Objectives The diagnosis and management of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) remains a challenge. This initiative aimed to develop a protocol for the diagnosis and management of CIRCI which will facilitate informed decision-making among clinicians through consensus-building among a multi-disciplinary team. Methodology This was a single-center, qualitative study which utilized the modified Delphi method, consisting of a sequential iterative process with two rounds of voting. A cut-off value of 70% was set as the threshold for reaching consensus. Results The protocol on the diagnosis and management of CIRCI was approved after two rounds of voting, with all the components reaching 83.3%-100% agreement. This protocol on CIRCI provided a framework for the clinical approach to refractory shock. It was advocated that all cases of probable CIRCI should immediately be started on hydrocortisone at 200 mg/day. The definitive diagnosis of CIRCI is established through a random serum cortisol <10 mcg/dL or increase in cortisol of <9 mcg/dL at 60 minutes after a 250 mcg ACTH stimulation test in patients with indeterminate random cortisol levels. Conclusion The presence of refractory shock unresponsive to fluid resuscitation and vasopressors should warrant the clinical suspicion for the existence of CIRCI and should trigger a cascade of management strategies.
Objectives. Among critically ill patients, there is usually impairment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, leading to a condition known as critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI). This investigation aims to determine the incidence of and characterize CIRCI among patients with COVID-19 as well as to analyze the outcomes of these critically ill patients.Methodology. This is a single-center, retrospective cohort study that investigated the occurrence of CIRCI among critically ill patients infected with COVID-19.Results. In this cohort, there were 145 COVID-19-positive patients with refractory shock, which reflects that 22.94% of the COVID-19 admissions have probable CIRCI.Patients who were given corticosteroids were found to have statistically significant longer median days on a ventilator (p=0.001). However, those on the corticosteroid arm were at higher risk of morbidity and mortality and a greater proportion had organ dysfunction. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that SOFA score was a significant predictor of mortality in CIRCI (p=0.013).Conclusion. CIRCI has a unique presentation among patients with COVID-19 because of the presence of a high level of inflammation in this life-threatening infection. It is possibly a harbinger of a markedly increased risk of mortality in these patients.
Introduction A significant number of patients afflicted with COVID-19, a viral illness caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), present with refractory shock, hemodynamic instability, acute respiratory distress syndrome and other severe manifestations of infection, warranting intensive care. Among critically ill patients, there is usually impairment of the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis, leading to a condition known as critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI). Currently, the incidence of CIRCI among critically ill patients with COVID-19 is unknown. There is also a paucity of data on how CIRCI is likely a significant risk factor for poor clinical outcomes in COVID-19 infected patients. Addressing this knowledge gap will shape decision-making in the intensive care setting because CIRCI is a treatable condition, and intervention for CIRCI in the form of glucocorticoids, when utilized in the appropriate context, is potentially lifesaving. Objectives The aims of this investigation were to determine the occurrence of CIRCI among patients with COVID-19 as well as to analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these critically ill patients. Methodology This was a single-center, retrospective, cohort study that investigated the occurrence of CIRCI among critically ill patients infected with COVID-19. A chart review among admitted patients was done. Results In this cohort, there were 145 COVID-19 patients included. The median age of the patients was at 63 years old and the study population comprised of 57.24% males. Septic shock was the top etiology of shock at 72.22% of the population. The median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was 13 which suggests that most of the patients included in the study had a very high mortality rate, 40-50% risk of death. There was a high rate of organ dysfunction. For COVID-19 patients in refractory shock, there was a high rate of utilization of steroids at 70.83%. After corticosteroids were initiated, blood pressure improved in 70.45% of the patients. Patients who were given corticosteroids were found to have statistically significant longer median days on ventilator (p= 0.001). However, those on the corticosteroid arm were at higher risk of morbidity and mortality as signified by statistically significant higher APACHE II scores (p = 0.0233), MPM scores (p = 0.006), and a greater proportion of patients with acute kidney injury (p= 0.028), oliguria, (p= 0.020) and CNS dysfunction (p = 0.019). Significant predictors of mortality in CIRCI are higher MPM and APACHE II scores and longer time to initiation of steroids. Conclusion There is a substantially high incidence of CIRCI among critically ill patients infected with COVID-19. CIRCI has a unique presentation among COVID-19 patients because of the presence of a high level of inflammation in this life-threatening infection. It is a harbinger of markedly increased risk of mortality in these patients. Presentation: Sunday, June 12, 2022 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
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