assess the monetary savings resulting from a pharmacist intervention on the appropriateness of prescribed drugs in community-dwelling polymedicated (≥8 drugs) elderly people (≥70 years). Method: An evaluation of pharmaceutical expenditure reduction was performed within a randomised, multicentre clinical trial. The study intervention consisted of a pharmacist evaluation of all drugs prescribed to each patient using the "Good Palliative-Geriatric Practice" algorithm and the "Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment" criteria (STOPP/START). The control group followed the routine standard of care. A time horizon of one year was considered and cost elements included human resources and drug expenditure. Results: 490 patients (245 in each group) were analysed. Both groups experienced a decrease in drug expenditure 12 months after the study started, but this decrease was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (−14.3% vs.−7.7%; p=0.041). Total annual drug expenditure decreased 233.75 Euros/patient (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 169.83-297.67) in the intervention group and 169.40 Euros/patient (95%CI: 103.37-235.43) in the control group over a one-year period, indicating that 64.30 Euros would be the drug expenditure savings per patient a year attributable to the study intervention. The estimated return per Euro invested in the programme would be 2.38 Euros per patient a year on average. Conclusions: The study intervention is a cost-effective alternative to standard care that could generate a positive return of investment

Objetivo: Evaluar los ahorros monetarios resultantes de la intervención de un farmacéutico orientada a mejorar la adecuación de los fármacos prescritos en ancianos (≥70 años) polimedicados (≥8 medicamentos) de la comunidad. Método: Se evaluó la reducción del gasto farmacéutico en el marco de un ensayo clínico aleatorizado y multicéntrico. La intervención del estudio consistió en una evaluación de todos los fármacos prescritos a cada paciente utilizando el algoritmo Good Palliative-Geriatric Practice y los criterios Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment (STOPP/START). El grupo control siguió la práctica clínica habitual. Se consideró un horizonte temporal de un año y los elementos de costes incluyeron los recursos humanos y el gasto en medicamentos. Resultados: Se analizaron 490 pacientes (245 por grupo). La disminución del gasto farmacéutico a los 12 meses fue significativamente mayor en el grupo de intervención que en el grupo control (−14,3% vs.−7,7%; p=0,041). El gasto anual en medicamentos disminuyó 233,75 Euros por paciente (intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 169,83-297,67) en el grupo de intervención y 169,40 Euros por paciente (IC95%: 103,37-235,43) en el grupo control, indicando un ahorro farmacéutico de 64,30 Euros por paciente/año atribuible a la intervención del estudio. Se ha estimado un retorno de 2,38 Euros por cada euro invertido en el programa. Conclusiones: La intervención en estudio es una alternativa rentable a la atención estándar, que podría generar un retorno positivo de la inversión

Intracellular Water Content in Lean Mass is Associated with Muscle Strength, Functional Capacity, and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Elderly Individuals. A Cross-Sectional Study.

High intracellular water (ICW) content has been associated with better functional performance and a lower frailty risk in elderly people. However, it is not clear if the protective effect of high ICW is due to greater muscle mass or better muscle quality and cell hydration. We aimed to assess the relationship between ICW content in lean mass (LM) and muscle strength, functional performance, frailty, and other clinical characteristics in elderly people. In an observational cross-sectional study of community-dwelling subjects aged ≥75 years, ICW and LM were estimated by bioelectrical impedance, and the ICW/LM ratio (mL/kg) calculated. Muscle strength was measured as hand grip, frailty status was assessed according to Fried criteria, and functional status was assessed by Barthel score. For 324 recruited subjects (mean age 80 years), mean (SD) ICW/LM ratio was 408 (29.3) mL/kg. The ICW/LM ratio was negatively correlated with age (rs = -0.249; p < 0.001). A higher ICW/LM ratio was associated with greater muscle strength, better functional capacity, and a lower frailty risk, even when adjusted by age, sex, nº of co-morbidities, and LM. ICW content in LM (including the muscle) may influence muscle strength, functional capacity and frailty. However, further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Reduction of pharmaceutical expenditure by a drug appropriateness intervention in polymedicated elderly subjects in Catalonia (Spain).

