scholarly journals Home-based maintenance tele-rehabilitation reduces the risk for acute exacerbations of COPD, hospitalisations and emergency department visits

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 1602129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maroula Vasilopoulou ◽  
Andriana I. Papaioannou ◽  
Georgios Kaltsakas ◽  
Zafeiris Louvaris ◽  
Nikolaos Chynkiamis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Usual Care ◽  
Lower Risk ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Copd Exacerbation ◽  
Copd Exacerbations ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Ed Visits

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) remains grossly underutilised by suitable patients worldwide. We investigated whether home-based maintenance tele-rehabilitation will be as effective as hospital-based maintenance rehabilitation and superior to usual care in reducing the risk for acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, hospitalisations and emergency department (ED) visits.Following completion of an initial 2-month PR programme this prospective, randomised controlled trial (between December 2013 and July 2015) compared 12 months of home-based maintenance tele-rehabilitation (n=47) with 12 months of hospital-based, outpatient, maintenance rehabilitation (n=50) and also to 12 months of usual care treatment (n=50) without initial PR.In a multivariate analysis during the 12-month follow-up, both home-based tele-rehabilitation and hospital-based PR remained independent predictors of a lower risk for 1) acute COPD exacerbation (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.517, 95% CI 0.389–0.687, and IRR 0.635, 95% CI 0.473–0.853), respectively, and 2) hospitalisations for acute COPD exacerbation (IRR 0.189, 95% CI 0.100–0.358, and IRR 0.375, 95% CI 0.207–0.681), respectively. However, only home-based maintenance tele-rehabilitation and not hospital-based, outpatient, maintenance PR was an independent predictor of ED visits (IRR 0.116, 95% CI 0.072–0.185).Home-based maintenance tele-rehabilitation is equally effective as hospital-based, outpatient, maintenance PR in reducing the risk for acute COPD exacerbation and hospitalisations. In addition, it encounters a lower risk for ED visits, thereby constituting a potentially effective alternative strategy to hospital-based, outpatient, maintenance PR.

scholarly journals Program of Integrated Care for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Multiple Comorbidities (PIC COPD+): a randomised controlled trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 1701567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Rose ◽  
Laura Istanboulian ◽  
Lise Carriere ◽  
Anna Thomas ◽  
Han-Byul Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Case Manager ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Component Case

We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-component, case manager-led exacerbation prevention/management model for reducing emergency department visits. Secondary outcomes included hospitalisation, mortality, health-related quality of life, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) severity, COPD self-efficacy, anxiety and depression.Two-centre randomised controlled trial recruiting patients with ≥2 prognostically important COPD-associated comorbidities. We compared our multi-component intervention including individualised care/action plans and telephone consults (12-weekly then 9-monthly) with usual care (both groups). We used zero-inflated Poisson models to examine emergency department visits and hospitalisation; Cox proportional hazard model for mortality.We randomised 470 participants (236 intervention, 234 control). There were no differences in number of emergency department visits or hospital admissions between groups. We detected difference in emergency department visit risk, for those that visited the emergency department, favouring the intervention (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.63–0.86). Similarly, risk of hospital admission was lower in the intervention group for those requiring hospital admission (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.54–0.88). Fewer intervention patients died (21 versus 36) (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.32–0.95). No differences were detected in other secondary outcomes.Our multi-component, case manager-led exacerbation prevention/management model resulted in no difference in emergency department visits, hospital admissions and other secondary outcomes. Estimated risk of death (intervention) was nearly half that of the control.

scholarly journals Cartography of Emergency Department Visits for Asthma – Targeting High-Morbidity Populations

2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 427-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Lajoie ◽  
Andrée Laberge ◽  
Germain Lebel ◽  
Louis-Philippe Boulet ◽  
Marie Demers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Administrative Database ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Asthmatic Patients ◽  
South Central ◽  
Ed Visits

