Utilization of spontaneous breathing trial, objective cough test, and diaphragmatic ultrasound results to predict extubation success: COBRE-US trial.

BACKGROUND: The results of clinical and weaning readiness tests and the spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) are used to predict the success of the weaning process and extubation. METHODS: We evaluated the capacity of the cuff leak test, rate of rapid and shallow breathing, cough intensity, and diaphragmatic contraction velocity (DCV) to predict the success of the SBT and extubation in a prospective, multicenter observational study with consecutive adult patients admitted to four intensive care units. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to assess the tests' predictive capacity and built predictive models using logistic regression. RESULTS: We recruited 367 subjects who were receiving invasive mechanical ventilation and on whom 456 SBTs were performed, with a success rate of 76.5%. To predict the success of the SBT, we derived the following equation: (0.56 × Cough) - (0.13 × DCV) + 0.25. When the cutoff point was ≥ 0.83, the sensitivity was 91.5%, the specificity was 22.1%, and the overall accuracy was 76.2%. The area under the ROC curve (AUC-ROC) was 0.63. To predict extubation success, we derived the following equation: (5.7 × SBT) + (0.75 × Cough) - (0.25 × DCV) - 4.5. When the cutoff point was ≥ 1.25, the sensitivity was 96.8%, the specificity was 78.4%, and the overall accuracy was 91.5%. The AUC-ROC of this model was 0.91. CONCLUSION: Objective measurement of cough and diaphragmatic contraction velocity could be used to predict SBT success. The equation for predicting successful extubation, which includes SBT, cough, and diaphragmatic contraction velocity values, showed excellent discriminative capacity.

Risk factors and outcomes of lower respiratory tract infections after traumatic brain injury: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a public health problem with a high burden in terms of disability and death. Infections are a common complication, with respiratory infections being the most frequent. Most available studies have addressed the impact of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) after TBI; therefore, we aim to characterize the hospital impact of a broader entity, lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). Methods: This observational, retrospective, single-center cohort study describes the clinical features and risk factors associated with LRTIs in patients with TBI admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). We used bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions to identify the risk factors associated with developing LRTI and determine its impact on hospital mortality. Results: We included 291 patients, of whom 77% (225/291) were men. The median (IQR) age was 38 years (28-52 years). The most common cause of injury was road traffic accidents 72% (210/291), followed by falls 18% (52/291) and assault at 3% (9/291). The median (IQR) Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission was 9 (6-14), and 47% (136/291) were classified as severe TBI, 13% (37/291) as moderate TBI, and 40% (114/291) as mild TBI. The median (IQR) injury severity score (ISS) was 24 (16-30). Nearly 48% (141/291) of patients presented at least one infection during hospitalization, and from those, 77% (109/141) were classified as LRTIs, which included tracheitis 55% (61/109), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) 34% (37/109), and hospital-acquired pneumoniae (HAP) 19% (21/109). After multivariable analysis, the following variables were significantly associated with LRTIs: age (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.01-1.2), severe TBI (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1-6.9), AIS thorax (OR 1.4, 95 CI 1.1-1.8), and mechanical ventilation on admission (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.1-13.5). At the same time, hospital mortality did not differ between groups (LRTI 18.6% vs. No LRTI 20.1%, p = 0.7), and ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS) were longer in the LRTI group (median [IQR] 12 [9-17] vs. 5 [3-9], p < 0.01) and (median [IQR] 21 [13-33] vs. 10 [5-18], p = 0.01), respectively. Time on the ventilator was longer for those with LRTIs. Conclusion: The most common site/location of infection in patients with TBI admitted to ICU is respiratory. Age, severe TBI, thoracic trauma, and mechanical ventilation were identified as potential risk factors. LRTI was associated with prolonged ICU, hospital stay, and more days on a ventilator, but not with mortality.

