scholarly journals Cost-minimisation analysis alongside a pilot study of early Tissue Doppler Evaluation of Diastolic Dysfunction in Emergency Department Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes (TEDDy-NSTEACS)

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e023920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijay S Gc ◽  
Mohamad Alshurafa ◽  
David J Sturgess ◽  
Joseph Ting ◽  
Kye Gregory ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo estimate the cost implications of early angiography for patients with suspected non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).DesignA decision tree model was used to synthesise data from the pilot study and literature sources. Sensitivity analyses tested the impact of assumptions incorporated into the analysis.SettingEmergency department (ED), Brisbane, Australia.ParticipantsPatients with suspected NSTEACS.InterventionsTDI as a diagnostic tool for triaging patients within 4 hours of presentation in addition to conventional risk stratification, compared with conventional risk stratification alone.Data sourcesResource used for diagnosis and management were recorded prospectively and costed for 51 adults who had echocardiography within 24 hours of admission. Costs for conventional care were based on observed data. Cost estimates for the TDI intervention assumed patients classified as high risk at TDI (E/e’>14) progressed early to angiography with an associated 1-day reduction in length of stay.Primary outcome measuresCosts until discharge from the Australian healthcare perspective in 2016–2017 prices.ResultsFindings suggest that using TDI as a diagnostic tool for triaging patients with suspected NSTEACS is likely to be cost saving by $A1090 (95% credible interval: $A573 to $A1703) per patient compared with conventional care. The results are mainly driven by the assumed reduction in length of stay due to the inclusion of early TDI in clinical decision-making.ConclusionsThis pilot study indicates that compared with conventional risk stratification, triaging patients presenting with suspected NSTEACS with TDI within 4 hours of ED presentation has potential cost savings. Findings assume a reduction in hospital stay is achieved for patients considered to be high risk at TDI. Larger, comparative studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm the clinical effectiveness of TDI as a diagnostic strategy for NSTEACS, the assumed reduction in hospital stay and any cost saving.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Jacobsen ◽  
Jarle Jortveit ◽  
Espen Ellingsen Moe ◽  
Roy Bjørkholt Olsen ◽  
Thomas Dahlslett ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Prehospital risk stratification and timing of revascularization in Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) is currently based on the electrocardiogram (ECG). ST- elevation in the ECG indicates myocardial infarction (STEMI) in need of immediate reperfusion therapy. However, a large group of ACS patients presents without ST-elevation in ECG, despite coronary occlusions. In these high risk non-ST-elevation myocardial infarctions (NSTEMI), immediate reperfusion may be just as crucial for the prognosis, but prehospital diagnostic tools to identify them are lacking. Objective This pilot study investigated if focused prehospital transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) images achieved by paramedics could be transferred to the in-hospital cardiologist for diagnostic evaluation, and test if this, in combination with a point-of-care (POC) high-sensitive Troponin-T (Hs-cTnT) test, facilitates prehospital identification of high risk NSTE-ACS. Methods Paramedics were trained to obtain focused prehospital TTE images and provide POC Hs-cTnT - testing in patients with suspected ACS. The information was transferred to the in-hospital cardiologist who determined the treatment strategy by evaluating the information provided by the paramedics. Results 123 patients were included between November 30 th 2017 and November 30 th 2018. TTE images were interpretable in 107 cases (87%), and Hs-cTnT measures in 113 cases (93%). NSTEMI was the final diagnosis in 16 patients (13%), where 13 got admitted directly for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). These patients bypassed the local hospital and saved time to treatment based on the prehospital detection of NSTE-ACS. Conclusion Interpretable focused TTE images and POC Hs-cTnT measures can be achieved by paramedics in most patients with suspected NSTE-ACS. This information seems to aid in-hospital cardiologist admitting the right patients to the PCI hospital. The study strongly indicates that prehospital diagnostics and risk assessment of patients with suspected NSTE-ACS is feasible. A larger study is needed to clarify the diagnostic accuracy of focused prehospital TTE in suspected NSTE-ACSTrial registration Clinical trials NCT04223986, ID: 17/05178-2 – 522). Registered retrospectively September 23rd 2018. https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT04223986.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique N van Dongen ◽  
Rudolf T Tolsma ◽  
Marion J Fokkert ◽  
Erik A Badings ◽  
Aize van der Sluis ◽  
...  

