Utility of Combining High-Sensitive Cardiac Troponin I and PESI Score for Risk Management in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary embolism (PE) has a major burden of morbidity and mortality, consequently the need for a prompt risk stratification for these subjects is crucial. In order to evaluate the risk management and final disposition of patients with PE in the Emergency Department (ED), we conducted a study that was divided in two phases: Phase I retrospective study (RS), Phase II prospective study (PS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In Phase I, 291 patients were enrolled while in Phase II, 83 subjects were evaluated. In both study phases, the enrolled subjects were analyzed for final disposition in ED using PESI score, right ventricle (RV) imaging, and high-sensitive cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) data. The RS patients were divided into low risk and high risk according to the sPESI score, while PS patients were grouped in low, intermediate, and high risk classes according to PESI score. In both study phases, all the studied patients were further divided into negative (hs-cTnI-) or positive (hs-cTnI+) groups according to hs-cTnI levels within normal or above cutoff values, respectively. For all enrolled subjects, CT pulmonary angiography was analyzed to assess the RV/LV diameter and volume ratio as an indicator of RV involvement. RESULTS: In both RS and PS phases, hs-cTnI+ group showed a higher PESI score. Nevertheless, a significant percentage of hs-cTnI+ patients resulted to be in the low-risk PESI class. Patients with a positive RV/LV ratio were more likely to have a hs-cTnI+ (p < 0.01), while among those with a negative ratio, 24 to 32% showed as hs-cTnI+. In the hs-cTnI+ group from both study phases, patients were more likely to be admitted in an ICU (RR 3.7, IC: 2.1-6.5). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, in patients with PE in the ED compared PESI score alone, the combination of hs-cTnI and PESI seems to be of greater utility in improving risk stratification and final disposition decision-making.

Utility of Measuring Circulating Bio-Adrenomedullin and Proenkephalin for 30-Day Mortality Risk Prediction in Patients with COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Interstitial Pneumonia in the Emergency Department.

Background and Objectives: In order to accelerate the risk stratification of patients referred to the Emergency Department (ED) with interstitial pneumonia, it could be useful to provide new and effective laboratory tests for use. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic role of two biomarkers, bio-adrenomedullin (Bio-ADM) and proenkephalin (penKid), in patients with interstitial pneumonia (IP) at ED admission. Materials and Methods: In 153 consecutive patients with IP, both from COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 etiology, we measured, in a prospective observational manner, penKid and Bio-ADM at ED admission and after 24 h. In order to evaluate patient outcomes, 30-day follow-ups were also performed. The endpoints were 24 h, 10-day, and 30-day mortality. Results: Both biomarkers were shown to be good predictors of adverse events at 30 days, with Bio-ADM outperforming penKid. Bio-ADM was linked with 24 h and 10-day patient mortality. Moreover, PenKid was related to parameters defining worsening kidney function. Conclusions: Both in patients with COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 interstitial pneumonia at ED admission, Bio-ADM and penKid were good predictors of patient mortality. To evaluate these two biomarkers could be considered to be useful during the first evaluation in the ED when integrated with clinical scores.

Usefulness of High-Sensitivity Troponin I in Risk Stratification and Final Disposition of Patients with Acute Heart Failure in the Emergency Department: Comparison between HFpEF vs. HFrEF.

Background and Objectives: In patients with acute heart failure (AHF), there is no definite evidence on the relationship between high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTnI) and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) comparing the reduced and preserved EF conditions. Materials and Methods: Between January and April 2022, we retrospectively analyzed the data from 386 patients admitted to the emergency departments (ED) of five hospitals in Rome, Italy, for AHF. The criteria for inclusion were a final diagnosis of AHF; a cardiac ultrasound and hs-cTnI evaluations in the ED; and age > 18 yrs. We excluded patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Based on echocardiography and hs-cTnI evaluations, the patients were grouped for (1) preserved (HFpEF) or (2) reduced LVEF (HFrEF) and a a) negative (within the normal range value) or b) positive (above the normal range value) of hs-cTnI, respectively. Results: There was a significant negative relationship between a positive test for hs-cTnI and LVEF. When compared to the group with a negative hs-cTnI test, the patients with a positive test, both from the HFpEF and HFrEF subgroups, were significantly more likely to have an adverse outcome, such as being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) or dying in the ED. Moreover, a reduced ejection fraction was linked with a final disposition to a higher level of care. Conclusions: In patients admitted to the ED for AHF without ACS, there is a negative relationship between hs-cTnI and a reduced LVEF, although a significant percentage of patients with a preserved LVEF also resulted to have high levels of hs-cTnI. In the absence of ACS, hs-cTnI seems to be a reliable biomarker of myocardial injury in AHF in the ED and should be considered as a risk stratification parameter for these subjects regardless of the left ventricular function. Further larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data.

