Hospitalisation in short-stay units for adults with internal medicine diseases and conditions.

BACKGROUND: Short-stay units are hospital units that provide short-term care for selected patients. Studies have indicated that short-stay units might reduce admission rates, time of hospital stays, hospital readmissions and expenditure without compromising the quality of care. Short-stay units are often defined by a target patient category, a target function, and a target time frame. Hypothetically, short-stay units could be established as part of any department, but this review focuses on short-stay units that provide care for participants with internal medicine diseases and conditions. OBJECTIVES: To assess beneficial and harmful effects of short-stay unit hospitalisation compared with usual care in people with internal medicine diseases and conditions. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, three other databases and two trials registers up to 13 December 2017 together with reference checking, citation searching and contact with study authors to identify additional studies. We also searched several grey literature sources and performed a forward citation search for included studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised trials and cluster-randomised trials, comparing hospitalisation in a short-stay unit with usual care (hospitalisation in a traditional hospital ward or other services). We defined a short-stay unit to be a hospital ward where the targeted length of stay in hospital for patients was five days or less. We included both multipurpose and specialised short-stay units. Participants were adults admitted to hospital with an internal medicine disease or condition. We excluded surgical, obstetric, psychiatric, gynaecological, and ambulatory participants. Trials were included irrespective of publication status, date, and language. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of each included trial. We measured intervention effect sizes by meta-analyses for two primary outcomes, mortality and serious adverse events, and one secondary outcome, hospital readmission. We narratively reported the following important outcomes: quality of life, activities of daily living, non-serious adverse events, and costs. We used risk ratio differences of 15% for mortality and of 20% for serious adverse events for minimal relevant clinical consideration. We rated the certainty of the evidence and the strength of recommendations of the outcomes using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS: We included 19 records reporting on 14 randomised trials with a total of 2872 participants. One trial was ongoing. Thirteen trials evaluated short-stay unit hospitalisation for six specific conditions (acute decompensated heart failure (one trial), asthma (one trial), atrial fibrillation (one trial), chest pain (seven trials), syncope (two trials), and transient ischaemic attack (one trial)) and one trial investigated participants presenting with miscellaneous internal medicine disease and conditions. The components of the intervention differed among the trials as dictated by the trial participants' condition. All included trials were at high risk of bias.The certainty of the evidence for all outcomes was very low. Consequently, it is uncertain whether hospitalisation in short-stay units compared with usual care reduces mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47 to 1.15) 5 trials (seven additional trials reporting on 1299 participants reported no deaths in either group)); serious adverse events (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.54; 7 trials (one additional trial with 108 participants reported no serious adverse events in either group)), and hospital readmission (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.19, 8 trials (one additional trial with 424 participants did not report results for participants)). There was not enough information to confirm or refute that short-stay unit hospitalisation had relevant effects on quality of life, activities of daily living, non-serious adverse events, and costs. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the quantity and the certainty of the evidence was very low. Consequently, it is uncertain whether there are any beneficial or harmful effects of short-stay unit hospitalisation for adults with internal medicine diseases and conditions - more trials comparing the effects of short-stay units with usual care are needed. Such trials ought to be conducted with low risk of bias and low risks of random errors to improve the overall confidence in the evidence.

The age of randomized clinical trials: three important aspects of randomized clinical trials in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy with examples from lipid, diabetes, and antithrombotic trials.

This review article aims to explain the important issues that data safety monitoring boards (DSMB) face when considering early termination of a trial and is specifically addressed to the needs of clinical and research cardiologists. We give an insight into the overall background and then focus on the three principal reasons for stopping trials, i.e. efficacy, futility, and harm. The statistical essentials are also addressed to familiarize clinicians with the key principles. The topic is further highlighted by numerous examples from lipid trials and antithrombotic trials. This is followed by an overview of regulatory aspects, including an insight into industry-investigator interactions. To conclude, we summarize the key elements that are the basis for a decision to stop a randomized clinical trial (RCT).

Antithrombotic therapy and major adverse limb events in patients with chronic lower extremity arterial disease: systematic review and meta-analysis from the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy in Collaboration with the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Aorta and Peripheral Vascular Diseases.

