Impact of influenza related hospitalization in Spain: characteristics and risk factor of mortality during five influenza seasons (2016 to 2021).

Background: Estimating the global influenza burden in terms of hospitalization and death is important for optimizing prevention policies. Identifying risk factors for mortality allows for the design of strategies tailored to groups at the highest risk. This study aims to (a) describe the clinical characteristics of hospitalizations with a diagnosis of influenza over five flu seasons (2016-2017 to 2020-2021), (b) assess the associated morbidity (hospitalization rates and ICU admissions rate), mortality and cost of influenza hospitalizations in different age groups and (c) analyze the risk factors for mortality. Methods: This retrospective study included all hospital admissions with a diagnosis of influenza in Spain for five influenza seasons. Data were extracted from the Spanish National Surveillance System for Hospital Data from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2021. We identified cases coded as having influenza as a primary or secondary diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, J09-J11). The hospitalization rate was calculated relative to the general population. Independent predictors of mortality were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Over the five seasons, there were 127,160 hospitalizations with a diagnosis of influenza. The mean influenza hospitalization rate varied from 5/100,000 in 2020-2021 (COVID-19 pandemic) to 92.9/100,000 in 2017-2018. The proportion of influenza hospitalizations with ICU admission was 7.4% and was highest in people aged 40-59 years (13.9%). The case fatality rate was 5.8% overall and 9.4% in those aged 80 years or older. Median length of stay was 5 days (and 6 days in the oldest age group). In the multivariable analysis, independent risk factors for mortality were male sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.08-1.20), age (<5 years: OR 1; 5-19 years: OR 2.02, 95%CI 1.17-3.49; 20-39 years: OR 4.11, 95% CI 2.67-6.32; 40-59 years: OR 8.15, 95% CI 5.60-11.87; 60-79 years: OR 15.10, 95% CI 10.44-21.84; ≥80 years: OR 33.41, 95% CI 23.10-48.34), neurological disorder (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.83-2.11), heart failure (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.74-1.96), chronic kidney disease (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.25-1.41), chronic liver disease (OR 2.95, 95% CI 2.68-3.27), cancer (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.48-2.24), coinfection with SARS-CoV2 (OR 3.17, 95% CI 2.34-4.28), influenza pneumonia (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.66-1.86) and admission to intensive care (OR 7.81, 95% CI 7.31-8.36). Conclusion: Influenza entails a major public health burden. People aged over 60-and especially those over 80-show the longest hospital stays. Age is also the most significant risk factor for mortality, along with certain associated comorbidities.

A retrospective real-world study of early short-course remdesivir in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients at high risk for progression: low rate of hospitalization or death, regardless of immunocompetence status.

Introduction: The evidence for remdesivir therapy in immunocompromised patients is scarce. To evaluate remdesivir (RDV) effectiveness and safety in COVID-19 outpatients at high risk for progression in a real-world setting, we compare the outcome in immunocompromised (IC) patients with that in non-immunocompromised patients. Methods: Two hospitals conducted a retrospective study of all adult patients with mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection at high risk for disease progression who were treated as outpatients with a 3-day course of RDV (1st January-30th September 2022). The primary effectiveness endpoint was a composite of any cause of hospitalization or death by day 30. A multiple logistic regression model was built to explore the association between immune status and clinical outcome, estimating adjusted odds ratios [aORs (95% CI)]. Results: We have included 211 patients, of which 57% were males, with a median age of 65 years (IQR 53-77), 70.1% were vaccinated (three or four doses), and 61.1% were IC. The median duration of symptoms before RDV treatment was 3 days (IQR 2-5). During follow-up, 14 (6.6%) patients were hospitalized, of which 6 (2.8%) were hospitalized for COVID-19 progression. No patient required mechanical ventilation, and two patients died (non-COVID-19-related). After accounting for potential confounders, only anti-CD20 treatment was associated with the composed outcome [aOR 5.35 (1.02-27.5, 95% CI)], whereas the immunocompetence status was not [aOR 1.94 (0.49-7.81, 95% CI)]. Conclusion: Early COVID-19 outpatient treatment with a 3-day course of remdesivir in vaccinated patients at high risk for disease progression during the Omicron surge had a good safety profile. It was associated with a low rate of all-cause hospitalization or death, regardless of immunocompetence status.

Severe Spontaneous Hematomas in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics, medical treatment, and outcomes of a case series of severe spontaneous hematoma in COVID-19. Material and Methods. This retrospective study included patients hospitalized for COVID-19 who were diagnosed with severe spontaneous bleeding complications by following a standardized treatment protocol that included computed tomography angiography (CTA) from 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2022. The main outcomes were embolization and all-cause mortality. Baseline variables were analyzed for their association with mortality using bivariable logistic regression, and results were expressed as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: In total, 2450 adults were hospitalized for COVID-19 in our center during the study period. 20 patients presented severe and spontaneous intramuscular bleeding (8.1 per 1000 COVID-19 admission vs. 0.47 per 1000 non-COVID-19 admissions, p < 0.001); their median age was 68.5 years (interquartile range (IQR) 63, 80), they had high comorbidity (median Charlson comorbidity index 4.5), and 95% were receiving high doses of heparin. The median interval from COVID-19 symptoms to bleeding was 17 days (IQR 13, 24), and 70% reported cough as a previous symptom. Hypovolemic shock, hypotension, and abdominal pain were the most frequent symptoms of the hematoma. All presented decreased hemoglobin, and 95% required transfusion. Intramuscular hematoma occurred most frequently in the rectus sheath, iliopsoas compartment, and femoral-iliac compartment. All patients underwent embolization; mortality was 45%. We did not identify risk factors associated with an increased risk of death. Conclusion: Although severe bleeding is an uncommon complication of COVID-19, its prevalence is higher than in inpatients without COVID-19, it usually needs embolization, and it is associated with high mortality.

Mild SARS-CoV-2 infection in vulnerable patients: implementation of a clinical pathway for early treatment.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this report is to describe the clinical pathway for early treatment of patients with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and to evaluate the first results of its implementation. METHODS: This is a descriptive and retrospective study of the implementation of a clinical pathway of treatment in outpatients (January 1 to June 30 2022). Clinical pathway: detection and referral systems from Primary Care, Emergency services, hospital specialities and an automated detection system; clinical evaluation and treatment administration in the COVID-19 day-hospital and subsequent clinical follow-up. Explanatory variables: demographics, comorbidity, vaccination status, referral pathways and treatment administration. OUTCOME VARIABLES: hospitalization and death with 30 days, grade 2-3 toxicity related to treatment. RESULTS: Treatment was administered to 262 patients (53,4% women, median age 60 years). The treatment indication criteria were immunosupression (68,3%), and the combination of age, vaccination status and comorbidity in the rest 47,3% of the patients s received remdesivir, 35,9% nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, 13,4% sotrovimab and 2,4% combined treatment with a median of 4 days after symptom onset. Hospital admission was required for 6,1% of the patients, 3,8% related to progression COVID-19. No patient died. Toxicity grade 2-3 toxicity was reported in 18,7%, 89,8% dysgeusia and metallic tasted related nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. Seven patients discontinued treatment due to toxicity. CONCLUSION: The creation and implementation of a clinical pathway for non-hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection is effective and it allows early accessibility and equity of currently available treatments.

Role of previous systemic antibiotic therapy on the probability of recurrence after an initial episode of Clostridioides difficile infection treated with vancomycin.

Objectives: To investigate the role of previous antibiotic therapy in the risk of recurrence after a Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) treated with vancomycin. Methods: Multicentre observational study. Patients with a CDI episode achieving clinical cure with oral vancomycin and followed up 8 weeks were included. Previous antibiotic exposure up to 90 days was collected. Multivariate analysis of predictors of recurrence adjusted by the propensity score (PS) of being previously treated with each non-CDI antibiotic was performed. Results: Two hundred and forty-one patients were included; 216 (90%) had received systemic antibiotics. Fifty-three patients (22%) had a CDI recurrence. Rates of recurrence were lower in those treated with piperacillin/tazobactam in the last month when compared with those not receiving piperacillin/tazobactam [3 (7%) versus 50 (25%); P = 0.01], whereas higher rates were seen in those treated with cephalosporins in the last month [26/87 (30%) versus 27/154 (17%); P = 0.03]. In multivariate analysis controlled by the inverse probability of treatment weighting by PS, receiving ≥5 days of piperacillin/tazobactam in the last month as the last antibiotic regimen prior to CDI was independently associated with a lower risk of recurrence [adjusted OR (AOR) 0.13; 95% CI: 0.06-0.29; P < 0.0001] whereas exposure for ≥5 days to cephalosporins (versus piperacillin/tazobactam) was associated with an increased risk (AOR 10.9; 95% CI: 4.4-27.1; P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Recent use of piperacillin/tazobactam might be associated with a lower risk of CDI recurrence, while recent use of cephalosporins might promote an increased risk. These findings should be considered when treating hospitalized patients.