Prevalence, incidence, and severity associated with viral respiratory tract infections in Colombian adults before the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory illness (ARI) remains the leading cause of global morbidity. Its primary etiology is viral; nevertheless, viral pathogen identification is limited. Clinical information about Latin America's viral etiology, outcomes, and severity is unknown. This study aims to identify the clinical burden of respiratory viral infections, severity, and adult outcomes. METHODS: This multicentric, population-based study was conducted through the Health Institute of Bogotá, Colombia, including adult patients diagnosed with ARI between 2013 and 2019. Data collection followed ARI public health surveillance program. Incidence, etiological pathogens, and mortality were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 2304 patients were included in the study. ARI was most frequently reported in 2018 (23.3% [538/2304]). Incidence varies between years, maintaining a range between 3.5 and 8.4. The most frequent clinical diagnosis was pneumonia in 59.1%. Etiological viral detection was obtained in 21.5% of patients [495/2304], principally by Influenza A. Mortality was 21.8%, and ICU admission was 7.3%. The type of event did not predict the causative pathogen, disease severity, or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: ARI is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Colombia. ARI incidence varies per year and is caused mainly by Influenza A. The classification used in the surveillance program does not correlate with viral etiology, disease severity, and mortality.

Validación de la escala europea de autocuidado en la falla cardiaca / Validation of the European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale

Resumen Introducción: La falla cardiaca es una enfermedad frecuente, con exacerbaciones relacionadas con la capacidad para seguir las indicaciones médicas Objetivo: Se pretende determinar la confiabilidad y la validez interna de una escala de autocuidado en la ciudad de Bogotá, Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal, en el que se exportaron los registros de los pacientes del programa de falla cardiaca, se identificaron las características generales de los ítems de la escala, fueron transformados a valores de 0 - 100 y se estimó la confiabilidad por el coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach (> 0,7) así como la validez interna por coeficiente de correlación intraclase para las medidas únicas y el promedio (p < 0,05). Resultados : Se revisaron 144 registros, el sexo femenino aportó el 30,6%; la hipertensión arterial el 54,9%, la fibrilación auricular el 35% y las alteraciones del funcionamiento tiroideo el 31%, fueron las comorbilidades más frecuentes; solo el 9,2% se encontraba con clase funcional baja; la escala mostró apropiados valores de confiabilidad y validez interna, el puntaje total de autocuidado se encontró en 48,30; los ítems con puntaje más alto fueron ''me vacuno contra la gripe todos los años'' (61,19 puntos) y ''me peso cada día'' (60,04 puntos); los ítems con puntaje más bajo fueron ''tomo toda la medicación como me han indicado'' (29,66 puntos), y ''realizo dieta baja en sal'' (38,59 puntos). Conclusiones : La escala de autocuidado demostró apropiadas la confiabilidad y la validez para la determinación del autocuidado en los pacientes con falla cardiaca en la ciudad de Bogotá, Colombia; se requieren estudios adicionales que permitan determinar la validez concurrente con otros instrumentos y diseños prospectivos.

Abstract Introduction: Heart failure is a frequent condition, with exacerbations related to the ability to follow medical indications. Objetive: The goal is to determine the reliability and internal validity of a self-care scale in the Colombian city of Bogotá. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study. Te registers of the heart failure program were exported, general characteristics of the scale items were identified, they were transformed into 0-100 values and Cronbach's alpha coefficient (>0.7) was estimated, as well as the internal validity by intraclass correlation coefficient for unique measurements and the average (p < 0.05). Results: 144 registers were reviewed, 30.6% of whom were female; most common comorbidities were arterial hypertension with 54.9%, atrial fibrillation with 35% and alterations of the thyroid function with 31%; only 9.2% presented low functional class. The scale showed appropriate confidence and internal validity values, the total self-care score was 48.30. Items with the highest score were ''I get a flu shot every year'' (61.19 points) and ''I weigh myself every day'' (60.04 points); items with the lowest score were ''I take all medication as instructed'' (29.66 points) and ''I follow a low-salt diet'' (38.59 points). Conclusions: The self-care scale revealed appropriate confidence and internal validity for determining self-care in patients with heart failure in the city of Bogotá, Colombia. Further research is required to determine the concurrent validity with other instruments and prospective designs.