Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction compares favorably to thrombolysis. In previous studies the benefit has been restricted to the early postinfarction period with no additional risk decrease beyond this period. Long-term outcome after use of third-generation thrombolytics and modern adjunctive pharmaceutics in the 2 treatment arms has not been investigated. This study was conducted to compare 5-year outcome after updated regimens of PPCI or thrombolysis. Patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction were randomized to enoxaparin and abciximab followed by PPCI (n = 101) or enoxaparin followed by reteplase (n = 104), with prehospital initiation of therapy in 42% of patients. Data on survival and major cardiac events were obtained from Swedish national registries after 5.3 years. PPCI resulted in a better outcome with respect to the composite of death or recurrent myocardial infarction (hazard ratio 0.54, confidence interval 0.31 to 0.95) compared to thrombolysis. This was attributed to a significant decrease in cardiac deaths (hazard ratio 0.16, confidence interval 0.04 to 0.74). The difference evolved continuously over the 5-year follow-up. After adjustment for covariates, a significant benefit remained with respect to cardiac death or recurrent infarction but not for the composite of total survival or recurrent myocardial infarction (p = 0.07). The observed differences were not seen in patients in whom therapy was initiated in the prehospital phase. In conclusion, PPCI in combination with enoxaparin and abciximab compares favorably to thrombolysis in combination with enoxaparin with a risk decrease that stretches beyond the early postinfarction period. Prehospital thrombolysis may, however, match PPCI in long-term outcome.

Peripartumkardiomyopati är en sällsynt form av hjärtsvikt. Diagnostiska kriterier är nytillkommen hjärtsvikt från sen graviditet och upp till fem månader efter förlossning, avsaknad av annan förklaring till hjärtsvikt och nedsatt systolisk vänsterkammarfunktion Orsaken till tillståndet tros vara omvandling av prolaktin till en kardiotoxisk variant. Terapin är den etablerade, men ACE-hämmare och ARB får inte ges till ammande mödrar. Hjärttransplantation har tillgripits. Maligna hjärtarytmier har krävt behandling med implanterbar defibrillator och pacemaker. Hämning av produktionen av prolaktin med bromokriptin har gett goda resultat i en liten studie. Resultaten har inte bekräftats.

Biobased composites were manufactured by using a compression moulding technique. Novel thermoset resins from soybean oil were used as matrix while flax fibres were used as reinforcement. The airlaid fibres were stacked randomly while woven fabrics were stacked crosswisely (90°) and impregnation was done manually. The fibre/ resin ratio was 60% to 40%.

Background: Medical emergency teams (METs) have been implemented to reduce hospital mortality by the early recognition and treatment of potentially life-threatening conditions. The objective of this study was to establish a clinically useful association between clinical variables and mortality risk, among patients assessed by the MET, and further to design an easy-to-use risk score for the prediction of death within 30 days.

Methods: Observational retrospective register study in a tertiary university hospital in Sweden, comprising 2,601 patients, assessed by the MET from 2010 to 2015. Patient registry data at the time of MET assessment was analysed from an epidemiological perspective, using univariable and multivariable analyses with death within 30 days as the outcome variable. Predictors of outcome were defined from age, gender, type of ward for admittance, previous medical history, acute medical condition, vital parameters and laboratory biomarkers. Identified factors independently associated with mortality were then used to develop a prognostic risk score for mortality.

Results: The overall 30-day mortality was high (29.0%). We identified thirteen factors independently associated with 30-day mortality concerning; age, type of ward for admittance, vital parameters, laboratory biomarkers, previous medical history and acute medical condition. A MET risk score for mortality based on the impact of these individual thirteen factors in the model yielded a median (range) AUC of 0.780 (0.774-0.785) with good calibration. When corrected for optimism by internal validation, the score yielded a median (range) AUC of 0.768 (0.762-0.773).

Conclusions: Among clinical variables available at the time of MET assessment, thirteen factors were found to be independently associated with 30-day mortality. By applying a simple risk scoring system based on these individual factors, patients at higher risk of dying within 30 days after the MET assessment may be identified and treated earlier in the process.

OBJECTIVE: To determine changes over time in 30-day survival and the incidence of shockable rhythms after in-hospital cardiac arrest, from a countrywide perspective.

METHODS: Patient information from the Swedish Registry for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation was analysed in relation to monitoring level of ward and initial rhythm. The primary outcome was defined as survival at 30 days. Changes in survival and incidence of shockable rhythms were reported per year from 2008 to 2018. Also, epidemiological data were compared between two time periods, 2008-2013 and 2014-2018.

RESULTS: In all, 23,186 unique patients (38.6% female) were included in the study. The mean age was 72.6 (SD 13.2) years. Adjusted trends indicated an overall increase in 30-day survival from 24.7% in 2008 to 32.5% in 2018, (on monitoring wards from 32.5% to 43.1% and on non-monitoring wards from 17.6% to 23.1%). The proportion of patients found in shockable rhythms decreased overall from 31.6% in 2008 to 23.6% in 2018, (on monitoring wards from 42.5% to 35.8 % and on non-monitoring wards from 20.1% to 12.9%). Among the patients found in shockable rhythms, the proportion of patients defibrillated before the arrival of cardiac arrest team increased from 71.0% to 80.9%.

CONCLUSIONS: In an 11-year perspective, resuscitation in in-hospital cardiac arrest in Sweden was characterised by an overall increase in the adjusted 30-day survival, despite a decrease in shockable rhythms. An increased proportion, among the patients found in a shockable rhythm, who were defibrillated before the arrival of a cardiac arrest team may have contributed to the finding.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge about change in the characteristics and outcome of in hospital cardiac arrests (IHCAs) is insufficient.

