Causes of appointment attendance, nonattendance, and cancellation in outpatient consultations at a university hospital.

BACKGROUND: Nonattendance to scheduled appointments in outpatient clinics is a frequent problem in ambulatory medicine with an impact on health systems and patients' health. The characterization of nonattendance is fundamental for the design of appropriate strategies for its management. AIMS: To identify causes of nonattendance of scheduled ambulatory medical appointments by adult patients. METHODS: Case and two controls study nested in a prospective cohort. A telephone-administered questionnaire was applied within the first 72 hours to identify the causes of attendance, nonattendance, or cancellation in patients who had a scheduled appointment to which they had been present, absent, or cancelled. RESULTS: A total of 150 absences (cases), 176 attendances, and 147 cancellations (controls) in a prospective cohort of 160 146 scheduled appointments (2012/2013) were included. According to self-reports in telephone interviews, the most frequent causes of nonattendance were forgetting 44% (66), unexpected competing events 15.3% (23), illness or unwellness 12% (18), work-related inconvenience 5.3% (8), transport-related difficulties 4.7% (4), and cause that motivated appointment scheduling already resolved 4.7% (4). DISCUSSION: The main cause of nonattendance is forgetting the scheduled appointment, but there is a proportion of different causes that do not respond to reminders but could respond to different strategies.

Association between non-attendance to outpatient clinics and emergency department consultations, hospitalizations and mortality in a Health Maintenance Organization.

BACKGROUND: Non-attendance to scheduled medical appointments in outpatient clinics is a problem that affects patient health and health-care systems. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate association of non-attendance to scheduled appointments in outpatient clinics and Emergency Department (ED) visits, hospitalizations and mortality. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of outpatients enrolled in 2015 to 2016 in the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires HMO with over five scheduled appointments. Individual non-attendance proportion was obtained by dividing missed over scheduled appointment numbers in the 365 days prior to index date. Outcomes were evaluated with a Cox proportional-hazards or Fine and Gray model for competing risks. We adjusted by several variables. RESULTS: Sixty-five thousand two hundred sixty-five adults were included. Mean age was 63.6 years (SD 18.16), 29.9% male. Outpatients had average 10.18 (SD 5.59) appointments. Non-attendance the year before the index appointment had a median of 20%. A 10% increase in non-attendance was significantly associated with ED visits (asHR 1.19; 95%CI 1.08-1.32, P < .001) and all-cause mortality (aHR 7.57; 95%CI 4.88-11.73, P < .001). In the matched subcohort analysis we observed a crude significant association of non-attendance with ED visits (P < .001) and all-cause mortality (P < .001). DISCUSSION: Our findings show non-attendance could be a marker of health events that lead to emergency department evaluations and/or death.

Does platelet-rich plasma decrease time to return to sports in acute muscle tear? A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to report the effects of autologous PRP injections on time to return to play and recurrence rate after acute grade 2 muscle injuries in recreational and competitive athletes. METHODS: Seventy-five patients diagnosed with acute muscle injuries were randomly allocated to autologous PRP therapy combined with a rehabilitation programme or a rehabilitation programme only. The primary outcome of this study was time to return to play. In addition, changes in pain severity and recurrence rates were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients in the PRP group achieved full recovery significantly earlier than controls (P = 0.001). The mean time to return to play was 21.1 ± 3.1 days and 25 ± 2.8 days for the PRP and control groups, respectively (P = 0.001). Significantly lower pain severity scores were observed in the PRP group throughout the study. The difference in the recurrence rate after 2-year-follow-up was not statistically significant between groups. CONCLUSIONS: A single PRP injection combined with a rehabilitation programme significantly shortened time to return to sports compared to a rehabilitation programme only. Recurrence rate was not significantly different between groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I.

[Analysis of Crowding in an Adult Emergency Department of a tertiary university hospital]. / Descripción de las características del fenómeno Crowding en la Central de Emergencia de Adultos, en un hospital universitario de alta complejidad: estudio de cohorte retrospectiva.

