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Background: The accuracy and speed by which acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is excluded are an important determinant of emergency department (ED) length of stay and resource utilization. While high‐sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI) >99th percentile (upper reference level [URL]) represents a "rule‐in" cutpoint, our purpose was to evaluate the ability of the Beckman Coulter hsTnI assay, using various level‐of‐quantification (LoQ) cutpoints, to rule out AMI within 3 hours of ED presentation in suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Methods: This multicenter evaluation enrolled adults with >5 minutes of ACS symptoms and an electrocardiogram obtained per standard care. Exclusions were ST‐segment elevation or chronic hemodialysis. After informed consent was obtained, blood samples were collected in heparin at ED admission (baseline), ≥1 to 3, ≥3 to 6, and ≥6 to 9 hours postadmission. Samples were processed and stored at –20°C within 1 hour and were tested at three independent clinical laboratories on an immunoassay system (DxI 800, Beckman Coulter). Analytic cutpoints were the URL of 17.9 ng/L and two LoQ cutpoints, defined as the 10 and 20% coefficient of variation (5.6 and 2.3 ng/L, respectively). A criterion standard MI diagnosis was adjudicated by an independent endpoint committee, blinded to hsTnI, and using the universal definition of MI. Results: Of 1,049 patients meeting the entry criteria, and with baseline and 1‐ to 3‐hour hsTnI results, 117 (11.2%) had an adjudicated final diagnosis of AMI. AMI patients were typically older, with more cardiovascular risk factors. Median (IQR) presentation time was 4 (1.6–16.0) hours after symptom onset, although AMI patients presented ~0.5 hour earlier than non‐AMI. Enrollment and first blood draw occurred at a mean of ~1 hour after arrival. To evaluate the assay's rule‐out performance, patients with any hsTnI > URL were considered high risk and were excluded. The remaining population (n = 829) was divided into four LoQ relative categories: both hsTnI < LoQ (Lo‐Lo cohort); first hsTnI < LoQ and 2nd > LoQ (Lo‐Hi cohort); first > LoQ and second < LoQ (Hi‐Lo cohort); or both > LoQ (Hi‐Hi cohort). In patients with any hsTnI result <20% CV LoQ (Groups 1–3), n = 231 (23.9% ruled out), AMI negative predictive value (NPV) was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 98.9% to 100%). In patients with any hsTnI below the 10% LoQ, n = 611 (58% rule out), AMI NPV was 100% (95% CI = 99.5% to 100%). Of the Hi‐Hi cohort (i.e., no hsTnI below the 10% LoQ, but both < URL), there were four AMI patients, NPV was 98.2% (95% CI = 95.4% to 99.3%), and sensitivity was 96.6. Conclusions: Patients presenting >3 hours after the onset of suspected ACS symptoms, with at least two Beckman Coulter Access hsTnI < URL and at least one of which is below either the 10 or the 20% LoQ, had a 100% NPV for AMI. Two hsTnI values 1 to 3 hours apart with both < URL, but also >LoQ had inadequate sensitivity and NPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Concentrations of insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐7 (IGFBP7) have been linked to abnormal cardiac structure and function in patients with chronic heart failure (HF), but cardiovascular correlates of the biomarker in patients with more acute presentations are lacking. We aimed to determine the relationship between IGFBP7 concentrations and cardiac structure and to evaluate the impact of IGFBP7 on the diagnosis of acute HF among patients with acute dyspnoea. Methods and results: In this pre‐specified subgroup analysis of the International Collaborative of N‐terminal pro‐B‐type Natriuretic Peptide Re‐evaluation of Acute Diagnostic Cut‐Offs in the Emergency Department (ICON‐RELOADED) study, we included 271 patients with and without acute HF. All patients presented to an emergency department with acute dyspnoea, had blood samples for IGFBP7 measurement, and detailed echocardiographic evaluation. Higher IGFBP7 concentrations were associated with numerous cardiac abnormalities, including increased left atrial volume index (LAVi; r = 0.49, P < 0.001), lower left ventricular ejection fraction (r = −0.27, P < 0.001), lower right ventricular fractional area change (r = −0.31, P < 0.001), and higher tissue Doppler E/e′ ratio (r = 0.44, P < 0.001). In multivariable linear regression analyses, increased LAVi (P = 0.01), lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.008), higher body mass index (P = 0.001), diabetes (P = 0.009), and higher concentrations of amino‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP, P = 0.02) were independently associated with higher IGFBP7 concentrations regardless of other variables. Furthermore, IGFBP7 (odds ratio = 12.08, 95% confidence interval 2.42–60.15, P = 0.02) was found to be independently associated with the diagnosis of acute HF in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: Among acute dyspnoeic patients with and without acute HF, increased IGFBP7 concentrations are associated with a range of cardiac structure and function abnormalities. Independent association with increased LAVi suggests elevated left ventricular filling pressure is an important trigger for IGFBP7 expression and release. IGFBP7 may enhance the diagnosis of acute HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recent single-center and retrospective studies suggest that acute myocardial infarction ( AMI) could be immediately excluded without serial sampling in patients with initial high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs- cTnT) levels below the limit of detection (LoD) of the assay and no electrocardiogram ( ECG) ischemia. Objective We aimed to determine the