[Which octogenarians benefit from the intensive care unit? A proposal for triage]. / Welke tachtigplussers profiteren van intensive care?

Intensive care unit (ICU) treatment can be associated with substantial suffering of patients, and those over eighty years old carry a much worse prognosis than younger ICU patients. Nevertheless, in the Netherlands we admit many people over the age of eighty to the ICU. Is this good practice? Whilst some elderly people may benefit, others don't. ICU treatment without mechanical ventilation is associated with less suffering, can still lead to a good outcome, and thus can often be justified in patients over eighty years. Full ICU treatment including prolonged mechanical ventilation, however, should only be used in selected cases.

Patient-centered weaning from venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: "A practice-oriented narrative review of literature".

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) is increasingly used in cardiogenic shock for rapid stabilization and bridging towards recovery, long-term mechanical circulatory support or transplant. Although technological advances have instigated its widespread use, the complex, long-lasting ECMO care creates a significant strain on hospital staff and resources. Therefore, optimal clinical management including timely decisions on ECMO removal and further therapy are pivotal, yet require a well-structured weaning approach. Although dedicated guidelines are lacking, a variety of weaning protocols have distillated echocardiographic and hemodynamic predictors for successful weaning. Nevertheless, a strikingly high mortality up to 70% after initial successful weaning raises concerns about the validity of current weaning strategies. Here, we plead for a patient-tailored approach including a bailout strategy when weaning fails. This should account not only for left- but also right ventricular function and interdependence, as well as the temporal course of cardiac recovery in function of extracorporeal support. Patients with a high risk of weaning failure should be identified early, enabling timely transportation to an advanced heart failure center. This review summarizes predictors of successful weaning and discusses all relevant elements for a structured weaning approach with a central role for patient-specific clinical considerations and echocardiography.

Supervision, Interprofessional Collaboration, and Patient Safety in Intensive Care Units during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: To meet coronavirus disease (COVID-19) demands in the spring of 2020, many intensive care (IC) units (ICUs) required help of redeployed personnel working outside their regular scope of practice, causing an expansion and change of staffing ratios. Objective: How did this composite alternative ICU workforce experience supervision, interprofessional collaboration, and quality and safety of care under the unprecedented clinical circumstances at the height of the first pandemic wave as lived experiences uniquely captured during the first peak of the pandemic? Methods: An international, cross-sectional survey was conducted among physicians, nurses, and allied personnel deployed or redeployed to ICUs in Utrecht, New York, and Dublin from April to May of 2020. Data were analyzed separately for the three sites. Quantitative data were treated for descriptive statistics; qualitative data were analyzed thematically and combined for general interpretations. Results: On the basis of 234, 83, and 34 responses (response rates of 68%, 48%, and 41% in Utrecht, New York, and Dublin, respectively), we found that the amount of supervision and the quality and safety of care were perceived as being lower than usual but still acceptable. The working atmosphere was overwhelmingly felt to be collaborative and supportive. Where IC-certified nurse-to-patient ratios had decreased most (Utrecht), nurses voiced criticism about supervision and quality of care. Continuity within the work environment, team composition, and informal ("curbside") consultations were critical mediators of success. Conclusion: In the exceptional circumstances encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic, many ICUs were managed by a composite workforce of IC-certified and redeployed personnel. Although supervision is critical for safe care, supervisory roles were not clearly related to the amount of prior ICU experience. Vital for satisfaction with the quality of care was the span of control for those who assumed supervisory roles (i.e., the ratio of certified to noncertified personnel). Stable teams that matched less experienced personnel with more experienced personnel; a strong, interprofessional, collaborative atmosphere; a robust culture of informal consultation; and judicious, more flexible use of rules and regulations proved to be essential.

Psychotropic medication use in former ICU patients with mental health problems: A prospective observational follow-up study.

