1
|
van Dam CS, Peters MJL, Hoogendijk EO, Nanayakkara PWB, Muller M, Trappenburg MC. Older patients with nonspecific complaints at the Emergency Department are at risk of adverse health outcomes. Eur J Intern Med 2023; 112:86-92. [PMID: 37002150 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2023.03.018] [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: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Older adults at the Emergency Department (ED) often present with nonspecific complaints (NSC) such as 'weakness' or 'feeling unwell'. Health care workers may underestimate illness in patients with NSC, leading to adverse health outcomes. This study compares characteristics and outcomes of NSC-patients versus specific complaints (SC) patients. METHODS Cohort study in patients ≥ 70 years in two Dutch EDs. NSC was classified according to the BANC-study-framework based on the medical history in the ED letter, before additional diagnostics took place. A second classification was performed at the end of the ED visit/hospital admission. Primary outcomes were functional decline, institutionalization, and mortality at 30 days. RESULTS 26% (n = 228) of a total of 888 included patients presented with NSC. Compared with SC-patients, NSC-patients were older, more frail, and more frequently female. NSC-patients had a higher risk of functional decline and institutionalization at 30 days (adjusted ORs 1.84, 95% CI 1.27 - 2.72, and 2.46, 95% CI 1.51-4.00, respectively), but not mortality (adjusted OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.58 - 2.73). Reclassification to a specific complaint after the ED visit or hospital admission occurred in 54% of NSC-patients. CONCLUSION NSC occur especially in older, frail female patients and are associated with an increased risk of functional decline and institutionalization, even after adjustment for worse baseline status. In half of the patients, a specific complaint revealed during ED or hospital stay. Physicians at the ED should consider NSC as a red flag needing appropriate observation and evaluation of underlying serious conditions and needs of this vulnerable patient group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C S van Dam
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences research institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - M J L Peters
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences research institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine and Vascular Medicine, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, UMC Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - E O Hoogendijk
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of General Practice, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - P W B Nanayakkara
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Section General Internal Medicine, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - M Muller
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences research institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - M C Trappenburg
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences research institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Amstelland Hospital, Amstelveen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Forget MF, Del Degan S, Leblanc J, Tannous R, Desjardins M, Durand M, Vu TTM, Nguyen QD, Desmarais P. Delirium and Inflammation in Older Adults Hospitalized for COVID-19: A Cohort Study. Clin Interv Aging 2021; 16:1223-1230. [PMID: 34234422 PMCID: PMC8242147 DOI: 10.2147/cia.s315405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The occurrence and predictors of delirium in older adults hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have not been well described. Highlighting the association with inflammatory markers may be useful for identifying delirium. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and incidence of delirium and explore its association with the C-reactive protein (CRP). Patients and Methods This cohort study of adults aged 65 and older with a COVID-19 diagnosis took place at an academic healthcare institution between April and May 2020. COVID-19 was diagnosed by positive nasopharyngeal swab. Serum levels of CRP were collected as a marker of systemic inflammation. The primary outcome was the prevalence and incidence of delirium. Delirium was diagnosed primarily during a patient's stay in hospital based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5). To ensure that no delirium diagnosis was missed during hospital stay, clinical records were reviewed by clinicians with geriatric medicine training for retrospective diagnoses. Results A total of 127 patients aged 65 and older were hospitalized with a diagnosis of COVID-19. The median age was 82 years (IQR: 74–88), with 54 (43%) females. Overall, delirium was present in 62 (49%) patients: manifestations of delirium were present on the first day of hospitalization in 53 of these cases (86%), while 9 cases (14%) developed delirium during hospitalization. After controlling for age and sex, the mean CRP value over the first 3 days since arrival was associated with a higher risk of delirium (OR 1.35; 95% CI: 1.01–1.85) for every 50 mg/L increase. Conclusion In this cohort of older adults hospitalized for COVID-19, delirium was highly prevalent. An early increase in CRP levels should raise suspicion about the occurrence of delirium and could improve its diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie-France Forget
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sophie Del Degan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Julie Leblanc
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Rita Tannous
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Michaël Desjardins
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Madeleine Durand
- Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Innovation Hub, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Thien Tuong Minh Vu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Quoc Dinh Nguyen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Innovation Hub, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Philippe Desmarais
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Avelino-Silva TJ, Steinman MA. Diagnostic discrepancies between emergency department admissions and hospital discharges among older adults: secondary analysis on a population-based survey. SAO PAULO MED J 2020; 138:359-367. [PMID: 32935740 PMCID: PMC9673862 DOI: 10.1590/1516-3180.0471.r1.05032020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older adults frequently experience nonspecific clinical features. However, there is limited evidence on how often admission diagnoses for hospitalized older patients are incorrect, potentially leading to treatment delays. OBJECTIVES To determine the consistency between hospital admission and discharge diagnoses, and identify factors associated with diagnostic discrepancies in older adults. DESIGN AND SETTING Population-based cohort study in the United States. We included adults aged ≥ 18 years who were admitted from emergency departments (EDs) to hospitals, identified using the 2005-2010 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Survey, a nationally representative survey. METHODS Three admission diagnoses and the principal discharge diagnosis were captured and classified as discrepant if they involved considerably different conditions within the same organ system, or different organ systems altogether. RESULTS Each year, 12 million adults were hospitalized following ED visits in the United States; 45% were aged ≥ 65 years. These patients' mean age was 79 years and 58% were women. Diagnostic discrepancies between admission and discharge were more common among adults ≥ 65 years (12.5 versus 8.3%; P < 0.001). Certain admission diagnoses had particularly high rates of diagnostic discrepancies: 26-27% of patients presenting with mental disorders or with endocrine and metabolic diseases had substantial diagnostic discrepancies between admission and discharge. Substantial diagnostic discrepancy was independently associated with longer hospitalization and higher in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION One out of eight older adults hospitalized from EDs was discharged with a principal diagnosis differing considerably from the admission diagnosis. Given that missed or delayed diagnoses are a critical safety problem, clinicians should be vigilant and frequently cogitate alternative diagnostic possibilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Junqueira Avelino-Silva
- MD, PhD. Physician and Adjunct Professor, Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital das Clinicas (HC), Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo; Vice-Director, Laboratorio de Investigacao Medica em Envelhecimento (LIM-66), Division of Geriatrics, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
| | - Michael Alan Steinman
- MD. Physician and Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco (CA), United States; Professor of Medicine, San Francisco Veteran Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco (CA), United States.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kemp K, Mertanen R, Lääperi M, Niemi-Murola L, Lehtonen L, Castren M. Nonspecific complaints in the emergency department - a systematic review. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 2020; 28:6. [PMID: 31992333 PMCID: PMC6986144 DOI: 10.1186/s13049-020-0699-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonspecific complaint (NSC) is a common presenting complaint in the emergency setting, especially in the elderly population. Individual studies have shown that it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This prognostic systematic review draws a synthesis of reported outcomes for patients presenting with NSC and compares them with outcomes for patients presenting with a specific complaint. METHODS We conducted a literature search for publications, abstracts and conference presentations from Ovid, Scopus and Web of Science for the past 20 years. Studies were included which treated adult patients presenting to the Emergency Medical Services or Emergency Department with NSC. 2599 studies were screened for eligibility and quality was assessed using the SIGN assessment for bias tool. We excluded any low-quality studies, resulting in nine studies for quantitative analysis. We analysed the included studies for in-hospital mortality, triage category, emergency department length of stay, admission rate, hospital length of stay, intensive care admissions and re-visitation rate and compared outcomes to patients presenting with specific complaints (SC), where data were available. We grouped discharge diagnoses by ICD-10 category. RESULTS We found that patients presenting with NSC were mostly older adults. Mortality for patients with NSC was significantly increased compared to patients presenting with SC [OR 2.50 (95% CI 1.40-4.47)]. They were triaged as urgent less often than SC patients [OR 2.12 (95% CI 1.08-4.16)]. Emergency department length of stay was increased in two out of three studies. Hospital length of stay was increased by 1-3 days. Admission rates were high in most studies, 55 to 84%, and increased in comparison to patients with SC [OR 3.86 (95% CI 1.76-8.47)]. These patients seemed to require more resources than patients with SC. The number for intensive care admissions did not seem to be increased. Data were insufficient to make conclusions regarding re-visitation rates. Discharge diagnoses were spread throughout the ICD-10 main chapters, infections being the most prevalent. CONCLUSIONS Patients with NSC have a high risk of mortality and their care in the Emergency Department requires more time and resources than for patients with SC. We suggest that NSC should be considered a major emergency presentation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsi Kemp
