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Munir Ehrlington S, Hörlin E, Toll John R, Wretborn J, Wilhelms D. Frailty is associated with 30-day mortality: a multicentre study of Swedish emergency departments. Emerg Med J 2024; 41:514-519. [PMID: 39053972 DOI: 10.1136/emermed-2023-213444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older patients living with frailty have an increased risk for adverse events. The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a 9-point frailty assessment instrument that has shown promise to identify frail emergency department (ED) patients at increased risk of adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between CFS scores and 30-day mortality in an ED setting when assessments are made by regular ED staff. METHOD This was a prospective multicentre observational study carried out between May and November 2021 at three EDs in Sweden, where frailty via CFS is routinely assessed by ED staff. All patients ≥65 years of age were eligible for inclusion. Mortality at 7, 30 and 90 days, admission rate, ED and hospital length of stay (LOS) were compared between patients living with frailty (CFS≥5) and robust patients. Logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. RESULTS A total of 1840 ED visits of patients aged ≥65 years with CFS assessments done during the study period were analysed, of which 606 (32.9%) were patients living with frailty. Mortality after the index visit was higher in patients living with frailty at 7 days (2.6% vs 0.2%), 30 days (7.9% vs 0.9%) and 90 days (15.5% vs 2.4%). Adjusted ORs for mortality for those with frailty compared with more robust patients were 9.9 (95% CI 2.1 to 46.5) for 7-day, 6.0 (95% CI 3.0 to 12.2) for 30-day and 5.7 (95% CI 3.6 to 9.1) 90-day mortality. Patients living with frailty had higher admission rates, 58% versus 36%, a difference of 22% (95% CI 17% to 26%), longer ED LOS, 5 hours:08 min versus 4 hours:36 min, a difference of 31 min (95% CI 14 to 50), and longer in-hospital LOS, 4.8 days versus 2.7 days, a difference of 2.2 days (95% CI 1.2 to 3.0). CONCLUSION Patients living with frailty, had significantly higher mortality and admission rates as well as longer ED and in-hospital LOS compared with robust patients. The results confirm the capability of the CFS to risk stratify short-term mortality in older ED patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04877028.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erika Hörlin
- Emergency Department, Linköping University Hospital, Linkoping, Östergötland, Sweden
| | - Rani Toll John
- Emergency Department, Linköping University Hospital, Linkoping, Östergötland, Sweden
| | - Jens Wretborn
- Emergency Department, Linköping University Hospital, Linkoping, Östergötland, Sweden
| | - Daniel Wilhelms
- Emergency Department, Linköping University Hospital, Linkoping, Östergötland, Sweden
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Tanguay K, Nadeau A, Brousseau AA, Archambault PM, Carmichael PH, Emond M, Deshaies JF, Sirois MJ, Mowbray FI, Blanchard PG, Mercier E. Nonmedical problems among older adults visiting the emergency department for low acuity conditions: A prospective multicentre cohort study. Heliyon 2024; 10:e35352. [PMID: 39170452 PMCID: PMC11336578 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Data on the predictors of nonmedical problems (NMP) in older adults attending the emergency department (ED) for low acuity conditions is lacking and could help rapid identification of patients with NMP and integration of these needs into care planning. Objectives To determine the prevalence and predictors of NMP among older adults attending EDs for low acuity conditions. Methods Prospective cohort study in eight EDs (May-August 2021). We included cognitively intact ≥65 years old adults assigned a low triage acuity (3-5) using the CTAS. A questionnaire focusing on 11 NMP was administered. We used multiple logistic regression to identify predictors of NMP. Results Among the 1,061 participants included, the mean age was 77.1 ± 7.6, majority were female, and 41.6 % lived alone. At least one NMP was reported by 704 persons. Prevalence of each NMP: outdoor (41.1 %) and indoor (30.2 %) mobility issues, difficult access to dental care (35.1 %), transportation (4.1 %) and medication (5.4 %), loneliness (29.5 %), food insecurity (10.3 %), financial difficulties (9.5 %), unsafe living situation (4.1 %), physical/psychological violence (3.4 %), and abuse/neglect (3.3 %). Predictors of NMP were: age (OR 1.04 for each additional year), living alone (OR 2.20), pre-existing mental health conditions (OR 3.12), heart failure (OR 1.42), recent surgery/admission (OR 1.75), memory decline (OR 2.76), no family physician (OR 1.74) and consulting for a fall/functional decline (OR 2.48). Conclusions Nonmedical problems are frequent among older adults. We need to implement holistic ED processes that integrate these problems into care planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Tanguay
- Département de médecine familiale et de médecine d'urgence, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Québec, Canada
| | - Alexandra Nadeau
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Québec, Canada
- VITAM – Centre de recherche en santé durable, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Audrey-Anne Brousseau
- Département de médecine de famille et de médecine d'urgence, Faculté de médecine et sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Patrick M. Archambault
- Département de médecine familiale et de médecine d'urgence, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- VITAM – Centre de recherche en santé durable, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche intégrée pour un système apprenant en santé et services sociaux, Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de Chaudière-Appalaches, Lévis, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre-Hugues Carmichael
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe de recherche en vieillissement, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Marcel Emond
- Département de médecine familiale et de médecine d'urgence, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Québec, Canada
- VITAM – Centre de recherche en santé durable, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-Francois Deshaies
- Département de médecine de famille et de médecine d'urgence, Faculté de médecine et sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Josée Sirois
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Pierre-Gilles Blanchard
- Département de médecine familiale et de médecine d'urgence, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Québec, Canada
- VITAM – Centre de recherche en santé durable, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Eric Mercier
- Département de médecine familiale et de médecine d'urgence, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Québec, Canada
- VITAM – Centre de recherche en santé durable, Québec, QC, Canada
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van den Broek S, Sir O, Barten D, Westert G, Hesselink G, Schoon Y. Patient, caregiver and professional views on preventable emergency admissions of older patients, a multi-method study in three Dutch hospitals. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:673. [PMID: 39127626 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-05267-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older adults are too often hospitalized from the emergency department (ED) without needing hospital care. Knowledge about rates and causes of these preventable emergency admissions (PEAs) is limited. This study aimed to assess the proportion of PEAs, the level of agreement on perceived preventability between physicians and patients, and to explore their underlying causes as perceived by patients, their relatives, and the admitting physician. METHODS A multi-center multi-method study at the ED of one academic and two regional hospitals in the Netherlands was performed. All patients aged > 70 years and hospitalized from the ED were consecutively sampled during a six-week period. Quantitative data regarding patient and clinical characteristics and perceived preventability of the admission were prospectively collected from the electronical medical record and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Agreement on preventability between patient, caregivers and physicians was assessed by using the Cohen's kappa. Underlying causes of a PEA were subsequently collected by semi-structured interviews with patients and caregivers. Physician's perceived causes of a PEA were collected by telephone interviews and by open-ended questions sent by email. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts and email narratives. RESULTS Out of 773 admissions, 56 (7.2%) were deemed preventable by patients or their caregivers. Admitting physicians regarded 75 (9.7%) admissions as preventable. The level of agreement between these two groups was low with a Cohen's kappa score of 0.10 (p = 0.003). Perceived causes for PEAs related to six themes: (1) insufficient support at home, (2) suboptimal care in the community setting, (3) errors in hospital care, (4) time of presentation to ED and availability of resources, (5) delayed help seeking behavior, and (6) errors made by patients. CONCLUSIONS Our findings contribute to the existing evidence that a substantial part (almost one out of ten) of the older adults visiting the ED is perceived as unnecessary hospital care by patients, caregivers and health care providers. Findings also provide valuable insight into the causes for PEAs from a patient perspective. Further research is needed to understand why the perspectives of those responsible for hospital admission and those being admitted vary considerably.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steef van den Broek
- Emergency Department, CWZ, P.O. Box 9015, Nijmegen, 6500 GS, The Netherlands.
- Department of Geriatrics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Ozcan Sir
- Emergency Department, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Barten
- Emergency Department, Viecuri, Venlo, The Netherlands
| | - Gert Westert
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, IQ Health Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gijs Hesselink
- Department of Geriatrics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, IQ Health Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne Schoon
- Department of Geriatrics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Pilleron B, Douillet D, Furon Y, Haubertin C, Parot-Schinkel E, Vielle B, Roy PM, Poiroux L. Nurses' moral judgements during emergency department triage - A prospective mixed multicenter study. Int Emerg Nurs 2024; 75:101479. [PMID: 38936277 DOI: 10.1016/j.ienj.2024.101479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In EDs, triage ensures that patients whose condition requires immediate care are prioritized while reducing overcrowding. Previous studies have described the manifestation of caregivers' moral judgements of patients in EDs. The equal treatment of patients in clinical practice presents a major issue. Studying the impact of prejudice on clinical practice in the ED setting provides an opportunity to rethink clinical tools, organizations and future training needs. Our study sought to describe the moral judgements expressed by triage nurses during admission interviews in emergency departments and to assess their impact on patient management. METHODS An exploratory sequential mixed-method study was performed. The study was conducted between January 1, 2018, and February 18, 2018, in the EDs of three French hospitals. Five hundred and three patients and 79 triage nurses participated in the study. Audio recordings, observations and written handover reports made by nurses during admission triage interviews were analyzed with a view to discerning whether moral judgements were expressed in them. We studied the impact of moral judgements on patient management in the emergency department. RESULTS Abstract Moral judgements were made in 70% of the triage situations studied (n=351/503). They could be classified in seven categories. Patients were more likely to be subjected to moral judgements if they were over 75 years old, visibly disabled or if they had visible signs of alcohol intoxication. Being subjected to moral judgement was associated with differential treatment, including assignment of a triage score that differed from the theoretical triage score. CONCLUSION More than two thirds of patients admitted to EDs were triaged using moral criteria. Patients who were morally judged at the admission interview were more likely to be treated differently.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Delphine Douillet
- Emergency Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France; MITOVASC, Equipe CarMe, INSERM 1083, CNRS 6015, SFR ICAT, UNIV Angers, Angers, France; F-CRIN INNOVTE, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Yoakim Furon
- Research Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Carole Haubertin
- Emergency Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Elsa Parot-Schinkel
- Biostatistics and Methodology Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Bruno Vielle
- Research Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Pierre-Marie Roy
- Emergency Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France; MITOVASC, Equipe CarMe, INSERM 1083, CNRS 6015, SFR ICAT, UNIV Angers, Angers, France; F-CRIN INNOVTE, Saint-Etienne, France; Research Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Laurent Poiroux
- Research Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France; Biostatistics and Methodology Department, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France; Équipe d'épidémiologie en santé au travail et ergonomie (ESTER) - Irset UMR_S 1085, University of Angers, France
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Brognara L. Gait Assessment Using Smartphone Applications in Older Adults: A Scoping Review. Geriatrics (Basel) 2024; 9:95. [PMID: 39051259 PMCID: PMC11270307 DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics9040095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Spatiotemporal parameters such as gait velocity and stride length are simple indicators of functional status and can be used to predict major adverse outcomes in older adults. A smartphone can be used for gait analysis by providing spatiotemporal parameters useful for improving the diagnosis and rehabilitation processes in frail people. The aim of this study was to review articles published in the last 20 years (from 2004 to 2024) concerning the application of smartphones to assess the spatiotemporal parameters of gait in older adults. This systematic review was performed in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and original articles were identified by searching seven electronic databases: SciVerse (ScienceDirect), Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Medline, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library. Studies were rigorously screened using the inclusion criteria of smartphones and mobile apps, older adults and spatiotemporal gait parameters, and results were narratively synthesized. Seventy-three articles were initially identified while searching the scientific literature regarding this topic. Eleven articles were selected and included in this review. Analysis of these studies covered information about gait assessment using mobile apps recorded in 723 older adults and 164 control cases. Analysis of data related to the application of smartphones to assess spatiotemporal parameters of gait in older adults showed moderate-to-excellent test-retest reliability and validity (ICCs around 0.9) of gait speed, the most common parameter reported. Additionally, gait speeds recorded with mobile apps showed excellent agreement when compared to gold standard systems. Smartphones and mobile apps are useful, non-invasive, low-cost and objective tools that are being extensively used to perform gait analysis in older adults. Smartphones and mobile apps can reliably identify spatiotemporal parameters related to adverse outcomes, such as a slow gait speed, as predictors and outcomes in clinical practice and research involving older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Brognara
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40123 Bologna, Italy
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Terhalle L, Arntz L, Hoffmann F, Arnold I, Hafner L, Picking-Pitasch L, Zuppinger J, Delport Lehnen K, Leuppi J, Somasundaram R, Nickel CH, Bingisser R. Nonspecific stress biomarkers for mortality prediction in older emergency department patients presenting with falls: a prospective multicenter observational study. Intern Emerg Med 2024:10.1007/s11739-024-03693-6. [PMID: 38960969 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-024-03693-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) after falling are increasingly prevalent. Falls are associated with functional decline and death. Biomarkers predicting short-term mortality might facilitate decisions regarding resource allocation and disposition. D-dimer levels are used to rule out thromboembolic disease, while copeptin and adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) may be used as measures of the patient`s stress level. These nonspecific biomarkers were selected as potential predictors for mortality. METHODS Prospective, international, multicenter, cross-sectional observation was performed in two tertiary and two regional hospitals in Germany and Switzerland. Patients aged 65 years or older presenting to the ED after a fall were enrolled. Demographic data, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and D-dimers were collected upon presentation. Copeptin and MR-proADM levels were determined from frozen samples. Primary outcome was 30-day mortality; and secondary outcomes were mortality at 90, 180, and 365 days. RESULTS Five hundred and seventy-two patients were included. Median age was 83 [IQR 78, 89] years, 236 (67.7%) were female. Mortality overall was 3.1% (30 d), 5.4% (90 d), 7.5% (180 d), and 13.8% (365 d), respectively. Non-survivors were older, had a lower ADL index and higher levels of all three biomarkers. Elevated levels of MR-proADM and D-dimer were associated with higher risk of mortality. MR-proADM and D-dimer showed high sensitivity and low negative likelihood ratio regarding short-term mortality, whereas copeptin did not. CONCLUSION D-dimer and MR-proADM levels might be useful as prognostic markers in older patients presenting to the ED after a fall, by identifying patients at low risk of short-term mortality. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02244983.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Terhalle
- Emergency Department, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Laura Arntz
- Emergency Department, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Felix Hoffmann
- Emergency Department, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Arnold
- Emergency Department, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Livia Hafner
- Emergency Department, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Joanna Zuppinger
- Emergency Department, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Emergency Department, Cantonal Hospital Basel-Landschaft, Liestal, Switzerland
| | - Karen Delport Lehnen
- Emergency Department, Cantonal Hospital Basel-Landschaft Campus Bruderholz, Binningen, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Leuppi
- Medical Faculty, University of Basel and Cantonal Hospital Baselland, Liestal, Switzerland
| | - Rajan Somasundaram
- Emergency Department, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian H Nickel
- Emergency Department, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roland Bingisser
- Emergency Department, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Bourmorck D, Pétré B, de Saint-Hubert M, De Brauwer I. Is palliative care a utopia for older patients with organ failure, dementia or frailty? A qualitative study through the prism of emergency department admission. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:773. [PMID: 38956595 PMCID: PMC11218079 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11242-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nearly three out of four older people will use the emergency department (ED) during their last year of life. However, most of them do not benefit from palliative care. Providing palliative care is a real challenge for ED clinicians who are trained in acute, life-saving medicine. Our aim is to understand the ED's role in providing palliative care for this population. METHODS We designed a qualitative study based on 1) interviews - conducted with older patients (≥ 75 years) with a palliative profile and their informal caregivers - and 2) focus groups - conducted with ED and primary care nurses and physicians. Palliative profiles were defined by the Supportive and Palliative Indicators tool (SPICT). Qualitative data was collected in French-speaking Belgium between July 2021 and July 2022. We used a constant inductive and comparative analysis. RESULTS Five older patients with a palliative profile, four informal caregivers, 55 primary and ED caregivers participated in this study. A priori, the participants did not perceive any role for the ED in palliative care. In fact, there is widespread discomfort with caring for older patients and providing palliative care. This is explained by multiple areas of tensions. Palliative care is an approach fraught with pitfalls, i.e.: knowledge and know-how gaps, their implementation depends on patients'(co)morbidity profile and professional values, experiences and type of practice. In ED, there are constant tensions between emergency and palliative care requirements, i.e.: performance, clockwork and needs for standardised procedures versus relational care, time and diversity of palliative care projects. However, even though the ED's role in palliative care is not recognised at first sight, we highlighted four roles assumed by ED caregivers: 1) Investigator, 2) Objectifier, 3) Palliative care provider, and 4) Decision-maker on the intensity of care. A common perception among participants was that ED caregivers can assist in the early identification of patients with a palliative profile. CONCLUSIONS Currently, there is widespread discomfort regarding ED caregivers caring for older patients and providing palliative care. Nonetheless, ED caregivers play four roles in palliative care for older patients. In the future, ED caregivers might also perform the role of early identifier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Bourmorck
- Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Benoit Pétré
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medecine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Marie de Saint-Hubert
- Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- CHU-UCL Namur, Yvoir, Belgium
| | - Isabelle De Brauwer
- Institute of Health and Society, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
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Miró Ò, Aguiló S, Alquézar-Arbé A, Fernández C, Burillo G, Martínez SG, Larrull MEM, Periago ABB, Molinas CLA, Falcón CR, Dacosta PB, Flores RCC, Calzada JN, Blesa EMF, Martín MÁP, Requena ÁC, Fuentes L, Cortizo IL, Garcinuño PG, García MB, Del Valle PR, Campos RB, Jiménez VC, Cuñado VA, Gutiérrez OT, Del Mar Sousa Reviriego M, Roussel M, Del Castillo JG. Overnight stay in Spanish emergency departments and mortality in older patients. Intern Emerg Med 2024:10.1007/s11739-024-03660-1. [PMID: 38900240 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-024-03660-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
To assess whether older adults who spend a night in emergency departments (ED) awaiting admission are at increased risk of mortality. This was a retrospective review of a multipurpose cohort that recruited all patients ≥ 75 years who visited ED and were admitted to hospital on April 1 to 7, 2019, at 52 EDs across Spain. Study groups were: patients staying in ED from midnight until 8:00 a.m. (ED group) and patients admitted to a ward before midnight (ward group). The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality, truncated at 30 days, and secondary outcomes assessed length of stay for the index episode. The sample comprised 3,243 patients (median [IQR] age, 85 [81-90] years; 53% women), with 1,096 (34%) in the ED group and 2,147 (66%) in the ward group. In-hospital mortality for patients spending the night in the ED the ED group was 10.7% and 9.5% for patients transferred to a ward bed before midnight the ward group (adjusted OR: 1.12, 95%CI: 0.80-1.58). Sensitivity analyses rendered similar results (ORs ranged 1.06-1.13). Interaction was only detected for academic/non-academic hospitals (p < 0.001), with increased mortality risk for the latter (1.01, 0.33-3.09 vs 2.86, 1.30-6.28). There were no differences in prolonged hospitalization (> 7 days), with adjusted OR of 1.16 (0.94-1.43) and 1.15 (0.94-1.42) depending on whether time spent in the ED was or was not taken into consideration. No increased risk of in-hospital mortality or prolonged hospitalization was found in older patients waiting overnight in the ED for admission. Nonetheless, all estimations suggest a potential harmful effect of staying overnight, especially if a proper bedroom and hospitalist ward bed and hospitalized care are not provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Òscar Miró
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Sira Aguiló
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Aitor Alquézar-Arbé
- Emergency Department, Hospital de La Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Cesáreo Fernández
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IDISSC, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Guillermo Burillo
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, University of La Laguna, Canary Islands, Tenerife, Spain
| | | | | | - Andrea B Bravo Periago
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IDISSC, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Carolina Rangel Falcón
- Emergency Department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Paz Balado Dacosta
- Emergency Department, Hospital Álvarolvaro Cunqueiro de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Ángela Cobos Requena
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Lidia Fuentes
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Lobo Cortizo
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | | | - María Bóveda García
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Raquel Benavent Campos
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Vanesa Abad Cuñado
- Emergency Department, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Madrid, Spain
| | - Olga Trejo Gutiérrez
- Emergency Department, Hospital de La Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Melanie Roussel
- Emergency Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Rouen, Rouen, France
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Gómez-Ramos JJ, González-Guerra M, Dávalos-Rodríguez IP, Pérez-Ruíz ME, Peña-Durán E, Marín-Medina A. Geriatric Syndromes and Their Relationship with Mortality in a Population of Mexican Older Adults Aged 65 and Over, Admitted to the Emergency Department of a Second-Level Care Hospital. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:1166. [PMID: 38921281 PMCID: PMC11203902 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12121166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between Geriatric Syndromes (GSs) and in-hospital mortality in adults aged 65 and older admitted to the Emergency Department (ED). The study included 202 Older Adults (OAs) who met the inclusion criteria. We conducted a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and collected clinical and demographic data. A univariate analysis was carried out for each of the GSs analyzed. Those variables with p < 0.05 were entered into a multiple logistic regression using the backward stepwise entry method to analyze the independent predictor variables. The average number of GSs per individual was 4.65 (±2.76). Frailty syndrome was the most prevalent (70.2% of patients). Our study found an association between mortality and some GSs, such as frailty (p = 0.042), risk of falls (p = 0.010), delirium, cognitive impairment, dependence, and risk of ulcers (p < 0.001). We found that cognitive impairment (adjusted OR, 6.88; 95% CI, 1.41-33.5; p = 0.017) and dependence (adjusted OR, 7.52; 95% CI, 1.95-29.98; p = 0.003) were independent predictors associated with mortality in our population. It is necessary to develop new care strategies in the ED that respond to the needs of aging societies, including the use of new technologies and personnel with experience in gerontology.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Juan Gómez-Ramos
- Especialidad de Medicina de Urgencias Adscrita al Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (J.J.G.-R.); (M.G.-G.); (M.E.P.-R.)
- Departamento de Urgencias, Hospital General de Zona 89, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara 44100, Mexico
| | - Melissa González-Guerra
- Especialidad de Medicina de Urgencias Adscrita al Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (J.J.G.-R.); (M.G.-G.); (M.E.P.-R.)
- Departamento de Urgencias, Hospital General de Zona 89, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara 44100, Mexico
| | - Ingrid Patricia Dávalos-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente (CIBO), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara 44340, Mexico
| | - María Eloísa Pérez-Ruíz
- Especialidad de Medicina de Urgencias Adscrita al Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (J.J.G.-R.); (M.G.-G.); (M.E.P.-R.)
- Departamento de Urgencias, Hospital General de Zona 89, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara 44100, Mexico
| | - Emiliano Peña-Durán
- Licenciatura en Médico Cirujano y Partero, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico;
| | - Alejandro Marín-Medina
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico;
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10
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De Simone B, Chouillard E, Podda M, Pararas N, de Carvalho Duarte G, Fugazzola P, Birindelli A, Coccolini F, Polistena A, Sibilla MG, Kruger V, Fraga GP, Montori G, Russo E, Pintar T, Ansaloni L, Avenia N, Di Saverio S, Leppäniemi A, Lauretta A, Sartelli M, Puzziello A, Carcoforo P, Agnoletti V, Bissoni L, Isik A, Kluger Y, Moore EE, Romeo OM, Abu-Zidan FM, Beka SG, Weber DG, Tan ECTH, Paolillo C, Cui Y, Kim F, Picetti E, Di Carlo I, Toro A, Sganga G, Sganga F, Testini M, Di Meo G, Kirkpatrick AW, Marzi I, déAngelis N, Kelly MD, Wani I, Sakakushev B, Bala M, Bonavina L, Galante JM, Shelat VG, Cobianchi L, Mas FD, Pikoulis M, Damaskos D, Coimbra R, Dhesi J, Hoffman MR, Stahel PF, Maier RV, Litvin A, Latifi R, Biffl WL, Catena F. The 2023 WSES guidelines on the management of trauma in elderly and frail patients. World J Emerg Surg 2024; 19:18. [PMID: 38816766 PMCID: PMC11140935 DOI: 10.1186/s13017-024-00537-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The trauma mortality rate is higher in the elderly compared with younger patients. Ageing is associated with physiological changes in multiple systems and correlated with frailty. Frailty is a risk factor for mortality in elderly trauma patients. We aim to provide evidence-based guidelines for the management of geriatric trauma patients to improve it and reduce futile procedures. METHODS Six working groups of expert acute care and trauma surgeons reviewed extensively the literature according to the topic and the PICO question assigned. Statements and recommendations were assessed according to the GRADE methodology and approved by a consensus of experts in the field at the 10th international congress of the WSES in 2023. RESULTS The management of elderly trauma patients requires knowledge of ageing physiology, a focused triage, including drug history, frailty assessment, nutritional status, and early activation of trauma protocol to improve outcomes. Acute trauma pain in the elderly has to be managed in a multimodal analgesic approach, to avoid side effects of opioid use. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended in penetrating (abdominal, thoracic) trauma, in severely burned and in open fractures elderly patients to decrease septic complications. Antibiotics are not recommended in blunt trauma in the absence of signs of sepsis and septic shock. Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis with LMWH or UFH should be administrated as soon as possible in high and moderate-risk elderly trauma patients according to the renal function, weight of the patient and bleeding risk. A palliative care team should be involved as soon as possible to discuss the end of life in a multidisciplinary approach considering the patient's directives, family feelings and representatives' desires, and all decisions should be shared. CONCLUSIONS The management of elderly trauma patients requires knowledge of ageing physiology, a focused triage based on assessing frailty and early activation of trauma protocol to improve outcomes. Geriatric Intensive Care Units are needed to care for elderly and frail trauma patients in a multidisciplinary approach to decrease mortality and improve outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda De Simone
- Department of Emergency Minimally Invasive Surgery, Academic Hospital of Villeneuve St Georges, Villeneuve St Georges, France.
- Department of General Minimally Invasive Surgery, Infermi Hospital, AUSL Romagna, Rimini, Italy.
- General Surgery Department, American Hospital of Paris, Paris, France.
| | - Elie Chouillard
- General Surgery Department, American Hospital of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Mauro Podda
- Department of Surgical Science, Unit of Emergency Surgery, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Nikolaos Pararas
- 3rd Department of Surgery, Attikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece
| | | | - Paola Fugazzola
- Unit of General Surgery I, IRCCS San Matteo Hospital of Pavia, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | - Andrea Polistena
- Department of Surgery, Policlinico Umberto I Roma, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Sibilla
- Department of Surgery, Unit of General Surgery, University Hospital of Ferrara and University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Vitor Kruger
- Division of Trauma Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Gustavo P Fraga
- Division of Trauma Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Giulia Montori
- Unit of General and Emergency Surgery, Vittorio Veneto Hospital, Via C. Forlanini 71, 31029, Vittorio Veneto, TV, Italy
| | - Emanuele Russo
- Department of Anesthesia, Level I, Trauma Center, Bufalini Hospital, Cesena, Italy
| | - Tadeja Pintar
- UMC Ljubljana and Medical Faculty Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Luca Ansaloni
- New Zealand Blood Service, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Nicola Avenia
- Endocrine Surgical Unit - University of Perugia, Terni, Italy
| | - Salomone Di Saverio
- General Surgery Unit, Madonna del Soccorso Hospital, AST Ascoli Piceno, San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy
| | - Ari Leppäniemi
- Division of Emergency Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andrea Lauretta
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Centro Di Riferimento Oncologico Di Aviano IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Massimo Sartelli
- Department of General Surgery, Macerata Hospital, Macerata, Italy
| | - Alessandro Puzziello
- Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia e Odontoiatria, Campus Universitario di Baronissi (SA) - Università di Salerno, AOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi di Aragona, Salerno, Italy
| | - Paolo Carcoforo
- Department of Surgery, Unit of General Surgery, University Hospital of Ferrara and University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Vanni Agnoletti
- Department of Anesthesia, Level I, Trauma Center, Bufalini Hospital, Cesena, Italy
| | - Luca Bissoni
- Department of Anesthesia, Level I, Trauma Center, Bufalini Hospital, Cesena, Italy
| | - Arda Isik
- Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Yoram Kluger
- Department of General Surgery, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ernest E Moore
- Ernest E Moore Shock Trauma Center at Denver Health, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Oreste Marco Romeo
- Bronson Methodist Hospital/Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - Fikri M Abu-Zidan
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al‑Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Dieter G Weber
- Department of General Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital and The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Edward C T H Tan
- Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ciro Paolillo
- Emergency Department, Ospedale Civile Maggiore, Verona, Italy
| | - Yunfeng Cui
- Department of Surgery, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Nankai Clinical School of Medicine, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Fernando Kim
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, 80246, USA
| | - Edoardo Picetti
- Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Parma University Hospital, Parma, Italy
| | - Isidoro Di Carlo
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies, General Surgery Cannizzaro Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Adriana Toro
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies, General Surgery Cannizzaro Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sganga
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Sganga
- Department of Geriatrics, Ospedale Sant'Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Mario Testini
- Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, Unit of Academic General Surgery, University of Bari "A. Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanna Di Meo
- Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, Unit of Academic General Surgery, University of Bari "A. Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Andrew W Kirkpatrick
- Departments of Surgery and Critical Care Medicine, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Ingo Marzi
- Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nicola déAngelis
- Unit of Colorectal and Digestive Surgery, DIGEST Department, Beaujon University Hospital, AP-HP, University of Paris Cité, Clichy, France
| | | | - Imtiaz Wani
- Department of Surgery, Government Gousia Hospital, DHS, Srinagar, India
| | - Boris Sakakushev
- General Surgery Department, Medical University, University Hospital St George, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Miklosh Bala
- Hadassah Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Luigi Bonavina
- Division of General Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Joseph M Galante
- Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Vishal G Shelat
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Novena, Singapore
| | - Lorenzo Cobianchi
- Unit of General Surgery I, IRCCS San Matteo Hospital of Pavia, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Collegium Medicum, University of Social Sciences, Łodz, Poland
| | - Francesca Dal Mas
- Department of Management, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy
- Collegium Medicum, University of Social Sciences, Łodz, Poland
| | - Manos Pikoulis
- Department of Surgical Science, Unit of Emergency Surgery, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Raul Coimbra
- Riverside University Health System Medical Center, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Jugdeep Dhesi
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Melissa Red Hoffman
- Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Surgical Palliative Care Society, Asheville, NC, USA
| | - Philip F Stahel
- Department of Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Ronald V Maier
- Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrey Litvin
- Department of Surgical Diseases No. 3, Gomel State Medical University, University Clinic, Gomel, Belarus
| | - Rifat Latifi
- University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Abrazo Health West Campus, Goodyear, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Walter L Biffl
- Division of Trauma/Acute Care Surgery, Scripps Clinic Medical Group, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Fausto Catena
- Department of General and Emergency Surgery, Bufalini Hospital-Level 1 Trauma Center, AUSL Romagna, Cesena, Italy
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11
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Pinardi E, Ornago AM, Bianchetti A, Morandi A, Mantovani S, Marengoni A, Colombo M, Arosio B, Okoye C, Cortellaro F, Bellelli G. Optimizing older patient care in emergency departments: a comprehensive survey of current practices and challenges in Northern Italy. BMC Emerg Med 2024; 24:86. [PMID: 38764046 PMCID: PMC11103964 DOI: 10.1186/s12873-024-01004-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The progressive aging of the population and the increasing complexity of health issues contribute to a growing number of older individuals seeking emergency care. This study aims to assess the state of the art of care provided to older people in the Emergency Departments of Lombardy, the most populous region in Italy, counting over 2 million people aged 65 years and older. METHODS An online cross-sectional survey was developed and disseminated among emergency medicine physicians and physicians affiliated to the Lombardy section of the Italian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SIGG), during June and July 2023. The questionnaire covered hospital profiles, geriatric consultation practices, risk assessment tools, discharge processes and perspectives on geriatric emergency care. RESULTS In this mixed method research, 219 structured interviews were collected. The majority of physicians were employed in hospitals, with 54.7% being geriatricians. Critical gaps in older patient's care were identified, including the absence of dedicated care pathways, insufficient awareness of screening tools, and a need for enhanced professional training. CONCLUSIONS Tailored protocols and geriatric educational programs are crucial for improving the quality of emergency care provided to older individuals. These measures might also help relieve the burden on the Emergency Departments, thereby potentially enhancing overall efficiency and ensuring better outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Pinardi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
- Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Società Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria - SIGG), Firenze, Italy.
| | - Alice Margherita Ornago
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Società Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria - SIGG), Firenze, Italy
| | - Angelo Bianchetti
- Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Società Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria - SIGG), Firenze, Italy
- Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Istituto Clinico S.Anna Hospital, Gruppo San Donato, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Morandi
- Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Società Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria - SIGG), Firenze, Italy
- Intermediate Care and Rehabilitation, Azienda Speciale "Cremona Solidale", Cremona, Italy
- Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, Vall d'Hebrón Institute of Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stefano Mantovani
- Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Società Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria - SIGG), Firenze, Italy
- RSA Don Giuseppe Cuni, Magenta, Italy
| | - Alessandra Marengoni
- Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Società Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria - SIGG), Firenze, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Geriatric Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mauro Colombo
- Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Società Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria - SIGG), Firenze, Italy
- Golgi Cenci Foundation, Abbiategrasso, Italy
| | - Beatrice Arosio
- Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Società Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria - SIGG), Firenze, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Chukwuma Okoye
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Società Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria - SIGG), Firenze, Italy
- Acute Geriatrics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Francesca Cortellaro
- Integrazione Percorsi di Cura Ospedale Territorio, Urgency Emergency Regional Agency (Agenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza - AREU), Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Bellelli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Società Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria - SIGG), Firenze, Italy
- Acute Geriatrics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
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12
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Ragonese M, Fettucciari D, Carbone L, Gavi F, Montesi M, Scarciglia E, Russo P, Sanesi DM, Marino F, Foschi N, Pinto F, Franceschi F, Racioppi M, Sacco E, Covino M. Predictive Factors for Major Complications and Urological Cancer Diagnosis in Older Adults (≥80 Years) Admitted to the Emergency Department for Hematuria. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2874. [PMID: 38792416 PMCID: PMC11122226 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13102874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Gross Hematuria is a relevant cause of admission to the emergency department in the general population and particularly in older adults (≥80 years). This specific urological symptom is often underestimated and usually associated with benign conditions such as urinary infections or poor hydration. Nevertheless, hematuria could lead to severe acute complications or be the first symptom of urological cancers. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 1169 patients aged ≥80 years consecutively admitted to the emergency department for hematuria. The primary endpoint of the study was to identify risk factors for major complications, and the secondary endpoint was to analyze risk factors for urological cancer diagnosis. The median age was 85 years (IQR 82-88 years), and 908 (77%) were males. Among them, 449 (38.4%) had a past medical history of urological neoplasm (kidney, ureter, bladder, prostate, or urethral cancer). Results: Overall, 87 patients (7.4%) had major complications (patient death, septic shock, and admission to the intensive care unit). Worse vital signs at admission, fever, and confusion (p < 0.001, OR 18.0 IC 95% [5.5-58.7]; p = 0.015, OR 2.0 IC 95% [1.1-3.5]; p = <0.001, OR 4.2 IC 95% [1.9-3.5], respectively), as well as lower hemoglobin values and higher Charlson comorbidity index (p < 0.001, OR 0.8 IC 95% [0.7-0.9]), p = 0.002, OR = 1.2 [1.1-1.3]) were independent predictive factors for major complications. The multivariate analysis identified as risk factors for diagnosis of urological cancer older age, male sex and higher comorbidity (OR 1.05 IC95% [1-1.09]; OR 2.19 IC95% [1.42-3.39] and OR 1.11 IC95% [1.2-1.2], respectively); interestingly the presence of indwelling vesical catheter (IVC) (OR 0.44 IC95% [0.24-0.82]) resulted as an independent factor for absence of urological cancers. Conclusions: Hematuria is a frequent symptom in older adults admitted to the emergency department. While this is often associated with benign conditions, there are some risk factors for major complications and for urological cancer that must be taken into account to identify the patients who need further evaluation or prompt hospital admission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Ragonese
- Department of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Rome, Italy (F.M.)
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00136 Rome, Italy (E.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Daniele Fettucciari
- Department of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Rome, Italy (F.M.)
| | - Luigi Carbone
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli Isola Tiberina, Gemelli Isola, 00186 Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Gavi
- Department of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Rome, Italy (F.M.)
| | - Marco Montesi
- Department of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Rome, Italy (F.M.)
| | - Eros Scarciglia
- Department of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Rome, Italy (F.M.)
| | - Pierluigi Russo
- Department of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Rome, Italy (F.M.)
| | - Domenico Maria Sanesi
- Department of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Rome, Italy (F.M.)
| | - Filippo Marino
- Department of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Rome, Italy (F.M.)
| | - Nazario Foschi
- Department of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Rome, Italy (F.M.)
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00136 Rome, Italy (E.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Francesco Pinto
- Department of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Rome, Italy (F.M.)
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00136 Rome, Italy (E.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Francesco Franceschi
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00136 Rome, Italy (E.S.); (M.C.)
- Emergency Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Racioppi
- Department of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Rome, Italy (F.M.)
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00136 Rome, Italy (E.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Emilio Sacco
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00136 Rome, Italy (E.S.); (M.C.)
- Department of Urology, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli Isola Tiberina, Gemelli Isola, 00186 Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Covino
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00136 Rome, Italy (E.S.); (M.C.)
- Emergency Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00136 Rome, Italy
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13
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Blandin M, Gallet M, Volteau C, Le Conte P, Rulleau T, Le Sant G. Effects of the delivery of physiotherapy on the treatment course of elderly fallers presenting to the emergency department: Protocol for a randomized clinical trial. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303362. [PMID: 38718002 PMCID: PMC11078381 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of physiotherapy (PT) in the hospital emergency department (ED) has shown positive results including improvements in patient waiting time, treatment initiation, discharge type, patient outcomes, safety and acceptability of the intervention by medical staffs. These findings originate from studies that primarily focus on musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions. Despite a significant number of people visiting the ED, there is a shortage of literature evaluating PT in the ED for elderly populations. The objective of this study is the evaluate the effect of delivering PT in the ED (versus no delivery) in patients aged 75 and over with 'falls' complaints. The main objective is the evaluate the effect on the discharge disposition (discharge home, hospitalization). Secondarily, we will evaluate the effect delivering PT on patient-length of stay, the number of falls at 7 days after admission to the ED, changes between the initial and final medical decision regarding patient orientation, and medical staff satisfaction. This study will follow a prospective longitudinal design involving participants aged 75 years and over. We plan to recruit a total n = 336 patients admitted to the ED with a 'fall' chief complaint. After consent, participants will be randomized into either the 'PT-group' (receiving a prescription and execution of PT within the ED), or to the 'no-PT group' (no delivery of PT within the ED). The PT intervention will involve a standardized assessment of motor capacities using validated clinical examinations, and the delivery of rehabilitative exercises based on individual needs. Outcomes will be recorded from the patient's medical record, and a phone call at 7 days. A questionnaire will be sent to medical staff. The results of this study will help to determine whether PT might be beneficial for the management of this increasing proportion of individuals who come to the ED. Trial registration: (Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05753319). https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05753319.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Blandin
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Movement – Interactions - Performance, MIP, UR 4334, Nantes, France
| | - Marie Gallet
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Movement – Interactions - Performance, MIP, UR 4334, Nantes, France
| | - Christelle Volteau
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Movement – Interactions - Performance, MIP, UR 4334, Nantes, France
| | - Philippe Le Conte
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Movement – Interactions - Performance, MIP, UR 4334, Nantes, France
| | - Thomas Rulleau
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Movement – Interactions - Performance, MIP, UR 4334, Nantes, France
| | - Guillaume Le Sant
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Movement – Interactions - Performance, MIP, UR 4334, Nantes, France
- IFM3R, School of Physiotherapy, St-Sebastien-sur-Loire, France
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14
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García-Martínez A, Artajona L, Osorio G, Bragulat E, Aguiló S. Association between socioeconomic status and hospitalisation requirement in older patients attended at the emergency department: A retrospective cohort study. J Healthc Qual Res 2024; 39:139-146. [PMID: 38538438 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhqr.2024.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE A low socioeconomic status (SES) has been associated with poor health results. The present study aimed to investigate if SES of older patients attending the emergency department is associated with the use of healthcare resources and outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS Observational, retrospective study including consecutive patients 65 years or older admitted to the emergency department. Variables at baseline, index episode, and follow-up were recorded. SES was measured using an indirect theoretical index and patients were categorised into two groups according to whether they lived in a neighbourhood with a low or high SES. Primary outcomes included hospitalisation after the emergency department visit and prolonged hospitalisation (>7 days) at index episode. Secondary outcomes included emergency department re-consultant and hospital admission in the following 3 months after the index episode, and all-cause mortality after long-term follow-up. Logistic regression and cumulative hazards regression models were used to investigate associations between SES and outcomes. RESULTS The cohort included 553 patients (80 years [73-85], 50.5% female, 55.9% with low SES). After the emergency department visit, 234 patients (42.3%) required hospital admission. A low SES was inversely associated with hospitalisation with an adjusted odds ratio=0.654 (95% CI 0.441-0.970). Among hospitalised patients, a low SES was associated with prolonged hospitalisation (adjusted odds ratio=2.739; 95% CI 1.470-5.104). Follow-up outcomes, including all-cause mortality, were not associated with SES. CONCLUSIONS Older patients living in more deprived urban areas were hospitalised less often after emergency department care, but hospital stays were longer. Understanding the effect of social determinants in healthcare use is mandatory to tailor resources to patient needs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - L Artajona
- Emergency Medicine, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - G Osorio
- Emergency Medicine, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Bragulat
- Emergency Medicine, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - S Aguiló
- Emergency Medicine, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
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Yeung HM, Ifrah A, Rockman ME. Quantitative Analysis of Characteristics Associated with Patient-Directed Discharges, Representations, and Readmissions: a Safety-Net Hospital Experience. J Gen Intern Med 2024; 39:1173-1179. [PMID: 38114868 PMCID: PMC11116360 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08563-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND No clinical tools currently exist to stratify patients' risks of patient-directed discharge (PDD). OBJECTIVE This study aims to identify trends and factors associated with PDD, representation, and readmission. DESIGN This was an IRB-approved, single-centered, retrospective study. PARTICIPANTS Patients aged > 18, admitted to medicine service, were included from January 1st through December 31st, 2019. Patients admitted to ICU or surgical services were excluded. MAIN MEASURES Demographics, insurance information, medical history, social history, rates of events occurrences, and discharge disposition were obtained. KEY RESULTS Of the 16,889 encounters, there were 776 (4.6%) PDDs, 4312 (25.5%) representations, and 2924 (17.3%) readmissions. Of those who completed PDDs, 42.1% represented and 26.4% were readmitted. Male sex, age ≤ 45, insurance type, homelessness, and substance use disorders had higher rates of PDD (OR = 2.0; 4.2; 4.5; 6.2; 5.2; p < 0.0001, respectively). Patients with homelessness, substance use disorders, mental health disorders, or prior history of PDD were more likely to represent (OR = 3.6; 2.0; 2.0; 1.5; p < 0.0001, respectively) and be readmitted (OR = 2.2; 1.6; 1.9; 1.5; p < 0.0001, respectively). Patients aged 30-35 had the highest PDD rate at 16%, but this was not associated with representations or readmissions. Between July and September, the PDD rate peaked at 5.5% and similarly representation and readmission rates followed. The rates of subsequent readmissions after PDDs were nearly two-fold compared to non-PDD patients in later half of the year. 51% of all subsequent readmissions occur within 7 days of PDD, compared to 34% in the non-PDD group (OR = 2.0; p < 0.0001). Patients with primary diagnosis of abscess had 16% PDDs. CONCLUSIONS Factors associated with PDD include male, younger age, insurance type, substance use, homelessness, and primary diagnosis of abscess. Factors associated with representation and readmission are homelessness, substance use disorders, mental health disorders, and prior history of PDD. Further research is needed to develop a risk stratification tool to identify at-risk patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho-Man Yeung
- Department of Medicine, Section in Hospital Medicine, Temple University Hospital, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, USA.