In-hospital mortality in the emergency department: clinical and etiological differences between early and late deaths among patients awaiting admission.

OBJECTIVE: Given that there are no studies on diseases that occur by waiting for hospitalization, we aimed to evaluate the main causes of death in the emergency room (ER) and their relationship with overcrowding. METHODS: Patients who died in the ER in the past 2 years (pediatrics and trauma victims excluded) were divided into two groups: patients who died within 6 hours of arrival (emergency department [ED] group) and patients who died later (LD group). We compared the causes of death, total vital signs, diagnostic tests performed, and therapy between the groups. We assessed for possible correlation between the number of monthly deaths per group and four variables of overcrowding: number of patients treated per month, waiting time before medical visit (W-Time), mean intervention time (I-Time), and number of patients admitted to the ward per month (NPA). RESULTS: During the two years, 175 patients had died in our ER (52% in ED group and 48% in LD group). The total time spent in the ER was, respectively, 2.9±0.2 hours for ED group and 17.9± 1.5 hours for LD group. The more frequent cause of death was cardiovascular syndrome (30%) in ED group and sepsis (27%) and acute respiratory failure (27%) in LD group. Positive correlations between number of monthly deaths and W-Time (R2 0.51, P<0.001), I-Time (R2 0.73, P< 0.0001), and NPA (R2 0.37, P<0.01) were found only in LD group. CONCLUSION: Patients with sepsis and acute respiratory failure die after a long stay in the ER, and the risk increases with overcrowding. A fast-track pathway should be considered for hospital admission of critical patients.

O potencial transformador do comum em saúde / The transformative potential of health as a Commons / El potencial transformador de lo común en salud

RESUMO A Itália foi um dos países participantes do projeto de pesquisa-ação multicêntrica do Movimento pela Saúde dos Povos (Peoples's Health Movement), chamado 'Engajamento da Sociedade Civil para a Saúde para Todos' (Civil Society Engagement for Health for All). A equipe italiana, um coletivo chamado Grup-pa, realizou várias atividades participativas de pesquisa-ação, incluindo, em uma primeira fase, um mapeamento de grupos ativos em áreas ligadas à determinação social da saúde e à promoção da saúde, através de entrevistas individuais e coletivas. Em uma segunda fase, três oficinas públicas, estruturadas em torno do intercâmbio de práticas, focalizaram-se em temas-chave surgidos durante a primeira fase. Um importante construto originado deste trabalho, centrado em torno da co-construção do conhecimento experiencial do comum em saúde, foi denominado 'práticas do comum em saúde'. O foco nas práticas não é meramente estratégico (produzir sinergias e alianças), mas inerentemente político (conceber a participação como um valor) e ligado à saúde e à manutenção da saúde (dos indivíduos; da comunidade). O conceito de 'práticas do comum em saúde' pretende tornar visível uma área de transformações contínuas em novos espaços criados pelos movimentos sociais e em ações mais tradicionais em defesa dos serviços públicos existentes, abordando a saúde como uma questão sociopolítica. Neste ensaio, esboça-se uma reflexão em torno de seis palavras-chave que lhe são centrais: comum, cuidado, tecnologia, eficácia, sustentabilidade, instituição.

ABSTRACT Italy was a participating country in the People's Health Movement multi-centred action-research project (Civil Society Engagement for Health for All). The Italian team, a collective named Grup-pa, undertook several participatory action-research activities including, in a first phase, a mapping of groups active in fields linked to the social determination of health and health promotion, through individual and collective interviews. In a second phase, three public workshops, structured around the exchange of practices, focused on key themes emerged from phase one. A major construct originated from this work, centred around the co-construction of experiential knowledge on health as a commons, has been named 'health commons practices'. The focus on practices is not merely strategic (producing synergies and alliances), but inherently political (conceiving participation as a value) and connected to health and staying healthy (as individuals; as a community). The construct of 'health commons practices' is meant to make visible an area of ongoing transformations in new spaces created by movements and in more traditional actions in defence of existing public services, addressing health as a socio-political issue. In this essay, we sketch the reflection around six keywords that are central to it: commons, care, technology, efficacy, sustainability, institution.

