Hyperactive delirium during emergency department stay: analysis of risk factors and association with short-term outcomes.

To investigate factors related to the development of hyperactive delirium in patients during emergency department (ED) stay and the association with short-term outcomes. A secondary analysis of the EDEN (Emergency Department and Elderly Needs) multipurpose multicenter cohort was performed. Patients older than 65 years arriving to the ED in a calm state and who developed confusion and/or psychomotor agitation requiring intravenous/intramuscular treatment during their stay in ED were assigned to delirium group. Patients with psychiatric and epileptic disorders and intracranial hemorrhage were excluded. Thirty-four variables were compared in both groups and outcomes were adjusted for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Barthel Index and polypharmacy. Hyperactive delirium that needed treatment were developed in 301 out of 18,730 patients (1.6%). Delirium was directly associated with previous episodes of delirium (OR: 2.44, 95% CI 1.24-4.82), transfer to the ED observation unit (1.62, 1.23-2.15), chronic treatment with opiates (1.51, 1.09-2.09) and length of ED stay longer than 12 h (1.41, 1.02-1.97) and was indirectly associated with chronic kidney disease (0.60, 0.37-0.97). The 30-day all-cause mortality was 4.0% in delirium group and 2.9% in non-delirium group (OR: 1.52, 95% CI 0.83-2.78), need for hospitalization 25.6% and 25% (1.09, 0.83-1.43), in-hospital mortality 16.4% and 7.3% (2.32, 1.24-4.35), prolonged hospitalization 54.5% and 48.6% (1.27, 0.80-2.00), respectively, and 90-day post-discharge combined adverse event 36.4% and 35.8%, respectively (1.06, 0.82-2.00). Patients with previous episodes of delirium, treatment with opioids and longer stay in ED more frequently develop delirium during ED stay and preventive measures should be taken to minimize the incidence. Delirium is associated with in-hospital mortality during the index event.

Impact of First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mortality at Emergency Department in Older Patients with COVID and Non-COVID Diagnoses.

INTRODUCTION: Mortality in emergency departments (EDs) is not well known. This study aimed to assess the impact of the first-wave pandemic on deaths accounted in the ED of older patients with COVID and non-COVID diseases. METHODS: We used data from the Emergency Department and Elderly Needs (EDEN) cohort (pre-COVID period) and from the EDEN-COVID cohort (COVID period) that included all patients ≥65 years seen in 52 Spanish EDs from April 1 to 7, 2019, and March 30 to April 5, 2020, respectively. We recorded patient characteristics and final destination at ED. We compared older patients in the pre-COVID period, with older patients with non-COVID and with COVID-19. ED-mortality (before discharge or hospitalization) is the prior outcome and is expressed as an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% interval confidence. RESULTS: We included 23,338 older patients from the pre-COVID period (aged 78.3 [8.1] years), 6,715 patients with non-COVID conditions (aged 78.9 [8.2] years) and 3,055 with COVID (aged 78.3 [8.3] years) from the COVID period. Compared to the older patients, pre-COVID period, patients with non-COVID and with COVID-19 were more often male, referred by a doctor and by ambulance, with more comorbidity and disability, dementia, nursing home, and more risk according to qSOFA, respectively (p < 0.001). Compared to the pre-COVID period, patients with non-COVID and with COVID-19 were more often to be hospitalized from ED (24.8% vs. 44.3% vs. 79.1%) and were more often to die in ED (0.6% vs. 1.2% vs. 2.2%), respectively (p < 0.001). Compared to the pre-COVID period, aOR for age, sex, comorbidity and disability, ED mortality in elderly patients cared in ED during the COVID period was 2.31 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.76-3.06), and 3.75 (95% CI: 2.77-5.07) for patients with COVID. By adding the variable qSOFA to the model, such OR were 1.59 (95% CI: 1.11-2.30) and 2.16 (95% CI: 1.47-3.17), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: During the early first pandemic wave of COVID-19, more complex and life-threatening older with COVID and non-COVID diseases were seen compared to the pre-COVID period. In addition, the need for hospitalization and the ED mortality doubled in non-COVID and tripled in COVID diagnosis. This increase in ED mortality is not only explained by the complexity or severity of the elderly patients but also because of the system's overload.

