Diabetes mellitus is associated with 90-day mortality in old critically ill COVID-19 patients: a multicenter prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Several studies have found an association between diabetes mellitus, disease severity and outcome in COVID-19 patients. Old critically ill patients are particularly at risk. This study aimed to investigate the impact of diabetes mellitus on 90-day mortality in a high-risk cohort of critically ill patients over 70 years of age.

COVID-19 machine learning model predicts outcomes in older patients from various European countries, between pandemic waves, and in a cohort of Asian, African, and American patients.

Background: COVID-19 remains a complex disease in terms of its trajectory and the diversity of outcomes rendering disease management and clinical resource allocation challenging. Varying symptomatology in older patients as well as limitation of clinical scoring systems have created the need for more objective and consistent methods to aid clinical decision making. In this regard, machine learning methods have been shown to enhance prognostication, while improving consistency.

The association of prior paracetamol intake with outcome of very old intensive care patients with COVID-19: results from an international prospective multicentre trial.

Background: In the early COVID-19 pandemic concerns about the correct choice of analgesics in patients with COVID-19 were raised. Little data was available on potential usefulness or harmfulness of prescription free analgesics, such as paracetamol. This international multicentre study addresses that lack of evidence regarding the usefulness or potential harm of paracetamol intake prior to ICU admission in a setting of COVID-19 disease within a large, prospectively enrolled cohort of critically ill and frail intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

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.

Sex-specific treatment characteristics and 30-day mortality outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients over 70 years of age-results from the prospective COVIP study.

Purpose: Older critically ill patients with COVID-19 have been the most vulnerable during the ongoing pandemic, with men being more prone to hospitalization and severe disease than women. We aimed to explore sex-specific differences in treatment and outcome after intensive care unit (ICU) admission in this cohort.

Methods: We performed a sex-specific analysis in critically ill patients ≥ 70 yr of age with COVID-19 who were included in the international prospective multicenter COVIP study.

Short-term mortality of patients ≥80 years old admitted to European intensive care units: an international observational study.

Background: Limited evidence suggests variation in mortality of older critically ill adults across Europe. We aimed to investigate regional differences in mortality among very old ICU patients.

Methods: Multilevel analysis of two international prospective cohort studies.

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 multicentre 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).

Increased 30-day mortality in very old ICU patients with COVID-19 compared to patients with respiratory failure without COVID-19.

Purpose: The number of patients ≥ 80 years admitted into critical care is increasing. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) added another challenge for clinical decisions for both admission and limitation of life-sustaining treatments (LLST). We aimed to compare the characteristics and mortality of very old critically ill patients with or without COVID-19 with a focus on LLST.

Association between tracheostomy timing and outcomes for older critically ill COVID-19 patients: prospective observational study in European intensive care units.

Background: Tracheostomy is performed in patients expected to require prolonged mechanical ventilation, but to date optimal timing of tracheostomy has not been established. The evidence concerning tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients is particularly scarce. We aimed to describe the relationship between early tracheostomy (≤10 days since intubation) and outcomes for patients with COVID-19.

Management and outcomes in critically ill nonagenarian versus octogenarian patients.

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients age 90 years or older represent a growing subgroup and place a huge financial burden on health care resources despite the benefit being unclear. This leads to ethical problems. The present investigation assessed the differences in outcome between nonagenarian and octogenarian ICU patients.

Feature selection for the accurate prediction of septic and cardiogenic shock ICU mortality in the acute phase.

Circulatory shock is a life-threatening disease that accounts for around one-third of all admissions to intensive care units (ICU). It requires immediate treatment, which is why the development of tools for planning therapeutic interventions is required to deal with shock in the critical care environment. In this study, the ShockOmics European project original database is used to extract attributes capable of predicting mortality due to shock in the ICU.

Correction to: Withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining therapy in older adults (≥ 80 years) admitted to the intensive care unit.

In the original publication Dr Patrick Meybohm of the Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany was inadvertently omitted from the list of investigators.

Withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining therapy in older adults (≥ 80 years) admitted to the intensive care unit.

Purpose: To document and analyse the decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment (LST) in a population of very old patients admitted to the ICU.

Methods: This prospective study included intensive care patients aged ≥ 80 years in 309 ICUs from 21 European countries with 30-day mortality follow-up.

Results: LST limitation was identified in 1356/5021 (27.

Differential Effects of Selective and Nonselective Potassium Channel Inhibitors in Ovine Endotoxemic Shock (Macrocirculation) and in a Rat Model of Septic Shock (Microcirculation).

Background: Potassium-(K)-channel inhibitors may increase systemic vascular resistance in vasodilatory shock states.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to compare the macro- and microvascular effects of the adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K-channel-(KATP)-inhibitor glipizide and the nonselective K-channel inhibitor tetraethylammonium (TEA) in ovine endotoxemic shock and septic shock in rats.

Design: Two randomized, controlled laboratory studies.

The impact of frailty on ICU and 30-day mortality and the level of care in very elderly patients (≥ 80 years).

Purpose: Very old critical ill patients are a rapid expanding group in the ICU. Indications for admission, triage criteria and level of care are frequently discussed for such patients. However, most relevant outcome studies in this group frequently find an increased mortality and a reduced quality of life in survivors.

Characterization of a metabolomic profile associated with responsiveness to therapy in the acute phase of septic shock.

The early metabolic signatures associated with the progression of septic shock and with responsiveness to therapy can be useful for developing target therapy. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score is used for stratifying risk and predicting mortality. This study aimed to verify whether different responses to therapy, assessed as changes in SOFA score at admission (T1, acute phase) and 48 h later (T2, post-resuscitation), are associated with different metabolite patterns.

Improved Survival in a Long-Term Rat Model of Sepsis Is Associated With Reduced Mitochondrial Calcium Uptake Despite Increased Energetic Demand.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between prognosis, changes in mitochondrial calcium uptake, and bioenergetic status in the heart during sepsis.

Design: In vivo and ex vivo controlled experimental studies.

Setting: University research laboratory.

The use of the oesophageal Doppler in perioperative medicine: new opportunities in research and clinical practice.

The oesophageal Doppler (OD) is a minimally invasive haemodynamic monitor used in the surgical theatre and the ICU. Using the OD, goal-directed therapy (GDT) has been shown to reduce perioperative complications in high-risk surgical patients. However, most GDT protocols currently in use are limited to stroke volume optimisation.