The impact of ethnic background on ICU care and outcome in sepsis and septic shock - A retrospective multicenter analysis on 17,949 patients

Background: Previous studies have been inconclusive about racial disparities in sepsis. This study evaluated the impact of ethnic background on management and outcome in sepsis and septic shock. Methods: This analysis included 17,146 patients suffering from sepsis and septic shock from the multicenter eICU Collaborative Research Database. Generalized estimated equation (GEE) population-averaged models were used to fit three sequential regression models for the binary primary outcome of hospital mortality. Results: Non-Hispanic whites were the predominant group (n = 14,124), followed by African Americans (n = 1,852), Hispanics (n = 717), Asian Americans (n = 280), Native Americans (n = 146) and others (n = 830). Overall, the intensive care treatment and hospital mortality were similar between all ethnic groups. This finding was concordant in patients with septic shock and persisted after adjusting for patient-level variables (age, sex, mechanical ventilation, vasopressor use and comorbidities) and hospital variables (teaching hospital status, number of beds in the hospital). Conclusion: We could not detect ethnic disparities in the management and outcomes of critically ill septic patients and patients suffering from septic shock. Disparate outcomes among critically ill septic patients of different ethnicities are a public health, rather than a critical care challenge

Variations in end-of-life care practices in older critically ill patients with COVID-19 in Europe

BACKGROUND: Previous studies reported regional differences in end-of-life care (EoLC) for critically ill patients in Europe. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this post-hoc analysis of the prospective multi-centre COVIP study was to investigate variations in EoLC practices among older patients in intensive care units during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. METHODS: A total of 3105 critically ill patients aged 70 years and older were enrolled in this study (Central Europe: n = 1573; Northern Europe: n = 821; Southern Europe: n = 711). Generalised estimation equations were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) to population averages. Data were adjusted for patient-specific variables (demographic, disease-specific) and health economic data (GDP, health expenditure per capita). The primary outcome was any treatment limitation, and 90-day-mortality was a secondary outcome. RESULTS: The frequency of the primary endpoint (treatment limitation) was highest in Northern Europe (48%), intermediate in Central Europe (39%), and lowest in Southern Europe (24%). The likelihood for treatment limitations was lower in Southern than in Central Europe (aOR 0.39; 95%CI 0.21-0.73; p = 0.004), even after multivariable adjustment, whereas no statistically significant differences were observed between Northern and Central Europe (aOR 0.57; 95%CI 0.27-1.22; p = 0.15). After multivariable adjustment, no statistically relevant mortality differences were found between Northern and Central Europe (aOR 1.29; 95%CI 0.80-2.09; p = 0.30) or between Southern and Central Europe (aOR 1.07; 95%CI 0.66-1.73; p = 0.78). CONCLUSION: This study shows a north-to-south gradient in rates of treatment limitation in Europe, highlighting the heterogeneity of EoLC practices across countries. However, mortality rates were not affected by these results. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin

A retrospective cohort study comparing differences in 30-day mortality among critically ill patients aged ≥ 70 years treated in European tax-based healthcare systems (THS) versus social health insurance systems.

In Europe, tax-based healthcare systems (THS) and social health insurance systems (SHI) coexist. We examined differences in 30-day mortality among critically ill patients aged ≥ 70 years treated in intensive care units in a THS or SHI. Retrospective cohort study. 2406 (THS n = 886; SHI n = 1520) critically ill ≥ 70 years patients in 129 ICUs. Generalized estimation equations with robust standard errors were chosen to create population average adjusted odds ratios (aOR). Data were adjusted for patient-specific variables, organ support and health economic data. The primary outcome was 30-day-mortality. Numerical differences between SHI and THS in SOFA scores (6 ± 3 vs. 5 ± 3; p = 0.002) were observed, but clinical frailty scores were similar (> 4; 17% vs. 14%; p = 0.09). Higher rates of renal replacement therapy (18% vs. 11%; p < 0.001) were found in SHI (aOR 0.61 95%CI 0.40-0.92; p = 0.02). No differences regarding intubation rates (68% vs. 70%; p = 0.33), vasopressor use (67% vs. 67%; p = 0.90) and 30-day-mortality rates (47% vs. 50%; p = 0.16) were found. Mortality remained similar between both systems after multivariable adjustment and sensitivity analyses. The retrospective character of this study. Baseline risk and mortality rates were similar between SHI and THS. The type of health care system does not appear to have played a role in the intensive care treatment of critically ill patients ≥ 70 years with COVID-19 in Europe

