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. 2021 Jun 23;47(3):e20200569.
doi: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20200569. eCollection 2021.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation: description, risk factors for mortality, and performance of the SOFA score

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Sebastián Ariel Núñez  1 , Guillermina Roveda  1 , Mariela Soledad Zárate  2 , Mónica Emmerich  3 , María Teresa Verón  1
Affiliations

Ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation: description, risk factors for mortality, and performance of the SOFA score

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Sebastián Ariel Núñez et al. J Bras Pneumol. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious complication of mechanical ventilation (MV). However, data on VAP in patients on prolonged MV (PMV) are scarce. We aimed to describe the characteristics of VAP patients on PMV and to identify factors associated with mortality.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study including VAP patients on PMV. We recorded baseline characteristics, as well as 30-day and 90-day mortality rates. Variables associated with mortality were determined by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression model.

Results: We identified 80 episodes of VAP in 62 subjects on PMV. The medians for age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, SOFA score, and days on MV were, respectively, 69.5 years, 5, 4, and 56 days. Episodes of VAP occurred between days 21 and 50 of MV in 28 patients (45.2%) and, by day 90 of MV, in 48 patients (77.4%). The 30-day and 90-day mortality rates were 30.0% and 63.7%, respectively. There were associations of 30-day mortality with the SOFA score (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.12-1.52; p < 0.001) and use of vasoactive agents (HR = 4.0; 95% CI: 1.2-12.9; p = 0.02), whereas 90-day mortality was associated with age (HR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00-1.05; p = 0.003), SOFA score (HR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07-1.34; p = 0.001), use of vasoactive agents (HR = 4.07; 95% CI: 1.93-8.55; p < 0.001), and COPD (HR = 3.35; 95% CI: 1.71-6.60; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Mortality rates in VAP patients on PMV are considerably high. The onset of VAP can occur various days after MV initiation. The SOFA score is useful for predicting fatal outcomes. The factors associated with mortality could help guide therapeutic decisions and determine prognosis.

Objetivo:: A pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica (PAVM) é uma séria complicação da ventilação mecânica (VM). Entretanto, dados sobre PAVM em pacientes em VM prolongada (VMP) são escassos. Nosso objetivo foi descrever as características de pacientes com PAVM em VMP e identificar fatores associados à mortalidade.

Métodos:: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo incluindo pacientes com PAVM em VMP. Foram registradas características basais, bem como as taxas de mortalidade em 30 e 90 dias. As variáveis associadas à mortalidade foram determinadas por meio da análise de sobrevida de Kaplan-Meier e do modelo de regressão de Cox.

Resultados:: Foram identificados 80 episódios de PAVM em 62 indivíduos em VMP. As medianas de idade, índice de comorbidade de Charlson, pontuação no SOFA, e dias em VM foram, respectivamente, de 69,5 anos, 5, 4 e 56 dias. Os episódios de PAVM ocorreram entre o 21º e o 50º dia de VM em 28 pacientes (45,2%) e até o 90º dia de VM em 48 pacientes (77,4%). As taxas de mortalidade em 30 e 90 dias foram de 30,0% e 63,7%, respectivamente. A mortalidade em 30 dias associou-se a pontuação no SOFA (razão de risco [RR] = 1,30; IC95%: 1,12-1,52; p < 0,001) e uso de drogas vasoativas (RR = 4,0; IC95%: 1,2-12,9; p = 0,02), enquanto a mortalidade em 90 dias associou-se a idade (RR = 1,03; IC95%: 1,00-1,05; p = 0,003), pontuação no SOFA (RR = 1,20; IC95%: 1,07-1,34; p = 0,001), uso de drogas vasoativas (RR = 4,07; IC95%: 1,93-8,55; p < 0,001) e DPOC (RR = 3,35; IC95%: 1,71-6,60; p < 0,001).

Conclusões:: As taxas de mortalidade em pacientes com PAVM em VMP são consideravelmente altas. O início da PAVM pode ocorrer vários dias após a instituição da VM. O escore SOFA é útil para predição de desfechos fatais. Os fatores associados à mortalidade podem ajudar a orientar as decisões terapêuticas e a determinar o prognóstico.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Number of episodes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) per days of mechanical ventilation. The last episode of VAP occurred on day 564 of mechanical ventilation.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Kaplan-Meier curves for variables associated with 90-day mortality in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation. Age and SOFA score were dichotomized for the analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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