OBJECTIVE: To assess the monetary savings resulting from a pharmacist intervention on the appropriateness of prescribed drugs in community-dwelling polymedicated (≥8 drugs) elderly people (≥70 years). METHOD: An evaluation of pharmaceutical expenditure reduction was performed within a randomised, multicentre clinical trial. The study intervention consisted of a pharmacist evaluation of all drugs prescribed to each patient using the "Good Palliative-Geriatric Practice" algorithm and the "Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment" criteria (STOPP/START). The control group followed the routine standard of care. A time horizon of one year was considered and cost elements included human resources and drug expenditure. RESULTS: 490 patients (245 in each group) were analysed. Both groups experienced a decrease in drug expenditure 12 months after the study started, but this decrease was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (-14.3% vs.-7.7%; p=0.041). Total annual drug expenditure decreased 233.75 €/patient (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 169.83-297.67) in the intervention group and 169.40 €/patient (95%CI: 103.37-235.43) in the control group over a one-year period, indicating that 64.30 € would be the drug expenditure savings per patient a year attributable to the study intervention. The estimated return per Euro invested in the programme would be 2.38 € per patient a year on average. CONCLUSIONS: The study intervention is a cost-effective alternative to standard care that could generate a positive return of investment.

Randomized controlled trial of an intervention to improve drug appropriateness in community-dwelling polymedicated elderly people.

BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy is frequent in the elderly population and is associated with potentially drug inappropriateness and drug-related problems. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of a medication evaluation programme for community-dwelling polymedicated elderly people. DESIGN: Randomized, open-label, multicentre, parallel-arm clinical trial with 1-year follow-up. SETTING: Primary care centres. PARTICIPANTS: Polymedicated (≥8 drugs) elderly people (≥70 years). STUDY INTERVENTION: Pharmacist review of all medication according to the Good Palliative-Geriatric Practice algorithm and the Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions-Screening Tool to Alert Doctors to the Right Treatment criteria and recommendations to the patient's physician. CONTROL INTERVENTION: Routine clinical practice. MEASUREMENTS: Recommendations and changes implemented, number of prescribed drugs, restarted drugs, primary care and emergency department consultations, hospitalizations and death. RESULTS: About 503 (252 intervention and 251 control) patients were recruited and 2709 drugs were evaluated. About 26.5% of prescriptions were rated as potentially inappropriate and 21.5% were changed (9.1% discontinuation, 6.9% dose adjustment, 3.2% substitution and 2.2% new prescription). About 2.62 recommendations per patient were made and at least one recommendation was made for 95.6% of patients. The mean number of prescriptions per patient was significantly lower in the intervention group at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Discontinuations, dose adjustments and substitutions were significantly higher than in the control group at 3, 6 and 12 months. No differences were observed in the number of emergency visits, hospitalizations and deaths. CONCLUSION: The study intervention was safe, reduced potentially inappropriate medication, but did not reduce emergency visits and hospitalizations in polymedicated elderly people.

Oral Drugs Related with Muscle Wasting and Sarcopenia. A Review.

Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. Reported prevalence of this geriatric syndrome, differs depending on the definition, the population and the method used to identify sarcopenia. The causes of sarcopenia are multifactorial, and can include genetic influence, immobility or disuse, endocrine factors, inflammation and nutritional deficiencies. These disorders involve an imbalance between anabolic and catabolic pathways that rules muscle mass. Many drugs taken regularly for common conditions may interact with some mechanisms that can alter the balance between protein synthesis and degradation. This may lead to a harmful or a beneficial effect on muscle mass and strength. Widely prescribed drugs could play an important role during the time of onset and development of sarcopenia. In this paper, we reviewed the current understanding of how can drugs contribute positively or negatively on sarcopenia and muscle wasting. We decided to focus this review on oral common drugs, which are usually prescribed in older adults, leaving aside other drugs as hormone therapy.