AIM: To describe a 20year perspective of in hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in wards with and without monitoring capabilities.

SETTINGS: Sahlgrenska University Hospital (800 beds). The number of beds varied during the time of survey from 850-746 TIME: 1994-2013.

METHODS: Retrospective registry study. Patients were assessed in four fiveyear intervals.

INCLUSION CRITERIA: Witnessed and nonwitnessed IHCAs when cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was attempted.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Age below 18years.

RESULTS: In all, there were 2340 patients with IHCA during the time of the survey. 30-Day survival increased significantly in wards with monitoring facilities from 43.5% to 55.6% (p=0.002) for trend but not in wards without such facilities (p=0.003 for interaction between wards with/without monitoring facilities and time period). The CPC-score among survivors did not change significantly in any of the two types of wards. In wards with monitoring facilities there was a significant reduction of the delay time from collapse to start of CPR and an increase in the proportion of patients who were defibrillated before the arrival of the rescue team. In wards without such facilities there was a significant reduction of the delay from collapse to defibrillation. However, the latter observation corresponds to a marked decrease in the proportion of patients found in ventricular fibrillation.

CONCLUSION: In a 20year perspective the treatment of in hospital cardiac arrest was characterised by a more rapid start of treatment. This was reflected in a significant increase in 30-day survival in wards with monitoring facilities. In wards without such facilities there was a decrease in patients found in ventricular fibrillation.

AIMS: Individuals with low socioeconomic status (SES) face widespread prejudice in society. Whether SES disparities exist in treatment and survival following in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is unclear. The aim of the current retrospective registry study was to examine SES disparities in IHCA treatment and survival, assessing SES at the patient level, and adjusting for major demographic, clinical, and contextual factors.

METHODS AND RESULTS: In total, 24 217 IHCAs from the Swedish Register of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation were analysed. Education and income constituted SES proxies. Controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, comorbidity, heart rhythm, aetiology, hospital, and year, primary analyses showed that high (vs. low) SES patients were significantly less likely to receive delayed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (highly educated: OR = 0.89, and high income: OR = 0.98). Furthermore, patients with high SES were significantly more likely to survive CPR (high income: OR = 1.02), to survive to hospital discharge with good neurological outcome (highly educated: OR = 1.27; high income: OR = 1.06), and to survive to 30 days (highly educated: OR = 1.21; and high income: OR = 1.05). Secondary analyses showed that patients with high SES were also significantly more likely to receive prophylactic heart rhythm monitoring (highly educated: OR = 1.16; high income: OR = 1.02), and this seems to partially explain the observed SES differences in CPR delay.

CONCLUSION: There are clear SES differences in IHCA treatment and survival, even when controlling for major sociodemographic, clinical, and contextual factors. This suggests that patients with low SES could be subject to discrimination when suffering IHCA.

AIMS : Previous research on racial/ethnic disparities in relation to cardiac arrest has mainly focused on black vs. white disparities in the USA. The great majority of these studies concerns out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The current nationwide registry study aims to explore whether there are ethnic differences in treatment and survival following in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA), examining possible disparities towards Middle Eastern and African minorities in a European context.

METHODS AND RESULTS: In this retrospective registry study, 24 217 patients from the IHCA part of the Swedish Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation were included. Data on patient ethnicity were obtained from Statistics Sweden. Regression analysis was performed to assess the impact of ethnicity on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) delay, CPR duration, survival immediately after CPR, and the medical team's reported satisfaction with the treatment. Middle Eastern and African patients were not treated significantly different compared to Nordic patients when controlling for hospital, year, age, sex, socioeconomic status, comorbidity, aetiology, and initial heart rhythm. Interestingly, we find that Middle Eastern patients were more likely to survive than Nordic patients (odds ratio = 1.52).

CONCLUSION: Overall, hospital staff do not appear to treat IHCA patients differently based on their ethnicity. Nevertheless, Middle Eastern patients are more likely to survive IHCA.

Purpose: Insomnia has adverse effects on people with epilepsy. We aimed to test a novel cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) app-based intervention on insomnia symptoms and social psychological factors in people with epilepsy and to examine the possible mechanisms among the factors.

Methods: Participants were recruited from neurology clinics in Iran and comprised individuals diagnosed with epilepsy and having moderate to severe insomnia. A two-arm randomized controlled trial design was used, consisting of a treatment group (CBT-I; n = 160) and control group (patient education; n = 160). Primary outcomes were self-reported sleep quality, insomnia severity, and sleep hygiene behavior and objective sleep characteristics measured by actigraphy. Secondary outcomes were attitude, perceived behavioral control, intention, action planning, coping planning, behavioral automaticity, self-monitoring, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QoL). All outcomes were measured at baseline, and at one, three, and six months postintervention, except objective sleep, which was assessed at baseline, and one and six months postintervention. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models.

Results: Current findings showed that sleep quality, insomnia severity, sleep hygiene behavior, and sleep onset latency were significantly improved in the CBT-I group compared with the patient education group at all measurement points. Also, the CBT-I group had significantly improved anxiety, depression, and QoL compared with the patient education group. Mediation analyses showed that attitude, intention, coping planning, self-monitoring, and behavioral automaticity significantly mediated the effect of the intervention on sleep outcomes.

Conclusion: Results support the use of the CBT-I app to improve sleep outcomes among people with epilepsy.

