Avoidable visits to the emergency department(ED) and their association with sex, age and race in a cohort of low socio-economic status patients on hemodialysis in the Bronx

Epidemiology of Non-Emergent Cancer-Related Emergency Department Visits in Korea between 2016 and 2020

PURPOSE

As people living with cancer increase in the aging society, cancer-related emergency department (ED) visits are also increasing. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics of non-emergent cancer-related ED visits using a nationwide ED database.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted using the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) database. All cancer-related ED visits between 2016 and 2020 were included. The study outcome was non-emergent ED visits, defined as patients triaged into non-emergent condition at both the time of arrival at ED and discharge from ED and were discharged without hospitalization.

RESULTS

Among 1185871 cancer-related ED visits over 5 years, 19.0% (n=225491) were classified as non-emergent visits. While abdominal pain and fever are the top chief complaints in both emergent and non-emergent visits, non-emergent visits had high proportions of abdomen distension (4.8%), ascite (2.4%), and pain in lower limb (2.0%) compared with emergent visits. The cancer types with a high proportion of non-emergent visits were thyroid (32.4%) and prostate cancer (30.4%). Adults compared with children or older adults, female, medical aid insurance, urban/rural ED, direct-in compared with transfer-in, and weekend visit were associated with high odds for non-emergent visits.

CONCLUSION

Approximately 20% of cancer-related ED visits may be potentially non-emergent. A significant number of non-emergent patients visited the ED due to cancer-related symptoms. To improve the quality of care for people living with cancer, the expansion of supportive care resources besides of ED, including active symptom control, is necessary.

Health inequities in dialysis care: A scoping review

MAIN PROBLEM

We aim to look at potential gaps in current dialysis literature on inequities and explore future research that could contribute to more equitable care.

METHODS

Following guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), we conducted a scoping review of health inequities in dialysis. PubMed and Ovid Embase were searched in July 2022 for articles published between 2016 and 2022 that examined at least one of the following NIH defined health inequities: race/ethnicity, sex/gender, LGBTQ+ identity, underserved rural populations, education level, income, and occupation status. Frequencies of each health inequity as well as trends over time of the four most examined inequities were analyzed.

RESULTS

In our sample of 69 included studies, gaps were identified in LGBTQ+ identity and patient education. Inequities pertaining to race/ethnicity, sex/gender, underserved rural populations, and income were sufficiently reported. No trends between inequities investigated over time were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Our scoping review examined current literature on health inequities pertaining to dialysis and found gaps concerning LGBTQ+ and patients with lower levels of education. To help fill these gaps, and possibly alleviate additional burden to these patients, we recommend cultural competency training for providers and dialysis center staff as well as community-based educational programs to improve dialysis patients' health literacy.

Predictors of Urgent Dialysis Following Ambulance Transport to the Emergency Department in Patients Treated With Maintenance Hemodialysis

Background

Patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis frequently require ambulance transport to the emergency department (ambulance-ED transport). Identifying predictors of outcomes after ambulance-ED transport, especially the need for timely dialysis, is important to health care providers.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to derive a risk-prediction model for urgent dialysis after ambulance-ED transport.

Design

Observational cohort study.

Setting and Patients

All ambulance-ED transports among incident and prevalent patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis affiliated with a regional dialysis program (catchment area of approximately 750 000 individuals) from 2014 to 2018.

Measurements

Patients' vital signs (systolic blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and heart rate) at the time of paramedic transport and time since last dialysis were utilized as predictors for the outcome of interest. The primary outcome was urgent dialysis (defined as dialysis in a monitored setting within 24 hours of ED arrival or dialysis within 24 hours with the first ED patient blood potassium level >6.5 mmol/L) for an unscheduled indication. Secondary outcomes included, hospitalization, hospital length of stay, and in-hospital mortality.

Methods

A logistic regression model to predict outcomes of urgent dialysis. Discrimination and calibration were assessed using the C-statistic and Hosmer-Lemeshow test.

Results

Among 878 ED visits, 63 (7.2%) required urgent dialysis. Hypoxemia (odds ratio [OR]: 4.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.75-9.33) and time from last dialysis of 24 to 48 hours (OR: 3.43, 95% CI: 1.05-11.9) and >48 hours (OR: 9.22, 95% CI: 3.37-25.23) were strongly associated with urgent dialysis. A risk-prediction model incorporating patients' vital signs and time from last dialysis had good discrimination (C-statistic 0.8217) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit P value .8899). Urgent dialysis patients were more likely to be hospitalized (63% vs 34%), but there were no differences in inpatient mortality or length of stay.

Limitations

Missing data, requires external validation.