external validity of those findings in a multicenter study at 12 sites in nine countries. Methods TRAPID- AMI was a prospective diagnostic cohort study including patients with suspected cardiac chest pain within 6 hours of peak symptoms. Blood drawn on arrival was centrally tested for hs- cTnT (Roche; 99th percentile = 14 ng/L, LoD = 5 ng/L). All patients underwent serial troponin sampling over 4-14 hours. The primary outcome, prevalent AMI, was adjudicated based on sensitive troponin I (Siemens Ultra) levels. Major adverse cardiac events ( MACE) including AMI, death, or rehospitalization for acute coronary syndrome with coronary revascularization were determined after 30 days. Results We included 1,282 patients, of whom 213 (16.6%) had AMI and 231 (18.0%) developed MACE. Of 560 (43.7%) patients with initial hs- cTnT levels below the LoD, four (0.7%) had AMI. In total, 471 (36.7%) patients had both initial hs- cTnT levels below the LoD and no ECG ischemia. These patients had a 0.4% ( n = 2) probability of AMI, giving 99.1% (95% confidence interval [ CI] = 96.7% to 99.9%) sensitivity and 99.6% (95% CI = 98.5% to 100.0%) negative predictive value. The incidence of MACE in this group was 1.3% (95% CI = 0.5% to 2.8%). Conclusions In the absence of ECG ischemia, the detection of very low concentrations of hs- cTnT at admission seems to allow rapid, safe exclusion of AMI in one-third of patients without serial sampling. This could be used alongside careful clinical assessment to help reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The objectives were to determine whether guideline-concordant emergency department ( ED) management of acute asthma is associated with a shorter hospital length of stay ( LOS) among patients hospitalized for asthma. Methods A multicenter chart review study of patients aged 2-54 years who were hospitalized for acute asthma at one of the 25 U.S. hospitals during 2012-2013. Based on level A recommendations from national asthma guidelines, we derived four process measures of ED treatment before hospitalization: inhaled β-agonists, inhaled anticholinergic agents, systemic corticosteroids, and lack of methylxanthines. The outcome measure was hospital LOS. Results Among 854 ED patients subsequently hospitalized for acute asthma, 532 patients (62%) received care perfectly concordant with the four process measures in the ED. Overall, the median hospital LOS was 2 days (interquartile range = 1-3 days). In the multivariable negative binomial model, patients who received perfectly concordant ED asthma care had a significantly shorter hospital LOS (−17%, 95% confidence interval [ CI] = −27% to −5%, p = 0.006), compared to other patients. In the mediation analysis, the direct effect of guideline-concordant ED asthma care on hospital LOS was similar to that of primary analysis (−16%, 95% CI = −27% to −5%, p = 0.005). By contrast, the indirect effect mediated by quality of inpatient asthma care was not significant, indicating that the effect of ED asthma care on hospital LOS was mediated through pathways other than quality of inpatient care. Conclusion In this multicenter observational study, patients who received perfectly concordant asthma care in the ED had a shorter hospital LOS. Our findings encourage further adoption of guideline-recommended emergency asthma care to improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Chest pain is a common complaint to emergency departments ( EDs) and clinical risk factors are used to predict which patients are at risk for worse outcomes and mortality. The goal was to assess the novel biomarker midregional proadrenomedullin ( MR-pro ADM) in prediction of mortality and major adverse cardiac events ( MACE). Methods This was a subanalysis of the CHOPIN study, a 16-center prospective trial that enrolled 2,071 patients presenting with chest pain within 6 hours of onset. The primary endpoint was 6-month all-cause mortality and the secondary endpoint was 30-day and 6-month MACE: ED visits or hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, reinfarction, revascularization, and heart failure. Results MR-pro ADM performed similarly to troponin ( cTnI; c-statistic = 0.845 and 0.794, respectively) for mortality prediction in all subjects and had similar results in those with noncardiac diagnoses. MR-pro ADM concentrations were stratified by decile, and the cohort in the top decile had a 9.8% 6-month mortality risk versus 0.9% risk for those in the bottom nine deciles (p < 0.0001). MR-pro ADM, history of coronary artery disease ( CAD), and hypertension were predictors of short-term MACE, while history of CAD, hypertension, cTnI, and MR-pro ADM were predictors of long-term MACE. Conclusions In patients with chest pain, MR-pro ADM predicts mortality and MACE in all-comers with chest pain and has similar prediction in those with a noncardiac diagnosis. This exploratory analysis is primarily hypotheses-generating and future prospective studies to identify its utility in risk stratification should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Biomarkers have proven their ability in the evaluation of cardiopulmonary diseases. We investigated the utility of concentrations of the biomarker procalcitonin (PCT) alone and with clinical variables for the diagnosis of pneumonia in patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with a chief complaint of shortness of breath. Methods and results The BACH trial was a prospective, international, study of 1641 patients presenting to EDs with dyspnoea. Blood samples were analysed for PCT and other biomarkers. Relevant clinical data were also captured. Patient outcomes were assessed at 90 days. The diagnosis of pneumonia was made using strictly validated guidelines. A model using PCT was more accurate [area under the