ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to determine mortality rates and to evaluate clinical features of patients with active tuberculosis (TB) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of active TB patients requiring ICU admission were retrospectively reviewed over a 5-year period. RESULTS: Sixteen patients with active TB admitted to the ICU were included in the study. Seven (43.8%) patients died in the ICU The cause of mortality was septic shock in 5 patients and respiratory failure in 2 patients. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were higher in patients who died (P = 0.012 and 0.048, respectively). Six of the 8 immunosuppressed patients and 1 of the 8 nonimmunosuppressed patients died (P = 0.041). The median mechanical ventilation (MV) duration was longer in patients who died (11 (5-45) days) than in patients who survived (4.5 (3-7) days) (P = 0.036). Seven of the 8 patients with nosocomial infection and/or coinfection died, while all of the patients without additional infection survived (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Active TB patients admitted to the ICU had higher mortality rates, especially patients with immunosuppression, nosocomial infection, high APACHE II and SOFA scores, and patients receiving MV.
Subject(s)
Cross Infection/epidemiology , Respiratory Insufficiency , Shock, Septic/etiology , Tuberculosis , APACHE , Acute Disease , Cause of Death , Comorbidity , Critical Illness , Female , Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Immunocompromised Host , Male , Middle Aged , Mortality , Respiration, Artificial/methods , Respiratory Insufficiency/etiology , Respiratory Insufficiency/therapy , Time Factors , Tuberculosis/complications , Tuberculosis/diagnosis , Tuberculosis/mortality , Tuberculosis/physiopathology , Tuberculosis/therapy , Turkey/epidemiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between clinical and demographic characteristics and mortality in patients with organophosphate poisoning. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at Dicle University,Diyarbakir,Turkey, and comprised data of patients who presented with organophosphate poisoning between April 2004 and April 2013. The records were assessed in two groups, with Group 1 having data related to recovery, and Group 2 having data related to mortality. SPSS 16 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 296 patients, 219(74%) were women. Mortality was the outcome in 41(13.9%) cases. In Group 2, mean age, marital status, rural origin, presence of psychiatric disease, being illiterate, presence of nicotinic symptoms, and late admission were significantly higher than Group 1 (p<0.05 each). Logistic regression analysis indicated bradycardia as the most prominent independent predictor of mortality (p<0.001). Other independent predictors were age, glucose level, lactate dehydrogenase, coma and acidosis (p<0.05 each). CONCLUSIONS: Independent predictors of mortality in patients with organophosphate poisoning as bradycardia, age, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase level and acidosis.
Subject(s)
Organophosphate Poisoning/mortality , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Turkey/epidemiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Natural disasters, which are defined as events causing great damage or loss of life, are events of natural origin unpreventable by human beings that occur in a short period of time and lead to loss of life and property. The aim of the study is to analyze which patient groups and problems at a university hospital after the earthquakes in Van. METHODS: For the purposes of this study, 169 patients who presented to our emergency room following the earthquakes that occurred on the 23rd of October, 2011 and the 9th of November, 2011 in Van and were treated as an outpatient or inpatient were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups. Patient data including the clinical and demographic characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 169 patients included in our study, 97 (57.4%) were male and 72 (42.6%) were female. The mean age was 26.95±16.44 years in Group 1 and 39.80±23.08 years in Group 2. In our study, the majority of the patients in Group 1 had orthopedic injuries, while internal problems were more common in Group 2. The need for intensive care was greater among the patients in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (p<0.05). The leading cause of death in Group 1 was multi-systemic trauma in 7 out of the 10 patients (70%) and internal problems in Group 2 with 5 out of 12 patients (41.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Our country is in a geographical location where earthquakes are responsible for great losses of life and property. An efficient disaster relief plan may help to minimize the possible damage of earthquakes.