AIMS: To study aetiologies of in-hospital cardiac arrests (IHCAs) and their association with 30-day survival.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Observational study with data from national registries. Specific aetiologies (n = 22) of IHCA patients between April 2018 and December 2020 were categorized into cardiac vs. non-cardiac and six main aetiology categories: myocardial ischemia, other cardiac causes, pulmonary causes, infection, haemorrhage, and other non-cardiac causes. Main endpoints were proportions in each aetiology, 30-day survival, and favourable neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category scale 1-2) at discharge. Among, 4320 included IHCA patients (median age 74 years, 63.1% were men), approximate 50% had cardiac causes with a 30-day survival of 48.4% compared to 18.7% among non-cardiac causes (P < 0.001). The proportion in each category were: myocardial ischemia 29.9%, pulmonary 21.4%, other cardiac causes 19.6%, other non-cardiac causes 11.6%, infection 9%, and haemorrhage 8.5%. The odds ratio (OR) for 30-day survival compared to myocardial ischemia for each category were: other cardiac causes OR 1.48 (CI 1.24-1.76); pulmonary causes OR 0.36 (CI 0.3-0.44); infection OR 0.25 (CI 0.18-0.33); haemorrhage OR 0.22 (CI 0.16-0.3); and other non-cardiac causes OR 0.56 (CI 0.45-0.69). IHCA caused by myocardial ischemia had the best favourable neurological outcome while those caused by infection had the lowest OR 0.06 (CI 0.03-0.13).

CONCLUSION: In this nationwide observational study, aetiologies with cardiac and non-cardiac causes of IHCA were evenly distributed. IHCA caused by myocardial ischemia and other cardiac causes had the strongest associations with 30-day survival and neurological outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To study characteristics and outcomes among patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) due to pulmonary aspiration.

DESIGN: A retrospective observational study based on data from the Swedish Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (SRCR).

SETTING: The SRCR is a nationwide quality registry that covers 96% of all Swedish hospitals. Participating hospitals vary in size from secondary hospitals to university hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS: The study included patients registered in the SRCR in the period 2008 to 2017. We compared patients with IHCA caused by pulmonary aspiration (n=127), to those with IHCA caused by respiratory failure of other causes (n=2197).

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was 30-day survival. Secondary outcome was sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) defined as ROSC at the scene and admitted alive to the intensive care unit.

RESULTS: In the aspiration group 80% of IHCA occurred on general wards, as compared with 63.6% in the respiratory failure group (p<0.001). Patients in the aspiration group were less likely to be monitored at the time of the arrest (18.5% vs 38%, p<0.001) and had a significantly lower rate of sustained ROSC (36.5% vs 51.6%, p=0.001). The unadjusted 30-day survival rate compared with the respiratory failure group was 7.9% versus 18.0%, p=0.024. In a propensity score analysis (including variables; year, age, gender, location of arrest, initial heart rhythm, ECG monitoring, witnessed collapse and a previous medical history of; cancer, myocardial infarction or heart failure) the OR for 30-day survival was 0.46 (95% CI 0.19 to 0.94).

CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital cardiac arrest preceded by pulmonary aspiration occurred more often on general wards among unmonitored patients. These patients had a lower 30-day survival rate compared with IHCA caused by respiratory failure of other causes.

Background

No previous study has evaluated patients attitudes towards inclusion in an ongoing cardiac arrest clinical trial. The aim of this study was to assess patientś willingness and motives to participate in the ongoing randomized controlled drug trial “Vasopressin and Steroids in addition to Adrenaline in cardiac arrest” (VAST-A trial) in case of an in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA).

Objectives

Hospitalized patients, men ≥ 18 and women ≥ 50 years, were asked for informed consent for inclusion in the VAST-A trial in case of an IHCA, the reason for approving or declining inclusion in the trial and baseline characteristics.

Methods

Patients admitted to hospital were asked to give informed consent of inclusion in VAST-A in case of an IHCA during their hospital stay. Patients were also asked why they approved or declined inclusion as well as baseline characteristics questions.

Results

1,064 patients were asked about willingness to participate in the VAST-A trial, of these 902 (84.8%) patients approved inclusion. A subgroup of 411 patients were, except willingness, also asked about motives to participate or not and basic characteristics. The main reason for approving inclusion was to contribute to research (n = 328, 83.9%). The main reason for declining inclusion was concerns regarding testing the drug treatment (n = 6, 30%).

Conclusion

Among hospitalized patients the vast majority gave informed consent to inclusion in an ongoing randomized cardiac arrest drug trial. The main reason for approving inclusion was to contribute to research.

Introduction: Studies examining the factors linked to survival after out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have either aimed to describe the characteristics and outcomes of OHCA in different parts of the world, or focused on certain factors and whether they were associated with survival. Unfortunately, this approach does not measure how strong each factor is in predicting survival after OHCA. Aim: To investigate the relative importance of 16 well-recognized factors in OHCA at the time point of ambulance arrival, and before any interventions or medications were given, by using a machine learning approach that implies building models directly from the data, and arranging those factors in order of importance in predicting survival. Methods: Using a data-driven approach with a machine learning algorithm, we studied the relative importance of 16 factors assessed during the pre-hospital phase of OHCA We examined 45,000 cases of OHCA between 2008 and 2016. Results: Overall, the top five factors to predict survival in order of importance were: initial rhythm, age, early Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR, time to CPR and CPR before arrival of EMS), time from EMS dispatch until EMS arrival, and place of cardiac arrest The largest difference in importance was noted between initial rhythm and the remaining predictors. A number of factors, including time of arrest and sex were of little importance. Conclusion: Using machine learning, we confirm that the most important predictor of survival in OHCA is initial rhythm, followed by age, time to start of CPR, EMS response time and place of OHCA. Several factors traditionally viewed as important e.g. sex, were of little importance.

AIM: To investigate characteristics and outcome among patients suffering in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) with the emphasis on gender and age.