| | - Abraham Ifrah
- Department of Medicine, Section in Hospital Medicine, Temple University Hospital, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, USA
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16
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Wang AZ, Hunter BR. Troponin or not troponin, what is the (clinical) question? Acad Emerg Med 2024. [PMID: 38511483 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Alfred Z Wang
- West Sound Emergency Physicians, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Benton R Hunter
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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17
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Küçükceran K, Ayrancı MK, Koçak S, Girişgin AS, Dündar ZD, Ataman S, Bayındır E, Karaçadır O, Tatar İ, Doğru M. An Evaluation of the National Early Warning Score 2 and the Laboratory Data Decision Tree Early Warning Score in Predicting Mortality in Geriatric Patients. J Emerg Med 2024; 66:e284-e292. [PMID: 38278676 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2023.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the high rate of geriatric patient visits, scoring systems are needed to predict increasing mortality rates. OBJECTIVE In this study, we aimed to investigate the in-hospital mortality prediction power of the National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) and the Laboratory Data Decision Tree Early Warning Score (LDT-EWS), which consists of frequently performed laboratory parameters. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 651 geriatric patients who visited the emergency department (ED), were not discharged on the same day from ED, and were hospitalized. The patients were categorized according to their in-hospital mortality status. The NEWS2 and LDT-EWS values of these patients were calculated and compared on the basis of deceased and living patients. RESULTS Median (interquartile range [IQR]) NEWS2 and LDT-EWS values of the 127 patients who died were found to be statistically significantly higher than those of the patients who survived (NEWS2: 5 [3-8] vs. 3 [1-5]; p < 0.001; LDT-EWS: 8 [7-10] vs. 6 [5-8]; p < 0.001). In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the NEWS2, LDT-EWS, and NEWS2+LDT-EWS-formed by the sum of the two scoring systems-resulted in 0.717, 0.705, and 0.775 area under curve values, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The NEWS2 and LDT-EWS were found to be valuable for predicting in-hospital mortality in geriatric patients. The power of the NEWS2 to predict in-hospital mortality increased when used with the LDT-EWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kadir Küçükceran
- Emergency Department, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Kürşat Ayrancı
- Emergency Department, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Sedat Koçak
- Emergency Department, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | | | - Zerrin Defne Dündar
- Emergency Department, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Sami Ataman
- Emergency Department, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Enes Bayındır
- Emergency Department, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Oğuz Karaçadır
- Emergency Department, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - İbrahim Tatar
- Emergency Department, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Doğru
- Emergency Department, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
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18
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Testa L, Richardson L, Cheek C, Hensel T, Austin E, Safi M, Ransolin N, Carrigan A, Long J, Hutchinson K, Goirand M, Bierbaum M, Bleckly F, Hibbert P, Churruca K, Clay-Williams R. Strategies to improve care for older adults who present to the emergency department: a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:178. [PMID: 38331778 PMCID: PMC10851482 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10576-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this systematic review was to examine the relationship between strategies to improve care delivery for older adults in ED and evaluation measures of patient outcomes, patient experience, staff experience, and system performance. METHODS A systematic review of English language studies published since inception to December 2022, available from CINAHL, Embase, Medline, and Scopus was conducted. Studies were reviewed by pairs of independent reviewers and included if they met the following criteria: participant mean age of ≥ 65 years; ED setting or directly influenced provision of care in the ED; reported on improvement interventions and strategies; reported patient outcomes, patient experience, staff experience, or system performance. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed by pairs of independent reviewers using The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Data were synthesised using a hermeneutic approach. RESULTS Seventy-six studies were included in the review, incorporating strategies for comprehensive assessment and multi-faceted care (n = 32), targeted care such as management of falls risk, functional decline, or pain management (n = 27), medication safety (n = 5), and trauma care (n = 12). We found a misalignment between comprehensive care delivered in ED for older adults and ED performance measures oriented to rapid assessment and referral. Eight (10.4%) studies reported patient experience and five (6.5%) reported staff experience. CONCLUSION It is crucial that future strategies to improve care delivery in ED align the needs of older adults with the purpose of the ED system to ensure sustainable improvement effort and critical functioning of the ED as an interdependent component of the health system. Staff and patient input at the design stage may advance prioritisation of higher-impact interventions aligned with the pace of change and illuminate experience measures. More consistent reporting of interventions would inform important contextual factors and allow for replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Testa
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Lieke Richardson
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Colleen Cheek
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia.
| | - Theresa Hensel
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science (IMVR), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Elizabeth Austin
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Mariam Safi
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
- Internal Medicine Research Unit, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Aabenraa, Denmark
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Natália Ransolin
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
- Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
| | - Ann Carrigan
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Janet Long
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Karen Hutchinson
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Magali Goirand
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Mia Bierbaum
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
- Allied Health and Human Performance, IIMPACT in Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, 5001, Australia
| | - Felicity Bleckly
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Peter Hibbert
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
- Allied Health and Human Performance, IIMPACT in Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, 5001, Australia
| | - Kate Churruca
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
| | - Robyn Clay-Williams
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, 2109, Australia
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O’Shaughnessy Í, Robinson K, Whiston A, Barry L, Corey G, Devlin C, Hartigan D, Synnott A, McCarthy A, Moriarty E, Jones B, Carroll I, Shchetkovsky D, O’Connor M, Steed F, Carey L, Conneely M, Leahy A, Quinn C, Shanahan E, Ryan D, Galvin R. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in the Emergency Department: A Prospective Cohort Study of Process, Clinical, and Patient-Reported Outcomes. Clin Interv Aging 2024; 19:189-201. [PMID: 38343726 PMCID: PMC10859053 DOI: 10.2147/cia.s434641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to explore the process, clinical, and patient-reported outcomes of older adults who received an interdisciplinary Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in the emergency department (ED) over a six-month period after their initial ED attendance. Patients and Methods A prospective cohort study recruited older adults aged ≥65 years who presented to the ED of a university teaching hospital in Ireland. Baseline assessment data comprising a battery of demographic variables and validated indices were obtained at the index ED attendance. Telephone interviews were completed with participants at 30- and 180-day follow-up. The primary outcome was incidence of hospital admission following the index ED attendance. Secondary outcomes included participant satisfaction, incidence of functional decline, health-related quality of life, incidence of unscheduled ED re-attendance(s), hospital (re)admission(s), nursing home admission, and death. Results A total of 133 participants (mean age 82.43 years, standard deviation = 6.89 years; 71.4% female) were recruited; 21.8% of the cohort were admitted to hospital following the index ED attendance with a significant decline in function reported at hospital discharge (Z = 2.97, p = 0.003). Incidence of 30- and 180-day unscheduled ED re-attendance was 10.5% and 24.8%, respectively. The outcome at the index ED attendance was a significant predictor of adverse outcomes whereby those who were discharged home had significantly lower odds of multiple adverse process outcomes at 30- and 180-day follow-up, and significantly higher function and health-related quality of life at 30-day follow-up. Conclusion While this study was observational in nature, findings suggest CGA in the ED may improve outcomes by mitigating against the adverse effects of potentially avoidable hospital admissions and focusing on a longitudinal approach to healthcare delivery at the primary-secondary care interface. Future research should be underpinned by an experimental study design to address key limitations in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Íde O’Shaughnessy
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Katie Robinson
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Aoife Whiston
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Louise Barry
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Gillian Corey
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Collette Devlin
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Deirdre Hartigan
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Aoife Synnott
- Department of Physiotherapy, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Aoife McCarthy
- Department of Occupational Therapy, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Eoin Moriarty
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Bryan Jones
- Department of Medical Social Work, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Ida Carroll
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Denys Shchetkovsky
- Limerick EM Education Research Training (ALERT), Emergency Department, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Margaret O’Connor
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Fiona Steed
- Department of Health, Government of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Leonora Carey
- Department of Occupational Therapy, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Mairéad Conneely
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Aoife Leahy
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Colin Quinn
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Elaine Shanahan
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Damien Ryan
- Limerick EM Education Research Training (ALERT), Emergency Department, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Rose Galvin
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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Ismael LQ, Keong YY, Bahari H, Lan CA, Yin KB. Bombesin-like receptor 3 expression induced by bisphenol A is likely associated with reduced cell proliferation by inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing inflammation in liver cells. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:271. [PMID: 38302795 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09080-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bisphenol A (BPA) is an exogenous endocrine disruptor mimicking hormones closely associated with health complications, such as cancer progression. BPA is also related to an increase in the prevalence of obesity-related diseases due to its obesogenic action. Bombesin-like receptor 3 (BRS3) is an important factor that should be considered in the adipogenic gene network, as depletion of this gene alters adiposity. METHODS Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of BRS3 in human liver THLE-2 cells post-BPA treatment by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The effects of BPA on the levels of pro-inflammatory proteins, interleukin 6 (IL6) and CC motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), in conditioned media of BPA-treated THLE-2 cells and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis in replicating BPA-treated THLE-2 cells during the cell cycle were also examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS The study found that the mRNA expression of BRS3 was increased in THLE-2 cells treated with BPA. The study also showed that the expression levels of IL6 and CCL2 reached an optimum level in the conditioned media of BPA-treated THLE-2 cells after 48 h of treatment. Subsequently, the DNA synthesis analysis showed that bromodeoxyuridine/propidium iodide (BrdU/PI) stained positive cells were decreased in BPA-treated THLE-2 cells at 72 h of treatment. CONCLUSION The study demonstrates that BRS3 expression induced by BPA is likely associated with reduced cell proliferation by inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing cellular inflammation in liver cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla Qasim Ismael
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), 11800, USM, Penang, Malaysia
- Department of Medical Biochemical Analysis, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, 44001, Iraq
| | - Yong Yoke Keong
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hasnah Bahari
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Chew Ai Lan
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), 11800, USM, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Khoo Boon Yin
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), 11800, USM, Penang, Malaysia.
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21
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Hawkins E, Stewart B, Huggins M, Compson K, Larsen P, Rogan A. What effect did the New Zealand COVID-19 lockdown have on computed tomography-head scan utilisation in patients presenting to the emergency department with traumatic head injuries? Emerg Med Australas 2024; 36:94-100. [PMID: 37848234 DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.14322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore the unique impact the first COVID-19 national lockdown in New Zealand (NZ) had on the utility of computed tomography (CT)-head scanning in patients presenting to the ED with head injuries. METHODS Retrospective observational study of CT-head use in head-injured patients presenting to the ED during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown compared to the corresponding time period in 2019. RESULTS During the lockdown period in 2020, the total number of ED presentations reduced by 30.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 28.8-31.6) from 13 477 to 9403. The total number of head injury presentations also reduced by 32% (95% CI 27-36.7) from 523 to 356. The proportion of head-injured patients remained similar (3.9% [n = 523] in 2019 vs 3.8% [n = 356] in 2020). Of the head injured patients, 185 (51.9%, 95% CI 44.5-59.4) had CT-head scans performed in 2020 compared to 269 (51.4%, 95% CI 45.2-57.5) in 2019; a reduction of 31.2% (95% CI 24.5-37.9). The proportion of patients who had a CT-head scan remained similar (51.4% [95% CI 45.2-57.5] in 2019 vs 51.9% [95% CI 44.5-59.4] in 2020). There were no significant differences in the proportion of CT-head scans with acute traumatic pathology (13.0% [95% CI 8.7-17.3] in 2019 vs 12.4% [95% CI 7.4-17.5] in 2020, P = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS During the first COVID-19 lockdown in NZ, the total number of patients presenting to the ED decreased by one third. Reassuringly, the proportion of patients who presented with head injuries, had a CT-head scan performed, and had positive CT-head findings remained the same as the previous year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eden Hawkins
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia, University of Otago, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Beatrice Stewart
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia, University of Otago, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Margaret Huggins
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia, University of Otago, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Kathryn Compson
- Wellington Emergency Department, Wellington Regional Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Peter Larsen
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia, University of Otago, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Alice Rogan
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia, University of Otago, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Wellington Emergency Department, Wellington Regional Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand
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22
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Moloney E, O'Donovan MR, Sezgin D, McGrath K, Timmons S, O'Caoimh R. Frailty Knowledge, Use of Screening Tools, and Educational Challenges in Emergency Departments in Ireland: A Multisite Survey. J Emerg Nurs 2024; 50:22-35. [PMID: 37804277 DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2023.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recognizing frailty and providing evidenced-based management in busy emergency departments is challenging. Understanding the knowledge and educational needs of ED staff is important to design training that might improve patient outcomes. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore frailty knowledge of ED staff, use of frailty screening instruments in Irish emergency departments, and educational challenges in the emergency department. METHODS A multisite survey of ED staff (different specialties) was conducted between April and September 2021. An anonymous online survey was distributed via email. Free-text sections were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS In total, 168 staff (nursing, medical and allied health) participated, representing 9 of 26 Irish emergency departments (35%). Most respondents were nurses (n = 78, 46%). Less than half of respondents had received frailty identification training (n = 81, 48%). One-fifth of emergency doctors and nurses (20%) were unsure how to define frailty. Major barriers to ED frailty screening were resource deficits, insufficient diagnostic pathways from the emergency departments, and lack of education on suitable instruments. CONCLUSIONS Most of the ED staff surveyed relied on clinical judgment rather than formal training in frailty identification. A high proportion reported poor knowledge and low confidence in recognizing frailty. Dedicated staff with frailty management expertise, bespoke education initiatives, and clearly defined frailty screening pathways may help address the issues identified.
