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Limited studies are available concerning on the earlier identification of AKI with sepsis. The aim of the study was to identify the risk factors of AKI early which depended on the timing onset and progression of AKI and investigate the effects of timing onset and progression of AKI on clinical outcomes. Patients who developed sepsis during their first 48-h admission to ICU were included. The primary outcome was major adverse kidney events (MAKE) consisted of all-cause mortality, RRT-dependence, or an inability to recover to 1.5 times of the baseline creatinine value up to 30 days. We determined MAKE and in-hospital mortality by multivariable logistic regression and explored the risk factors of early persistent-AKI. C statistics were used to evaluate model fit. 58.7% sepsis patients developed AKI. According to the timing onset and progression of AKI, Early transient-AKI, early persistent-AKI, late transient-AKI, late persistent-AKI were identified. Clinical outcomes were quite different among subgroups. Early persistent-AKI had 3.0-fold (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.61 − 4.62) risk of MAKE and 2.6-fold (OR 2.60, 95%CI 1.72 − 3.76) risk of in-hospital mortality increased compared with the late transients-AKI. Older age, underweight, obese, faster heart rate, lower MAP, platelet, hematocrit, pH and energy intake during the first 24 h on ICU admission could well predict the early persistent-AKI in patients with sepsis. Four AKI subphenotypes were identified based on the timing onset and progression of AKI. Early persistent-AKI showed higher risk of major adverse kidney events and in-hospital mortality. This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry () under registration number ChiCTR-ECH-13003934. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the performance of the Oxford Acute Severity of Illness Score (OASIS), the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II), and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in predicting 28-day mortality in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. Data were extracted from the Beijing Acute Kidney Injury Trial (BAKIT). A total of 2954 patients with complete clinical data were included in this study. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze and evaluate the predictive effects of the four scoring systems on the 28-day mortality risk of AKI patients and each subgroup. The best cutoff value was identified by the highest combined sensitivity and specificity using Youden's index. Among the four scoring systems, the area under the curve (AUC) of OASIS was the highest. The comparison of AUC values of different scoring systems showed that there were no significant differences among OASIS, APACHE II, and SAPS II, which were better than SOFA. Moreover, logistic analysis revealed that OASIS was an independent risk factor for 28-day mortality in AKI patients. OASIS also had good predictive ability for the 28-day mortality of each subgroup of AKI patients. OASIS, APACHE II, and SAPS II all presented good discrimination and calibration in predicting the 28-day mortality risk of AKI patients. OASIS, APACHE II, and SAPS II had better predictive accuracy than SOFA, but due to the complexity of APACHE II and SAPS II calculations, OASIS is a good substitute. This study was registered at (registration number Chi CTR-ONC-11001875). Registered on 14 December 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malnutrition is common in critically ill patients, but nutrition status in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) has been poorly studied. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between malnutrition risk and the occurrence and prognosis of AKI in elderly patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).Methods: Data were extracted from the Beijing Acute Kidney Injury Trial (BAKIT). A total of 1873 elderly patients were included and compared according to the clinical characteristics of AKI and non-AKI groups, and those of survivors and non-survivors of AKI in this study. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyse the predictive value of the modified Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill (mNUTRIC) score for the occurrence and 28-day prognosis of AKI. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of the mNUTRIC score on the 28-day mortality in AKI patients.Results: Compared with the non-AKI group, AKI patients had higher mNUTRIC scores, and non-survivors had higher mNUTRIC scores than survivors in AKI population. Moreover, multivariate Cox regression showed that 28-day mortality in AKI patients increased by 9.8% (95% CI, 1.018-1.184) for every point increase in the mNUTRIC score, and the mNUTRIC score had good predictive ability for the occurrence of AKI and 28-day mortality in AKI patients. The mortality of AKI patients with mNUTRIC > 4 was significantly increased.Conclusions: The elderly patients are at high risk of malnutrition, which affects the occurrence and prognosis of AKI. Adequate attention should be given to the nutritional