PURPOSE: To describe the extent to which patients with mental health problems after admission to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) initiate and use psychotropic medication. METHODS: All adult patients who stayed in the ICU of the University Medical Center Utrecht for 48 h or more between 2013 and 2017, alive after 1 year and not admitted to the ICU with brain injury, were eligible. Questionnaires were used to identify mental health problems, depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychotropic medication use. RESULTS: Of the 1328 former ICU patients, 24.3% (n = 323) had developed any of the mental health problems. Of this group, 29.7% (n = 96) used psychotropic medication one year after discharge versus the 10.6% (n = 107) of patients without these problems (OR 3.17, 95% CI 2.29-4.38). They were further 4.33 (95% CI 2.62-7.16) times more likely to initiate psychotropic medication (18.7% vs 4.8%) after ICU admission. Similar patterns were observed for individual groups of psychotropics: antidepressants, antipsychotics and benzodiazepines. DISCUSSION: Former ICU patients with mental health problems were almost four times more likely to use psychotropic medication than former ICU patients without these problems. Future research should investigate whether mental health problems are properly diagnosed and treated in former ICU patients.

Outcomes of Intensive Care Patients Older Than 90 Years: An 11-Year National Observational Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Many intensive care unit (ICU) physicians are reluctant to admit patients aged 90 years and older, although evidence to support these decisions is scarce. Although the body of evidence on outcomes of patients aged 80 years and older is growing, it does not include patients aged 90 years and older. The aim of this study was to compare the short- and long-term mortality of ICU patients aged 90 years and older in the Netherlands with ICU patients aged 80 to 90 years, that is, octogenarians. DESIGN: Multicenter national cohort study over an 11-year period (2008-2018), using data of the National Intensive Care Evaluation (NICE) registry and the Dutch insurance claims registry. SETTING: All 82 ICUs in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: All patients aged 80 years and older at the time of ICU admission. MEASUREMENTS: A total of 104,754 patients aged 80 years and older, of whom 9,495 (9%) were 90 years and older, were admitted to Dutch ICUs during the study period. RESULTS: ICU mortality of the patients aged 90 years and older was lower (13.8% vs 16.1%; P < .001) and hospital mortality was similar (26.1% vs 25.7%; P = .41) compared with octogenarians. After 3 months, mortality was higher for the patients aged 90 years and older (43.1% vs 33.7%; P < .001) and after 1-year mortality was 55.0% vs 42.7%; P < .001. CONCLUSION: In the Netherlands, mortality rates of patients aged 90 years and older admitted to the ICU are not as disappointing as often assumed. They have a lower ICU mortality and a similar hospital mortality compared with octogenarians. Nevertheless, their longer term mortality is higher compared with octogenarians. However, almost 3 of 4 patients leave the hospital alive, and almost half of the patients aged 90 years and older are still alive 1 year after their ICU admission. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1842-1846, 2020.

The performance of acute versus antecedent patient characteristics for 1-year mortality prediction during intensive care unit admission: a national cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Multiple factors contribute to mortality after ICU, but it is unclear how the predictive value of these factors changes during ICU admission. We aimed to compare the changing performance over time of the acute illness component, antecedent patient characteristics, and ICU length of stay (LOS) in predicting 1-year mortality. METHODS: In this retrospective observational cohort study, the discriminative value of four generalized mixed-effects models was compared for 1-year and hospital mortality. Among patients with increasing ICU LOS, the models included (a) acute illness factors and antecedent patient characteristics combined, (b) acute component only, (c) antecedent patient characteristics only, and (d) ICU LOS. For each analysis, discrimination was measured by area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), calculated using the bootstrap method. Statistical significance between the models was assessed using the DeLong method (p value < 0.05). RESULTS: In 400,248 ICU patients observed, hospital mortality was 11.8% and 1-year mortality 21.8%. At ICU admission, the combined model predicted 1-year mortality with an AUC of 0.84 (95% CI 0.84-0.84). When analyzed separately, the acute component progressively lost predictive power. From an ICU admission of at least 3 days, antecedent characteristics significantly exceeded the predictive value of the acute component for 1-year mortality, AUC 0.68 (95% CI 0.68-0.69) versus 0.67 (95% CI 0.67-0.68) (p value < 0.001). For hospital mortality, antecedent characteristics outperformed the acute component from a LOS of at least 7 days, comprising 7.8% of patients and accounting for 52.4% of all bed days. ICU LOS predicted 1-year mortality with an AUC of 0.52 (95% CI 0.51-0.53) and hospital mortality with an AUC of 0.54 (95% CI 0.53-0.55) for patients with a LOS of at least 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: Comparing the predictive value of factors influencing 1-year mortality for patients with increasing ICU LOS, antecedent patient characteristics are more predictive than the acute component for patients with an ICU LOS of at least 3 days. For hospital mortality, antecedent patient characteristics outperform the acute component for patients with an ICU LOS of at least 7 days. After the first week of ICU admission, LOS itself is not predictive of hospital nor 1-year mortality.

