Martin Berg Johansen

Comparison of Charlson comorbidity index with SAPS and APACHE scores for prediction of mortality following intensive care

Background: Physiology-based severity of illness scores are often used for risk adjustment in observational studies of intensive care unit (ICU) outcome. However, the complexity and time constraints of these scoring systems may limit their use in administrative databases. Comorbidity is a main determinant of ICU outcome, and comorbidity scores can be computed based on data from most administrative databases. However, limited data exist on the performance of comorbidity scores in predicting mortality of ICU patients. Objectives: To examine the performance of the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) alone and in combination with other readily available administrative data and three physiology-based scores (acute physiology and chronic health evaluations [APACHE] II, simplified acute physiology score [SAPS] II, and SAPS III) in predicting short- and long-term mortality following intensive care. Methods: For all adult patients (n = 469) admitted to a tertiary university–affiliated ICU in 2007, we computed APACHE II, SAPS II, and SAPS III scores based on data from medical records. Data on CCI score age and gender, surgical/medical status, social factors, mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy, primary diagnosis, and complete follow-up for 1-year mortality was obtained from administrative databases. We computed goodness-of-fit statistics and c-statistics (area under ROC [receiver operating characteristic] curve) as measures of model calibration (ability to predict mortality proportions over classes of risk) and discrimination (ability to discriminate among the patients who will die or survive), respectively. Results: Goodness-of-fit statistics supported model fit for in-hospital, 30-day, and 1-year mortality of all combinations of the CCI score. Combining the CCI score with other administrative data revealed c-statistics of 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69–0.81) for in-hospital mortality, 0.75 (95% CI 0.70–0.80) for 30-day mortality, and 0.72 (95% CI 0.68–0.77) for 1-year mortality. There were no major differences in c-statistics between physiology-based systems and the CCI combined with other administrative data. Conclusion: The CCI combined with administrative data predict short- and long-term mortality for ICU patients as well as physiology-based scores.

Psychiatric Diagnoses and Psychoactive Medication Use Among Nonsurgical Critically Ill Patients Receiving Mechanical Ventilation

IMPORTANCE The relationship between critical illness and psychiatric illness is unclear. OBJECTIVE To assess psychiatric diagnoses and medication prescriptions before and after critical illness. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Population-based cohort study in Denmark of critically ill patients in 2006-2008 with follow-up through 2009, and 2 matched comparison cohorts from hospitalized patients and from the general population. EXPOSURES Critical illness defined as intensive care unit admission with mechanical ventilation. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) of psychiatrist-diagnosed psychiatric illnesses and prescriptions for psychoactive medications in the 5 years before critical illness. For patients with no psychiatric history, quarterly cumulative incidence (risk) and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for diagnoses and medications in the following year, using Cox regression. RESULTS Among 24,179 critically ill patients, 6.2% had 1 or more psychiatric diagnoses in the prior 5 years vs 5.4% for hospitalized patients (adjusted PR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.22-1.42; P<.001) and 2.4% for the general population (adjusted PR, 2.57; 95% CI, 2.41-2.73; P<.001). Five-year preadmission psychoactive prescription rates were similar to hospitalized patients: 48.7% vs 48.8% (adjusted PR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99; P<.001) but were higher than the general population (33.2%; adjusted PR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.38-1.42; P<.001). Among the 9912 critical illness survivors with no psychiatric history, the absolute risk of new psychiatric diagnoses was low but higher than hospitalized patients: 0.5% vs 0.2% over the first 3 months (adjusted HR, 3.42; 95% CI, 1.96-5.99; P <.001), and the general population cohort (0.02%; adjusted HR, 21.77; 95% CI, 9.23-51.36; P<.001). Risk of new psychoactive medication prescriptions was also increased in the first 3 months: 12.7% vs 5.0% for the hospital cohort (adjusted HR, 2.45; 95% CI, 2.19-2.74; P<.001) and 0.7% for the general population (adjusted HR, 21.09; 95% CI, 17.92-24.82; P<.001). These differences had largely resolved by 9 to 12 months after discharge. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Prior psychiatric diagnoses are more common in critically ill patients than in hospital and general population cohorts. Among survivors of critical illness, new psychiatric diagnoses and psychoactive medication use is increased in the months after discharge. Our data suggest both a possible role of psychiatric disease in predisposing patients to critical illness and an increased but transient risk of new psychiatric diagnoses and treatment after critical illness.

