Functional Decline Over 1-year Follow-up in a Multicenter Cohort of Polypathological Patients: A New Approach to Functional Prognostication

SummaryBackgroundLittle is known about the fitness of the available tools in predicting functional decline of polypathological patients (PPs). Our objective was to assess accuracy of the Triage Risk Screening Tool (TRST), the Variable Indicative of Placement risk (VIP) and to develop a specific functional prognostic index adjusted to this population in a multicenter cohort of hospital-based PP.MethodsProspective 12-month follow-up study of PPs from 36 hospitals. Functional decline was defined as loss of ≥20 points on Barthel’s index (BI). Accuracy of TRST/VIP was assessed by calibration/discrimination tests. Development of the new score was performed by dividing into a derivation cohort (constructing the index by logistic regression), and a validation cohort (in which calibration/discrimination of the index were tested).ResultsNine hundred and fifty-eight patients from the 1632 included survived during follow-up. Basal/12-month BI was 85/70, respectively. Mean fall in BI score was 11.7±24 points [353 (36.8%) fell by ≥20 points]. The activities for daily living that declined most frequently were toilet use, grooming, dressing and bathing. TRST/VIP fitted well but their discrimination power was poor (area under the curve=0.49 and 0.46, respectively). A simplified PROFUNCTION index was derived containing seven items (≥85 years, neurological condition, osteoarticular disease, III–IV functional class of dyspnea, ≥4 polypathology categories, basal BI<60, and social problems). Functional decline risk ranged from 21% to 24% in the lowest risk group (0 items) to 38–46% in the highest (4–7 items). Calibration as well as discrimination power (area under the curve=0.56–0.59) of this simplified index were good.ConclusionWe developed and validated a new functional prognostic index specifically focused on these patients with better discrimination power than other tools available

SARS-CoV-2 viral load in nasopharyngeal swabs is not an independent predictor of unfavorable outcome

The aim was to assess the ability of nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load at frst patient’s hospital evaluation to predict unfavorable outcomes. We conducted a prospective cohort study including 321 adult patients with confrmed COVID-19 through RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs. Quantitative Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA cycle threshold values were used to calculate the viral load in log10 copies/mL. Disease severity at the end of follow up was categorized into mild, moderate, and severe. Primary endpoint was a composite of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and/or death (n= 85, 26.4%). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load over the second quartile (≥7.35 log10 copies/mL, p = 0.003) and second tertile (≥ 8.27 log10 copies/mL, p = 0.01) were associated to unfavorable outcome in the unadjusted logistic regression analysis. However, in the fnal multivariable analysis, viral load was not independently associated with an unfavorable outcome. Five predictors were independently associated with increased odds of ICU admission and/or death: age≥ 70 years, SpO2, neutrophils > 7.5 × ­103 /µL, lactate dehydrogenase≥ 300 U/L, and C-reactive protein≥ 100 mg/L. In summary, nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load on admission is generally high in patients with COVID-19, regardless of illness severity, but it cannot be used as an independent predictor of unfavorable clinical outcome

Prepandemic viral community-acquired pneumonia: Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of nasopharyngeal swabs and performance of clinical severity scores

© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Medical Virology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.The objectives of this work were to assess the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs for viral community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and the performance of pneumonia severity index (PSI) and CURB-65 severity scores in the viral CAP in adults. A prospective observational cohort study of consecutive 341 hospitalized adults with CAP was performed between January 2018 and March 2020. Demographics, comorbidities, symptoms/signs, analytical data, severity scores, antimicrobials, and outcomes were recorded. Blood, NP swabs, sputum, and urine samples were collected at admission and assayed by multiplex real time-PCR, bacterial cultures, and Streptococcus pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila antigens detection, to determine the etiologies and quantify the viral load. The etiology was identified in 174 (51.0%) patients, and in 85 (24.9%) it was viral, the most frequent rhinovirus and influenza virus. The sensitivity of viral detection in sputum (50.7%) was higher than in NP swabs (20.9%). Compared with sputum, the positive predictive value and specificity of NP swabs for viral diagnosis were 95.8% and 96.9%, respectively. Performance of PSI and CURB-65 scores in all CAP with etiologic diagnosis were as expected, with mortality associated with higher values, but they were not associated with mortality in patients with viral pneumonia. NP swabs have lower sensitivity but high specificity for the diagnosis of viral CAP in adults compared with sputum, reinforcing the use NP swabs for the diagnostic etiology work-up. The PSI and CURB-65 scores did not predict mortality in the viral CAP, suggesting that they need to be updated scores based on the identification of the etiological agent.This work was supported by National Plan R + D + I 2013–2016 and Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases [REIPI RD16/0016/0009]; cofinanced by European Development Regional Fund “A way to achieve Europe”, Operative program Intelligent Growth 2014–2020; and supported by the grant PI17/01055 from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. MAG, RAM and JSC [grant number CB21/13/00006] also received support from the CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, cofinanced by the European Development Regional Fund. J.S.C. is a researcher belonging to the program “Nicolás Monardes” (C-0059-2018), Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Junta de Andalucía, Spain.Peer reviewe

