A novel cardiac arrest severity score for the early prediction of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and in-hospital death.

INTRODUCTION: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes are unsatisfactory despite postcardiac arrest care. Early prediction of prognoses might help stratify patients and provide tailored therapy. In this study, we derived and validated a novel scoring system to predict hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) and in-hospital death (IHD). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed Korean Hypothermia Network prospective registry data collected from in Korea between 2015 and 2018. Patients without neuroprognostication data were excluded, and the remaining patients were randomly divided into derivation and validation cohorts. HIBI was defined when at least one prognostication predicted a poor outcome. IHD meant all deaths regardless of cause. In the derivation cohort, stepwise multivariate logistic regression was conducted for the HIBI and IHD scores, and model performance was assessed. We then classified the patients into four categories and analyzed the associations between the categories and cerebral performance categories (CPCs) at hospital discharge. Finally, we validated our models in an internal validation cohort. RESULTS: Among 1373 patients, 240 were excluded, and 1133 were randomized into the derivation (n = 754) and validation cohorts (n = 379). In the derivation cohort, 7 and 8 predictors were selected for HIBI (0-8) and IHD scores (0-11), respectively, and the area under the curves (AUC) were 0.85 (95% CI 0.82-0.87) and 0.80 (95% CI 0.77-0.82), respectively. Applying optimum cutoff values of ≥6 points for HIBI and ≥7 points for IHD, the patients were classified as follows: HIBI (-)/IHD (-), Category 1 (n = 424); HIBI (-)/IHD (+), Category 2 (n = 100); HIBI (+)/IHD (-), Category 3 (n = 21); and HIBI (+)/IHD (+), Category 4 (n = 209). The CPCs at discharge were significantly different in each category (p < 0.001). In the validation cohort, the model showed moderate discrimination (AUC 0.83, 95% CI 0.79-0.87 for HIBI and AUC 0.77, 95% CI 0.72-0.81 for IHD) with good calibration. Each category of the validation cohort showed a significant difference in discharge outcomes (p < 0.001) and a similar trend to the derivation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: We presented a novel approach for assessing illness severity after OHCA. Although external prospective studies are warranted, risk stratification for HIBI and IHD could help provide OHCA patients with appropriate treatment.

Prognostic value of ambulation ability with albumin and C-reactive protein to predict 28-day mortality in elderly sepsis patients: a retrospective multicentre registry-based study.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a series of organ failures caused by dysregulated responses to infection. Risk factors for sepsis are multiple comorbidities, a poor nutrition status, and limited mobility. The primary purpose of the study was to determine whether ambulation ability with albumin and C-reactive protein are predictive of 28-day mortality of elderly patients with sepsis. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study using a multicentre-based registry of elderly patients between November 2016 and February 2017. The inclusion criteria were a patient ≥65 years and a diagnosis of sepsis and exclusion criteria were a patient with covariates of ambulation ability such as central nervous system diseases, or malignancy. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of prediction models were calculated and compared. The survival rates according to the ambulation ability were estimated and compared by the log-rank test. RESULTS: 2291 patients ≥65 years visited with infectious diseases. 496 subjects with central nervous system diseases, 710 subjects with malignancy and 817 subjects with a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score ≤ 1 were excluded. Ultimately, 278 subjects were included in the primary analysis. 133 (47.8%) subjects were male and the median age was 78 years. 228 (82%) subjects could ambulate independently before morbidity and 28 (10.1%) subjects expired in 28 days. In the inability to ambulate and C-reactive protein to albumin ratio model, the area under the curve predicting 28-day mortality was 0.761 with no significant difference from the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (0.859, p = 0.097) and the estimated survival rate on 28th day according to the ability to ambulate showed a significant difference (hazard ratio = 1.212, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The premorbid ambulation ability with albumin and C-reactive protein can be combined to predict 28-day mortality in elderly patients with sepsis.