AIMS: The role and selection of antithrombotic therapy to improve limb outcomes in chronic lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) is still debated. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the efficacy and safety of antithrombotic and more intense antithrombotic therapy on limb outcomes and limb salvage in patients with chronic LEAD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Study inclusion criteria were: enrolment of patients with LEAD, randomized allocation to more vs. less intense antithrombotic therapy [more vs. less intense single-antiplatelet therapy (SAPT); dual-antiplatelet therapy vs. SAPT; dual antithrombotic therapy vs. SAPT or oral anticoagulant]; enrolment of ≥200 patients; reporting of at least one of following outcomes: limb amputation or revascularization. Seven randomized studies enrolling 30 447 patients were included. Over a median follow-up of 24 months, more vs. less intense antithrombotic therapy or placebo significantly reduced the risk of limb revascularization [relative risk (RR) 0.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83-0.94] and limb amputation (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.46-0.86), as well as stroke (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.70-0.97). There was no statistically significant effect on the risk of myocardial infarction (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.87-1.11), all-cause (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.86-1.01), and cardiovascular death (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.86-1.08). Risk of major bleeding increased (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.04-1.44). CONCLUSION: In patients with LEAD, more intense antithrombotic therapy reduces the risk of limb amputation and revascularization as well as stroke with an increase in the risk of bleeding events.

Expert consensus document on the management of hyperkalaemia in patients with cardiovascular disease treated with renin angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitors: coordinated by the Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy of the European Society of Cardiology.

Renin angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitors/antagonists/blockers (RAASi) are a cornerstone in treatment of patients with cardiovascular diseases especially in those with heart failure (HF) due to their proven effect on surrogate and hard endpoints. Renin angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitors are also the basis in treatment of arterial hypertension, and they are furthermore indicated to reduce events and target organ damage in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease, where they have specific indication because of the evidence of benefit. Renin angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitor therapy, however, is associated with an increased risk of hyperkalaemia. Patients with chronic kidney disease and HF are at increased risk of hyperkalaemia and ∼50% of these patients experience two or more yearly recurrences. A substantial proportion of patients receiving RAASi therapy have their therapy down-titrated or more often discontinued even after a single episode of elevated potassium (K+) level. Since RAASi therapy reduces mortality and morbidity in patients with cardiovascular disease steps should, when hyperkalaemia develops, be considered to lower K+ level and enable patients to continue their RAASi therapy. The use of such measures are especially important in those patients with the most to gain from RAASi therapy.

Colles' fractures and osteoporosis--A new role for the Emergency Department.

PURPOSE: In Denmark, guidelines from the Danish Orthopedic Society recommend that patients older than 65 years who sustain a Colles' fracture should be referred to assessment of underlying osteoporosis. An assessment of referral rates at our hospital during the period October 2010-September 2013 showed that none were referred. Due to this, an automatic out-patient referral system for assessment of underlying osteoporosis was established. With this system, patients are referred directly from the Emergency Department (ED). The purpose of this study was to assess how effective this new referral system was at improving referral rates for assessment of osteoporosis and to evaluate how many more cases of osteoporosis that was identified with this practice during the period October 2013-September 2014. METHOD: The automatic referral system for evaluation of osteoporosis in patients 65 years and above without known osteoporosis, living in the catchment area and sustaining a low energy distal forearm fracture was established in October 2013. With the new system, patients were referred directly from the ED for evaluation of osteoporosis at the osteoporosis out-patient department at the hospital. The system was evaluated for the period October 2013-September 2014. For comparison data was collected on the same patient group for the 3 years preceding the system. RESULTS: Before the automatic system none were referred for evaluation of osteoporosis and thus none were diagnosed. After introduction of the system 100% were referred, 73.26% were examined and 65.08% of these were found to have osteoporosis. Anti-osteoporotic treatment was initiated in all but 4.88% of the patients. CONCLUSION: The results show that this type of automatic referral system can be an effective way of increasing the number of patients diagnosed with and treated for osteoporosis. It also shows that involvement of the ED in the screening for osteoporosis can be an effective way of increasing referral rates leading to higher rates of diagnosed osteoporosis. The early identification and initiating of treatment might result in a lower rate of secondary and potentially more severe osteoporotic fractures.

Consequences of peritonism in an emergency department setting.