[Mild SARS-CoV-2 infection in vulnerable patients: implementation of a clinical pathway for early treatment]. / Infección leve por SARS-CoV-2 en pacientes vulnerables: implantación de una vía clínica de tratamiento precoz.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this report is to describe the clinical pathway for early treatment of patients with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and to evaluate the first results of its implementation. METHODS: This is a descriptive and retrospective study of the implementation of a clinical pathway of treatment in outpatients (January 1 to June 30 2022). Clinical pathway: detection and referral systems from Primary Care, Emergency services, hospital specialities and an automated detection system; clinical evaluation and treatment administration in the COVID-19 day-hospital and subsequent clinical follow-up. Explanatory variables: demographics, comorbidity, vaccination status, referral pathways and treatment administration. OUTCOME VARIABLES: hospitalization and death with 30 days, grade 2-3 toxicity related to treatment. RESULTS: Treatment was administered to 262 patients (53,4% women, median age 60 years). The treatment indication criteria were immunosupression (68,3%), and the combination of age, vaccination status and comorbidity in the rest47,3% of the patients s received remdesivir, 35,9% nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, 13,4% sotrovimab and 2,4% combined treatment with a median of 4 days after symptom onset. Hospital admission was required for 6,1% of the patients, 3,8% related to progression COVID-19. No patient died. Toxicity grade 2-3 toxicity was reported in 18,7%, 89,8% dysgeusia and metallic tasted related nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. Seven patients discontinued treatment due to toxicity. CONCLUSION: The creation and implementation of a clinical pathway for non-hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection is effective and it allows early accessibility and equity of currently available treatments.

Impact of COVID19 pandemic on the incidence of health-care associated Clostridioides difficile infection.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of COVID19 pandemic on the incidence of health-care associated Clostridioides difficile infection (HA-CDI). METHODS: Retrospective study conducted in the Hospital Universitario de Valme (HUV) and the Hospital General Universitario de Alicante (HGUA) in Spain between January 2019 and February 2021. The study period was divided into non-COVID19 period (2019 and months from 2020 to 2021 with ≤30 hospitalized COVID19 patients) and COVID19 period (months from 2020 to 2021 with >30 COVID19 patients). HA-CDI incidence rates (IR) were calculated as the number of new CDI cases per 10.000 occupied bed-days (OBD) and antimicrobial consumption by means of the defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 OBD. RESULTS: During the COVID19 period, HA-CDI IR in the HUV was 2.6 per 10.000 OBD, which was lower than what was observed during the non-COVID19 period (4.1 per 10.000 OBD; p = 0.1). In the HGUA, HA-CDI IR during COVID19 period was 3.9 per 10.000 OBD, which was not significantly different to the IR observed during the non-COVID19 period (3.7 per 10.000 OBD; p = 0.8). There was a slight increase in the total antibiotic consumption during COVID19 period in both hospitals, with significant increases of certain high-risk antibiotics as cephalosporins. CONCLSUSIONS: HA-CDI incidence has not increased during the COVID19 pandemic in two tertiary centers in Spain, in spite of a slightly higher antibiotic consumption during the COVID19 period in both hospitals. These findings suggest that, in the presence of strict infection control measures, hospital antibiotic consumption might have a lower impact than expected on HA-CDI.

Modelo asistencial ambulatorio de alta resolución COVID-A2R: una solución efectiva en el servicio de urgencias para pacientes con COVID-19 y riesgo de evolución desfavorable / Effective fast-track ambulatory care pathway for patients with COVID-19 at risk for poor outcome: the COVID-A2R model in a hospital emergency department

Objetivo. Evaluar la efectividad de un modelo asistencial basado en la derivación desde el servicio de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH) a una consulta presencial precoz de alta resolución (COVID-A2R), para pacientes con infección por SARS-CoV-2 sin insuficiencia respiratoria, pero con factor de riesgo de complicación/deterioro clínico. Método. Cohorte retrospectiva de pacientes remitidos por COVID-19 (RT-PCR) desde el SUH de un hospital terciario a COVID-A2R (7 de enero - 17 de febrero de 2021). Los criterios de inclusión son presencia de alta comorbilidad y elevación de biomarcadores inflamatorios en pacientes sin neumonía, o la presencia de neumonía con elevación de biomarcadores inflamatorios sin insuficiencia respiratoria. La variable de resultado principal fue el no requerimiento de revisita en el SUH con ingreso hospitalario y su distribución temporal. Los objetivos secundarios son la frecuentación en COVID-A2R y el impacto económico potencial. Resultados. Se incluyeron 278 pacientes, edad mediana de 57 años, 57,9% hombres e índice de Charlson de 1. Consultaron en el SUH tras 7 (4-11) días de clínica y un 71,8% de los casos presentaban neumonía. El 64,7% de los pacientes requirió una visita única en COVID-A2R. No se produjo una revisita a urgencias con ingreso en el 87,8% (83,4-91,1) de los pacientes. De los 34 pacientes que ingresaron, el 88,2% lo hizo en menos de 5 días. El ahorro potencial del modelo fue de 1.708 días de ingreso hospitalario. Conclusiones. Un modelo asistencial ambulatorio con una consulta de alta resolución tras el alta de urgencias es efectivo para pacientes con COVID-19 sin insuficiencia respiratoria con marcadores clínicos o analíticos de evolución desfavorable.

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of a care pathway (Spanish acronym, COVID-A2R) through which patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were referred by a hospital emergency department (ED) for fast-track in-person outpatient clinic care if they did not have respiratory insufficiency but were at high risk for complications and poor outcome. Methods. Retrospective cohort of patients referred to the COVID-A2R pathway after being diagnosed with COVID-19 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay in a tertiary care hospital ED between January 7 and February 17, 2021. The inclusion criteria were 1) absence of pneumonia but presence of serious comorbidity and/or elevated biomarkers of inflammation, and 2) pneumonia with or without elevated inflammatory markers but without respiratory insufficiency. The main outcome was need for an emergency department revisit with hospital admission and time from ED evaluation to hospitalization. Secondary outcomes were the number of COVID-A2R visits and the potential economic impact. Results. We included 278 patients with a median age of 57 years (57.9% men) and a median Charlson Comorbidity Index of 1. The median time since onset of symptoms was 7 days (interquartile range, 4–11 days). Pneumonia was diagnosed in 71.8%, and 64.7% required only 1 in-person visit in the COVID-A2R pathway. No revisits to the ED were needed by 87.8% (83.4%–91.1%) of the patients. Of the 34 patients who were hospitalized, 88.2% were admitted within 5 days. The COVID-A2R model potentially saved 1708 days of hospitalization. Conclusion. The fast-track ambulatory care model was effective after emergency department discharge of patients with COVID-19 without respiratory insufficiency but with clinical or laboratory indicators of risk for poor outcome.