Factors related to the serious adverse events in patients visiting the emergency department after ChAdOx1 and mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the clinical characteristics, outcomes and factors related to the serious adverse events (AEs) of patients visiting the emergency department (ED) with various AEs after ChAdOx1 and mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. METHODS: Patients with AEs who visited the ED between March 2021 and September 2021 were selected from three EDs. The clinical data of these patients were collected by retrospectively reviewing medical records. Serious adverse events (AEs) were defined as any adverse medical events that led to hospital admission. RESULTS: A total of 3572 patients visited the ED with AEs; 69.6% were administered mRNA vaccines, and the median (IQR) age was 48 (31-63) years. Regarding chief complaints, chest pain/discomfort (43.7%) was most common in the mRNA vaccines group, while fever (15.8%) was more commonly presented in the ChAdOx1 group. Most patients (93.9%) were discharged from the ED. In multivariate analysis, age ≥70 years, days from vaccination to ED visit ≥8 days, fever and dyspnea as chief complaints were higher independent risk factors for serious AEs (OR 27.94, OR 2.55, OR 1.95 and OR 2.18: p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.003 and p = 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION: Most patients who visited the ED with AEs after vaccination were discharged from the ED regardless of the type of vaccine. Emergency physicians need to differentiate serious AEs and consider factors that may require admission to the ED.

Evaluation of cut-off values in acute paracetamol overdose following the United Kingdom guidelines.

BACKGROUND: The United Kingdom guideline for acute paracetamol overdose has recommended the use of '100-treatment line'. Emergency medical centers in some developing countries lack the resources for timely reporting of paracetamol concentrations, hence treatment depends on reported dose. This study aimed to examine whether using an reported dose is safe to predict concentration above the 100-line. METHODS: Data were retrieved from two emergency medical centers retrospectively, between 2010 and 2017. The inclusion criteria were single acute paracetamol overdose, presentation within 15 h, and age ≥ 14 years. Multiple linear regression was performed to determine the effect of ingested dose on paracetamol concentration. Subgroups were created based on ingested dose, rate of concentration above 100-line were investigated. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-two patients were enrolled in the primary analysis; median dose was 133.3 mg/kg and 46 (37.8%) had concentration above 100-line in the first test. Only dose per weight was moderately correlated with the first concentration (R2 = 0.410, p < 0.001). In the ≤200 mg/kg ingestion group, 18 patients showed concentration above 100-line and 8 showed acute liver injury. The cut-off value of 150 mg/kg showed 82.6% sensitivity and 73.8% specificity to predict concentration above 100-line. CONCLUSION: Where paracetamol concentration is not available and activated charcoal is readily used, following United Kingdom guideline, it is safe to use an ingested dose of > 150 mg/kg as the cut-off value for N-acetylcysteine treatment with risk stratification for hepatotoxicity if the patient is ≥14 years and visit the ED within 15 h after an acute paracetamol overdose.

Prolonged Length of Stay in the Emergency Department and Mortality in Critically Ill Elderly Patients with Infections: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed at investigating whether the length of stay (LOS) in the emergency department (ED) is associated with mortality in elderly patients with infections admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Delayed admission to the ICU may be associated with adverse clinical outcomes in elderly patients with infections. METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted with subjects over 65 years of age admitted to the ICU from 5 EDs. We recorded demographic data, clinical findings, initial laboratory results, and ED LOS. Outcomes were all-cause in-hospital mortality and hospital LOS. A multivariable regression model was applied to identify factors predictive of mortality. RESULTS: A total of 439 patients admitted to the ICU via the ED were included in this study, 132 (30.1%) of whom died in the hospital. The median (IQR) age was 78 (73, 83) years. In multivariable analysis, a history of malignancy (OR: 3.76; 95% CI: 1.88-7.52; p < 0.001), high lactate level (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.01-1.27; p=0.039), and ED LOS (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00-1.02; p=0.039) were independent risk factors for all-cause in-hospital admission. Elderly patients with an ED LOS >12 hours had a longer hospital LOS (p=0.018), and those with an ED LOS > 24 hours had a longer hospital LOS and higher mortality rate (p=0.044, p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that prolonged ED LOS is independently associated with all-cause in-hospital mortality in elderly patients with infections requiring ICU admission. ED LOS should be considered in strategies to prevent adverse outcomes in elderly patients with infections who visit the ED.

Intravenous zoletil administration for the purpose of suicide.

Zoletil is a combination of tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride used as a veterinary anesthetic. Although zoletil abuse is widely known, zoletil poisoning for the purpose of suicide is very rare. We present a case of a 39-year-old man who attempted suicide by intravenously injecting a large amount of zoletil, resulting in decreased mental status and severe respiratory depression. Intubation and mechanical ventilation were applied. After 30 hours in the hospital, all symptoms of poisoning improved. Because zoletil can cause severe respiratory depression, close observation and aggressive securement of an airway is mandatory.

The qSOFA score combined with the initial red cell distribution width as a useful predictor of 30 day mortality among older adults with infection in an emergency department.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate whether the qSOFA and initial red cell distribution width (RDW) in the emergency department (ED) are associated with mortality in older adults with infections who visited the ED. METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted in 5 EDs between November 2016 and February 2017. We recorded age, sex, comorbidities, body temperature, clinical findings, and initial laboratory results, including the RDW. The initial RDW values and the qSOFA criteria were obtained at the time of the ED visit. The primary outcome was 30 day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 1,446 patients were finally included in this study, of which 134 (9.3%) died within 30 days and the median (IQR) age was 77 (72, 82) years. In the multivariable analysis, the RDW (14.0-15.4%) and highest RDW (> 15.4%) quartile were shown to be independent risk factors for 30 day mortality (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.12-4.02; p = 0.021) (OR 3.35; 95% CI 1.83-6.13; p < 0.001). The patients with qSOFA 2 and 3 were shown to have the high odds ratios of 30-day mortality (OR 3.50; 95% CI 2.09-5.84; p < 0.001) (OR 11.30; 95% CI 5.06-25.23; p < 0.001). The qSOFA combined with the RDW quartile for the prediction of 30 day mortality showed an AUROC value of 0.710 (0.686-0.734). CONCLUSION: The qSOFA combined with the initial RDW value was associated with 30-day mortality among older adults with infections in the ED. The initial RDW may help emergency physicians predict mortality in older adults with infections visiting the ED.

Efficacy of blood urea nitrogen and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as predictors of mortality among elderly patients with genitourinary tract infections: A retrospective multicentre study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether initial blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the emergency department (ED) are associated with mortality in elderly patients with genitourinary tract infections. METHODS: A total of 541 patients with genitourinary tract infections in 5 EDs between November 2016 and February 2017 were included and retrospectively reviewed. We assessed age, sex, comorbidities, vital signs, and initial laboratory results, including BUN, NLR and the SOFA criteria. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: The nonsurvivor group included 32 (5.9%) elderly patients, and the mean arterial pressure (MAP), NLR and BUN were significantly higher in this group than in the survivor group (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, MAP <70 mmHg, NLR ≥23.8 and BUN >28 mg/dl were shown to be independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality (OR 3.62, OR 2.51, OR 2.76: p = 0.002, p = 0.033, p = 0.038, respectively). Additionally, NLR ≥23.8 and BUN >28 were shown to be independent risk factors for mortality in admitted elderly with complicated UTI (p = 0.030, p = 0.035). When BUN and NLR were combined with MAP, the area under the ROC curve (AUROC) value was 0.807 (0.771-0.839) for the prediction of mortality, the sensitivity was 87.5% (95% CI 71.0-96.5), and the specificity was 61.3% (95% CI 56.9-65.5%). CONCLUSION: The initial BUN and NLR values with the MAP were good predictors associated with all-cause in-hospital mortality among elderly genitourinary tract infections visiting the ED.

Analysis of attempted suicide episodes presenting to the emergency department: comparison of young, middle aged and older people.

BACKGROUND: Attempted suicide remains difficult for clinicians to predict with some established risk factors. We investigate the detailed characteristics of attempted suicide especially according to age and methods of suicide attempts. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate patients who visited the emergency department due to attempted suicide. A retrospective medical record review of all patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) of two tertiary teaching hospitals in Korea after suicide attempt between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2017 was performed. Demographic information and detailed variables (methods and reasons of suicide attempts and variables regarding reattempts) were investigated. Total participants were classified into 3 groups according to age, young group, middle aged group and the older group, and each characteristics were compared. RESULTS: A total of 3698 patients were enrolled in this study. Deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) was the most common method of attempted suicide (66.5%) followed by cutting (24.4%), hanging (7.9%), falling (2.6%), and drowning (1.1%). In patients who had previous suicide attempts (n = 1029, 27.8%), attempted methods were likely to be concordant with previous attempted methods. The most common reason for suicide attempts was interpersonal relationship issues followed by socio-economic reasons. Older patients (n = 412, 11.2%) were significantly different from other 2 groups (n = 3286, 88.8%) regarding gender, suicide re-attempt, occupation, alcohol co-ingestion, previous psychiatric history, and discharge outcomes (all p-values < 0.001). Especially, in older patients, use of critical method and reason of physical illness were more common. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that people who attempted suicide might have different sociodemographic and clinical factors depending on age group. Depending on age, it is necessary to apply additional suicide intervention programs in different ways.