Explorative Clustering of the Nitrogen Balance Trajectory in Critically Ill Patients: A Preliminary post hoc Analysis of a Single-Center Prospective Observational Study

BACKGROUND

The nitrogen balance estimates a protein net difference. However, since it has a number of limitations, it is important to consider the trajectory of the nitrogen balance in the clinical course of critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVES

We herein exploratively classified the nitrogen balance trajectory using a machine learning method.

METHOD

This is a post hoc analysis of a single-center prospective study for the patients admitted to our Emergency and Critical Center ICU. The nitrogen balance was evaluated with 24-h urine collection from ICU days 1-10 with 9 points. K-means clustering was performed to classify the nitrogen balance trajectory. We also evaluated factors associated with uncovered clusters.

RESULTS

Seventy-six eligible patients were included in the present study. After clustering, the nitrogen balance trajectory was classified into 4 classes. Class 1 was trajected as a negative balance over 10 days (24 patients). Class 2 had a positive conversion on day 3 or 4 (8 patients). Class 3 had a positive conversion on day 8 or 9 (28 patients). Class 4 initially had a positive balance and then converted to a negative balance (16 patients). Sepsis complication and steroid use were associated with negative nitrogen balance trajectory. Class 2 was associated with lower length of hospital stay and femoral muscle volume loss, however, frequently had frailty and sarcopenia on admission. Active nutrition therapy intention was not correlated with positive trajectory.

CONCLUSIONS

The nitrogen balance trajectory in critically ill patients may be classified into 4 classes for clinical practice. Among patients emergently admitted to the ICU, the positive conversion of the nitrogen balance might be delayed over 10 days.

The Vasopressin Loading for Refractory septic shock (VALOR) study: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Vasopressin is a second-line vasoactive agent for refractory septic shock. Vasopressin loading is not generally performed because of the lack of evidence for its effects and safety. However, based on our previous findings, we hypothesized it can predict the responsibility to vasopressin infusion with safety, and prospectively examined it in the present study.

METHODS

Vasopressin loading was performed via the intravenous administration of a bolus of 1 U, followed by its continuous infusion at 1U/h in patients with septic shock treated with ≥ 0.2 μg/kg/min noradrenaline. An arterial pressure wave analysis was conducted, and endocrinological tests were performed immediately prior to vasopressin loading. We classified patients into responders/non-responders based on mean arterial pressure (MAP) changes after vasopressin loading. Based on our previous findings, the lower tertile of MAP changes was selected as the cut-off. The change in the catecholamine index (CAI) after 6 h was assigned as the primary outcome. Digital ischemia, mesenteric ischemia, and myocardial ischemia during the admission period were prospectively and systematically recorded as adverse events.

RESULTS

Ninety-two patients were registered during the study period and examined. Sixty-two patients with a MAP change > 22 mmHg were assigned as responders and the others as non-responders. Blood adrenocorticotropic hormone levels were significantly higher in non-responders. Stroke volume variations were higher in responders before loading, while stroke volume and dP/dtmax were higher in responders after loading. Median CAI changes were - 10 in responders and 0 in non-responders, which was significantly lower in the former (p < 0.0001). AUROC of MAP change with vasopressin loading to predict CAI change < 0 after continuous infusion was 0.843 with sensitivity of 0.92 and specificity of 0.77. Ischemia events were observed in 5 cases (5.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Vasopressin loading may be safely introduced for septic shock. Vasopressin loading may be used to predict responses to its continuous infusion and select appropriate strategies to increase blood pressure.

Relationship between grip strength during hospitalisation and mental disorders after discharge in critically ill patients: a post-hoc analysis of a prospective observational study

OBJECTIVES

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is a recognised sequela after critical care. The development of an index that predicts PICS mental disorders will be of significance for the selection of subsequent interventions. The purpose of this study was to find factors associated with PICS mental disorders. We hypothesised that grip strength during hospitalisation may be associated with the PICS mental status after discharge.

DESIGN

A post-hoc analysis of a multicentre prospective observational study.