BACKGROUND: Crowding in Emergency Departments (ED), results from the imbalance between the simultaneous demand for health care and the ability of the system to respond. The NEDOCS scale (National Emergency Department Crowding Scale) measures the degree of crowding in an ED. AIM: To describe ED Crowding characteristics, using the NEDOCS scale, in an Argentinean hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with all adult patient consultations between July 2013 and July 2014 at the ED of Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. We included all hours in the analysis period (365 days x 24 h = 8,760). The NEDOCS value was calculated for each hour using an automatic algorithm and was quantified in a six points score. Levels 4 (overcrowded), 5 (severely overcrowded) and 6 (dangerously overcrowded) were defined as overcrowding. Contour plots analysis was applied to identify patterns. RESULTS: During the study period, 124,758 visits to the ED were registered. Overcrowding was present in 57.7% (5,055) of the analyzed hours. A predominance of scores between four and five was observed between 10:00 and 24:00 hours. The months with predominance of overcrowding were June, July and August (southern winter). CONCLUSIONS: The calculation of the NEDOCS score and the analysis of its temporal distribution are highly relevant to identify opportunities for improvement and to develop mechanisms to prevent the highest categories of overcrowding.

[Advance care planning and use of health resources among COVID-19 nursing home patients in an integrated health care program for frail elders]. / Planificación anticipada de los cuidados y del uso de recursos hospitalarios en pacientes con COVID-19 en un programa de atención integrada para adultos mayores frágiles en residencias.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the magnitude and importance of a process of stratification and advance care planning and the use of health resources, among patients in an integrated health care program for frail elderls in nursing homes,that were referred to the hospital with COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study of patients >64 years old with COVID-19 infection, in a health care program in nursing homes (from 3/15/2020 to 9/15/2020). The identification of patients with palliative needs, the performing and visible registration in electronic health records of the advance care planning and the use of intensive care were assessed. RESULTS: We included 374 COVID-19 patients. 88% were women, the median age was 88 years old. The 79% were patients with palliative needs, of which 68% had the advance care planning (P<.001) registered in the electronic health record. Only 1% of patients with palliative needs and severity criteria were admitted to the intensive care unit. Overall mortality was 25%. Of those who died, 74% had severity criteria (P<.001) and 90% had palliative needs (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Carrying out a care process based on identification of patients with palliative needs and advance care planning and a central and visible registration of advance care planning in health records, could improve the quality and safety of care and optimize the use of intensive care health resources at all times and especially in public health emergencies.

In-Hospital Mortality and Glycemic Control in Patients with Hospital Hyperglycemia.

BACKGROUND: Stress-induced hyperglycemia is a phenomenon that occurs typically in patients hospitalized for acute disease and resolves spontaneously after regression of the acute illness. However, it can also occur in diabetes patients, a fact that is sometimes overlooked. It is thus important to make a proper diabetes diagnosis if hospitalized patients with episodes of hyperglycemia with and without diabetes are studied. AIMS: To estimate the extent of the association between stress-induced hyperglycemia and in-hospital mortality in patients with hospital hyperglycemia (HH), and to explore potential differences between patients diagnosed with diabetes (HH-DBT) and those with stress-induced hyperglycemia (SH), but not diagnosed with diabetes. METHODS: A cohort of adults with hospital hyperglycemia admitted to a tertiary, university hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In the study, 2,955 patients were included and classified for analysis as 1,579 SH and 1,376 HH-DBT. Significant differences were observed in glycemic goal (35.53% SH versus 25.80% HH-DBT, p < 0.01), insulin use rate (26.66% SH versus 46.58% HH-DBT, p < 0.01), and severe hypoglycemia rate (1.32% SH versus 1.74% HH-DBT, p < 0.01). There were no differences in hypoglycemia rate (8.23% SH versus 10.53% HH-DBT) and hospital mortality. There was no increase in risk of mortality in the SH group adjusted for age, non-scheduled hospitalization, major surgical intervention, critical care, hypoglycemia, oncological disease, cardiovascular comorbidity, and prolonged hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we observed better glycemic control in patients with SH than in those with HH-DBT, and there was no difference in hospital mortality.

