Results from an Audit Feedback Strategy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease In-Hospital Care: A Joint Analysis from the AUDIPOC and European COPD Audit Studies

Background

Clinical audits have emerged as a potential tool to summarize the clinical performance of healthcare over a specified period of time. However, the effectiveness of audit and feedback has shown inconsistent results and the impact of audit and feedback on clinical performance has not been evaluated for COPD exacerbations. In the present study, we analyzed the results of two consecutive nationwide clinical audits performed in Spain to evaluate both the in-hospital clinical care provided and the feedback strategy.

Methods

The present study is an analysis of two clinical audits performed in Spain that evaluated the clinical care provided to COPD patients who were admitted to the hospital for a COPD exacerbation. The first audit was performed from November–December 2008. The feedback strategy consisted of personalized reports for each participant center, the presentation and discussion of the results at regional, national and international meetings and the creation of health-care quality standards for COPD. The second audit was part of a European study during January and February 2011. The impact of the feedback strategy was evaluated in term of clinical care provided and in-hospital survival.

Results

A total of 94 centers participated in the two audits, recruiting 8,143 admissions (audit 1∶3,493 and audit 2∶4,650). The initially provided clinical care was reasonably acceptable even though there was considerable variability. Several diagnostic and therapeutic procedures improved in the second audit. Although the differences were significant, the degree of improvement was small to moderate. We found no impact on in-hospital mortality.

Conclusions

The present study describes COPD hospital care in Spanish hospitals and evaluates the impact of peer-benchmarked, individually written and group-oral feedback strategy on the clinical outcomes for treating COPD exacerbations. It describes small to moderate improvements in the clinical care provided to COPD patients with no impact on in-hospital mortality.     

Predictors and Outcomes of Infection-Related Hospital Admissions of Heart Failure Patients

Background

Infections are one of the most common causes for hospitalization of patients with heart failure (HF). Yet, little is known regarding the prevalence and predictors of different types of acute infections as well as their impact on outcome among this growing population.

Methods and Results

We identified all patients aged 50 or older with a major diagnosis of HF and at least one echocardiography examination who had been hospitalized over a 10-year period (January 2000 and December 2009). Infection-associated admissions were identified according to discharge diagnoses. Among 9,335 HF patients, 3530 (38%) were hospitalized at least once due to infections. The most frequent diagnoses were respiratory infection (52.6%) and sepsis/bacteremia (23.6%) followed by urinary (15.7%) and skin and soft tissue infections (7.8%). Hospitalizations due to infections compared to other indications were associated with increased 30-day mortality (13% vs. 8%, p<0.0001). These higher mortality rates were predominately related to respiratory infections (OR 1.28 [95% CI 1.09, 1.5]) and sepsis\bacteremia (OR 3.13 [95% CI 2.6, 3.7]). Important predictors for these serious infections included female gender, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, past myocardial infarction and echocardiography-defined significant right (RV) but not left ventricular dysfunction.

Conclusions

Major infection-related hospitalizations are frequent among patients with HF and are associated with increased mortality rates. Elderly female patients with multiple comorbidities and those with severe RV dysfunction are at higher risk for these infections.     