BACKGROUND:Asthma education should be offered with priority to populations with the highest asthma-related morbidity. In the present study, the aim was to identify populations with high-morbidity for asthma from the Quebec Health Insurance Board Registry, a large administrative database, to help the Quebec Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Network target its interventions.METHODS:All emergency department (ED) visits for asthma were analyzed over a one-year period, considering individual and medical variables. Age- and sex-adjusted rates, as well as standardized rate ratios related to the overall Quebec rate, among persons zero to four years of age and five to 44 years of age were determined for 15 regions and 163 areas served by Centres Locaux de Services Communautaires (CLSC). The areas with rates 50% to 300% higher (P<0.01) than the provincial rate were defined as high-morbidity areas. Maps of all CLSC areas were generated for the above parameters.RESULTS:There were 102,551 ED visits recorded for asthma, of which more than 40% were revisits. Twenty-one CLSCs and 32 CLSCs were high-morbidity areas for the zero to four years age group and five to 44 years age group, respectively. For the most part, the high-morbidity areas were located in the south-central region of Quebec. Only 47% of asthmatic patients seen in ED had also seen a physician in ambulatory care.CONCLUSION:The data suggest that a significant portion of the population seeking care at the ED is undiagnosed and undertreated. A map of high-morbidity areas that could help target interventions to improve asthma care and outcomes is proposed.

Can Home Palliative Care services reduce Emergency Department visits? Piedmont Experience, 2013-2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Scacchi ◽  
P Berchialla ◽  
M Dalmasso ◽  
M M Gianino
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Medical Care Costs ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Care Costs

Abstract Background Home-based Palliative Care (HPC) ensures multi-disciplinary medical, nursing, rehabilitation and psychological assistance for people with severe disabilities or with progressive end-stage disorders like cancer, promoting the continuity of care in home setting. Emergency Department (ED) visits in palliative care patients are considered an indicator of poor quality in home care services, since ED visits in these patients are not essential and potentially avoidable. There is still no agreement in literature about the efficacy of HPC in reducing the use of ED. However, recent studies demonstrated that HPC increases patient satisfaction while reducing use of medical services like ED, symptom burden and medical costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate if patients assisted by HPC have a reduction of ED visits compared to the 90-day period before HPC admission. Methods A retrospective study using the administrative regional database of Piedmont (Italy) was conducted on the cohort of 4433 patients admitted to HPC from 2013 to 2018. ED visits during period A (90-days before HPC) and period B (during HPC) were compared for each patient, taking into account avoidable or unavoidable visits based on triage examination. Results During period A, patients had 2880 ED visits, 1934 were considered avoidable (67%). During period B, 2050 ED visits were recorded, 994 were considered avoidable (48%). Patients receiving HPC had a reduction of overall ED visits (IRR 0.87, IC 95% 0.82-0.92) as well as avoidable ED visits (IRR 0.63, IC 95% 0.58-0.67). Unavoidable ED visits increased during HPC (IRR 1.36, IC 95% 1.24-1.49), as a consequence of disease progression. Conclusions Home-based Palliative Care is associated with a significant reduction of the use of overall Emergency Department visits (-13%) and ED avoidable visits (-37%). Since it reduces medical care costs and burden of patients and caregivers at the end of life, Home-based Palliative Care delivery should be increased. Key messages Home-based Palliative Care is associated with a reduction of the use of overall Emergency Department visits and avoidable ED visits, reducing medical care costs and burden of patients and caregivers. Home-based Palliative Care delivery should be encouraged and increased, aiming to an early enrolment as well as an increase of the patients.

Does the risk of emergency department visits and hospitalizations during systemic therapy for cancer influence patient decisions regarding treatment?

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (30_suppl) ◽  
pp. 213-213
Author(s):  
Monika K. Krzyzanowska ◽  
Cameron Phillips ◽  
Ken Deal ◽  
Melanie Lynn Powis ◽  
Simron Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Systemic Therapy ◽  
Lower Risk ◽  
Multinomial Logit Model ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Curative Intent ◽  
Treatment Benefit ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Treatment Intent ◽  
Choice Tasks