[Internal Medicine Residencies in Argentina, 2008]. / Formación en las residencias de clínica médica en la Argentina, 2008.

The acquisition of medical competence in the Internal Medicine Residencies (IMR) is a complex process. In Argentina there are not current data available on the number, organization and the way the residencies work. The objective of this study was to survey the IMR in Argentina and categorize their academic and general structure. From June 2007 to June 2008 we identified all the IMR using a combined searching strategy. We contacted them looking for structural and organizational data. Academic data were collected in a sample of 24 residencies using questionnaires. We also gathered data using qualitative measurements, in a subsample of 15 residencies, by means of direct observation and in-depth interviews. We identified 162 ongoing residencies and a total of 2012 residents. The majority of them (87%) were located in big cities, with a preponderance of public residencies (66%); 13% of these didn't have a residency instructor or coordinator. Most of these didn't have Institutional Internet available. The residents median age was 29 years old (Intercuartil range 2.7), with a 64.5% of women; 24% were under the regimen called "concurrente". From the sample, 230 residents were interviewed; 13% of them (CI95% 9-18.7) did not receive any remuneration. The rest received a monthly payment (in Arg $) ranging from US$ 140 to 552. A 58% (13/22) was involved in Specialist courses. Medians for weekly working hours and for "on duty" were respectively 50 and 8 per month, with no difference between public or private institutions. These findings evidence the need to certify the formative and academic process of IMR.

Impact of anticoagulants in elderly patients who suffer a hip fracture. Should we have a different approach?

INTRODUCTION: Hip fracture in the elderly is a frequent problem. Chronic treatment with anticoagulants is common in these patients, and may delay surgery. OBJECTIVES: To compare time to surgery, hospital stay, in-hospital and 90 days complications between anticoagulated (A) and non-anticoagulated (NA) groups. METHODS: Retrospective cohort of >64 years-old patients with acute hip fracture. Period June-2014 to December 2019. We estimated crude and adjusted OR (95%CI) for in-hospital complications with logistic regression model. We report the crude and adjusted HR for readmission and 90-day mortality with Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Of the 1058 patients, 123 (11%) were anticoagulated. Time to surgery was 26.4 hours (IIQ 13.9-48) in A and 24 hours (IIQ 2.3-48) in NA, p0.001. Hospital stay was 7 days (IIQ 5-9) in A and 6 days (IIQ 5-10.5) NA, p0,000. In-hospital complications were 17 (14%) in A and 81 (9%) in NA, p0.064. The adjusted OR was 1.53 (95%CI 0.8-2.7) p0.138. For 90-day readmission, the crude HR was 1.51 (95%CI 0.99-2.29) p0.053 and the adjusted HR was 1.31 (95%CI 0.85-2.00) p0,09. For 90-day mortality, the crude HR was 0.80 (95%CI 0.45-1.43) p0.464 and the adjusted HR was 0.70 (95% CI 0.39-1.25) p0.239. DISCUSSION: While we found differences between groups in time to surgery and hospital statistics, their clinical relevance should be reviewed.

Hospitalized patients with stress hyperglycemia: incidence of diabetes and mortality on follow-up. / Pacientes hospitalizados con hiperglucemia de estrés: incidencia de diabetes y mortalidad al seguimiento.