高龄慢性阻塞性肺疾病的临床特点分析

目的：了解高龄慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）患者的临床和实验室检查特点。方法：收集2012 年1 月至2013 年7 月我院收治的80 岁以上COPD 患者（高龄组）和80 岁以下COPD 患者（非高龄组）各50 例的临床资料,比较两组的临床特征、合并症、实验室检查和临床治疗结果。结果：①与非高龄组比较,高龄组既往慢性支气管炎病史和平均住院天数均显著延长,因急性发作的入院率、死亡率和平均住院总费用均显著增高,喘息、呼吸困难和下肢浮肿的发生率均显著增高（P〈0.05）。②高龄组患者合并基础疾病者更多,以高血压、心功能不全、冠心病、心律失常和脑血管病后遗症为主,两组比较有显著性差异（P〈0.05）。③高龄组C 反应蛋白、B型尿钠肽前体、肌红蛋白和高敏肌钙蛋白均显著升高,总蛋白、白蛋白和血红蛋白水平显著降低（P〈0.05）。④高龄组胸腔积液和左心室舒张功能显著降低的发生率显著升高（P〈0.05）,但两组咳嗽、咳痰、发热及合并呼吸衰竭、糖尿病和肿瘤的发生率无显著性差异（P〉0.05）;且两组白细胞总数,中性粒细胞百分比、降钙素原、肌酸磷酸激酶、血气分析包括PH 值、氧分压、二氧化碳分压和氧饱和度比较无显著性差异（P〉0.05）;两组肺部炎症、肺气肿、肺大泡、陈旧性肺结核、左心室收缩功能降低的发生率和心电图检查比较无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。⑤两组治疗方法和治疗结果亦无显著差异（P〉0.05）。结论：高龄COPD 患者急性发作临床症状不典型,白细胞总数和中性粒细胞升高亦不显著,需要重视出现的喘息,呼吸困难和下肢浮肿症状。患者症状隐匿,常因病情突然加重而急诊入院;高龄COPD患者合并症多,基础疾病与COPD急性加重症状易重叠,导致病情复杂、危重使治疗费用和住院时间明显延长。高龄COPD 患者更易合并心血管疾病,贫血和低蛋白血症是其预后不良的敏感指标。     

高龄慢性阻塞性肺疾病的临床特点分析

目的:了解高龄慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者的临床和实验室检查特点。方法:收集2012年1月至2013年7月我院收治的80岁以上COPD患者(高龄组)和80岁以下COPD患者(非高龄组)各50例的临床资料,比较两组的临床特征、合并症、实验室检查和临床治疗结果。结果:①与非高龄组比较,高龄组既往慢性支气管炎病史和平均住院天数均显著延长,因急性发作的入院率、死亡率和平均住院总费用均显著增高,喘息、呼吸困难和下肢浮肿的发生率均显著增高(P0.05)。②高龄组患者合并基础疾病者更多,以高血压、心功能不全、冠心病、心律失常和脑血管病后遗症为主,两组比较有显著性差异(P0.05)。③高龄组C反应蛋白、B型尿钠肽前体、肌红蛋白和高敏肌钙蛋白均显著升高,总蛋白、白蛋白和血红蛋白水平显著降低(P0.05)。④高龄组胸腔积液和左心室舒张功能显著降低的发生率显著升高(P0.05),但两组咳嗽、咳痰、发热及合并呼吸衰竭、糖尿病和肿瘤的发生率无显著性差异(P0.05);且两组白细胞总数,中性粒细胞百分比、降钙素原、肌酸磷酸激酶、血气分析包括PH值、氧分压、二氧化碳分压和氧饱和度比较无显著性差异(P0.05);两组肺部炎症、肺气肿、肺大泡、陈旧性肺结核、左心室收缩功能降低的发生率和心电图检查比较无显著性差异(P0.05)。⑤两组治疗方法和治疗结果亦无显著差异(P0.05)。结论:高龄COPD患者急性发作临床症状不典型,白细胞总数和中性粒细胞升高亦不显著,需要重视出现的喘息,呼吸困难和下肢浮肿症状。患者症状隐匿,常因病情突然加重而急诊入院;高龄COPD患者合并症多,基础疾病与COPD急性加重症状易重叠,导致病情复杂、危重使治疗费用和住院时间明显延长。高龄COPD患者更易合并心血管疾病,贫血和低蛋白血症是其预后不良的敏感指标。     

Hospital Admissions for Drug-Induced Liver Injury: Clinical Features, Therapy, and Outcomes