METHODS: Using the Swedish Register of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, we analyzed associations between gender, age and co-morbidities, etiology, management, 30-day survival and cerebral function among survivors in 14,933 cases of IHCA. Age was divided into three ordered categories: young (18-49years), middle-aged (50-64years) and older (65years and above). Comparisons between men and women were age adjusted.

RESULTS: The mean age was 72.7years and women were significantly older than men. Renal dysfunction was the most prevalent co-morbidity. Myocardial infarction/ischemia was the most common condition preceding IHCA, with men having 27% higher odds of having MI as the underlying etiology. A shockable rhythm was found in 31.8% of patients, with men having 52% higher odds of being found in VT/VF. After adjusting for various confounders, it was found that men had a 10% lower chance than women of surviving to 30days. Older individuals were managed less aggressively than younger patients. Increasing age was associated with lower 30-day survival but not with poorer cerebral function among survivors.

CONCLUSION: When adjusting for various confounders, it was found that men had a 10% lower chance than women of surviving to 30days after in-hospital cardiac arrest. Older individuals were managed less aggressively than younger patients, despite a lower chance of survival. Higher age was, however, not associated with poorer cerebral function among survivors.

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of oxygen therapy on cardiovascular outcomes in relation to sex in patients with confirmed myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: The DETermination of the role of Oxygen in suspected Acute Myocardial Infarction trial randomized 6,629 patients to oxygen at 6 L/min for 6-12 hours or ambient air. In the present subgroup analysis including 5,010 patients (1,388 women and 3,622 men) with confirmed MI, we report the effect of supplemental oxygen on the composite of all-cause death, rehospitalization with MI, or heart failure at long-term follow-up, stratified according to sex.

Results: Event rate for the composite endpoint was 18.1% in women allocated to oxygen, compared to 21.4% in women allocated to ambient air (hazard ratio [HR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65-1.05). In men, the incidence was 13.6% in patients allocated to oxygen compared to 13.3% in patients allocated to ambient air (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.86-1.23). No significant interaction in relation to sex was found (P=.16). Irrespective of allocated treatment, the composite endpoint occurred more often in women compared to men (19.7 vs 13.4%, HR 1.51; 95% CI, 1.30-1.75). After adjustment for age alone, there was no difference between the sexes (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.91-1.24), which remained consistent after multivariate adjustment.

Conclusion: Oxygen therapy in normoxemic MI patients did not significantly affect all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for MI or heart failure in women or men. The observed worse outcome in women was explained by differences in baseline characteristics, especially age

Modern technology has enabled the use of new forms of information in the care of critically ill patients. In intensive care units (ICUs), technology can simultaneously reduce the lived experience of illness and magnify the objective dimensions of patient care. The aim of this study, based upon two empirical studies, is to find from a philosophical point of view a more comprehensive understanding for the dominance of technology within intensive care. Along with caring for critically ill patients, technology is part of the ICU staff's everyday life. Both technology and caring relationships are of indispensable value. Tools are useful, but technology can never replace the closeness and empathy of the human touch. It is a question of harmonizing the demands of subjectivity with objective signs. The challenge for caregivers in ICU is to know when to heighten the importance of the objective and measurable dimensions provided by technology and when to magnify the patients’ lived experiences, and to live and deal with the ambiguity of the technical dimension of care and the human side of nursing.

Equipment and procedures developed during the past several decades have made the modern intensive care unit (ICU) the hospital’s most technologically advanced environment. In terms of patient care, are these advances unmitigated gains? This study aimed to develop a knowledge base of what it means to be critically ill or injured and cared for in technologically intense environments. A lifeworld perspective guided the investigation. Nine unstructured interviews with intensive care patients comprise its data. The qualitative picture uncovered by a phenomenological analysis shows that contradiction and ambivalence characterized the entire care episode. The threat of death overshadows everything and perforates the patient’s existence. Four inter-related constituents further elucidated the patients’ experiences: the confrontation with death, the encounter with forced dependency, an incomprehensible environment and the ambiguity of being an object of clinical vigilance but invisible at the personal level. Neglect of these issues lead to alienating ‘moments’ that compromised care. Fixed at the end of a one-eyed clinical gaze, patients described feeling marginalized, subjected to rituals of power, a stranger cared for by a stranger. The roar of technology silences the shifting needs of ill people, muffles the whispers of death and compromises the competence of the caregivers. This study challenges today’s caregiving system to develop double vision that would balance clinical competence with a holistic, integrated and comprehensive approach to care. Under such vision, subjectivity and objectivity would be equally honoured, and the broken bonds re-forged between techne, ‘the act of nursing’, and poesis, ‘the art of nursing’.

Background: In neurology and rehabilitation the primary interest for using wearables is to supplement traditionalpatient assessment and monitoring in hospital settings with continuous data collection at home and in communitysettings. The aim of this project was to develop a novel wearable garment with integrated sensors designed forcontinuous monitoring of physiological and movement related variables to evaluate progression, tailor treatmentsand improve diagnosis in epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and stroke. In this paper the early development andevaluation of a prototype designed to monitor movements and heart rate is described. An iterative developmentprocess and evaluation of an upper body garment with integrated sensors included: identification of user needs,specification of technical and garment requirements, garment development and production as well as evaluation ofgarment design, functionality and usability. The project is a multidisciplinary collaboration with experts frommedical, engineering, textile, and material science within the wearITmed consortium. The work was organized inregular meetings, task groups and hands-on workshops. User needs were identified using results from a mixedmethodssystematic review, a focus group study and expert groups. Usability was evaluated in 19 individuals(13 controls, 6 patients with Parkinson’s disease) using semi-structured interviews and qualitative contentanalysis.