INTRODUCTION: The study objective was to estimate during post-discharge follow-up the incidence of diabetes and to ascertain mortality in hospitalized patients, classified during follow-up as having stress hyperglycemia (SH) or normoglycemia (NG) based on blood glucose levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort of non-diabetic adults with SH (> 140mg/dl and HbA1c <6.5%) or NG (all blood glucose values ≤ 140mg/dl) was used. RESULTS: There were 3981 patients with NG and 884 with SH. During the observation period (median follow-up of 1.83 years), there were 255 cases of diabetes and 831 deaths. The cumulative incidence of diabetes per year was 1.59% (95% CI: 1.23-2.06) in patients with NG and 7.39% (95% CI: 5.70-9.56) in those with SH. SH was significantly associated to diabetes (crude HR 1.33, 95% CI: 1.13-1.73, p .025), even after adjusting for age and sex (adjusted HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.06-1.78, p .014). The mortality rate at one year was 10.07% (95% CI: 9.18-11.05) in NG patients and 13.24% (95% CI: 11.17-15.65) in SH patients. The sub-hazard ratio of developing diabetes considering death as a competitive event was 1.41 (95% CI 1.29-1.53, p <.001). CONCLUSIONS: SH is a risk factor for diabetes. There were no differences in mortality during follow-up, but death appears to be a competitive event in development of diabetes in this population.

Tasa de reinternaciones y factores asociados en ancianos luego de una internación por fractura de cadera / Rate of re-experiences and associated factors in the elderly after hospitalization due to hip fracture

INTRODUCCIÓN: El anciano con fractura de cadera tiene alto riesgo de complicaciones y mortalidad hospitalaria. Las estadías hospitalarias cortas y el alta temprana con problemas clínicos activos pueden llevar a reinternaciones. OBJETIVOS: conocer la tasa de reinternaciones, los motivos y las variables predictoras de las mismas en los sujetos que tuvieron fracturas de cadera. MÉTODOS: Se trabajó una cohorte retrospectiva. Se incluyó a todos los pacientes ingresados en el Registro Institucional de Ancianos con Fractura de Cadera entre julio de 2014 y julio de 2017. Se describió la tasa de reinternación y su IC95%. Se utilizó un modelo de riesgo proporcional de Cox para describir factores de riesgo y el tiempo a la reinternación. RESULTADOS: Se incluyó a 858 pacientes. La mediana de días de internación fue de 6 (rango intercuartil [RIC 5-9]). El 86% (737) de los pacientes era de sexo femenino, con una mediana de edad de 86 años (RIC 81-89). La tasa de reinternación a los 30 días fue de 10% (IC95%: 8,3-12,5) y al año, de 39% (IC95%: 34,8-42,6). La principal causa fue la infección (30%). Los factores asociados fueron: edad (>85 años) Razón de Hazard o Hazard ratio (HR)1,3 (IC95%: 1-1,7; p 0,03), sexo femenino HR 0,5 (IC95%: 0,4-0,7; p<0,01), fragilidad HR 1,4 (IC95%: 1,1-1,8; p<0,01), score de Charlson (≥2) HR 1,6 (IC95%: 1,3-2,1; p<0,01), días de internación (>7 días) HR 1,4 (IC95%: 1,2-1,9; p<0,01). CONCLUSIONES: La reinternación después de una fractura de cadera tiene alta incidencia. El cuidado perioperatorio de los pacientes con fractura de cadera es esencial para reducir las complicaciones.

INTRODUCTION: Elderly patients with hip fracture are at high risk for complications and in-hospital mortality. Short hospital stay and early discharge with still active clinical problems may lead to readmissions. OBJECTIVES: to know the rate of readmissions, the reasons and the predictive variables in patients who had hip fractures. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed, with all patients included in the institutional registry of elderly patients with hip fracture between July 2014 and July 2017. Readmission rates and their CI95% were described. A proportional risk Cox model was used to describe risk factors and time-toreadmission. RESULTS: A total of 858 patients were included with a median hospital stay of 6 days (interquartile range [IQR] 5-9), 86% (737) of female patients and a median age of 86 years (IQR 81-89). Readmission rates were 10% (CI95%: 8.3-12.5) at 30 days and 39% (CI95%: 34.8-42.6) at 12 months. The main cause was infection (30%). Associated factors were: age (>85 years) HR 1.3 (CI95%: 1-1.7; p 0.03), female gender HR 0.5 (CI95%: 0.4-0.7; p<0.01), fragility HR 1.4 (CI95%: 1.1-1.8; p<0.01), Charlson score (≥2) HR 1.6 (CI95%: 1.3-2.1; p<0.01), hospital stay (>7 days) HR 1.4 (CI95%: 1.2- 1.9, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Readmission after hip fracture has a high incidence. Perioperative care of patients with hip fracture is essential to reduce complications.