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Al-Hakeem H, Zhang Z, DeMarco EC, Bitter CC, Hinyard L. Emergency department visits in Parkinson's disease: The impact of comorbid conditions. Am J Emerg Med 2024; 75:7-13. [PMID: 37897921 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Older adults have complex, often overlapping, medical conditions requiring careful management that may lead to increased emergency department usage compared to younger adults. Parkinson's disease (PD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by distinct motor and nonmotor features, frequently occurs with additional comorbid disease. Classifying comorbid conditions into clinical subgroups allows for further understanding of the heterogeneity in outcomes in patients with PD. The current study examines the reasons for emergency department (ED) visits in a cohort of patients with PD and identifies comorbidities that are potential risk factors for specific ED presenting conditions. METHODS Using data from Optum's de-identified Integrated Claims-Clinical dataset years 2010-2018, patients with PD were identified based on ICD-9/10 diagnosis codes. We identified all ED visits occurring after the first observed diagnosis code for PD. Comorbid conditions were classified using the AHRQ Clinical Classification Software (CCS). We classified patients using Latent Class Analysis (LCA) and conducted multiple logistic regression models with the outcome of reason-for-visit to examine the associations with comorbidity-profile class, patient demographics, and socio-economic characteristics. RESULTS The most common reasons for ED admission were injuries such as fractures and contusions, diseases of the circulatory system, and general signs and symptoms, including abdominal pain, malaise, and fatigue. Comorbid medical conditions often observed in this patient population include depression, diabetes mellitus, and chronic pulmonary disease. Patients in the "Poorest Health" classification of the LCA had greater odds for ED admission for diseases related to the gastrointestinal system, musculoskeletal system, and injury/poisoning categories and reduced odds for admission for diseases of the circulatory system. DISCUSSION Patients with PD who present to the emergency department with injuries are more likely to be in poor health overall with a high comorbidity burden. Clarifying the complex medical needs of patients with PD is the first step to further individualize care, which may reduce ED visits in this population, improve quality of life, and lessen the footprint on the healthcare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haider Al-Hakeem
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 S Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
| | - Zidong Zhang
- Department of Health & Clinical Outcomes Research, 3545 Lafayette Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA; Advanced HEALTH Data (AHEAD) Institute, 3545 Lafayette Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
| | - Elisabeth C DeMarco
- Department of Health & Clinical Outcomes Research, 3545 Lafayette Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA; Advanced HEALTH Data (AHEAD) Institute, 3545 Lafayette Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
| | - Cindy C Bitter
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis Missouri USA, 1402 S Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
| | - Leslie Hinyard
- Department of Health & Clinical Outcomes Research, 3545 Lafayette Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA; Advanced HEALTH Data (AHEAD) Institute, 3545 Lafayette Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
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24
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Sert ET, Kokulu K, Mutlu H, Yortanlı BC. Effects of Clinical Frailty Scale Score on Adverse Outcomes and Length of Emergency Department Stay Before Intensive Care Unit Admission. J Emerg Med 2024; 66:e10-e19. [PMID: 37919186 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2023.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older adults living with frailty who require treatment in hospitals are increasingly seen in emergency departments (EDs). OBJECTIVE This study investigated the effects of frailty severity according to the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) on adverse outcomes and length of stay in the ED before intensive care unit (ICU) admission. METHODS We conducted this prospective observational study with patients 65 years or older and admitted to the ICU from March 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022. We divided the patients into four groups according to their CFS scores. We determined the effects of frailty severity on length of ED stay and clinical outcomes using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Of the 920 patients included in the study, 25.4% were nonfrail, 26.2% had mild frailty, 25.9% had moderate frailty, and 22.5% had severe frailty. In the regression analysis, compared with those who were nonfrail, the length of ED stay was significantly longer for those with moderate frailty (odds ratio [OR] 2.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63-2.90) or severe frailty (OR 3.32; 95% CI 1.92-3.87), but the result was not significant for those with mild frailty (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.21-2.45). ICU mortality was significantly higher among patients with mild, moderate, or severe frailty than among those who were nonfrail. CONCLUSIONS We found CFS score to be a predictor of length of ED stay and adverse outcomes. Accordingly, CFS evaluation can provide an idea of the length of ED stay and the likelihood of adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekrem Taha Sert
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Aksaray University Medical School, Aksaray, Turkey
| | - Kamil Kokulu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Aksaray University Medical School, Aksaray, Turkey
| | - Hüseyin Mutlu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Aksaray University Medical School, Aksaray, Turkey
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25
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Taylor RA, Gilson A, Chi L, Haimovich AD, Crawford A, Brandt C, Magidson P, Lai JM, Levin S, Mecca AP, Hwang U. Dementia risk analysis using temporal event modeling on a large real-world dataset. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22618. [PMID: 38114545 PMCID: PMC10730574 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49330-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of the study is to identify healthcare events leading to a diagnosis of dementia from a large real-world dataset. This study uses a data-driven approach to identify temporally ordered pairs and trajectories of healthcare codes in the electronic health record (EHR). This allows for discovery of novel temporal risk factors leading to an outcome of interest that may otherwise be unobvious. We identified several known (Down syndrome RR = 116.1, thiamine deficiency RR = 76.1, and Parkinson's disease RR = 41.1) and unknown (Brief psychotic disorder RR = 68.6, Toxic effect of metals RR = 40.4, and Schizoaffective disorders RR = 40.0) factors for a specific dementia diagnosis. The associations with the greatest risk for any dementia diagnosis were found to be primarily related to mental health (Brief psychotic disorder RR = 266.5, Dissociative and conversion disorders RR = 169.8), or neurologic conditions or procedures (Dystonia RR = 121.9, Lumbar Puncture RR = 119.0). Trajectory and clustering analysis identified factors related to cerebrovascular disorders, as well as diagnoses which increase the risk of toxic imbalances. The results of this study have the ability to provide valuable insights into potential patient progression towards dementia and improve recognition of patients at risk for developing dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Andrew Taylor
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Section for Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Aidan Gilson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ling Chi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Adrian D Haimovich
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna Crawford
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Cynthia Brandt
- Section for Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Phillip Magidson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - James M Lai
- Section of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Scott Levin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Clinical Decision Support Solutions, Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA
| | - Adam P Mecca
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ula Hwang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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26
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Weinrebe W, Kreppenhofer S, Dietrich CF. [Geriatric ultrasound : Prospective evaluation of ultrasound as extended screening in acute geriatric patients]. Z Gerontol Geriatr 2023; 56:647-652. [PMID: 36478131 DOI: 10.1007/s00391-022-02144-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate ultrasound as a routinely used procedure and extended physical examination in geriatric patients in acute care. METHODS Prospective study of 86 patients using ultrasound as a screening examination (abdomen, basal sections of the thorax, thyroid glands) under comparative use of a hand-held ultrasound device (HHUSD) and a high-end ultrasound (HEUS = gold standard). RESULTS In 20/86 (23.2%) clinically relevant findings with therapeutic consequences were found (pleural effusion, urinary retention, choledocholithiasis metatases, colon tumor). In 22/86 (25.6%) patients, additional questions existed besides the screening indication: tumor search (9.3%), anemia (5.8%), liver value elevation (5.8%), dyspnea (5.8%), splenic pathologies (2.3%), weight loss (1.2%), infectious focus (1.2%), diarrhea (1.2%), intra-abdominal hematoma (1.1%), abdominal aortic aneurysm (1.2%). The most common sonographic findings included: cholecystolithiasis (32.6%); right pleural effusion (31.4%), thyroid nodules (30.2%), renal cysts (27.9%), and fatty liver (26.7%). There were significant differences in sizing between HHUSD and HEUS (kidneys, pancreatic corpus and pancreatic caudal diameters, portal vein, left hepatic vein) without diagnostic relevance. CONCLUSION The extended screening by ultrasound provided important answers to classical questions in geriatrics (e.g. urinary retention, volume deficiency/pleural effusion) in many cases. The new findings had therapeutic consequences in one fifth of the patients. The HHUSD can be used in screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Weinrebe
- Departement für Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Spital Campus Bern, Hirslanden, Schänzlistr. 39, 3013, Bern, Schweiz.
| | - S Kreppenhofer
- Medizinische Klinik II, Caritas-Krankenhaus Bad Mergentheim, Bad Mergentheim, Deutschland
| | - C F Dietrich
- Departement für Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Spital Campus Bern, Hirslanden, Schänzlistr. 39, 3013, Bern, Schweiz
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Roussel M, Teissandier D, Yordanov Y, Balen F, Noizet M, Tazarourte K, Bloom B, Catoire P, Berard L, Cachanado M, Simon T, Laribi S, Freund Y. Overnight Stay in the Emergency Department and Mortality in Older Patients. JAMA Intern Med 2023; 183:1378-1385. [PMID: 37930696 PMCID: PMC10628833 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.5961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Importance Patients in the emergency department (ED) who are waiting for hospital admission on a wheeled cot may be subject to harm. However, mortality and morbidity among older patients who spend the night in the ED while waiting for a bed in a medical ward are unknown. Objective To assess whether older adults who spend a night in the ED waiting for admission to a hospital ward are at increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Design, Settings, and Participants This was a prospective cohort study of older patients (≥75 years) who visited the ED and were admitted to the hospital on December 12 to 14, 2022, at 97 EDs across France. Two groups were defined and compared: those who stayed in the ED from midnight until 8:00 am (ED group) and those who were admitted to a ward before midnight (ward group). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was in-hospital mortality, truncated at 30 days. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital adverse events (ie, falls, infection, bleeding, myocardial infarction, stroke, thrombosis, bedsores, and dysnatremia) and hospital length of stay. A generalized linear-regression mixed model was used to compare end points between groups. Results The total sample comprised 1598 patients (median [IQR] age, 86 [80-90] years; 880 [55%] female and 718 [45%] male), with 707 (44%) in the ED group and 891 (56%) in the ward group. Patients who spent the night in the ED had a higher in-hospital mortality rate of 15.7% vs 11.1% (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.39; 95% CI, 1.07-1.81). They also had a higher risk of adverse events compared with the ward group (aRR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.04-1.49) and increased median length of stay (9 vs 8 days; rate ratio, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.11-1.31). In a prespecified subgroup analysis of patients who required assistance with the activities of daily living, spending the night in the ED was associated with a higher in-hospital mortality rate (aRR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.25-2.61). Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this prospective cohort study indicate that for older patients, waiting overnight in the ED for admission to a ward was associated with increased in-hospital mortality and morbidity, particularly in patients with limited autonomy. Older adults should be prioritized for admission to a ward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Roussel
- Emergency Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Rouen, Rouen, France
| | - Dorian Teissandier
- Emergency Department, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Youri Yordanov
- Emergency Department, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Frederic Balen
- Emergency Department, CHU de Toulouse, EQUITY (embodiment, social inequalities, life course epidemiology, cancer, and chronic diseases, interventions, methodology) team, Center for Epidemiology and Research in Population Health, INSERM, Toulouse, France
| | - Marc Noizet
- Emergency Department and Service d’Aide Médicale Urgente (SAMU) 68, Groupe Hospitalier de la Région Mulhouse Sud Alsace, Mulhouse, France
| | - Karim Tazarourte
- Emergency Department and SAMU 69, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Université Lyon 1 INSERM 1290 reshape, Lyon, France
| | - Ben Bloom
- Emergency Department, Royal London Hospital, Barts Health National Health Service Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre Catoire
- Emergency Department, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Laurence Berard
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Research Platform Paris-East, Hôpital Saint Antoine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Marine Cachanado
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Research Platform Paris-East, Hôpital Saint Antoine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Tabassome Simon
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Research Platform Paris-East, Hôpital Saint Antoine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Said Laribi
- Emergency Department, CHU Tours, Tours, France
| | - Yonathan Freund
- Emergency Department, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
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Kamper RS, Nygaard H, Ekmann A, Schultz M, Hansen SK, Hansen P, Pressel E, Rasmussen J, Suetta C. Feasibility of Assessing Older Patients in the Acute Setting: Findings From the Copenhagen PROTECT Study. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2023; 24:1898-1903. [PMID: 37567243 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Older patients are typically underrepresented in clinical trials despite representing a major proportion of the patient population. We aim to describe the feasibility of performing body composition measures, physical function measures, and patient-reported questionnaires within the first 24 hours of admission in a large sample of older acutely admitted medical patients. In addition, we aim to characterize patients with missing measurements. DESIGN Secondary analyses of cross-sectional data from a cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A total of 1071 acutely admitted patients aged ≥65 years from the acute medical ward at Bispebjerg Hospital, were enrolled within the first 24 hours of hospitalization. METHODS Body composition was investigated using direct segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyses (DSM-BIA) and physical function was assessed using hand grip strength (HGS) and the 30-second sit-to-stand test (STS). The orientation-memory-concentration test (OMC) was used to evaluate the prevalence of cognitive impairments within 24 hours of hospitalization, and the OMC in conjunction with the Strength, Assistance walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls questionnaire (SARC-F) was used to assess the feasibility of patient-reported outcomes (PROs). RESULTS Mean age was 78.8 ± 7.8 years (53.0% female). HGS was performed in 96.2% of the enrolled patients, whereas the PRO, 30-second STS, and DSM-BIA were performed in 91.2%, 69.2%, and 59.8% of patients, respectively. The main barrier for performing the 30-second STS and body composition measurements was an inability to mobilize the patient from the hospital bed. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The assessment of HGS and PROs show excellent feasibility in clinical research including older patients, even when the patients are enrolled and tested within 24 hours of an acute admission. Assessments of DSM-BIA and the 30-second STS show good feasibility but are less feasible in immobile patients often presenting as more frail, weaker, and cognitively impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rikke S Kamper
- Department of Geriatric & Palliative Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark; CopenAge, Copenhagen Center for Clinical Age Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Hanne Nygaard
- Department of Geriatric & Palliative Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark; CopenAge, Copenhagen Center for Clinical Age Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Emergency Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anette Ekmann
- Department of Geriatric & Palliative Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark; CopenAge, Copenhagen Center for Clinical Age Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Schultz
- Department of Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Sofie Krarup Hansen
- Department of Geriatric & Palliative Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark; CopenAge, Copenhagen Center for Clinical Age Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pernille Hansen
- Department of Geriatric & Palliative Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark; CopenAge, Copenhagen Center for Clinical Age Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Eckart Pressel
- Department of Geriatric & Palliative Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Rasmussen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Suetta
- Department of Geriatric & Palliative Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark; CopenAge, Copenhagen Center for Clinical Age Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Prachanukool T, George N, Bowman J, Ito K, Ouchi K. Best Practices in End of Life and Palliative Care in the Emergency Department. Clin Geriatr Med 2023; 39:575-597. [PMID: 37798066 PMCID: PMC11300921 DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2023.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Three-quarters of patients over the age of 65 visit the emergency department (ED) in the last six months of their lives. Approximately 20% of hospice residents have ED visits. These patients must decide whether to receive emergency care that prioritizes life support, which may not achieve their desired outcomes and might even be futile. The patients in these end-of-life stages could benefit from early palliative care or hospice consultation before they present to the ED. Furthermore, early integration of palliative care at the time of ED visits is important in establishing the goals of the entire treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thidathit Prachanukool
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, 270 Rama VI Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Neville House, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Naomi George
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 700 Camino de Salud, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Jason Bowman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Neville House, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 75 Francis Street, Neville House, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kaori Ito
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Teikyo University School of Medicine, 2-11-1, Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8606, Japan
| | - Kei Ouchi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Neville House, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 75 Francis Street, Neville House, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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30
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Burton KR, Magidson PD. Trauma (Excluding Falls) in the Older Adult. Clin Geriatr Med 2023; 39:519-533. [PMID: 37798063 DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2023.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Trauma in the older adult will increasingly become important to emergency physicians hoping to optimize their patient care. The geriatric patient population possesses higher rates of comorbidities that increase their risk for trauma and make their care more challenging. By considering the nuances that accompany the critical stabilization and injury-specific management of geriatric trauma patients, emergency physicians can decrease the prevalence of adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle R Burton
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1830 Eas, Monument Street, Suite 6-110, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Phillip D Magidson
- Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Suite A150, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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31
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Conneely M, Leahy S, O’Connor M, Corey G, Gabr A, Saleh A, Okpaje B, O’ Shaughnessy Í, Synnott A, McCarthy A, Holmes A, Robinson K, Ryan L, Griffin A, Barry L, Trépel D, Ryan D, Galvin R. A Physiotherapy-Led Transition to Home Intervention for Older Adults Following Emergency Department Discharge: A Pilot Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial (ED PLUS). Clin Interv Aging 2023; 18:1769-1788. [PMID: 37901478 PMCID: PMC10612516 DOI: 10.2147/cia.s413961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Older adults frequently attend the emergency department (ED) and experience high rates of subsequent adverse outcomes including functional decline, ED re-presentation and unplanned hospital admission. The development of effective interventions to prevent such outcomes is a key priority for research and service provision. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility of a physiotherapy-led integrated care intervention for older adults discharged from the ED (ED PLUS). Patients and Methods Older adults presenting to the ED of a university teaching hospital with undifferentiated medical complaints and discharged within 72 hours were computer randomised in a ratio of 1:1:1 to deliver usual care, Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in the ED, or ED PLUS. ED PLUS is an evidence-based and stakeholder-informed intervention to bridge the care transition between the ED and community by initiating a CGA in the ED and implementing a six-week, multi-component, self-management programme in the patient's home. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. All clinical and process outcomes were assessed by a research nurse blinded to group allocation. Data analyses were primarily descriptive. Results Twenty-nine participants were recruited indicating a 67% recruitment rate. At 6 months, there was 100% retention in the usual care group, 88% in the CGA group and 90% in the ED PLUS group. ED PLUS participants expressed positive feedback, and there was a trend towards improved function and quality of life and less ED revisits and unscheduled hospitalisations in the ED PLUS group. Conclusion ED PLUS bridges the transition of care between the index visit to the ED and the community and is feasible using systematic recruitment strategies. Despite recruitment challenges in the context of COVID-19, the intervention was successfully delivered and well received by participants. There was a lower incidence of functional decline and improved quality of life in the ED PLUS group. Trial Registration The trial was registered in Clinical Trials Protocols and Results System as of 21st July 2021, with registration number NCT04983602.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mairéad Conneely
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Siobhán Leahy
- Department of Sport, Exercise & Nutrition, School of Science & Computing, Atlantic Technological University, Galway, Ireland
| | - Margaret O’Connor
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Gillian Corey
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Ahmed Gabr
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Anastasia Saleh
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Blessing Okpaje
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Íde O’ Shaughnessy
