Activity, triage levels and impact of the pandemic on hospital emergency departments: A multicentre cross-sectional study.

AIM: Describe the activity of hospital emergency departments (EDs) and the sociodemographic profile of patients in the eight public hospitals in Spain, according to the different triage levels, and to analyse the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on patient flow. DESIGN: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study was carried out. METHODS: Three high-tech public hospitals and five low-tech hospitals consecutively included 2,332,654 adult patients seen in hospital EDs from January 2018 to December 2021. Hospitals belonging to the Catalan Institute of Health. The main variable was triage level, classified according to a standard for the Spanish structured triage system known as Sistema Español de Triaje. For each of the five triage levels, a negative binomial regression model adjusted for year and hospital was performed. The analysis was performed with the R 4.2.2 software. RESULTS: The mean age was 55.4 years. 51.4% were women. The distribution of patients according to the five triage levels was: level 1, 0.41% (n = 9565); level 2, 6.10% (n = 142,187); level 3, 40.2% (n = 938,203); level 4, 42.6% (n = 994,281); level 5, 10.6% (n = 248,418). The sociodemographic profile was similar in terms of gender and age: as the level of severity decreased, the number of women, mostly young, increased. In the period 2020-2021, the emergency rate increased for levels 1, 2 and 3, but levels 4 and 5 remained stable. CONCLUSION: More than half of the patients attended in high-technology hospital EDs were of low severity. The profile of these patients was that of a young, middle-aged population, mostly female. The SARS-CoV2 pandemic did not change this pattern, but an increase in the level of severity was observed. IMPACT: What problem did the study address? There is overcrowding in hospital EDs. What were the main findings? This study found that more than half of the patients attended in high-technology hospital EDs in Spain have low or very low levels of severity. Young, middle-aged women were more likely to visit EDs with low levels of severity. The SARS-CoV2 pandemic did not change this pattern, but an increase in severity was observed. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? The research will have an impact on the functioning of hospital EDs and their staff. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Not applicable.

Peripheral intravenous catheter failure, nurse staffing levels and care complexity individual factors: A retrospective multicentre cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Short peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) failure is a common complication that is generally underdiagnosed. Some studies have evaluated the factors associated with these complications, but the impact of care complexity individual factors and nurse staffing levels on PIVC failure is still to be assessed. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of PIVC failure in the public hospital system of the Southern Barcelona Metropolitan Area. METHODS: A retrospective multicentre observational cohort study of hospitalised adult patients was conducted in two public hospitals in Barcelona from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2017. All adult patients admitted to the hospitalisation ward were included until the day of discharge. Patients were classified according to presence or absence of PIVC failure. The main outcomes were nurse staffing coverage (ATIC patient classification system) and 27-care complexity individual factors. Data were obtained from electronic health records in 2022. RESULTS: Of the 44,661 patients with a PIVC, catheter failure was recorded in 2,624 (5.9%) patients (2,577 [5.8%] phlebitis and 55 [0.1%] extravasation). PIVC failure was more frequent in female patients (42%), admitted to medical wards, unscheduled admissions, longer catheter dwell time (median 7.3 vs 2.2 days) and those with lower levels of nurse staffing coverage (mean 60.2 vs 71.5). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the female gender, medical ward admission, catheter dwell time, haemodynamic instability, uncontrolled pain, communication disorders, a high risk of haemorrhage, mental impairments, and a lack of caregiver support were independent factors associated with PIVC failure. Moreover, higher nurse staffing were a protective factor against PIVC failure (AUC, 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72-0.74). CONCLUSION: About 6% of patients presented PIVC failure during hospitalisation. Several complexity factors were associated with PIVC failure and lower nurse staffing levels were identified in patients with PIVC failure. Institutions should consider that prior identification of care complexity individual factors and nurse staffing coverage could be associated with a reduced risk of PIVC failure.

Factores de complejidad de cuidados asociados a la reconsulta en un servicio de urgencias / Care complexity factors associated with revisits to an emergency department

Objetivo: Analizar la prevalencia de factores de complejidad de cuidados en los pacientes atendidos en el servicio de urgencias y determinar su relación con las reconsultas durante los 30 días posteriores a la vista inicial. Método: Estudio observacional transversal correlacional. Se incluyeron de forma consecutiva todos aquellos pacientes adultos que consultaron al servicio de urgencias de un hospital de tercer nivel durante un periodo de 6 meses. Las variables principales del estudio fueron la reconsulta a los 30 días y 26 factores individuales de complejidad de cuidados categorizados en 5 fuentes (psicoemocional, mental-cognitiva, sociocultural, evolutiva, comorbilidades-complicaciones). Los datos fueron recogidos de la historia clínica electrónica. Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 15.556 episodios de pacientes. El 82,4% (12.811) presentó algún factor de complejidad de cuidados y el 11,9% (1.088) de los pacientes dados de alta reconsultaron durante los 30 días posteriores. La presencia de mayor número de factores de complejidad de cuidados se asoció a la reconsulta a los 30 días (OR: 1,26; IC 95%: 1,11-1,43; p < 0,05), y los siguientes factores se asociaron con reconsulta: incontinencia, inestabilidad hemodinámica, riesgo de hemorragia, extremo de edad, ansiedad y temor, deterioro de funciones cognitivas y analfabetismo (p < 0,05). Conclusiones: La prevalencia de factores de complejidad de cuidados en pacientes que consultan en el servicio de urgencias es elevada. Los pacientes que reconsultaron a los 30 días presentaron mayor número de factores de complejidad, por lo que su identificación precoz podría ayudar a estratificar los pacientes y diseñar estrategias preventivas para disminuir la incidencia de reconsultas. (AU)

Objectives: To analyze the prevalence of care complexity factors (CCFs) in patients coming to an emergency department (ED) and to analyze their relation to 30-day ED revisits. Methods: Observational, correlational, and cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients seeking care from a tertiarylevel hospital ED were included over a period of 6 months. The main variables studied were 30-day revisits to the ED and 26 CCFs categorized in 5 domains: psychoemotional, mental-cognitive, sociocultural, developmental, and comorbidity/complications. Data were collected from hospital records for analysis of descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: A total of 15 556 patient episodes were studied. A CCF was recorded in 12 811 patient records (82.4%), and 1088 (11.9%) of the patients discharged directly from the ED revisited within 30 days. The presence of more CCFswas associated with 30-day revisits (odds ratio, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.11-1.43; P < .05). The CCFs that were significantly associated with revisits were incontinence, hemodynamic instability, risk for bleeding, anxiety, very advanced age, anxiety and fear, cognitive impairment, and illiteracy. Conclusions: The prevalence of CCFs is high in patients who seek ED care. Patients revisiting within 30 days of an episode have more CCFs. Early identification of such patients would help to stratify risk and develop preventive strategies to decrease the incidence of revisiting. (AU)

Care complexity factors associated with revisits to an emergency department. / Factores de complejidad de cuidados asociados a la reconsulta en un servicio de urgencias.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the prevalence of care complexity factors (CCFs) in patients coming to an emergency department (ED) and to analyze their relation to 30-day ED revisits. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, correlational, and cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients seeking care from a tertiarylevel hospital ED were included over a period of 6 months. The main variables studied were 30-day revisits to the ED and 26 CCFs categorized in 5 domains: psychoemotional, mental-cognitive, sociocultural, developmental, and comorbidity/complications. Data were collected from hospital records for analysis of descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: A total of 15 556 patient episodes were studied. A CCF was recorded in 12 811 patient records (82.4%), and 1088 (11.9%) of the patients discharged directly from the ED revisited within 30 days. The presence of more CCFs was associated with 30-day revisits (odds ratio, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.11-1.43; P .05). The CCFs that were significantly associated with revisits were incontinence, hemodynamic instability, risk for bleeding, anxiety, very advanced age, anxiety and fear, cognitive impairment, and illiteracy. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CCFs is high in patients who seek ED care. Patients revisiting within 30 days of an episode have more CCFs. Early identification of such patients would help to stratify risk and develop preventive strategies to decrease the incidence of revisiting.