Framework to Support the Process of Decision-Making on Life-Sustaining Treatments in the ICU: Results of a Delphi Study.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a consensus framework that can guide the process of decision-making on continuing or limiting life-sustaining treatments in ICU patients, using evidence-based items, supported by caregivers, patients, and surrogate decision makers from multiple countries. DESIGN: A three-round web-based international Delphi consensus study with a priori consensus definition was conducted with experts from 13 countries. Participants reviewed items of the decision-making process on a seven-point Likert scale or with open-ended questions. Questions concerned terminology, content, and timing of decision-making steps. The summarized results (including mean scores) and expert suggestions were presented in the subsequent round for review. SETTING: Web-based surveys of international participants representing ICU physicians, nurses, former ICU patients, and surrogate decision makers. PATIENTS: Not applicable. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In three rounds, respectively, 28, 28, and 27 (of 33 invited) physicians together with 12, 10, and seven (of 19 invited) nurses participated. Patients and surrogates were involved in round one and 12 of 27 responded. Caregivers were mostly working in university affiliated hospitals in Northern Europe. During the Delphi process, most items were modified in order to reach consensus. Seven items lacked consensus after three rounds. The final consensus framework comprises the content and timing of four elements; three elements focused on caregiver-surrogate communication (admission meeting, follow-up meeting, goals-of-care meeting); and one element (weekly time-out meeting) focused on assessing preferences, prognosis, and proportionality of ICU treatment among professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians, nurses, patients, and surrogates generated a consensus-based framework to guide the process of decision-making on continuing or limiting life-sustaining treatments in the ICU. Early, frequent, and scheduled family meetings combined with a repeated multidisciplinary time-out meeting may support decisions in relation to patient preferences, prognosis, and proportionality.

Hallucinations after Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background and Objective: Hallucinations after cardiac surgery can be a burden, but their prevalence and phenomenology have not been studied well. Risk factors for postoperative hallucinations, as well as their relation to delirium are unclear. We aimed to study the prevalence and phenomenology of hallucinations after cardiac surgery, and to study the association between hallucinations and delirium in this population. Materials and Methods: We used the Questionnaire for Psychotic Experiences to detect hallucinations in cardiac surgery patients and a control group of cardiology outpatients. We assessed postoperative delirium with validated instruments. Risk factors for postoperative hallucinations and the association between hallucinations and delirium were analysed using logistic regression. Results: We included 201 cardiac surgery patients and 99 cardiology outpatient controls. Forty-four cardiac surgery patients (21.9%) experienced postoperative hallucinations in the first four postoperative days. This was significantly higher compared to cardiology outpatient controls (n = 4, 4.1%, p < 0.001). Visual hallucinations were the most common type of hallucinations in cardiac surgery patients, and less common in outpatient controls. Cardiac surgery patients who experienced hallucinations were more likely to also have delirium (10/44, 22.7%) compared to patients without postoperative hallucinations (16/157, 10.2% p = 0.03). However, the majority of patients with postoperative hallucinations (34/44, 77.3%) did not develop delirium. Conclusion: After cardiac surgery, hallucinations occurred more frequently than in outpatient controls. Hallucinations after cardiac surgery were most often visual in character. Although postoperative hallucinations were associated with delirium, most patients with hallucinations did not develop delirium.