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Aoife Synnott
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Aoife McCarthy
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Alison Holmes
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Katie Robinson
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Lorna Ryan
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Anne Griffin
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Louise Barry
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Dominic Trépel
- Trinity Institute of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Damian Ryan
- Limerick EM Education Research Training (ALERT), Emergency Department, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Rose Galvin
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - On behalf of Ageing Research Centre Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) Panel of older adults
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Department of Sport, Exercise & Nutrition, School of Science & Computing, Atlantic Technological University, Galway, Ireland
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Trinity Institute of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Limerick EM Education Research Training (ALERT), Emergency Department, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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O'Shaughnessy Í, Fitzgerald C, Whiston A, Harnett P, Whitty H, Mulligan D, Mullaney M, Devaney C, Lang D, Hardimann J, Condon B, Hayes C, Holmes A, Barry L, McCormack C, Bounds M, Robinson K, O'Connor M, Ryan D, Shchetkovsky D, Steed F, Carey L, Ahern E, Galvin R. Establishing the core elements of a frailty at the front door model of care using a modified real-time Delphi technique. BMC Emerg Med 2023; 23:123. [PMID: 37858041 PMCID: PMC10588204 DOI: 10.1186/s12873-023-00893-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Innovations in models of care for older adults living with frailty presenting to the emergency department (ED) have become a key priority for clinicians, researchers and policymakers due to the deleterious outcomes older adults experience due to prolonged exposure to such an environment. This study aimed to develop a set of expert consensus-based statements underpinning operational design, outcome measurement and evaluation of a Frailty at the Front Door (FFD) model of care for older adults within an Irish context. METHODS A modified real-time Delphi method was used. Facilitation of World Café focus groups with an expert panel of 86 members and seperate advisory groups with a Public and Patient Involvement panel of older adults and members of the Irish Association of Emergency Medicine generated a series of statements on the core elements of the FFD model of care. Statements were analysed thematically and incorporated into a real-time Delphi survey, which was emailed to members of the expert panel. Members were asked to rank 70 statements across nine domains using a 9-point Likert scale. Consensus criteria were defined a priori and guided by previous research using 9-point rating scales. RESULTS Fifty members responded to the survey representing an overall response rate of 58%. Following analyses of the survey responses, the research team reviewed statements for content overlap and refined a final list of statements across the following domains: aims and objectives of the FFD model of care; target population; screening and assessment; interventions; technology; integration of care; evaluation and metrics; and research. CONCLUSION Development of a consensus derived FFD model of care represents an important step in generating national standards, implementation of a service model as intended and enhances opportunities for scientific impact. Future research should focus on the development of a core outcome set for studies involving older adults in the ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Íde O'Shaughnessy
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
| | - Christine Fitzgerald
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Aoife Whiston
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Patrick Harnett
- Clinical Design and Innovation, Health Service Executive, National Clinical Programme for Older People, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Helen Whitty
- Clinical Design and Innovation, Health Service Executive, National Clinical Programme for Older People, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Des Mulligan
- Clinical Design and Innovation, Health Service Executive, National Clinical Programme for Older People, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marian Mullaney
- Clinical Design and Innovation, Health Service Executive, National Clinical Programme for Older People, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Catherine Devaney
- Clinical Design and Innovation, Health Service Executive, National Clinical Programme for Older People, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Deirdre Lang
- Clinical Design and Innovation, Health Service Executive, National Clinical Programme for Older People, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jennifer Hardimann
- Clinical Design and Innovation, Health Service Executive, National Clinical Programme for Older People, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Brian Condon
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Christina Hayes
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Alison Holmes
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Louise Barry
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Claire McCormack
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Megan Bounds
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA
| | - Katie Robinson
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Margaret O'Connor
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Department of Ageing and Therapeutics, University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Damien Ryan
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Emergency Department, Limerick EM Education Research Training (ALERT), University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Denys Shchetkovsky
- Emergency Department, Limerick EM Education Research Training (ALERT), University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Fiona Steed
- Department of Health, Baggot Street, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Leonora Carey
- Department of Occupational Therapy, University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Emer Ahern
- Clinical Design and Innovation, Health Service Executive, National Clinical Programme for Older People, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rose Galvin
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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Farhat H, Aifa KE, Alinier G, Nashwan A, Gangaram P, Khadhraoui M, Al-Shaikh L, Gargouri I, Laughton J. Understanding patient non-transport decision theories in the pre-hospital setting: a narrative review. Int J Emerg Med 2023; 16:69. [PMID: 37821810 PMCID: PMC10566180 DOI: 10.1186/s12245-023-00528-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In pre-hospital emergency care, decisions regarding patient non-conveyance emerged as significant determinants of healthcare outcomes and resource utilization. These complex decisions became integral to the progress of emergency medical services, thus warranting an evolving exploration within the medical discourse. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS This narrative review aimed to synthesize and critically evaluate various theoretical stances on patient non-conveyance in the pre-hospital emergency. The focus on studies published between January 2012 and August 2022 was intentional to capture contemporary practices and insights. PubMed and Google Scholar served as the primary databases for the investigation, while the AL-Rayyan® software facilitated a thorough screening process. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Twenty-nine studies-encompassing articles, books, and theses-were discovered through our search, each presenting unique perspectives on patient non-transport, thus highlighting its criticality as a healthcare concern. Predominant factors influencing non-transport decisions were classified into patient-initiated refusals (PIR), clinician-initiated decisions (CID), and dispatcher-initiated decisions (DID). CONCLUSIONS The issue of patient non-conveyance to hospitals continues to pose a crucial challenge to the seamless operation of emergency healthcare systems, warranting increased attention from various healthcare entities. To comprehend and pinpoint potential areas of improvement, a comprehensive analysis of pre-hospital non-transport events is imperative. A well-informed, strategic approach could prevent resource waste while ensuring patients receive the required and definitive care. KEY MESSAGES Why is this topic important? Some studies have suggested that non-transport to hospitals following emergency calls is safe. However, it is a concerning issue for health systems. It is also considered a key performance metric for health systems. What does this review attempt to show? This review aimed to map the various factors discussed in the literature regarding the decisions not to transport patients following emergency calls in a pre-hospital setting. What are the key findings? The existing theories regarding non-transport to hospitals after the provision of emergency care in the pre-hospital setting were identified. Non-transport due to non-clinical decisions jeopardizes emergency care outcomes for paediatric and elderly patients in particular. Hence, further research is required to identify and control the factors governing these decisions. How is patient care impacted? The decisions regarding patient transport following emergency calls in a pre-hospital setting are crucial for patient outcomes. They could impact the pre-hospital emergency care outcomes as well as patient safety. They can also affect the emergency services resources' ability to respond to other critical emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Farhat
- Hamad Medical Corporation Ambulance Service, Doha, Qatar
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Sousse "Ibn El Jazzar", University of Sousse, 4000, Sousse, Tunisia
| | | | - Guillaume Alinier
- Hamad Medical Corporation Ambulance Service, Doha, Qatar.
- School of Health and Social Work, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK.
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar.
- Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
| | | | - Padarath Gangaram
- Hamad Medical Corporation Ambulance Service, Doha, Qatar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban, 4000, South Africa
| | - Moncef Khadhraoui
- Higher Institute of Biotechnology, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Loua Al-Shaikh
- Hamad Medical Corporation Ambulance Service, Doha, Qatar
| | - Imed Gargouri
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - James Laughton
- Hamad Medical Corporation Ambulance Service, Doha, Qatar
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Joseph JW, Kennedy M, Landry AM, Marsh RH, Baymon DE, Im DE, Chen PC, Samuels-Kalow ME, Nentwich LM, Elhadad N, Sánchez LD. Race and Ethnicity and Primary Language in Emergency Department Triage. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2337557. [PMID: 37824142 PMCID: PMC10570890 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.37557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Emergency department (ED) triage substantially affects how long patients wait for care but triage scoring relies on few objective criteria. Prior studies suggest that Black and Hispanic patients receive unequal triage scores, paralleled by disparities in the depth of physician evaluations. Objectives To examine whether racial disparities in triage scores and physician evaluations are present across a multicenter network of academic and community hospitals and evaluate whether patients who do not speak English face similar disparities. Design, Setting, and Participants This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study examining adults presenting between February 28, 2019, and January 1, 2023, across the Mass General Brigham Integrated Health Care System, encompassing 7 EDs: 2 urban academic hospitals and 5 community hospitals. Analysis included all patients presenting with 1 of 5 common chief symptoms. Exposures Emergency department nurse-led triage and physician evaluation. Main Outcomes and Measures Average Triage Emergency Severity Index [ESI] score and average visit work relative value units [wRVUs] were compared across symptoms and between individual minority racial and ethnic groups and White patients. Results There were 249 829 visits (149 861 female [60%], American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%, Asian 3.3%, Black 11.8%, Hispanic 18.8%, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander <0.1%, White 60.8%, and patients identifying as Other race or ethnicity 5.1%). Median age was 48 (IQR, 29-66) years. White patients had more acute ESI scores than Hispanic or Other patients across all symptoms (eg, chest pain: Hispanic, 2.68 [95% CI, 2.67-2.69]; White, 2.55 [95% CI, 2.55-2.56]; Other, 2.66 [95% CI, 2.64-2.68]; P < .001) and Black patients across most symptoms (nausea/vomiting: Black, 2.97 [95% CI, 2.96-2.99]; White: 2.90 [95% CI, 2.89-2.91]; P < .001). These differences were reversed for wRVUs (chest pain: Black, 4.32 [95% CI, 4.25-4.39]; Hispanic, 4.13 [95% CI, 4.08-4.18]; White 3.55 [95% CI, 3.52-3.58]; Other 3.96 [95% CI, 3.84-4.08]; P < .001). Similar patterns were seen for patients whose primary language was not English. Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study, patients who identified as Black, Hispanic, and Other race and ethnicity were assigned less acute ESI scores than their White peers despite having received more involved physician workups, suggesting some degree of mistriage. Clinical decision support systems might reduce these disparities but would require careful calibration to avoid replicating bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua W. Joseph
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Maura Kennedy
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Alden M. Landry
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston
| | - Regan H. Marsh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Da’Marcus E. Baymon
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dana E. Im
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Paul C. Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Margaret E. Samuels-Kalow
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Lauren M. Nentwich
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Noémie Elhadad
- Departments of Biomedical Informatics and Computer Science, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - León D. Sánchez
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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van der Velde MGAM, Jansen MAC, de Jongh MAC, Kremers MNT, Haak HR. Implementation of a care-pathway at the emergency department for older people presenting with nonspecific complaints; a protocol for a multicenter parallel cohort study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290733. [PMID: 37643185 PMCID: PMC10464958 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older adults frequently attend the Emergency Department (ED) with poorly defined symptoms, often called nonspecific complaints (NSC). NSC such as 'weakness' and 'not feeling well', often lead to an extensive differential diagnosis. Patients with NSC experience a prolonged length of stay at the ED and are prone to adverse outcomes. Currently, a care pathway for patients with NSC does not exist. A special structured care pathway for patients with NSC was designed to improve the efficiency and quality of care at the ED. METHOD A multicenter parallel cohort study, organized in different hospitals in the Noord-Brabant area, the Netherlands, in which general practitioners (GP), elderly care physicians (ECP), Emergency Physicians (EP), geriatricians and internists will collaborate. Patients ≥ 70 years presenting with NSC and in need of ED admission as indicated by their own GP or ECP are eligible for inclusion. Before implementation each hospital will retrospectively include their own control-group. After implementation, patients will prospectively be included. The care-pathway exists of risk stratification by the APOP-screener, in-depth history taking, i.e. limited comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and a standard set of diagnostics, and a dedicated ED-nurse (if possible) present to ensure the care-pathway is followed. The primary outcome is length of stay at the ED (LOS-ED) and perceived quality of care. Secondary outcomes are hospital length of stay, revisits, readmissions and mortality at 30- and 90-day follow-up. DISCUSSION This study proposes a structured care pathway for older patients presenting at the ED with NSCs and considering effectiveness and perceived quality this may improve acute care for these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION Dutch Trial register, number NL8960.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. G. A. M. van der Velde
- Department of Internal Medicine, Máxima MC, Veldhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Health Services Research, and CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Aging and Long Term Care Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - M. N. T. Kremers
- Department of Internal Medicine, Máxima MC, Veldhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - H. R. Haak
- Department of Health Services Research, and CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Aging and Long Term Care Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Filiatreault S, Kreindler S, Grimshaw J, Chochinov A, Doupe M. Protocol for developing a set of performance measures to monitor and evaluate delirium care quality for older adults in the emergency department using a modified e-Delphi process. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e074730. [PMID: 37607798 PMCID: PMC10445345 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Older adults are at high risk of developing delirium in the emergency department (ED). Delirium associated with an ED visit is independently linked to poorer outcomes such as increased length of hospital stay and mortality. Performance measures (PMs) are needed to identify variations in the quality of delirium care to help focus improvement efforts where they are most needed. A preliminary list of 11 quality statements and 24 PMs was developed based on a synthesis of high-quality clinical practice guidelines. The purpose of this study is to gain consensus on a subset of PMs that can be used to evaluate delirium care quality for older ED patients. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This protocol for a modified e-Delphi study is informed by the Guidance on Conducting and REporting DElphi Studies. Clinical experts from across Canada and internationally will be recruited through peer referral, professional organisations and social media calls for expressions of interest. A minimum of 17 participants will be recruited. The primary survey for each round will consist of closed-ended questions with the opportunity to provide comments to justify decisions and clarify understanding. Using 9-point Likert scales, participants will rate each quality statement according to the concepts of importance and actionability, then its associated PMs according to the concept of necessity. Results will be fed back to participants in subsequent rounds. A priori stopping criteria have been defined in terms of consensus and stability. A minimum of three rounds will be undertaken to allow participants to have feedback, revise previous responses, then stabilise responses. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval was provided at the University of Manitoba Health Research Ethics Board (ID HS25728 (H2022:340)). Informed consent will be obtained electronically using the Research Electronic Data Capture secure online platform. Knowledge translation and dissemination will be done through traditional (eg, conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications) and non-traditional (eg, ED Grand Rounds) strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Filiatreault
- Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Faculty of Health Sciences, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Sara Kreindler
- Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Faculty of Health Sciences, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Jeremy Grimshaw
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alecs Chochinov
- Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Faculty of Health Sciences, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Emergency Medicine, University of Manitoba Max Rady College of Medicine, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Malcolm Doupe
- Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba Faculty of Health Sciences, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Emergency Medicine, University of Manitoba Max Rady College of Medicine, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Smeekes OS, Willems HC, Blomberg I, Buurman BM. A causal loop diagram of older persons' emergency department visits and interactions of its contributing factors: a group model building approach. Eur Geriatr Med 2023; 14:837-849. [PMID: 37391681 PMCID: PMC10447269 DOI: 10.1007/s41999-023-00816-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Understanding the etiology of older persons' emergency department (ED) visits is highly needed. Many contributing factors have been identified, however, the role their interactions play remains unclear. Causal loop diagrams (CLDs), as conceptual models, can visualize these interactions and therefore may elucidate their role. This study aimed to better understand why people older than 65 years of age visit the ED in Amsterdam by capturing the interactions of contributing factors as perceived by an expert group in a CLD through group model building (GMB). METHODS Six qualitative online focus group like sessions, known as GMB, were conducted with a purposefully recruited interdisciplinary expert group of nine that resulted in a CLD that depicted their shared view. RESULTS The CLD included four direct contributing factors, 29 underlying factors, 66 relations between factors and 18 feedback loops. The direct factors included, 'acute event', 'frailty', 'functioning of the healthcare professional' and 'availability of alternatives for the ED'. All direct factors showed direct as well as indirect contribution to older persons' ED visits in the CLD through interaction. CONCLUSION Functioning of the healthcare professional and availability of alternatives for the ED were considered pivotal factors, together with frailty and acute event. These factors, as well as many underlying factors, showed extensive interaction in the CLD, thereby contributing directly and indirectly to older persons' ED visits. This study helps to better understand the etiology of older persons' ED visits and in specific the way contributing factors interact. Furthermore, its CLD can help to find solutions for the increasing numbers of older adults in the ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar S Smeekes
- Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatric Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Hanna C Willems
- Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatric Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ilse Blomberg
- Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatric Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca M Buurman
- Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatric Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Medicine for Older People, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, De Boelelaan 117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Moloney E, O’Donovan MR, Sezgin D, Flanagan E, McGrath K, Timmons S, O’Caoimh R. Diagnostic Accuracy of Frailty Screening Instruments Validated for Use among Older Adults Attending Emergency Departments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6280. [PMID: 37444127 PMCID: PMC10341387 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20136280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Early identification of frailty can prevent functional decline. Although multiple frailty screens exist for use in Emergency Departments (EDs), few are validated against diagnostic standards such as comprehensive geriatric assessment. To examine the diagnostic accuracy of ED screens for frailty, scientific databases were searched for prospective diagnostic accuracy test studies from January 2000 to September 2022. Studies were assessed for risk of bias using QUADAS-C. Psychometric properties were extracted and analysed using R. Six studies involving 1,663 participants describing seven frailty screening instruments (PRISMA-7, CFS, VIP, FRESH, BPQ, TRST, and ISAR), representing 13 unique data points, were included. The mean age of participants ranged from 76 to 86 years. The proportion that was female ranged from 45 to 60%. The pooled prevalence rate of frailty was high at 59%. The pooled estimate for sensitivity was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.76-0.91) versus 0.77 (95% CI: 0.62-0.88) for specificity. Pooled accuracy based on area under the ROC curve was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86-0.90). Although few studies were found, limiting the ability to conduct a meta-analysis of individual instruments, available frailty screens can accurately diagnose frailty in older adults attending the ED. As specificity was comparatively low, additional assessment may be required to identify those requiring inpatient management or onward community referral. Further study is therefore required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Moloney
- HRB Clinical Research Facility, Mercy University Hospital, University College Cork, Grenville Place, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland; (E.M.); (M.R.O.); (E.F.)