OBJETIVO: Analizar la prevalencia de factores de complejidad de cuidados en los pacientes atendidos en el servicio de urgencias y determinar su relación con las reconsultas durante los 30 días posteriores a la vista inicial. METODO: Estudio observacional transversal correlacional. Se incluyeron de forma consecutiva todos aquellos pacientes adultos que consultaron al servicio de urgencias de un hospital de tercer nivel durante un periodo de 6 meses. Las variables principales del estudio fueron la reconsulta a los 30 días y 26 factores individuales de complejidad de cuidados categorizados en 5 fuentes (psicoemocional, mental-cognitiva, sociocultural, evolutiva, comorbilidades-complicaciones). Los datos fueron recogidos de la historia clínica electrónica. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron un total de 15.556 episodios de pacientes. El 82,4% (12.811) presentó algún factor de complejidad de cuidados y el 11,9% (1.088) de los pacientes dados de alta reconsultaron durante los 30 días posteriores. La presencia de mayor número de factores de complejidad de cuidados se asoció a la reconsulta a los 30 días (OR: 1,26; IC 95%: 1,11-1,43; p 0,05), y los siguientes factores se asociaron con reconsulta: incontinencia, inestabilidad hemodinámica, riesgo de hemorragia, extremo de edad, ansiedad y temor, deterioro de funciones cognitivas y analfabetismo (p 0,05). CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia de factores de complejidad de cuidados en pacientes que consultan en el servicio de urgencias es elevada. Los pacientes que reconsultaron a los 30 días presentaron mayor número de factores de complejidad, por lo que su identificación precoz podría ayudar a estratificar los pacientes y diseñar estrategias preventivas para disminuir la incidencia de reconsultas.

Implementation of advanced triage in the Emergency Department of high complexity public hospital: Research protocol.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of advanced nurse triage based on the quality of care outcomes of patients attending the Emergency Department of a high-complexity hospital. To analyse the concept of advanced triage and the essential elements of the construct. DESIGN: Mixed longitudinal study, divided into 4 steps; which will include an initial qualitative step, two observational studies and finally, a quasi-experimental study. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05230108. METHODS: Step 1 will consist of a concept analysis. Step 2 will include a mapping of advanced practice protocol terminologies. Step 3 will analyse the opinion of health professionals on advanced triage. In step 4: in the retrospective phase (n = 1095), sociodemographic and clinical variables and quality indicators such as waiting time will be analysed. After that, in the prospective phase (n = 547), advanced triage will be implemented and the two cohorts will be compared. The whole study will be carried out from January 2022 to January 2024. DISCUSSION: Patients classified as low complexity at triage are more vulnerable to emergency department overcrowding. The implementation of advanced triage would make it possible to respond to patient needs by offering equitable and quality healthcare, facilitating accessibility, safety and humanization of the emergency department.

Economic impact of a care bundle to prevent surgical site infection after craniotomy: a cost-analysis study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections after craniotomy (SSI-CRAN) significantly impact patient outcomes and healthcare costs by increasing length of stay and readmission and reoperation rates. However, to our knowledge, no study has yet analysed the economic impact of a surgical care bundle for preventing SSI-CRAN. The aim is to analyse the hospital cost saving after implementation of a care bundle for the prevention of SSI-CRAN. METHODS: A retrospective cost-analysis was performed, considering two periods: pre-care bundle (2013-2015) and care bundle (2016-2017). A bottom-up approach was used to calculate the costs associated with infection in patients who developed a SSI-CRAN in comparison to those who did not, in both periods and on a patient-by-patient basis. The derived cost of SSI-CRAN was calculated considering: (1) cost of the antibiotic treatment, (2) cost of length of stay in the neurosurgery ward within the 1-year follow up period, (3) cost of the re-intervention, and (4) cost of the implant for cranial reconstruction, when necessary. RESULTS: A total of 595 patients were included in the pre-care bundle period and 422 in the care bundle period. Mean cost of a craniotomy procedure was approximately €8000, rising to €24,000 in the case of SSI-CRAN. Mean yearly hospital costs fell by €502,857 in the care bundle period (€714,886 vs. €212,029). Extra costs between periods were mainly due to increased length of hospital stay (€573,555.3 vs. €183,958.9; difference: €389,596.4), followed by the cost of implant for cranial reconstruction (€69,803.4 vs. €9,936; difference: €59,867.4). Overall, implementation of the care bundle saved the hospital €500,844.3/year. CONCLUSION: The implementation of a care bundle for SSI-CRAN had a significant economic impact. Hospitals should consider the deployment of this multimodal preventive strategy to reduce their SSI-CRAN rates, and also their costs.