213 Background: When different treatments (tx) produce similar prognostic outcomes, other tx attributes such as toxicity may impact tx preferences. We conducted a discrete choice experiment to evaluate how patients’ value the risk of an emergency department visit (ED) or hospitalization during treatment when deciding about chemotherapy. Methods: Patients with breast, head and neck or colorectal cancer who were contemplating, receiving or had previously received systemic treatment were recruited from 2 academic cancer centres in Toronto, Ontario. Each participant completed 10 choice tasks (5 each in the adjuvant and metastatic settings, respectively) from a possible 128 combinations. Each choice task prompted them to choose between two hypothetical systemic therapies, based on 3 attributes (likelihood of benefit, risk of requiring an ED visit and risk of hospitalization during treatment) that varied across 4 levels. Data was analyzed using a multinomial logit model and individual part-worth utility (PWU) values were estimated using hierarchal Bayes routines. Results: Between 06/2015 and 09/2017, 293 patients completed the survey. Most patients were female (76%), had a diagnosis of breast cancer (63%) and were currently receiving systemic therapy (72%). 59% of patients were receiving tx with curative intent. PWU values varied as expected with higher PWUs seen for higher treatment benefit, lower risk of ED visits and lower risk of hospitalization. Treatment benefit was the most important decision attribute in both the adjuvant (59%, 95%CI 57.8-60.1%) and metastatic (67.7%, 95%CI 66.8-68.7%) scenarios, followed by risk of hospitalization (18.8 vs 22.8%) then risk of ED visits (13.5 vs 18.3%). Results were the same when stratified by patient’s own treatment intent. Conclusions: While the risks of hospitalization and ED visits contribute to patient tx preferences, the extent of tx benefit was the most important attribute regardless of treatment intent.

Using a chatbot to reduce emergency department visits and unscheduled hospitalizations among patients with gynecologic malignancies during chemotherapy: a pilot study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Yuan Huang ◽  
Chia-Sui Weng ◽  
Hsiao-Li Kuo ◽  
Yung-Cheng Su
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Usual Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gynecologic Malignancies ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Ed Visits

BACKGROUND A chatbot is an automatic text-messaging tool that creates a dynamic interaction and simulates a human conversation through text or voice via smartphones or computers. A chatbot could be an effective solution for cancer patients’ follow-up during treatment, and could save time for healthcare providers. OBJECTIVE We conducted a retrospective cohort pilot study to evaluate whether a chatbot-based collection of patient-reported symptoms during chemotherapy, with automated alerts to clinicians, could decrease emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. A control group received usual care. METHODS Self-reporting symptoms were communicated via the chatbot, a Facebook Messenger-based interface for patients with gynecologic malignancies. The chatbot included questions about common symptoms experienced during chemotherapy. Patients could also use the text-messaging feature to speak directly to the chatbot, and all reported outcomes were monitored by a cancer manager. The primary and secondary outcomes of the study were emergency department visits and unscheduled hospitalizations after initiation of chemotherapy after diagnosis of gynecologic malignancies. Multivariate Poisson regression models were applied to assess the adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) for chatbot use for ED visits and unscheduled hospitalizations after controlling for age, cancer stage, type of malignancy, diabetes, hypertension, chronic renal insufficiency, and coronary heart disease. RESULTS Twenty patients were included in the chatbot group, and 43 in the usual-care group. Significantly lower aIRRs for chatbot use for ED visits (0.27; 95% CI 0.11–0.65; p=0.003) and unscheduled hospitalizations (0.31; 95% CI 0.11–0.88; p=0.028) were noted. Patients using the chatbot approach had lower aIRRs of ED visits and unscheduled hospitalizations compared to usual-care patients. CONCLUSIONS The chatbot was helpful for reducing ED visits and unscheduled hospitalizations in patients with gynecologic malignancies who were receiving chemotherapy. These findings are valuable for inspiring the future design of digital health interventions for cancer patients.

scholarly journals Lysophosphatidic acid species are associated with exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingling Li ◽  
Weng Wong ◽  
Andrew Birnberg ◽  
Arindam Chakrabarti ◽  
Xiaoying Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Lysophosphatidic Acid ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Copd Exacerbation ◽  
Exacerbation Rate ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Copd Exacerbations ◽  
Exacerbation Risk

