Level of accuracy of diagnoses recorded in discharge summaries: A cohort study in three respiratory wards.

RATIONALE: One of the key functions of the discharge summary is to convey accurate diagnostic description of patients. Inaccurate or missing diagnoses may result in a false clinical picture, inappropriate management, poor quality of care, and a higher risk of re-admission. While several studies have investigated the presence or absence of diagnoses within discharge summaries, there are very few published studies assessing the accuracy of these diagnoses. The aim of this study was to measure the accuracy of diagnoses recorded in sample summaries, and to determine if it was correlated with the type of diagnoses (eg, "respiratory" diagnoses), the number of diagnoses, or the length of patient stay. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in three respiratory wards in a large UK NHS Teaching Hospital. We determined the reference list of diagnoses (the closest to the true state of the patient based on consultant knowledge, patient records, and laboratory investigations) for comparison with the diagnoses recorded in a discharge summary. To enable objective comparison, all patient diagnoses were encoded using a standardized terminology (ICD-10). Inaccuracy of the primary diagnosis alone and all diagnoses in discharge summaries was measured and then correlated with type of diseases, number of diagnoses, and length of patient stay. RESULTS: A total of 107 of 110 consecutive discharge summaries were analysed. The mean inaccuracy rate per discharge summary was 55% [95% CI 52 to 58%]. Primary diagnoses were wrong, inaccurate, missing, or mis-recorded as a secondary diagnosis in half the summaries. The inaccuracy rate was correlated with the type of disease but not with number of diagnoses nor length of patient stay. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that diagnoses were not accurately recorded in discharge summaries, highlighting the need to measure and improve discharge summary quality.

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis following pulmonary embolism.

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is predominantly found alongside cavitating or bullous lung diseases. Although pulmonary embolism may cause cavitation, an association with CPA has not been well described. We describe a case of CPA in a 79-year-old female following bilateral pulmonary emboli. The clinical implications are numerous, including the dilemma of anticoagulation. This link suggests that a lower threshold for suspecting CPA following pulmonary embolus is required, even in the absence of other respiratory disease.

Lung cancer stage-shift following a symptom awareness campaign.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer outcomes in the UK are worse than in many other developed nations. Symptom awareness campaigns aim to diagnose patients at an earlier stage to improve cancer outcomes. METHODS: An early diagnosis campaign for lung cancer commenced in Leeds, UK in 2011 comprising public and primary-care facing components. Rates of community referral for chest X-ray and lung cancer stage (TNM seventh edition) at presentation were collected from 2008 to 2015. Linear trends were assessed by χ2 test for trend in proportions. Headline figures are presented for the 3 years pre-campaign (2008-2010) and the three most recent years for which data are available during the campaign (2013-2015). FINDINGS: Community-ordered chest X-ray rates per year increased from 18 909 in 2008-2010 to 34 194 in 2013-2015 (80.8% increase). A significant stage shift towards earlier stage lung cancer was seen (χ2(1)=32.2, p<0.0001). There was an 8.8 percentage point increase in the proportion of patients diagnosed with stage I/II lung cancer (26.5% pre-campaign vs 35.3% during campaign) and a 9.3% reduction in the absolute number of patients diagnosed with stage III/IV disease (1254 pre-campaign vs 1137 during campaign). INTERPRETATION: This is the largest described lung cancer stage-shift in association with a symptom awareness campaign. A causal link between the campaign and stage-shift cannot be proven but appears plausible. Limitations of the analysis include a lack of contemporary control population.

The impact of three discharge coding methods on the accuracy of diagnostic coding and hospital reimbursement for inpatient medical care.

BACKGROUND: Coding of diagnoses is important for patient care, hospital management and research. However coding accuracy is often poor and may reflect methods of coding. This study investigates the impact of three alternative coding methods on the inaccuracy of diagnosis codes and hospital reimbursement. METHODS: Comparisons of coding inaccuracy were made between a list of coded diagnoses obtained by a coder using (i)the discharge summary alone, (ii)case notes and discharge summary, and (iii)discharge summary with the addition of medical input. For each method, inaccuracy was determined for the primary, secondary diagnoses, Healthcare Resource Group (HRG) and estimated hospital reimbursement. These data were then compared with a gold standard derived by a consultant and coder. RESULTS: 107 consecutive patient discharges were analysed. Inaccuracy of diagnosis codes was highest when a coder used the discharge summary alone, and decreased significantly when the coder used the case notes (70% vs 58% respectively, p < 0.0001) or coded from the discharge summary with medical support (70% vs 60% respectively, p < 0.0001). When compared with the gold standard, the percentage of incorrect HRGs was 42% for discharge summary alone, 31% for coding with case notes, and 35% for coding with medical support. The three coding methods resulted in an annual estimated loss of hospital remuneration of between £1.8 M and £16.5 M. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of diagnosis codes and percentage of correct HRGs improved when coders used either case notes or medical support in addition to the discharge summary. Further emphasis needs to be placed on improving the standard of information recorded in discharge summaries.

