Implementation of a Cardiogenic Shock Protocol and Data Review Process is Associated With Improved In-Hospital Survival

Background: Despite increasing use of mechanical circulatory support devices (MCS), cardiogenic shock (CS) mortality is persistently high, with worsening outcomes in later stages of CS. Delays in diagnosis and practice variation may contribute to in-hospital mortality. Methods: In June 2018, we devised and implemented a CS protocol at two hospitals from one health system in Portland, OR. The CS protocol was designed to promote early CS recognition, rapid notification of a multi-disciplinary specialty team lead by a heart failure cardiologist, invasive hemodynamic evaluation, and institution of MCS as appropriate. CS was defined by widely accepted clinical and hemodynamic criteria. Patient demographics, disease severity, process metrics, and clinical outcomes were prospectively collected and reviewed monthly by a multi-disciplinary CS task force. M&Ms were conducted routinely to identify improvement opportunities. The task force continually refined data collection, implemented protocol improvements, and educated providers and clinical staff in the emergency department, critical care, intermediate care, and cardiac telemetry units. Education centered on early recognition of CS, protocol for activation, and the time-sensitivity of CS outcomes. Results: From June 1, 2018 to October 1, 2019, identification of CS patients grew from five to 55 patients per month, with 311 total patients identified. Education initially emphasized CS identification and team activation, then expanded to definition of CS stages and hospital-specific protocols. Over 10 months, the CS mortality rate decreased by 30%. Ongoing optimization includes stratifying patients by primary discharge diagnosis, consistently documenting shock stages in the electronic medical record, and refining the transfer process from other hospitals. Conclusions: Implementation of a CS protocol with emphasis on early recognition, hemodynamic assessment, and implementation of MCS is associated with improved survival. Multi-disciplinary education and team engagement in data review are integral to continual process improvement. Character count: 1,818 Clinical Implications: A protocolized, multi-disciplinary approach can improve the outcome of CS

Presentation, diagnosis and clinical course of the spectrum of progressive-fibrosing interstitial lung diseases

Although these conditions are rare, a proportion of patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) may develop a progressive-fibrosing phenotype. Progressive fibrosis is associated with worsening respiratory symptoms, lung function decline, limited response to immunomodulatory therapies, decreased quality of life and, potentially, early death. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis may be regarded as a model for other progressive-fibrosing ILDs. Here we focus on other ILDs that may present a progressive-fibrosing phenotype, namely idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, unclassifiable idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, connective tissue disease-associated ILDs (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis-related ILD), fibrotic chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, fibrotic chronic sarcoidosis and ILDs related to other occupational exposures. Differential diagnosis of these ILDs can be challenging, and requires detailed consideration of clinical, radiological and histopathological features. Accurate and early diagnosis is crucial to ensure that patients are treated optimally

Predictors of Time to Death After Terminal Withdrawal of Mechanical Ventilation in the ICU

Little information exists about the expected time to death after terminal withdrawal of mechanical ventilation. We sought to determine the independent predictors of time to death after withdrawal of mechanical ventilation. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis from a cluster randomized trial of an end-of-life care intervention. We studied 1,505 adult patients in 14 hospitals in Washington State who died within or shortly after discharge from an ICU following terminal withdrawal of mechanical ventilation (August 2003 to February 2008). Time to death and its predictors were abstracted from the patients' charts and death certificates. Predictors included demographics, proxies of severity of illness, life-sustaining therapies, and International Classification of Diseases, 9th ed., Clinical Modification codes. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of the cohort was 71 years (58-80 years), and 44% were women. The median (IQR) time to death after withdrawal of ventilation was 0.93 hours (0.25-5.5 hours). Using Cox regression, the independent predictors of a shorter time to death were nonwhite race (hazard ratio [HR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.01-1.35), number of organ failures (per-organ HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04-1.19), vasopressors (HR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.49-1.88), IV fluids (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01-1.32), and surgical vs medical service (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.06-1.56). Predictors of longer time to death were older age (per-decade HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.90-0.99) and female sex (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Time to death after withdrawal of mechanical ventilation varies widely, yet the majority of patients die within 24 hours. Subsequent validation of these predictors may help to inform family counseling at the end of life.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/85787/1/Cooke - Predictors of time to death after withdrawal.pd

Low Birth Weight and Respiratory Disease in Adulthood: A Population-based Case-Control Study

Rationale: The proportion of low and very low birth weight births is increasing. Infants and children with a history of low and very low birth weight have an increased risk of respiratory illnesses, but it is unknown if clinically significant disease persists into adulthood

Surge effects and survival to hospital discharge in critical care patients with COVID-19 during the early pandemic: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic were fraught with much uncertainty and some resource constraint. We assessed the change in survival to hospital discharge over time for intensive care unit patients with COVID-19 during the first 3 months of the pandemic and the presence of any surge effects on patient outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study using electronic medical record data for all patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to intensive care units from February 25, 2020, to May 15, 2020, at one of 26 hospitals within an integrated delivery system in the Western USA. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and severity of illness were measured along with medical therapies and hospital outcomes over time. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to assess temporal changes in survival to hospital discharge during the study period. RESULTS: Of 620 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU [mean age 63.5 years (SD 15.7) and 69% male], 403 (65%) survived to hospital discharge and 217 (35%) died in the hospital. Survival to hospital discharge increased over time, from 60.0% in the first 2 weeks of the study period to 67.6% in the last 2 weeks. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, the risk-adjusted odds of survival to hospital discharge increased over time (biweekly change, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.22, 95% CI 1.04-1.40, P = 0.02). Additionally, an a priori-defined explanatory model showed that after adjusting for both hospital occupancy and percent hospital capacity by COVID-19-positive individuals and persons under investigation (PUI), the temporal trend in risk-adjusted patient survival to hospital discharge remained the same (biweekly change, aOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.00-1.38, P = 0.04). The presence of greater rates of COVID-19 positive/PUI as a percentage of hospital capacity was, however, significantly and inversely associated with survival to hospital discharge (aOR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.98, P \u3c 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: During the early COVID-19 pandemic, risk-adjusted survival to hospital discharge increased over time for critical care patients. An association was also seen between a greater COVID-19-positive/PUI percentage of hospital capacity and a lower survival rate to hospital discharge

Effects of Nintedanib on Quantitative Lung Fibrosis Score in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

BackgroundNintedanib slows disease progression in patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) by reducing decline in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC). The effects of nintedanib on abnormalities on high-resolution computed tomography scans have not been previously studied.ObjectiveWe conducted a Phase IIIb trial to assess the effects of nintedanib on changes in Quantitative Lung Fibrosis (QLF) score and other measures of disease progression in patients with IPF.Methods113 patients were randomized 1:1 to receive nintedanib 150 mg bid or placebo double-blind for ≥6 months, followed by open-label nintedanib. The primary endpoint was the relative change from baseline in QLF score (%) at month 6. Analyses were descriptive and exploratory.ResultsAdjusted mean relative changes from baseline in QLF score at month 6 were 11.4% in the nintedanib group (n=42) and 14.6% in the placebo group (n=45) (difference 3.2% [95% CI: -9.2, 15.6]). Adjusted mean absolute changes from baseline in QLF score at month 6 were 0.98% and 1.33% in these groups, respectively (difference 0.35% [95% CI: -1.27, 1.96]). Adjusted mean absolute changes from baseline in FVC at month 6 were -14.2 mL and -83.2 mL in the nintedanib (n=54) and placebo (n=54) groups, respectively (difference 69.0 mL [95% CI: -8.7, 146.8]).ConclusionExploratory data suggest that in patients with IPF, 6 months' treatment with nintedanib was associated with a numerically smaller degree of fibrotic change in the lungs and reduced FVC decline versus placebo. These data support previous findings that nintedanib slows the progression of IPF

Defining the pathway to timely diagnosis and treatment of interstitial lung disease: a US Delphi survey

Introduction Timely diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is limited by obstacles in the current patient pathway. Misdiagnosis and delays are common and may lead to a significant burden of diagnostic procedures and worse outcomes. This Delphi survey aimed to identify consensus on the key steps that facilitate the patient journey to an accurate ILD diagnosis and appropriate management in the US.Methods A modified Delphi analysis was conducted, comprising three online surveys based on a comprehensive literature search. The surveys spanned five domains (guidelines, community screening, diagnosis, management and specialist referral) and were completed by a panel of US physicians, including primary care physicians and pulmonologists practising in community or academic settings. A priori definitions of consensus agreement were median scores of 2–3 (agree strongly/agree), with an IQR of 0–1 for questions on a 7-point Likert scale from −3 to 3, or ≥80% agreement for binary questions.Results Forty-nine panellists completed the surveys and 62 statements reached consensus agreement. There was consensus agreement on what should be included in the primary care evaluation of patients with suspected ILD and the next steps following workup. Regarding diagnosis in community pulmonology care, consensus agreement was reached on the requisition and reporting of high-resolution CT scans and the appropriate circumstances for holding multidisciplinary discussions. Additionally, there was consensus agreement on which symptoms and comorbidities should be monitored, the frequency of consultations and the assessment of disease progression. Regarding specialist referral, consensus agreement was reached on which patients should receive priority access to ILD centres and the contents of the referral package.Conclusions These findings clarify the most common issues that should merit further evaluation for ILD and help define the steps for timely, accurate diagnosis and appropriate collaborative specialty management of patients with ILD