We investigated clinical features, therapy, and outcomes of patients hospitalized for drug-induced liver injury (DILI). DILI resolution was defined as liver biochemistry values back to normal or lower than CIOMS laboratory criteria; Chronicity was defined as persistent biochemical abnormality for >6?months after drugs?? withdrawal. Three-hundred cases were reviewed retrospectively; mean age 51 (13?C86) years, and 204 (68?%) were females. It included 267 (89?%) hepatocellular injury, 16 (5.3?%) cholestatic injury, and 17 (5.7?%) mixed injury cases. In hepatocellular injury group, 197 (73.8?%) patients with TBIL?<?10× ULN included 142 (72.1?%) females and 70 (26.2?%) patients with TBIL????10× ULN included 39 (55.7?%) females (P?=?0.012). Of 70 patients (TBIL????10× ULN), 20 were treated with steroid step-down therapy (79?±?26?days) and others with non-steroid therapy. The steroid therapy group showed higher DILI resolution rate (P?=?0.029) and shorter recovery time (P?=?0.012). Notably, 274/300 (91.3?%) patients resolved, 18/300 (6?%) developed chronic liver injury, 7/300 (2.3?%) died, and one patient received liver transplantation. In death group, TBIL, ALB, PT, and PTA revealed more severe abnormality than in recovery group. In 121/300 (40.3?%) patients, use of herbal medicines was the leading cause of liver injury, followed by antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs, and endocrine drugs. We concluded that step-down steroid therapy for DILI improved curative effect, shortened disease course, and was safe.     

Hospital Admissions for Hypertensive Crisis in the Emergency Departments: A Large Multicenter Italian Study

Epidemiological data on the impact of hypertensive crises (emergencies and urgencies) on referral to the Emergency Departments (EDs) are lacking, in spite of the evidence that they may be life-threatening conditions. We performed a multicenter study to identify all patients aged 18 years and over who were admitted to 10 Italian EDs during 2009 for hypertensive crises (systolic blood pressure ≥220 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥120 mmHg). We classified patients as affected by either hypertensive emergencies or hypertensive urgencies depending on the presence or the absence of progressive target organ damage, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was then performed to assess variables independently associated with hypertensive emergencies with respect to hypertensive urgencies. Of 333,407 patients admitted to the EDs over the one-year period, 1,546 had hypertensive crises (4.6/1,000, 95% CI 4.4–4.9), and 23% of them had unknown hypertension. Hypertensive emergencies (n = 391, 25.3% of hypertensive crises) were acute pulmonary edema (30.9%), stroke (22.0%,), myocardial infarction (17.9%), acute aortic dissection (7.9%), acute renal failure (5.9%) and hypertensive encephalopathy (4.9%). Men had higher frequency than women of unknown hypertension (27.9% vs 18.5%, p<0.001). Even among known hypertensive patients, a larger proportion of men than women reported not taking anti-hypertensive drug (12.6% among men and 9.4% among women (p<0.001). Compared to women of similar age, men had higher likelihood of having hypertensive emergencies than urgencies (OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.06–1.70), independently of presenting symptoms, creatinine, smoking habit and known hypertension. This study shows that hypertensive crises involved almost 5 out of 1,000 patients-year admitted to EDs. Sex differences in frequencies of unknown hypertension, compliance to treatment and risk of hypertensive emergencies might have implications for public health programs.     

Rising Obesity-Related Hospital Admissions among Children and Young People in England: National Time Trends Study

Objective

To describe the trends in hospital admissions associated with obesity as a primary diagnosis and comorbidity, and bariatric surgery procedures among children and young people in England.

Design

National time trends study of hospital admissions data between 2000 and 2009.

Participants

Children and young people aged 5 to 19 years who were admitted to hospital with any diagnosis of obesity.

Main outcome measures

Age- and sex-specific admission rates per million children.

Results

Between 2000 and 2009, age- and sex-specific hospital admission rates in 5–19 year olds for total obesity-related diagnoses increased more than four-fold from 93.0 (95% CI 86.0 to 100.0) per million children to 414.0 (95% CI 410.7 to 417.5) per million children, largely due to rising admissions where obesity was mentioned as a co-morbidity. The median age of admission to hospital over the study period was 14.0 years; 5,566 (26.7%) admissions were for obesity and 15,319 (73.3%) mentioned obesity as a comorbidity. Admissions were more common in girls than boys (56.2% v 43.8%). The most common reasons for admission where obesity was a comorbid condition were sleep apnoea, asthma, and complications of pregnancy. The number of bariatric surgery procedures has risen from 1 per year in 2000 to 31 in 2009, with the majority were performed in obese girls (75.6%) aged 13–19 years.