Effective fast-track ambulatory care pathway for patients with COVID-19 at risk for poor outcome: the COVID-A2R model in a hospital emergency department. / Modelo asistencial ambulatorio de alta resolución COVID-A2R: una solución efectiva en el servicio de urgencias para pacientes con COVID-19 y riesgo de evolución desfavorable.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of a care pathway (Spanish acronym, COVID-A2R) through which patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were referred by a hospital emergency department (ED) for fast-track in-person outpatient clinic care if they did not have respiratory insufficiency but were at high risk for complications and poor outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort of patients referred to the COVID-A2R pathway after being diagnosed with COVID-19 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay in a tertiary care hospital ED between January 7 and February 17, 2021. The inclusion criteria were 1) absence of pneumonia but presence of serious comorbidity and/or elevated biomarkers of inflammation, and 2) pneumonia with or without elevated inflammatory markers but without respiratory insufficiency. The main outcome was need for an emergency department revisit with hospital admission and time from ED evaluation to hospitalization. Secondary outcomes were the number of COVID-A2R visits and the potential economic impact. RESULTS: We included 278 patients with a median age of 57 years (57.9% men) and a median Charlson Comorbidity Index of 1. The median time since onset of symptoms was 7 days (interquartile range, 4-11 days). Pneumonia was diagnosed in 71.8%, and 64.7% required only 1 in-person visit in the COVID-A2R pathway. No revisits to the ED were needed by 87.8% (83.4%-91.1%) of the patients. Of the 34 patients who were hospitalized, 88.2% were admitted within 5 days. The COVID-A2R model potentially saved 1708 days of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The fast-track ambulatory care model was effective after emergency department discharge of patients with COVID-19 without respiratory insufficiency but with clinical or laboratory indicators of risk for poor outcome.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la efectividad de un modelo asistencial basado en la derivación desde el servicio de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH) a una consulta presencial precoz de alta resolución (COVID-A2R), para pacientes con infección por SARS-CoV-2 sin insuficiencia respiratoria, pero con factor de riesgo de complicación/deterioro clínico. METODO: Cohorte retrospectiva de pacientes remitidos por COVID-19 (RT-PCR) desde el SUH de un hospital terciario a COVID-A2R (7 de enero - 17 de febrero de 2021). Los criterios de inclusión son presencia de alta comorbilidad y elevación de biomarcadores inflamatorios en pacientes sin neumonía, o la presencia de neumonía con elevación de biomarcadores inflamatorios sin insuficiencia respiratoria. La variable de resultado principal fue el no requerimiento de revisita en el SUH con ingreso hospitalario y su distribución temporal. Los objetivos secundarios son la frecuentación en COVID-A2R y el impacto económico potencial. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 278 pacientes, edad mediana de 57 años, 57,9% hombres e índice de Charlson de 1. Consultaron en el SUH tras 7 (4-11) días de clínica y un 71,8% de los casos presentaban neumonía. El 64,7% de los pacientes requirió una visita única en COVID-A2R. No se produjo una revisita a urgencias con ingreso en el 87,8% (83,4-91,1) de los pacientes. De los 34 pacientes que ingresaron, el 88,2% lo hizo en menos de 5 días. El ahorro potencial del modelo fue de 1.708 días de ingreso hospitalario. CONCLUSIONES: Un modelo asistencial ambulatorio con una consulta de alta resolución tras el alta de urgencias es efectivo para pacientes con COVID-19 sin insuficiencia respiratoria con marcadores clínicos o analíticos de evolución desfavorable.

Fatality and risk features for prognosis in COVID-19 according to the care approach - a retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: This study analyzed the impact of a categorized approach, based on patients' prognosis, on major outcomes and explanators in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia in an academic center in Spain. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study (March 3 to May 2, 2020). Patients were categorized according to the followed clinical management, as maximum care or limited therapeutic effort (LTE). Main outcomes were all-cause mortality and need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Baseline factors associated with outcomes were analyzed by multiple logistic regression, estimating odds ratios (OR; 95%CI). RESULTS: Thirty-hundred and six patients were hospitalized, median age 65.0 years, 57.8% males, 53.3% Charlson index ≥3. The overall all-cause fatality rate was 15.0% (n = 46). Maximum care was provided in 238 (77.8%), IMV was used in 38 patients (16.0%), and 5.5% died. LTE was decided in 68 patients (22.2%), none received IMV and fatality was 48.5%. Independent risk factors of mortality under maximum care were lymphocytes <790/mm3, troponin T >15ng/L and hypotension. Advanced age, lymphocytes <790/mm3 and BNP >240pg/mL independently associated with IMV requirement. CONCLUSION: Overall fatality in the cohort was 15% but markedly varied regarding the decided approach (maximum care versus LTE), translating into nine-fold higher mortality and different risk factors.