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations are heterogenous and profoundly impact the disease trajectory. Bioactive lipid lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) has been implicated in airway inflammation but the significance of LPA in COPD exacerbation is not known. The aim of the study was to investigate the utility of serum LPA species (LPA16:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2, 20:4) as biomarkers of COPD exacerbation. Patients and methods LPA species were measured in the baseline placebo sera of a COPD randomized controlled trial. Tertile levels of each LPA were used to assign patients into biomarker high, medium, and low subgroups. Exacerbation rate and risk were compared among the LPA subgroups. Results The levels of LPA species were intercorrelated (rho 0.29–0.91). Patients with low and medium levels of LPA (LPA16:0, 20:4) had significantly higher exacerbation rate compared to the respective LPA-high patients [estimated rate per patient per year (95% CI)]: LPA16:0-low = 1.2 (0.8–1.9) (p = 0.019), LPA16:0-medium = 1.3 (0.8–2.0) (p = 0.013), LPA16:0-high = 0.5 (0.2–0.9); LPA20:4-low = 1.4 (0.9–2.1) (p = 0.0033), LPA20:4-medium = 1.2 (0.8–1.8) (p = 0.0089), LPA20:4-high = 0.4 (0.2–0.8). These patients also had earlier time to first exacerbation (hazard ratio (95% CI): LPA16:0-low = 2.6 (1.1–6.0) (p = 0.028), LPA16:0-medium = 2.7 (1.2–6.3) (p = 0.020); LPA20.4-low = 2.8 (1.2–6.6) (p = 0.017), LPA20:4-medium = 2.7 (1.2–6.4) (p = 0.021). Accordingly, these patients had a significant increased exacerbation risk compared to the respective LPA-high subgroups [odd ratio (95% CI)]: LPA16:0-low = 3.1 (1.1–8.8) (p = 0.030), LPA16:0-medium = 3.0 (1.1–8.3) (p = 0.031); LPA20:4-low = 3.8 (1.3–10.9) (p = 0.012), LPA20:4-medium = 3.3 (1.2–9.5) (p = 0.025). For the other LPA species (LPA18:0, 18:1, 18:2), the results were mixed; patients with low and medium levels of LPA18:0 and 18:2 had increased exacerbation rate, but only LPA18:0-low patients had significant increase in exacerbation risk and earlier time to first exacerbation compared to the LPA18:0-high subgroup. Conclusions The study provided evidence of association between systemic LPA levels and exacerbation in COPD. Patients with low and medium levels of specific LPA species (LPA16:0, 20:4) had increased exacerbation rate, risk, and earlier time to first exacerbation. These non-invasive biomarkers may aid in identifying high risk patients with dysregulated LPA pathway to inform risk management and drug development.

Using a chatbot to reduce emergency department visits and unscheduled hospitalizations among patients with gynecologic malignancies during chemotherapy: a retrospective cohort study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Yuan Huang ◽  
Chia-Sui Weng ◽  
Hsiao-Li Kuo ◽  
Yung-Cheng Su
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Usual Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Gynecologic Malignancies ◽  
Ed Visits

BACKGROUND A chatbot is an automatic text-messaging tool that creates a dynamic interaction and simulates a human conversation through text or voice via smartphones or computers. A chatbot could be an effective solution for cancer patients’ follow-up during treatment, and could save time for healthcare providers. OBJECTIVE We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate whether a chatbot-based collection of patient-reported symptoms during chemotherapy, with automated alerts to clinicians, could decrease emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. A control group received usual care. METHODS Self-reporting symptoms were communicated via the chatbot, a Facebook Messenger-based interface for patients with gynecologic malignancies. The chatbot included questions about common symptoms experienced during chemotherapy. Patients could also use the text-messaging feature to speak directly to the chatbot, and all reported outcomes were monitored by a cancer manager. The primary and secondary outcomes of the study were emergency department visits and unscheduled hospitalizations after initiation of chemotherapy after diagnosis of gynecologic malignancies. Multivariate Poisson regression models were applied to assess the adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) for chatbot use for ED visits and unscheduled hospitalizations after controlling for age, cancer stage, type of malignancy, diabetes, hypertension, chronic renal insufficiency, and coronary heart disease. RESULTS Twenty patients were included in the chatbot group, and 43 in the usual-care group. Significantly lower aIRRs for chatbot use for ED visits (0.27; 95% CI 0.11–0.65; p=0.003) and unscheduled hospitalizations (0.31; 95% CI 0.11–0.88; p=0.028) were noted. Patients using the chatbot approach had lower aIRRs of ED visits and unscheduled hospitalizations compared to usual-care patients. CONCLUSIONS The chatbot was helpful for reducing ED visits and unscheduled hospitalizations in patients with gynecologic malignancies who were receiving chemotherapy. These findings are valuable for inspiring the future design of digital health interventions for cancer patients.

