Predictors of mortality in patients with hemoptysis in the emergency rooms

Abstract

Introduction. Hemoptysis is one of the most alarming manifestations of bronchopulmonary diseases and represents 7% of hospital admissions to Internal Medicine services. Severe hemoptysis is related to high mortality in about 40%. Multiple factors that coexist with hemoptysis alter its evolution and prognosis. Not only the severity of the hemoptysis determines the risk of death, but also the presence of comorbid conditions, especially pulmonary pathologies affecting the patient’s functional reserve. Objectives. To determine the mortality and factors that increase mortality in patients with hemoptysis admitted by the Emergency Room. Design. Analytical study. Setting. Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo, Lima, Peru. Participants. Patients with hemoptysis. Methods. We reviewed 108 clinical histories of patients who were hospitalized as an emergency with the diagnosis of hemoptysis during a time lapse of 2 years. Variables such as age, sex, origin, presence of comorbidities, were collected. Results were expressed in absolute and relative frequency, means (+ DE); the factors associated with increased mortality were determined by relative risk (RR). Chi2 test was used to compare proportions. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine the variables associated with mortality. Main outcome measures: Factors associated with increased mortality. Results. Factors associated with increased mortality were the presence of a cavity larger than 1 cm of diameter, hiliar location, and a previous history of readmissions for hemoptysis. The presence of pulmonary fibrosis involving more than 50% of the bilateral lung parenchyma was the main predictor of mortality. Conclusions. Pulmonary functional reserve was the main mortality-related determinant in patients with hemoptysis who were hospitalized in the Emergency Room.