Ethnicity and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 in Spain: Results from the Multicenter SEMI-COVID-19 Registry

Background: This work aims to analyze clinical outcomes according to ethnic groups in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Spain. (2) Methods: This nationwide, retrospective, multicenter, observational study analyzed hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 in 150 Spanish hospitals (SEMI-COVID-19 Registry) from 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2021. Clinical outcomes were assessed according to ethnicity (Latin Americans, Sub-Saharan Africans, Asians, North Africans, Europeans). The outcomes were in-hospital mortality (IHM), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and the use of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Associations between ethnic groups and clinical outcomes adjusted for patient characteristics and baseline Charlson Comorbidity Index values and wave were evaluated using logistic regression. (3) Results: Of 23,953 patients (median age 69.5 years, 42.9% women), 7.0% were Latin American, 1.2% were North African, 0.5% were Asian, 0.5% were Sub-Saharan African, and 89.7% were European. Ethnic minority patients were significantly younger than European patients (median (IQR) age 49.1 (40.5-58.9) to 57.1 (44.1-67.1) vs. 71.5 (59.5-81.4) years, p < 0.001). The unadjusted IHM was higher in European (21.6%) versus North African (11.4%), Asian (10.9%), Latin American (7.1%), and Sub-Saharan African (3.2%) patients. After further adjustment, the IHM was lower in Sub-Saharan African (OR 0.28 (0.10-0.79), p = 0.017) versus European patients, while ICU admission rates were higher in Latin American and North African versus European patients (OR (95%CI) 1.37 (1.17-1.60), p < 0.001) and (OR (95%CI) 1.74 (1.26-2.41), p < 0.001). Moreover, Latin American patients were 39% more likely than European patients to use IMV (OR (95%CI) 1.43 (1.21-1.71), p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: The adjusted IHM was similar in all groups except for Sub-Saharan Africans, who had lower IHM. Latin American patients were admitted to the ICU and required IMV more often

Analysis of variability in the training received by residents of internal medicine in Andalusia: Can we improve?

Objetivos: Conocer si existe variabilidad en los programas formativos de los residentes de Medicina Interna ofertados en la Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía y, en su caso, generar un documento de consenso con propuestas para disminuir la misma. Material y métodos Estudio transversal mediante encuestas de opinión a los tutores y residentes de último año de los hospitales andaluces. Resultados: Obtuvimos un porcentaje de participación del 70% de los residentes y del 53% de los tutores. Detectamos gran variabilidad en la duración en determinadas rotaciones consideradas relevantes y que la oferta de algunas era inexistente en unos centros. La proporción de guardias de urgencias frente a las de especialidad osciló del 15 al 72%. Conclusiones: Existe una importante variabilidad en numerosas áreas de formación del residente de Medicina Interna en Andalucía. Creemos que resulta fundamental establecer y desarrollar medidas que permitan mejorar esta situación.Objectives: To know if there is variability in the training programs of residents of Internal Medicine offered in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia and, if appropriate, to generate a consensus document with proposals to reduce it. Material and methods Cross-sectional study through opinion polls of tutors and senior residents of a Andalusian hospitals. Results: We obtained a participation percentage of 70% of the residents and 53% of the tutors. We detected great variability in duration in certain some rotations considered relevant and that the supply of some of them was non-existent in some centers. The proportion of emergency and specialty guards ranged from 15 to 72%. Conclusions: There is an important variability in many areas of training of residents of Internal Medicine in Andalusia. We believe that it is essential to establish and develop measures actions to improve this situation

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation into Spanish of the deprescription questionnaire in the elderly patient