scholarly journals Emergency Department Visits after Diagnosed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Aboriginal People in Alberta, Canada

CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 420-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria B. Ospina ◽  
Brian H. Rowe ◽  
Donald Voaklander ◽  
Ambikaipakan Senthilselvan ◽  
Michael K. Stickland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Aboriginal Groups

AbstractObjectivesThis retrospective cohort study compared rates of emergency department (ED) visits after a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the three Aboriginal groups (Registered First Nations, Métis and Inuit) relative to a non-Aboriginal cohort.MethodsWe linked eight years of administrative health data from Alberta and calculated age- and sex-standardized ED visit rates in cohorts of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal individuals diagnosed with COPD. Rate ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in a Poisson regression model that adjusted for important sociodemographic factors and comorbidities. Differences in ED length of stay (LOS) and disposition status were also evaluated.ResultsA total of 2,274 Aboriginal people and 1,611 non-Aboriginals were newly diagnosed with COPD during the study period. After adjusting for important sociodemographic and clinical factors, the rate of all-cause ED visits in all Aboriginal people (RR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.67, 1.77), particularly among Registered First Nations people (RR=2.02; 95% CI: 1.97, 2.08) and Inuit (RR=1.28; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.35), were significantly higher than that in non-Aboriginals, while ED visit rates were significantly lower in the Métis (RR=0.94; 95% CI: 0.90, 0.98). The ED LOS in all Aboriginal groups were significantly lower than that of the non-Aboriginal group.ConclusionsAboriginal people with COPD use almost twice the amount of ED services compared to their non-Aboriginal counterparts. There are also important variations in patterns of ED services use among different Aboriginal groups with COPD in Alberta.

Emergency Department Visits After Elective Spine Surgery

Neurosurgery ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. E258-E265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M Hills ◽  
Inamullah Khan ◽  
Ahilan Sivaganesan ◽  
Benjamin Weisenthal ◽  
Joshua Daryoush ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Spine Surgery ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Abstract BACKGROUND Emergency department (ED) overuse is a costly and often neglected source of postdischarge resource utilization after spine surgery. Failing to investigate drivers of ED visits represents a missed opportunity to improve the value of care in spine patients. OBJECTIVE To identify the prevalence, drivers, and timing of ED visits following elective spine surgery. METHODS Patients undergoing elective spine surgery for degenerative disease at a major medical center were enrolled in a prospective longitudinal registry. Patient and surgery characteristics, and patient-reported outcomes were recorded at baseline and 3 mo after surgery, along with self-reported 90-d ED visits. A multivariable regression model was used to identify independent factors associated with 90-d ED visits. For a sample of patients presenting to our institution's ED, charts were reviewed to identify the reason and time to ED postdischarge. RESULTS Of 2762 patients, we found a 90-d ED visit rate of 9.4%. One-third of patients presented to our institution's ED and of these, 70% presented due to pain or medical concerns at 9 and 7 d postdischarge, respectively, with 60% presenting outside normal clinic hours. Independent risk factors for 90-d ED visits included younger age, preoperative opioid use, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, and more vertebral levels involved. CONCLUSION Nearly 10% of elective spine patients had 90-d ED visits not requiring readmission. Pain and medical concerns accounted for 70% of visits at our center, occurring within 10 d of discharge. This study provides the clinical details and a timeline necessary to guide individualized interventions to prevent unnecessary, costly ED visits after spine surgery.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document