SEMES' long road to specialty status for emergency medicine in Spain.

July 2 of this year saw the publication of Spanish Royal Decree 610/2024, which establishes emergency medicine as an official specialization. This event represents the culmination of a long-running effort to improve the care of patients in the emergency and urgent care system and throughout the national health service. This article offers a brief account of some of the legal, administrative, and political steps the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine(SEMES) took to achieve this goal over the course of nearly 40 years.

Procalcitonin concentration in the emergency department predicts 30-day mortality in COVID-19 better than the lymphocyte count, the neutrophil-tolymphocyte ratio, or the C-reactive protein level.

Objectives: Although many demographic and clinical predictors of mortality have been studied in relation to COVID-19, little has been reported about the prognostic utility of inflammatory biomarkers.

Material And Methods: Retrospective cohort study. All patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 treated in a hospital emergency department were included consecutively if baseline measurements of the following biomarkers were on record: lymphocyte counts, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio NRL, and C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels.

Reduced retinal vessel density in COVID-19 patients and elevated D-dimer levels during the acute phase of the infection.

Purpose: To describe macular vessel density and perfusion in COVID-19 patients using coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and to investigate whether there is a correlation between retinal vascular abnormalities and clinical and laboratory parameters.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis conducted at the Hospital Clinico San Carlos in Madrid, Spain. Patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 that were attended in the Emergency Department (ED) from March 23 to March 29, 2020 were included.

Optic nerve and macular optical coherence tomography in recovered COVID-19 patients.

Purpose: To investigate the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), macular RNFLT, ganglion cell layer (GCL), and inner plexiform layer (IPL) thickness in recovered COVID-19 patients compared to controls.

Methods: Patients previously diagnosed with COVID-19 were included, while healthy patients formed the historic control group. All patients underwent an ophthalmological examination, including macular and optic nerve optical coherence tomography.

Reduced retinal vessel density in COVID-19 patients and elevated D-dimer levels during the acute phase of the infection.

Purpose: To describe macular vessel density and perfusion in COVID-19 patients using coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and to investigate whether there is a correlation between retinal vascular abnormalities and clinical and laboratory parameters.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis conducted at the Hospital Clinico San Carlos in Madrid, Spain. Patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 that were attended in the Emergency Department (ED) from March 23 to March 29, 2020 were included.

Diagnostic groups and short-term outcomes in suspected COVID-19 cases treated in an emergency department.

Objectives: The primary objective was to describe the clinical characteristics and 30-day mortality rates in emergency department patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in different diagnostic groupings.

Material And Methods: Secondary analysis of the COVID-19 registry compiled by the emergency department of Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid, Spain. We selected suspected COVID-19 cases treated in the emergency department between February 28 and March 31, 2020.

Clinical presentation and outcome across age categories among patients with COVID-19 admitted to a Spanish Emergency Department.

Purpose: To determine the differences by age-dependent categories in the clinical profile, presentation, management, and short-term outcomes of patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to a Spanish Emergency Department (ED).

Methods: Secondary analysis of COVID-19_URG-HCSC registry. We included all consecutive patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the ED of the University Hospital Clinico San Carlos (Madrid, Spain).

Planning to reduce 30-day adverse events after discharge of frail elderly patients with acute heart failure: design and rationale for the DEED FRAIL-AHF trial.

Objectives: To demonstrate the efficacy of a system for comprehensive care transfer (Multilevel Guided Discharge Plan [MGDP]) for frail older patients diagnosed with acute heart failure (AHF) and to validate the results of MGDP implementation under real clinical conditions. The MGDP seeks to reduce the number of adverse outcomes within 30 days of emergency department (ED) discharge.

Material And Methods: We will enroll frail patients over the age of 70 years discharged home from the ED with a main diagnosis of AHF.

Genetic mutations in young patients admitted to an emergency department for syncope during sport practice.

Background And Objectives: To study the frequency of genetic mutations related to genetic heart disease among young patients admitted for syncope during sport practice.

Patients And Methods: A case series study that included patients≤45 years admitted for syncope during sport practice during 2010-2011. We collected demographic and clinical variables, genetic tests mutations and final clinical diagnosis.

Adjustment of antidiabetic treatment regimens on discharge from the emergency department: effect on 90-day outcomes in patients admitted to a short-stay unit.

Objectives: To determine whether the adjustment of antidiabetic treatment of patients discharged from a short-stay unit (SSU) after a hyperglycemic crisis reduces the rate of adverse events in the next 90 days.

Material And Methods: Retrospective study of patients admitted to an emergency SSU in June 2011. We gathered information on patient demographics, concurrent diseases, reason for admission, and appropriateness of antidiabetic treatment on discharge.

[Frequent attenders in Primary Health Care Centres and frequent attenders in Emergency Departments].

Objective: To identify predictors of frequent attenders (HF) in Primary Health Care (PHC) centres in a sample of frequent attenders (HF) in Emergency Departments (ED).

Design: This was an observational, retrospective, multicentre cohort study.

Participants: The HF patients were selected from patients seen in the ED between January 1 and December 31, 2013.

[Utility of the Identification of Seniors at Risk score to predict short-term adverse outcomes in elderly patients discharged from a short-stay unit].

Objectives: To determine whether the Identification of Seniors at Risk (ISAR) score predicts short-term adverse outcomes in elderly patients discharged from a short-stay unit.

Material And Methods: Prospective, observational analysis of outcomes in a cohort of all patients 75 years or older who were discharged home from a short-stay unit during a 2-month period. The ISAR score was calculated for each patient.

[Knowledge about disease course and living wills among patients with heart failure].

Introduction And Objectives: To determine the level of knowledge about possible disease outcomes and living wills among patients with heart failure (HF) treated in an emergency department and to evaluate their willingness to draw up a living will.

Methods: This cross-sectional, multicenter, noninterventional, prospective study included a consecutive series of patients. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded.