In-hospital mortality of older patients with COVID-19 throughout the epidemic waves in the great Paris area: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Mortality is high in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Previous studies observed lower mortality during the Omicron wave, yet no data is available on older patients. The objective was to compare in-hospital mortality between the Omicron and previous waves in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19. METHODS: This retrospective observational multicenter cohort study used the Greater Paris University Hospitals Group's data warehouse (38 hospitals). Patients aged ≥ 75 years with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and hospitalized from March 2020 to January 2022 were included. The study period was divided into five waves. The fifth wave (January 1st to 31st 2022) was considered as the Omicron wave as it was the predominant variant (≥ 50%), and was compared with waves 1 (March-July 2020), 2 (August-December 2020), 3 (January-June 2021) and 4 (July-December 2021). Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcome was occurrence of ICU admission or in-hospital death. Multivariate logistic regression was performed, with a sensitivity analysis according to variant type. RESULTS: Of the 195,084 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 19,909 patients aged ≥ 75 years were included (median age 85 [IQR 79-90] years, 53% women). Overall in-hospital mortality was 4,337 (22%), reaching 345 (17%) during wave 5. Waves 1 and 3 were significantly associated with increased in-hospital mortality in comparison with wave 5 (adjusted Odds Ratios aOR 1.42 [95%CI 1.21-1.66] and 1.56 [95%CI 1.33-1.83] respectively). Waves 1 to 3 were associated with an increased risk of occurrence of ICU admission or in-hospital death in comparison with wave 5: aOR 1.29 [95% CI 1.12 to 1.49] for wave 1, aOR 1.25 [95% CI 1.08 to 1.45] for wave 2 and aOR 1.56 [95% CI 1.36 to 1.79] for wave 3. Sensitivity analysis found that Omicron variant was associated with decreased mortality, in comparison with previous variants. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality was lower during the 5th Omicron wave in the older population, but remained high, implying that this variant could be considered as "milder" but not "mild". This persistently high mortality during the 5th Omicron wave highlights the importance of including older patients in clinical trials to confirm the benefit/risk balance of COVID-19 treatments in this fragile population.

Job Strain, Burnout, and Suicidal Ideation in Tenured University Hospital Faculty Staff in France in 2021.

Importance: The ability to attract and retain university hospital faculty staff is in jeopardy because of the high levels of mental symptoms in this professional group. Objective: To examine the prevalence and determinants of symptoms of severe burnout, job strain, and suicidal ideation in tenured associate and full professors in university hospitals. Design, Setting, and Participants: This nationwide cross-sectional study offered online surveys to 5332 tenured university hospital faculty members in France from October 25, 2021, to December 20, 2021. Exposures: Burnout and job strain. Main Outcomes and Measures: Participants completed the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory and a 12-item job strain assessment tool, reported suicidal ideation, and used visual analog scales to evaluate unidimensional parameters. The primary outcome was presence of severe burnout symptoms. Factors associated with mental health symptoms were identified by multivariable logistic regression. Results: Completed questionnaires were returned by 2390 of 5332 faculty members (response rate, 45%; range, 43%-46%). Tenured associate professors were a median of 40 (IQR, 37-45) years old with a sex ratio of 1:1, whereas tenured full professors were a median of 53 (IQR, 46-60) years old with a sex ratio of 1:5. Of 2390 respondents, 952 (40%) reported symptoms of severe burnout. Symptoms of job strain (296 professors [12%]) and suicidal ideation (343 professors [14%]) were also reported. Compared with full professors, significantly more associate professors reported feeling overwhelmed at work (496 [73%] vs 972 [57%]; P < .001), considering resignation (365 [54%] vs 834 [49%]; P = .004), or considering a career change (277 [41%] vs 496 [29%]; P < .001). Factors independently associated with less burnout were a longer time being a professor (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.98 per year of age), sleeping well (aOR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.83-0.92), feeling valued by colleagues (aOR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.86-0.95 per visual analog scale point) or the public (aOR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.88-0.96 per visual analog scale point), and accepting more tasks (aOR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.72-0.93). Factors independently associated with more burnout were having a nonclinical position (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.96-3.16), reporting work encroachment on private life (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.10-1.25), feeling the need to constantly put on a brave face (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.32-2.52), considering a career change (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.22-1.92), and having experienced harassment (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.22-1.88). Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that the psychological burden on tenured university hospital faculty staff in France is considerable. Hospital administrators and health care authorities should urgently develop strategies for burden prevention and alleviation and for attraction of the next generation.