Expert opinion on the management of pain in hospitalised older patients with cognitive impairment: a mixed methods analysis of a national survey.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalised older patients are complex. Comorbidity and polypharmacy complicate frailty. Significant numbers have dementia and/or cognitive impairment. Pain is highly prevalent. The evidence base for pain management in cognitively impaired individuals is sparse due to methodological issues. A wealth of expert opinion is recognised potentially providing a useful evidence base for guiding clinical practice. The study aimed to gather expert opinion on pain management in cognitively impaired hospitalised older people. METHODS: Consultant Geriatricians listed as dementia leads in the National Dementia Audit were contacted electronically and invited to respond. The questionnaire sought information on their role, confidence and approach to pain management in cognitively impaired hospitalised patients. Responses were analysed using a mixed methods approach. RESULTS: Respondents considered themselves very confident in the clinical field. Awareness of potential to do harm was highly evident. Unequivocally responses suggested paracetamol is safe and should be first choice analgesic, newer opiates should be used preferentially in renal impairment and nefopam is unsafe. A grading of the safety profile of specific medications became apparent, prompting requirement for further evaluation and holistic assessment. CONCLUSION: The lack of consensus reached highlights the complexity of this clinical field. The use of paracetamol first line, newer opiates in renal impairment and avoidance of nefopam are immediately transferrable to clinical practice. Further review, evaluation and comparison of the risks associated with other specific analgesics are necessary before a comprehensive clinical guideline can be produced.

Prevalence of laryngomalacia in children presenting with sleep-disordered breathing.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of laryngomalacia among children presenting with symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). METHOD: A retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care paediatric hospital. All children presenting with SDB during a 55-month period were investigated using sleep nasopharyngoscopy (SNP). Patients who had laryngomalacia were identified. Patients who did not present primarily with SDB, or were not examined with SNP were excluded. Data for analysis was collected from a prospectively kept surgical database and medical records. This included patients' demographics, symptoms (including symptoms in infancy), diagnoses, SNP findings, overnight pulse oximetry findings, and treatment. RESULTS: We identified 358 patients with documented primary diagnosis of SDB and who had undergone SNP. Fourteen of these also had a documented diagnosis of laryngomalacia, giving a prevalence rate of 3.9%. Three children were syndromic, and one had cerebral palsy in addition to SDB and laryngomalacia. Three children were obese, and three children had gastroesophageal reflux disease. Seven cases (50%) had symptoms of snoring and/or swallowing dysfunction and/or stridor in infancy. Twelve patients had adenotonsillar surgery. In eight cases symptoms resolved completely with adenotonsillar surgery only. In total, six patients had a supraglottoplasty. There were three failures to supraglottoplasty. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of laryngomalacia within children presenting with SDB is 3.9%. Our findings support full evaluation of the airway to identify the site of pathology mediating SDB symptoms.

Reversibility of fibrotic appearance of lungs with thyroxine replacement therapy in patients with severe hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: To present 2 cases of hypothyroidism with hypoxia associated with computed tomographic (CT) features suggestive of pulmonary fibrosis that resolved with correction of the hypothyroidism. METHODS: Clinical case histories are described, comparative radiologic pulmonary images before and after treatment are provided, and the pertinent literature regarding possible pathologic mechanisms is reviewed. RESULTS: Our first patient, a 68-year-old woman, presented with symptomatic severe hypothyroidism associated with respiratory failure. A CT scan of her lungs showed appearances suggestive of pulmonary fibrosis. Replacement therapy with levothyroxine led to correction of hypoxia and radiologic abnormalities. Our second patient, a 26-year-old man, presented with symptoms suggestive of obstructive sleep apnea that persisted despite use of positive pressure ventilation. Biochemical evaluation revealed severe hypothyroidism, and a CT scan disclosed pulmonary appearances consistent with fibrosis. His symptoms and radiologic abnormalities also improved after correction of hypothyroidism with levothyroxine therapy. CONCLUSION: Radiologic pulmonary abnormalities suggestive of fibrotic disease are associated with severe hypothyroidism. Invasive investigations such as lung biopsy should be deferred until the clinical and radiologic responses to thyroxine replacement therapy have been assessed.