BACKGROUND: In patients who were referred to the emergency department (ED) with abdominal pain, it is crucial to determine the presence of peritonism to allow for appropriate handling and subsequent referral to stationary departments. We aimed to assess the incidence of perceived peritonism in a contemporary ED and to make a comparable characterization on specified endpoints, including hospital stay, performed acute surgery, and ordered imaging. METHODS: A single-center study was performed during 2010 in a contemporary Danish ED. We evaluated 1,270 patients consecutively admitted to the ED and focused on the patients with abdominal pain. Following a physical examination, the patients with abdominal pain were divided into those who had clinical signs of peritonism and those who did not. RESULTS: Among the 1,270 patients admitted to the ED, 10% had abdominal pain. In addition, 41% of these patients were found to have signs indicative of peritonism, and 90% were admitted to the Department of Surgery (DS). Also, 24% of those patients with signs of peritonism and admission to the DS underwent surgical intervention in terms of laparotomy/laparoscopy. Five of the patients without peritonism underwent surgery. The patients perceived to have peritonism were younger at 34±3.0 years (mean ± standard error of the mean) than the patients who were not perceived to have peritonism, 52±2.8 years (P<0.05). They also had a shorter length of stay of 38.2±6.0 hours at the DS versus 95.3±18.2 hours (P<0.05). No differences with statistical significance were found regarding a stay in the emergency room (ER) or ordered imaging from the ER. CONCLUSION: Peritonism was a common finding in our setting. Peritonism did not require more acute surgery or imaging. The duration of the patient's stay in the ER was not influenced by a finding of peritonism. The evaluation of peritonism needs to be improved in the ED.

Comprehension deficits among older patients in a quick diagnostic unit.

BACKGROUND: Higher prevalence of multiple illnesses and cognitive impairment among older patients pose a risk of comprehension difficulties, potentially leading to medication errors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate comprehension of discharge instructions among older patients admitted to a Quick Diagnostic Unit (QDU). METHODS: One hundred and two patients discharged from the QDU answered a questionnaire covering understanding of their hospitalization and discharge plan. Patients' ability to recall discharge instructions and awareness of comprehension deficits, ie, ability to identify the misconceived information, were evaluated by comparing the questionnaires with the discharge letters. The population was divided into an older group (age ≥65 years) and a younger group. RESULTS: The older group (n=40) was less able to recall correct medication instructions when compared to the younger group (54% versus 78%, respectively; P=0.02). In multiple logistic regression analysis, correct recall of medication instructions was 4.2 times higher for the younger group compared to the older group (odds ratio 4.2, 95% confidence interval 1.5-11.9, P=0.007) when adjusted for sex and education. The older patients were less aware of their own comprehension deficits, and in respect to medication instructions awareness decreased 6.1% for each additional year of age (odds ratio 0.939, 95% confidence interval 0.904-0.98, P=0.001) when adjusted for sex and education. CONCLUSION: Older patients were less able to recall correct medication instructions and less aware of their comprehension deficits after discharge from a QDU. The findings of the present study emphasize the importance of thorough communication and follow-up when treating older patients.

[Introduction of electronic patient record in an emergency department]. / Indførelse af elektronisk patientjournal i akutafdeling.

The speciality of emergency medicine is a fairly new concept in the Danish hospital setting, and recent years have seen the emergence of many new emergency departments all over Denmark. We here report the conception and implementation of a novel electronic charting program, comprising a combination of text and check boxes, at Holbæk and Køge emergency departments in Region Zealand. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of electronic charting compared with common tape dictation and discuss how the electronic charting program may be improved to the benefit of physicians and patients alike.

Flow in coronary bypass conduits on-pump and off-pump.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to measure the blood flow in coronary artery bypass grafting conduits on-pump and off-pump and to estimate the total conduit flow. METHODS: In a 3.5-year period, 120 patients having coronary artery bypass grafting on-pump and 97 patients having coronary artery bypass grafting off-pump with the left internal mammary artery anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery and saphenous vein grafts to the remaining diseased coronary arteries were included in the study. Flow in the bypass conduits was measured with the transit-time method. RESULTS: In men the left internal mammary artery flow (mean +/- standard error of the mean) was 33.7 +/- 2.0 mL/min on-pump and 34.4 +/- 2.9 off-pump (p > 0.05). In women the left internal mammary artery flow was 29.4 +/- 3.0 mL/min on-pump and 22.8 +/- 1.9 mL/min off-pump (p > 0.05). In men the vein graft flow per anastomosis was 30.4 +/- 1.3 mL/min on-pump and 37.8 +/- 5.4 mL/min off-pump (p > 0.05). In women the vein graft flow per anastomosis was 28.0 +/- 2.9 mL/min on-pump and 23.2 +/- 2.9 mL/min off-pump (p > 0.05). Consistently in women, the mean conduit flows were numerically lower than in men. In patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting on-pump the total conduit flows (left internal mammary artery plus vein grafts) were 131.4 +/- 2.5 mL/min in men and 108.4 +/- 3.2 mL/min in women. CONCLUSIONS: There were no major differences in conduit flow on-pump versus off-pump. Conventional coronary artery bypass grafting on-pump may restore up to approximately half of the normal resting coronary artery blood flow (250 mL/min).