Efficacy and Safety of Early Administration of 4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate in Patients With Trauma at Risk of Massive Transfusion: The PROCOAG Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Optimal transfusion strategies in traumatic hemorrhage are unknown. Reports suggest a beneficial effect of 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) on blood product consumption. Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of 4F-PCC administration in patients at risk of massive transfusion. Design, Setting, and Participants: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled superiority trial in 12 French designated level I trauma centers from December 29, 2017, to August 31, 2021, involving consecutive patients with trauma at risk of massive transfusion. Follow-up was completed on August 31, 2021. Interventions: Intravenous administration of 1 mL/kg of 4F-PCC (25 IU of factor IX/kg) vs 1 mL/kg of saline solution (placebo). Patients, investigators, and data analysts were blinded to treatment assignment. All patients received early ratio-based transfusion (packed red blood cells:fresh frozen plasma ratio of 1:1 to 2:1) and were treated according to European traumatic hemorrhage guidelines. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was 24-hour all blood product consumption (efficacy); arterial or venous thromboembolic events were a secondary outcome (safety). Results: Of 4313 patients with the highest trauma level activation, 350 were eligible for emergency inclusion, 327 were randomized, and 324 were analyzed (164 in the 4F-PCC group and 160 in the placebo group). The median (IQR) age of participants was 39 (27-56) years, Injury Severity Score was 36 (26-50 [major trauma]), and admission blood lactate level was 4.6 (2.8-7.4) mmol/L; prehospital arterial systolic blood pressure was less than 90 mm Hg in 179 of 324 patients (59%), 233 patients (73%) were men, and 226 (69%) required expedient hemorrhage control. There was no statistically or clinically significant between-group difference in median (IQR) total 24-hour blood product consumption (12 [5-19] U in the 4F-PCC group vs 11 [6-19] U in the placebo group; absolute difference, 0.2 U [95% CI, -2.99 to 3.33]; P = .72). In the 4F-PCC group, 56 patients (35%) presented with at least 1 thromboembolic event vs 37 patients (24%) in the placebo group (absolute difference, 11% [95% CI, 1%-21%]; relative risk, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.04-2.10]; P = .03). Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with trauma at risk of massive transfusion, there was no significant reduction of 24-hour blood product consumption after administration of 4F-PCC, but thromboembolic events were more common. These findings do not support systematic use of 4F-PCC in patients at risk of massive transfusion. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03218722.

Using a multiomics approach to unravel a septic shock specific signature in skeletal muscle.

Sepsis is defined as a dysregulated host response to infection leading to organs failure. Among them, sepsis induces skeletal muscle (SM) alterations that contribute to acquired-weakness in critically ill patients. Proteomics and metabolomics could unravel biological mechanisms in sepsis-related organ dysfunction. Our objective was to characterize a distinctive signature of septic shock in human SM by using an integrative multi-omics approach. Muscle biopsies were obtained as part of a multicenter non-interventional prospective study. Study population included patients in septic shock (S group, with intra-abdominal source of sepsis) and two critically ill control populations: cardiogenic shock (C group) and brain dead (BD group). The proteins and metabolites were extracted and analyzed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-coupled to tandem Mass Spectrometry, respectively. Fifty patients were included, 19 for the S group (53% male, 64 ± 17 years, SAPS II 45 ± 14), 12 for the C group (75% male, 63 ± 4 years, SAPS II 43 ± 15), 19 for the BD group (63% male, 58 ± 10 years, SAPS II 58 ± 9). Biopsies were performed in median 3 days [interquartile range 1-4]) after intensive care unit admission. Respectively 31 patients and 40 patients were included in the proteomics and metabolomics analyses of 2264 proteins and 259 annotated metabolites. Enrichment analysis revealed that mitochondrial pathways were significantly decreased in the S group at protein level: oxidative phosphorylation (adjusted p = 0.008); branched chained amino acids degradation (adjusted p = 0.005); citrate cycle (adjusted p = 0.005); ketone body metabolism (adjusted p = 0.003) or fatty acid degradation (adjusted p = 0.008). Metabolic reprogramming was also suggested (i) by the differential abundance of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors signaling pathway (adjusted p = 0.007), and (ii) by the accumulation of fatty acids like octanedioic acid dimethyl or hydroxydecanoic. Increased polyamines and depletion of mitochondrial thioredoxin or mitochondrial peroxiredoxin indicated a high level of oxidative stress in the S group. Coordinated alterations in the proteomic and metabolomic profiles reveal a septic shock signature in SM, highlighting a global impairment of mitochondria-related metabolic pathways, the depletion of antioxidant capacities, and a metabolic shift towards lipid accumulation.ClinicalTrial registration: NCT02789995. Date of first registration 03/06/2016.

