The impact of a time target on older patients attending the emergency department

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A2.1-A2
Author(s):  
Sue Mason

IntroductionThe 4 h emergency standard for English acute trusts was introduced in 2003 and became full established by 2008 at 98% for all Emergency Department (ED) patients to be seen and discharged. This study examined the impact of the target for older patients attending departments.MethodsRoutine patient level data was received from 15 English EDs representing 774 095 individual patient attendances during May and June for 2003 to 2006. The data were used to determine the distribution of the total time spent in the EDs. Attendances were compared for older patients (65 years and above) with younger age groups.ResultsA total of 145 596 attendances were for patients aged 65+ years (18.9%). Across each year analysed, these older patients have a significantly longer median total time in the ED than those younger than 65 years (162 min vs 103 min, p<0.001). In addition, older patients are significantly more likely to leave the emergency department in the last 20 min prior to 4 h (12.4% vs 5.2% in those <65 years, p<0.001). This proportion is growing year on year in both the admitted and discharged categories of patients. Finally, older patients are significantly more likely to breach the 4-h than their younger counterparts (16.6% vs 6.3%, p<0.001).ConclusionsThere are some unintended consequences of introducing the 4 h target in UK emergency departments. While the target has reduced overall time in departments, the older patient appears to be disadvantaged relative to younger patients. Older patients are more likely to be ‘rushed through’ to other unmonitored areas of the hospital just prior to the target or to breach the target altogether. This finding calls in to question the benefits that the target is conveying for individual patients, and especially the most vulnerable in society.

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 3982-3982
Author(s):  
Tatini Datta ◽  
Brian A Jonas ◽  
Aaron S Rosenberg ◽  
Qian Li ◽  
Ann M Brunson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The impact of time from diagnosis to chemotherapy initiation (time to treatment, TTT) for AML has been a topic of ongoing debate. A prior study reported that TTT ≥5 days adversely impacted overall survival in younger (<60 years of age), but not older (≥60 years of age), patients. However, subsequent studies found either no effect of TTT on overall survival, regardless of age, or an adverse impact of TTT on overall survival for both younger (>10 days) and older patients (>5 days). Prior data also showed no impact of TTT on early mortality. Given these conflicting findings, consensus on the impact of TTT on survival is lacking and warrants further study. Using prospectively collected population-based data, we analyzed a large cohort of adult AML patients to examine the effect of TTT on overall survival. Methods: Using data from the California Cancer Registry and Patient Discharge Dataset between 1999-2012, patients≥15years diagnosed with de novo AML and who received inpatient treatment between 1-90 days from diagnosis were identified (n=5337). Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with TTT>5 days vs 1-5 days with data presented as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The effect of TTT on overall and 60-day survival was estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression with TTT (1-5, 6-10,>10 days)considered as a time-dependent variable. Patients were stratified by age group (<60,≥60 years) for all analyses.Multivariable models accounted for age, race/ethnicity, sex, number of comorbidities, marital status, neighborhood socioeconomic status, health insurance type, treatment at National Cancer Institute designated (NCI) vs non-NCI designated facility, use ofleukapheresis, and year of diagnosis. Results: Of the 2659 patients <60 years of age, 61.0% were treated within 5 days and 79.7% within 10 days of diagnosis, compared to 43.8% and 65.0%, respectively, of the 2678 patients≥60 years of age. Patients≥60 years were more likely to have 3+ comorbidities compared to the younger age group (43.3% vs 25.9%, P<0.001). The likelihood of TTT>5 days increased with age in both younger and older patients. Across both age groups, patients requiringleukapheresis(age<60: OR 0.19, CI 0.10-0.34; age≥60: OR 0.23, CI 0.12-0.45), treated at a non-NCI (vs NCI) center (age<60: OR 0.62, CI 0.52-0.73; age≥60: OR 0.64, CI 0.52-0.78) and with 1-2 (vs 0) comorbidities (age<60: OR 0.81, CI 0.67-0.98; age≥60: OR 0.69, CI 0.54-0.88) or 3+ (vs 0) comorbidities (age<60: OR 0.77, CI 0.62-0.97; age≥60: OR 0.52, CI 0.41-0.66) had a lower odds of TTT>5 days. Younger (age<60) African Americans (vs non-Hispanic whites) had a higher odds of TTT >5 days (OR 1.43, CI 1.04-1.97). Delaying chemotherapy >10 days (vs 1-5 days) adversely impacted overall survival in both age groups (age<60: HR 1.26, CI 1.11-1.43; age≥60: HR 1.17, CI 1.06-1.28) (Table). However, TTT of 6-10 days (vs 1-5 days) affected overall survival in young (age<60: HR 1.15, CI 1.02-1.31), but not older patients. A TTT of 6-10 days (vs 1-5 days) adversely impacted 60-day survival in both age groups (age<60: HR 1.70, CI 1.24-2.33; age≥60: HR 1.27, CI 1.05-1.54); 60-day survival results were similar for a TTT >10 days (vs 1-5 days) (Table). Conclusions: In a large cohort of patients with de novo AML, TTT of up to 10 days did not have a negative impact on overall survival in patients over the age of 60. In younger patients (<age 60), TTT >5 days was associated with decreased overall survival. Delaying chemotherapy over 5 days adversely impacted 60-day survival in both age groups. Our observation that patients were more likely to have a shorter TTT at non-NCI designated hospitals may relate to delays associated with transfer to or clinical trial enrollment at NCI centers. Our results suggest that waiting to get results of ancillary testing, such as cytogenetic and molecular mutation analyses, in order to inform treatment decisions for AML patients, may be feasible in some patients with AML. In an era of rapidly evolving prognostic and treatment landscapes for AML, our findings may have implications for personalized therapy, including novel targeted therapies, and clinical trial design for patients withAML. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Briana Williams ◽  
Katelin McDilda ◽  
Melissa Bright