Occurrence and Risk Factors of Chronic Pain After Critical Illness.

OBJECTIVES: Occurrence, risk factors, and impact on daily life of chronic pain after critical illness have not been systematically studied. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: A tertiary ICU in The Netherlands. PATIENTS: We surveyed patients who had been discharged from our ICU between 2013 and 2016. Three cohorts were defined as follows: 1) ICU survivors; 2) one-year survivors reporting newly-acquired chronic pain; and (3) one-year survivors with pain who lived within 50 km from the study hospital. In cohort 1, we estimated the prevalence of new chronic pain 1 year after ICU discharge and constructed a prediction model for its occurrence incorporating three outcomes: death during follow-up, surviving without new pain, and surviving with newly-acquired pain. In cohort 2, we determined clinical features of pain and its impact on daily life. In cohort 3, we assessed the presence of neuropathic characteristics of pain. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The three cohorts contained 1,842, 160, and 42 patients, respectively. Estimated occurrence of new chronic pain was 17.7% (95% CI, 15.8-19.8%; n = 242) in 1-year survivors (n = 1,368). Median pain intensity on the numeric rating scale was 4 (interquartile range, 2-6) in the week before survey response, with impact being most evident on activities of daily living, social activities, and mobility. Neuropathic pain features were present in 50% (95% CI, 37-68%) of affected subjects. Among nine predictor variables included in a multinomial model, only female gender and days in ICU with hyperinflammation were associated with pain. CONCLUSIONS: Newly-acquired chronic pain is a frequent consequence of critical illness, and its impact on daily life of affected patients is substantial.

The Effect of Steroids in Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass: An Individual Patient Meta-Analysis of Two Randomized Trials.

OBJECTIVE: Steroids suppress the inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass, but the impact on death at 30 days, myocardial infarction or injury, stroke, renal failure, respiratory failure, new atrial fibrillation, transfusion requirement, infection, and length of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays are uncertain. DESIGN: Patient-level data meta-analysis of 2 randomized trials. SETTING: Eighty-eight cardiac surgical centers in 19 countries. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 11,989 participants, from the Steroids in Cardiac Surgery trial and the Dexamethasone in Cardiac Surgery study, undergoing cardiac surgery with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned to steroid or placebo. MEASURES AND MAIN RESULTS: Outcomes assessed were mortality at 30 days, myocardial infarction or injury, stroke, renal failure, respiratory failure, new atrial fibrillation, transfusion requirement, infection, and length of ICU and hospital stays. There was no significant difference in death at 30 days between the steroid and placebo groups (odds ratio [OR], 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-1.07). Myocardial infarction did not differ significantly (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.93-1.47); however, myocardial injury was higher in the steroid group (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.12-1.40). There were no significant differences for the outcomes of stroke, renal failure, new atrial fibrillation, or transfusion. Steroids significantly reduced respiratory failure (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75-0.99), infection (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.72-0.89), and length of ICU (p < 0.001) and hospital stays (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: This patient-level meta-analysis does not support the routine use of steroids in cardiac surgery. Steroid administration did not decrease the risk of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, renal failure, new atrial fibrillation, or transfusion. Steroids increased the risk of myocardial injury in both the Steroids in Cardiac Surgery and Dexamethasone in Cardiac Surgery trials. Finally, steroids lowered the risk of respiratory failure and infection, and reduced length of ICU and hospital stay.

Performance of the quick SOFA in very old ICU patients admitted with sepsis.

