Abstract 17595: The Value of Continuous ST-Segment Monitoring in the Emergency Department: a Quasi-Experimental Pre-Post Study

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonie L Rose Bovino ◽  
Michele M Pelter ◽  
Mayur M Desai ◽  
Vanessa Jefferson ◽  
Laura K Andrews ◽  
...  

Purpose: The AHA Practice Standards for ECG Monitoring recommend continuous ST-segment monitoring (C-STM) in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with signs and/or symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but few studies have evaluated its use in the ED. Our aims were to compare the time to diagnosis and 30-day adverse events (return to the ED with signs and/or symptoms of ACS, hospital admission, acute myocardial infarction, use of reperfusion therapy, or mortality) before and after implementation of C-STM. We also evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of C-STM in detecting ischemia or infarction, using stress test and troponin I results as reference standards. Methods: We prospectively studied 163 adults (pre-intervention phase: n=78; intervention phase: n=85) in the ED at a single hospital. We stratified patients into low (n=51), intermediate (n=100), or high (n=12) risk using HEART scores. The principal investigator monitored participants, activating C-STM on bedside monitors in the intervention phase. We used likelihood ratios (LRs) as the measure of diagnostic accuracy. By convention, a positive (+) LR is diagnostic at >10 and a negative (-) LR at <0.1. Results: Overall, 9% of patients were diagnosed with ACS. There was no significant difference in median time to ACS diagnosis before and after implementation of C-STM (5.55 vs. 5.98 hours; p=0.43 for Mann-Whitney U test). In risk-stratified analyses, no significant pre-post difference in time to ACS diagnosis was found in low-, intermediate-, or high-risk patients. There was no difference in the rate of any 30-day adverse event before vs. after C-STM implementation (11.5% vs. 10.6%; p=0.85 Chi-squared test). None of 3 episodes of ST-segment changes on C-STM represented ACS. The +LR and -LR of C-STM for ischemia were 24.0 (95% CI 1.4 - 412.0) and 0.3 (95% CI 0.02 - 2.9), respectively; and for infarction were 13.7 (95% CI 1.7 - 112.3) and 0.7 (95% CI 0.3 - 1.5), respectively. Conclusion: In this sample of mainly low- to intermediate-risk patients, use of C-STM did not improve time to diagnosis or 30-day adverse outcomes, nor provide much benefit in detecting myocardial ischemia or infarction. Use of C-STM may need to be re-evaluated for patients with low to intermediate risk for ACS in the ED.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktoria Schwarz ◽  
Felix Mahfoud ◽  
Lucas Lauder ◽  
Wolfgang Reith ◽  
Stefanie Behnke ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the guidance from authorities for social distancing and media reporting lead to significant uncertainty in Germany. As concerns have been expressed regarding the underdiagnosing of harmful diseases. We explored the rates of emergency presentations for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and acute cerebrovascular events (ACVE) before and after spread of SARS-CoV-2. Methods We analyzed all-cause visits at a tertiary university emergency department and admissions for ACS and ACVE before (calendar weeks 1 to 9, 2020) and after (calendar weeks 10 to 16, 2020) the first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case in the region of the Saarland, Germany. The data were compared with the same period of the previous year. Results In 2020 an average of 346 patients per week presented at the emergency department whereas in 2019 an average of 400 patients presented up to calendar week 16 (p=0.018; whole year 2019 = 395 patients per week). After the first COVID-19 diagnosis in the region, emergency department visit volume decreased by 30% compared with the same period in 2019 (p=0.0012). Admissions due to ACS decreased by 41% (p=0.0023 for all; Δ -71% (p=0.007) for unstable angina, Δ -25% (p=0.42) for myocardial infarction with ST-elevation and Δ -17% (p=0.28) without ST-elevation) compared with the same period in 2019 and decreased from 142 patients in calendar weeks 1 to 9 to 62 patients in calendar weeks 10 to 16. ACVE decreased numerically by 20% (p=0.25 for all; transient ischemic attack: Δ -32% (p=0.18), ischemic stroke: Δ -23% (p=0.48), intracerebral haemorrhage: Δ +57% (p=0.4)). There was no significant change in ACVE per week (p=0.7) comparing calendar weeks 1 to 9 (213 patients) and weeks 10 to 16 (147 patients). Testing of 3756 samples was performed to detect 58 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients (prevalence 1,54%, thereof one patient with myocardial and two with cerebral ischemia) up to calendar week 16 in 2020. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant decrease in all-cause admission and admissions due to cardiovascular events in the emergency department. Regarding acute cerebrovascular events there was a numerical decrease but no significant difference.