Conclusions

Hospital admission rates for obesity and related comorbid conditions have increased more than four-fold over the past decade amongst children and young people. Although some of the increase is likely to be due to improved case ascertainment, conditions associated with obesity in children and young people are imposing greater challenges for health care providers in English hospitals. Most inpatient care is directed at dealing with associated conditions rather than primary assessment and management of obesity itself.     

Candiduria in Hospital Patients: A Study Prospective

Tinea capitis is rare in adults. We report a case of adult tinea capitis due to Trichophyton violaceum in China. The female patient was immunosuppressed with prednisone due to the underlying disease of vulgaris pemphigus and was treated successfully with terbinafine. We also reviewed published cases of adult tinea capitis in China and compared these data with the characteristics of published cases in other regions in the world.     

Staphylococci in Bronchi of Hospital Patients: An Autopsy Study

Swabs were taken from the main bronchi of hospital patients at routine autopsy, and cultures examined for the presence of coagulase-positive staphylococci. The proportion of patients yielding positive cultures increased steadily with the length of stay in hospital. There was no correlation between positive cultures and age or sex. The results of this study suggest that bronchi of long-stay patients may form a significant source of dissemination of staphylococci producing “hospital” infections.     

Relating Weather Types to Asthma-Related Hospital Admissions in New York State

Many previous studies have looked into the relationship between asthma and individual weather variables, but comparatively few have looked at this relationship using holistic weather types (WTs). Utilizing the Spatial Synoptic Classification, this research considers up to 6 days of lag time while investigating the asthma-to-WT relationship in two age groups (under 18 and 18 and over) throughout New York State. Results indicate that a cold and dry WT in autumn corresponds to increased asthma admissions and spike days in admissions in New York City (NYC) for the school-aged population, while hot and dry WTs in summer correspond to spike days in asthma admissions in both age groups. However, results vary considerably for other regions, seasons and WTs, and spike day analysis yields clearer results than the analysis of total anomalous admissions. When stratified by multiple regions and age groups, the sample size of daily asthma admissions is a limiting factor outside of NYC.     

Population-Based Study of Hypoglycemia in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Requiring Emergency Medical Services

ObjectiveTo report the population burden of hypo glycemia necessitating emergency medical services (EMS) and the long-term outcomes in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) receiving different insulin treatments.MethodsWe retrieved all EMS calls because of hypoglycemia in patients with T1DM in Olmsted County, Minnesota, between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2009, and reviewed the related medical records.ResultsDuring the 7-year study period, 531 EMS calls were made involving 208 patients with T1DM (112 men, 96 women; mean age 47 ± 13 years). Of the 208 patients, 137 (66%) were receiving multiple daily insulin (MDI) injections, 50 (24%) were receiving continuous sub cutaneous insulin infusion, 15 (7%) were receiving simple insulin (SI), 4 (2%) were treated with metformin + MDI, and 2 (1%) were not receiving treatment for diabetes (after pancreas transplantation). The last 2 groups were excluded from further analysis because of small sample size. The remaining 3 treatment groups differed by age (P < .02), with the oldest patients receiving SI. Repeated calls, emergency department transportation (EDT), and hospitalization had a 33%, 49%, and 18% frequency, respectively, and did not differ among the treatment groups. In a multivariate model, mortality was significantly associated with treatment type (the SI group had a higher risk for mortality than did the MDI group [P = .03] after exclusion of 27 patients who changed treatment during follow-up), age (P < .0001), and EDT (P = .04).ConclusionThe population burden of EMS-requiring hypoglycemia in patients with T1DM is high. Medical resource utilization was similar among the 3 treatment groups. Mortality was higher in the SI group (limited by small sample size) and among patients requiring EDT and increased with advancing age. Further research could be directed toward understanding the effect of expert evaluation of high-risk patients on long-term outcomes. (EndocrPract. 2012;18:834-841)     

