Pediatric emergency department utilisation during Ramadan: a retrospective cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
pp. archdischild-2020-319173
Author(s):  
Rasha D Sawaya ◽  
Cynthia Wakil ◽  
Sami Shayya ◽  
Moustafa Al Hariri ◽  
Alik Dakessian ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of Ramadan on patient characteristics, diagnoses and metrics in the paediatric emergency department (PED).DesignRetrospective cross-sectional study.SettingPED of a tertiary care centre in Lebanon.PatientsAll paediatric patients.ExposureRamadan (June 2016 and 2017) versus the months before and after Ramadan (non-Ramadan).Main outcome measuresPatient and illness characteristics and PED metrics including peak patient load; presentation timings; length of stay; and times to order tests, receive samples and report results.ResultsWe included 5711 patients with mean age of 6.1±5.3 years and 55.4% males. The number of daily visits was 28.3±6.5 during Ramadan versus 31.5±7.3 during non-Ramadan (p=0.004). The peak time of visits ranged from 18:00 to 22:00 during non-Ramadan versus from 22:00 to 02:00 during Ramadan. During Ramadan, there were significantly more gastrointestinal (GI) and trauma-related complaints (39.0% vs 35.4%, p=0.01 and 2.9% vs 1.8%, p=0.005). The Ramadan group had faster work efficiency measures such as times to order tests (21.1±21.3 vs 24.3±28.1 min, p<0.0001) and to collect samples (50.7±44.5 vs 54.8±42.6 min, p=0.03).ConclusionsRamadan changes presentation patterns, with fewer daily visits and a later peak time of visits. Ramadan also affects illness presentation patterns with more GI and trauma cases. Fasting times during Ramadan did not affect staff work efficiency. These findings could help EDs structure their staffing to optimise resource allocation during Ramadan.

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. e035951
Author(s):  
Saja S Al-Otmy ◽  
Abeer Z Abduljabbar ◽  
Rajaa M Al-Raddadi ◽  
Fayssal Farahat

ObjectivesTo explore magnitude and factors associated with non-urgent visits to the emergency department (ED) in a tertiary care centre, western Saudi Arabia.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingED of a tertiary care hospital in western Saudi Arabia.Participants400 patients, both men and women.InterventionsAn interview-based questionnaire was administered to a consecutive sample of patients who visited the ED during morning shifts, where primary healthcare centres (PHCs) and outpatient clinics were available.Primary outcome measureED visits classified as non-urgent versus urgent (excluding life-threatening conditions) based on the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS). Levels IV and V were classified as non-urgent.ResultsMajority of the cases were adult (97.3%) and half of them were women (54.8%). Non-urgent visits represented 78.5% among non-life-threatening cases. One-third of the patients (33.8%) had three visits or more to the ED during the past year. Main reasons for visiting the ED were perception that the condition was urgent (42.0%), easy access (25.5%) and limited resources and services at the PHCs (17.8%). Patients 40–50 years old were more likely to have non-urgent visits (OR=3.21, 95% CI 1.15 to 8.98). However, likelihood of non-urgent visits was significantly lower among patients with cancer (OR=0.37, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.72) and cardiovascular disease (OR=0.43, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.83), and those who live near the hospital (OR=0.49, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.88).ConclusionsThe current study reported overuse of the ED. Enhancement of the primary care services, in concordance with community awareness, is an important component to reduce burden due to non-urgent use of the ED.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Anup Latne ◽  
Prabhakar Jirvankar

Hypertension is a major public health problem all over the world. The incidence of hypertension is increasing year after year and the prevalence of hypertension is increasing day by day due to increased life expectancy and aging population and their sedentary lifestyle. Hypertension is known to cause microvascular changes and increased cardiovascular risk from it. Microalbuminuria possibly reflects a state of increased renal endothelial permeability and is an easily measured marker of rather diffuse endothelial dysfunction, low grade inflammation and vascular disease burden2. Microalbuminuria has been determined as an important prognostic indicator and has been reported to be associated with increased cardiovascular risk and progressive renal damage. Reliable data on the prevalence of microalbuminuria in the general population and its association with cardiovascular risk factors is limited. Till now, there is little data available regarding screening and early treatment of hypertensive patients with microalbuminuria, as in the case of microalbuminuric non diabetic subjects. With these perspective this cross sectional study of microalbuminuria in non-diabetic hypertensive patients was undertaken to study prevalence of microalbuminuria in Non Diabetic hypertensive patients. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria in non-diabetic hypertensive patients and to correlate the presence of microalbuminuria with the patients of different clinical profiles. Materials and Methods: This was observational, cross sectional study of Patients diagnosed with hypertension either admitted in ward or attending OPD of Medical College and Tertiary Care Centre. Urine microalbumin creatinine ratio was used for estimation of microalbuminuria. Conclusion: It was proved that microalbuminuria prevalence was directly proportional to the duration of hypertension, the stage of hypertension. Prevalence of microalbuminria was low in ACE inhibitor and ARB treated hypertensive patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (232) ◽  
Author(s):  
Badri Rijal ◽  
Krishna Rana ◽  
Srijana KC ◽  
Jamuna Lamsal

Introduction: Orthopedic conditions include a range of condition varying from traumatic injuries, congenital anomalies, chronic back-pain, arthritis, rheumatologic conditions, and other. In Nepal, approximately 2.35 million people are living with musculoskeletal conditions in which 175,000 people are suffering with MSD from non-traumatic causes. The aim of the study is to observe the clinical and demographic pattern of orthopedic problems presenting in the hospital. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done in All Nepal Hospital Private Limited in the month of November. The data from the medical record section was retrospectively collected. Sample size of 384 was included and convenience sampling technique was used. The descriptive statistical analysis was done. Results: Eight hundred forty four cases were included in the study. Implant removal was the main condition for admission in the hospital 105 (12.44%) followed by Forearm Bone Fracture 84 (9.95%) and Cut Injury 64 (7.58%). Most cases presented during the time 6 PM to 12 AM 312 (36.96%). Conclusions: Most of the orthopedic cases presented in the evening and night time. Implant removal, forearm bone fracture and cut injury form the major bulk of the cases.


Author(s):  
Renu Sulakhe Vasant ◽  
Lavanya K. M. Rao ◽  
Nageswara Rao V.

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the commonest cause for infant and childhood morbidity and mortality. The majority of low birth weight in developing countries is due to intrauterine growth retardation, while most low birth weight in industrialized countries is due to preterm birth. LBW is the single most important factor determining the survival chances of the child. The objectives of the study were to assess the proportion of low birth weight among babies delivered by mothers at a tertiary care hospital and to analyse the relationship between low birth weight and certain socio-demographic factors.Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care centre for a period of six months.Results: The prevalence of LBW was 23.5%. The proportion of mothers having low birth weight was maximum in women aged less than 18 years (35%) and more than 30 years (26.5%). Muslim women had a higher proportion of LBW (28.8%). LBW was more in women belonging to joint family (30.0%), low per capita income group and illiterates.Conclusions: The prevalence of LBW still continues to be high, almost one fourth of the babies are LBW. Different socio-demographic characteristics of the population are still the important factors determining the occurrence of LBW.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 2311-2313
Author(s):  
Zulfiqar Ali Buzdar ◽  
Kanwal Zahra ◽  
Maryam Shahid ◽  
Muhammad Anwar Sibtain Fazli ◽  
Javaid Munir ◽  
...  

Background: The burns resulting from heating mechanisms or hot sources are inevitable as such a scheme is an integral part of human’s life. It though benefits on one hand but unfortunately it harms as well especially if due care is not rendered in this regard. Aim: To assess the seasonal effects on presentation of victims of burns. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on the medicolegal cases of burns filtered at medicolegal clinic of Mayo Hospital Lahore, Accident and Emergency Department from December 2017 to August 2018. A total of 250 cases were studied presenting in the above setting. Result: The study revealed the seasonality as a quiet common and impressive factor in reporting of victims of burns in the medicolegal clinic of Mayo Hospital/King Edward Medical University Lahore. The winter months of December, January and February were the most common reporting months of study showing maximum peaks. Keywords: Burns, Season, Variation, Factors


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S225-S225
Author(s):  
Jolanta Piszczek ◽  
Eric Partlow ◽  
Shay-Anne Daniels ◽  
Milena Semproni ◽  
Wayne Ghesquiere

Abstract Background Moderate to severe cellulitis is a common reason for presentation to the emergency department and administration of intravenous antibiotics. Misdiagnosis of cellulitis occurs frequently as the disease can masquerade as a wide variety of noninfectious and infectious problems. There are currently no studies evaluating the impact of infectious diseases physicians on the diagnostic accuracy and management of cellulitis referred to an outpatient parenteral antibiotic clinic from the emergency department. The objective of this study was to quantify the prevalence of misdiagnosed moderate to severe cellulitis through an evaluation by an infectious diseases specialist, characterize the alternative diagnoses, and assess variables associated with misdiagnosis. Methods A prospective cross-sectional study of adults referred from emergency departments with presumed moderate to severe cellulitis to an outpatient parenteral antibiotic clinic staffed by infectious diseases specialists. Results 301 consecutive patients with presumed cellulitis were evaluated over a 6-month period. A concurring diagnosis of cellulitis was found in 170 patients (56.5%), for a misdiagnosis rate of 43.5% (131/301). Table 1 summarizes the alternative diagnoses. Infectious conditions other than cellulitis were the most common (63/301; 20.9%), with abscess being present in 23 (7.6%) of patients. Fifty-two of 301 (17.3%) of the diagnoses were noninfectious and 16/301 (5.3%) patients had a dual diagnosis where minor cellulitis was present, but secondary to another, predomintating condition. The presence of stasis dermatitis (OR 6.62, P = 0.013) and a history of physical trauma (OR 1.76, P = 0.046) were associated with a misdiagnosis. 31.9% (107/335) of antibiotic regimens prescribed by emergency physicians were inappropriate or sub-optimal compared with 7.9% (22/280) of those ordered by infectious disease doctors. Conclusion Moderate to severe cellulitis was incorrectly diagnosed in nearly half of the patients referred for intravenous antibiotics and resulted in a high rate of unstewardly antimicrobial use. Infectious diseases physicians at an outpatient antibiotic clinic improved the diagnostic accuracy and management of this complicated condition. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


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