2020 ◽  
Vol 109 (12) ◽  
pp. 1500-1506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktoria Schwarz ◽  
Felix Mahfoud ◽  
Lucas Lauder ◽  
Wolfgang Reith ◽  
Stefanie Behnke ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the guidance from authorities for social distancing and media reporting lead to significant uncertainty in Germany. Concerns have been expressed regarding the underdiagnosing of harmful diseases. We explored the rates of emergency presentations for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and acute cerebrovascular events (ACVE) before and after spread of SARS-CoV-2. Methods We analyzed all-cause visits at a tertiary university emergency department and admissions for ACS and ACVE before (calendar weeks 1–9, 2020) and after (calendar weeks 10–16, 2020) the first coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case in the region of the Saarland, Germany. The data were compared with the same period of the previous year. Results In 2020 an average of 346 patients per week presented at the emergency department whereas in 2019 an average of 400 patients presented up to calendar week 16 (p = 0.018; whole year 2019 = 395 patients per week). After the first COVID-19 diagnosis in the region, emergency department visit volume decreased by 30% compared with the same period in 2019 (p = 0.0012). Admissions due to ACS decreased by 41% (p = 0.0023 for all; Δ − 71% (p = 0.007) for unstable angina, Δ − 25% (p = 0.42) for myocardial infarction with ST-elevation and Δ − 17% (p = 0.28) without ST-elevation) compared with the same period in 2019 and decreased from 142 patients in calendar weeks 1–9 to 62 patients in calendar weeks 10–16. ACVE decreased numerically by 20% [p = 0.25 for all; transient ischemic attack: Δ − 32% (p = 0.18), ischemic stroke: Δ − 23% (p = 0.48), intracerebral haemorrhage: Δ + 57% (p = 0.4)]. There was no significant change in ACVE per week (p = 0.7) comparing calendar weeks 1–9 (213 patients) and weeks 10–16 (147 patients). Testing of 3756 samples was performed to detect 58 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients (prevalence 1,54%, thereof one patient with myocardial and two with cerebral ischemia) up to calendar week 16 in 2020. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant decrease in all-cause admission and admissions due to cardiovascular events in the emergency department. Regarding acute cerebrovascular events there was a numerical decrease but no significant difference.


Author(s):  
Anwar Santoso ◽  
Yulianto Yulianto ◽  
Hendra Simarmata ◽  
Abhirama Nofandra Putra ◽  
Erlin Listiyaningsih