噻托溴铵治疗老年稳定期COPD 临床观察

目的:探讨噻托溴铵吸入剂对老年吸烟稳定期慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)的临床疗效。方法:入选稳定期COPD老年患者92例,随机分为2组各46例,观察组予噻托溴铵吸入剂18微克每日一次,对照组予缓释茶碱0.1克每12小时口服,两组均按需使用沙丁胺醇气雾剂,随访2月,比较两组治疗前后的肺功能与生活质量改善情况。结果:观察组治疗后St George评分明显下降(P<0.01),显著低于对照组(P<0.01),FEV1/FVC、FEV1/Pred、FEV1均较治疗前明显升高(P<0.01),而对照组治疗前后无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论:吸入噻托溴铵能显著改善老年吸烟COPD稳定期患者的肺功能与生活质量。     

Hospital Mental Health Admissions in Women after Unsuccessful Infertility Treatment and In Vitro Fertilization: An Australian Population-Based Cohort Study

Objective

To examine the association between in vitro fertilization (IVF) and later admission to hospital with a mental health diagnosis in women who remained childless after infertility treatment.

Methods

This was a population-based cohort study using linked administrative hospital and registry data. The study population included all women commencing hospital treatment for infertility in Western Australia between the years 1982 and 2002 aged 20–44 years at treatment commencement who did not have a recorded birth by the end of follow-up (15 August 2010) and did not have a hospital mental health admission prior to the first infertility admission (n=6,567). Of these, 2,623 women had IVF and 3,944 did not. We used multivariate Cox regression modeling of mental health admissions and compared women undergoing IVF treatment with women having infertility treatment but not IVF.

Results

Over an average of 17 years of follow-up, 411 women in the cohort were admitted to hospital with a mental health diagnosis; 93 who had IVF and 318 who did not. The unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) for a hospital mental health admission comparing women who had IVF with those receiving other infertility treatment was 0.50 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40–0.63). After adjustment for age, calendar year and socio-economic status the HR was 0.56 (95% CI 0.44–0.71).

Conclusions

IVF treatment is associated with a reduced risk of hospital mental health admissions in women after unsuccessful infertility treatment. This may be explained by the healthy cohort effect.     

Effects of Meteorological Factors on Daily Hospital Admissions for Asthma in Adults: A Time-Series Analysis

Background

There is limited evidence for the impacts of meteorological changes on asthma hospital admissions in adults in Shanghai, China.

Objectives

To quantitatively evaluate the short-term effects of daily mean temperature on asthma hospital admissions.

Methods

Daily hospital admissions for asthma and daily mean temperatures between January 2005 and December 2012 were analyzed. After controlling for secular and seasonal trends, weather, air pollution and other confounding factors, a Poisson generalized additive model (GAM) combined with a distributed lag non-linear model were used to explore the associations between temperature and hospital admissions for asthma.

Results

During the study periods, there were 15,678 hospital admissions for asthma by residents of Shanghai, an average 5.6 per day. Pearson correlation analysis found a significant negative correlation (r = −0.174, P<0.001) between asthma hospitalizations and daily mean temperature (DMT). The DMT effect on asthma increased below the median DMT, with lower temperatures associated with a higher risk of hospital admission for asthma. Generally, the cold effect appeared to be relatively acute, with duration lasting several weeks, while the hot effect was short-term. The relative risk of asthma hospital admissions associated with cold temperature (the 25^th percentile of temperature relative to the median temperature) was 1.20 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01∼1.41) at lag0-14. However, warmer temperatures were not associated with asthma hospital admissions.

Conclusions

Cold temperatures may trigger asthmatic attacks. Effective strategies are needed to protect populations at risk from the effects of cold.