Results: The garment was well accepted by the users regarding design and comfort, although the users werecautious about the technology and suggested improvements. All electronic components passed a washabilitytest. The most robust data was obtained from accelerometer and gyroscope sensors while the electrodes forheart rate registration were sensitive to motion artefacts. The algorithm development within the wearITmedconsortium has shown promising results.

Conclusions: The prototype was accepted by the users. Technical improvements are needed, but preliminarydata indicate that the garment has potential to be used as a tool for diagnosis and treatment selection andcould provide added value for monitoring seizures in epilepsy, fluctuations in PD and activity levels in stroke.Future work aims to improve the prototype further, develop algorithms, and evaluate the functionality andusability in targeted patient groups. The potential of incorporating blood pressure and heart-rate variabilitymonitoring will also be explored.

Introduction: Sepsis is life threatening and requires urgent healthcare to reduce suffering and death. Therefore it is important that septic patients are identified early to enable treatment.

Aim: To investigate to what extent EMS personnel identified patients with sepsis using the “BAS 90-30-90” model, and to describe assessments and medical procedures that were undertaken by the personnel.

Methods: This was a retrospective study where 185 EMS medical records were reviewed. The inclusion was based on patients who were later diagnosed with sepsis in the hospital.

Results: A physician assessed the patients in 74 of the EMS cases, which lead to exclusion of these records in regard to the EMS personnel’s ability to identify sepsis. The personnel documented suspicion of severe sepsis in eight (n=8) of the remaining 111 records (7.2%). The proportion of patients ˃65 years of age was 73% (n=135) of which 37% (n=50) were over 80 years old. Thirty-nine percent (39%, n=72) were females. The personnel documented blood pressure in 91% (n=168), respiratory rate in 76% (n=140), saturation in 100% (n=185), temperature in 76% (n=141), and heart rate in 94% (n=174) of the records. Systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg was documented in 14,2% (n=24), respiratory rate ˃30 in 36% (n=50), saturation <90 in 49%  (n=91), temperature >38°C in 37.6% (n=53), and heart rate ˃90 in 70% (n=121) of the records. Documented medical procedures and treatments were intravenous lines (70%, n=130), intravenous fluids (10%, n=19) and administration of oxygen (72%, n=133).

Conclusion: The EMS personnel identified only a few septic patients with the help of the BAS 90-30-90 model when all three criteria would be met for severe sepsis. Either advanced age (>65 years), fever (>38°C) or tachypnea (˃20 breaths/min) appeared to increase the personnel’s suspicion of sepsis. Oxygen, but not intravenous fluids, was given in an adequate way.

BACKGROUND: The DETermination of the role of Oxygen in suspected Acute Myocardial Infarction (DETO2X-AMI) trial did not find any benefit of oxygen therapy compared to ambient air in normoxemic patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may both benefit and be harmed by supplemental oxygen. Thus we evaluated the effect of routine oxygen therapy compared to ambient air in normoxemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction.

METHODS AND RESULTS: =0.77]); there were no significant treatment-by-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease interactions.

CONCLUSIONS: Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients had twice the mortality rate compared to non-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, this prespecified subgroup analysis from the DETO2X-AMI trial on oxygen therapy versus ambient air in normoxemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction revealed no evidence for benefit of routine oxygen therapy consistent with the main trial's findings.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT02290080.

OBJECTIVES: We compare various aspects in the early chain of care among patients with haemorrhagic stroke and ischaemic stroke.

MATERIALS & METHODS: The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and nine emergency hospitals, each with a stroke unit, were included. All patients hospitalised with a first and a final diagnosis of stroke between 15 December 2010 and 15 April 2011 were included. The primary endpoint was the system delay (from call to the EMS until diagnosis). Secondary endpoints were: (i) use of the EMS, (ii) delay from symptom onset until call to the EMS; (iii) priority at the dispatch centre; (iv) priority by the EMS; and (v) suspicion of stroke by the EMS nurse and physician on admission to hospital.

RESULTS: Of 1336 patients, 172 (13%) had a haemorrhagic stroke. The delay from call to the EMS until diagnosis was significantly shorter in haemorrhagic stroke. The patient's decision time was significantly shorter in haemorrhagic stroke. The priority level at the dispatch centre did not differ between the two groups, whereas the EMS nurse gave a significantly higher priority to patients with haemorrhage. There was no significant difference between groups with regard to the suspicion of stroke either by the EMS nurse or by the physician on admission to hospital.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a haemorrhagic stroke differed from other stroke patients with a more frequent and rapid activation of EMS.

Introduction: Bacteraemia is a first stage for patients risking conditions such as septic shock. The primary aim ofthis study is to describe factors in the early chain of care in bacteraemia, factors associated with increased chanceof survival during the subsequent 28 days after admission to hospital. Furthermore, the long-term outcome wasassessed.

Methods: This study has a quantitative design based on data fromEmergencyMedical Services (EMS) and hospitalrecords.

Results: In all, 961 patients were included in the study. Of these patients, 13.5% died during the first 28 days. TheEMS was more frequently used by non-survivors. Among patients who used the EMS, the suspicion of sepsis alreadyon scene was more frequent in survivors. Similarly, EMS personnel noted the ESS code “fever, infection”more frequently for survivors upon arriving on scene. The delay time fromcall to the EMS and admission to hospitaluntil start of antibiotics was similar in survivors and non-survivors. The five-year mortality rate was 50.8%.Five-year mortalitywas 62.6% among those who used the EMS and 29.5% among those who did not (p b 0.0001).