Effect of intravenous almitrine on intubation or mortality in patients with COVID-19 acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: A multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Severe hypoxemia in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia might result from hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, contributing to ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch. Because almitrine improves V/Q, it might reduce the risk for mechanical ventilation (MV) in such patients. Our primary objective was to determine the effect of almitrine on the need for MV at day 7. Methods: In a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial involving 15 ICUs, patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia and experiencing acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were randomly assigned to receive 5 days of intravenous low-dose (2 µg.kg-1.min-1) almitrine or placebo. The primary outcome was endotracheal intubation for MV or death within 7 days after randomisation. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, 28-day mortality, number of ventilator-free days, number of days in the ICU and the hospital, and treatment discontinuation for pre-specified adverse effects. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04357457. Findings: Between September 3, 2020 and September 25, 2021 181 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to almitrine (n=89) or placebo (n=92). 179 patients (excluding two who withdrew from the study) were included in the intention-to-treat analysis (mean age: 60·1 years; 34% women) and analyzed. On day 7, the primary endpoint occurred in 32 patients assigned to almitrine (36%) and in 37 patients assigned to placebo (41%), for a difference of -4·3% (95% confidence interval: -18·7% to 10·2%). Secondary outcomes (28-day mortality, in-hospital mortality, ventilator-free days at day 28, days in the ICU and the hospital, and treatment discontinuation for pre-specified adverse effects) did not differ between the two groups. Interpretation: In patients with COVID-19 acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, low-dose almitrine failed in reducing the need for MV or death at day 7. Funding: Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique (PHRC COVID 2020) funded by the French Ministry of Health, Les Laboratoires Servier (Suresnes, France) providing the study drug free of charge.

Comparison of Patients Infected With Delta Versus Omicron COVID-19 Variants Presenting to Paris Emergency Departments : A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: At the end of 2021, the B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2 variant (Omicron) wave superseded the B.1.617.2 variant (Delta) wave. OBJECTIVE: To compare baseline characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection with the Delta variant versus the Omicron variant in the emergency department (ED). DESIGN: Retrospective chart reviews. SETTING: 13 adult EDs in academic hospitals in the Paris area from 29 November 2021 to 10 January 2022. PATIENTS: Patients with a positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result for SARS-CoV-2 and variant identification. MEASUREMENTS: Main outcome measures were baseline clinical and biological characteristics at ED presentation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 3728 patients had a positive RT-PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 during the study period; 1716 patients who had a variant determination (818 Delta and 898 Omicron) were included. Median age was 58 years, and 49% were women. Patients infected with the Omicron variant were younger (54 vs. 62 years; difference, 8.0 years [95% CI, 4.6 to 11.4 years]), had a lower rate of obesity (8.0% vs. 12.5%; difference, 4.5 percentage points [CI, 1.5 to 7.5 percentage points]), were more vaccinated (65% vs. 39% for 1 dose and 22% vs. 11% for 3 doses), had a lower rate of dyspnea (26% vs. 50%; difference, 23.6 percentage points [CI, 19.0 to 28.2 percentage points]), and had a higher rate of discharge home from the ED (59% vs. 37%; difference, 21.9 percentage points [-26.5 to -17.1 percentage points]). Compared with Delta, Omicron infection was independently associated with a lower risk for ICU admission (adjusted difference, 11.4 percentage points [CI, 8.4 to 14.4 percentage points]), mechanical ventilation (adjusted difference, 3.6 percentage points [CI, 1.7 to 5.6 percentage points]), and in-hospital mortality (adjusted difference, 4.2 percentage points [CI, 2.0 to 6.5 percentage points]). LIMITATION: Patients with COVID-19 illness and no SARS-CoV-2 variant determination in the ED were excluded. CONCLUSION: Compared with the Delta variant, infection with the Omicron variant in patients in the ED had different clinical and biological patterns and was associated with better in-hospital outcomes, including higher survival. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: None.

