Archivos de bronconeumología
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Arch. Bronconeumol. · Mar 2002
Comparative Study[Factors associated with hospital mortality in patients admitted to the intensive care unit in Colombia].
To describe the demographic features, reasons for hospital admission and factors associated with hospital mortality in patients admitted to intensive care in Colombia. ⋯ The most common reason for admission to an ICU in Colombia was myocardial infarction. Besides severity of disease, other variables related to medical care in Colombia are associated with hospital mortality, such as invasive ventilation. Although these variables may be artifacts related to disease severity, they are more likely to be related to quality of care.
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Arch. Bronconeumol. · Mar 2002
Comparative Study[Dyspnea in COPD: relation to the MRC scale with dyspnea induced by walking and cardiopulmonary stress testing].
Exercise-related dyspnea is the main symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), yet its relation to lung function deterioration is weak. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between the patients' usual level of dyspnea and dyspnea caused by a maximum cardiopulmonary stress test or a 6-minute walking test. ⋯ Severity of chronic dyspnea in COPD patients assessed on the MRC scale is more related to dyspnea triggered by the walking test than with dyspnea induced by cycle ergometer stress testing.
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Arch. Bronconeumol. · Feb 2002
Comparative Study[Community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly: prognostic factors].
The incidence and mortality rates of community-acquired pneumonia are far higher in the elderly than among younger populations. However, the explanation may lie in the presence of comorbidity rather than in age itself. We performed a retrospective study of 226 patients over the age of 65 years who were admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia over a period of 36 months, with the objective of identifying factors predicting mortality and to describe clinical features. ⋯ Age itself was not a risk factor. We conclude that pneumonia in the elderly requires hospitalization and that it commonly presents with severe symptoms and high risk of mortality. Risk factors such as those identified in this study may help in the diagnosis and treatment of patients requiring special care.