scholarly journals Is our initial evaluation of patients admitted for syncope guideline-directed and cost-effective?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Muhammad Hamza Saad Shaukat ◽  
Muhammad Asim Shabbir ◽  
Riju Banerjee ◽  
James Desemone ◽  
Radmila Lyubarova
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Guideline Adherence ◽  
Blood Pressure Measurement ◽  
General Medicine ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Orthostatic Blood Pressure ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Risk Patients

Abstract Introduction Recent American College of Cardiology and European Society of Cardiology guidelines for syncope evaluation help distinguish high-cardiac risk patients from those with low-risk orthostatic and neurogenic syncope. Inpatient evaluation is recommended if at least one high-risk feature is present. Objective To assess guideline adherence and its impact on hospitalization in patients who presented with syncope before and after the introduction of guideline-based syncope protocol in the emergency department (ED). Methods All adult patients admitted to general medicine from the ED with the primary diagnosis of syncope in the months of October 2016 and October 2018 (before and after the introduction of syncope protocol in 2017). Electronic charts were retrospectively reviewed for high-risk cardiac features and orthostatic blood pressure measurement. Results Sixty patients were admitted for syncope in October 2016 (n = 32) and October 2018 (n = 28), out of which 33 (55%) were female and 47 (78.3%) were over age 50. Forty-five patients had at least one high-risk feature. Excluding one patient with an alternate diagnosis at discharge, 14 out of 60 patients (23.3%) admitted for syncope did not have any high-risk feature. Orthostatic blood pressure was measured in 3 patients (5%) in the ED and 27 patients (45%) later in the hospitalization. Six out of eight patients with implanted cardioverter-defibrillator or pacemaker had their devices interrogated. After the introduction of syncope protocol, there was an improvement in the proportion of high-risk patients admitted [68.7% (22/32) in October 2016 vs. 82.1% (23/28) in October 2018]. Conclusion Utilizing syncope protocol in the ED may improve guideline adherence, direct appropriate disposition, and reduce healthcare expenses.

Abstract P177: Potential Value of Intensive Blood-Pressure Treatment Based on Predicted Lifetime Cardiovascular Disease at Age 40: Computer Simulation Study

Circulation ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 137 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anusorn Thanataveerat ◽  
Sonia Singh ◽  
Ciaran Kohli-Lynch ◽  
Yiyi Zhang ◽  
Eric Vittinghoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Computer Simulation ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Intensive Treatment ◽  
Lifetime Risk ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Intensive Blood Pressure

Introduction: In the SPRINT trial, intensive blood pressure (BP) treatment saved lives and was cost-effective in high-risk older adults. It is unclear if intensive BP treatment should be extended to high-risk adults aged 40-49 years. Objectives: We used individual patient computer simulation to assess the incremental value of extending intensive BP treatment to adults as young as age 40 with high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We selected patients aged <60 years with high lifetime risk because few have high ten-year risk. Methods: Male and female cohorts of 100,000 individuals were assembled from NHANES surveys 1999-2010 using sampling weights. BP and other risk factor trajectories were projected for ages 40 to 69 years based on Framingham Offspring Cohort analyses. The “standard of care” treatment scenario simulated treating BP <140/90 mmHg in all patients ≥140/90 mmHg. Two alternative scenarios were simulated: add intensive treatment (goal <130/90 mmHg) from age 40-69 or from age 50-59 in patients with high lifetime risk. The lifetime risk thresholds (Table 1) were chosen in order to capture patients with forecasted ten-year CVD risk ≥ 10% at age 60. Costs included added treatment and side-effect costs and avoided CVD costs; indexed to 2016. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) assessed changes in costs and quality-adjusted life years due to adding intensive BP goals. Results: Over a 30-year time horizon, adding intensive treatment in high lifetime risk patients at age 40 would prevent 2,880 additional CVD events in males and 2,958 in females compared to treating only BP <140/90 mmHg. Intensive treatment in high lifetime risk patients before age 60 appeared generally cost-effective except in females aged 40 years (ICER $59,000). Conclusion: Our results suggest that over the long term, intensive BP treatment may be cost-effective in high-risk men as young as 40 and high-risk women as young as 50. Lifetime cardiovascular disease risk might be used to select high risk middle-aged adults for intensive BP treatment.

scholarly journals Audio-guided self-hypnosis for reduction of claustrophobia during MR imaging: results of an observational 2-group study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriane E. Napp ◽  
Torsten Diekhoff ◽  
Olf Stoiber ◽  
Judith Enders ◽  
Gerd Diederichs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Mr Imaging ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Waiting Room ◽  
High Risk Patients ◽  
Imaging Results ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
And Coping

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the influence of audio-guided self-hypnosis on claustrophobia in a high-risk cohort undergoing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Methods In this prospective observational 2-group study, 55 patients (69% female, mean age 53.6 ± 13.9) used self-hypnosis directly before imaging. Claustrophobia included premature termination, sedation, and coping actions. The claustrophobia questionnaire (CLQ) was completed before self-hypnosis and after MR imaging. Results were compared to a control cohort of 89 patients examined on the same open MR scanner using logistic regression for multivariate analysis. Furthermore, patients were asked about their preferences for future imaging. Results There was significantly fewer claustrophobia in the self-hypnosis group (16%; 9/55), compared with the control group (43%; 38/89; odds ratio .14; p = .001). Self-hypnosis patients also needed less sedation (2% vs 16%; 1/55 vs 14/89; odds ratio .1; p = .008) and non-sedation coping actions (13% vs 28%; 7/55 vs 25/89; odds ratio .3; p = .02). Self-hypnosis did not influence the CLQ results measured before and after MR imaging (p = .79). Self-hypnosis reduced the frequency of claustrophobia in the subgroup of patients above an established CLQ cut-off of .33 from 47% (37/78) to 18% (9/49; p = .002). In the subgroup below the CLQ cut-off of 0.33, there were no significant differences (0% vs 9%, 0/6 vs 1/11; p = 1.0). Most patients (67%; 35/52) preferred self-hypnosis for future MR examinations. Conclusions Self-hypnosis reduced claustrophobia in high-risk patients undergoing imaging in an open MR scanner and might reduce the need for sedation and non-sedation coping actions. Key Points • Forty percent of the patients at high risk for claustrophobia may also experience a claustrophobic event in an open MR scanner. • Self-hypnosis while listening to an audio in the waiting room before the examination may reduce claustrophobic events in over 50% of patients with high risk for claustrophobia. • Self-hypnosis may also reduce the need for sedation and other time-consuming non-sedation coping actions and is preferred by high-risk patients for future examinations.

scholarly journals Does socioeconomic status make a difference? A register-based study on the extent to which cardiovascular screening in patients with inflammatory arthritis leads to recommended follow-up in general practice

RMD Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e000940
Author(s):  
Anette Hvenegaard Kjeldgaard ◽  
Kim Hørslev-Petersen ◽  
Sonja Wehberg ◽  
Jens Soendergaard ◽  
Jette Primdahl
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Secondary Care ◽  
Inflammatory Arthritis ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Risk Screening ◽  
High Risk Patients ◽  
Eular Recommendations ◽  
Risk Patients

ObjectiveTo investigate to what extent patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) follow recommendations given in a secondary care nurse-led cardiovascular (CV) risk screening consultation to consult their general practitioner (GP) to reduce their CV risk and whether their socioeconomic status (SES) affects adherence.MethodsAdults with IA who had participated in a secondary care screening consultation from July 2012 to July 2015, based on the EULAR recommendations, were identified. Patients were considered to have high CV risk if they had risk Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) ≥5%, according to the European SCORE model or systolic blood pressure ≥145 mmHg, total cholesterol ≥8 mmol/L, LDL cholesterol ≥5 mmol/L, HbA1c ≥42 mmol/mol or fasting glucose ≥6 mmol/L. The primary outcome was a consultation with their GP and at least one action focusing on CV risk factors within 6 weeks after the screening consultation.ResultsThe study comprised 1265 patients, aged 18–85 years. Of these, 336/447 (75%) of the high-risk patients and 580/819 (71%) of the low-risk patients had a GP consultation. 127/336 (38%) of high-risk patients and 160/580 (28%) of low-risk patients received relevant actions related to their CV risk, for example, blood pressure home measurement or prescription for statins, antihypertensives or antidiabetics. Education ≥10 years increased the odds for non-adherence (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.0.37 to 0.92, p=0.02).Conclusions75% of the high-risk patients consulted their GP after the secondary care CV risk screening, and 38% of these received an action relevant for their CV risk. Higher education decreased adherence.

scholarly journals Effect of Music on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Patients Undergoing Cataract Extraction Surgery