The Guadalajara Declaration on sepsis: emergency physicians' constructive comments on the Surviving Sepsis Campaign's 2021 updated guidelines. / Declaración de Guadalajara: una visión constructiva desde el servicio de urgencias a partir de la Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2021.

TEXT: The Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) published a 2021 update of its 2016 recommendations. The update was awaited with great anticipation the world over, especially by emergency physicians. Under the framework of the CIMU 2022 (33rd World Emergency Medicine Conference) in Guadalajara, Mexico in March, emergency physiciansreviewed and analyzed the 2021 SSC guidelines from our specialty's point of view. In this article, the expert reviewers present their consensus on certain key points of most interest in emergency settings at this time. The main aims of the review are to present constructive comments on 10 key points and/or recommendations in the SSC 2021 update and to offer emergency physicians' experience- and evidence-based proposals. Secondarily, the review's recommendations are a starting point for guidelines to detect severe sepsis in emergency department patients and prevent progression, which is ultimate goal of what has become known as the Guadalajara Declaration on sepsis.

TEXTO: En noviembre del año 2021, la Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) publicó una actualización de sus recomendaciones y directrices de 2016. Estas fueron recibidas con una enorme expectativa en todo el mundo, especialmente entre los médicos de urgencias y emergencias (MUE). Recientemente, en el marco del CIMU 2022 (33 Congreso Mundial de Medicina de Urgencias celebrado en marzo de 2022 en Guadalajara ­ México) se ha revisado y analizado, desde la perspectiva del MUE, la Guía SSC de 2021. Los expertos que realizaron esa tarea y también consensuaron algunos de los puntos clave que más interesan y preocupan a los MUE en la actualidad han elaborado este documento. Su objetivo principal es analizar de forma constructiva diez de los puntos clave y recomendaciones de la SSC 2021 para complementarlas con argumentos y propuestas desde la experiencia, evidencia y perspectiva del urgenciólogo. Además, de forma secundaria, pretende ser el punto de partida de la elaboración de las guías para detectar, prevenir la progresión y atender a los pacientes con infección grave y sepsis en urgencias, que supone la meta final de lo que desde la MUE ya se conoce como "la Declaración de Guadalajara".

Sociodemographic characteristics, functional status, and health resource use of older patients treated in Spanish emergency departments: a description of the EDEN cohort. / Características sociodemográficas, funcionales y consumo de recursos de la población mayor atendida en los servicios de urgencias españoles: una aproximación desde la cohorte EDEN.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the sociodemographic characteristics of and the health care resources used to treat patients aged 65 years or older who come to hospital emergency departments (EDs) in Spain, according to age groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied the phase-1 data for the EDEN cohort (Emergency Department and Elder Needs). Forty Spanish EDs collected data on all patients aged 65 years or older who were treated on the first 7 days in April 2019. We registered information on 6 sociodemographic and 5 function variables for all patients. For health resource use we used 6 diagnostic, 13 therapeutic, and 5 physical structural variables, for a total of 24 variables. Differences were analyzed according to age in blocks of 5 years. RESULTS: A total of 18 374 patients with a median age of 78 years were included; 55% were women. Twenty-seven percent arrived by ambulance, 71% had not previously been seen by a physician, and 13% lived alone without assistance. Ten percent had a high level of functional dependence, and 14% had serious comorbidity. Resources used most often were blood analysis (in 60%) and radiology (59%), analgesics (25%), intravenous fluids (21%), antibiotics (14%), oxygen (13%), and bronchodilators (11%). Twenty-six percent were kept under observation in the ED, 26% were admitted to wards, and 2% were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). The median stay in the ED was 3.5 hours, and the median hospital stay was 7 days. Sociodemographic characteristics changed according to age. Functional dependence worsened with age, and resource requirements increased in general. However, benzodiazepine use was unaffected, while the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and ICU admission decreased. CONCLUSION: The functional dependence of older patients coming to EDs increases with age and is associated with a high level of health care resource use, which also increases with age. Planners should take into consideration the characteristics of the older patients and the proportion of the caseload they represent when arranging physical spaces and designing processes for a specific ED.

OBJETIVO: Investigar las características sociodemográficas y consumo de recursos de los pacientes de 65 o más años que consultan en servicios de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH) en España, y su modificación por grupos etarios. METODO: Se utilizaron datos de la cohorte EDEN obtenidos en fase 1 (Emergency Department and Elder Needs). Cuarenta SUH españoles incluyeron todos los pacientes de $ 65 años atendidos del 1-4-2019 al 7-4-2019 (7 días). Se analizaron 6 características sociodemográficas, 5 funcionales y 24 referidas a consumo de recursos (6 diagnósticos, 13 terapéuticos, 5 estructurales) y sus cambios a medida que avanza la edad (agrupada en bloques de 5 años). RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 18.374 pacientes (mediana edad: 78 años; 55% mujeres). El 27% acude a urgencias en ambulancia, el 71% sin consulta médica previa y el 13% vive solo sin cuidadores. Funcionalmente, el 10% tiene dependencia grave y el 14% comorbilidad grave. La solicitud de analítica sanguínea (60% de casos) y radiología (59%) destaca entre el consumo de recursos diagnósticos, y el uso de analgésicos (25%), sueroterapia (21%), antibioticoterapia (14%), oxigenoterapia (13%) y broncodilatadores (11%), entre los terapéuticos. El 26% requiere observación en urgencias, el 26% hospitalización y el 2% cuidados intensivos. La mediana de estancia en urgencias es de 3:30 horas y la de hospitalización es de 7 días. Las características sociodemográficas se modifican con la edad, las funcionales empeoran y el consumo de recursos aumenta (excepto benzodiacepinas, que no se modifica, y antinflamatorios no esteroideos y cuidados intensivos, que disminuye). CONCLUSIONES: Las características funcionales de la población mayor que consulta en los SUH empeora a medida que su edad avanza, y se asocia a un consumo de recursos alto que también se incrementa con la edad. Las características de esta población y su proporción en un determinado SUH deben tenerse en cuenta en su planificación estructural y funcional.

The situation of infection in the elderly in Spain: a multidisciplinary opinion document / Situación de la infección en el anciano: un documento multidisciplinar de opinión

Infection in the elderly is a huge issue whose treatment usually has partial and specific approaches. It is, moreover, one of the areas where intervention can have the most success in improving the quality of life of older patients. In an attempt to give the widest possible focus to this issue, the Health Sciences Foundation has convened experts from different areas to produce this position paper on Infection in the Elderly, so as to compare the opinions of expert doctors and nurses, pharmacists, journalists, representatives of elderly associations and concluding with the ethical aspects raised by the issue. The format is that of discussion of a series of pre-formulated questions that were discussed by all those present. We begin by discussing the concept of the elderly, the reasons for their predisposition to infection, the most frequent infections and their causes, and the workload and economic burden they place on society. We also considered whether we had the data to estimate the proportion of these infections that could be reduced by specific programmes, including vaccination programmes. In this context, the limited presence of this issue in the media, the position of scientific societies and patient associations on the issue and the ethical aspects raised by all this were discussed

La infección en los ancianos es un tema enorme que suele recibir enfoques muy específicos pero parciales. Además, es una de las áreas en las que la intervención podría tener más éxito para mejorar la calidad de vida de los pacientes mayores. En un intento de dar el mayor enfoque posible a este tema, la Fundación de Ciencias de la Salud ha convocado a expertos de diferentes áreas para elaborar este documento de opinión sobre la situación de la infección en los ancianos, tratando de comparar las opiniones de médicos expertos, enfermeras, farmacéuticos, periodistas, representantes de asociaciones de ancianos y terminando con los aspectos éticos que plantea el problema. El formato es el de la discusión de una serie de preguntas preformuladas que fueron discutidas entre todos los presentes. Empezamos discutiendo el concepto de "anciano", las razones de la predisposición a la infección, las infecciones más frecuentes y sus causas, y la carga laboral y económica que suponen para la sociedad. También preguntamos si teníamos datos para estimar la proporción de estas infecciones que podrían ser reducidas por programas específicos, incluyendo programas de vacunación. En este contexto, se discutió la baja presencia de este problema en los medios de comunicación, la posición de las asociaciones científicas y de pacientes sobre el problema y los aspectos éticos que todo esto plantea

Comparación de la capacidad de predecir hospitalización y consumo de recursos del Programa de Ayuda al Triaje 3M TAS y el Sistema Español de Triaje - Model Andorrà de Triaje (SET-MAT) / Ability to predict hospitalization and resource requirements: comparison of the 3M Triage Assistance system and the combined Spanish Triage System and Andorran Triage Model

Objetivo: Determinar el grado de concordancia y validez, a la hora de predecir la hospitalización y el consumo de recursos en urgencias, del Sistema de Ayuda al Triaje 3M TAS y su comparación con el Sistema Español de Triaje - Model Andorrà de Triatge (SET-MAT). Método: Estudio observacional de cohortes prospectivo que incluyó de forma consecutiva los episodios filiados de 9 a 22 horas en un servicio de urgencias de un hospital secundario entre el 24 de marzo y el 30 de abril de 2014. Los pacientes se clasificaron de forma enmascarada y simultánea por una enfermera asistencial mediante el programa de ayuda al triaje SET-MAT y por una enfermera de investigación mediante el 3M TAS. Se recogieron variables demográficas, de gravedad, las pruebas de laboratorio, radiológicas e interconsulta a especialistas realizadas en urgencias, el tiempo de estancia y el destino final. Las variables de resultado fueron la hospitalización y el consumo de al menos un recurso en urgencias. Resultados: Se incluyeron 3.379 episodios. El índice de concordancia mediante el kappa ponderado cuadrático entre los sistemas de triaje fue de 0,26 y el kappa triaje de 0,17. El sistema 3M TAS presentó una mayor capacidad predictiva de hospitalización en comparación con el SET-MAT (p < 0,001), no siendo así en lo que respecta al consumo de recursos en urgencias (p = 0,111). Conclusiones: La concordancia entre los sistemas de triaje 3M TAS y SET-MAT fue baja, sin diferencias para predecir el consumo de recursos en urgencias, aunque el 3M TAS predijo mejor ingreso hospitalario que el SET-MAT (AU)

Objective: To determine the validity of 2 triage systems: the 3M Triage Assistance System (3M-TAS) and the combined Spanish Triage System and Andorran Triage Model (SET-MAT) for predicting hospitalization and use of emergency resources; and to estimate the level of agreement between them. Methods: Prospective observational study of consecutive cohorts classified with the studied triage systems in the emergency department (ED) of a secondary-level hospital between March 24 and April 30, 2014. Patients were classified blindly and simultaneously between 9 AM and 10 PM by a clinical nurse using the SET-MAT program and a researcher nurse using the 3M-TAS software. We collected patients’ demographic details and assigned triage level, laboratory and imaging tests ordered, specialist consultations requested in the ED, length of stay until discharge from the department, and destination on discharge. Outcome variables were hospitalization and use of at least 1 resource in the ED. Results: A total of 3379 emergencies were included. The conventionally weighted κ statistic for agreement between the 2 triage systems was 0.26, but the triage-weighted κ was 0.17. The 3M-TAS software was better able to predict hospitalization than the SET-MAT (P <001); however, the 2 systems, predictions of resource usage were similar (P=.111). Conclusions: Agreement between the 3M-TAS and SET-MAT triage systems was poor, although they predicted similar use of resources in the ED. The 3M-TAS was better able to predict hospital admission than the SET-MAT (AU)

[Ability to predict hospitalization and resource requirements: comparison of the 3M Triage Assistance system and the combined Spanish Triage System and Andorran Triage Model]. / Comparación de la capacidad de predecir hospitalización y consumo de recursos del Programa de Ayuda al Triaje 3M TAS y el Sistema Español de Triaje ­ Model Andorrà de Triaje (SET-MAT).

