Prevalencia y enfoque terapéutico del dolor en el servicio de urgencias de un hospital universitario

Aim: To know the prevalence of pain and the therapeutic approach in an emergency department (ED). Material and methods: Cross-sectional study in the ED of a university hospital during 7 consecutive days was performed. The presence of pain was asked by a physician to patients older than 15 years admitted at ED. Patients admitted at Psychiatry, Obstetrics-Gynecology Emergency Department and those whose serious condition would not allow pain assessment in triage were excluded. The previous analgesic treatment, pain assessment, analgesic treatment in the ED and also scheduled treatment at discharge were later reviewed. Results: Six hundred and sixty-eight from 2,287 patients who were admitted at ED were analyzed. Five hundred and one patients reported pain (75 %), of which 45 were admitted and 456 were discharged at home (240 patients in level 1, 216 at level 2). The 24.5 % of the 501 patients who reported pain at admission were previously treated with analgesics. The 41.7 % of the 216 patients treated at level 2 received analgesic treatment during their stay [paracetamol (80.2 %), nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (50.0 %), co-analgesics (1.0 %), weak opioids (20.8 %), strong opioids (3.1 %)]. The 32.7 % of the 196 patients without documented pain assessment received analgesic treatment as required. In 69.4 % of the 456 patients who did not require hospitalization, analgesic treatment was prescribed or modified at discharge [paracetamol (55 %), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (67 %), co-analgesics (10 %), weak opioids (10 %), strong opioids (1.1 %)]. Conclusions: A high prevalence of pain (75 %) was found in patients admitted at ED. The 41.7 % received analgesic treatment during their stay and in 69.4 % of patients analgesia was prescribed at discharge. Low opioid prescription was detected.Objetivo: conocer la prevalencia de dolor y su enfoque terapéutico en un servicio de urgencias. Material y métodos: estudio transversal llevado a cabo en el Servicio de Urgencias de un hospital universitario durante 7 días consecutivos. El médico de triaje interrogó sobre la presencia de dolor a los pacientes mayores de 15 años que acudían a urgencias. Se excluyeron los pacientes atendidos en el Servicio de Psiquiatría, Obstetricia-Ginecología y aquellos cuya gravedad no permitía la valoración del dolor en el triaje. Se revisó posteriormente el tratamiento analgésico previo a la visita, la evaluación del dolor, el tratamiento analgésico aplicado durante su estancia en urgencias y el tratamiento pautado al alta. Resultados: se analizaron 668 de los 2.287 pacientes que acudieron a urgencias durante el periodo del estudio. Presentaron dolor 501 pacientes (75 %), de los que 45 ingresaron y 456 fueron dados de alta a domicilio (240 pacientes procedentes de nivel 1 y 216 de nivel 2). El 24,5 % de los 501 pacientes que manifestaron tener dolor realizaba tratamiento analgésico previo. De los 216 pacientes atendidos en el nivel 2, el 41,7 % recibió tratamiento analgésico durante su estancia [paracetamol (80,2 %), antiinflamatorios no esteroideos (AINE) (50 %), co-analgésicos (1 %), opioides débiles (20,8 %), opioides fuertes (3,1 %)]. El 32,7 % de los 196 pacientes sin registro de evaluación del dolor recibió tratamiento analgésico a demanda. En un 69,4 % de los 456 pacientes que no precisaron ingreso, al alta se pautó analgesia o se modificó el tratamiento analgésico previo [paracetamol (55 %), AINE (67 %), co-analgésicos (10 %), opioides débiles (10 %), opioides fuertes (1,1 %)]. Conclusiones: se evidencia una elevada prevalencia de dolor (75 %) en los pacientes que acuden al servicio de urgencias. El 41,7 % de los pacientes que presentaban dolor recibió tratamiento analgésico durante su estancia y en el 69,4 % de los pacientes que no precisaron ingreso se pautó analgesia al alta. Destaca la baja prescripción de opioides

Influence of the length of hospitalisation in post-discharge outcomes in patients with acute heart failure: Results of the LOHRCA study.

To investigate the relationship between length of hospitalisation (LOH) and post-discharge outcomes in acute heart failure (AHF) patients and to ascertain whether there are different patterns according to department of initial hospitalisation. Consecutive AHF patients hospitalised in 41 Spanish centres were grouped based on the LOH (15 days). Outcomes were defined as 90-day post-discharge all-cause mortality, AHF readmissions, and the combination of both. Hazard ratios (HRs), adjusted by chronic conditions and severity of decompensation, were calculated for groups with LOH >6 days vs. LOH 6 days vs. LOH We included 8563 patients (mean age: 80 (SD = 10) years, 55.5% women), with a median LOH of 7 days (IQR 4-11): 2934 (34.3%) had a LOH 15 days. The 90-day post-discharge mortality was 11.4%, readmission 32.2%, and combined endpoint 37.4%. Mortality was increased by 36.5% (95%CI = 13.0-64.9) when LOH was 11-15 days, and by 72.0% (95%CI = 42.6-107.5) when >15 days. Conversely, no differences were found in readmission risk, and the combined endpoint only increased 21.6% (95%CI = 8.4-36.4) for LOH >15 days. Stratified analysis by hospitalisation departments rendered similar post-discharge outcomes, with all exhibiting increased mortality for LOH >15 days and no significant increments in readmission risk. Short hospitalisations are not associated with worse outcomes. While post-discharge readmissions are not affected by LOH, mortality risk increases as the LOH lengthens. These findings were similar across hospitalisation departments