Red Cell Distribution Width is independently associated with Mortality in Sepsis

none7Background: Mortality in sepsis remains high. Studies in small cohorts have shown that red cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with mortality. The aim of this study was to validate these findings in a large multi-centre cohort. Methods: We conducted this retrospective analysis of the multi-center eICU Collaborative Research Database in 16,423 septic patients. We split the cohort in patients with low (≤15%; n=7,129) and high (&gt;15%; n=9,294) RDW. Univariable and multivariable multilevel logistic regression were used to fit regression models for the binary primary outcome of hospital mortality and the secondary outcome ICU mortality with hospital unit as random effect. Optimal cut-offs were calculated using the Youden-index. Results: Patients with high RDW were more often older than 65 years (57% vs. 50%; p&lt;0.001) and had higher APACHE IV scores (69 vs. 60 pts.; p&lt;0.001). Both hospital- (aOR 1.18 95%CI 1.16-1.20; p&lt;0.001) and ICU-mortality (aOR 1.16 95%CI 1.14-1.18; p&lt;0.001) were associated with RDW as a continuous variable. Patients with high RDW had a higher hospital mortality (20 vs. 9%; aOR 2.63 95%CI 2.38-2.90; p&lt;0.001). This finding persisted after multivariable adjustment (aOR 2.14 95%CI 1.93-2.37; p&lt;0.001) in a multilevel logistic regression analysis. The optimal RDW-cut-off for prediction of hospital mortality was 16%. Conclusion: We found an association of RDW with mortality in septic patients and propose an optimal cut-off value for risk stratification. In a combined model with lactate, RDW shows equivalent diagnostic performance to SOFA score and APACHE IV.openDankl, Daniel; Rezar, Richard; Mamandipoor, Behrooz; Zhou, Zhichao; Wernly, Sarah; Wernly, Bernhard; Osmani, VenetDankl, Daniel; Rezar, Richard; Mamandipoor, Behrooz; Zhou, Zhichao; Wernly, Sarah; Wernly, Bernhard; Osmani, Vene

Left Atrial Ejection Fraction Assessed by Prior Cardiac CT Predicts Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation after Pulmonary Vein Isolation

Assuming that atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with left atrial remodeling and dysfunction, we hypothesize that left atrial and left atrial appendage ejection fractions (LAEF and LAAEF) are useful and may be more sensitive outcome predictors of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Fifty patients who underwent PVI at our institution with available pre-interventional cardiac computed tomography (CT) for procedure planning were included in this retrospective study. The patients were separated into two groups by recurrence and non-recurrence of AF and subgroups of paroxysmal and persistent AF. Semiautomatic volumetric analysis of the left atrium was used to calculate morphological and functional parameters and optimal cut-offs were calculated using the Youden index. LAEF (accuracy 94%, sensitivity 67%) and LAAEF (accuracy 90%, sensitivity 67%) were significantly reduced in patients with AF recurrence (16% vs. 36%, p = 0.00002; 16% vs. 42%, p = 0.000002), and in the subgroup analysis, the functional parameters were independent from AF type (paroxysmal and persistent). With a cut-off of <23% for both LAEF and LAAEF (area under the curve (AUC) 0.94, 95%CI 0.84–0.99 and AUC 0.96, 95%CI 0.86–0.99, respectively), AF recurrence occurred in 77.8%, within a mean follow-up period of 229 days. In conclusion, left atrial function on prior cardiac CT offers useful parameters for predicting AF recurrence after PVI