One-year mortality among Danish intensive care patients with acute kidney injury: a cohort study

IntroductionThere are few studies on long-term mortality among intensive care unit (ICU) patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). We assessed the prevalence of AKI at ICU admission, its impact on mortality during one year of follow-up, and whether the influence of AKI varied in subgroups of ICU patients.MethodsWe identified all adults admitted to any ICU in Northern Denmark (approximately 1.15 million inhabitants) from 2005 through 2010 using population-based medical registries. AKI was defined at ICU admission based on the risk, injury, failure, loss of kidney function, and end-stage kidney disease (RIFLE) classification, using plasma creatinine changes. We included four severity levels: AKI-risk, AKI-injury, AKI-failure, and without AKI. We estimated cumulative mortality by the Kaplan-Meier method and hazard ratios (HRs) using a Cox model adjusted for potential confounders. We computed estimates for all ICU patients and for subgroups with different comorbidity levels, chronic kidney disease status, surgical status, primary hospital diagnosis, and treatment with mechanical ventilation or with inotropes/vasopressors.ResultsWe identified 30,762 ICU patients, of which 4,793 (15.6%) had AKI at ICU admission. Thirty-day mortality was 35.5% for the AKI-risk group, 44.2% for the AKI-injury group, and 41.0% for the AKI-failure group, compared with 12.8% for patients without AKI. The corresponding adjusted HRs were 1.96 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.80-2.13), 2.60 (95% CI 2.38 to 2.85) and 2.41 (95% CI 2.21 to 2.64), compared to patients without AKI. Among patients surviving 30 days (n = 25,539), 31- to 365 day mortality was 20.5% for the AKI-risk group, 23.8% for the AKI-injury group, and 23.2% for the AKI-failure group, compared with 10.7% for patients without AKI, corresponding to adjusted HRs of 1.33 (95% CI 1.17 to 1.51), 1.60 (95% CI 1.37 to1.87), and 1.64 (95% CI 1.42 to 1.90), respectively. The association between AKI and 30-day mortality was evident in subgroups of the ICU population, with associations persisting in most subgroups during the 31- to 365-day follow-up period, although to a lesser extent than for the 30-day period.ConclusionsAKI at ICU admission is an important prognostic factor for mortality throughout the subsequent year.

Incidence of acute kidney injury in cancer patients: A Danish population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND Cancer patients may be at increased risk of acute kidney injury, but evidence is limited. METHODS We assembled a cohort of incident cancer patients diagnosed within a population-based hospital setting in Northern Denmark (population:~1.2 million) between 1999 and 2006. Patients were followed up to five years for acute kidney injury, identified using creatinine measurements recorded in a laboratory database covering the study area. Acute kidney injury was defined according to recent consensus criteria as a 50% increase in creatinine level. We computed incidence rate, 1-year, and 5-year risks of acute kidney injury, accounting for competing risk from death. Acute kidney injury incidence was compared between cancers using a Cox regression model adjusted for important confounders. RESULTS Among 37,267 incident cancer patients with a creatinine measurement, 9613 (25.8%) developed acute kidney injury during 77,376 person-years. The incidence was 258 (95%CI: 252-264) per 1000 person-years the first year after cancer diagnosis decreasing to 43 (95%CI: 41-44) thereafter. The 1-year risk was 17.5% (95%CI: 17.1-17.9%), and the 5-year risk was 27.0% (95%CI: 26.5-27.5%). We observed the highest 1-year risk in patients with kidney cancer [44.0% (95%CI: 40.5-47.5)], liver cancer [33.0% (95%CI: 28.2-37.8%)], or multiple myeloma [31.8% (95%CI: 27.3-36.3%)]. Similar results were observed after adjustment for confounders. Both overall and for most specific cancer sites, risks were higher among patients with distant metastases at cancer diagnosis. CONCLUSION Acute kidney injury is a common complication in cancer patients, particularly in patients with kidney cancer, liver cancer, or multiple myeloma.

Mortality in elderly ICU patients: a cohort study.

The population is aging. We examined changes in the proportion of elderly (≥ 80 years) intensive care unit (ICU) patients during 2005–2011 and the association between age and mortality controlling for preexisting morbidity.

Concomitant use of clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors is not associated with major adverse cardiovascular events following coronary stent implantation

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2012; 35: 165–174

Methotrexate compliance among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the influence of disease activity, disease duration, and co-morbidity in a 10-year longitudinal study