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (20) ◽  
pp. 1474-1478
Author(s):  
Aditi Gadegone ◽  
Sachin Daigavane ◽  
Ruta Walavalkar
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Local Anaesthesia ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cataract Extraction ◽  
Topical Anaesthesia ◽  
Heart Rates ◽  
Prevalence Studies ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Anxiety Levels

BACKGROUND Music is an inexpensive, easily available anxiolytic known to mankind since ages. Cataract extraction surgery is one of the widely performed surgeries under local anaesthesia. India is a developing country where limited resources are spent over health infrastructure which has to cater to a large population. In our study we have tried to utilize the anxietolytic effect of music in combating the anxiety and stress patients suffer during surgery. METHODS In this prospective, interventional study, 300 patients diagnosed with senile cataract were selected. The sample size was decided taking into consideration various prevalence studies. The patients were consequently recruited for the study considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were divided into three groups - one undergoing phacoemulsification surgery under topical anaesthesia and two groups undergoing phacoemulsification surgery under local anaesthesia by the same surgeon in a same operating room. Two groups including the one where topical anaesthesia was used were made to listen to ‘Classical Sitar Music’ whereas one group was not made to listen to music. Blood pressure and heart rates were measured before and after surgery and compared in all patients. RESULTS Blood pressure and heart rates were statistically significantly normalized (lowered) post-operatively when compared to their pre-operative values in groups which were made to listen to music. There was a marked decrease in the anxiety levels in patients who were operated under topical anaesthesia when compared to those operated under local anaesthesia. CONCLUSIONS Music can be widely used in decreasing anxiety levels in patients undergoing cataract extraction surgery thereby improving the post-operative prognosis in patients in a cost-effective way. KEY WORDS Phacoemulsification Surgery, Classical Sitar Music, Peri-Bulbar Block, Topical Anaesthesia, Anxiety, Blood Pressure, Pulse Rate

scholarly journals Changes in patient activation following cardiac rehabilitation using the Active+me digital healthcare platform during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cohort evaluation

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabbi Frith ◽  
Kathryn Carver ◽  
Sarah Curry ◽  
Alan Darby ◽  
Anna Sydes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Patient Activation ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Smart Device ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
High Risk Patients ◽  
Risk Patients

Abstract Background Restrictions on face-to-face contact, due to COVID-19, led to a rapid adoption of technology to remotely deliver cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Some technologies, including Active+me, were used without knowing their benefits. We assessed changes in patient activation measure (PAM) in patients participating in routine CR, using Active+me. We also investigated changes in PAM among low, moderate, and high risk patients, changes in cardiovascular risk factors, and explored patient and healthcare professional experiences of using Active+me. Methods Patients received standard CR education and an exercise prescription. Active+me was used to monitor patient health, progress towards goals, and provide additional lifestyle support. Patients accessed Active+me through a smart-device application which synchronised to telemetry enabled scales, blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeter, and activity trackers. Changes in PAM score following CR were calculated. Sub-group analysis was conducted on patients at high, moderate, and low risk of exercise induced cardiovascular events. Qualitative interviews explored the acceptability of Active+me. Results Forty-six patients were recruited (Age: 60.4 ± 10.9 years; BMI: 27.9 ± 5.0 kg.m2; 78.3% male). PAM scores increased from 65.5 (range: 51.0 to 100.0) to 70.2 (range: 40.7 to 100.0; P = 0.039). PAM scores of high risk patients increased from 61.9 (range: 53.0 to 91.0) to 75.0 (range: 58.1 to 100.0; P = 0.044). The PAM scores of moderate and low risk patients did not change. Resting systolic blood pressure decreased from 125 mmHg (95% CI: 120 to 130 mmHg) to 119 mmHg (95% CI: 115 to 122 mmHg; P = 0.023) and waist circumference measurements decreased from 92.8 cm (95% CI: 82.6 to 102.9 cm) to 85.3 cm (95% CI 79.1 to 96.2 cm; P = 0.026). Self-reported physical activity levels increased from 1557.5 MET-minutes (range: 245.0 to 5355.0 MET-minutes) to 3363.2 MET-minutes (range: 105.0 to 12,360.0 MET-minutes; P < 0.001). Active+me was acceptable to patients and healthcare professionals. Conclusion Participation in standard CR, with Active+me, is associated with increased patient skill, knowledge, and confidence to manage their condition. Active+me may be an appropriate platform to support CR delivery when patients cannot be seen face-to-face. Trial registration As this was not a clinical trial, the study was not registered in a trial registry.

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