AbstractMajor adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are still high, although there have been advances in pharmacology and interventional procedures. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a serine protease regulating lipid metabolism associated with inflammation in acute coronary syndrome. The MACCE is possibly related to polymorphisms in PCSK9. A prospective cohort observational study was designed to confirm the association between polymorphism of E670G and R46L in the PCSK9 gene with MACCE in STEMI. The Cox proportional hazards model and Spearman correlation were utilized in the study. The Genotyping of PCSK9 and ELISA was assayed.Sixty-five of 423 STEMI patients experienced MACCE in 6 months. The E670G polymorphism in PCSK9 was associated with MACCE (hazard ratio = 45.40; 95% confidence interval: 5.30–390.30; p = 0.00). There was a significant difference of PCSK9 plasma levels in patients with previous statin consumption (310 [220–1,220] pg/mL) versus those free of any statins (280 [190–1,520] pg/mL) (p = 0.001).E670G polymorphism of PCSK9 was associated with MACCE in STEMI within a 6-month follow-up. The plasma PCSK9 level was higher in statin users.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Poletto ◽  
G Perri ◽  
F Malacarne ◽  
B Bianchet ◽  
A Doimo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease was discovered during the 2019 outbreak in Mainland China and the first cases were reported in Italy on February 21, 2020. This study evaluates the emergency department (ED) attendances of an academic hospital in northern Italy before and after media reported the news of the first infected patients in Italy. Methods Adult attendances in ED in February 2020 were analysed dividing the period into 4 weeks (days 1-7, 8-14, 15-21, 22-28) compared with the same periods in 2019. The visits were analysed separately according to the Italian colour code of triage: white (non-critical), green (low-critical), yellow (medium critical), red (life-threatening). The mean weekly number of attendances was compared with t-test. Results February 2020 total ED attendances compared with February 2019 were 4865 vs 5029 (-3.3%), of which white codes were 834 vs 762 (+9.4%), green 2450 vs 2580 (-5.0%), yellow 1427 vs 1536 (-7.1%), red 154 vs 151 (+2.0%). February 2020 weekly mean ED attendances compared with February 2019 had statistically significant difference only in the fourth week (days 22-28) for green codes (75 vs 92, p = 0.007) and yellow codes (41 vs 52, p = 0.047), not for white (27 vs 26, p = 0.760) and red codes (5 vs 5, p = 0.817). The first three weeks of February 2020 compared with 2019 showed no statistically significant difference in weekly mean ED attendances. Conclusions There was a significant reduction of green and yellow codes attendances at ED in the fourth week of February 2020, corresponding to the initial phase of Italian COVID-19 outbreak. The fear of contracting SARS-CoV-2 by attending the ED probably acted as a significant deterrent in visits, especially for low and medium critical patients. Additional data are required to better understand the phenomenon, including the behaviour of non-critical attendances. Key messages A reduction of green and yellow codes attendances was reported during initial phase of COVID-19 outbreak in an Italian academic hospital. Fear of contracting COVID-19 infection in a hospital setting could impact on emergency department attendances.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
ghufran adnan ◽  
Osman Faheem ◽  
Maria Khan ◽  
Pirbhat Shams ◽  
Jamshed Ali

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed the healthcare system of Pakistan. There has been observation regarding changes in pattern of patient presentation to emergency department (ED) for all diseases particularly cardiovascular. The aim of the study is to investigate these changes in cardiology consultations and compare pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 era. Hypothesis: There is a significant difference in cardiology consultations during COVID era as compared to non-COVID era. Method: We collected data retrospectively of consecutive patients who visited emergency department (ED) during March-April 2019 (non-COVID era) and March-April 2020 (COVID era). Comparison has been made to quantify the differences in clinical characteristics, locality, admission, type, number, and reason of Cardiology consults generated. Results: We calculated the difference of 1351 patients between COVID and non-COVID era in terms of cardiology consults generated from Emergency department, using Chi-square test. Out of which 880 (59%) are male with mean age of 61(SD=15). Analysis shows pronounced augmentation in number of comorbidities [Hypertension(6%), Chronic kidney disease (6%), Diabetes (5%)] but there was 36% drop in total cardiology consultations and 43% reduction rate in patient’s ED visit from other cities during COVID era. There was 60% decrease in acute coronary syndrome presentation in COVID era, but fortuitously drastic increase (30%) in type II myocardial injury has been noted. Conclusion: There is a remarkable decline observed in patients presenting with cardiac manifestations during COVID era. Lack in timely care could have a pernicious impact on outcomes, global health care organizations should issue directions to adopt telemedicine services in underprivileged areas to provide timely care to cardiac patients.