curve (AUC) 72.3%] than any other individual clinical variable for the diagnosis of pneumonia in all patients, in those with obstructive lung disease, and in those with acute heart failure (AHF). Combining physician estimates of the probability of pneumonia with PCT values increased the accuracy to >86% for the diagnosis of pneumonia in all patients. Patients with a diagnosis of AHF and an elevated PCT concentration (>0.21 ng/mL) had a worse outcome if not treated with antibiotics (P = 0.046), while patients with low PCT values (<0.05 ng/mL) had a better outcome if they did not receive antibiotic therapy (P = 0.049). Conclusion Procalcitonin may aid in the diagnosis of pneumonia, particularly in cases with high diagnostic uncertainty. Importantly, PCT may aid in the decision to administer antibiotic therapy to patients presenting with AHF in which clinical uncertainty exists regarding a superimposed bacterial infection. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The effective delivery and continued advancement of health care is critically dependent on the relationship between physicians and industry. The private sector accounts for 60% of the funding for clinical research and more than 50% of the funding sources for physician education. The nature of the physician–industry relationship and the role of the physician as a gatekeeper for health care make this association vulnerable to abuse if certain safeguards are not observed. This article will review the current federal guidelines that affect the physician–industry relationship and highlight several illustrative cases to show how the potential for abuse can subvert this relationship. The recommendations and “safe harbors” that have been designed to guide business relationships in health care are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The authors surveyed the membership of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) about their associations with industry and predictors of those associations. Methods: A national Web-based survey inviting faculty from the active member list of SAEM was conducted. Follow-up requests for participation were sent weekly for 3 weeks. Information was collected on respondents’ personal and practice characteristics, industry interactions, and personal opinions regarding these interactions. Raw response rates were reported and a logistic regression was used to generate descriptive statistics. Results: Responses were received from 430 members, representing 14% of the 3,183 active members. Respondents were 83% male and 86% white, with 96% holding an MD degree (24% with an additional postdoctoral degree). Most were at the assistant (37%) or associate (25%) professor rank, with 51% holding at least one leadership position. Most respondents (82%) reported some type of industry interaction, most commonly the acceptance of food or beverages (67%). Respondents at the associate professor rank or higher were more likely to receive payments from industry (51% vs. 22%, odds ratio [OR] = 3.7). Conclusions: This survey suggests that interactions between industry and academic EM faculty are common and increase with academic rank, but not with years in practice or leadership influence. The number and type of interactions are consistent with those reported by a national sampling of other physician specialties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses several issues about the development of emergency medical practice in the U.S. Roles of emergency physicians in managing disease resolution; Clinical assessment of acute diseases; Impact of technology on emergency medicine.

While anemia is a significant risk factor for poor outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF), it is not in defined guidelines for HF assessment. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a marker for diagnosis and management of patients with HF. We determined the incidence of anemia in patients with HF and the relationship between BNP and hemoglobin (Hgb) levels in patients with and without HF. Results from the Breathing Not Properly Multinational Trial consisted of 1,586 patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with dyspnea. Because renal insufficiency is a confounding variable for BNP, patients with a creatinine of >or=2.0 mg/dL were excluded. The remaining data were evaluated from 620 non-HF patients (337 M, 283 F) and 547 HF patients (299 M, 248 F). The New York Heart Association (NYHA) HF classification and ejection fraction by echocardiography were assessed for HF patients. Blood was tested for Hgb, BNP, and creatinine. Using World Health Organization criteria for anemia, we observed that HF patients in NYHA class III or IV had lower mean Hgb levels (12.5 g/dL, P < 0.05) and a higher incidence of anemia (48.2%, P < 0.05) than did HF patients in class I or II (13.4 g/dL and 33.9%, respectively). There was no correlation between Hgb and log BNP for females without HF or the aggregate of all HF patients. In contrast, a significant inverse correlation was observed for males without HF (P < 0.001). Although there were differences in the BMI, age, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) versus Hgb observed in this group, the log BNP correlation remained significant after multivariate analysis. A significant inverse correlation for log BNP and Hgb were also observed for diastolic (EF >or= 50) HF (P < 0.05) that was also not accounted for by the BMI, age, or eGFR. The presence of anemia is associated with worsening HF at ED presentation. For males without HF and diastolic HF patients of both genders, a low Hgb may be a confounding variable toward increasing BNP. Among systolic HF patients, the presence of a low hemoglobin concentration is not a factor in the interpretation of BNP results.