BACKGROUND: The number of very elderly ICU patients (abbreviated to VOPs; ≥80 years) with sepsis increases. Sepsis was redefined in 2016 (sepsis 3.0) using the quick SOFA (qSOFA) score. Since then, multiple studies have validated qSOFA for prognostication in different patient categories, but the prognostic value in VOPs with sepsis is still unknown. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study including patients admitted to Dutch ICUs with sepsis, in the period 2012 to 2016, evaluating the outcome and the performance of qSOFA, an extended qSOFA model, SOFA, SAPS II, and APACHE IV for hospital mortality. RESULTS: 5969 patients were included, of which 935 VOPs. Crude hospital mortality rates were 19%, 28%, and 39% for patients aged 18-65, 65-80, and ≥80 years respectively. Discriminative performance of qSOFA for in-hospital mortality in VOPs was poor (AUC 0.596) and lower than that of SOFA, APACHE IV, and SAPS II (0.704, 0.722, and 0.780 respectively). A qSOFA model extended with several other characteristics (AUC 0.643) was non-inferior to the full SOFA, but still inferior to APACHE IV and SAPS II, for all age groups. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed non-significant p-values for all models. Accuracy for both qSOFA and the extended qSOFA was lower compared to APACHE IV and SAPS II (Brier scores 0.227, 0.223, 0.184, and 0.183 respectively). CONCLUSION: The qSOFA showed worse discriminative performance to predict mortality than SOFA, APACHE IV, and SAPS II in both VOPs and younger patients admitted with sepsis.

Neuropsychiatric outcome in subgroups of Intensive Care Unit survivors: Implications for after-care.

PURPOSE: Poor neuropsychiatric outcomes are common in survivors of critical illness but it is unclear what patient groups to target for interventions to improve mental health. We compared anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and health-related quality of life (HrQoL) across different subgroups of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) survivors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-center cohort study was conducted in a mixed-ICU in the Netherlands among survivors of an ICU admission ≥48 h (n = 1730). Survivors received a survey one year after discharge, containing the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Impact of Event Scale (IES/IES-R), and EQ-5D (response rate of 67%). Neuropsychiatric symptoms and quality of life were evaluated in a priori defined subgroups, by chi-square tests and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Symptoms of anxiety (HADS anxiety ≥8), depression (HADS depression ≥8), and PTSD (IES ≥35; IES-R ≥ 1.6) were reported by 34%, 33%, and 19% of ICU survivors, with a median HrQoL utility score of 0.81 (IQR:0.65-1.00). These figures were similar for survivors of ARDS, sepsis, severe multiple organ failure (SOFA>11), or ICU stay ≥7 days. CONCLUSIONS: This underlines the importance of prevention and treatment for neuropsychiatric symptoms in ICU survivors in general, not only in specific patient groups.

[Too old for the intensive care unit? Backgrounds and challenges]. / Te oud voor de Intensive Care? Achtergronden en uitdagingen.

More and more elderly patients are being admitted to the hospital. These elderly patients represent a significant proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Older ICU patients have a high risk of death during their ICU admission and, if they do survive, a high risk of physical and cognitive decline. In addition, their remaining life expectancy is often limited. In short, elderly patients have less to gain from ICU treatment than young patients. It is therefore important to carefully consider the proportionality of ICU treatment. In this clinical lesson, we discuss aspects of the elderly ICU patient that should be taken into account when considering ICU treatment, in acute situations as well as in outpatient or GP settings.

Determinants of self-reported unacceptable outcome of intensive care treatment 1 year after discharge.

PURPOSE: Survivors of critical illness often suffer from reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) due to long-term physical, cognitive, and mental health problems, also known as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). Some intensive care unit (ICU) survivors even consider their state of health unacceptable. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of self-reported unacceptable outcome of ICU treatment. METHODS: Patients who were admitted to the ICU for at least 48 h and survived the first year after discharge completed validated questionnaires on overall HRQoL and the components of PICS and stated whether they considered their current state of health an acceptable outcome of ICU treatment. The effects of overall HRQoL and components of PICS on unacceptable outcome were studied using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 1453 patients, 67 (5%) reported their health state an unacceptable outcome of ICU treatment. These patients had a lower score on overall HRQoL (EQ-5D-index value of 0.57 vs. 0.81; p < 0.001), but we could not determine a cutoff value of the EQ-5D-index value that reliably identified unacceptable outcome. In the multivariate analysis, only the hospital anxiety and depression scale was significantly associated with an unacceptable outcome (OR 2.06, 99% CI 1.18-3.61). CONCLUSIONS: Although there is a strong association between low overall HRQoL and self-reported unacceptable outcome of ICU treatment, patients with low overall HRQoL may still consider their outcome acceptable. The mental component of PICS, but not the physical and cognitive component, is strongly associated with self-reported unacceptable outcome.

Selecting and evaluating decision-making strategies in the intensive care unit: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: Many patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) die after a decision to withhold or withdraw treatment. To ensure that for each patient the appropriate decision is taken, a careful decision-making process is required. This review identifies strategies that can be used to optimize the decision-making process for continuing versus limiting life sustaining treatment of ICU patients. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature by searching PUBMED and EMBASE. RESULTS: Thirty-two studies were included, with five categories of decision-making strategies (1) integrated communication, (2) consultative communication, (3) ethics consultation, (4) palliative care consultation and (5) decision aids. Many different outcome measures were used and none of them covered all aspects of decisions on continuing versus limiting life sustaining treatment. Integrated communication strategies had a positive effect on multiple outcome measures. Frequent, predefined family-meetings as well as triggered and integrated ethical or palliative consultation were able to reduce length of stay of patients who eventually died, without increasing overall mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The decision-making process in the ICU can be enhanced by frequent family-meetings with predefined topics. Ethical and palliative support is useful in specific situations. These interventions can reduce non-beneficial ICU treatment days.

Diabetes, but Not Hypertension and Obesity, Is Associated with Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Older people undergoing surgery are at risk of developing postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), but little is known of risk factors predisposing patients to POCD. Our objective was to estimate the risk of POCD associated with exposure to preoperative diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. METHODS: Original data from 3 randomised controlled trials (OCTOPUS, DECS, SuDoCo) were obtained for secondary analysis on diabetes, hypertension, baseline blood pressure, obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2), and BMI as risk factors for POCD in multiple logistic regression models. Risk estimates were pooled across the 3 studies. RESULTS: Analyses totalled 1,034 patients. POCD occurred in 5.2% of patients in DECS, in 9.4% in SuDoCo, and in 32.1% of patients in OCTOPUS. After adjustment for age, sex, surgery type, randomisation, obesity, and hypertension, diabetes was associated with a 1.84-fold increased risk of POCD (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.14, 2.97; p = 0.01). Obesity, BMI, hypertension, and baseline blood pressure were each not associated with POCD in fully adjusted models (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Diabetes, but not obesity or hypertension, is associated with increased POCD risk. Consideration of diabetes status may be helpful for risk assessment of surgical patients.

Healthcare-related costs in very elderly intensive care patients.