OBJECTIVES: To determine the validity of 2 triage systems: the 3M Triage Assistance System (3M-TAS) and the combined Spanish Triage System and Andorran Triage Model (SET-MAT) for predicting hospitalization and use of emergency resources; and to estimate the level of agreement between them. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective observational study of consecutive cohorts classified with the studied triage systems in the emergency department (ED) of a secondary-level hospital between March 24 and April 30, 2014. Patients were classified blindly and simultaneously between 9 AM and 10 PM by a clinical nurse using the SET-MAT program and a researcher nurse using the 3M-TAS software. We collected patients' demographic details and assigned triage level, laboratory and imaging tests ordered, specialist consultations requested in the ED, length of stay until discharge from the department, and destination on discharge. Outcome variables were hospitalization and use of at least 1 resource in the ED. RESULTS: A total of 3379 emergencies were included. The conventionally weighted κ statistic for agreement between the 2 triage systems was 0.26, but the triage-weighted κ was 0.17. The 3M-TAS software was better able to predict hospitalization than the SET-MAT (P<.001); however, the 2 systems, predictions of resource usage were similar (P=.111). CONCLUSION: Agreement between the 3M-TAS and SET-MAT triage systems was poor, although they predicted similar use of resources in the ED. The 3M-TAS was better able to predict hospital admission than the SET-MAT.

OBJETIVO: Determinar el grado de concordancia y validez, a la hora de predecir la hospitalización y el consumo de recursos en urgencias, del Sistema de Ayuda al Triaje 3M TAS y su comparación con el Sistema Español de Triaje - Model Andorrà de Triatge (SET-MAT). METODO: Estudio observacional de cohortes prospectivo que incluyó de forma consecutiva los episodios filiados de 9 a 22 horas en un servicio de urgencias de un hospital secundario entre el 24 de marzo y el 30 de abril de 2014. Los pacientes se clasificaron de forma enmascarada y simultánea por una enfermera asistencial mediante el programa de ayuda al triaje SET-MAT y por una enfermera de investigación mediante el 3M TAS. Se recogieron variables demográficas, de gravedad, las pruebas de laboratorio, radiológicas e interconsulta a especialistas realizadas en urgencias, el tiempo de estancia y el destino final. Las variables de resultado fueron la hospitalización y el consumo de al menos un recurso en urgencias. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 3.379 episodios. El índice de concordancia mediante el kappa ponderado cuadrático entre los sistemas de triaje fue de 0,26 y el kappa triaje de 0,17. El sistema 3M TAS presentó una mayor capacidad predictiva de hospitalización en comparación con el SET-MAT (p < 0,001), no siendo así en lo que respecta al consumo de recursos en urgencias (p = 0,111). CONCLUSIONES: La concordancia entre los sistemas de triaje 3M TAS y SET-MAT fue baja, sin diferencias para predecir el consumo de recursos en urgencias, aunque el 3M TAS predijo mejor ingreso hospitalario que el SET-MAT.

Ensayo clínico controlado y aleatorizado para evaluar el efecto que tiene la intervención de un farmacéutico especialista en los problemas relacionados con la medicación de pacientes ancianos ingresados en una unidad de corta estancia de urgencias / Efficacy of a reconciliation intervention by a specialized pharmacist to resolve medication-related problems of elderly patients admitted to an emergency department short-stay unit: a randomized clinical trial

Objetivo: Determinar el efecto en los problemas relacionados con la medicación (PRM) de la intervención de un farmacéutico centrada en la conciliación de medicación (CM) en los pacientes 65 años ingresados en una unidad de corta estancia (UCE) vinculada a un servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH). Método: Ensayo clínico controlado y aleatorizado de 17 meses de duración (febrero 2013-junio 2014) realizado en la UCE de un SUH. Se incluyeron pacientes 65 años con alto riesgo de sufrir PRM. Ciento treinta pacientes fueron asignados aleatoriamente a un grupo control (n = 65) o a un grupo de intervención (n = 65). El tipo de intervención realizada fue la CM mediante un farmacéutico especialista. La variable de resultado principal fue la frecuencia de PRM resueltos en ambos grupos. Resultados: Se revisaron un total de 3.081 medicamentos en 130 pacientes con una edad media de 79 (DE 7,6) años, de los cuales 66 (50,8%) fueron hombres. Se registraron discrepancias en 1.901 (61,7%) de los medicamentos. Los grupos control y de intervención no tuvieron diferencias significativas respecto a edad, sexo y número de discrepancias encontradas. Se detectaron un total de 213 PRM, 110 (51,6%) en el grupo control y 103 (48,4%) en el grupo de intervención (p = 0,380). La intervención del farmacéutico redujo los PRM de forma estadísticamente significativa (grupo de intervención 83,5% vs grupo control 26,4%; p < 0,001). Conclusiones: La CM mediante la incorporación de un farmacéutico especialista reduce los PRM de los pacientes ancianos de alto riesgo de PRM ingresados en una UCE (AU)

