Marcadores y seguimiento tras alta de urgencias en neumonías COVID-19 / Biological markers and follow-up after discharge home of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Objetivos: Analizar la evolución de los pacientes que fueron dados de alta del servicio de urgencias (SU) con neumonía compatible con COVID-19. Método: Se realiza el seguimiento de 102 pacientes dados de alta desde SU con diagnóstico de neumonía compatible con COVID-19 entre el 12 y el 21 de marzo de 2020 en un hospital del sur de Madrid. Se describen las principales variables utilizando mediana e intervalo intercuartil o usando frecuencias, según corresponda. La comparación entre tratamientos/pronóstico se realizó utilizando el test ji cuadrado, el test de Kruskal Wallis o el test de Mann-Whitney. Finalmente, se realizó un modelo de regresión logística. Resultados: La mayoría de los pacientes (74,5%) fueron tratados con hidroxicloroquina en monoterapia. La tasa de reingreso fue de 15,7% y de revisita a urgencias de 25,7%. El ingreso se relacionó con un LDL (lactato deshidrogena-sa) elevado (p = 0,011), creatincinasa (CK) elevada (p = 0,004) y linfopenia (p = 0,034). La hipertensión y la enferme-dad pulmonar obstructiva crónica se relacionaron con el ingreso, y la cardiopatía isquémica fue la comorbilidad que se asoció a mayor duración de la sintomatología. Conclusión: La linfopenia, LDH y CK pronosticaron mejor la necesidad de ingreso que otros marcadores clásicos en pacientes con clínica leve-moderada. El seguimiento telefónico demostró ser de utilidad ante la sobrecarga de recursos sanitarios. (AU)

Background and objective: We aimed to analyze the clinical course of patients discharged from our emergency departament (ED) with pneumonia symptoms compatible with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Methods: We followed 102 patients discharged home with a diagnosis of pneumonia compatible with COVID19 between March 12 and 21, 2020, in our hospital in the southern part of the autonomous community of Madrid. Descriptive statistics (medians and interquartile ranges or frequencies, as appropriate) were compiled for the main variables. Treatments and prognoses were compared with c2, Kruskal–Wallis, or Mann–Whitney tests. The data then underwent logistic regression analysis. Results: Most patients (accounting for 74.5% of the discharges) were treated with hydroxychloroquine alone. The readmission rate was 15.7%; the ED revisiting rate was 25.7%. Admission was associated with an elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (P=.011), elevated creatine kinase (CK) (P=.004), and lymphopenia (P=.034). Hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were also related to admission. Ischemic heart disease was associated with longer duration of symptoms. Conclusions: Lymphopenia, and elevated LDH and CK levels predicted the need for hospital admission better than other traditional biological markers in patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Telephone follow-up proved useful for dealing with the overloading of health care services. (AU)

Biological markers and follow-up after discharge home of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. / Marcadores y seguimiento tras alta de urgencias en neumonías COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyze the clinical course of patients discharged from our emergency departament (ED) with pneumonia symptoms compatible with a diagnosis of COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We followed 102 patients discharged home with a diagnosis of pneumonia compatible with COVID19 between March 12 and 21, 2020, in our hospital in the southern part of the autonomous community of Madrid. Descriptive statistics (medians and interquartile ranges or frequencies, as appropriate) were compiled for the main variables. Treatments and prognoses were compared with 􀁆2, Kruskal-Wallis, or Mann-Whitney tests. The data then underwent logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Most patients (accounting for 74.5% of the discharges) were treated with hydroxychloroquine alone. The readmission rate was 15.7%; the ED revisiting rate was 25.7%. Admission was associated with an elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (P=.011), elevated creatine kinase (CK) (P=.004), and lymphopenia (P=.034). Hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were also related to admission. Ischemic heart disease was associated with longer duration of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Lymphopenia, and elevated LDH and CK levels predicted the need for hospital admission better than other traditional biological markers in patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Telephone follow-up proved useful for dealing with the overloading of health care services.