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Grenville Place, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland; (K.M.); (S.T.)
| | - Mark R. O’Donovan
- HRB Clinical Research Facility, Mercy University Hospital, University College Cork, Grenville Place, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland; (E.M.); (M.R.O.); (E.F.)
| | - Duygu Sezgin
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
| | - Evelyn Flanagan
- HRB Clinical Research Facility, Mercy University Hospital, University College Cork, Grenville Place, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland; (E.M.); (M.R.O.); (E.F.)
| | - Keith McGrath
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Grenville Place, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland; (K.M.); (S.T.)
| | - Suzanne Timmons
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Grenville Place, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland; (K.M.); (S.T.)
- Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork, St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, T12 XH60 Cork, Ireland
| | - Rónán O’Caoimh
- HRB Clinical Research Facility, Mercy University Hospital, University College Cork, Grenville Place, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland; (E.M.); (M.R.O.); (E.F.)
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, Grenville Place, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland; (K.M.); (S.T.)
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Bourmorck D, de Saint-Hubert M, Desmedt M, Piers R, Flament J, De Brauwer I. SPICT as a predictive tool for risk of 1-year health degradation and death in older patients admitted to the emergency department: a bicentric cohort study in Belgium. BMC Palliat Care 2023; 22:79. [PMID: 37355577 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-023-01201-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older patients are increasingly showing multi-comorbidities, including advanced chronic diseases. When admitted to the emergency department (ED), the decision to pursue life-prolonging treatments or to initiate a palliative care approach is a challenge for clinicians. We test for the first time the diagnostic accuracy of the Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT) in the ED to identify older patients at risk of deteriorating and dying, and timely address palliative care needs. METHODS We conducted a prospective bicentric cohort study on 352 older patients (≥ 75 years) admitted to two EDs in Belgium between December 2019 and March 2020 and between August and November 2020. SPICT (French version, 2019) variables were collected during the patients' admission to the ED, along with socio-demographic, medical and functional data. The palliative profile was defined as a positive SPICT assessment. Survival, symptoms and health degradation (≥ 1 point in ADL Katz score or institutionalisation and death) were followed at 12 months by phone. Main accuracy measures were sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios (LR) as well as cox regression, survival analysis using the Kaplan Meier method, and ordinal regression. RESULTS Out of 352 patients included in the study (mean age 83 ± 5.5 years, 43% male), 167 patients (47%) had a positive SPICT profile. At one year follow up, SPICT positive patients presented significantly more health degradation (72%) compared with SPICT negative patients (35%, p < 0.001). SPICT positivity was correlated with 1-year health degradation (OR 4.9; p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of SPICT to predict health degradation were 0.65 (95%CI, 0.57-0.73) and 0.72 (95%CI, 0.64-0.80) respectively, with a negative LR of 0.48 (95%CI, 0.38-0.60) and a positive LR of 2.37 (1.78-3.16). The survival time was shorter in SPICT positive patients than in SPICT negative ones (p < 0.001), the former having a higher 1-year mortality rate (HR = 4.21; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS SPICT successfully identifies older patients at high risk of health degradation and death. It can support emergency clinicians to identify older patients with a palliative profile and subsequently initiate a palliative care approach with a discussion on goals of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Bourmorck
- Institut de Recherche Santé et Société, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs, 30, Bruxelles, 1200, Belgium.
| | - Marie de Saint-Hubert
- Institut de Recherche Santé et Société, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs, 30, Bruxelles, 1200, Belgium
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire - UCL - Namur, Avenue Gaston Thérasse 1, Yvoir, 5530, Belgium
| | - Marianne Desmedt
- Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, Bruxelles, 1200, Belgium
| | - Ruth Piers
- Department of Geriatrics, Ghent University Hospital, C. Heymanslaan 10, Ghent, Gent, 9000, Belgium
| | - Julien Flament
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire - UCL - Namur, Avenue Gaston Thérasse 1, Yvoir, 5530, Belgium
| | - Isabelle De Brauwer
- Institut de Recherche Santé et Société, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs, 30, Bruxelles, 1200, Belgium
- Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, Bruxelles, 1200, Belgium
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40
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van Loon-van Gaalen M, Voshol IE, van der Linden MC, Gussekloo J, van der Mast RC. Frequencies and reasons for unplanned emergency department return visits by older adults: a cohort study. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:309. [PMID: 37198554 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04021-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As unplanned Emergency Department (ED) return visits (URVs) are associated with adverse health outcomes in older adults, many EDs have initiated post-discharge interventions to reduce URVs. Unfortunately, most interventions fail to reduce URVs, including telephone follow-up after ED discharge, investigated in a recent trial. To understand why these interventions were not effective, we analyzed patient and ED visit characteristics and reasons for URVs within 30 days for patients aged ≥ 70 years. METHODS Data was used from a randomized controlled trial, investigating whether telephone follow-up after ED discharge reduced URVs compared to a satisfaction survey call. Only observational data from control group patients were used. Patient and index ED visit characteristics were compared between patients with and without URVs. Two independent researchers determined the reasons for URVs and categorized them into: patient-related, illness-related, new complaints and other reasons. Associations were examined between the number of URVs per patient and the categories of reasons for URVs. RESULTS Of the 1659 patients, 222 (13.4%) had at least one URV within 30 days. Male sex, ED visit in the 30 days before the index ED visit, triage category "urgent", longer length of ED stay, urinary tract problems, and dyspnea were associated with URVs. Of the 222 patients with an URV, 31 (14%) returned for patient-related reasons, 95 (43%) for illness-related reasons, 76 (34%) for a new complaint and 20 (9%) for other reasons. URVs of patients who returned ≥ 3 times were mostly illness-related (72%). CONCLUSION As the majority of patients had an URV for illness-related reasons or new complaints, these data fuel the discussion as to whether URVs can or should be prevented. TRIAL REGISTRATION For this cohort study, we used data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT). This trial was pre-registered in the Netherlands Trial Register with number NTR6815 on the 7th of November 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merel van Loon-van Gaalen
- Emergency Department, Haaglanden Medical Center, P.O. Box 432, 2501 CK, The Hague, The Netherlands.
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | - Jacobijn Gussekloo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Roos C van der Mast
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, CAPRI-University Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Naouri D, Yordanov Y, Lapidus N, Pelletier-Fleury N. Cost-effectiveness analysis of direct admission to acute geriatric unit versus admission after an emergency department visit for elderly patients. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:283. [PMID: 37165336 PMCID: PMC10173646 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-03985-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elderly individuals represent an increasing proportion of emergency department (ED) users. In the Greater Paris University Hospitals (APHP) direct-admission study, direct admission (DA) to an acute geriatric unit (AGU) was associated with a shorter hospital length of stay (LOS), lower post-acute care transfers, and lower risk of an ED return visit in the month following the AGU hospitalization compared with admission after an ED visit. Until now, no economic evaluation of DA has been available. METHODS We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of DA to an AGU versus admission after an ED visit in elderly patients. This was conducted alongside the APHP direct-admission study which used electronic medical records and administrative claims data from the Greater Paris University Hospitals (APHP) Health Data Warehouse and involved 19 different AGUs. We included all patients ≥ 75 years old who were admitted to an AGU for more than 24 h between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2018. The effectiveness criterion was the occurrence of ED return visit in the month following AGU hospitalization. We compared the costs of an AGU stay in the DA versus the ED visit group. The perspective was that of the payer. To characterise and summarize uncertainty, we used a non-parametric bootstrap resampling and constructed cost-effectiveness accessibility curves. RESULTS At baseline, mean costs per patient were €5113 and €5131 in the DA and ED visit groups, respectively. ED return visit rates were 3.3% (n = 81) in the DA group and 3.9% (n = 160) in the ED group (p = 0.21). After bootstrap, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €-4249 (95%CI= -66,001; +45,547) per ED return visit averted. Acceptability curves showed that DA could be considered a cost-effective intervention at a threshold of €-2405 per ED return visit avoided. CONCLUSION The results of this cost-effectiveness analysis of DA to an AGU versus admission after an ED visit for elderly patients argues in favor of DA, which could help provide support for public decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Naouri
- Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM U1018), Université Paris- Saclay, Université Paris-Sud, UVSQ, Villejuif, France.