status of elderly patients.Trial Registration: This study was registered at www.chictr.org.cn (registration number Chi CTR-ONC-11001875) on 14 December 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is widespread in the intensive care unit (ICU) and affects patient prognosis. According to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines, the absolute and relative increases of serum creatinine (Scr) are classified into the same stage. Whether the prognosis of the two types of patients is similar in the ICU remains unclear. According to the absolute and relative increase of Scr, AKI stage 1 and stage 3 patients were divided into stage 1a and 1b, stage 3a and 3b groups, respectively. Their demographics, laboratory results, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. Of the 345 eligible cases, we analyzed stage 1 because stage 3a group had only one patient. Using 53 or 61.88 µmol/L as the reference Scr (Scrref), no significant differences were observed in ICU mortality (P53=0.076, P61.88=0.070) or renal replacement therapy (RRT) ratio, (P53=0.356, P61.88=0.471) between stage 1a and 1b, but stage 1b had longer ICU length of stay (LOS) than stage 1a (P53<0.001, P61.88=0.032). In the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, no differences were observed in ICU mortality between stage 1a and 1b (P53=0.378, P61.88=0.255). In a multivariate analysis, respiratory failure [HR = 4.462 (95% CI 1.144–17.401), p = 0.031] and vasoactive drug therapy [HR = 4.023 (95% CI 1.584–10.216), p = 0.003] were found to be independently associated with increased risk of death. ICU LOS benefit was more prominent in KDIGOSCr AKI stage 1a patients than in stage 1 b. Further prospective studies with a larger sample size are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of reclassification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Aims: Intensive care unit‐acquired weakness (ICUAW) is a severe neuromuscular complication of critical illness. Serum lactate is a useful biomarker in critically ill patients. The relationship between serum lactate level and ICUAW remains controversial. This study evaluated whether hyperlactacidemia (lactate level >2 mmol/L) was an independent risk factor for ICUAW in critically ill adult patients. Methods: An observational cohort study was performed in a general multidisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU). Sixty‐eight consecutive adult critically ill patients without preexisting neuromuscular disease or a poor pre‐ICU functional status whose length of ICU stay was 7 or more days were evaluated. Patients were screened daily for signs of awakening. Muscle strength assessment using the Medical Research Council score was performed on the first day a patient was considered awake. Patients with clinical muscle weakness were considered to have ICUAW. Results: Among the 68 patients who achieved a satisfactory state of consciousness, the diagnosis of ICUAW was made in 30 patients (44.1%). After multivariate analysis, hyperlactacidemia (P =.02), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (P =.04), duration of mechanical ventilation (P =.02), and the use of norepinephrine (P =.04) were found to be significantly associated with the development of ICUAW in critically ill patients. Discussion: This study shows a number of risk factors to be significantly associated with the development of ICUAW in critically ill adults. These factors should be considered when building early prediction models or designing prevention strategies for ICUAW in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Delirium is a commonly found comorbidity in hospitalized patients and is associated with adverse outcomes. Melatonin is an endogenous hormone that exerts multiple biological effects, mainly in regulating diurnal rhythms and in inflammatory process and immune responses. We aimed to assess the efficacy of exogenous melatonergics in the prevention of delirium. Methods: We conducted a search to identify relevant randomized controlled studies (RCTs) in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases that had been published up to December 2019. Hospitalized adult patients administered melatonergics were included. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of delirium. The secondary outcome measure was the length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU-LOS). The pooled effects were analyzed as the risk ratio (RR) for delirium incidence, weighted mean difference (WMD) for ICU-LOS, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Nine RCTs with 1,210 patients were included. The forest plots showed that melatonergics were associated with a decreasing incidence of delirium (RR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.30–0.85; I 2 = 70%; p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in ICU-LOS (WMD, −0.08; 95% CI, −0.19–0.03; I 2 = 0; p = 0.17). Conclusion: Administration of exogenous melatonergics to hospitalized patients seems to be associated with a decreasing incidence of delirium. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019138863. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released simplified eSOFA organ dysfunction criteria of Adult Sepsis Event for sepsis surveillance in the US. Our study aimed to compare the prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of sepsis patients identified by eSOFA criteria versus Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score (Sepsis-3) and assess the external validity of eSOFA criteria in China. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult residents of Yuetan Subdistrict, Beijing, China, who were hospitalized from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2014. Among patients with infection, sepsis was identified if there was a concurrent rise in SOFA score by 2 or more points (Sepsis-3) or the presence of 1 or more eSOFA criteria: vasopressor initiation, mechanical ventilation initiation, doubling in creatinine, doubling in bilirubin to 2.0 mg/dL or above, 50% or greater decrease in platelet count to less than 100 cells/μL, or lactate equal to or above 2.0 mmol/L. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) for in-hospital mortality were compared between sepsis patients detected by the two criteria, adjusting for baseline characteristics. Results: Of 1716 hospitalized patients with infection, 935 (54.5%) met Sepsis-3 criteria, 573 (33.4%) met eSOFA criteria, while 475 (27.7%) met both criteria. Demographic and clinical characteristics of sepsis patients meeting Sepsis-3 or eSOFA criteria were similar. In-hospital mortality was higher with eSOFA criteria versus Sepsis-3 (46.6% vs. 32.0%, p < 0.001). eSOFA criteria had high PPV (82.9%), but low sensitivity (50.8%) for the diagnosis of Sepsis-3. Patients meeting both criteria had the highest in-hospital mortality rate (52.8%, all p < 0.001), while patients who only met eSOFA criteria had higher mortality rate than those meeting Sepsis-3 alone (16.3% vs. 10.4%, p = 0.097). The predicted probability for in-hospital mortality was higher with eSOFA criteria versus Sepsis-3 (AUROC 0.830 vs. 0.795, p = 0.001) adjusting for baseline characteristics. Conclusions: The CDC Adult Sepsis Event's eSOFA criteria identify a smaller, more severely ill cohort of sepsis patients with similar demographic and clinical characteristics as the more complex Sepsis-3 SOFA score. These results suggest similar performance of eSOFA criteria across diverse populations, with low sensitivity and high specificity for the diagnosis of Sepsis-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) commonly occurs in intensive care units (ICUs), leading to adverse clinical outcomes and increasing costs. However, there are limited epidemiological data of AKI in the critically ill in Beijing, China.Methods: In this prospective cohort study in 30 ICUs, we screened the patients up to 10 days after ICU admission. Characteristics and outcomes were compared between AKI and non-AKI, renal replacement therapy (RRT) and non-RRT patients. Nomograms of logistic regression and Cox regression were performed to examine potential risk factors for AKI and mortality.Results: A total of 3107 patients were included in the final analysis. The incidence of AKI was 51.0%; stages 1 to 3 accounted for 23.1, 11.8, and 15.7%, respectively. The majority (87.6%) of patients with AKI developed AKI on the first 4 days after admission to the ICU. A total of 281 patients were treated with RRT. Continuous RRT with predilution, citrate for anticoagulation and femoral vein for vascular access was the most common RRT pattern (29.9%, 84 of 281). Patients with AKI were associated with longer ICU-LOS and higher mortality and costs (P<0.001). In patients treated with RRT, 78.6 and 28.5% of RRTs were dependent on the 7th and 28th days, respectively. The 28 day mortalities of non-AKI, AKI stages 1-3, and septic shock patients were 6.83, 15.04, 27.99, 45.18 and 36.5%, respectively.Conclusions: Approximately half of our ICU patients experienced AKI. The majority of patients with AKI developed AKI during the first 4 days after admission to the ICU. Continuous RRT with predilution, citrate for anticoagulation and femoral vein for vascular access was the most common RRT pattern in our ICUs. AKI was associated with a higher mortality and costs, incomplete kidney recovery and s series of adverse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early fluid expansion could prevent postoperative organ hypoperfusion. However, excessive fluid resuscitation adversely influences multiple organ systems. This retrospective, observational study aimed to investigate the relationship between early negative fluid balance and postoperative mortality in critically ill adult patients following cardiovascular surgery. Methods: In total, 567 critically ill patients who had undergone cardiovascular surgery and whose intensive care unit length of stay (LOS) was more than 24 hours were enrolled. The baseline characteristics, daily fluid balance and cumulative fluid balance were obtained. Patients were followed until discharge or day 28. Multivariate logistic regressions adjusted by propensity score were used to analyze the relationship between early negative fluid balance and postoperative mortality. Results: Overall, postoperative mortality was 6.2% (35/567). Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II on admission (odd ratios [OR] 1.110), acute kidney injury stage (OR 1.639) and renal replacement therapy received (OR 3.922) were the independent risk factors of postoperative mortality, whereas negative daily fluid balance at day 2 (OR 0.411) was the protective factor. Patients with a negative daily fluid balance at day 2 had lower postoperative mortality (3.4% vs. 12.2% in the positive fluid balance group), lower acute kidney injury (AKI) stage, were less likely to receive renal replacement therapy (RRT) and experienced shorter hospital LOS compared with those with a daily positive fluid balance. Conclusion: This retrospective, observational study indicates that early negative fluid balance is associated with lower postoperative mortality in critically ill patients following cardiovascular surgery. Further prospective, randomized trials are needed to prove the benefits from the restrictive fluid management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive care unit‐acquired weakness (ICUAW) occurs frequently in the context of critical illness without alternative plausible cause and specific treatment options, and it is important to identify and summarize the independent risk factors for ICUAW. PubMed, Embase, Central, China Biological Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP and Wanfang databases were searched from database inception until 10 July 2017. Prospective cohort studies on adult ICU patients who were diagnosed with ICUAW using either clinical or electrophysiological criteria were selected. Meta‐analysis was performed using Stata version 12.0. The results were analysed using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Data were pooled using a random‐effects model, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Qualitative analysis and systematic review were used for risk factors that were deemed inappropriate to combine. Fourteen prospective cohort studies were included in this review. The meta‐analysis showed that Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (OR, 1.05; 95%CI, 1.01‐1.10), neuromuscular blocking agents (OR, 2.03; 95%CI, 1.22‐3.40) and aminoglycosides (OR, 2.27; 95%CI, 1.07‐4.81) were found to be significantly associated with ICUAW. Other risk factors, including female, multiple organ failure, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, electrolyte disturbances, hyperglycaemia, hyperosmolarity, high lactate level, duration of mechanical ventilation, parenteral nutrition and use of norepinephrine, were statistically significant on multivariable analysis in each single studies. This review provides a number of independent risk factors for ICUAW, which should be guided for early prediction and prevention of the disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although there were studies to investigate the risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) after surgery, most of them focused on one specific type of surgeries. The risk factors for postoperative AKI in patients undergoing all surgeries in intensive care units (ICU) have not been reported.Methods: Data from 1731 patients undergoing surgery in 30 ICUs of 28 tertiary hospitals in Beijing from March to August 2012 were prospectively collected. AKI was defined and staged by the KDIGO criteria. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess independent risk factors for postoperative AKI.Results: Postoperative AKI occurred in 44.8% of patients (stage 1 54.8%; stage 2 21.9%, stage 3 23.3%). Cardiovascular surgery was identified as an independent factor for postoperative AKI as well as emergency surgery [odds ratio (OR) 1.403], nephrotoxic drugs (OR 1.303), APACHE II score (OR 1.055), SOFA score (OR 1.115), duration for positive fluid balance (OR 1.165), use of diuretics (OR 2.293), sepsis (OR 1.501), and CKD (OR 4.517). AKI stage 3 versus stages 1-2 was associated with higher mortality in ICU, hospital, and 28-day follow-up after cardiovascular, abdominal, limb, and chest surgeries, while this was not observed after neurosurgery or other surgeries.Conclusion: Risk factors for AKI in ICU patients after different types of surgery were identified. This might be the first step to reduce the high incidence of AKI after surgery. The presence of AKI in ICU patients was associated with higher mortality after most types of surgery, but not after neurosurgery.Trial registration: ChiCTR-ONC-11001875. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity paradox refers to lower mortality in subjects with higher body mass index (BMI), and has been documented under a variety of condition. However, whether obesity paradox exists in adults requiring mechanical ventilation in intensive critical units (ICU) remains controversial. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, China Biology Medicine disc (CBM) and CINAHL electronic databases were searched from the earliest available date to July 2017, using the following search terms: “body weight”, “body mass index”, “overweight” or “obesity” and “ventilator”, “mechanically ventilated”, “mechanical ventilation”, without language restriction. Subjects were divided into the following categories based on BMI (kg/m2): underweight, < 18.5 kg/m2; normal, 18.5–24.9 kg/m2; overweight, BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2; obese, 30–39.9 kg/m2; and severely obese > 40 kg/m2. The primary outcome was mortality, and included ICU mortality, hospital mortality, short-term mortality (<6 months), and long-term mortality (6 months or beyond). Secondary outcomes included duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay (LOS) in ICU and hospital. A random-effects model was used for data analyses. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. Results: A total of 15,729 articles were screened. The final analysis included 23 articles (199,421 subjects). In comparison to non-obese patients, obese patients had lower ICU mortality (odds ratio (OR) 0.88, 95% CI 0.0.84–0.92, I2 = 0%), hospital mortality (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74–0.93, I2 = 52%), short-term mortality (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.74–0.88, I2 = 0%) as well as long-term mortality (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.60–0.79, I2 = 0%). In comparison to subjects with normal BMI, obese patients had lower ICU mortality (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.82–0.93, I2 = 5%). Hospital mortality was lower in severely obese and obese subjects (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53–0.94, I2 = 74%, and OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.73–0.89, I2 = 30%). Short-term mortality was lower in overweight and obese subjects (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.75–0.90, I2 = 0%, and, OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.66–0.84, I2 = 8%, respectively). Long-term mortality was lower in severely obese, obese and overweight subjects (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.18–0.83, and OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.46–0.86, I2 = 56%, and OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.57–0.77, I2 = 0%). All 4 mortality measures were higher in underweight subjects than in subjects with normal BMI. Obese subjects had significantly longer duration on mechanical ventilation than non-obese group (mean difference (MD) 0.48, 95% CI 0.16–0.80, I2 = 37%), In comparison to subjects with normal BMI, severely obese BMI had significantly longer time in mechanical ventilation (MD 1.10, 95% CI 0.38–1.83, I2 = 47%). Hospital LOS did not differ between obese and non-obese patients (MD 0.05, 95% CI -0.52 to 0.50, I2 = 80%). Obese patients had longer ICU LOS than non-obese patients (MD 0.38, 95% CI 0.17–0.59, I2 = 70%). Hospital LOS and ICU LOS did not differ significantly in subjects with different BMI status. Conclusions: In ICU patients receiving mechanical ventilation, higher BMI is associated with lower mortality and longer duration on mechanical ventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In China, increasing attention has been devoted to the patient safety culture within health administrative departments and healthcare organizations. However, no official version of a patient safety culture assessment tool has been published or is widely used, and little is known about the status of the safety culture in Chinese hospitals. The aims of this study were to examine the reliability and validity of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire in Chinese and to establish benchmark data on the safety culture in Beijing.Methods: Across-sectional survey on patient safety culture was conducted from August to October 2014 using the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire in Chinese. Using a stratified random sampling method, we investigated departments from five integrative teaching hospitals in Beijing; frontline healthcare workers in each unit participated in the survey on a voluntary basis. The internal consistency and reliability were tested via Cronbach's alpha, and the structural validity of the questionnaire was tested using a correlation analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The patient safety culture in the five hospitals was assessed and analyzed.Results: A total of 1663 valid questionnaires were returned, for a response rate of 87.9%. Cronbach's alpha of the total scale was 0.945, and Cronbach's alpha for the six dimensions ranged from 0.785 to 0.899. The goodness-of-fit indices in the confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable but not ideal model fit. The safety attitude score of healthcare workers in the five hospitals was 69.72, and the positive response rate was 38.57% overall. The positive response rates of the six dimensions were between 20.80% and 59.31%.Conclusions: The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire in Chinese has good internal consistency, and the structural validity and reliability are acceptable. This questionnaire can be used to assess the safety culture in Beijing hospitals, but some items require further refinement. The patient safety culture in Beijing hospitals must be improved in certain key areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sedation and analgesia are commonly required to relieve anxiety and pain in mechanically ventilated patients. Fentanyl and morphine are the most frequently used opioids. Remifentanil is a selective μ-opioid receptor that is metabolized by unspecific esterases and eliminated independently of liver or renal function. Remifentanil has a rapid onset and offset and a short context-sensitive half-life regardless of the duration of infusion, which may lead to reductions in weaning and extubation. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of remifentanil to that of other opioids in mechanically ventilated patients.Methods: We conducted a search to identify relevant randomized controlled studies (RCTs) in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and SinoMed databases that had been published up to 31 December 2016. The results were analysed using weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results: Twenty-three RCTs with 1905 patients were included. Remifentanil was associated with reductions in the duration of mechanical ventilation (mean difference -1.46; 95% CI -2.44 to -0.49), time to extubation after sedation cessation (mean difference -1.02; 95% CI -1.59 to -0.46), and ICU-LOS (mean difference -0.10; 95% CI -0.16 to -0.03). No significant differences were identified in hospital-LOS (mean difference -0.05; 95% CI -0.25 to 0.15), costs (mean difference -709.71; 95% CI -1590.98 to 171.55; I2 88%), mortality (mean difference -0.64; 95% CI -1.33 to 0.06; I2 87%) or agitation (mean difference -0.71; 95% CI -1.80 to 0.37; I2 93%).Conclusions: Remifentanil seems to be associated with reductions in the duration of mechanical ventilation, time to extubation after cessation of sedation, and ICU-LOS. No significant differences were identified between remifentanil and other opioids in terms of hospital-LOS, costs, mortality or agitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of a quality improvement (QI) program for protocol-directed weaning from mechanical ventilation.Methods: This was a prospective, cluster randomized controlled trial. The study consisted of a baseline phase and a QI phase. Fourteen intensive care units (ICUs) in Beijing, China, were randomized into the QI group and non-QI group. The QI group received a QI program to improve the compliance with protocol-directed weaning during the QI phase.Results: A total of 444 patients were enrolled in the non-QI group (193 for the baseline, 251 for the QI phase) and 440 in the QI group (199 for the baseline, 241 for the QI phase). During the QI phase in the QI group, compared with the non-QI group, total duration of mechanical ventilation decreased from 7.0 to 3.0 days (p = 0.003), the time before the first weaning attempt decreased from 3.63 to 1.96 days (p = 0.003), length of ICU stay decreased from 10.0 to 6.0 days (p = 0.004), length of hospital stay decreased from 23.0 to 19.0 days (p < 0.001). These differences were also significant in the QI group when the QI phase was compared with the baseline phase. In addition, there was a significant reduction in the percentage of mechanical ventilation exceeding 21 days (p = 0.001) when the baseline phase was compared with the QI phase in the QI group.Conclusions: The QI program involving protocol-directed weaning is associated with beneficial clinical outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between corticosteroid use and intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness remains unclear. We evaluated the relationship between corticosteroid use and ICU-acquired weakness in critically ill adult patients.Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases were searched from database inception until October 10, 2017. Two authors independently screened the titles/abstracts and reviewed full-text articles. Randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies evaluating the association between corticosteroids and ICU-acquired weakness in adult ICU patients were selected. Data extraction from the included studies was accomplished by two independent reviewers. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata version 12.0. The results were analyzed using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Data were pooled using a random effects model, and heterogeneity was evaluated using the χ2 and I2 statistics. Publication bias was qualitatively analyzed with funnel plots, and quantitatively analyzed with Begg's test and Egger's test.Results: One randomized controlled trial and 17 prospective cohort studies were included in this review. After a meta-analysis, the effect sizes of the included studies indicated a statistically significant association between corticosteroid use and ICU-acquired weakness (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.26-2.67; I2 = 67.2%). Subgroup analyses suggested a significant association between corticosteroid use and studies limited to patients with clinical weakness (OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.27-3.33; I2 = 60.6%), patients with mechanical ventilation (OR 2.00; 95% CI 1.23-3.27; I2 = 66.0%), and a large sample size (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.02-2.53; I2 = 74.9%), and not studies limited to patients with abnormal electrophysiology (OR 1.65; 95% CI 0.92-2.95; I2 = 70.6%) or patients with sepsis (OR 1.96; 95% CI 0.61-6.30; I2 = 80.8%); however, statistical heterogeneity was obvious. No significant publication biases were found in the review. The overall quality of the evidence was high for the randomized controlled trial and very low for the included prospective cohort studies.Conclusions: The review suggested a significant association between corticosteroid use and ICU-acquired weakness. Thus, exposure to corticosteroids should be limited, or the administration time should be shortened in clinical practice to reduce the risk of ICU-acquired weakness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: Currently, indications for renal replacement therapy (RRT) remain controversial. Whether early RRT can improve the prognosis of critically ill patients in the ICU is unclear. This study aimed to assess the relationship between timing of RRT initiation and short‐term prognosis of patients in the ICU. Methods: This was a retrospective study of data obtained from 28 hospitals in Beijing. The subjects received RRT treatment in the ICU from March 2012 to August 2012. Results: A total of 9049 cases were reviewed, and 281 patients who underwent RRT were enrolled and divided into the non‐survival (n = 144) and survival (n = 137) groups, according to their outcome at 28 days from ICU admission. Median RRT initiation times were 1 (0–25) and 1 (0–21) days in the non‐survival and survival groups, respectively (P = 0.001) and oliguria/anuria frequency at RRT initiation were 76.6% and 65.3% (P = 0.036), respectively. The mortality of patients administered RRT within 24 h of ICU admission was lower than that of those treated after 24 h (P = 0.014). In patients with oliguria/anuria at RRT initiation, the 28‐day mortality rate was 52.8%, which was higher than 39.0% obtained for those with no oliguria/anuria at RRT initiation (P = 0.036). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that late initiation of RRT was an independent risk factor for 28‐day mortality (HR = 1.139, 95%CI 1.046–1.242, P = 0.003). Conclusion: Timing of RRT is associated with 28‐day mortality of ICU treated patients. Early RRT might improve patient survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to develop consensus on core competencies required for postgraduate training in intensive care medicine.Methods: We used a combination of a modified Delphi method and a nominal group technique to create and modify the list of core competencies to ensure maximum consensus. Ideas were generated modified from Competency Based Training in Intensive Care Medicine in Europe collaboration (CoBaTrICE) core competencies. An online survey invited healthcare professionals, educators, and trainees to rate and comment on these competencies. The output from the online survey was edited and then reviewed by a nominal group of 13 intensive care professionals to identify each competence for importance. The resulting list was then recirculated in the nominal group for iterative rating.Results: The online survey yielded a list of 199 competencies for nominal group reviewing. After five rounds of rating, 129 competencies entered the final set defined as core competencies.Conclusions: We have generated a set of core competencies using a consensus technique which can serve as an indicator for training program development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recently, the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) proposed a new definition and classification of acute kidney injury (AKI) on the basis of the RIFLE (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of kidney function, and End-stage renal failure) and AKIN (Acute Kidney Injury Network) criteria, but comparisons of the three criteria in critically ill patients are rare.Methods: We prospectively analyzed a clinical database of 3,107 adult patients who were consecutively admitted to one of 30 intensive care units of 28 tertiary hospitals in Beijing from 1 March to 31 August 2012. AKI was defined by the RIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO criteria. Receiver operating curves were used to compare the predictive ability for mortality, and logistic regression analysis was used for the calculation of odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.Results: The rates of incidence of AKI using the RIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO criteria were 46.9%, 38.4%, and 51%, respectively. KDIGO identified more patients than did RIFLE (51% versus 46.9%, P = 0.001) and AKIN (51% versus 38.4%, P <0.001). Compared with patients without AKI, in-hospital mortality was significantly higher for those diagnosed as AKI by using the RIFLE (27.8% versus 7%, P <0.001), AKIN (32.2% versus 7.1%, P <0.001), and KDIGO (27.4% versus 5.6%, P <0.001) criteria, respectively. There