RESUMEN Italia fue uno de lo países que participó en el proyecto de investigación-acción multicentrico (Compromiso de la Sociedad Civil para la Salud para Todos) del People's Health Movement (Movimiento para la Salud de los Pueblos). El grupo italiano, un colectivo llamado Grup-pa, llevó a cabo varias actividades de investigación-acción participativas incluyendo, en una primera fase, un mapeo de los grupos activos en ámbitos vinculados a la determinación social de la salud y la promoción de la salud, mediante entrevistas individuales y colectivas. En una segunda fase, se organizaron tres talleres públicos, estructurados alrededor del intercambio de prácticas, se centraron en temas clave surgidos en la primera fase. Un constructo importante originado en este trabajo, centrado en la co-construcción de los conocimientos experienciales sobre salud en común, ha sido denominado 'prácticas de lo común en salud'. El enfoque en las prácticas no es meramente estratégico (para la producción de sinergias y alianzas), sino intrínsecamente político (concibiendo la participación como un valor) y conectado con la salud y el mantenerse saludable (sea individualmente que como comunidad). La construcción de 'prácticas de lo común en salud' pretende hacer visible un área de transformaciones que se están gestando en nuevos espacios creados por los movimientos y en acciones más tradicionales en defensa de los servicios públicos existentes, abordando la salud como una cuestión sociopolítica. En este ensayo, esbozamos la reflexión en torno a seis palabras clave que son centrales para ella: común, cuidado, tecnología, eficacia, sostenibilidad, institución.

O potencial transformador do comum em saúde / The transformative potential of health as a Commons / El potencial transformador de lo común en salud

RESUMO A Itália foi um dos países participantes do projeto de pesquisa-ação multicêntrica do Movimento pela Saúde dos Povos (Peoples's Health Movement), chamado 'Engajamento da Sociedade Civil para a Saúde para Todos' (Civil Society Engagement for Health for All). A equipe italiana, um coletivo chamado Grup-pa, realizou várias atividades participativas de pesquisa-ação, incluindo, em uma primeira fase, um mapeamento de grupos ativos em áreas ligadas à determinação social da saúde e à promoção da saúde, através de entrevistas individuais e coletivas. Em uma segunda fase, três oficinas públicas, estruturadas em torno do intercâmbio de práticas, focalizaram-se em temas-chave surgidos durante a primeira fase. Um importante construto originado deste trabalho, centrado em torno da co-construção do conhecimento experiencial do comum em saúde, foi denominado 'práticas do comum em saúde'. O foco nas práticas não é meramente estratégico (produzir sinergias e alianças), mas inerentemente político (conceber a participação como um valor) e ligado à saúde e à manutenção da saúde (dos indivíduos; da comunidade). O conceito de 'práticas do comum em saúde' pretende tornar visível uma área de transformações contínuas em novos espaços criados pelos movimentos sociais e em ações mais tradicionais em defesa dos serviços públicos existentes, abordando a saúde como uma questão sociopolítica. Neste ensaio, esboça-se uma reflexão em torno de seis palavras-chave que lhe são centrais: comum, cuidado, tecnologia, eficácia, sustentabilidade, instituição.

ABSTRACT Italy was a participating country in the People's Health Movement multi-centred action-research project (Civil Society Engagement for Health for All). The Italian team, a collective named Grup-pa, undertook several participatory action-research activities including, in a first phase, a mapping of groups active in fields linked to the social determination of health and health promotion, through individual and collective interviews. In a second phase, three public workshops, structured around the exchange of practices, focused on key themes emerged from phase one. A major construct originated from this work, centred around the co-construction of experiential knowledge on health as a commons, has been named 'health commons practices'. The focus on practices is not merely strategic (producing synergies and alliances), but inherently political (conceiving participation as a value) and connected to health and staying healthy (as individuals; as a community). The construct of 'health commons practices' is meant to make visible an area of ongoing transformations in new spaces created by movements and in more traditional actions in defence of existing public services, addressing health as a socio-political issue. In this essay, we sketch the reflection around six keywords that are central to it: commons, care, technology, efficacy, sustainability, institution.

RESUMEN Italia fue uno de lo países que participó en el proyecto de investigación-acción multicentrico (Compromiso de la Sociedad Civil para la Salud para Todos) del People's Health Movement (Movimiento para la Salud de los Pueblos). El grupo italiano, un colectivo llamado Grup-pa, llevó a cabo varias actividades de investigación-acción participativas incluyendo, en una primera fase, un mapeo de los grupos activos en ámbitos vinculados a la determinación social de la salud y la promoción de la salud, mediante entrevistas individuales y colectivas. En una segunda fase, se organizaron tres talleres públicos, estructurados alrededor del intercambio de prácticas, se centraron en temas clave surgidos en la primera fase. Un constructo importante originado en este trabajo, centrado en la co-construcción de los conocimientos experienciales sobre salud en común, ha sido denominado 'prácticas de lo común en salud'. El enfoque en las prácticas no es meramente estratégico (para la producción de sinergias y alianzas), sino intrínsecamente político (concibiendo la participación como un valor) y conectado con la salud y el mantenerse saludable (sea individualmente que como comunidad). La construcción de 'prácticas de lo común en salud' pretende hacer visible un área de transformaciones que se están gestando en nuevos espacios creados por los movimientos y en acciones más tradicionales en defensa de los servicios públicos existentes, abordando la salud como una cuestión sociopolítica. En este ensayo, esbozamos la reflexión en torno a seis palabras clave que son centrales para ella: común, cuidado, tecnología, eficacia, sostenibilidad, institución.