Objective: To determine the effect on medication-related problems (MRPs) of a process of medication reconciliation carried out by a specialized pharmacist for patients aged 65 years or older admitted to an emergency department short-stay unit (SSU). Methods: Randomized clinical trial of 17 months (February 2013-June 2014) in the SSU of a hospital emergency department. Patients were aged 65 years or older at high risk of MRPs. A total of 130 patients were randomized to a control group (n = 65) or the intervention group (n = 65). The reconciliation process (intervention) was carried out by a specialized pharmacist. The main outcome was the number of MRPs resolved in each group. Results: A total of 3081 medications for 130 patients were reviewed. The patients' mean (SD) age was 79 (7.6) years and 66 (50.8%) were men. Discrepancies affecting 1901 medications (61.7%) were detected. The distributions of age, sex, and number of medication discrepancies were similar in the control and intervention groups. A total of 213 MRPs were detected; 110 (51.6%) were in the control group and 103 (48.4%) in the intervention group (P = .380). Through the pharmacist's reconciliation, significantly more of the MRPs were resolved in the intervention group (83.5%) than in the control group (26.4%) (P < .001). Conclusions: Medication reconciliation by a specialized pharmacist in the emergency department reduces MRPs for at-risk elderly patients in a SSU (AU)

La evolución personal a lo largo del ejercicio profesional / Professional development over the course of a physician's career

No disponible

Gestión de las peticiones de NT-proBNP y procalcitonina mediante reglas computarizadas basadas en criterios clínicos / NT-proBNP and procalcitonin request management using computerized rules based on clinical criteria

Introducción: El péptido natriurético cerebral y su fragmento aminoterminal (NT-proBNP) se secretan en respuesta al incremento de la presión arterial y sobrecarga de volumen. Presenta un elevado valor predictivo negativo para el diagnostico de la insuficiencia cardiaca, correlacionándose con su grado de severidad. La procalcitonina es un biomarcador que aumenta su concentración en el plasma de pacientes sépticos, y permite diferenciar infecciones bacterianas frente a otras etiologías, siendo su concentración proporcional a la gravedad de la sepsis. Ambos biomarcadores presentan un elevado precio, que no hace aconsejable su uso indiscriminado. En el presente trabajo hemos propuesto un protocolo de petición para los 2 biomarcadores, basado en los criterios clínicos, con el fin de filtrar adecuadamente las peticiones a través del sistema informático del laboratorio (SIL). Método: Se diseñaron volantes de petición basados en la guía de la insuficiencia cardiaca de la European Society of Cardiology, para el NT-proBNP y en la guía de la Society of Critical Care Medicine para procalcitonina, puntuándose cada uno de los ítems considerados. Mediante reglas informáticas se excluyeron las peticiones cuya puntuación fuese inferior a un determinado valor. Para ambos biomarcadores se excluyeron aquellas peticiones que no procedían de los servicios clínicos implicados. Resultados: Se solicitaron un total de 140 peticiones para el NT-proBNP y 339 para la procalcitonina. Para la procalcitonina se excluyeron 32 peticiones (4,42%) y para el NT-proBNP 4 peticiones (9,43%). Conclusiones: El diseño de una petición específica para NT-proBNP y procalcitonina es una herramienta eficaz para controlar el gasto (AU)