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Services, Helsinki University Hospital, and Emergency Medicine, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Reija Mertanen
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Services, Helsinki University Hospital, and Emergency Medicine, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mitja Lääperi
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Services, Helsinki University Hospital, and Emergency Medicine, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Leila Niemi-Murola
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lasse Lehtonen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maaret Castren
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Services, Helsinki University Hospital, and Emergency Medicine, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Comparison of Frailty Screening Instruments in the Emergency Department. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16193626. [PMID: 31569689 PMCID: PMC6801910 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16193626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Early identification of frailty through targeted screening can facilitate the delivery of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and may improve outcomes for older inpatients. As several instruments are available, we aimed to investigate which is the most accurate and reliable in the Emergency Department (ED). We compared the ability of three validated, short, frailty screening instruments to identify frailty in a large University Hospital ED. Consecutive patients aged ≥70 attending ED were screened using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Identification of Seniors at Risk Tool (ISAR), and the Programme on Research for Integrating Services for the Maintenance of Autonomy 7 item questionnaire (PRISMA-7). An independent CGA using a battery of assessments determined each patient’s frailty status. Of the 280 patients screened, complete data were available for 265, with a median age of 79 (interquartile ±9); 54% were female. The median CFS score was 4/9 (±2), ISAR 3/6 (±2), and PRISMA-7 was 3/7 (±3). Based upon the CGA, 58% were frail and the most accurate instrument for separating frail from non-frail was the PRISMA-7 (AUC 0.88; 95% CI:0.83–0.93) followed by the CFS (AUC 0.83; 95% CI:0.77–0.88), and the ISAR (AUC 0.78; 95% CI:0.71–0.84). The PRISMA-7 was statistically significantly more accurate than the ISAR (p = 0.008) but not the CFS (p = 0.15). Screening for frailty in the ED with a selection of short screening instruments, but particularly the PRISMA-7, is reliable and accurate.
Collapse
|
6
|
Alfaraj SZ, Pines JM. What we can learn from Medicare data on early deaths after emergency department discharge. J Thorac Dis 2017; 9:1752-1755. [PMID: 28840908 DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2017.06.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sukayna Z Alfaraj
- Center for Healthcare Innovation & Policy Research, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jesse M Pines
- Center for Healthcare Innovation & Policy Research, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Tacchini-Jacquier N, Morin D. Perception des habiletés pratiques et des connaissances en matière de soins gériatriques chez des infirmières des services d’urgence en Suisse. Rech Soins Infirm 2016. [DOI: 10.3917/rsi.124.0097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
|
8
|
Leporatti L, Ameri M, Trinchero C, Orcamo P, Montefiori M. Targeting frequent users of emergency departments: Prominent risk factors and policy implications. Health Policy 2016; 120:462-70. [PMID: 27033015 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2016.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Revised: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates the characteristics of frequent users of accident and emergency departments (AEDs) and recommends alternative medical services for such patients. Prominent demographic and clinical risk factors for individuals accessing seven AEDs located in the metropolitan area of Genoa, Italy are identified and analysed. A truncated count data model is implemented to establish the determinants of access, while a multinomial logistic regression is used to highlight potential differences among different user categories. According to previous studies, empirical findings suggest that despite the relevance of demographic drivers, vulnerability conditions (e.g. abuse of alcohol and drugs, chronic conditions, and psychological distress) are the main reasons behind frequent AED use; the analysis seems to confirm an association between AED frequent use and lower level of urgency. Since frequent and highly frequent users are found responsible for disproportionate resource absorption with respect to total amount of AED costs (they represent roughly 10% of the total number of patients, but contribute to more than 19% of the total annual AED cost), policies aiming to reduce frequent use of AEDs could bring significant savings in economic resources. Thus, efficient actions could be oriented toward extending primary care services outside AED and toward instituting local aid services specifically addressed to people under the influence of substances or in conditions of mental distress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Leporatti
- Department of Economics, University of Genoa, Via Vivaldi 5, 16126 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Marta Ameri
- Department of Economics, University of Genoa, Via Vivaldi 5, 16126 Genoa, Italy
| | - Chiara Trinchero
- Department of Political Science, University of Genoa, Largo della Zecca 8, 16124 Genoa, Italy
| | - Patrizia Orcamo
- Liguria Region, Health Regional Agency, Piazza della Vittora 15, 16121 Genoa, Italy
| | - Marcello Montefiori