Descripción de las características del fenómeno Crowding en la Central de Emergencia de Adultos, en un hospital universitario de alta complejidad: estudio de cohorte retrospectiva / Analysis of Crowding in an Adult Emergency Department of a tertiary university hospital

Background: Crowding in Emergency Departments (ED), results from the imbalance between the simultaneous demand for health care and the ability of the system to respond. The NEDOCS scale (National Emergency Department Crowding Scale) measures the degree of crowding in an ED. Aim: To describe ED Crowding characteristics, using the NEDOCS scale, in an Argentinean hospital. Material and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with all adult patient consultations between July 2013 and July 2014 at the ED of Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. We included all hours in the analysis period (365 days x 24 h = 8,760). The NEDOCS value was calculated for each hour using an automatic algorithm and was quantified in a six points score. Levels 4 (overcrowded), 5 (severely overcrowded) and 6 (dangerously overcrowded) were defined as overcrowding. Contour plots analysis was applied to identify patterns. Results: During the study period, 124,758 visits to the ED were registered. Overcrowding was present in 57.7% (5,055) of the analyzed hours. A predominance of scores between four and five was observed between 10:00 and 24:00 hours. The months with predominance of overcrowding were June, July and August (southern winter). Conclusions: The calculation of the NEDOCS score and the analysis of its temporal distribution are highly relevant to identify opportunities for improvement and to develop mechanisms to prevent the highest categories of overcrowding.

Utilidad de una Evaluación geriátrica integral dirigida a la determinación de riesgos para prácticas y procedimiento (DRIPP) en el adulto mayor / Performance of a comprehensive geriatric assessment aimed at the determination of risks for practices and procedures (DRIPP) in the elderly

La edad está asociada con un aumento de la prevalencia de múltiples enfermedades y también con un deterioro de la reserva funcional y fisiológica. Los pacientes adultos mayores tienen un riesgo aumentado para el desarrollo de complicaciones frente a cirugías y diversas prácticas oncológicas. Los procesos de toma de decisiones en muchos casos son complejos, y la detección de toda esta comorbilidad geriátrica no está contemplada en muchos de los modelos clásicos para predicción de riesgo. En este artículo se describe una herramienta de evaluación geriátrica integral dirigida a la detección de riesgos para prácticas y procedimientos (DRIPP) en el adulto mayor, que fue desarrollada y se utiliza en el ámbito del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. El objetivo de DRIPP es la detección de factores de riesgo clínicos y geriátricos asociados con malos resultados, a partir del cual se generan recomendaciones específicas de manejo, que aportan mayor información para el buen desarrollo del proceso de consentimiento informado y la toma de decisiones. Su integración transversal y longitudinal con las diferentes disciplinas e instancias para el seguimiento del paciente es una característica esencial que se traduce en ventajas asistenciales y académicas. (AU)

Aging is associated with an increased prevalence of multiple diseases, and also with decline in functional and physiologic reserve. Elderly patients have an increased risk to develop complications after surgeries and various oncological interventions. Decision-making processes are complex in several cases, and detection of all this geriatric comorbidity is not covered by many of the classic models for risk prediction. This article describes a comprehensive geriatric assessment tool for detection of risks for practices and procedures (DRIPP) in the elderly, which was developed and is used in the setting of Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. The aim of DRIPP is the systematic detection of clinical and geriatric risk factors associated with poor outcomes, and from which specific management recommendations are generated, as well as provides more information for the proper development of the informed consent and decision making processes. The transverse and longitudinal integration with different disciplines and instances for patient's follow up, are an essential feature, resulting in healthcare and academic advantages. (AU)