Drugs Related to Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Older People.

Scientific evidence on the impact of medication on the physiology of swallowing is scarce and mainly based on clinical case reports. To evaluate the association between oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) and chronic exposure to medication in older patients admitted to the acute geriatric unit (AGU) of a secondary hospital, we performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of 966 patients admitted to an AGU from 2008 to 2011. We reviewed (a) diagnosis of OD (assessed with the volume-viscosity swallow test, V- VST); (b) chronic patient medication classified by anatomical, therapeutic, chemical codes; and (c) demographic and clinical data. A univariate analysis was performed to determine which medications were associated with OD. A multivariate analysis adjusting for confounding clinical factors was performed to identify which of those medications were independently associated with OD. The age of patients included was 85.3 ± 6.37 years and 59.4 % were women. A total of 41.9 % presented OD. We found a possible protective effect of beta blocking agents on OD after the multivariate analysis (OR 0.54, 95 % CI 0.35-0.85). None of the categories of drugs was associated with an altered swallowing function after adjusting for confounding variables. The present study is the first one to widely investigate the association between drugs and OD, increasing understanding of their association. The role of beta blockers in OD needs to be further studied as their potentially beneficial effects on the swallowing function in older patients could help to prevent complications.

[Epidemiology of community-acquired severe sepsis. A population-based study]. / Epidemiología de la sepsis grave adquirida en la comunidad. Estudio de base poblacional.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Most studies aimed at getting to know the incidence of severe sepsis have methodological limitations which condition results that are difficult to compare and are inapplicable when it comes to estimating the necessary resources. Our objective is to evaluate the incidence and epidemiological aspects of community-acquired severe sepsis which require intensive care unit admission. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prospective observational population-based study in a population of 180,000 adults over 15 years old and a general hospital with 350 beds and 14 ICU beds. All episodes of community-acquired infection requiring admission to ICU due to severe sepsis were registered over a period of 9 years. The variables analyzed were: age, sex, SAPS II score, length of stay in ICU, type of infection, isolated microorganism, and deaths during their ICU admission. A statistical bivariate analysis and a multiple logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: Nine hundred and seventeen episodes with an average age of 65.2 years. The most frequent infectious focus was pulmonary (55.2%). The average SAPS II severity score index was 37.87 and mortality 19.7%. The annual incidence was 51.54 episodes per 100,000 adult inhabitants, meaning 1.97 ICU beds per day. In the multivariate analysis, the SAPS II score and a known aetiology were demonstrated as mortality risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study brings us some epidemiological data from a population-based perspective which help us to care for patients better in our geographical area. The average annual incidence is 51.5 cases per 100,000 adult inhabitants which means that 2 ICU beds per day to attend this population.

Diagnosis and management of oropharyngeal Dysphagia and its nutritional and respiratory complications in the elderly.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a major complaint among older people. Dysphagia may cause two types of complications in these patients: (a) a decrease in the efficacy of deglutition leading to malnutrition and dehydration, (b) a decrease in deglutition safety, leading to tracheobronchial aspiration which results in aspiration pneumonia and can lead to death. Clinical screening methods should be used to identify older people with oropharyngeal dysphagia and to identify those patients who are at risk of aspiration. Videofluoroscopy (VFS) is the gold standard to study the oral and pharyngeal mechanisms of dysphagia in older patients. Up to 30% of older patients with dysphagia present aspiration-half of them without cough, and 45%, oropharyngeal residue; and 55% older patients with dysphagia are at risk of malnutrition. Treatment with dietetic changes in bolus volume and viscosity, as well as rehabilitation procedures can improve deglutition and prevent nutritional and respiratory complications in older patients. Diagnosis and management of oropharyngeal dysphagia need a multidisciplinary approach.