Lack of Association Between Perioperative Medication and Postoperative Delirium in Hip Fracture Patients in an Orthogeriatric Care Pathway.

OBJECTIVES: Units for perioperative geriatric care are playing a growing role in the care of older patients after hip fracture surgery. Postoperative delirium is one of the most common complications after hip fracture, but no study has assessed the impact of therapeutics received during a dedicated orthogeriatric care pathway on its incidence. Our main objective was to assess the association between drugs used in emergency, operating, and recovery departments and postoperative delirium during the acute stay. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: All patients ≥70 years old admitted for hip fracture to the emergency department and hospitalized in our unit for perioperative geriatric care after hip fracture surgery under general anesthesia between July 2009 and December 2019 in an academic hospital in Paris. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, and biological data and all medications administered pre-, peri-, and postoperatively were prospectively collected by 3 geriatricians. Postoperative delirium in the unit for perioperative geriatric care was assessed by using the confusion assessment method scale. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess variables independently associated with postoperative delirium. RESULTS: A total of 490 patients were included [mean (SD) age 87 (6) years]; 215 (44%) had postoperative delirium. The occurrence was not associated with therapeutics administered during the dedicated orthogeriatric care pathway. Probability of postoperative delirium was associated with advanced age [>90 years, odds ratio (OR) 2.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-3.89], dementia (OR 3.51, 95% CI 2.14--5.82), depression (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.14-3.01), and preoperative use of beta-blockers (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.10-2.79). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: No emergency or anesthetic drugs were significantly associated with postoperative delirium. Further studies are needed to demonstrate a possible causal link between preoperative use of beta-blockers and postoperative delirium.

Four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate to reduce allogenic blood product transfusion in patients with major trauma, the PROCOAG trial: study protocol for a randomized multicenter double-blind superiority study.

BACKGROUND: Optimal management of severe trauma patients with active hemorrhage relies on adequate initial resuscitation. Early administration of coagulation factors improves post-traumatic coagulation disorders, and four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) might be useful in this context. Our main hypothesis is that four-factor PCC in addition to a massive transfusion protocol decreases blood product consumption at day 1 in severe trauma patients with major bleeding. METHODS: This is a prospective, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, parallel, controlled superiority trial. Eligible patients are trauma patients with major bleeding admitted to a French level-I trauma center. Patients randomized in the treatment arm receive 1 mL/kg (25 IU/ml of Factor IX/Kg) four-factor PCC within 1-h post-admission while patients randomized in the controlled group receive 1 mL/kg of saline solution 0.9% as a placebo. Treatments are given as soon as possible using syringe pumps (120 mL/h). The primary endpoint is the amount of blood products transfused in the first 24 h post-admission (including red blood cells, frozen fresh plasma, and platelets). The secondary endpoints are the amount of each blood product transfused in the first 24 h, time to achieve prothrombin time ratio < 1.5, time to hemostasis, number of thrombo-embolic events at 28 days, mortality at 24 h and 28 days, number of intensive care unit-free days, number of ventilator-free days, number of hospital-free days within the first 28 days, hospitalization status at day 28, Glasgow outcome scale extended for patients with brain lesions on initial cerebral imaging, and cost of each strategy at days 8 and 28. Inclusions have started in December 2017 and are expected to be complete by June 2021. DISCUSSION: If PCC reduces total blood consumption at day 1 after severe trauma, this therapy, in adjunction to a classic massive transfusion protocol, may be used empirically on admission in patients at risk of massive transfusion to enhance coagulation. Moreover, this treatment may decrease blood product-related complications and may improve clinical outcomes after post-traumatic hemorrhage. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03218722 . Registered on July 14, 2017.

Optimal donation of kidney transplants after controlled circulatory death.

Controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD) is used for "extended criteria" donors with poorer kidney transplant outcomes. The French cDCD program started in 2015 and is characterized by normothermic regional perfusion, hypothermic machine perfusion, and short cold ischemia time. We compared the outcomes of kidney transplantation from cDCD and brain-dead (DBD) donors, matching cDCD and DBD kidney transplants by propensity scoring for donor and recipient characteristics. The matching process retained 442 of 499 cDCD and 809 of 6185 DBD transplantations. The DGF rate was 20% in cDCD recipients compared with 28% in DBD recipients (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-1.82). When DBD transplants were ranked by cold ischemia time and machine perfusion use and compared with cDCD transplants, the aRR of DGF was higher for DBD transplants without machine perfusion, regardless of the cold ischemia time (aRR with cold ischemia time <18 h, 1.57; 95% CI 1.20-2.03, vs aRR with cold ischemia time ≥18 h, 1.79; 95% CI 1.31-2.44). The 1-year graft survival rate was similar in both groups. Early outcome was better for kidney transplants from cDCD than from matched DBD transplants with this French protocol.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of 821 Older Patients With SARS-Cov-2 Infection Admitted to Acute Care Geriatric Wards.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information describing the characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized older patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHOD: We conducted a multicentric retrospective cohort study in 13 acute COVID-19 geriatric wards, from March 13 to April 15, 2020, in Paris area. All consecutive patients aged 70 years and older, with confirmed COVID-19, were enrolled. RESULTS: Of the 821 patients included in the study, the mean (SD) age was 86 (7) years; 58% were female; 85% had ≥2 comorbidities; 29% lived in an institution; and the median [interquartile range] Activities of Daily Living scale (ADL) score was 4 [2-6]. The most common symptoms at COVID-19 onset were asthenia (63%), fever (55%), dyspnea (45%), dry cough (45%), and delirium (25%). The in-hospital mortality was 31% (95% confidence interval [CI] 27-33). On multivariate analysis, at COVID-19 onset, the probability of in-hospital mortality was increased with male gender (odds ratio [OR] 1.85; 95% CI 1.30-2.63), ADL score <4 (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.25-2.70), asthenia (OR 1.59; 95% CI 1.08-2.32), quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score ≥2 (OR 2.63; 95% CI 1.64-4.22), and specific COVID-19 anomalies on chest computerized tomography (OR 2.60; 95% CI 1.07-6.46). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new information about older patients with COVID-19 who are hospitalized. A quick bedside evaluation at admission of sex, functional status, systolic arterial pressure, consciousness, respiratory rate, and asthenia can identify older patients at risk of unfavorable outcomes.

Assessment of the mass casualty triage during the November 2015 Paris area terrorist attacks: towards a simple triage rule.

BACKROUND: Triage is key in the management of mass casualty incidents. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the prehospital triage performed during the 2015 Paris area terrorist attack. DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANT: This was a retrospective cohort study that included all casualties of the attacks on 13 November 2015 in Paris area, France, that were admitted alive at the hospital within the first 24 h after the events. Patients were triaged as absolute emergency or relative emergency by a prehospital physician or nurse. This triage was then compared to the one of an expert panel that had retrospectively access to all prehospital and hospital files. OUTCOMES MEASURES AND ANALYSIS: The primary endpoints were the rate of overtriage and undertriage, defined as number of patients misclassified in one triage category, divided by the total number of patients in this triage category. MAIN RESULT: Among 337 casualties admitted to the hospital, 262 (78%) were triaged during prehospital care, with, respectively, 74 (28%) and 188 (72%) as absolute and relative emergencies. Among these casualties, the expert panel classified 96 (37%) patients as absolute emergencies and 166 (63%) as relative emergency. The rate of undertriage and overtriage was 36% [95% confidence interval (CI), 27-47%] and 8% (95% CI, 4-13%), respectively. Among undertriaged casualties, 8 (23%) were considered as being severely undertriaged. Among overtriaged casualties, 10 (77%) were considered as being severely overtriaged. CONCLUSION: A simple prehospital triage for trauma casualties during the 13 November terrorist attack in Paris could have been performed triaged in 78% of casualties that were admitted to the hospital, with a 36% rate of undertriage and 8% of overtriage. Qualitative analysis of undertriage and overtriage indicate some possibilities for further improvement.

Biased and unbiased estimation of the average length of stay in intensive care units in the Covid-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The average length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU_ALOS) is a helpful parameter summarizing critical bed occupancy. During the outbreak of a novel virus, estimating early a reliable ICU_ALOS estimate of infected patients is critical to accurately parameterize models examining mitigation and preparedness scenarios. METHODS: Two estimation methods of ICU_ALOS were compared: the average LOS of already discharged patients at the date of estimation (DPE), and a standard parametric method used for analyzing time-to-event data which fits a given distribution to observed data and includes the censored stays of patients still treated in the ICU at the date of estimation (CPE). Methods were compared on a series of all COVID-19 consecutive cases (n = 59) admitted in an ICU devoted to such patients. At the last follow-up date, 99 days after the first admission, all patients but one had been discharged. A simulation study investigated the generalizability of the methods' patterns. CPE and DPE estimates were also compared to COVID-19 estimates reported to date. RESULTS: LOS ≥ 30 days concerned 14 out of the 59 patients (24%), including 8 of the 21 deaths observed. Two months after the first admission, 38 (64%) patients had been discharged, with corresponding DPE and CPE estimates of ICU_ALOS (95% CI) at 13.0 days (10.4-15.6) and 23.1 days (18.1-29.7), respectively. Series' true ICU_ALOS was greater than 21 days, well above reported estimates to date. CONCLUSIONS: Discharges of short stays are more likely observed earlier during the course of an outbreak. Cautious unbiased ICU_ALOS estimates suggest parameterizing a higher burden of ICU bed occupancy than that adopted to date in COVID-19 forecasting models. FUNDING: Support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81900097 to Dr. Zhou) and the Emergency Response Project of Hubei Science and Technology Department (2020FCA023 to Pr. Zhao).

Impact of Point-of-care Testing on Length of Stay of Patients in the Emergency Department: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVES: Crowding is a frequent concern in the emergency department (ED). Laboratory point-of-care testing (POCT) has been proposed to decrease patients' length of stay (LOS). Our objective was to determine whether an extended panel of POCT solutions could reduce LOS. METHODS: This was a single-center, prospective, open-label, controlled cluster-randomized study. Blood test processing was randomized into 1-week inclusion periods: interventional arm (laboratory analyses performed on POCT analyzers implemented in the ED) or control arm (central laboratory). The primary endpoint was LOS of patients in the ED. Secondary endpoints were time to result (TTR), ED crowding surrogates, and average total cost of an ED visit in each arm. RESULTS: A total of 23,231 patients were included and 20,923 were analyzed for the main outcome measure. Mean ± SD age was 46 ± 20 years, and 7,905 (36%) underwent blood sampling. Mean ± SD LOSs were 203 ± 161 and 210 ± 168 minutes in the POCT and control arms, respectively. LOS reduction for the entire ED population was -9 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI] = -22 to 5, p = 0.22) compared to the control arm and -17 minutes (95% CI = -34.0 to 0.6, p = 0.06) for patients undergoing blood sampling. The mean ± SD TTRs were 28 ± 31 and 79 ± 34 minutes in the POCT and control arms, respectively (TTR reduction = -51 minutes, 95% CI = -54 to -48 minutes, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an extended panel of POCT solutions in an ED did not significantly reduce the LOS, but reduced the TTR.

Favorable Outcomes of Liver Transplantation from Controlled Circulatory Death Donors Using Normothermic Regional Perfusion Compared to Brain Death Donors.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation (LT) from controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD) was initiated in France in 2015 under a protocol based on the use of normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) before organ procurement. The aim was to compare outcomes following cDCD LT with NRP and donation after brain death (DBD) LT. METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective study comparing cDCD LT with NRP and DBD LT. A case-matched study (1:2) was performed using the variables such as recipient and donor age, indication of LT. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients from the cDCD group were matched to 100 patients from the DBD group. From postoperative days 1-4, serum transaminase release was significantly lower in the cDCD group compared to the DBD group (P < 0.05). Early allograft dysfunction (cDCD: 18% versus DBD: 32%; P = 0.11), acute kidney injury (26% versus 33%; P = 0.49), 90-d graft loss (2% versus 5%; P = 0.66), and arterial (4% versus 12%; P = 0.19) and biliary (16% versus 17%; P = 0.94) complications were similar between the 2 groups. The 2-y graft survival was 88% for cDCD group and 85% for DBD group (P = 0.91). The 2-y patient survival was 90% for cDCD group and 88% for DBD group (P = 0.68). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that cDCD LT following postmortem NRP can be safely and effectively performed in selected recipients with similar graft and patient survival outcomes, without increased rates of biliary complications and early graft dysfunction compared to DBD LT.