Gut ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 1642-1652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda J Cross ◽  
Kate Wooldrage ◽  
Emma C Robbins ◽  
Ines Kralj-Hans ◽  
Eilidh MacRae ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe English Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) recommends 3 yearly colonoscopy surveillance for patients at intermediate risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) postpolypectomy (those with three to four small adenomas or one ≥10 mm). We investigated whether faecal immunochemical tests (FITs) could reduce surveillance burden on patients and endoscopy services.DesignIntermediate-risk patients (60–72 years) recommended 3 yearly surveillance were recruited within the BCSP (January 2012–December 2013). FITs were offered at 1, 2 and 3 years postpolypectomy. Invitees consenting and returning a year 1 FIT were included. Participants testing positive (haemoglobin ≥40 µg/g) at years one or two were offered colonoscopy early; all others were offered colonoscopy at 3 years. Diagnostic accuracy for CRC and advanced adenomas (AAs) was estimated considering multiple tests and thresholds. We calculated incremental costs per additional AA and CRC detected by colonoscopy versus FIT surveillance.Results74% (5938/8009) of invitees were included in our study having participated at year 1. Of these, 97% returned FITs at years 2 and 3. Three-year cumulative positivity was 13% at the 40 µg/g haemoglobin threshold and 29% at 10 µg/g. 29 participants were diagnosed with CRC and 446 with AAs. Three-year programme sensitivities for CRC and AAs were, respectively, 59% and 33% at 40 µg/g, and 72% and 57% at 10 µg/g. Incremental costs per additional AA and CRC detected by colonoscopy versus FIT (40 µg/g) surveillance were £7354 and £180 778, respectively.ConclusionsReplacing 3 yearly colonoscopy surveillance in intermediate-risk patients with annual FIT could reduce colonoscopies by 71%, significantly cut costs but could miss 30%–40% of CRCs and 40%–70% of AAs.Trial registration numberISRCTN18040196; Results.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 94-98
Author(s):  
O.S. Shchukina

The article represents an analysis of the dynamics of the main demographic, clinical, laboratory, and instrumental investigations, final diagnoses of patients who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation. A distinctive feature of the work is the recruitment of patients in the same medical institution for different periods of time, which makes possible to trace the dynamics of the clinical profile of patients in the population of Dnipro, a large industrial center of Ukraine. The prevalence of arterial hypertension, chronic heart failure and previous myocardial infarction remained at the same level. In the 2017-2020’s group compared with the 2015’s group, electrocardiographic  manifestations of acute coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation upon admission were more often detected. Laboratory indicators such as hemoglobin, creatinine and total cholesterol levels remained the same. Another interesting finding is a statistically significant decrease in the number of patients with a reduced glomerular filtration rate according to MDRD (less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2) in the 2017-2020’s group compared to patients in 2015’s group, although the clinical course of the disease remained practically unchanged. There was a trend towards a worsening of the clinical status and prognosis, namely, increase in the prevalence of atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus, increase in the risk of GRACE, as well as increase in the quantity of verified diagnoses of unstable angina, which is most likely associated with the increased use of high-sensitivity troponin. Noteworthy feature is that increase in the quantity of high-risk patients led to an increase in the mean GRACE score.


CJEM ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (05) ◽  
pp. 325-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoë Piggott ◽  
Erin Weldon ◽  
Trevor Strome ◽  
Alecs Chochinov

ABSTRACTObjective:To achieve our goal of excellent emergency cardiac care, our institution embarked on a Lean process improvement initiative. We sought to examine and quantify the outcome of this project on the care of suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients in our emergency department (ED).Methods:Front-line ED staff participated in several rapid improvement events, using Lean principles and techniques such as waste elimination, supply chain streamlining, and standard work to increase the value of the early care provided to patients with suspected ACS. A chart review was also conducted. To evaluate our success, proportions of care milestones (first electrocardiogram [ECG], ECG interpretation, physician assessment, and acetylsalicylic acid [ASA] administration) meeting target times were chosen as outcome metrics in this before-and-after study.Results:The proportion of cases with 12-lead ECGs completed within 10 minutes of patient triage increased by 37.4% (p&lt; 0.0001). The proportion of cases with physician assessment initiated within 60 minutes increased by 12.1% (p= 0.0251). Times to ECG, physician assessment, and ASA administration also continued to improve significantly over time (pvalues &lt; 0.0001). Post-Lean, the median time from ECG performance to physician interpretation was 3 minutes. All of these improvements were achieved using existing staff and resources.Conclusions:The application of Lean principles can significantly improve attainment of early diagnostic and therapeutic milestones of emergency cardiac care in the ED.


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