Regenerative Cardiovascular Therapies: Stem Cells and Beyond

Although reperfusion therapy has improved outcomes, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is still associated with both significant mortality and morbidity. Once irreversible myocardial cell death due to ischemia and reperfusion sets in, scarring leads to reduction in left ventricular function and subsequent heart failure. Regenerative cardiovascular medicine experienced a boost in the early 2000s when regenerative effects of bone marrow stem cells in a murine model of AMI were described. Translation from an animal model to stem cell application in a clinical setting was rapid and the first large trials in humans suffering from AMI were conducted. However, high initial hopes were early shattered by inconsistent results of randomized clinical trials in patients suffering from AMI treated with stem cells. Hence, we provide an overview of both basic science and clinical trials carried out in regenerative cardiovascular therapies. Possible pitfalls in specific cell processing techniques and trial design are discussed as these factors influence both basic science and clinical outcomes. We address possible solutions. Alternative mechanisms and explanations for effects seen in both basic science and some clinical trials are discussed here, with special emphasis on paracrine mechanisms via growth factors, exosomes, and microRNAs. Based on these findings, we propose an outlook in which stem cell therapy, or therapeutic effects associated with stem cell therapy, such as paracrine mechanisms, might play an important role in the future. Optimizing stem cell processing and a better understanding of paracrine signaling as well as its effect on cardioprotection and remodeling after AMI might improve not only AMI research, but also our patients&#8217; outcomes

Cardiovascular Risk Assessment by SCORE2 Predicts Risk for Colorectal Neoplasia and Tumor-Related Mortality

OBJECTIVES The European Society of Cardiology endorsed SCORE2 to assess cardiovascular risk. The aim of this observational, retrospective study was to assess whether SCORE2 is associated with colorectal neoplasia in an asymptomatic screening population. Further, we evaluated if SCORE2 predicts tumor-related mortality. METHODS We included 3408 asymptomatic patients who underwent a screening colonoscopy. We calculated SCORE2 for each participant and stratified patients according to their predicted 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease: SCORE2 0-4.9%, SCORE2 5-9.9%, and SCORE2 ≥ 10%. We assessed the association between SCORE2 as a continuous variable, the presence of colorectal neoplasia using multilevel logistic regression, and SCORE2 and mortality using Cox regression. RESULTS In total, 1537 patients had a SCORE2 of 0-4.9%, 1235 a SCORE2 of 5-9.9%, and 636 a SCORE2 ≥ 10%. The respective rates of colorectal neoplasia were 20%, 37%, and 44%. SCORE2 was associated with the presence of any (OR 1.11 95%CI 1.09-1.12; p &lt; 0.001) and advanced colorectal neoplasia (OR 1.06 95%CI 1.08-1.13; p &lt; 0.001) in univariate analysis. After multivariable adjustment (age, sex, family history, and metabolic syndrome) a higher SCORE2 remained associated with higher odds for any (aOR 1.04 95%CI 1.02-1.06; p = 0.001) and advanced (aOR 1.06 95%CI 1.03-1.10; p &lt; 0.001) colorectal neoplasia. SCORE2 was associated with both all-cause (HR 1.11 95%CI 1.09-1.14; p &lt; 0.001) and tumor-related mortality (HR 1.10 95%CI 1.05-1.14; p &lt; 0.001). CONCLUSIONS We found that SCORE2 is associated with the presence of colorectal neoplasia. Clinicians could kill two birds with one stone calculating SCORE2. In patients with a high SCORE2, screening colonoscopy aside from cardiovascular risk mitigation could improve outcomes

Acidosis predicts mortality independently from hyperlactatemia in patients with sepsis

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Acidosis and hyperlactatemia predict outcome in critically ill patients. We assessed BE and pH for risk prediction capabilities in a sub-group of septic patients in the MIMIC-III database. METHODS Associations with mortality were assessed by logistic regression analysis in 5586 septic patients. Baseline parameters, lactate concentrations, pH, and BE were analyzed at baseline and after 6 hours. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS We combined acidosis (defined as either BE ≤-6 and/or pH ≤7.3) and hyperlactatemia and split the cohort into three subgroups: low-risk (no acidosis and lactate 2.3 mmol/L; n = 2125) and high-risk (both acidosis and lactate >2.3 mmol/L; n = 1167). Mortality was 14%, 20% and 38% (p2.3 mmol/L (AUC 0.60 95%CI 0.58-0.62; p<0.001) alone. Hyperlactatemia alone was only moderately predictive for acidosis (AUC 0.60 95%CI 0.59-0.62). CONCLUSIONS Acidosis and hyperlactatemia can occur independently to a certain degree. Combining acidosis and hyperlactatemia in a model yielded higher predictiveness for ICU-mortality. Septic patients with acidosis should be treated even more aggressively in the future