The objective of the study was to determine the extent to which patients from various age groups perceive telemedicine as a viable mode of healthcare delivery in the context of COVID-19. A RedCap survey was sent to patients in our OB/GYN outpatient clinics with in-person, telemedicine, re-scheduled or cancelled appointments between 3/11/20 to 5/11/20. Patients’ online responses were analyzed using a 5-point Likert scale. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-Square and Fischer’s Exact Analysis with p < 0.05 considered significant. A total of 1083 patients completed the survey of whom 280 (25.9%) had a telemedicine appointment. Patients answered questions relating to their telemedicine visit. While older patients did encounter a higher proportion of technological difficulties (p<0.0001), younger patients, specifically those in the 25-34 age group, expressed greater dissatisfaction with their appointment being changed to telemedicine than older patients (p=0.02), and felt that telemedicine did not accomplish the same goals as an in-person visit (p=0.01). Nonetheless, all patients, regardless of age, were satisfied with the introduction to telemedicine (p=0.02) and the instructions provided to them prior to the visit (p=0.02). Connectivity issues seem to be the biggest obstacle to older patients particularly when there is absence of a reliable internet connection and a telemedicine-compatible device. Younger patients, though less satisfied, are more comfortable with new technology and with using telemedicine; they tend to experience less connectivity issues. Our focus going forward should be on finding ways to simplify the process, overcome the connectivity issues while addressing the main reasons leading to patient dissatisfaction.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Owen Thorpe ◽  
Martin Cuesta ◽  
Ciaran Fitzgerald ◽  
Owen Feely ◽  
William P Tormey ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Hyponatraemia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality; the aetiology and outcomes of hyponatraemia in older patients have not been defined in prospective studies. Methods A single-centre 9-month prospective observational study in which clinical outcomes in hospitalised patients ≥ 65 years (older patients with hyponatraemia (OP-HN)) and those &lt;65 years (young patients with hyponatraemia (YP-HN)) with hyponatraemia were analysed, and compared with eunatraemic controls (older patients with normonatraemia (OP-NN) and young patients with normonatraemia (YP-NN)). Results In total, 1,321 episodes of hyponatraemia in 1,086 patients were included; 437 YP-HN, median age 54 years (IQR 44,60) and 884 OP-HN, median age 77 years (IQR 71,82). A total of 1,120 consecutive eunatraemic control patients were simultaneously recruited; 690 OP-NN, median age 77 years (IQR 71,83) and 430 YP-NN, median age 52 years (IQR 41,58). Euvolaemic hyponatraemia was the commonest cause of hyponatraemia in both age groups (48% in YP-HN and 46% in OP-HN). Sixty-two percent of OP-HN received hyponatraemia-directed treatment within the initial 48 h, compared with 55% of YP-HN, P = 0.01. Despite the greater treatment rates in OP-HN, younger patients were 24% more likely to be discharged with normal plasma sodium concentration (pNa) compared with older patients, relative risk (RR) 1.24 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12–1.37), P &lt; 0.001. Using OP-NN as the reference group, the RR of in-hospital death in OP-HN was 2.15 (95% CI 1.3–3.56), P = 0.002. Using YP-NN as the reference group, the RR of in-hospital death in YP-HN was 4.34 (95% CI 1.98–9.56), P &lt; 0.001. Conclusion Despite greater rates of HN-targeted treatment, the risk of in-hospital death is increased in older hyponatraemic patients compared with older eunatraemic controls. The impact of hyponatraemia on mortality is even greater in younger patients.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 5001-5001
Author(s):  
Abraham Klepfish ◽  
M. Sarid ◽  
M. Basalov ◽  
H. Ghoti ◽  
E.A. Rachmilewitz

Abstract Background Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a chronic proliferative disorder of mature-looking B-lymphocytes, is the most common leukemia in the western world. CLL is a disease of elderly, with only 10–15% of patients affected at the age of less than 50 years. It is still controversial whether the clinical features and the impact on survival are different between younger and older patients, since the standard statistical methods produce contradicting results. In the present retrospective study of 87 CLL patients, we compared the data between patients above and below 65 years. The analysis of the impact of the disease on survival was carried out using a method described below. Methods Medical records and survival data were obtained from 87 patients with CLL treated in our Institute between 1983 and 2003. Statistical analysis of the clinical and laboratory parameters and survival data was performed using standard methods. The survival loss due to the disease as a percent of the expected survival of gender- and age-matched general population was determined, based on the survival analysis method developed and published recently [Klepfish A et al Am J Med.2005;118:567]. In brief, the age- and gender-matched expected survival in the general population was calculated (data obtained from the Central Government Bureau of Statistics). We used the 7th percentile survival (SPS) for further calculation in order to match the duration of the follow-up period between the patients and the general population. The survival loss was calculated by the formula: [(SPSControl - SPSPatients):SPSControl] x 100%. Results The mean age in the younger and older age groups was 56 and 74 years respectively. The male-to-female ratio was 2:1 in both age groups. The disease was found to be twice more common in patients from Ashkenazi compared with Sephardic descent. The younger group of patients had several features indicative of a more severe disease at presentation: advanced stage (Rai 2–4) – 46% vs. 16%, and diffuse involvement of bone marrow −60% vs. 18%. Younger patients were also more likely to require treatment (30% vs. 8% for fludarabine-containing regimens). Although according to the Kaplan-Meyer curve (see Fig.) a more favorable survival was shown for the younger group, the survival loss showed a reversed pattern. While the older patients lost 10% of the SPS, the survival loss in the younger patients was 44% (p=0.001). Conclusions CLL shows a strong male predominance and is more common in Ashkenazi than in Sephardic Jewish population in all ages. CLL has a more unfavorable presentation and a more severe clinical course in the younger patients (age<66) than in the older age group (age>65). The negative impact of the disease on the survival of CLL patients is higher in the younger patients, since their survival loss in comparison with the matched general population was 4.4 times higher, than that of the older patients. This mode of statistical evaluation confirms the impression that CLL is a more severe disease in younger patients. Fig: Kaplan - Meyer Survival Curve of CLL Patients Fig:. Kaplan - Meyer Survival Curve of CLL Patients


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (8) ◽  
pp. 1466-1472
Author(s):  
Grażyna Kobus ◽  
Jolanta Małyszko ◽  
Hanna Bachórzewska-Gajewska

