Identifying patterns in unplanned hospital admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic: a single-centre retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Countries with a high prevalence of COVID-19 have identified a reduction in crude hospital admission rates for non-COVID-19 conditions during the pandemic. There remains a paucity of such data from lower prevalence countries, including Australia. AIMS: To describe the patterns of unplanned hospital daily admission rates during the COVID-19 pandemic in a major Australian metropolitan hospital, with a focus on acute medical presentations including acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stroke and falls. METHODS: This single-centre retrospective analysis analysed hospital admission episodes between 1 March and 30 April 2020 (COVID-19-era) and compared this to a historical cohort during the same period between 2017 and 2019 (pre-COVID-19). Information collected included total admission rates and patient characteristics for ACS, stroke and falls patients. RESULTS: A total of 12 278 unplanned admissions was identified across the study period. The daily admission rate was lower in the COVID-19-era compared with pre-COVID-19 (46.59 vs 51.56 days, P < 0.001). There was also a reduced average daily admission rate for falls (7.79 vs 9.95 days, P < 0.001); however, similar admission rates for ACS (1.52 vs 1.49 days, P = 0.83) and stroke (1.56 vs 1.76 days, P = 0.33). CONCLUSIONS: Public health interventions have been effective in reducing domestic cases of COVID-19 in Australia. At our tertiary metropolitan hospital, we have observed a significant reduction in unplanned hospital admission rates during the COVID-19-era, particularly for falls. Public health messaging needs to focus on educating the public how to seek medical care safely and promptly in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Early versus deferred coronary angiography following cardiac arrest. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: The role of early coronary angiography (CAG) in the evaluation of patients presenting with out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and no ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STE) pattern on electrocardiogram (ECG) has been subject to considerable debate. We sought to assess the impact of early versus deferred CAG on mortality and neurological outcomes in patients with OHCA and no STE. Methods: OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library Register were searched according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines from inception until July 18, 2022. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of patients with OHCA without STE that compared early CAG with deferred CAG were included. The primary endpoint was 30-day mortality. Secondary endpoints included mortality at discharge or 30-days, favourable neurology at 30-days, major bleeding, renal failure and recurrent cardiac arrest. Results: Of the 7,998 citations, 5 RCTs randomizing 1524 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed no difference in 30-day mortality with early versus deferred CAG (OR 1.17, CI 0.91 - 1.49, I2 = 27%). There was no difference in favourable neurological outcome at 30 days (OR 0.88, CI 0.52 - 1.49, I2 = 63%), major bleeding (OR 0.94, CI 0.33 - 2.68, I2 = 39%), renal failure (OR 1.14, CI 0.77 - 1.69, I2 = 0%), and recurrent cardiac arrest (OR 1.39, CI 0.79 - 2.43, I2 = 0%). Conclusions: Early CAG was not associated with improved survival and neurological outcomes among patients with OHCA without STE. This meta-analysis does not support routinely performing early CAG in this select patient cohort.

Aortic dissection detection risk score has high sensitivity with moderate inter-rater reliability.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively assess the accuracy and inter-rater reliability of the aortic dissection detection risk score (ADD-RS). METHODS: Single-centre, observational, diagnostic accuracy study undertaken in a university-affiliated, tertiary hospital ED. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were enrolled. Five patients were diagnosed with acute aortic dissection and had an elevated ADD-RS >0. The ADD-RS was 100% sensitive with a negative and positive predictive values of 100% (if ADD-RS ≥1). Inter-rater reliability was moderate (Kappa = 0.55). CONCLUSION: The ADD-RS was highly sensitive in our cohort. Further work to evaluate the score prospectively and in combination with a D-Dimer is required.