| | - Youri Yordanov
- Service d'Accueil des Urgences, Sorbonne Université, APHP, Hôpital Saint Antoine, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, UMR-S 1136, Paris, France
| | - Nathanael Lapidus
- Public Health Department, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique IPLESP, AP-HP, Paris, F75012, France
| | - Nathalie Pelletier-Fleury
- Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM U1018), Université Paris- Saclay, Université Paris-Sud, UVSQ, Villejuif, France
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Gianferrari G, Martinelli I, Simonini C, Zucchi E, Fini N, Caputo M, Ghezzi A, Gessani A, Canali E, Casmiro M, De Massis P, Curro' Dossi M, De Pasqua S, Liguori R, Longoni M, Medici D, Morresi S, Patuelli A, Pugliatti M, Santangelo M, Sette E, Stragliati F, Terlizzi E, Vacchiano V, Zinno L, Ferro S, Amedei A, Filippini T, Vinceti M, Mandrioli J. Insight into Elderly ALS Patients in the Emilia Romagna Region: Epidemiological and Clinical Features of Late-Onset ALS in a Prospective, Population-Based Study. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13040942. [PMID: 37109471 PMCID: PMC10144747 DOI: 10.3390/life13040942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Few studies have focused on elderly (>80 years) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, who represent a fragile subgroup generally not included in clinical trials and often neglected because they are more difficult to diagnose and manage. We analyzed the clinical and genetic features of very late-onset ALS patients through a prospective, population-based study in the Emilia Romagna Region of Italy. From 2009 to 2019, 222 (13.76%) out of 1613 patients in incident cases were over 80 years old at diagnosis, with a female predominance (F:M = 1.18). Elderly ALS patients represented 12.02% of patients before 2015 and 15.91% from 2015 onwards (p = 0.024). This group presented with bulbar onset in 38.29% of cases and had worse clinical conditions at diagnosis compared to younger patients, with a lower average BMI (23.12 vs. 24.57 Kg/m2), a higher progression rate (1.43 vs. 0.95 points/month), and a shorter length of survival (a median of 20.77 vs. 36 months). For this subgroup, genetic analyses have seldom been carried out (25% vs. 39.11%) and are generally negative. Finally, elderly patients underwent less frequent nutritional- and respiratory-supporting procedures, and multidisciplinary teams were less involved at follow-up, except for specialist palliative care. The genotypic and phenotypic features of elderly ALS patients could help identify the different environmental and genetic risk factors that determine the age at which disease onset occurs. Since multidisciplinary management can improve a patient's prognosis, it should be more extensively applied to this fragile group of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Gianferrari
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Ilaria Martinelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41124 Modena, Italy
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine Ph.D. Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Simonini
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Zucchi
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41124 Modena, Italy
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Nicola Fini
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Maria Caputo
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Andrea Ghezzi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Annalisa Gessani
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Elena Canali
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, 42123 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Mario Casmiro
- Department of Neurology, Faenza and Ravenna Hospital, 48100 Ravenna, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Rocco Liguori
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Longoni
- Department of Neurology, Infermi Hospital, 48018 Rimini, Italy
- Department of Neurology, Bufalini Hospital, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Doriana Medici
- Department of Neurology, Fidenza Hospital, 43036 Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Maura Pugliatti
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Department of Neurology, St. Anna Hospital, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Elisabetta Sette
- Department of Neurology, St. Anna Hospital, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Filippo Stragliati
- Department of General and Specialized Medicine, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Emilio Terlizzi
- Department of Neurology, G. Da Saliceto Hospital, 29121 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Veria Vacchiano
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Clinica Neurologica, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucia Zinno
- Department of General and Specialized Medicine, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Salvatore Ferro
- Department of Hospital Services, Emilia Romagna Regional Health Authority, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Tommaso Filippini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Research Centre in Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology-CREAGEN, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - Marco Vinceti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Research Centre in Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology-CREAGEN, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41124 Modena, Italy
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Karamercan MA, Dündar DZ, Slagman A, Ergin M, Janssens KAC, Fabbri A, Bjornsen LP, Somodi S, Adam VN, Polyzogopoulou E, Demir HA, Laribi S. Epidemiology of geriatric patients presenting to emergency departments in Europe: EGERS study. Eur J Emerg Med 2023; 30:117-124. [PMID: 36719188 DOI: 10.1097/mej.0000000000000997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE Patients aged 65 and above constitute a large and growing part of emergency department (ED) visits in western countries. OBJECTIVE The primary aim of this European prospective study was to determine the epidemiologic characteristics of elderly patients presenting to EDs across Europe. Our secondary objective was to determine the hospitalization rate, characteristics, and in-hospital mortality rates of geriatric patients presenting to EDs. DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS An observational prospective cohort study over seven consecutive days between 19 October and 30 November 2020, in 36 EDs from nine European countries. Patients aged 65 years and older presenting to EDs with any complaint during a period of seven consecutive days were included. OUTCOME MEASURES Data were collected on demographics, the major presenting complaint, the presenting vital signs, comorbidities, usual medication, and outcomes after the ED, including disposition, in-hospital outcome, and the final hospital diagnosis. The patients were stratified into three groups: old (65-74 years), older (75-84 years), and oldest age (>85 years). MAIN RESULTS A total of 5767 patients were included in the study. The median age of the patients was 77 (interquartile range: 71-84) years. The majority presented with a non-traumatic complaint (81%) and about 90% of the patients had at least one comorbid disease and were on chronic medication. An ED visit resulted in subsequent hospital admission in 51% of cases, with 9% of patients admitted to an intensive care unit. Overall in-hospital mortality was 8%, and ED mortality was 1%. Older age was associated with a higher female proportion, comorbidities, need for home care service, history of previous falls, admission rates, length of ED, and hospital stay. CONCLUSION The characteristics of ED elderly patients and their subsequent hospital stay are reported in this prospective study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet A Karamercan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara
| | - Defne Z Dündar
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara
| | - Ana Slagman
- Division of Emergency and Acute Medicine, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Charité Campus Mitte, Charite Universitatmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mehmet Ergin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Andrea Fabbri
- Dipartimento Emergenza, Azienda USL della Romagna, Forli, Italy
| | - Lars P Bjornsen
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sándor Somodi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Visnja N Adam
- Department of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Care, Clinical Hospital Sveti Duh, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Effie Polyzogopoulou
- Emergency Medicine Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Hüseyin A Demir
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Sanliurfa Mehmet Akif Inan Education and Research Hospital, Sanliurfa, Turkey
| | - Said Laribi
- Emergency Medicine Department, Tours University Hospital, Tours, France
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Furlong KR, O'Donnell K, Farrell A, Mercer S, Norman P, Parsons M, Patey C. Older Adults, the "Social Admission," and Nonspecific Complaints in the Emergency Department: Protocol for a Scoping Review. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e38246. [PMID: 36920467 PMCID: PMC10132007 DOI: 10.2196/38246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older adults have a higher visit rate and poorer health outcomes in the emergency department (ED) compared to their younger counterparts. Older adults are more likely to require additional resources and hospital admission. The nonspecific, atypical, and complex nature of disease presentation in older adults challenges current ED triage systems. Acute illness in older adults is often missed or commonly disguised in the ED as a social or functional issue. If diagnostic clarity is lacking or safe discharge from the ED is not feasible, then older adults may be labelled a "social admission" (or another synonymous term), often leading to negative health consequences. OBJECTIVE This scoping review aims to describe and synthesize the available evidence on patient characteristics, adverse events, and health outcomes for older adults labelled as "social admission" (and other synonymously used terms), as well as those with nonacute or nonspecific complaints in the ED or hospital setting. METHODS A literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, and CINAHL was completed. Relevant reference lists were screened. Data have been managed using EndNote software and the Covidence web application. Original data have been included if patients are aged ≥65 years and are considered a "social admission" (or other synonymously used term) or if they present to the ED with a nonacute or nonspecific complaint. Two review team members have reviewed titles and abstracts and will review full-text articles. Disagreements are resolved by consensus or in discussion with a third reviewer. This review does not require research ethics approval. RESULTS As of January 2023, we have completed the title and abstract screening and have started the full-text screening. Some remaining full-text articles are being retrieved and/or translated. We are extracting data from included studies. Data will be presented in a narrative and descriptive manner, summarizing key concepts, patient characteristics, and health outcomes of patients labelled as a "social admission" (and other synonymously used terms) and of those with nonacute and nonspecific complaints. We expect the first results for publication in Spring 2023. CONCLUSIONS Acute illness in the older adult is not always easily identified. We hope to better understand patient characteristics, adverse events, and health outcomes of older adults labelled as a "social admission," as well as those with nonacute or nonspecific complaints. We aim to identify priorities for future research and identify knowledge gaps that may inform health care providers caring for these vulnerable patients. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/38246.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla Rose Furlong
- Discipline of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St John's, NL, Canada.,Discipline of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St John's, NL, Canada.,Carbonear Institute for Rural Reach and Innovation by the Sea, Carbonear, NL, Canada
| | - Kathleen O'Donnell
- Discipline of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St John's, NL, Canada
| | - Alison Farrell
- Health Sciences Library, Memorial University Libraries, Memorial University, St John's, NL, Canada
| | - Susan Mercer
- Discipline of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St John's, NL, Canada
| | - Paul Norman
- Carbonear Institute for Rural Reach and Innovation by the Sea, Carbonear, NL, Canada
| | - Michael Parsons
- Discipline of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St John's, NL, Canada.,Discipline of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St John's, NL, Canada
| | - Christopher Patey
- Discipline of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St John's, NL, Canada.,Discipline of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St John's, NL, Canada.,Carbonear Institute for Rural Reach and Innovation by the Sea, Carbonear, NL, Canada
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Simpson M, Sergi C, Malsch A, Ryer S, Rubach C, Singh M. Association of Geriatric Emergency Department post-discharge referral order and follow-up with healthcare utilization. J Am Geriatr Soc 2023; 71:821-831. [PMID: 36455283 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Compared with younger adults who receive care in the emergency department (ED), older patients who are discharged home have greater risk of adverse health outcomes. Connecting older adults with outpatient care following ED discharge are among the guidelines of the Geriatric Emergency Department (GED). The objective of this study was to examine the association between referral order placed during the ED visit for older adults and post-discharge follow-up to the outcomes of 72-h ED revisit, 30-day ED revisit, and 30-day all cause and unplanned hospital admission. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Ten accredited GEDs within one midwestern health system and all ED encounters of older adults aged 65 years and older who were discharged home from the ED between July 2019 and December 2020 were included. Predictor variables included age, sex, race, ISAR©, ED Length of Stay, post-ED referral order, and follow-up. RESULTS Among the older adults discharged home from the ED, 17% of older adult encounters had an outpatient referral ordered in the ED, 48.4% attended a follow-up appointment. Referrals were ordered for 69 referral order types with orthopedic, family practice, and urology referrals as the top 3. In mixed-effect regression models, compared with older adults with follow-up, those with a referral order but no follow-up had 19% higher odds of having a 30-day ED revisit (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.07-1.31) and 11% higher odds of having 30-day unplanned hospital admission (OR = 1.11; 95% CI = 0.98-1.26). CONCLUSIONS Older adults who had an outpatient referral ordered prior to ED discharge and followed up had lower odds of a 30-day ED revisit and 30-day subsequent unplanned hospital admission. However, less than half of patients with a referral order attended a follow-up appointment. Designing interventions for older adults aimed at improving follow-up after an ED visit is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Simpson
- Advocate Aurora Health, Advocate Aurora Research Institute, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Clinton Sergi
- Advocate Aurora Health, Advocate Aurora Research Institute, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Aaron Malsch
- Department of Senior Services, Advocate Aurora Health, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Suzanne Ryer
- Department of Senior Services, Advocate Aurora Health, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Christopher Rubach
- Department of Senior Services, Advocate Aurora Health, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Maharaj Singh
- Advocate Aurora Health, Advocate Aurora Research Institute, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Venema D, Vervoort SCJM, de Man-van Ginkel JM, Bleijenberg N, Schoonhoven L, Ham WHW. What are the needs of frail older patients in the emergency department? A qualitative study. Int Emerg Nurs 2023; 67:101263. [PMID: 36773515 DOI: 10.1016/j.ienj.2023.101263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an increase in the number of frail elderly patients presenting to the emergency department. Diagnosis and treatment for this patient group is challenging due to multimorbidity, a-typical presentation and polypharmacy and requires specialised knowledge and competencies from healthcare professionals. We aim to explore the needs and preferences regarding emergency care in frail older patients based on their experiences with received care during Emergency Department admission. METHOD A qualitative study design was used, and semi-structured interviews were conducted after discharge with twelve frail older patients admitted to emergency departments in the Netherlands. Data collection and analysis were performed iteratively, and data were thematically analysed. RESULTS The analysis enfolded the following themes; feeling disrupted, expecting to be cared for, suppressing their needs and wanting to be seen. These themes indicated a need for situational awareness by healthcare professionals when taking care of the participants and were influenced by the participants' life experiences. CONCLUSION Frail older patients feel disrupted when admitted to the emergency department. Because of this, they expect to be cared for, lessen their own needs and want to be seen as human beings. The impact of the admission is influenced by the extent to which healthcare professionals show situational awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorien Venema
- University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Nursing Studies, PO Box 12011, 3501 AA Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Nursing Science, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Sigrid C J M Vervoort
- Department of Nursing Science, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Janneke M de Man-van Ginkel
- Department of Nursing Science, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, the Netherlands; Academic Nursing, Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Nienke Bleijenberg
- University of Applied Sciences, Research Group for Older People Living at Home, PO Box 12011, 3501 AA Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Nursing Science, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Lisette Schoonhoven
- Department of Nursing Science, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, the Netherlands; School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southhampton S017 1BJ, United Kingdom.
| | - Wietske H W Ham
- University of Applied Sciences, Research Group for Older People Living at Home, PO Box 12011, 3501 AA Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Naseer M, Dahlberg L, Ehrenberg A, Schön P, Calderón-Larrañaga A. The role of social connections and support in the use of emergency care in older adults. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2023; 111:105010. [PMID: 37058774 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Limited and inconsistent findings have been reported on the link between social connections and support and emergency department (ED) visits in older populations. Moreover, the adequacy of informal care for older adults has rarely been considered. This study explored the associations of social connections, social support, and informal care with ED visits in younger-old (<78 years) and oldest-old (≥78 years) adults. METHODS This is a prospective cohort study based on community-living adults ≥60 years old participating in the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (N=3066 at wave 1, 2001-2004; N=1885 at wave 3, 2007-2010; N=1208 at wave 5, 2013-2016). Standardised indexes were developed to measure social connections, social support, and informal care. The outcome variable was hospital-based ED visits within 4 years of the SNAC-K interview. Associations between exposure variables and ED visits were assessed through negative binomial regressions using generalised estimating equations. RESULTS Medium (IRR 0.77; 95% CI 0.59-0.99) and high (IRR 0.77; 95% CI 0.56-0.99) levels of social support were negatively associated with ED visits compared to low levels of social support, but only in oldest-old adults. No statistically significant associations were observed between social connections and ED visits. Higher ED visit rates were seen in oldest-old adults with unmet informal care needs, even if the differences did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS ED visits were associated with social support levels among adults aged ≥78 years. Public health interventions to mitigate situations of poor social support may improve health outcomes and reduce avoidable ED visits in oldest-old adults.
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To Admit or Not to Admit to the Emergency Department: The Disposition Question at a Tertiary Teaching and Referral Hospital. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11050667. [PMID: 36900670 PMCID: PMC10000447 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11050667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disposition decision-making in the emergency department (ED) is crucial to patient safety and quality of care. It can inform better care, lower chance of infections, appropriate follow-up care, and reduced healthcare costs. The aim of this study was to examine correlates of ED disposition among adult patients at a teaching and referral hospital based on patients' demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics. METHOD A cross-sectional study conducted at the ED of the King Abdulaziz Medical City hospital in Riyadh. A two-level validated questionnaire was used-a patient questionnaire and healthcare staff/facility survey. The survey employed a systematic random sampling technique to recruit subjects at a pre-specified interval as patients arrived at the registration desk. We analyzed 303 adult patients visiting the ED, who were triaged, consented to participate in the study, completed the survey, and admitted to a hospital bed or discharged home. We used descriptive and inferential statistics to summarize and determine the interdependence and relationships of variables. We used logistic multivariate regression analysis to establish relationships and the odds of admission to a hospital bed. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 50.9 (SD = 21.4, Range 18 to 101). A total of 201 (66%) were discharged home while the rest were admitted to a hospital bed. Results of the unadjusted analysis suggest that older patients, males, patients with low level of education, and those with comorbidities and middle-income were more likely to be admitted to the hospital. The results of the multivariate analysis suggest that patients with comorbidities, urgent conditions, prior history of hospitalization, and higher triage levels were more likely to be admitted to a hospital bed. CONCLUSIONS Having proper triage and timely stopgap review measures in the admission process can help new patients to locations that best support their needs and improve the quality and efficiency of the facility. The findings may be a sentinel indicator that informs overuse or inappropriate use of EDs for non-emergency care, which is a concern in the Saudi Arabian publicly funded health system.
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Social admissions in older trauma patients, not just a one night stay. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2023; 49:1271-1277. [PMID: 36786875 DOI: 10.1007/s00068-023-02229-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Older trauma patients (65 years or older), who suffer minor or moderate injury for which immediate hospitalization is not strictly indicated, are often admitted to the hospital due to a self-sufficiency problem. Although hospitalization is expensive and associated with risks, little is known about the course of such a social admission. Therefore, the aim of this study was to clarify the course and outcome of social admissions. METHODS A single centre retrospective cohort study was performed in a level II trauma centre. All hospitalized trauma patients aged 65 or older between 2015 and 2021 with an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) code of 1 or 2 were included. The primary outcome was defined as the number of complications during admission (e.g. pneumonia, urinary tract infection, delirium, decubitus and, in-hospital mortality). Secondary outcomes were missed injury, length of stay, discharge location (home, with homecare or a skilled nursing facility), 30-day hospital return and 1-year mortality. RESULTS Out of 2900 older hospitalized trauma patients, 563 (19.4%) were included. Complications occurred in 99 patients (17.6%), eight patients (1.4%) died during admission, and in 17 patients (3.0%) a previously missed injury was found during the admission. The median length of stay was 5 days [IQR 2.00-9.00] and of all independent living patients, 49.1% could be discharged to their homes. After discharge, 4.4% of the patients returned within 30 days and, a total of 17.6% of all patients died within one year after discharge. CONCLUSIONS One out of five older trauma patients presenting at the emergency department were admitted because of social reasons. Social admissions are lengthy and are accompanied by a considerable amount of complications.
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Lee M, Chansakul A, Rotman JA, Rosen A. Elder Abuse. Radiol Clin North Am 2023; 61:65-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rcl.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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