Risk of acute deterioration and care complexity individual factors associated with health outcomes in hospitalised patients with COVID-19: a multicentre cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence about the impact of systematic nursing surveillance on risk of acute deterioration of patients with COVID-19 and the effects of care complexity factors on inpatient outcomes is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the association between acute deterioration risk, care complexity factors and unfavourable outcomes in hospitalised patients with COVID-19. METHODS: A multicentre cohort study was conducted from 1 to 31 March 2020 at seven hospitals in Catalonia. All adult patients with COVID-19 admitted to hospitals and with a complete minimum data set were recruited retrospectively. Patients were classified based on the presence or absence of a composite unfavourable outcome (in-hospital mortality and adverse events). The main measures included risk of acute deterioration (as measured using the VIDA early warning system) and care complexity factors. All data were obtained blinded from electronic health records. Multivariate logistic analysis was performed to identify the VIDA score and complexity factors associated with unfavourable outcomes. RESULTS: Out of a total of 1176 patients with COVID-19, 506 (43%) experienced an unfavourable outcome during hospitalisation. The frequency of unfavourable outcomes rose with increasing risk of acute deterioration as measured by the VIDA score. Risk factors independently associated with unfavourable outcomes were chronic underlying disease (OR: 1.90, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.72; p<0.001), mental status impairment (OR: 2.31, 95% CI 1.45 to 23.66; p<0.001), length of hospital stay (OR: 1.16, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.21; p<0.001) and high risk of acute deterioration (OR: 4.32, 95% CI 2.83 to 6.60; p<0.001). High-tech hospital admission was a protective factor against unfavourable outcomes (OR: 0.57, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.89; p=0.01). CONCLUSION: The systematic nursing surveillance of the status and evolution of COVID-19 inpatients, including the careful monitoring of acute deterioration risk and care complexity factors, may help reduce deleterious health outcomes in COVID-19 inpatients.

A Care Bundle Intervention to Prevent Surgical Site Infections After a Craniotomy.

BACKGROUND: Although surgical site infections after a craniotomy (SSI-CRANs) are a serious problem that involves significant morbidity and costs, information on their prevention is scarce. We aimed to determine whether the implementation of a care bundle was effective in preventing SSI-CRANs. METHODS: A historical control study was used to evaluate the care bundle, which included a preoperative shower with 4% chlorhexidine soap, appropriate hair removal, adequate preoperative systemic antibiotic prophylaxis, the administration of 1 g of vancomycin powder into the subgaleal space before closing, and a postoperative dressing of the incisional surgical wound with a sterile absorbent cover. Patients were divided into 2 groups: preintervention (January 2013 to December 2015) and intervention (January 2016 to December 2017). The primary study end point was the incidence of SSI-CRANs within 1 year postsurgery. Propensity score matching was performed, and differences between the 2 study periods were assessed using Cox regression models. RESULTS: A total of 595 and 422 patients were included in the preintervention and intervention periods, respectively. The incidence of SSI-CRANs was lower in the intervention period (15.3% vs 3.5%; P < .001). Using a propensity score model, 421 pairs of patients were matched. The care bundle intervention was independently associated with a reduced incidence of SSI-CRANs (adjusted odds ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, .13-.40; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The care bundle intervention was effective in reducing SSI-CRAN rates. The implementation of this multimodal preventive strategy should be considered in centers with high SSI-CRAN incidences.

Care complexity individual factors associated with adverse events and in-hospital mortality.

INTRODUCTION: Measuring the impact of care complexity on health outcomes, based on psychosocial, biological and environmental circumstances, is important in order to detect predictors of early deterioration of inpatients. We aimed to identify care complexity individual factors associated with selected adverse events and in-hospital mortality. METHODS: A multicenter, case-control study was carried out at eight public hospitals in Catalonia, Spain, from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017. All adult patients admitted to a ward or a step-down unit were evaluated. Patients were divided into the following groups based on the presence or absence of three adverse events (pressure ulcers, falls or aspiration pneumonia) and in-hospital mortality. The 28 care complexity individual factors were classified in five domains (developmental, mental-cognitive, psycho-emotional, sociocultural and comorbidity/complications). Adverse events and complexity factors were retrospectively reviewed by consulting patients' electronic health records. Multivariate logistic analysis was performed to identify factors associated with an adverse event and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 183,677 adult admissions were studied. Of these, 3,973 (2.2%) patients experienced an adverse event during hospitalization (1,673 [0.9%] pressure ulcers; 1,217 [0.7%] falls and 1,236 [0.7%] aspiration pneumonia). In-hospital mortality was recorded in 3,996 patients (2.2%). After adjustment for potential confounders, the risk factors independently associated with both adverse events and in-hospital mortality were: mental status impairments, impaired adaptation, lack of caregiver support, old age, major chronic disease, hemodynamic instability, communication disorders, urinary or fecal incontinence, vascular fragility, extreme weight, uncontrolled pain, male sex, length of stay and admission to a medical ward. High-tech hospital admission was associated with an increased risk of adverse events and a reduced risk of in-hospital mortality. The area under the ROC curve for both outcomes was > 0.75 (95% IC: 0.78-0.83). CONCLUSIONS: Several care complexity individual factors were associated with adverse events and in-hospital mortality. Prior identification of complexity factors may have an important effect on the early detection of acute deterioration and on the prevention of poor outcomes.

Acuity, nurse staffing and workforce, missed care and patient outcomes: A cluster-unit-level descriptive comparison.

AIM: To compare the patient acuity, nurse staffing and workforce, missed nursing care and patient outcomes among hospital unit-clusters. BACKGROUND: Relationships among acuity, nurse staffing and workforce, missed nursing care and patient outcomes are not completely understood. METHOD: Descriptive design with data from four unit-clusters: medical, surgical, combined and step-down units. Descriptive statistics were used to compare acuity, nurse staffing coverage, education and expertise, missed nursing care and selected nurse-sensitive outcomes. RESULTS: Patient acuity in general (medical, surgical and combined) floors is similar to step-down units, with an average of 5.6 required RN hours per patient day. In general wards, available RN hours per patient day reach only 50% of required RN hours to meet patient needs. Workforce measures are comparable among unit-clusters, and average missed nursing care is 21%. Patient outcomes vary among unit-clusters. CONCLUSION: Patient acuity is similar among unit-clusters, while nurse staffing coverage is halved in general wards. While RN education, expertise and missed care are comparable among unit-clusters, mortality, skin injuries and risk of family compassion fatigue rates are higher in general wards. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse managers play a pivotal role in hustling policymakers to address structural understaffing in general wards, to maximize patient safety outcomes.

Predicting patient acuity according to their main problem.

AIM: To assess the ability of the patient main problem to predict acuity in adults admitted to hospital wards and step-down units. BACKGROUND: Acuity refers to the categorization of patients based on their required nursing intensity. The relationship between acuity and nurses' clinical judgment on the patient problems, including their prioritization, is an underexplored issue. METHOD: Cross-sectional, multi-centre study in a sample of 200,000 adults. Multivariate analysis of main problems potentially associated with acuity levels higher than acute was performed. Distribution of patients and outcome differences among acuity clusters were evaluated. RESULTS: The main problems identified are strongly associated with patient acuity. The model exhibits remarkable ability to predict acuity (AUC, 0.814; 95% CI, 0.81-0.816). Most patients (64.8%) match higher than acute categories. Significant differences in terms of mortality, hospital readmission and other outcomes are observed (p < .005). CONCLUSION: The patient main problem predicts acuity. Most inpatients require more intensive than acute nursing care and their outcomes are adversely affected. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Prospective measurement of acuity, considering nurses' clinical judgments on the patient main problem, is feasible and may contribute to support nurse management workforce planning and staffing decision-making, and to optimize patients, nurses and organizational outcomes.