Antecedentes y objetivo: En 2017 se desarrolló un cuestionario en italiano que tenía como objetivo deter minar las percepciones de los clínicos ante la desprescripción en población de edad avanzada. El objetivo fue traducir y adaptar transculturalmente al espanol ˜ este cuestionario de desprescripción. Métodos: Traducción directa y retrotraducción, seguidas de una síntesis y adaptación por un tercer tra ductor. Desarrollo de un panel de expertos para evaluar la adecuación de la traducción, comprensibilidad de la pregunta traducida y utilidad de cada cuestión. Se realizó un análisis de comprensibilidad a médicos familiarizados con la desprescripción. Resultados: Se obtuvo la versión espanola ˜ del cuestionario, donde el grado de dificultad medio en la traducción directa e inversa fue baja/moderada. En la primera fase del panel de expertos 4 preguntas tuvieron apartados considerados «indeterminados» y una fue «dudosa». Tras la segunda fase, todas las cuestiones fueron «adecuadas» a excepción de una. Conclusiones: Se trata de la primera adaptación transcultural al espanol ˜ de este cuestionario, lo que permitirá disponer de una herramienta para valorar la percepción de los clínicos y establecer mejoras en la realización de esta práctica.Background and objective: In 2017, a questionnaire was developed in Italian with the aim of determining clinicians’ perceptions of deprescription in the elderly population. The objective was to translate and cross-culturally adapt this deprescription questionnaire to Spanish. Methods: Forward and blind-back translations, followed by a synthesis and adaptation by a third trans lator. Development of an expert panel to evaluate the adequacy of the translation, the understandability of the translated question and the usefulness of each question. A comprehensibility analysis was carried out on physicians familiar with deprescription. Results: The Spanish version of the questionnaire was obtained, where the average degree of difficulty in the direct and the back-translation was low/moderate. In the first phase of the panel of experts, 4 questions had sections considered “indeterminate” and one question was “doubtful”. After the second phase, all the questions were considered “adequate” except for one. Conclusions: This is the first cross-cultural adaptation to Spanish ofthis questionnaire, which will provide a toolto assess clinicians’ perception ofthis practice and establish improvements to carry outthis activity

Ethnicity and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 in Spain: Results from the Multicenter SEMI-COVID-19 Registry

Background: This work aims to analyze clinical outcomes according to ethnic groups in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Spain. (2) Methods: This nationwide, retrospective, multicenter, observational study analyzed hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 in 150 Spanish hospitals (SEMI-COVID-19 Registry) from 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2021. Clinical outcomes were assessed according to ethnicity (Latin Americans, Sub-Saharan Africans, Asians, North Africans, Europeans). The outcomes were in-hospital mortality (IHM), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and the use of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Associations between ethnic groups and clinical outcomes adjusted for patient characteristics and baseline Charlson Comorbidity Index values and wave were evaluated using logistic regression. (3) Results: Of 23,953 patients (median age 69.5 years, 42.9% women), 7.0% were Latin American, 1.2% were North African, 0.5% were Asian, 0.5% were Sub-Saharan African, and 89.7% were European. Ethnic minority patients were significantly younger than European patients (median (IQR) age 49.1 (40.5–58.9) to 57.1 (44.1–67.1) vs. 71.5 (59.5–81.4) years, p < 0.001). The unadjusted IHM was higher in European (21.6%) versus North African (11.4%), Asian (10.9%), Latin American (7.1%), and Sub-Saharan African (3.2%) patients. After further adjustment, the IHM was lower in Sub-Saharan African (OR 0.28 (0.10–0.79), p = 0.017) versus European patients, while ICU admission rates were higher in Latin American and North African versus European patients (OR (95%CI) 1.37 (1.17–1.60), p < 0.001) and (OR (95%CI) 1.74 (1.26–2.41), p < 0.001). Moreover, Latin American patients were 39% more likely than European patients to use IMV (OR (95%CI) 1.43 (1.21–1.71), p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: The adjusted IHM was similar in all groups except for Sub-Saharan Africans, who had lower IHM. Latin American patients were admitted to the ICU and required IMV more often.10.3390/jcm1107194

A multicenter randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of telemonitoring in patients with advanced heart and lung chronic failure. Study protocol for the ATLAN_TIC project

Abstract Background Using technologies of information and communication (TICs) is emerging in medical assistance. TICs application for medical assistance is promising. Its applicability in advanced heart and/or respiratory failure is still controversial because studies have shown methodological weakness which could put in danger their conclusions. Our objective is to evaluate efficacy of the application of home monitoring biological parameters in a multi-level model of coordinated clinical care for patients with chronic diseases with advanced heart (HF) and/or respiratory failure (RF) in comparison with conventional clinical care. Method /Design: Multicentric, phase III, randomized, parallel groups, controlled clinical trial. Patients with advanced HF and/or RF were eligible to participate. Patients received medical assistance by a multi-level model of coordinated clinical care with or without home monitoring. Follow up was performed until 180 days after inclusion. Primary efficacy outcome was defined as the percentage of patients with hospitalization/emergency room visits. Secondary efficacy outcomes were hospital admissions, admissions to hospital emergencies and Primary Care Emergencies, number of days of hospital stay, total cost per patient in euros, mortality, change in functional status, quality of life, assistance and technology devices. Intention to treat, as well as per protocol, and incremental cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed. The number of recruits patients per arm is set at 255, a total of 510 patients. Discussion This trial could provide some knowledge about the real impact of home monitoring for patients with advanced HF and/or RF within a multi-level model of integrated care

Prepandemic viral community-acquired pneumonia: Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of nasopharyngeal swabs and performance of clinical severity scores

The objectives of this work were to assess the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs for viral community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and the performance of pneumonia severity index (PSI) and CURB-65 severity scores in the viral CAP in adults. A prospective observational cohort study of consecutive 341 hospitalized adults with CAP was performed between January 2018 and March 2020. Demographics, comorbidities, symptoms/signs, analytical data, severity scores, antimicrobials, and outcomes were recorded. Blood, NP swabs, sputum, and urine samples were collected at admission and assayed by multiplex real time-PCR, bacterial cultures, and Streptococcus pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila antigens detection, to determine the etiologies and quantify the viral load. The etiology was identified in 174 (51.0%) patients, and in 85 (24.9%) it was viral, the most frequent rhinovirus and influenza virus. The sensitivity of viral detection in sputum (50.7%) was higher than in NP swabs (20.9%). Compared with sputum, the positive predictive value and specificity of NP swabs for viral diagnosis were 95.8% and 96.9%, respectively. Performance of PSI and CURB-65 scores in all CAP with etiologic diagnosis were as expected, with mortality associated with higher values, but they were not associated with mortality in patients with viral pneumonia. NP swabs have lower sensitivity but high specificity for the diagnosis of viral CAP in adults compared with sputum, reinforcing the use NP swabs for the diagnostic etiology work-up. The PSI and CURB-65 scores did not predict mortality in the viral CAP, suggesting that they need to be updated scores based on the identification of the etiological agent.Premio Mensual Publicación Científica Destacada de la US. Facultad de Medicin

Evolution of the Use of Corticosteroids for the Treatment of Hospitalised COVID-19 Patients in Spain between March and November 2020 SEMI-COVID National Registry

Objectives: Since the results of the RECOVERY trial, WHO recommendations about the use of corticosteroids (CTs) in COVID-19 have changed. The aim of the study is to analyse the evolutive use of CTs in Spain during the pandemic to assess the potential influence of new recommendations. Material and methods: A retrospective, descriptive, and observational study was conducted on adults hospitalised due to COVID-19 in Spain who were included in the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry from March to November 2020. Results: CTs were used in 6053 (36.21%) of the included patients. The patients were older (mean (SD)) (69.6 (14.6) vs. 66.0 (16.8) years; p < 0.001), with hypertension (57.0% vs. 47.7%; p < 0.001), obesity (26.4% vs. 19.3%; p < 0.0001), and multimorbidity prevalence (20.6% vs. 16.1%; p < 0.001). These patients had higher values (mean (95% CI)) of C-reactive protein (CRP) (86 (32.7–160) vs. 49.3 (16–109) mg/dL; p < 0.001), ferritin (791 (393–1534) vs. 470 (236–996) µg/dL; p < 0.001), D dimer (750 (430–1400) vs. 617 (345–1180) µg/dL; p < 0.001), and lower Sp02/Fi02 (266 (91.1) vs. 301 (101); p < 0.001). Since June 2020, there was an increment in the use of CTs (March vs. September; p < 0.001). Overall, 20% did not receive steroids, and 40% received less than 200 mg accumulated prednisone equivalent dose (APED). Severe patients are treated with higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%. Conclusions: Patients with greater comorbidity, severity, and inflammatory markers were those treated with CTs. In severe patients, there is a trend towards the use of higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%