- Department of Economics, University of Genoa, Via Vivaldi 5, 16126 Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Karakoumis J, Nickel CH, Kirsch M, Rohacek M, Geigy N, Müller B, Ackermann S, Bingisser R. Emergency Presentations With Nonspecific Complaints-the Burden of Morbidity and the Spectrum of Underlying Disease: Nonspecific Complaints and Underlying Disease. Medicine (Baltimore) 2015; 94:e840. [PMID: 26131835 PMCID: PMC4504657 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000000840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of diagnoses, morbidity, and mortality of patients with nonspecific complaints (NSC) presenting to the emergency department (ED) is unknown.To determine the prevalence of diagnoses, acute morbidity, and mortality of patients with NSC.Prospective observational study with a 30-day follow-up. Patients presenting to 2 EDs were enrolled by a study team and diagnosed according to the World Health Organization ICD-10 System.Of 217,699 presentations to the ED from May 2007 through to February 2011, a total of 1300 patients were enrolled. After exclusion of 90 patients who fulfilled exclusion criteria, 1210 patients were analyzed. No patient was lost to follow-up. In patients with NSC, the underlying diseases were spread throughout 18 chapters of the ICD-10. A total of 58.7% of the patients were diagnosed with acute morbidity. Thirty-day mortality was 6.4% overall. Patients with acute morbidity and suffering from heart failure and pneumonia had mortalities >15%; patients lacking acute morbidity, but suffering from functional impairment or depression/anxiety had mortalities of 0%. Although the history did not allow any prediction, age and sex were predictive of morbidity and mortality.The differential diagnoses in patients presenting with NSC is broad. Acute morbidity and mortality were high in the presented cohort, the predictors of morbidity and mortality being age and sex rather than the nature of the complaints. Urgently needed management strategies could be based on these results.ClinicalTrials.gov (#NCT00920491).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Karakoumis
- From the Emergency Department, University Hospital, Basel (JK, CHN, MK, MR, SA, RB); Emergency Department, Cantonal Hospital, Liestal (NG); and Emergency Department, Cantonal Hospital, Aarau, Switzerland (BM)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
De Brauwer I, D’Hoore W, Swine C, Thys F, Beguin C, Cornette P. Changes in the clinical features of older patients admitted from the emergency department. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2014; 59:175-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2014.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Revised: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
11
|
Pines JM, Mullins PM, Cooper JK, Feng LB, Roth KE. National Trends in Emergency Department Use, Care Patterns, and Quality of Care of Older Adults in the United States. J Am Geriatr Soc 2013; 61:12-7. [DOI: 10.1111/jgs.12072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jesse M. Pines
- Department of Emergency Medicine; George Washington University; Washington District of Columbia
- Department of Health Policy; George Washington University; Washington District of Columbia
| | - Peter M. Mullins
- Department of Health Policy; George Washington University; Washington District of Columbia
| | - James K. Cooper
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care; Department of Medicine; George Washington University; Washington District of Columbia
| | - Lisa B. Feng
- American Institutes for Research; Washington District of Columbia
| | - Katalin E. Roth
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care; Department of Medicine; George Washington University; Washington District of Columbia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Pines JM, McCarthy ML. Executive summary: interventions to improve quality in the crowded emergency department. Acad Emerg Med 2011; 18:1229-33. [PMID: 22168183 DOI: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01228.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Emergency department (ED) crowding is a major public health problem in the United States, with increasing numbers of ED visits, longer lengths of stay in the ED, and the common practice of ED boarding. In the next several years, several measures of ED crowding will be assessed and reported on government websites. In addition, with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), millions more Americans will have health care insurance, many of whom will choose the ED for their care. In June 2011, a consensus conference was conducted in Boston, Massachusetts, by the journal Academic Emergency Medicine entitled "Interventions to Assure Quality in the Crowded Emergency Department." The overall goal of the conference was to develop a series of research agendas to identify promising interventions to safeguard the quality of emergency care during crowded periods and to reduce ED crowding altogether through systemwide solutions. This was achieved through three objectives: 1) a review of interventions that have been implemented to reduce crowding and summarize the evidence of their effectiveness on the delivery of emergency care; 2) to identify strategies within or outside of the health care setting (i.e., policy, engineering, operations management, system design) that may help reduce crowding or improve the quality of emergency care provided during episodes of ED crowding; and 3) to identify the most appropriate design and analytic techniques for rigorously evaluating ED interventions designed to reduce crowding or improve the quality of emergency care provided during episodes of ED crowding. This article describes the background and rationale for the conference and highlights some of the discussions that occurred on the day of the conference. A series of manuscripts on the details of the conference is presented in this issue of Academic Emergency Medicine.
