Can analyses of electronic patient records be independently and externally validated? Study 2--the effect of  -adrenoceptor blocker therapy on cancer survival: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract Aim The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an upheaval of national surgical guidance on appendicitis, which has previously favoured surgical over conservative approaches. We analysed how these guidelines altered management and outcomes of appendicitis. Method A retrospective cohort study at Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham of all appendicitis admissions around and during the first COVID-19 peak was conducted, with analysis of electronic patient records using the acute surgical worklist. Results 48 admissions for appendicitis during the two-month period from 01/02/20 to 25/03/20 prior to the COVID-19 peak and 28 admissions in the two months during the peak itself from 30/03/20 to 24/05/20 were identified. Prior to the COVID-19 peak, a lower proportion of cases was managed conservatively (18.8%) compared to the latter (67.9%, p < 0.0001). This change also coincided with a switch from laparoscopic to open approaches in those managed surgically. We studied a further period post-COVID-19 peak from 01/06/20 to 26/07/20, where proportions of patients managed conservatively versus surgically did not significantly change following the COVID-19 peak, although surgical preference reverted from open to laparoscopic approaches. During the COVID-19 period, a reduced length of stay was seen in cases managed conservatively (1.65 days) compared to those managed surgically (4 days, p = 0.024). Differences in readmission rates were not statistically significant. Conclusions A reduction in numbers of appendicitis presentations as well as a switch to conservative approaches was seen during COVID-19. These findings furthermore support non-inferiority of conservative over open surgical approaches in most appendicitis cases at a time where laparoscopy was deemed unfeasible.

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Effect of screening mammography on breast cancer survival in comparison to other detection methods: A retrospective cohort study

Cancer Science ◽

10.1111/j.1349-7006.2009.01212.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 100 (8) ◽

pp. 1479-1484 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Masaaki Kawai ◽

Shinichi Kuriyama ◽

Akihiko Suzuki ◽

Yoshikazu Nishino ◽

Takanori Ishida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Cancer Survival ◽

Screening Mammography ◽

Breast Cancer Survival ◽

Detection Methods

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Cancer survival in Malawi : a retrospective cohort study

Pan African Medical Journal ◽

10.11604/pamj.2014.19.234.4675 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Kelias Phiri Msyamboza ◽

Geoffrey Manda ◽

Bvumi Tembo ◽

Chimwemwe Thambo ◽

Linly Chitete ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Cancer Survival

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Beta-Blocker Therapy Is Associated With Increased 1-Year Survival After Hip Fracture Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Anesthesia & Analgesia ◽

10.1213/ane.0000000000005659 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽

Author(s):

Ahmad Mohammad Ismail ◽

Rebecka Ahl ◽

Maximilian Peter Forssten ◽

Yang Cao ◽

Per Wretenberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Hip Fracture ◽

Beta Blocker ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Blocker Therapy ◽

Beta Blocker Therapy ◽

Hip Fracture Surgery ◽

Fracture Surgery

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Time from diagnosis to surgery and prostate cancer survival: a retrospective cohort study

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/1471-2407-13-559 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Maria Theresa Redaniel ◽

Richard M Martin ◽

David Gillatt ◽

Julia Wade ◽

Mona Jeffreys

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Cancer Survival

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Beta blocker use and ovarian cancer survival: A retrospective cohort study

Gynecologic Oncology ◽

10.1016/j.ygyno.2012.07.059 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 127 (1) ◽

pp. S21 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

R. Eskander ◽

L. Bessonova ◽

C. Chiu ◽

K. Ward ◽

H. Culver ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Beta Blocker ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Cancer Survival ◽

Ovarian Cancer Survival

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Transfusion of Uncrossmatched Group O Erythrocyte-containing Products Does Not Interfere with Most ABO Typings

Anesthesiology ◽

10.1097/aln.0000000000003069 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 132 (3) ◽

pp. 525-534 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mark H. Yazer ◽

Philip C. Spinella ◽

Leilani Doyle ◽

Richard M. Kaufman ◽

Robyn Dunn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Whole Blood ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Hospital Setting ◽

Blood Type ◽

Patient Records ◽

Study Results ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Group O erythrocytes and/or whole blood are used for urgent transfusions in patients of unknown blood type. This study investigated the impact of transfusing increasing numbers of uncrossmatched type O products on the recipient’s first in-hospital ABO type. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study. Results of the first ABO type obtained in adult, non–type O recipients (i.e., types A, B, AB) after receiving at least one unit of uncrossmatched type O erythrocyte-containing product(s) for any bleeding etiology were analyzed along with the number of uncrossmatched type O erythrocyte-containing products administered in the prehospital and/or in hospital setting before the first type and screen sample was drawn. Results There were 10 institutions that contributed a total of 695 patient records. Among patients who received up to 10 uncrossmatched type O erythrocyte-containing products, the median A antigen agglutination strength in A and AB individuals on forward typing (i.e., testing the recipient’s erythrocytes for A and/or B antigens) was the maximum (4+), whereas the median B antigen agglutination strength among B and AB recipients of up to 10 units was 3 to 4+. The median agglutination strength on the reverse type (i.e., testing the recipient’s plasma for corresponding anti-A and -B antibodies) was very strong, between 3 and 4+, for recipients of up to 10 units of uncrossmatched erythrocyte-containing products. Overall, the ABO type of 665 of 695 (95.7%; 95% CI, 93.9 to 97.0%) of these patients could be accurately determined on the first type and screen sample obtained after transfusion of uncrossmatched type O erythrocyte-containing products. Conclusions The transfusion of smaller quantities of uncrossmatched type O erythrocyte-containing products, in particular up to 10 units, does not usually interfere with determining the recipient’s ABO type. The early collection of a type and screen sample is important. Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New

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Use of single-bed rooms may decrease the incidence of hospital-acquired infections in geriatric patients: A retrospective cohort study in Central Denmark region

Journal of Health Services Research & Policy ◽

10.1177/1355819621994866 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135581962199486

Author(s):

Merete Gregersen ◽

Anders Mellemkjær ◽

Catherine H Foss ◽

Sif Blandfort

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

University Hospital ◽

Electronic Patient Records ◽

X Ray ◽

Hospital Acquired Infections ◽

Comorbidity Index ◽

Discharge From Hospital ◽

Hospital Acquired

Objective Patients accommodated in single-bed rooms may have a reduced risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) compared to those in multi-bed rooms. This study aimed to examine the effect of single-bed accommodation on HAIs in older patients admitted to a geriatric ward. Methods A retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to geriatric wards in a university hospital in Central Denmark Region linked to a move to a newly built hospital, involving all consecutively admitted patients aged 65 years and over from 15 September to 19 December 2016 and a similar cohort admitted in the same three months in 2017. We compared the incidence of HAIs in patients in single-bed accommodation to those in multi-bed accommodation using retrospective review of electronic patient records, with all infections verified microbiologically or by X-ray with onset between 48 hours after admission to 48 hours after discharge from hospital. Results In total 446 patients were included. The incidence of HAIs in multi-bed accommodation was 30% compared to 20% in single-bed accommodation. The hazard ratio was 0.62 (95% Confidence Interval 0.43–0.91, p = 0.01) for single-bed accommodation. This finding remained robust after adjustment for age, sex, infection at admission, risk of sepsis, use of catheter, treatment with prednisone or methotrexate, and comorbidity index. Conclusion Accommodation in single-bed rooms appeared to reduce HAIs compared to multi-bed rooms in two geriatric wards. This finding should be considered as hypothesis-generating and be examined further using an experimental design.

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Faecal calprotectin testing in UK general practice: a retrospective cohort study using The Health Improvement Network database

British Journal of General Practice ◽

10.3399/bjgp.2021.0125 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. BJGP.2021.0125

Author(s):

Karoline Freeman ◽

Ronan Ryan ◽

Nicholas Parsons ◽

Sian Taylor-Phillips ◽

Brian H Willis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Practice ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Health Improvement ◽

Electronic Patient Records ◽

Faecal Calprotectin ◽

Network Database ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

The Health Improvement Network

BackgroundFaecal calprotectin (FC) testing to detect inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was recommended for use in UK general practice in 2013. The actual use of FC testing following the national recommendations is unknown.AimTo characterise the use of FC testing for IBD in UK general practice.Design and settingA retrospective cohort study of routine electronic patient records from The Health Improvement Network database from UK general practice.MethodThe study included 6 965 853 adult patients (aged ≥18 years), between 2006 and 2016. FC test uptake, the patients tested, and patient management following testing were characterised.ResultsA total of 17 027 patients had 19 840 FC tests recorded. The mean age of tested patients was 44.2 years. The first FC tests were documented in 2009. FC test use was still increasing in 2016. By 2016, 66.8% (n = 493/738) of practices had started FC testing. About one-fifth (20.7%, n = 1253/6051) of tests were carried out in patients aged ≥60 years. Only 7.8% (n = 473/6051) of the FC test records were preceded by symptoms eligible for FC testing. Only 3.1% (n = 1720/55 477) of patients with eligible symptoms have received FC testing since the national recommendations were published. There was only a small number of patients with symptoms, FC test, and a IBD diagnosis. In total, 71.3% (n = 1416/1987) of patients with a positive and 47.7% (n = 1337/2805) with a negative FC test were referred or further investigated.ConclusionUptake of FC testing in clinical practice has been slow and inconsistent. The indication of non-compliance with national recommendations may suggest that these recommendations lack applicability to the general practice context.

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