Conclusion

We derived a risk-prediction model for urgent dialysis that may better guide appropriate transport and care for patients requiring ambulance-ED transport.

Clair Russell J, Heisler M, Villalba L, Perry T, Cavanaugh KL. Peer mentorship to improve outcomes in patients on hemodialysis (PEER-HD): a randomized controlled trial protocol

Background

Patients receiving in-center hemodialysis experience disproportionate morbidity and incur high healthcare-related costs. Much of this cost stems from potentially avoidable hospitalizations. Peer mentorship has been used effectively to improve outcomes for patients with complex chronic diseases. We propose testing the efficacy of peer mentorship on hospitalization rates among patients receiving hemodialysis.

Methods

This is a multicenter parallel group randomized controlled pragmatic trial of patients treated at hemodialysis facilities in Bronx, NY and Nashville, TN. The study has two phases. Phase 1 will enroll and train 16 hemodialysis patients (10 in Bronx, NY and 6 in Nashville TN) to be mentors using a program focused on enhancing self-efficacy, dialysis self-management and autonomy-supportive communication skills. Phase 2 will enroll 200 high risk adults receiving hemodialysis (140 in Bronx, NY and 60 in Nashville, TN), half of whom will be randomized to intervention and half to usual care. Intervention participants are assigned to weekly telephone calls with trained mentors (see Phase 1) for a 3-month period.

The primary outcome of Phase 1 will be engagement of mentors with training and change in knowledge scores and autonomy skills from pre- to post-training. The primary outcome of Phase 2 will be the composite count of ED visits and hospitalizations at the end of study follow-up in patient participants assigned to intervention as compared to those assigned to usual care. Secondary outcomes for Phase 2 include the change over the trial period in validated survey scores measuring perception of social support and self-efficacy, and dialysis adherence metrics, among intervention participants as compared to usual care participants.

Discussion

The PEER-HD study will test the feasibility and efficacy of a pragmatic peer-mentorship program designed for patients receiving hemodialysis on ED visit and hospitalization rates. If effective, peer-mentorship holds promise as a scalable patient-centered intervention to decrease hospital resource utilization, and by extension morbidity and cost, for patients receiving maintenance in-center hemodialysis.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03595748; 7/23/2018.

Trial sponsor

National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) 5R18DK118471.

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease: R18DK118471.

Study status

This is an ongoing study and not complete. We are still collecting data for observational follow-up on participants.

Related articles

No related articles for this study have been submitted to any journal.

The study sponsor and funders had no role in the design, analysis or interpretation of this data. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

The Role of Place in Disparities Affecting Black Men Receiving Hemodialysis

INTRODUCTION

Black men are over-represented in the end stage kidney disease population and are at disproportionate risk of unfavorable outcomes. There is a paucity of investigation to elucidate the mediators of this risk. This study attempts to identify residential community attributes as a possible contributor.

METHODS

A post-hoc analysis of prospectively collected data from a cohort of Black men enrolled in the US Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS), 2010--2015, linked to the American Community Survey, by dialysis facility zip codes was undertaken. The exposure variable was the dialysis facility community composition as defined by percent Black residents. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate incidence rate ratio (IRR) of hospitalization (first outcome) for Black men in crude and adjusted models. Similarly, Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to estimate mortality (second outcome) for Black men by type of community.

RESULTS

A total of 702 Black men receiving chronic hemodialysis were included in the study. Black men receiving hemodialysis in communities with greater proportions of Black residents had lower Charlson scores and fewer comorbidities, but a higher rate of hypertension. They had equivalent adherence to dialysis treatments, but a lower rate of arteriovenous fistula use and fewer dialysis minutes prescribed. Black men receiving dialysis in communities with a greater proportion of Black residents (per 10% increase) had higher adjusted hospitalization rates (IRR 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.19) and mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.29, 95% CI 1.05-1.59).

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports the unique role of residential community as a risk factor for Black men with end stage kidney disease, showing higher hospitalization and mortality in those treating in Black versus non-Black communities, despite equivalent adherence and fewer comorbidities.

Community Racial Composition and Hospitalization Among Patients Receiving In-Center Hemodialysis

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

Community racial composition has been shown to be associated with mortality in patients receiving maintenenance dialysis. It is unclear whether living in communities with predominantly Black residents is also associated with risk for hospitalization among patients receiving hemodialysis.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from a cohort of patients receiving hemodialysis.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

4,567 patients treated in 154 dialysis facilities located in 127 unique zip codes and enrolled in US Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) phases 4 to 5 (2010-2015).

EXPOSURE

Tertile of percentage of Black residents within zip code of patients' dialysis facility, defined through a link to the American Community Survey.

OUTCOME

Rate of hospitalizations during the study period.

ANALYTIC APPROACH

Associations of patient-, facility-, and community-level variables with community's percentage of Black residents were assessed using analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis, or χ2/Fisher exact tests. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate the incidence rate ratio for hospitalizations between these communities, with and without adjustment for potential confounding variables.

RESULTS

Mean age of study patients was 62.7 years. 53% were White, 27% were Black, and 45% were women. Median and threshold percentages of Black residents in zip codes in which dialysis facilities were located were 34.2% and≥14.4% for tertile 3 and 1.0% and≤1.8% for tertile 1, respectively. Compared with those in tertile 1 facilities, patients in tertile 3 facilities were more likely to be younger, be Black, live in urban communities with lower socioeconomic status, have a catheter as vascular access, and have fewer comorbid conditions. Patients dialyzing in communities with the highest tertile of Black residents experienced a higher adjusted rate of hospitalization (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.12-1.56) compared with those treated in communities within the lowest tertile.

LIMITATIONS

Potential residual confounding.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk for hospitalization for patients receiving maintenance dialysis is higher among those treated in communities with a higher percentage of Black residents after adjustment for dialysis care, patient demographics, and comorbid conditions. Understanding the cause of this association should be a priority of future investigation.

Social determinants of health associated with hemodialysis non-adherence and emergency department utilization: a pilot observational study

Background

Dialysis patients who miss treatments are twice as likely to visit emergency departments (EDs) compared to adherent patients; however, prospective studies assessing ED use after missed treatments are limited. This interdisciplinary pilot study aimed to identify social determinants of health (SDOH) associated with missing hemodialysis (HD) and presenting to the ED, and describe resource utilization associated with such visits.

Methods

We conducted a prospective observational study with a convenience sample of patients presenting to the ED after missing HD (cases); patients at local dialysis centers identified as HD-compliant by their nephrologists served as matched controls. Patients were interviewed with validated instruments capturing associated risk factors, including SDOH. ED resource utilization by cases was determined by chart review. Chi-square tests and ANOVA were used to detect statistically significant group differences.

Results

All cases visiting the ED had laboratory and radiographic studies; 40% needed physician-performed procedures. Mean ED length of stay (LOS) for cases was 17 h; 76% of patients were admitted with average LOS of 6 days. Comparing 25 cases and 24 controls, we found no difference in economic stability, educational attainment, health literacy, family support, or satisfaction with nephrology care. However, cases were more dependent on public transport for dialysis (p = 0.03). Despite comparable comorbidity burdens, cases were more likely to have impaired mobility, physical limitations, and higher severity of pain and depression. (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

ED visits after missed HD resulted in elevated LOS and admission rates. Frequently-cited SDOH such as health literacy did not confer significant risk for missing HD. However, pain, physical limitations, and depression were higher among cases. Community-specific collaborations between EDs and dialysis centers would be valuable in identifying risk factors specific to missed HD and ED use, to develop strategies to improve treatment adherence and reduce unnecessary ED utilization.

The association of neighborhood racial mix and ED visit count in a cohort of patients on hemodialysis

Background

Neighborhood racial mix is associated with dialysis facility performance metrics and mortality outcomes in patients on hemodialysis. We explored the association of neighborhood racial mix with emergency department (ED) visits in patients receiving hemodialysis.

Methods

Using Looking Glass (Montefiore’s clinical database) we identified a cohort of patients on hemodialysis with an index ED visit at any of 4 Montefiore Hospital locations, between January 2013 and December 2017 and followed it for number of ED visits through December of 2017 or dropout due to death. The racial mix data for the Bronx block group of each subject’s residence was derived from the Census Bureau. We then used negative binomial regression to test the association of quintile of percent of Black residents per residential block group with ED visits in unadjusted and adjusted models. To adjust further for quality offered by local dialysis facilities, with the facility zip code as the locus, we used data from the “Dialysis Compare” website.

Results

Three thousand nine-hundred and eighteen subjects were identified and the median number of ED visits was 3 (interquartile range (IQR) 1–7) during the study period. Subjects living in the highest quintile of percent Black residents were older, more commonly female and had lower poverty rates and higher rates of high school diplomas. Unadjusted models showed a significant association between the highest quintiles of Black neighborhood residence and count of ED visits. Fully adjusted, stratified models revealed that among males, and Hispanic and White subjects, living in neighborhoods with the highest quintiles of Black residents was associated with significantly more ED visits (p-trend =0.001, 0.02, 0.01 respectively). No association was found between dialysis facility locations’ quintile of Black residents and quality metrics.

Conclusions

Living in a neighborhood with a higher percentage of Black residents is associated with a higher number of ED visits in males and non-Black patients on hemodialysis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12882-019-1520-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.