Frailty and adverse outcomes in older adults being discharged from the emergency department: A prospective cohort study

ABSTRACTBackgroundA growing number of frail older adults are treated in the emergency department (ED) and discharged home. There is an unmet need to identify older adults that are predisposed to functional decline and repeat ED visits so as to target them with proactive interventions.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted in patients 75 years or older who were being discharged from the ED. The objective was to test the value of frailty screening tests, namely 5-meter gait speed and handgrip strength, to predict repeat ED visits at 1 and 6 months and functional decline at 1 month using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsAfter excluding 7 patients lost to follow-up, 150 patients were available for analysis. The mean age was 81.1 ± 4.9 years with 51% females, 13% arriving by ambulance, and 67% having at least two comorbid conditions. At ED discharge, 41% of patients were found to have slow gait speed, whereas 23% had weak handgrip strength. After adjustment, only slow gait speed was independently associated with functional decline at 1 month (odds ratio [OR] 1.39 per 0.1 meters/second decrement, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 1.72) and repeat ED visits at 6 months (OR 1.20 per 0.1 meters/second decrement, 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.42).ConclusionsGait speed can be feasibly measured at the time of ED discharge to identify frail older adults at risk for early functional decline and subsequent return to the ED. Conversely, grip strength was not found to be associated with functional decline or ED visits.</jats:sec

Does implementation of a paediatric asthma clinical practice guideline worksheet change clinical practice?

Background: Despite the development of evidence-based practice guidelines in many countries for asthma treatment in children, there is limited evidence that using such guidelines improves patient care. Aims: Our aim was to evaluate whether the implementation of an evidence-based asthma clinical practice guideline (CPG) worksheet changes clinical practice. Methods: The study was a before and after study of the implementation of a paediatric asthma CPG in a tertiary paediatric emergency department (ED). All children aged 2–16 years who had a diagnosis of asthma were included. Clinical data were obtained by retrospective chart review for time periods before (May to September 2003) and after (May to September 2005) the introduction of the CPG worksheet. Primary outcomes were: use of spacers for salbutamol instead of nebulisers, use of ipratropium and use of corticosteroids. Secondary outcomes were use of an ED action plan, ordering chest X-rays (CXR) and admission rate. Results: Before implementation, 240 children presented with asthma and after implementation, 286 children presented. The two groups had similar ages, asthma severity, admission respiratory rate (RR) and oxygen saturation. Following implementation there was an increase in spacer use from 17 to 26% [+9%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2–16%; p = 0.015] and a reduction in ipratropium use from 58 to 44% (−13%; 95% CI: −22 to −5%; p = 0.0029). The proportion of patients treated with corticosteroids did not change. The number of patients with an ED action plan increased. The number of CXR ordered decreased and the hospital admission rate decreased. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that implementation of an asthma CPG worksheet in a tertiary paediatric ED resulted in modest changes in clinical practice, mainly by increasing clinician adherence to the guidelines

Ensaio clínico, aberto, controlado sobre a adição de brometo de ipratrópio ao fenoterol no tratamento da crise de asma em adultos Open, controlled clinical assay of the addition of ipratropium bromide to fenoterol in the treatment of acute asthma crisis in adults

No tratamento da crise de asma, empregam-se doses repetidas de drogas b2-agonistas por via inalatória. O efeito da adição do brometo de ipratrópio (BI) ao b2-agonistas é controverso em adultos. OBJETIVO: Avaliar se adição de BI ao fenoterol, em tratamentos inalatórios repetidos, induz a maior broncodilatação, com reversibilidade da crise e alta da emergência em pacientes em crise grave de asma. LOCAL DO ESTUDO: Serviço de Pronto-Atendimento de Pneumologia, Disciplina de Pneumologia da Unifesp-Hospital São Paulo, no período de julho de 1995 a fevereiro de 1997. TIPO DE ESTUDO: Aberto, randomizado, paralelo. Alta da emergência determinada pelo VEF1 e PFE > 60% do previsto. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: Cento e vinte pacientes em crise de asma foram divididos em dois grupos (N = 60): fenoterol (F) e brometo de ipratrópio + fenoterol (BIF) com VEF1 e PFE < 50% do previsto. Cada grupo recebeu três tratamentos inalatórios, através de nebulímetro e câmara de expansão, administrados em intervalos de 30 minutos. No grupo F foram administrados 4 jatos de fenoterol (400mcg) e no grupo BIF, 160mcg de BI e 400mcg de fenoterol (4 jatos). RESULTADOS: A média (± DP) do PFE basal (F = 36 ± 7% vs. BIF = 35 ± 9% previsto) e do VEF1 basal (F = 33 ± 9% vs. BIF = 32 ± 9%). Trinta e dois pacientes no grupo F e 33 pacientes no grupo BIF tiveram alta após tratamentos inalatórios. O VEF1 e PFE ao final dos tratamentos inalatórios foram, respectivamente, F = 60 ± 13% vs. BIF = 61 ± 11% e F = 74 ± 18% vs. BIF = 77 ± 13% (NS). CONCLUSÃO: A adição de brometo de ipratrópio ao fenoterol resulta em efeito funcional insignificante e sem impacto clínico no tratamento da crise de asma em adultos.<br>Repeated dosis of inhaled b2-agonists have been used in the treatment of acute asthma. The effect of added ipratropium bromide (IB) to b2-agonist is controversial in adults. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if addition of IB to fenoterol, in repeated doses, induces a greater bronchodilation, a greater reversion of the attack, and discharge from emergency unit in adults with acute severe asthma. SETTING: Pneumology Emergency Department, Unifesp-Hospital São Paulo, in the period from July 1995 to February 1997. TYPE OF STUDY: Open, randomized and parallel study. Discharge from the hospital: FEV1 and PEF > 60% of the predicted value. METHODS: 120 patients with FEV1 and PEF < 50% of the predicted value were divided into two groups (N = 60): fenoterol (F) and ipratropium bromide + fenoterol (IBF). Each group received inhalation treatment through a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) attached to a holding chamber, administered at 30-minute interval, for a total of three treatments. In the group F four puffs of fenoterol (400 mg) were administered, and in the IBF group, 160 mg of BI and 400 mg of fenoterol (four puffs). RESULTS: The patients did not differ from basal PEF (F = 36 ± 7% vs IBF = 35 ± 9% predicted) and basal FEV1 (F = 33 ± 9% vs IBF = 32 ± 9% predicted). Thirty-two patients of group F and 33 of group IBF were discharged from hospital after the inhalation treatment. The final FEV1 and PEF after inhalation treatments were F = 60 ± 13% vs IBF = 61 ± 11% e F = 74 ± 18% vs IBF = 77 ± 13% (NS). CONCLUSION: The addition of ipratropium bromide to fenoterol results in insignificant functional effect and without clinical impact in the treatment of acute asthma in adults