Collapse
|
13
|
Nickel CH, Ruedinger J, Misch F, Blume K, Maile S, Schulte J, Köhrle J, Hartmann O, Giersdorf S, Bingisser R. Copeptin and peroxiredoxin-4 independently predict mortality in patients with nonspecific complaints presenting to the emergency department. Acad Emerg Med 2011; 18:851-9. [PMID: 21843221 DOI: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01126.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Patients presenting to emergency departments (ED) with nonspecific complaints (NSCs) such as "not feeling well,""feeling weak,""being tired,""general deterioration," or other similar chief complaints that do not have a readily identifiable probable etiology are a common patient group at risk for adverse outcomes. Certain biomarkers, which have not yet been tested for prognostic value when applied to ED patients with NSCs, have emerged as useful tools for predicting prognosis in patients with a variety of diseases. This study tested the hypothesis that two of these novel markers, copeptin (a C-terminal portion of provasopressin) and/or peroxiredoxin-4 (Prx4), an enzyme that degrades hydrogen peroxide, singly or together are helpful in predicting death in the near term among patients presenting to the ED with NSCs. METHODS The Basel Non-specific Complaints (BANC) study is a delayed type cross-sectional diagnostic study with a prospective 30-day follow-up. ED patients with NSCs were consecutively enrolled. Patients with vital parameters out of the normal range were excluded. The primary endpoint of this study was the predictive value of copeptin and Prx4 for 30-day mortality in patients with NSCs. Measurement of both copeptin and Prx4 was performed in serum samples with sandwich immunoluminometric assays. RESULTS On follow-up at 30 days after ED presentation, 28 of 438 patients with NSC had died. Copeptin and Prx4 concentrations were significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors (Kruskal-Wallis test, p = 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). In univariate models, Prx4 (likelihood ratio [LR] χ(2) = 22.24, p < 0.00001, concordance index [C-index] = 0.749) and copeptin (LR χ(2) = 16.98, p = 0.00004, C-index = 0.724) were both predictive of 30-day mortality, and elevated levels were associated with an increased mortality. The bivariable model, which included both Prx4 and copeptin (LR χ(2) = 28.22, p < 0.00001, C-index = 0.783), allows a significantly better prediction than the univariate Prx4 (p = 0.00025) and copeptin models (p = 0.00099), respectively. Both biomarkers provided independent and additional information to clinical risk scores (Katz Activities of Daily Living [ADL] and Charlson Comorbidity Index [CCI], all p < 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS Copeptin and Prx4 are new prognostic markers in patients presenting to the ED with NSCs. Copeptin and Prx4 might be valuable tools for risk stratification and decision-making in this patient group.
Collapse
|
14
|
Enhancing ED triage to accommodate the special needs of geriatric patients. J Emerg Nurs 2010; 39:309-14. [PMID: 23647994 DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2010.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2009] [Revised: 07/12/2010] [Accepted: 07/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|