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Vitamin D deficiency as a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19.
Carpagnano, GE, Di Lecce, V, Quaranta, VN, Zito, A, Buonamico, E, Capozza, E, Palumbo, A, Di Gioia, G, Valerio, VN, Resta, O
Journal of endocrinological investigation. 2021;(4):765-771
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Abstract
PURPOSE Hypovitaminosis D is a highly spread condition correlated with increased risk of respiratory tract infections. Nowadays, the world is in the grip of the Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID 19) pandemic. In these patients, cytokine storm is associated with disease severity. In consideration of the role of vitamin D in the immune system, aim of this study was to analyse vitamin D levels in patients with acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 and to assess any correlations with disease severity and prognosis. METHODS In this retrospective, observational study, we analysed demographic, clinical and laboratory data of 42 patients with acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19, treated in Respiratory Intermediate Care Unit (RICU) of the Policlinic of Bari from March, 11 to April 30, 2020. RESULTS Eighty one percent of patients had hypovitaminosis D. Based on vitamin D levels, the population was stratified into four groups: no hypovitaminosis D, insufficiency, moderate deficiency, and severe deficiency. No differences regarding demographic and clinical characteristics were found. A survival analysis highlighted that, after 10 days of hospitalization, severe vitamin D deficiency patients had a 50% mortality probability, while those with vitamin D ≥ 10 ng/mL had a 5% mortality risk (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was found in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure, treated in a RICU. Patients with severe vitamin D deficiency had a significantly higher mortality risk. Severe vitamin D deficiency may be a marker of poor prognosis in these patients, suggesting that adjunctive treatment might improve disease outcomes.
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Efficacy of interventions for bronchiolitis in critically ill infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Davison, C, Ventre, KM, Luchetti, M, Randolph, AG
Pediatric critical care medicine : a journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies. 2004;(5):482-9
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Viral bronchiolitis is the leading cause of respiratory failure among infants in the United States. Currently, the mainstay of treatment is supportive care. The effectiveness of treatments used for mechanically ventilated infants with bronchiolitis is unclear. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the strength of the evidence supporting the use of currently available treatments for critically ill infants with bronchiolitis. DATA SOURCE We searched PubMed, citations of relevant articles, personal files, and conference proceedings, and we contacted experts in the field. STUDY SELECTION Randomized, controlled trials evaluating any therapy for bronchiolitis that included children in an intensive care unit. DATA EXTRACTION Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed methodologic quality. DATA SYNTHESIS A total of 2,319 citations were screened, and 16 randomized, controlled trials were included. There were three trials of surfactant, three of ribavirin, three of immune globulin, three of systemic corticosteroids, and one each of vitamin A, interferon, erythropoietin, and heliox. A meta-analysis of the three surfactant studies showed a strong trend toward a decrease in duration of mechanical ventilation of 2.58 days (95% confidence interval, -5.34 to 0.18 days; p =.07) and a significant decrease of 3.3 intensive care unit days (95% confidence interval, -6.38 to -0.23 days; p =.04). A meta-analysis of the three systemic corticosteroid studies showed no overall effect on duration of mechanical ventilation when all three trials were combined (-0.62 day; 95% confidence interval, -2.78 to 1.53 days; p =.57). We identified one published meta-analysis of three ribavirin studies showing a significant decrease in ventilator days with ribavirin (-1.2 days; 95% confidence interval, -0.2 to -3.4 days; p =.2). CONCLUSIONS Currently, there are no clearly effective interventions available to improve the outcome of critically ill infants with bronchiolitis. Surfactant seems to be a promising intervention, and corticosteroids or ribavirin may also be beneficial.
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Nutrition in chronic critical illness.
Pingleton, SK
Clinics in chest medicine. 2001;(1):149-63
Abstract
Nutritional management of patients with respiratory failure can be a model of nutritional management in chronically critically ill patients. This model requires recognition of the differing metabolic states of starvation and hypermetabolism. Starvation can result in malnutrition, with adverse effect on respiratory muscle strength, ventilatory drive, and immune defense mechanisms. General nutritional goals include preservation of lean body mass by providing adequate energy and positive nitrogen balance. General nutritional prescriptions for both states include a substrate mix of 20% protein, 60% to 70% carbohydrates, and 20% to 30% fat. Positive nitrogen balance is difficult to attain in hypermetabolic patients and energy requirements are increased compared with starved patients. Enteral nutrition should be the mode of initial nutrient delivery unless the gastrointestinal tract is nonfunctional. Monitoring of nutritional support is essential. Complications of nutritional support are multiple. Nutritional hypercapnia is an important complication in a chronically critically ill patient. Outcomes of selected long-term acute patients are poor, with only 8% of patients fully functional 1 year after discharge. Appropriate nutritional therapy is one aspect of management of these patients that has the possibility of optimizing function and survival.