Conclusion: This study shows that among patientswith bacteraemiawho used the EMS, an early suspicion of sepsisor fever/infection was associated with improved early survival whereas the delay time from call to the EMSand admission to hospital until start of treatment with antibiotics was not. 50.8% of all patients were deadafter five years.

BACKGROUND: In order to treat pain optimally, the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) clinician needs to be able to make a reasonable estimation of the severity of the pain. It is hypothesised that various physiological parameters will change as a response to pain.

AIM: In a cohort of patients who were seen by EMS clinicians, to relate the patients' estimated intensity of pain to various physiological parameters.

METHODS: Patients who called for EMS due to pain in a part of western Sweden were included. The intensity of pain was assessed according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) or the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The following were assessed the same time as pain on EMS arrival: heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, moist skin and paleness.

RESULTS: In all, 19,908 patients (≥18 years), were studied (51% women). There were significant associations between intensity of pain and the respiratory rate (r = 0.198; p < 0.0001), heart rate (r = 0.037; p < 0.0001), systolic blood pressure (r = -0.029; p < 0.0001), moist skin (r = 0.143; p < 0.0001) and paleness (r = 0.171; p < 0.0001). The strongest association was found with respiratory rate among patients aged 18-64 years (r = 0.258; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: In the prehospital setting, there were significant but weak correlations between intensity of pain and physiological parameters. The most clinically relevant association was found with an increased respiratory rate and presence of pale and moist skin among patients aged < 65 years. Among younger patients, respiratory rate may support in the clinical evaluation of pain.

Introduction

Registered nurses play a critical role in disaster response and patient care during crises. Recent global events underscore the importance of preparedness for disaster response. However, the readiness of registered nurses and their educational preparation vary. In Sweden, this prompted the National Board of Health and Welfare to introduce a new national curriculum for disaster response. This study aimed to assess how education for undergraduate and specialist registered nurses aligns with this curriculum.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among universities and university colleges in Sweden offering undergraduate and specialist nursing programs. Surveys were sent to all 25 higher education institutions providing nursing education in November 2023, comprising 29 questions related to the new curriculum.

Results

Findings revealed that half of the respondents had discussed the new curriculum, with 15 reporting some form of learning activities. Traditional lectures were the most commonly used format, and 11 respondents had designated teachers for the subject. Reasons for lacking disaster response education included prioritizing other acute care areas or a limited perspective at the academy.

Discussion

In conclusion, this study suggests that nursing education may not sufficiently prepare registered nurses for disaster response and armed conflicts. Education tends to focus more on acute care rather than taking a broader perspective. As a result, registered nurses may lack the competence and readiness required to effectively respond to disasters.

In patients with heart failure (HF) who suffered in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA), little is known about the characteristics, survival and neurological outcome. We used the Swedish Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation to study this, including patients aged >= 18 years suffering IHCA (2008-2019), categorised as HF alone, HF with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), AMI alone, or other. Odds ratios (OR) for 30-day survival, trends in 30-day survival, and the implication of HF phenotype was studied. 6378 patients had HF alone, 2111 had HF with AMI, 4210 had AMI alone. Crude 5-year survival was 9.6% for HF alone, 12.9% for HF with AMI and 34.6% for AMI alone. The 5-year survival was 7.9% for patients with HF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >= 50%, 15.4% for LVEF < 40% and 12.3% for LVEF 40-49%. Compared with AMI alone, adjusted OR (95% CI) for 30-day survival was 0.66 (0.60-0.74) for HF alone, and 0.49 (0.43-0.57) for HF with AMI. OR for 30-day survival in 2017-2019 compared with 2008-2010 were 1.55 (1.24-1.93) for AMI alone, 1.37 (1.00-1.87) for HF with AMI and 1.30 (1.07-1.58) for HF alone. Survivors with HF had good neurological outcome in 92% of cases.

Objective: To describe the characteristics, cause of hospitalisation and symptoms prior to death in patients dying in hospital without resuscitation being started and the extent to which these decisions were documented. Materials and methods: All patients who died at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Göteborg, Sweden, in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was not attempted during a period of one year. Results: Among 674 patients, 71% suffered respiratory insufficiency, 43% were unconscious and 32% had congestive heart failure during the 24 h before death. In the vast majority of patients, the diagnosis on admission to hospital was the same as the primary cause of death. The cause of death was life-threatening organ failure, including malignancy (44%), cerebral lesion (10%) and acute coronary syndrome (10%). The prior decision of ‘do not attempt resuscitation’ (DNAR) was documented in the medical notes in 82%. In the remaining 119 patients (18%), only 16 died unexpectedly. In all these 16 cases, it was regarded retrospectively as ethically justifiable not to start CPR. Conclusion: In patients who died at a Swedish University Hospital, we did not find a single case in which it was regarded as unethical not to start CPR. The patient group studied here had a poor prognosis due to a severe deterioration in their condition. To support this, we also found a high degree of documentation of DNAR. The low rate of CPR attempts after in-hospital cardiac arrest appears to be justified.