Introduction: In the elderly, impairment of kidney function occurs. Renal diseases overlap with anatomic and functional changes related to age-related involutionary processes. Mortality among patients with acute renal injury is approximately 50%, despite advances in treatment and diagnosis of AKI. The aim: To assess the incidence of acute kidney injury in elderly patients and to analyze the causes of acute renal failure depending on age. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis included medical documentation of patients hospitalized in the Nephrology Clinic during the 6-month period. During this period 452 patients were hospitalized in the clinic. A group of 77 patients with acute renal failure as a reason for hospitalization was included in the study. Results: The prerenal form was the most common cause of AKI in both age groups. In both age groups, the most common cause was dehydration; in the group of patients up to 65 years of age, dehydration was 29.17%; in the group of people over 65 years - 43.39%. Renal replacement therapy in patients with AKI was used in 14.29% of patients. In the group of patients up to 65 years of age hemodialysis was 16.67% and above 65 years of age. -13.21% of patients. The average creatinine level in the group of younger patients at admission was 5.16 ± 3.71 mg / dl, in the group of older patients 3.14 ± 1.63 mg / dl. The size of glomerular filtration GFR in the group of younger patients at admission was 21.14 ± 19.54 ml / min, in the group of older patients 23.34 ± 13.33 ml / min. Conclusions: The main cause of acute kidney injury regardless of the age group was dehydration. Due to the high percentage of AKI in the elderly, this group requires more preventive action, not only in the hospital but also at home.


Author(s):  
Laura C. Blomaard ◽  
Bas de Groot ◽  
Jacinta A. Lucke ◽  
Jelle de Gelder ◽  
Anja M. Booijen ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of implementation of the acutely presenting older patient (APOP) screening program for older patients in routine emergency department (ED) care shortly after implementation. Methods We conducted an implementation study with before-after design, using the plan-do-study-act (PDSA) model for quality improvement, in the ED of a Dutch academic hospital. All consecutive patients ≥ 70 years during 2 months before and after implementation were included. The APOP program comprises screening for risk of functional decline, mortality and cognitive impairment, targeted interventions for high-risk patients and education of professionals. Outcome measures were compliance with interventions and impact on ED process, length of stay (LOS) and hospital admission rate. Results Two comparable groups of patients (median age 77 years) were included before (n = 920) and after (n = 953) implementation. After implementation 560 (59%) patients were screened of which 190 (34%) were high-risk patients. Some of the program interventions for high-risk patients in the ED were adhered to, some were not. More hospitalized patients received comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) after implementation (21% before vs. 31% after; p = 0.002). In 89% of high-risk patients who were discharged to home, telephone follow-up was initiated. Implementation did not influence median ED LOS (202 min before vs. 196 min after; p = 0.152) or hospital admission rate (40% before vs. 39% after; p = 0.410). Conclusion Implementation of the APOP screening program in routine ED care did not negatively impact the ED process and resulted in an increase of CGA and telephone follow-up in older patients. Future studies should investigate whether sustainable changes in management and patient outcomes occur after more PDSA cycles.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e19556-e19556
Author(s):  
Kitsada Wudhikarn ◽  
Radhika Bansal ◽  
Arushi Khurana ◽  
Matthew Hathcock ◽  
Michael Ruff ◽  
...  

e19556 Background: CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy possesses unique side effects including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Age is a major risk factor for ICANS. However, whether ICANS in older patients is different compared to younger patients is unknown. Herein, we report clinical course, outcomes and risk factors for ICANS in older patients with large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel). Methods: We comprehensively reviewed detailed clinical courses of ICANS in 78 adult patients with LBCL treated with axi-cel between June 2016 and October 2020. Incidence, manifestation, risk factors, treatment, and outcomes of ICANS were compared between patients age ≥60 (n=32) and <60 (n=46) years old. Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable between older and younger patients except higher proportion of high international prognostic index and underlying cerebral microvascular disease in older patients. ICANS was observed in 16 patients in the older and 24 patients in the younger age group, with a 30-day incidence of 52% and 50%, respectively. Median time to CRS and ICANS were similar between 2 age groups. The most common initial neurological findings included aphasia, dysgraphia and encephalopathy in both age groups. Table summarizes the characteristics, clinical course and interventions of ICANS in older and younger patients. In Cox regression model, the presence of CRS was the only factor associated with ICANS in both age groups. Age, history of central nervous system involvement and cerebral microvascular disease were not associated with ICANS. Importantly, all patients had complete resolution of ICANS. No elderly patients in our cohort experienced seizure as a manifestation of ICANS. Conclusions: In our study, older age was not a risk factor for ICANS. CRS was the only factor associated with ICANS in both younger and older patients. Incidence, clinical course and neurological outcomes of ICANS in older patients treated with axi-cel were comparable to younger patients. [Table: see text]