Attributable Mortality of Hip Fracture in Older Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Hip fracture (HF) in older patients is associated with a high six-month mortality rate. Several clinical conditions may affect outcome, including baseline characteristics, co-existing acute illnesses, perioperative factors, and postoperative complications. Our primary objective was to estimate the respective effect of these four domains on six-month mortality after HF. A retrospective observational study using a monocentric cohort of older patients was conducted. All patients ≥ 70 years old admitted to the emergency department for HF and hospitalized in our perioperative geriatric care unit from June 2009 to September 2018 were included. Among 1015 included patients, five (0.5%) were lost to follow-up, and 1010 were retained in the final analysis (mean age 86 ± 6 years). The six-month mortality rate was 14.8%. The six-month attributable mortality estimates were as follows: baseline characteristics (including age, gender, comorbidities, autonomy, type of fracture): 62.4%; co-existing acute illnesses (including acute events present before surgery that could result from the fracture or cause it): 0% (not significantly associated with six-month mortality); perioperative factors (including blood transfusion and delayed surgery): 12.3%; severe postoperative complications: 11.9%. Baseline characteristics explained less than two-thirds of the six-month mortality after HF. Optimizing patients care by improving management of perioperative factors and thus decreasing postoperative complications, could reduce by a maximum of one quarter of the six-month mortality rate after HF.

Blood product needs and transfusion timelines for the multisite massive Paris 2015 terrorist attack: A retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Hemorrhage is the leading cause of death after terrorist attack, and the immediacy of labile blood product (LBP) administration has a decisive impact on patients' outcome. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the transfusion patterns of the Paris terrorist attack victims, November 13, 2015. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis including all casualties admitted to hospital, aiming to describe the transfusion patterns from admission to the first week after the attack. RESULTS: Sixty-eight of 337 admitted patients were transfused. More than three quarters of blood products were consumed in the initial phase (until November 14, 11:59 PM), where 282 packed red blood cell (pRBC) units were transfused along with 201 plasma and 25 platelet units, to 55 patients (16% of casualties). Almost 40% of these LBPs (134 pRBC, 73 plasma, 8 platelet units) were transfused within the first 6 hours after the attack. These early transfusions were massive transfusion (MT) for 20 (6%) of 337 patients, and the average plasma/red blood cell ratio was 0.8 for MT patients who received 366 (72%) of 508 LBPs.The median time from admission to pRBC transfusion was 57 (25-108) minutes and 208 (52-430) minutes for MT and non-MT patients, respectively. These same time intervals were 119 (66-202) minutes and 222 (87-381) minutes for plasma and 225 (131-289) minutes and 198 (167-230) minutes for platelets. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that improving transfusion procedures in mass casualty setting should rely more on shortening the time to bring LBP to the bedside than in increasing the stockpile. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiological study, Therapeutic IV.

Procalcitonin and C-Reactive Protein for Bacterial Infection Diagnosis in Elderly Patients After Traumatic Orthopedic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Biomarkers prove valuable for diagnosing postoperative bacterial infection, but data in elderly patients are scarce. Here we analyze how procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP) perform for bacterial infection diagnosis after traumatic orthopedic surgery in elderly patients. METHODS: We included all patients admitted to our perioperative geriatrics unit after traumatic orthopedic surgery. Patients on antibiotics, presenting preoperative bacterial infection, or without procalcitonin measurement were excluded. Clinical and biological data were collected prospectively. Medical charts were reviewed by three experts blinded to biomarker results to assess bacterial infection diagnosis. Areas under the curve and 90%-specificity thresholds were analyzed for baseline procalcitonin and CRP levels and relative variations. RESULTS: Analysis included 229 patients (median age 86 years, hip fracture 83%), of which 40 had bacterial infection (pneumonia [n = 23], urinary tract infection [n = 8]; median delay to onset: 2 days post-admission). For bacterial infection diagnosis, the computed areas under the curve were not significantly different (procalcitonin-baseline 0.64 [95% confidence interval: 0.57-0.70]; procalcitonin-relative variation 0.65 [0.59-0.71]; CRP-baseline 0.68 [0.61-0.74]; CRP-relative variation 0.70 [0.64-0.76]). The 90%-specificity thresholds were 0.75 µg/L for procalcitonin-baseline, +62% for procalcitonin-variation, 222 mg/L for CRP-baseline, +111% for CRP-variation. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic performances of procalcitonin and CRP were not significantly different. Baseline levels and relative variations of these biomarkers showed little diagnostic value after traumatic orthopedic surgery in elderly patients.