Objective: To assess methotrexate (MTX) compliance among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Methods: Using prescription data, we conducted a 10-year longitudinal study among RA patients who were first-time MTX users. MTX compliance was expressed as the continuous measure of medication gaps (CMG), that is the proportion of treatment gaps compared with the total observation period stratified by age, sex, C-reactive protein (CRP), haemoglobin, co-morbidity, concurrent medication, and disease duration. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the influence of disease activity, disease duration, and co-morbidity on compliance. Results: A total of 941 RA patients redeemed 7501 MTX prescriptions during our study period. Overall, the patients had gaps in 12.3% of the observation period corresponding to a mean period not covered with MTX of 1.5 months/year if all participants were followed for 1 year. Patients with CRP > 32 mg/L had a lower mean CMG than patients with CRP < 8 mg/L [adjusted CMG difference –0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) –0.07 to – 0.02]. Patients with a disease duration < 1 year had a lower mean CMG than patients with a disease duration between 1 and 5 years (adjusted CMG difference 0.01, 95% CI –0.01 to 0.04). Patients with a diagnosis of ulcer/mild liver disease had a higher mean CMG than patients without this diagnosis (adjusted CMG difference 0.04, 95% CI 0.004–0.084). Conclusion: MTX compliance was generally high among RA patients. Compliance decreased with increasing disease duration, low to moderate disease activity, and the presence of a diagnosis of ulcer/mild liver disease.

Preadmission statin use and one-year mortality among patients in intensive care - A cohort study

IntroductionStatins reduce risk of cardiovascular events and have beneficial pleiotropic effects; both may reduce mortality in critically ill patients. We examined whether statin use was associated with risk of death in general intensive care unit (ICU) patients.MethodsCohort study of 12,483 critically ill patients > 45 yrs of age with a first-time admission to one of three highly specialized ICUs within the Aarhus University Hospital network, Denmark, between 2001 and 2007. Statin users were identified through population-based prescription databases. We computed cumulative mortality rates 0-30 days and 31-365 days after ICU admission and mortality rate ratios (MRRs), using Cox regression analysis controlling for potential confounding factors (demographics, use of other cardiovascular drugs, comorbidity, markers of social status, diagnosis, and surgery).Results1882 (14.3%) ICU patients were current statin users. Statin users had a reduced risk of death within 30 days of ICU admission [users: 22.1% vs. non-users 25.0%; adjusted MRR = 0.76 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69 to 0.86)]. Statin users also had a reduced risk of death within one year after admission to the ICU [users: 36.4% vs. non-users 39.9%; adjusted MRR = 0.79 (95% CI: 0.73 to 0.86)]. Reduced risk of death associated with current statin use remained robust in various subanalyses and in an analysis using propensity score matching. Former use of statins and current use of non-statin lipid-lowering drugs were not associated with reduced risk of death.ConclusionsPreadmission statin use was associated with reduced risk of death following intensive care. The associations seen could be a pharmacological effect of statins, but unmeasured differences in characteristics of statin users and non-users cannot be entirely ruled out.

Five-year risk of end-stage renal disease among intensive care patients surviving dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury: a nationwide cohort study

IntroductionDialysis-requiring acute kidney injury (D-AKI) is common among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, follow-up data on the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among these patients remain sparse. We assessed the short-term and long-term risk of ESRD after D-AKI, compared it with the risk in other ICU patients, and examined the risk within subgroups of ICU patients.MethodsWe used population-based medical registries to identify all adult patients admitted to an ICU in Denmark from 2005 through 2010, who survived for 90 days after ICU admission. D-AKI was defined as needing acute dialysis at or after ICU admission. Subsequent ESRD was defined as a need for chronic dialysis for more than 90 days or a kidney transplant. We computed the cumulative ESRD risk for patients with D-AKI and for other ICU patients, taking into account death as a competing risk, and computed hazard ratios (HRs) using a Cox model adjusted for potential confounders.ResultsWe identified 107,937 patients who survived for 90 days after ICU admission. Of these, 3,062 (2.8%) had an episode of D-AKI following ICU admission. The subsequent risk of ESRD up to 180 days after ICU admission was 8.5% for patients with D-AKI, compared with 0.1% for other ICU patients. This corresponds to an adjusted HR of 105.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 78.1 to 142.9). Among patients who survived 180 days after ICU admission without developing ESRD (n = 103,996), the 181-day to 5-year ESRD risk was 3.8% for patients with D-AKI, compared with 0.3% for other ICU patients, corresponding to an adjusted HR of 6.2 (95% CI: 4.7 to 8.1). During the latter period, the impact of AKI was most pronounced in the youngest patients, aged 15 to 49 years (adjusted HR = 12.8, 95% CI: 6.5 to 25.4) and among patients without preexisting chronic kidney disease (adjusted HR = 11.9, 95% CI: 8.5 to 16.8).ConclusionD-AKI is an important risk factor for ESRD for up to five years after ICU admission.

The impact of pre‐admission morbidity level on 3‐year mortality after intensive care: a Danish cohort study

Background: Chronic diseases are common among intensive care unit (ICU) patients and may worsen their prognosis. We examined the prevalence and impact of pre‐admission/index morbidity among ICU patients compared with a general population cohort.