INTRODUCTION: The long-term outcome of "very old intensive care unit patients" (VOPs; ≥ 80 years) is often disappointing. Little is known about the healthcare costs of these VOPs in comparison to younger ICU patients and the very elderly in the general population not admitted to the ICU. METHODS: Data from a national health insurance claims database and a national quality registry for ICUs were combined. Costs of VOPs admitted to the ICU in 2013 were compared with costs of younger ICU patients (two groups, respectively 18-65 and 65-80 years old) and a matched control group of very elderly subjects who were not admitted to the ICU. We compared median costs and median costs per day alive in the year before ICU admission (2012), the year of ICU admission (2013) and the year after ICU admission (2014). RESULTS: A total of 9272 VOPs were included and compared to three equally sized study groups. Median costs for VOPs in 2012, 2013 and 2014 (€5944, €35,653 and €12,565) are higher compared to the ICU 18-65 population (€3022, €30,223 and €5052, all p < 0.001) and the very elderly control population (€3590, €4238 and €4723, all p < 0.001). Compared to the ICU 65-80 population, costs of VOPs are higher in the year before and after ICU admission (€4323 and €6750, both p < 0.001), but not in the year of ICU admission (€34,448, p = 0.950). The median healthcare costs per day alive in the year before, the year of and the year after ICU admission are all higher for VOPs than for the other groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: VOPs required more healthcare resources in the year before, the year of and the year after ICU admission compared to younger ICU patients and the very elderly control population, except compared to the ICU 65-80 population in the year of ICU admission. Healthcare costs per day alive, however, are substantially higher for VOPs than for all other study groups in all three studied years.

Association of obesity, diabetes and hypertension with cognitive impairment in older age.

BACKGROUND: Age-related cognitive impairment is rising in prevalence but is not yet fully characterized in terms of its epidemiology. Here, we aimed to elucidate the role of obesity, diabetes and hypertension as candidate risk factors. METHODS: Original baseline data from 3 studies (OCTOPUS, DECS, SuDoCo) were obtained for secondary analysis of cross-sectional associations of diabetes, hypertension, blood pressure, obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2) and BMI with presence of cognitive impairment in log-binomial regression analyses. Cognitive impairment was defined as scoring more than 2 standard deviations below controls on at least one of 5-11 cognitive tests. Underweight participants (BMI<18.5 kg/m2) were excluded. Results were pooled across studies in fixed-effects inverse variance models. RESULTS: Analyses totaled 1545 participants with a mean age of 61 years (OCTOPUS) to 70 years (SuDoCo). Cognitive impairment was found in 29.0% of participants in DECS, 8.2% in SuDoCo and 45.6% in OCTOPUS. In pooled analyses, after adjustment for age, sex, diabetes and hypertension, obesity was associated with a 1.29-fold increased prevalence of cognitive impairment (risk ratio [RR] 1.29; 95% CI 0.98, 1.72). Each 1 kg/m2 increment in BMI was associated with 3% increased prevalence (RR 1.03; 95% CI 1.00, 1.06). None of the remaining risk factors were associated with impairment. CONCLUSION: Our results show that older people who are obese have higher prevalence of cognitive impairment compared with normal weight and overweight individuals, and independently of co-morbid hypertension or diabetes. Prospective studies are needed to investigate the temporal relationship of the association.

Benzodiazepine Use and Neuropsychiatric Outcomes in the ICU: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: A systematic assessment of the role of benzodiazepine use during ICU stay as a risk factor for neuropsychiatric outcomes during and after ICU admission. DATA SOURCES: PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsychINFO. STUDY SELECTION: Databases were searched independently by two reviewers for studies in adult (former) ICU patients, reporting benzodiazepine use, and neuropsychiatric outcomes of delirium, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and cognitive dysfunction. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted using a piloted extraction form; methodological quality of eligible studies was assessed by applying the Quality Index checklist. DATA SYNTHESIS: Forty-nine of 3,066 unique studies identified were included. Thirty-five studies reported on neuropsychiatric outcome during hospitalization, 12 after discharge, and two at both time points. Twenty-four studies identified benzodiazepine use as a risk factor for delirium, whereas seven studies on delirium or related outcomes did not; six studies reported mixed findings. Studies with high methodological quality generally found benzodiazepine use to be a risk factor for the development of delirium. Five studies reported an association between benzodiazepine use and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and cognitive dysfunction after ICU admission; five studies reported mixed findings, and in four studies, no association was found. No association was found with methodological quality and sample size for these findings. Meta-analysis was not feasible due to major differences in study methods. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of included studies indicated that benzodiazepine use in the ICU is associated with delirium, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. Future well-designed studies and randomized controlled trials are necessary to rule out confounding by indication.