SETTING

Nine hospitals in Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients who were newly admitted to intensive care unit and stayed for at least 48 hours were included. Exclusion criteria were patients younger than 18 years, those who required assistance with ambulation prior to admission, those with concomitant central nervous system disorders and those with terminal conditions.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Psychiatric symptoms 3 months after discharge were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The HADS total score (HADS-total) was assigned as the primary outcome.

RESULTS

98 patients were included into this study. Grip strength at discharge negatively correlated with HADS-total 3 months after discharge (r=-0.37, p<0.001, 95% CI -0.53 to -0.18). A multivariate analysis showed that grip strength was associated with anxiety (p=0.025, 95% CI -0.21 to -0.015). Area under the curve for HADS anxiety score with grip strength at discharge was higher than that with Medical Research Council scores and the Barthel Index (0.71, 0.60, 0.61).

CONCLUSIONS

Grip strength at discharge correlated with mental disorders 3 months after discharge. Therefore, it may be useful for predicting postdischarge mental disorders.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

UMIN000036503.

The nitrogen load is affected by high protein provision according to kidney function in critically ill patients

Adequate protein delivery is recommended in the acute phase of critical illness with kidney dysfunction. However, the influence of the protein and nitrogen loads has not yet been clarified. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit were included. In the former period, patients received standard care (0.9 g/kg/day protein). In the latter, patients received the intervention of active nutrition therapy with high protein delivery (1.8 g/kg/day protein). Fifty patients in the standard care group and 61 in the intervention group were examined. Maximum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) on days 7-10 were 27.9 (17.3, 38.6) vs 33 (26.3, 51.8) (mg/dl) (p = 0.031). The maximum difference in BUN increased [31.3 (22.8, 55) vs 50 (37.3, 75.9) mg/dl (p = 0.047)] when patients were limited to an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <50 ml/min/1.73 m². This difference increased further when patients were limited to eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m². No significant differences were observed in maximum Cre or in the use of RRT. In conclusion, the provision of 1.8 g/kg/day protein was associated with an increase in BUN in critically ill patients with kidney dysfunction; however, it was tolerated without the need for RRT.

Coagulopathy correlates with muscle titin injury in critically ill patients

PURPOSE

We hypothesized that coagulopathy independently contributes to muscle injury focusing to titin fragmentation, and investigated their correlations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a post-hoc analysis of an observational study, in which we evaluated muscle injury with the biomarker titin. Coagulopathy was assessed on the first day using the Japanese diagnostic criteria of acute-phase disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (JAAM-DIC). Mean N-titin/Cre measured on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 was assigned as the primary outcome.

RESULTS

Overall, 111 eligible patients were included. Mean N-titin/Cre were significantly higher in the JAAM-DIC group. A multivariable analysis identified JAAM-DIC as independent risk factors for mean N-titin/Cre while other severity scores were not.

CONCLUSIONS

Coagulopathy correlated with muscle titin fragmentation, as an independent risk factor.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

The present study is registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network-clinical trials registry (UMIN000040290, Registration date: May 7, 2020).

Heat stroke management during the COVID-19 pandemic: Recommendations from the experts in Japan (2nd edition)

Both coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and heat stroke have symptoms of fever or hyperthermia and the difficulty in distinguishing them could lead to a strain on emergency medical care. To mitigate the potential confusion that could arise from actions for preventing both COVID-19 spread and heat stroke, particularly in the context of record-breaking summer season temperatures, this work offers new knowledge and evidence that address concerns regarding indoor ventilation and indoor temperatures, mask wearing and heat stroke risk, and the isolation of older adults. Specifically, the current work is the second edition to the previously published guidance for handling heat stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic, prepared by the "Working group on heat stroke medical care during the COVID-19 epidemic," composed of members from four organizations in different medical and related fields. The group was established by the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine Heatstroke and Hypothermia Surveillance Committee. This second edition includes new knowledge, and conventional evidence gleaned from a primary selection of 60 articles from MEDLINE, one article from Cochrane, 13 articles from Ichushi, and a secondary/final selection of 56 articles. This work summarizes the contents that have been clarified in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and heat stroke to provide guidance for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heat stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic.