Extended Versus Short-Course Corticosteroid Taper Regimens in the Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations in Critically Ill Patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Poon ◽  
Daryl Glick Paris ◽  
Samuel L. Aitken ◽  
Paru Patrawalla ◽  
Eric Bondarsky ◽  
...  

Background: Previous literature has suggested that a short course of corticosteroids is similarly effective as an extended course for managing an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). However, there are limited data regarding the optimal corticosteroid regimen in critically ill patients and the dosing strategies remain highly variable in this population. Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated patients with AECOPD admitted to the intensive care unit within a 2-year period. Patients were divided into short-course (≤5 days) or extended-course (>5 days) corticosteroid taper groups. The primary end point was treatment failure, defined as the need for intubation, reintubation, or noninvasive mechanical ventilation. Secondary end points included the duration of mechanical ventilation, hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, and adverse events. Results: Of the 151 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 94 received an extended taper and 57 received a short taper. Treatment failure occurred in 3 patients, who were all in the extended taper group ( P = .17). In a propensity score-matched cohort, the hospital length of stay was 7 days in the short taper group compared to 11 days in the extended taper group ( P < .0001). No differences in adverse events were observed. Conclusion: A short-course corticosteroid taper in critically ill patients with AECOPD is associated with reduced hospital length of stay and decreased corticosteroid exposure without increased risk of treatment failure. A prospective randomized trial is warranted.

Author(s):  
Kulothungan Gunasekaran ◽  
Mudassar Ahmad ◽  
Sana Rehman ◽  
Bright Thilagar ◽  
Kavitha Gopalratnam ◽  
...  

Introduction: More than 15 million adults in the USA have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) places a high burden on the healthcare system. Many hospital admissions are due to an exacerbation, which is suspected to be from a viral cause. The purpose of this analysis was to compare the outcomes of patients with a positive and negative respiratory virus panel who were admitted to the hospital with COPD exacerbations. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Geisinger Healthcare System. The dataset included 2729 patient encounters between 1 January 2006 and 30 November 2017. Hospital length of stay was calculated as the discrete number of calendar days a patient was in the hospital. Patient encounters with a positive and negative respiratory virus panel were compared using Pearson’s chi-square or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and Student’s t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests for continuous variables. Results: There were 1626 patients with a total of 2729 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation encounters. Nineteen percent of those encounters (n = 524) had a respiratory virus panel performed during their admission. Among these encounters, 161 (30.7%) had positive results, and 363 (69.3%) had negative results. For encounters with the respiratory virus panel, the mean age was 64.5, 59.5% were female, 98.9% were white, and the mean body mass index was 26.6. Those with a negative respiratory virus panel had a higher median white blood cell count (11.1 vs. 9.9, p = 0.0076). There were no other statistically significant differences in characteristics between the two groups. Respiratory virus panel positive patients had a statistically significant longer hospital length of stay. There were no significant differences with respect to being on mechanical ventilation or ventilation-free days. Conclusion: This study shows that a positive respiratory virus panel is associated with increased length of hospital stay. Early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation patients with positive viral panel would help identify patients with a longer length of stay.


2020 ◽  
pp. 088506662094027
Author(s):  
Jeremy Cheuk Kin Sin ◽  
Lillian King ◽  
Emma Ballard ◽  
Stacey Llewellyn ◽  
Kevin B. Laupland ◽  
...  

Purpose: Hypophosphatemia is reported in up to 5% of hospitalized patients and ranges from 20% to 80% in critically ill patients. The consequences of hypophosphatemia for critically ill patients remain controversial. We evaluated the effect of hypophosphatemia on mortality and length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library (Reviews and Trials), and PubMed were searched for articles in English. The primary outcome was mortality and secondary outcome was length of stay. The quality of evidence was graded using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: Our search yielded 828 articles and ultimately included 12 studies with 7626 participants in the analysis. Hypophosphatemia was associated with increased hospital length of stay (2.19 days [95% CI, 1.74-2.64]) and ICU length of stay (2.22 days [95% CI, 1.00-3.44]) but not mortality (risk ratio: 1.13 [95% CI, 0.98-1.31]; P = .09). Conclusions: Hypophosphatemia in ICU was associated with increased hospital and ICU length of stay but not all-cause mortality. Hypophosphatemia appears to be a marker of disease severity. Limited number of available studies and varied study designs did not allow for the ascertainment of the effect of severe hypophosphatemia on patient mortality.