Risk factors for surgical site infection after craniotomy: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Although surgical site infection after craniotomy (SSI-CRAN) is a serious complication, risk factors for its development have not been well defined. We aim to identify the risk factors for developing SSI-CRAN in a large prospective cohort of adult patients undergoing craniotomy. Methods: A series of consecutive patients who underwent craniotomy at a university hospital from January 2013 to December 2015 were prospectively assessed. Demographic, epidemiological, surgical, clinical and microbiological data were collected. Patients were followed up in an active post-discharge surveillance programm e for up to one year after surgery. Multivariate analysis was carried out to identify independent risk factors for SSI-CRAN. Results: Among the 595 patients who underwent craniotomy, 91 (15.3%) episodes of SSI-CRAN were recorded, 67 (73.6%) of which were organ/space. Baseline demographic characteristics were similar among patients who developed SSI-CRAN and those who did not. The most frequent causative Gram-positive organisms were Cutibacterium acnes (23.1%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (23.1%), whereas Enterobacter cloacae (12.1%) was the most commonly isolated Gram-negative agent. In the univariate analysis the factors associated with SSI-CRAN were ASA score > 2 (48.4% vs. 35.5% in SSI-CRAN and no SSI-CRAN respectively, p = 0.025), extrinsic tumour (28.6% vs. 19.2%, p = 0.05), and re-intervention (4.4% vs. 1.4%, p = < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, ASA score > 2 (AOR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.32-3.87; p = .003) and re-intervention (OR: 8.93, 95% CI: 5.33-14.96; p < 0.001) were the only factors independently associated with SSI-CRAN. Conclusion: The risk factors and causative agents of SSI-CRAN identified in this study should be considered in the design of preventive strategies aimed to reduce the incidence of this serious complication.

Care Complexity Individual Factors Associated With Hospital Readmission: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of care complexity individual factors documented in the nursing assessment and to identify the risk factors associated with hospital readmission within 30 days of hospital discharge. DESIGN: Observational analysis of a retrospective cohort at a 700-bed university hospital in Barcelona, Spain. A total of 16,925 adult patient admissions to a ward or intermediate care units were evaluated from January to December 2016. Most patients were admitted due to cardiocirculatory and respiratory disorders (29.3%), musculoskeletal and nervous system disorders (21.8%), digestive and hepatobiliary conditions (17.9%), and kidney or urinary disorders (11.2%). METHODS: Readmission was defined as rehospitalization for any reason within 30 days of discharge. Patients who required hospital readmission were compared with those who did not. The individual factors of care complexity included five domains (developmental, mental-cognitive, psycho-emotional, sociocultural, and comorbidity or complications) and were reviewed using the electronic nursing assessment records. Multivariate logistic analysis was performed to determine factors associated with readmission. FINDINGS: A total of 1,052 patients (6.4%) were readmitted within 30 days of hospital discharge. Care complexity individual factors from the comorbidity or complications domain were found to be the most frequently e-charted (88.3%). Care complexity individual factors from developmental (33.2%), psycho-emotional (13.2%), mental-cognitive (7.2%), and sociocultural (0.7%) domains were less frequently documented. Independent factors associated with hospital readmission were old age (≥75 years), duration of first hospitalization, admission to a nonsurgical ward, major chronic disease, hemodynamic instability, immunosuppression, and relative weight of diagnosis-related group. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of patients required readmission within 30 days after discharge. The most frequent care complexity individual factors recorded in the nursing assessment at index admission were related to comorbidity or complications, developmental, and psycho-emotional domains. Strategies related to transition of care that include clinical characteristics and comorbidity or complications factors should be a priority at hospital discharge and after leaving hospital, but other factors related to developmental and psycho-emotional domains could have an important effect on the use of healthcare resources. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nurses should identify patients with comorbidity or complications, developmental, and psycho-emotional complexity factors during the index admission in order to be able to implement an effective discharge process of care.

Impact of an Educational Program to Reduce Healthcare Resources in Community-Acquired Pneumonia: The EDUCAP Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Additional healthcare visits and rehospitalizations after discharge are frequent among patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and have a major impact on healthcare costs. We aimed to determine whether the implementation of an individualized educational program for hospitalized patients with CAP would decrease subsequent healthcare visits and readmissions within 30 days of hospital discharge. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized trial was conducted from January 1, 2011 to October 31, 2014 at three hospitals in Spain. We randomly allocated immunocompetent adults patients hospitalized for CAP to receive either an individualized educational program or conventional information before discharge. The educational program included recommendations regarding fluid intake, adherence to drug therapy and preventive vaccines, knowledge and management of the disease, progressive adaptive physical activity, and counseling for alcohol and smoking cessation. The primary trial endpoint was a composite of the frequency of additional healthcare visits and rehospitalizations within 30 days of hospital discharge. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed. RESULTS: We assigned 102 patients to receive the individualized educational program and 105 to receive conventional information. The frequency of the composite primary end point was 23.5% following the individualized program and 42.9% following the conventional information (difference, -19.4%; 95% confidence interval, -6.5% to -31.2%; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an individualized educational program for hospitalized patients with CAP was effective in reducing subsequent healthcare visits and rehospitalizations within 30 days of discharge. Such a strategy may help optimize available healthcare resources and identify post-acute care needs in patients with CAP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN39531840.

Incidence, timing and risk factors associated with 1-year mortality after hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the incidence, causes, timing and risk factors associated with 1-year mortality in CAP patients after hospital discharge. METHODS: Adult patients with CAP who were admitted to a tertiary hospital from 2007 to 2011 were prospectively recruited and followed up for 1 year after hospital discharge. RESULTS: Of the 1284 patients discharged, 93 (7.2%) died within 1-year of leaving hospital. Sixty eight (73.1%) patients died in the first six months. The main reasons for 1-year mortality after hospital discharge were infectious diseases, mainly pneumonia, followed by acute cardiovascular events. Mortality from infectious diseases was higher during the first 6 months (86.1%), while the number of deaths from cardiovascular causes was stable throughout the months of follow-up. After adjustment for confounders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, dementia, rehospitalization within 30 days of hospital discharge and nursing home were independently associated with 1-year mortality. The incidence of long-term mortality increased >50% when ≥4 risk factors were present (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients mainly died from infectious diseases and acute cardiovascular events in the first six months after leaving hospital for an acute CAP episode. Certain features may help to identify the risk of long-term mortality in CAP patients.

Clinical features, etiology, and outcomes of community-acquired pneumonia in patients with diabetes mellitus.

We performed an observational analysis of a prospective cohort of immunocompetent hospitalized adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) to determine the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcomes of pneumonia in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). We also analyzed the risk factors for mortality and the impact of statins and other cardiovascular drugs on outcomes. Of 2407 CAP episodes, 516 (21.4%) occurred in patients with DM; 483 (97%) had type 2 diabetes, 197 (40%) were on insulin treatment, and 119 (23.9%) had end-organ damage related to DM. Patients with DM had different clinical features compared to the other patients. They were less likely to have acute onset, cough, purulent sputum, and pleural chest pain. No differences in etiology were found between study groups. Patients with DM had more inhospital acute metabolic complications, although the case-fatality rate was similar between the groups. Independent risk factors for mortality in patients with DM were advanced age, bacteremia, septic shock, and gram-negative pneumonia. Patients with end-organ damage related to DM had more inhospital cardiac events and a higher early case-fatality rate than did the overall population. The use of statins and other cardiovascular drugs was not associated with better CAP outcomes in patients with DM. In conclusion, CAP in patients with DM presents different clinical features compared to the features of patients without DM.

A prospective cohort study of healthcare visits and rehospitalizations after discharge of patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the frequency of, reasons for, and risk factors associated with additional health-care visits and re-hospitalizations (health-care interactions) among patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), within 30days of discharge from hospital. METHODS: This was an observational analysis of a prospective cohort of adults hospitalized with CAP at a tertiary hospital in 2007-2009. Additional health-care interactions were defined as visits to a primary care centre or emergency department, and hospital readmissions within 30days of discharge. RESULTS: Of the 934 patients hospitalized with CAP, 282 (34.1%) had additional health-care interactions within 30days of discharge from hospital; 149 (52.8%) required an additional visit to a primary care centre and 177 (62.8%) attended the emergency department. Seventy-two patients (25.5%) were readmitted to hospital. The main reasons for additional health-care interactions were worsening of signs or symptoms of CAP and new or worsening comorbidities that were unrelated to pneumonia, mainly cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. The only independent factor associated with visits to a primary care centre or the emergency department was alcohol abuse (OR 1.65; 95% CI: 1.03-2.64). Hospitalization in the previous 90days (OR 2.47; 95% CI: 1.11-5.52) and comorbidities (OR 3.99; 95% CI: 1.12-14.23) were independently associated with re-hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Additional health-care visits and re-hospitalizations within 30days of discharge from hospital were common among patients with CAP. This was mainly due to worsening of signs or symptoms of CAP and/or comorbidities. These findings may have implications for discharge planning and follow up of patients with CAP.