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacinta A Lucke ◽  
Jelle de Gelder ◽  
Fleur Clarijs ◽  
Christian Heringhaus ◽  
Anton J M de Craen ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to develop models that predict hospital admission to ED of patients younger and older than 70 and compare their performance.MethodsPrediction models were derived in a retrospective observational study of all patients≥18 years old visiting the ED of a university hospital during the first 6 months of 2012. Patients were stratified into two age groups (<70 years old and ≥70 years old). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of hospital admission among factors available immediately after patient arrival to the ED. Validation of the prediction models was performed on patients presenting to the ED during the second half of the year 2012.Results10 807 patients were included in the derivation and 10 480 in the validation cohorts. The strongest independent predictors of hospital admission among the 8728 patients <70 years old were age, sex, triage category, mode of arrival, performance of blood tests, chief complaint, ED revisit, type of specialist, phlebotomised blood sample and all vital signs. The area under the curve (AUC) of the validation cohort for those <70 years old was 0.86 (95% CI 0.85 to 0.87). Among the 2079 patients ≥70 years, the same factors were predictive, except for gender, type of specialist and heart rate; the AUC was 0.77 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.79). The prediction models could identify a group of 10% of patients with the highest risk in whom hospital admission was predicted at ED triage, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 71% (95% CI 68% to 74%) in younger patients and PPV of 87% (95% CI 81% to 92%) in older patients.ConclusionDemographic and clinical factors readily available early in the ED visit can be useful in identifying patients who are likely to be admitted to the hospital. While the model for the younger patients had a higher AUC, the model for older patients had a higher PPV in identifying the patients at highest risk for admission. Of note, heart rate was not a useful predictor in the older patients.


2006 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Oliveira Dantas ◽  
Lilian Rose Otoboni Aprile

BACKGROUND: Chagas' disease and the aging process cause loss of neurons of the esophageal myenteric plexus. AIM: To evaluate the esophageal motility impairment caused by Chagas' disease in two age groups. Our hypothesis was that the aging process may cause further esophageal motility impairment in patients with Chagas' disease. METHODS: We studied the esophageal motility of 30 patients with Chagas' disease and dysphagia, with esophageal retention of barium sulfate and an esophageal diameter within the normal range. Fifteen were 34 to 59 years old (younger group, median 51 years) and 15 were 61 to 77 years old (older group, median 66 years). As a control group we studied 15 subjects aged 33 to 58 years (median 42 years) and 7 subjects aged 61 to 73 years (median 66 years). The esophageal contractions were measured by the manometric method with continuous perfusion after five swallows of a 5 mL bolus of water at 2, 7, 12 and 17 cm below the upper esophageal sphincter. RESULTS: Patients with Chagas' disease had lower amplitude of contractions and fewer peristaltic, more simultaneous, and more non-conducted contractions than controls. Older patients with Chagas' disease had lower amplitude of contractions in the distal esophagus (mean ± SE: 30.8 ± 4.3 mm Hg) than younger patients (51.9 ± 8.6 mm Hg). From 12 to 17 cm, older patients had more non-conducted (41%) and fewer peristaltic (8%) contractions than younger patients (non-conducted: 16%, peristaltic: 21%). CONCLUSION: Older patients with Chagas' disease with clinical and radiological examinations similar to those of younger patients had motility alterations suggesting that the aging process may cause further deterioration of esophageal motility.


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