AIM: The aim of this study is to describe the outcome changes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Gothenburg, Sweden, after introduction of mechanical chest compression (MCC). METHODS: Following introduction of MCC, 1183 OHCA patients were treated from November 1, 2007, to December 31, 2011 (period 2). They were compared with 1218 OHCA patients before MCC was introduced from January 1, 1998, to May 30, 2003 (period 1). Patients in period 2 were evaluated for survival in relation to MCC use. RESULTS: The percentage of patients admitted to hospital alive increased from 25.4% to 31.9% (P < .0001). Survival to 1 month increased from 7.1% to 10.7% (P = .002) from period 1 to period 2. The proportion of ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia decreased in period 2 (P = .002). However, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (P < .0001), crew-witnessed cases (P = .04), percutaneous coronary intervention (P < .0001), therapeutic hypothermia (P < .0001), and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator use (P = .01) increased, as did time from call to emergency medicine service arrival (P < .0001) and to defibrillation (P = .006). In period 2, 60% of OHCA patients were treated with MCC. The percentages admitted alive to hospital (MCC vs no MCC) were 28.6% and 36.1% (P = .008). Corresponding figures for survival to 1 month were 5.6% and 17.6% (P < .0001). In the MCC group, we found increase in the delay from collapse to defibrillation (P < .0001), greater use of adrenaline (P < .0001), and fewer crew-witnessed cases (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Survival to 1 month after implementation of MCC was higher than before introduction. However, patients receiving MCC had low survival. Although case selection might play a role, results do not support a widespread use of MCC after OHCA.

AIM: Reports on differences between respondents and non-respondents of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors are sparse. This study compares respondents with non-respondents in a follow-up study of a consecutive sample of OHCA survivors and describes the relation between respondents' self-reported morbidity and health.

METHODS/DESIGN: Questionnaires were administered within 12 months after the OHCA. The study population was adult patients who had survived an OHCA during 2008 to 2011, with a cerebral performance score of ≤2 at discharge. The patients were identified through the Swedish registry of OHCA. The Self-administered comorbidity questionnaire and EQ VAS (Euroqol questionnaire visual analogue scale) was used to measure morbidity and health status.

RESULTS: Of 298 survivors, 224 were eligible for the study and 127 responded. Mean time from cardiac arrest (CA) to follow up was 178 days. Comparing the 127 respondents with the 97 lost to follow-up and non-respondents, no significant differences were found in terms of age, sex, factors at resuscitation and in-hospital interventions. The EQ VAS median was 75 (25th,75th percentile 60,80)). Self-rated health differed between respondents reporting 0-2 conditions (n=68) and respondents reporting more than two (n=43), median EQ VAS 78 (68,90) and 65 (50,80)), respectively; p-value 0.0001.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite a limited response rate, representativeness in terms of patient characteristics among survivors of OHCA with an acceptable cerebral function is achievable. A considerable proportion of the survivors lived with the burden of multi-morbidity which worsened health.

AIM: Reports on differences between respondents and non-respondents of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors are sparse. This study compares respondents with non-respondents in a follow-up study of a consecutive sample of OHCA survivors and describes the relation between respondents' self-reported morbidity and health.

METHODS/DESIGN: Questionnaires were administered within 12 months after the OHCA. The study population was adult patients who had survived an OHCA during 2008 to 2011, with a cerebral performance score of ≤2 at discharge. The patients were identified through the Swedish registry of OHCA. The Self-administered comorbidity questionnaire and EQ VAS (Euroqol questionnaire visual analogue scale) was used to measure morbidity and health status.

RESULTS: Of 298 survivors, 224 were eligible for the study and 127 responded. Mean time from cardiac arrest (CA) to follow up was 178 days. Comparing the 127 respondents with the 97 lost to follow-up and non-respondents, no significant differences were found in terms of age, sex, factors at resuscitation and in-hospital interventions. The EQ VAS median was 75 (25th,75th percentile 60,80)). Self-rated health differed between respondents reporting 0-2 conditions (n=68) and respondents reporting more than two (n=43), median EQ VAS 78 (68,90) and 65 (50,80)), respectively; p-value 0.0001.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite a limited response rate, representativeness in terms of patient characteristics among survivors of OHCA with an acceptable cerebral function is achievable. A considerable proportion of the survivors lived with the burden of multi-morbidity which worsened health.

Background: There are data suggesting that passive leg raising (PLR) improves hemodynamics during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This trial aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of PLR during CPR in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial with blinded assessment of the outcomes that assigned adults OHCA to be treated with PLR or in the flat position. The trial was conducted in the Camp de Tarragona region. The main end point was survival to hospital discharge with good neurological outcome defined as cerebral performance category (CPC 1–2). To study possible adverse effects, we assessed the presence of pulmonary complications on the first chest X-rays, brain edema on the computerized tomography (CT) in survivors and brain and lungs weights from autopsies in non-survivors.

Results: In total, 588 randomized cases were included, 301 were treated with PLR and 287 were controls. Overall, 67.8% were men and the median age was 72 (IQR 60–82) years. At hospital discharge, 3.3% in the PLR group and 3.5% in the control group were alive with CPC 1–2 (OR 0.9; 95% CI 0.4–2.3, p = 0.91). No significant differences in survival at hospital admission were found in all patients (OR 1.0; 95% CI 0.7–1.6, p = 0.95) and among patients with an initial shockable rhythm (OR 1.7; 95% CI 0.8–3.4, p = 0.15). There were no differences in pulmonary complication rates in chest X-rays [7 (25.9%) vs 5 (17.9%), p = 0.47] and brain edema on CT [5 (29.4%) vs 10 (32.6%), p = 0.84]. There were no differences in lung weight [1223 mg (IQR 909–1500) vs 1239 mg (IQR 900–1507), p = 0.82] or brain weight [1352 mg (IQR 1227–1457) vs 1380 mg (IQR 1255–1470), p = 0.43] among the 106 autopsies performed.

Conclusion: In this trial, PLR during CPR did not improve survival to hospital discharge with CPC 1–2. No evidence of adverse effects has been found.

Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01952197, registration date: September 27, 2013, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01952197. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] 

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine differences between elderly patients (≥80 years) and younger patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) regarding delay times before diagnostic tests and treatments. METHODS: All patients with chest pain who were admitted to a hospital in the Gothenburg area were included consecutively over a 3-month period. They were divided into an elderly group (≥80 years) and a reference group (<80 years). Previous medical history, ECG findings, treatments, diagnostic tests, and delay times were registered. RESULTS: Altogether, 2588 patients were included (478 elderly and 2110 reference). There were no significant differences in delay time to hospital ward admission, to first medical therapy with aspirin, or to investigation with coronary angiography (CA) between the two groups. The elderly patients had a significantly shorter median time from first medical contact to first ECG (12 vs. 14 min, p=0.002) but after adjustment for confounding factors, especially mode of transport, the opposite was found to be the case (p=0.002). Elderly hospitalized patients with ACS were less often investigated with CA (44% vs. 89%, p<0.0001) and received less medical treatment with P2Y12 antagonists and lipid lowering drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly individuals with chest pain could not be shown to have a delay to hospital admission compared to their younger counterparts. Nevertheless, higher age was associated with a longer time to first ECG. The elderly patients received less active therapy, and fear of age-related side effects might explain this difference.

Background: We studied the association between cardiorenal function and survival, neurological outcome and trends in survival after in-hospital Methods: We included cases aged 18 years in the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Registry during 2008 to 2020. The CKD-EPI equation was used to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). A history of heart failure was defined according to contemporary guideline criteria. Logistic regression was used to study survival. Neurological outcome was assessed using cerebral performance category (CPC). Results: We studied 22,819 patients with IHCA. The 30-day survival was 19.3%, 16.6%, 22.5%, 28.8%, 39.3%, 44.8% and 38.4% in cases with eGFR < 15, 15-29, 30-44, 45-59, 60-89, 90-130 and 130-150 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively. All eGFR levels below and above 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 were associated with increased mortality. Probability of survival at 30 days was 62% lower in cases with eGFR < 15 ml/min/1.73 m2, compared with normal kidney function. At every level of eGFR, presence of heart failure increased mortality markedly; patients without heart failure displayed higher mortality only at eGFR below 30 ml/min/1.73 m2. Among survivors with eGFR < 15 ml/min/1.73 m2, good neurological outcome was noted in 87.2%. Survival increased in most groups over time, but most for those with eGFR < 15 ml/min/1.73 m2, and least for those with normal eGFR. Conclusions: All eGFR levels below and above normal range are associated with increased mortality and this association is modified by the presence of heart failure. Neurological outcome is good in the majority of cases, across kidney function levels and survival is increasing.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence, baseline characteristics and factors associated with survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with initial non-shockable rhythm sub-grouped into pulseless electrical activity (PEA) and asystole as presenting rhythm.

METHODS: The Swedish Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is a prospectively recorded nationwide registry of modified Utstein parameters, including all patients with attempted resuscitation after OHCA. Data between 1990-2016 were analyzed.

RESULTS: After exclusions, the study population consisted of 48,707 patients presenting with either PEA or asystole. The proportion of PEA increased from 12% to 22% during the study period with a fivefold increase in 30-day survival reaching 4.9%. Survival in asystole showed a modest increase from 0.6% to 1.3%. In the multivariable analysis, PEA was independently associated with survival at 30 days (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.26-1.88).

CONCLUSION: Between 1990 and 2016, the proportion of PEA as the first recorded rhythm doubled with a five-fold increase in 30-day survival, while survival among patients with asystole remained at low levels. PEA and asystole should be considered separate entities in clinical decision-making and be reported separately in observational studies and clinical trials.

Introduction: Prolonged progress can occur in the first and second stages of labour and may contribute to a negative birth experience. However, previous studies have mainly focused on quantitative aspects or overall birth experience, and little is known about women's experiences of a prolonged passive second stage. Objective: To describe the lived experiences of a prolonged passive second stage of labour in nulliparous women. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with 15 nulliparous women with a passive second stage lasting three hours or more. Data were analysed using thematic analysis based on descriptive phenomenology. Results: The analysis resulted in four themes: “An unknown phase” that entailed remaining in a phase that the women lacked an awareness of. “Trust and mistrust in the body's ability” represents the mindset for vaginal birth as well as feelings of powerlessness and self-guilt. The theme “Loss of control” included experiences of frustration, fatigue, and having to deny bodily instincts. “Support through presence and involvement” signifies support through the midwife's presence in the birthing room, although there were also descriptions of emotional or physical absence. Conclusions: The findings contribute to the understanding of prolonged labour based on women's lived experiences and add to the body of knowledge about the prolonged passive second stage. This study highlights that women need support through information, presence, and encouragement to remain in control. It can be beneficial during birth preparation to include knowledge about the passive second stage together with unexpected or complicated situations during birth, such as prolonged labour. 

This case study reports the use of a new textile-electrode system for self-administered Phantom Motor Execution (PME) treatment at home in one patient with Phantom Limb Pain (PLP). In follow-up interviews, the patient reported reduced pain, increased mobility, and improved mental health, and aspects such as motivation, usability, support, and treatment outcome, could be recognized from an earlier study as crucial for successful implementation and adoption of the home-based long-term treatment. The findings are of interest to developers, providers, users, and researchers planning home-based clinical studies and/or scenarios based on technology-assisted treatment. 

Reactivity is the pattern of reactions associated with response to changes in the environment such as stress. Labour with uterine contractions hampering fetal and uterine blood flow provides significant stress and we need to improve our ability to assess fetal reactivity biopatterns during delivery. The study illustrates progress made with regard to detailed analysis of the fetal heart rate (FHR) and beat-to-beat variations (RR-intervals) as a clinical measure of fetal reactivity. A method, named residuals, is presented of using a small set of index cases to identify parameter settings which are then further evaluated in extensive database tests of 8100 cases.