2013 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. S128
Author(s):  
M. Castro ◽  
C. Antunes ◽  
K. Kawamura ◽  
L.M. Horie ◽  
F.S. de Souza ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Oliver Malle ◽  
Dietmar Maurer ◽  
Doris Wagner ◽  
Christian Schnedl ◽  
Steven Amrein ◽  
...  

Summary Background Sarcopenia, defined as loss of muscle mass, quality and function, is a part of the frailty syndrome. In critical illness, sarcopenia has rarely been evaluated regarding clinical outcomes. Therefore, we evaluated the association of sarcopenia with both hospital length of stay (HLOS) and 6‑month mortality in critically ill patients using abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans. Methods In a post hoc analysis from the high dose vitamin D3 vs. placebo in adult vitamin D deficient patients (VITdAL-ICU) trial, we retrospectively reviewed all available abdominal CT scans (18 women, 19 men). We measured and calculated total psoas area (TPA), psoas muscle density (PMD), skeletal muscle index (SMI) and bone mineral density (BMD) and analyzed the relation of these endpoints with HLOS and mortality. Defining sarcopenia we used cut-off values for TPA as 642.1 mm2/m2 in women and 784 mm2/m2 in men and PMD as 31.1 Hounsfield units (HU) in women and 33.3 HU in men, both measured at the level of L3, as well as for SMI (38.5 cm2/m2 in women and 52.4 cm2/m2 in men). Likely osteoporosis was defined by L1 trabecular attenuation of ≤110 HU. Values for TPA, PMD and SMI could not be obtained in 11 patients and BMD in 1 patient. Results Mean adjusted TPA was lower in women versus men (478 vs. 749 mm2/m2) as well as PMD (34.6 vs. 41.3 HU), SMI (62.36 vs. 76.81 cm2/m2) and BMD (141.1 vs. 157.2 HU). No significant influence on hospital length of stay and on 6‑month mortality was found, irrespective of the morphometric parameter used (TPA, PMD, SMI, BMD; p > 0.05). Survivors showed statistically nonsignificantly better values than nonsurvivors: TPA: 652 vs. 530 mm2/m2 (p = 0.27); PMD: 38.4 vs. 37.4 HU (p = 0.85); SMI: 70.32 vs. 69.54 cm2/m2 (p = 0.91); BMD: 156 vs. 145.8 HU (p = 0.81). Conclusion Although the study is limited by the small sample size, our data do not support a strong predictive value for TPA/PMD/SMI or BMD for HLOS or mortality in critically ill patients with vitamin D deficiency.


2021 ◽  
pp. 175857322199382
Author(s):  
Brandon Amirian ◽  
Kyrillos M Akhnoukh ◽  
Asad M Ashraf ◽  
Samuel J Swiggett ◽  
Francis E Rosato ◽  
...  

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients have been shown in orthopedic literature to have poorer outcomes and higher rates of complications from surgery. In this retrospective review, medical complications, length of stay, and costs were obtained to explore the effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on patients undergoing primary total shoulder arthroplasty. Methods Total shoulder arthroplasty cases from January 2005 to March 2014 were queried and analyzed from a nationwide database. Study patients were matched 1:5 to controls by age, sex, and medical comorbidities associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In-hospital length of stay, 90-day medical complications, day of surgery, and total global 90-day episode of care costs were obtained for comparison. Results Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients were found to have higher incidence and odds (53.91 vs. 11.95%; OR: 3.58, 95%CI: 3.18–3.92, p < 0.0001) of 90-day medical complications, longer in-hospital length of stay (3 vs. 2 days, p < 0.0001), and significantly higher 90-day costs ($14,768.37 vs. $13,379.20, p < 0.0001) following primary total shoulder arthroplasty compared to matched controls. Discussion Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients undergoing primary total shoulder arthroplasty have higher rates of medical complications, in-hospital length of stay, and costs of care. This represents an important factor that will allow orthopedic surgeons to adequately manage expectations and educate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients of the potential complications which may occur following total shoulder arthroplasty.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Claudia Dziegielewski ◽  
Charlenn Skead ◽  
Toros Canturk ◽  
Colleen Webber ◽  
Shannon M. Fernando ◽  
...  