Background: Type B natriuretic peptide and its N-terminal fragment (NT-proBNP) are secreted in response to an increase in blood pressure and volume overload. NT-proBNP shows a high negative predictive value for heart failure and correlates with the level of severity. Procalcitonin is a biomarker over-expressed in septic patients, which enables bacterial infections to be distinguished from other etiologies, as its concentration is proportional to sepsis severity. Both biomarkers are expensive, thus its indiscriminate use is not advisable. A request protocol based on clinical criteria is presented for both biomarkers, in order to filter the requests using the laboratory informatics system (LIS). Methods: The request forms were designed following the heart failure guidelines of European Society of Cardiology for NT-proBNP, and the guidelines of Society of Critical Care Medicine for procalcitonin, giving a score for each item. Using computerized rules, requests with a score lower than a specific cut-off value were excluded. In addition requests from clinical departments not involved in critical patient care were rejected. Results: A total of 140 requests were received for NT-proBNP, with 339 for procalcitonin. Of these 32 (9.43%) were rejected for procalcitonin, and 4 (2.8%) for NT-proBNP. It can be concluded that the design of a specific request form for NT-proBNP and procalcitonin is an efficient tool for the cost management (AU)

[Efficacy of a reconciliation intervention by a specialized pharmacist to resolve medication-related problems of elderly patients admitted to an emergency department short-stay unit: a randomized clinical trial]. / Ensayo clínico controlado y aleatorizado para evaluar el efecto que tiene la intervención de un farmacéutico especialista en los problemas relacionados con la medicación de pacientes ancianos ingresados en una unidad de corta estancia de urgencias.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect on medication-related problems (MRPs) of a process of medication reconciliation carried out by a specialized pharmacist for patients aged 65 years or older admitted to an emergency department short-stay unit (SSU). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Randomized clinical trial of 17 months (February 2013-June 2014) in the SSU of a hospital emergency department. Patients were aged 65 years or older at high risk of MRPs. A total of 130 patients were randomized to a control group (n = 65) or the intervention group (n = 65). The reconciliation process (intervention) was carried out by a specialized pharmacist. The main outcome was the number of MRPs resolved in each group. RESULTS: A total of 3081 medications for 130 patients were reviewed. The patients' mean (SD) age was 79 (7.6) years and 66 (50.8%) were men. Discrepancies affecting 1901 medications (61.7%) were detected. The distributions of age, sex, and number of medication discrepancies were similar in the control and intervention groups. A total of 213 MRPs were detected; 110 (51.6%) were in the control group and 103 (48.4%) in the intervention group (P = .380). Through the pharmacist's reconciliation, significantly more of the MRPs were resolved in the intervention group (83.5%) than in the control group (26.4%) (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Medication reconciliation by a specialized pharmacist in the emergency department reduces MRPs for at-risk elderly patients in a SSU.

OBJETIVO: Determinar el efecto en los problemas relacionados con la medicación (PRM) de la intervención de un farmacéutico centrada en la conciliación de medicación (CM) en los pacientes 65 años ingresados en una unidad de corta estancia (UCE) vinculada a un servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH). METODO: Ensayo clínico controlado y aleatorizado de 17 meses de duración (febrero 2013-junio 2014) realizado en la UCE de un SUH. Se incluyeron pacientes 65 años con alto riesgo de sufrir PRM. Ciento treinta pacientes fueron asignados aleatoriamente a un grupo control (n = 65) o a un grupo de intervención (n = 65). El tipo de intervención realizada fue la CM mediante un farmacéutico especialista. La variable de resultado principal fue la frecuencia de PRM resueltos en ambos grupos. RESULTADOS: Se revisaron un total de 3.081 medicamentos en 130 pacientes con una edad media de 79 (DE 7,6) años, de los cuales 66 (50,8%) fueron hombres. Se registraron discrepancias en 1.901 (61,7%) de los medicamentos. Los grupos control y de intervención no tuvieron diferencias significativas respecto a edad, sexo y número de discrepancias encontradas. Se detectaron un total de 213 PRM, 110 (51,6%) en el grupo control y 103 (48,4%) en el grupo de intervención (p = 0,380). La intervención del farmacéutico redujo los PRM de forma estadísticamente significativa (grupo de intervención 83,5% vs grupo control 26,4%; p < 0,001). CONCLUSIONES: La CM mediante la incorporación de un farmacéutico especialista reduce los PRM de los pacientes ancianos de alto riesgo de PRM ingresados en una UCE.