Role of organisational factors on the 'weekend effect' in critically ill patients in Brazil: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Introduction: Higher mortality for patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) during the weekends has been occasionally reported with conflicting results that could be related to organisational factors. We investigated the effects of ICU organisational and staffing patterns on the potential association between weekend admission and outcomes in critically ill patients.

Methods: We included 59 614 patients admitted to 78 ICUs participating during 2013.

Patterns of c-reactive protein RATIO response in severe community-acquired pneumonia: a cohort study.

Introduction: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission remains a severe medical condition, presenting ICU mortality rates reaching 30%. The aim of this study was to assess the value of different patterns of C-reactive protein (CRP)-ratio response to antibiotic therapy in patients with severe CAP requiring ICU admission as an early maker of outcome.

Methods: In total, 191 patients with severe CAP were prospectively included and CRP was sampled every other day from D1 to D7 of antibiotic prescription.

The impact of coagulation parameters on the outcomes of patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia requiring intensive care unit admission.

Introduction: Coagulation abnormalities are frequent in patients with severe infections. However, the predictive value of d-dimer and of the presence of associated coagulation derangements in severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains to be thoroughly evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of coagulation parameters in patients with severe CAP admitted to the intensive care unit.

Impact of systemic corticosteroids on the clinical course and outcomes of patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia: a cohort study.

Introduction: Our aim was to evaluate the impact of corticosteroids on clinical course and outcomes of patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring invasive mechanical ventilation.

Methods: This was a cohort study of patients with severe CAP from 2 intensive care units in tertiary hospitals in Brazil and Portugal.

Results: A total of 111 patients were included (median age, 69 years; 56% men; 34% hospital mortality).

Adrenal response in severe community-acquired pneumonia: impact on outcomes and disease severity.

Background: High cortisol levels are frequent in patients with severe infections. However, the predictive value of total cortisol and of the presence of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) in severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains to be thoroughly evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of adrenal response in patients with severe CAP admitted to the ICU.