Purpose. Delirium frequently affects critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of delirium on ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS) and perform a cost analysis. Materials and Methods. Prospective studies and randomized controlled trials of patients in the ICU with delirium published between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020, were evaluated. Outcome variables including ICU and hospital LOS were obtained, and ICU and hospital costs were derived from the respective LOS. Results. Forty-one studies met inclusion criteria. The mean difference of ICU LOS between patients with and without delirium was significant at 4.77 days ( p < 0.001 ); for hospital LOS, this was significant at 6.67 days ( p < 0.001 ). Cost data were extractable for 27 studies in which both ICU and hospital LOS were available. The mean difference of ICU costs between patients with and without delirium was significant at $3,921 ( p < 0.001 ); for hospital costs, the mean difference was $5,936 ( p < 0.001 ). Conclusion. ICU and hospital LOS and associated costs were significantly higher for patients with delirium, compared to those without delirium. Further research is necessary to elucidate other determinants of increased costs and cost-reducing strategies for critically ill patients with delirium. This can provide insight into the required resources for the prevention of delirium, which may contribute to decreasing healthcare expenditure while optimizing the quality of care.


JAMA ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 312 (15) ◽  
pp. 1520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Amrein ◽  
Christian Schnedl ◽  
Alexander Holl ◽  
Regina Riedl ◽  
Kenneth B. Christopher ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
pp. 088506662093379
Author(s):  
Emily J. Witcraft ◽  
Jeffrey P. Gonzales ◽  
Hyunuk Seung ◽  
Ian Watt ◽  
Asha L. Tata ◽  
...  

Purpose: Opioids are one of the high-risk medication classes that are administered to critically ill patients during their intensive care unit (ICU) stay. However, little attention has been given to inpatient opioid prescribing practices, especially in critically ill patients. The purpose of our study was to characterize opioid prescribing practices across 2 transitions of care during an inpatient hospital stay: medical ICU (MICU)/intermediate care unit (IMC) to floor and floor to hospital discharge and identify potential patient-specific factors that impact opioid continuation. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study evaluating opioid-naive adult patients with new opioid therapy initiated in MICU/IMC at a tertiary care academic medical center from December 1, 2016, to November 30, 2017. Opioid continuation rate was assessed twice: transition 1 (MICU/IMC to floor) and transition 2 (floor to hospital discharge). Results: In total, 112 opioid-naive patients with initial opioid administration in the MICU/IMC were included. Opioid therapy was continued in 56.1% (37/66) at transition 1 and 56.8% of patients (21/37) at transition 2. Patients with opioids continued at transition 1 had a longer hospital length of stay compared to those not continued on opioids, 22 (interquartile range [IQR] 11-36) vs 8 (IQR 6-14; P = .0004). Among the patients continued on opioids at hospital discharge, intubation during hospital stay and cumulative opioid dosage were greater than those not continued on opioids (17 [80.9%] vs 7 [43.8%], P = .019; and 3482 mcg [IQR 1690-9530] vs 732.5 mcg [IQR 187.5-1360.9], P = .0018, respectively). Conclusions: Opioid-naive patients receiving opioid therapy in the MICU/IMC had a continuation rate of >56% during transitions of care, including hospital discharge. Factors that contributed to the continuation of opioids at transitions of care included longer hospital length of stay, intubation, and cumulative hospital opioid dosage. These findings may help to provide health systems with guidance on targeted opioid stewardship programs.


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