Community-acquired pneumonia in patients with liver cirrhosis: clinical features, outcomes, and usefulness of severity scores.

We performed an observational analysis of a prospective cohort of nonimmunocompromised hospitalized adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) to determine the epidemiology, clinical features, and outcomes of patients with liver cirrhosis. We also analyzed the prognostic value of several severity scores. Of 3420 CAP episodes, 90 occurred in patients with liver cirrhosis. The median value of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) was 14 (range, 6-36). On the Child-Pugh (CP) score, 56% of patients were defined as grade B and 22% as grade C. Patients with liver cirrhosis were younger (61.8 vs. 66.8 yr; p = 0.001) than patients without cirrhosis, more frequently presented impaired consciousness at admission (33% vs. 14%; p < 0.001) and septic shock (13% vs. 6%; p = 0.011), and were more commonly classified in high-risk Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) classes (classes IV-V) (74% vs. 58%; p = 0.002). Streptococcus pneumoniae (47% vs. 33%; p = 0.009) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.4% vs. 0.9%; p = 0.001) were more frequently documented in patients with cirrhosis. Bacteremia was also more common in these patients (22% vs. 13%; p = 0.023). Areas under the curve (AUCs) from disease-specific scores (MELD, CP, PSI, and CURB-65 [confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age ≥65 yr]) were comparable in predicting severe disease (30-d mortality and intensive care unit [ICU] admission). A new score based on MELD, multilobar pneumonia, and septic shock at admission (MELD-CAP) had an AUC of 0.945 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.872-0.983) for predicting severe disease and was significantly different from other scores. Early (5.6% vs. 2.1%; p = 0.048) and overall (14.4% vs. 7.4%; p < 0.024) mortality rates were higher in cirrhotic patients than in patients without cirrhosis. Factors associated with mortality were impaired consciousness, multilobar pneumonia, ascites, acute renal failure, bacteremia, ICU admission, and MELD score. Among the severity scores, MELD-CAP was the only score associated with severe disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.33; 95% CI, 1.09-1.52) and mortality (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.03-1.42). In conclusion, CAP in patients with liver cirrhosis presents a distinctive clinical picture and is associated with higher mortality than is found in patients without cirrhosis. The severity of hepatic dysfunction plays an important role in the development of adverse events. Cirrhosis-specific scores may be useful for predicting and stratifying cirrhotic patients with CAP who have a high risk of severe disease.

Epidemiology, clinical features and outcomes of pneumonia in patients with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Although infection remains among the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), data on epidemiology, clinical features and outcomes of pneumonia in this population are scarce. METHODS: Observational analysis of a prospective cohort of hospitalized adults with pneumonia, between 13 February 1995 and 30 April 2010, in a tertiary teaching hospital. CKD patients, defined as patients with a baseline glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2), were compared with non-CKD patients. RESULTS: During the study period, 3800 patients with pneumonia required hospitalization. Two-hundred and three (5.3%) patients had CKD, of whom 46 were on dialysis therapy. Patients with CKD were older (77 versus 70 years; P < 0.001), were more likely to have comorbidities (82.3 versus 63.3%; P < 0.001) and more commonly classified into high-risk pneumonia severity index classes (89.6 versus 57%; P < 0.001) than were the remaining patients. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequent pathogen (28.1 versus 34.7%; P = 0.05). Mortality was higher in patients with CKD (15.8 versus 8.3%; P < 0.001). Among CKD patients, age [+1 year increase; adjusted odds ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.46] and cardiac complications during hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio, 9.23; 95% CI 1.39-61.1) were found to be independent risk factors for mortality, whereas prior pneumococcal vaccination (adjusted odds ratio, 0.05; 95% CI 0.005-0.69) and leukocytosis at hospital admission (adjusted odds ratio, 0.10; 95% CI 0.01-0.64) were protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumonia is a serious complication in CKD patients. Independent factors for mortality are older age and cardiac complications, whereas prior pneumococcal vaccination and leucokytosis at hospital admission are protective factors. These findings should encourage physicians to increase pneumococcal vaccine coverage among CKD patients.