was no difference in AKI-related mortality between RIFLE and KDIGO (27.8% versus 27.4%, P = 0.815), but there was significant difference between AKIN and KDIGO (32.2% versus 27.4%, P = 0.006). The areas under the receiver operator characteristic curve for in-hospital mortality were 0.738 (P <0.001) for RIFLE, 0.746 (P <0.001) for AKIN, and 0.757 (P <0.001) for KDIGO. KDIGO was more predictive than RIFLE for in-hospital mortality (P <0.001), but there was no difference between KDIGO and AKIN (P = 0.12).Conclusions: A higher incidence of AKI was diagnosed according to KDIGO criteria. Patients diagnosed as AKI had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality than non-AKI patients, no matter which criteria were used. Compared with the RIFLE criteria, KDIGO was more predictive for in-hospital mortality, but there was no significant difference between AKIN and KDIGO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep deprivation is common in critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICU). It can result in delirium, difficulty weaning, repeated nosocomial infections, prolonged ICU length of stay and increased ICU mortality. Melatonin, a physiological sleep regulator, is well known to benefit sleep quality in certain people, but evidence for the effectiveness in ICU sleep disturbance is limited.Methods/design: This study has a prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled, parallel-group design. Eligible patients are randomly assigned to one of the two treatment study groups, labelled the 'melatonin group' or the 'placebo group'. A dose of 3 mg of oral melatonin or placebo is administered at 9:00 pm on four consecutive days. Earplugs and eye masks are made available to every participant. We plan to enrol 198 patients. The primary outcome is the objective sleep quality measured by the 24-hour polysomnography. The secondary outcomes are the subjective sleep quality assessed by the Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, the anxiety level evaluated by the Visual Analogue Scale-Anxiety, the number of delirium-free days in 8 and 28 days, the number of ventilation-free days in 28 days, the number of antibiotic-free days, ICU length of stay, the overall ICU mortality in 28 days and the incidence and severity of the side effects of melatonin in ICU patients. Additionally, the body stress levels, oxidative stress levels and inflammation levels are obtained via measuring the plasma melatonin, cortisone, norepinephrine, malonaldehyde(MDA), superoxide dismutase(SOD), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8)concentrations.Discussion: The proposed study will be the first randomized controlled study to use the polysomnography, which is the gold standard of assessing sleep quality, to evaluate the effect of melatonin on the sleep quality and circadian rhythms of ICU patients. The results may recommend a new treatment for ICU patients with sleep deprivation that is safe, effective and easily implementable in daily practice.Trial Registration: This study was registered with ClinicalTrials (NCT; registration number: ChiCTR-TRC-14004319) on 4 March 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In April 2009, the pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus emerged and spread globally. The objective of this study was to describe the independent risk factors for hospital mortality and the treatment effect of corticosteroids among patients with 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection.Methods: We retrospectively obtained clinical data of 155 adult patients with confirmed infection of 2009 influenza A(H1N1) in 23 hospitals in Beijing, China from October 1 to December 23, 2009. Risk factors for hospital mortality were identified with multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: Among the 155 patients, 90 (58.1%) were male, and mean age was 43.0 ± 18.6 years, and comorbidities were present in 81 (52.3%) patients. The most common organ dysfunctions included acute respiratory failure, altered mental status, septic shock, and acute renal failure. Oseltamivir was initiated in 125 patients (80.6%), only 16 patients received antiviral therapy within 48 hours after symptom onset. Fifty-two patients (33.5%) were treated with systemic corticosteroids, with a median daily dose of 80 mg. Twenty-seven patients (17.4%) died during hospital stay. Diabetes [odds ratio (OR) 8.830, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.041 to 38.201, p = 0.004) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (OR 1.240, 95% CI 1.025 to 1.500, p = 0.027) were independent risk factors of hospital death, as were septic shock and altered mental status. Corticosteroids use was associated with a trend toward higher hospital mortality (OR 3.668, 95% CI 0.987 to 13.640, p = 0.052).Conclusions: Hospitalized patients with 2009 H1N1 influenza had relative poor outcome. The risk factors at hospitalization may help clinicians to identify the high-risk patients. In addition, corticosteroids use should not be regarded as routine pharmacologic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]