Background: Pre-hospital risk stratification of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) by the complete HEART score has not yet been assessed. We investigated whether pre-hospital risk stratification of patients with suspected NSTE-ACS using the HEART score is accurate in predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Methods: This is a prospective observational study, including 700 patients with suspected NSTE-ACS. Risk stratification was performed by ambulance paramedics, using the HEART score; low risk was defined as HEART score ⩽ 3. Primary endpoint was occurrence of MACE within 45 days after inclusion. Secondary endpoint was myocardial infarction or death. Results: A total of 172 patients (24.6%) were stratified as low risk and 528 patients (75.4%) as intermediate to high risk. Mean age was 53.9 years in the low risk group and 66.7 years in the intermediate to high risk group ( p<0.001), 50% were male in the low risk group versus 60% in the intermediate to high risk group ( p=0.026). MACE occurred in five patients in the low risk group (2.9%) and in 111 (21.0%) patients at intermediate or high risk ( p<0.001). There were no deaths in the low risk group and the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction in this group was 1.2%. In the high risk group six patients died (1.1%) and 76 patients had myocardial infarction (14.4%). Conclusions: In suspected NSTE-ACS, pre-hospital risk stratification by ambulance paramedics, including troponin measurement, is accurate in differentiating between low and intermediate to high risk. Future studies should investigate whether transportation of low risk patients to a hospital can be avoided, and whether high risk patients benefit from immediate transfer to a hospital with early coronary angiography possibilities.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Au Yeung ◽  
Kiran Thapa ◽  
William Rawlinson ◽  
Andrew Georgiou ◽  
Jeffrey Post ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory virus with clinical impacts on patient morbidity, mortality and hospital bed management. The effect of rapid nucleic acid testing (RPCR) in comparison to standard multiplex PCR (MPCR) diagnosis in treatment decisions is unclear. This study aimed to determine whether RPCR influenza testing in comparison to standard MPCR testing was associated with differences in antibiotic and antiviral (oseltamivir) utilisation and hospital length of stay in emergency department and inpatient hospital settings. METHODS A retrospective cohort study of positive influenza RPCR and MPCR patients was performed utilising data from the 2017 influenza season. Medical records of correlating patient presentations were reviewed for data collection. An analysis of RPCR versus MPCR patient outcomes was performed examining test turnaround time, antibiotic initiation, oseltamivir initiation and hospital length of stay for both emergency department and inpatient hospital stay. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess oseltamivir use in high risk populations for influenza complications. Statistical significance was assessed using Mann-Whitney test for numerical data and Chi-squared test for categorical data. Odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals were calculated where appropriate.RESULTS Overall, 122 RPCR and 362 MPCR positive influenza patients were included in this study. Commencement of antibiotics was less frequent in the RPCR than MPCR cohorts (51% vs 67%; p <0.01, OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.34-0.79). People at high risk of complications from influenza who were tested with the RPCR were more likely to be treated with oseltamivir compared to those tested with the MPCR (76% vs 63%; p = 0.03, OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.07-3.08). Hospital length of stay was not impacted when either test was used in the emergency department and inpatient settings. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest utilisation of RPCR testing in influenza management can improve antibiotic stewardship through reduction in antibiotic use and improvement in oseltamivir initiation in those at higher risk of complications. Further research is required to determine other factors that may have influenced hospital length of stay and a cost-benefit analysis should be undertaken to determine the financial impact of the RPCR test.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 562-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Musa A Sharkawi ◽  
Sean McMahon ◽  
Dania Al Jabri ◽  
Paul D Thompson

Importance: There is marked variability in location of care and hospital length of stay after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Observations: We performed a literature review on non-critical care monitoring and early discharge following primary percutaneous coronary intervention and describe a framework for implementation in the real world. The medical literature was searched from 1 January 1988 to 31 April 2019 using PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Randomized clinical trials, observational studies and guideline statements were included. Available data suggest that carefully selected low-risk STEMI patients identified using Zwolle or CADILLAC risk stratification scores after primary percutaneous coronary intervention may be considered for discharge after 48 hours of hospital care. There was no increase in major adverse cardiac events, medication non-compliance or hospital readmission with this treatment strategy. There are limited data on non-critical monitoring of uncomplicated STEMI patients; however, given the low adverse events rate, this strategy is likely to be safe in selected patients and may facilitate reduced length of stay and reduce resource utilization. Conclusions and relevance: Available evidence supports the safety of early discharge after 48 hours of care and omission of critical care monitoring in carefully selected patients following primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Early risk stratification and structured discharge planning are imperative. Adoption of this treatment strategy could reduce hospital costs, resource utilization and enhance patient satisfaction without affecting outcomes.


CJEM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S54
Author(s):  
E. Béland ◽  
A. Nadeau ◽  
V. Boucher ◽  
P. Carmichael ◽  
P. Voyer ◽  
...  

Introduction: Delirium is a frequent pathology in the elderly presenting to the emergency department (ED) and is seldom recognised. This condition is associated with many medical complications and has been shown to increase the hospital length-of-stay. The objective of this study was to identify the predictor factors of developing delirium in this high-risk population. Methods: Design: This study was part of the multicenter prospective cohort INDEED study. Participants: Patients aged 65 and older, initially free of delirium and with an ED stay of 8h or longer, were followed up to 24h after ward admission. Measures: Clinical and demographic variables were collected by interview and chart review. A research professional assessed their delirium status twice daily using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). Analyses: A classification tree was used to select predictors and cut-points that minimized classification error of patients with incident delirium. After literature review, nineteen predictors were considered for inclusion in the model (eight non-modifiable and eleven modifiable factors). Results: Among the 605 patients included in this study, incident delirium was detected by the CAM in 69 patients (11.4%). In total, fourteen variables were included in a preliminary model, of which six were intrinsic to the patient and eight were modifiable in the ED. Variables with the greatest impact in the prediction of delirium includes age, cognitive status, ED length of stay, autonomy in daily activities, fragility and mobility during their hospital stay. The diagnostic performance of the model applied to the study sample gave a sensitivity of 78.3% (95% CI: 66.7 to 87.3), a specificity of 100.0% (95% CI: 99.3 to 100.0), a PPV of 100.0% (95% CI: 93.4 to 100.0) and a NPV of 97.3% (95% CI: 95.6 to 98.5). Conclusion: The delirium risk model developed in this study shows promising results with elevated sensitivity and specificity values. Considering the limited ability to predict and detect delirium among physicians, the potential increase in sensitivity provided by this tool could be beneficial to patients. This model will ultimately serve to identify high-risk patients with the goal of developing strategies to alter modifiable risk factors and subsequently decrease the incidence of delirium in this population.


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