OBJETIVO: Analizar la evolución de los pacientes que fueron dados de alta del servicio de urgencias (SU) con neumonía compatible con COVID-19. METODO: Se realiza el seguimiento de 102 pacientes dados de alta desde SU con diagnóstico de neumonía compatible con COVID-19 entre el 12 y el 21 de marzo de 2020 en un hospital del sur de Madrid. Se describen las principales variables utilizando mediana e intervalo intercuartil o usando frecuencias, según corresponda. La comparación entre tratamientos/pronóstico se realizó utilizando el test ji cuadrado, el test de Kruskal Wallis o el test de Mann-Whitney. Finalmente, se realizó un modelo de regresión logística. RESULTADOS: La mayoría de los pacientes (74,5%) fueron tratados con hidroxicloroquina en monoterapia. La tasa de reingreso fue de 15,7% y de revisita a urgencias de 25,7%. El ingreso se relacionó con un LDL (lactato deshidrogenasa) elevado (p = 0,011), creatincinasa (CK) elevada (p = 0,004) y linfopenia (p = 0,034). La hipertensión y la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica se relacionaron con el ingreso, y la cardiopatía isquémica fue la comorbilidad que se asoció a mayor duración de la sintomatología. CONCLUSIONES: La linfopenia, LDH y CK pronosticaron mejor la necesidad de ingreso que otros marcadores clásicos en pacientes con clínica leve-moderada. El seguimiento telefónico demostró ser de utilidad ante la sobrecarga de recursos sanitarios.

Development of the Conceptualization of Pain Questionnaire: A Measure to Study How Children Conceptualize Pain.

(1) Background: Research has shown that thoughts about pain are important for the management of chronic pain in children. In order to monitor changes in thoughts about pain over time and evaluate the efficacy of treatments, we need valid and reliable measures. The aims of this study were to develop a questionnaire to assess a child's concept of pain and to evaluate its psychometric properties; (2) Methods: This is a cross-sectional, two-phase, mixed-method study. A total of 324 individuals aged 8 to 17 years old responded to the newly created questionnaire. The Conceptualization of Pain Questionnaire (COPAQ) was calibrated using the Rasch model. The chi-square test was used for the fit statistics. Underfit and overfit of the model were determined and a descriptive analysis of infit and outfit was conducted to identify who responded erratically. Internal consistency was measured using the Person Separation Index (PSI); (3) Results: Fit to the Rasch model was good. Suitable targeting indicated which items were simple to answer; Person Fit identified 9.56% children who responded erratically; PSI = 0.814; (4) Conclusions: The findings suggest that COPAQ is a measure of a child's concept of pain that is easy to administer and respond to. It has a good fit and a good internal consistency.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol increase and non-cardiovascular mortality: a meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Many observational prospective studies have confirmed the inverse relationship between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and coronary heart disease. However, the potential benefit of the pharmacological increase in HDL cholesterol has not been clearly demonstrated. Moreover, in some interventions an increase in total mortality has been reported. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the relationship between HDL cholesterol increase and non-cardiovascular mortality in randomised trials. DATA SOURCES: Authors searched Medline up to December 2008. STUDY SELECTION: Four reviewers identified randomised trials in which, through different types of interventions, HDL cholesterol increase in the treatment group was >4% compared to control group, both groups reported separately non-cardiovascular mortality and the duration of the study was, at least, one year. DATA EXTRACTION: Data of HDL cholesterol concentrations and deaths were collected as they appeared in the original studies. If necessary, reviewers calculated data by using trial information. RESULTS: Meta-regression analysis included 44 articles corresponding to 107 773 participants. Analysis showed an association between HDL cholesterol increase and non-cardiovascular mortality (p=0.023), however, the correlation disappeared when we excluded the ILLUMINATE (Investigation of Lipid Level Management to Understand its Impact in Atherosclerosis Events) trial from the analysis (p=0.972). CONCLUSIONS: Meta-regression analysis results suggest that increases in HDL cholesterol up to 40% are not associated with higher non-cardiovascular death. The increase in adverse events observed in some trials where HDL cholesterol was raised in large amounts could be related with the drug mechanisms more than the HDL cholesterol increase itself.

Association between joint hypermobility syndrome and panic disorder: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: A significant association between joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS) and panic disorder was observed in a sample of rheumatology outpatients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess whether JHS is more frequent in panic-disorder than in control subjects. METHOD: The authors conducted a case-control study comparing 55 untreated patients with panic disorder and three matched-control groups: psychiatric patients, fibromyalgia patients, and healthy persons. RESULTS: JHS was more frequent among panic-disorder than among psychiatric patients, the healthy group, or the fibromyalgia group. In the panic-disorder group, there was a significant correlation between severity of JHS and anxiety. CONCLUSION: The strong association between JHS and panic disorder points to a genetic association. There is also a possibility that JHS and mitral valve prolapse, another condition frequently associated with panic disorder, share a common pathophysiological mechanism.