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Objective: Experts recommended that direct discharge without hospitalization (DDWH) for emergency departments (EDs) able to observe acute heart failure (AHF) patients should be 40%, and these discharged patients should fulfil the following outcome standards: 30-day all-cause mortality 40%. Considering DDWH patients altogether, outcomes A/C were above the recommended standards (4.3%/29.4%), while outcome B was nearly met (B = 10.1%). When analyzing individual EDs, 58.1% of them achieved the outcome B standard, while outcomes A/C standards were barely achieved (19.3%/9.7%). We observed clinically relevant linear/quadratic relationships between higher DDWH and worse outcomes B (weighted R-2 = 0.184/0.322) and C (weighted R-2 = 0.430/0.624), but not with outcome A (weighted R-2 = 0.002/0.022). Conclusions: The EDs of this nationwide cohort do not fulfil the standards for AHF patients with DDWH. High DDWH rates negatively impact ED revisit or hospitalization but not mortality. This may represent an opportunity for improvement in better selecting patients for early ED discharge and in ensuring early follow-up after ED discharge. (c) 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Japanese College of Cardiology.

OBJECTIVES To investigate whether the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients with chest pain (CP) is more difficult based on the initial clinical and electrocardiogram (ECG) findings. METHODS We included consecutive CP patients attended at a single emergency department (ED) during a 10-year period. CABG status and the final diagnosis of ACS were considered as stated in the ED discharge report. We evaluated the frequency of 21 CP characteristics (CPC) and four ECG signatures, their individual and collective association with ACS, and ED length of stay (LOS) in CABG and non-CABG patients. RESULTS We included 34 429 patients [median age: 61 years; female: 41.8%; CABG: 2204 patients (6.4%)], and ACS was diagnosed in 6727 (19.5%; CABG/non-CABG 37.2%/18.3%; P < 0.001). CABG patients more frequently had CPC and ECG findings typically associated with ACS, but their final association with ACS was weaker than in non-CABG patients (only significant after adjustment for attendant diaphoresis, throat irradiation, ST-segment elevation and T-wave inversion). The collective discriminative capacity was significantly lower in CABG patients (area under the curve 0.710 vs. 0.793; P < 0.001), even after adjustment (0.708 vs. 0.790; P < 0.001). ED LOS was longer for CABG patients, overall (P < 0.001) and for patients diagnosed with ACS (P = 0.008) and non-ACS (P < 0.001), but these differences disappeared after adjustment. CONCLUSION CABG substantially reduces the diagnostic performance of CPC and ECG findings to suggest ACS. A longer LOS in the ED in CABG patients is more related to their baseline characteristics than to CABG itself.

Resumen Objetivo Evaluar la utilidad de la escala de cribado de la fragilidad (Identification of Senior at Risk [ISAR]) para predecir la mortalidad a los 30 dias en los pacientes mayores atendidos por insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (ICA) en los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH). Diseno Estudio multicentrico observacional de cohorte multiproposito. Ambito Registro OAK-3. Participantes Pacientes ≥ 65 anos atendidos por ICA en 16 SUH espanoles de enero a febrero del 2016. Intervencion Ninguna. Variables La variable de estudio fue la escala ISAR. La variable de resultado fue la mortalidad por cualquier causa a los 30 dias. Resultados Se incluyo a 1.059 pacientes (edad media 85 ± 5,9 anos). Ciento sesenta (15,1%) casos tuvieron 0-1 puntos, 278 (26,3%) 2 puntos, 260 (24,6%) 3 puntos, 209 (19,7%) 4 puntos y 152 (14,3%) 5-6 puntos de la escala ISAR. Noventa y cinco (9,0%) pacientes fallecieron a los 30 dias. La frecuencia de mortalidad se incremento en relacion a la categoria del ISAR (p tendencia lineal Conclusiones La escala ISAR es una herramienta breve y sencilla que deberia ser considerada para el despistaje de la fragilidad en la valoracion inicial de los pacientes mayores con insuficiencia cardiaca aguda de cara a predecir la mortalidad a 30 dias.

Introduction The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak is posing unprecedented care scenarios, increasing the psychological distress among healthcare workers while reducing the efficiency of health systems. This work evaluated the psychological impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Spanish frontline healthcare workers of two tertiary hospitals. Material and methods Healthcare workers were recruited from the medical units designated for the care of Covid-19 patients. The psychological assessment consisted of an individual, face-to-face session where gold-standard psychometric tests were administered to assess stress (VASS & PSS-10), anxiety (STAI), depression (PHQ-2) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PCL-5). Regression models were also fitted to identify predictors of psychological distress. Results Overall, almost 13% of healthcare workers showed severe anxiety, while more than 26% had high levels of perceived stress. More than 23% presented severe posttraumatic stress symptoms, and another 13% had PHQ-2 scores equal to or above 3, compatible with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) diagnosis, respectively. Women, stress-related medication, overworking, performing in Covid-19 wards, and substance abuse were risk factors for increased psychological distress. Instead, practising exercise reduced the burden. Conclusion This study outlines the severe psychological impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Spanish frontline healthcare workers. The stress, depression and anxiety levels found were similar to those reported in similar works but much higher than in Wuhan healthcare workers. Knowledge of risk factors for increased psychological distress may help to develop comprehensive intervention strategies to prevent, control and reduce the mental health exacerbation of healthcare workers, thereby maintaining the effectiveness of health systems in critical scenarios.

The Covid-19 pandemic continues challenging health systems globally, exposing healthcare workers to constant physical and psychological stressors. To date, several studies have already shown the catastrophic impact on the mental health of medical personnel during the early period of the pandemic. Nevertheless, literature evidences the dearth of works that evaluate the effect over time, understanding the pandemic as a sustained extreme stressor. The present study examines the effect of the pandemic on the mental health of Covid-19 frontline healthcare workers at six months follow-up.A total of 141 frontline healthcare workers from two tertiary hospitals were recruited between July and November 2020. Healthcare workers were evaluated psychologically at baseline and six months follow-up (January to May 2021) using psychometric tests for the assessment of acute stress (VASS, PSS-10, PCL-5), anxiety (STAI) and depression (PHQ-2).Overall, there was a general worsening of the mental health between the two psychological assessments, especially regarding depression and predisposition to perceiving the situations as a threat. Nurses and nurse aides showed poorer mental health while physicians improved over time. Reduced working hours and higher physical exercise resulted in better mental health among healthcare workers. Women and nursing staff were the most affected by psychological distress at baseline and six months follow-up.Reduced working hours, adequate resting periods, physical exercise, and efficient intervention strategies are of utmost importance in preventing, controlling, and reducing psychological distress among healthcare workers when coping with critical scenarios such as the current pandemic.La pandemia Covid-19 sigue desafiando a los sistemas sanitarios, exponiendo al personal asistencial a estresores físicos y psicológicos. Actualmente, varios estudios han demostrado el impacto catastrófico en la salud mental del personal asistencial durante la primera etapa de la pandemia, pero pocos han considerado el seguimiento de los síntomas. El presente estudio examina el efecto de la pandemia en la salud mental del personal sanitario de primera línea a los 6 meses de seguimiento.Se evaluó psicológicamente a 141 trabajadores sanitarios de primera línea de 2 hospitales terciarios al inicio del estudio (julio-noviembre, 2020) y a los 6 meses (enero-mayo, 2021) mediante pruebas psicométricas para el estrés agudo (VASS, PSS-10, PCL-5), la ansiedad (STAI) y la depresión (PHQ-2).En general, se observó un empeoramiento de la salud mental entre las 2 evaluaciones psicológicas, especialmente en depresión y predisposición a percibir las situaciones como una amenaza. La salud mental del personal de enfermería empeoró con el tiempo, mientras que los médicos mejoraron. La reducción de la jornada laboral y el aumento del ejercicio físico mejoraron la salud mental. Las mujeres y el personal de enfermería fueron los más afectados por el malestar psicológico al inicio y a los 6 meses de seguimiento.Jornadas laborales reducidas, períodos de descanso adecuados, ejercicio físico y estrategias de intervención eficientes son de suma importancia para prevenir, controlar y reducir el malestar psicológico entre el personal sanitario ante escenarios críticos como la pandemia actual.

To determine functional changes and factors affecting 180-day functional prognosis among older patients attending a hospital emergency department (ED) after a fall.Retrospective analysis from a prospective cohort study (FALL-ER Registry) spanning one year that included individuals aged ≥65 years attending four Spanish EDs after a fall. We collected 9 baseline and 6 fall-related factors.Barthel Index (BI) was measured at baseline, discharge and 30, 90 and 180 days after the index fall. Absolute and relative BI changes were calculated. Absolute difference of ≥10 points between BI at baseline and at 180 days was considered a clinically significant functional decline.452 patients (mean age 80 ± 8 years; 70.8% women) were included. Baseline BI was 79.3 ± 23.1 points. Compared with baseline, functional status was significantly lower at the 4 follow-up time points (-8.7% at discharge; and -6.9%, -7.9% and -9.5% at 30, 90 and 180 days; p 0.001 for all comparisons in relation to baseline; p = 0.001 for change over time). One hundred and thirty-three (29.6%) patients had a clinically significant functional decline at 180 days. Age ≥85 years (OR = 2.24, 95%CI 1.23-4.08; p = 0.008), fall-related fracture (OR = 2.45, 95%CI 1.43-4.28; p = 0.001), hospitalization (OR = 1.91; 95%CI 1.11-3.29; p = 0.019) and post-fall syndrome (OR = 1.77, 95%CI 1.13-2.77; p = 0.013) were independently associated with 180-day clinically significant functional decline.Patients ≥65 years attending EDs after a fall experience a consistent and persistent negative impact on their functional status. Several factors may help identify patients at increased risk of functional impairment.

Background: Little is known about the prevalence and impact of risk of malnutrition on short-term mortality among seniors presenting with acute heart failure (AHF) in emergency setting. The objective was to determine the impact of risk of malnutrition on 30-day mortality risk among older patients who attended in Emergency Departments (EDs) for AHF. Material and methods: We performed a secondary analysis of the OAK-3 Registry including all consecutive patients >= 65 years attending in 16 Spanish EDs for AHF. Risk of malnutrition was defined by the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) < 12 points. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the association between risk of malnutrition and 30-day mortality. Results: We included 749 patients (mean age: 85 (SD 6); 55.8% females). Risk of malnutrition was observed in 594 (79.3%) patients. The rate of 30-day mortality was 8.8%. After adjusting for MEESSI-AHF risk score clinical categories (model 1) and after adding all variables showing a significantly different distribution among groups (model 2), the risk of malnutrition was an independent factor associated with 30-day mortality (adjusted OR by model 1 = 3.4; 95% CI 1.2-9.7; p = .020 and adjusted OR by model 2 = 3.1; 95% CI 1.1-9.0; p = .033) compared to normal nutritional status. Conclusions: The risk of malnutrition assessed by the MNA-SF is associated with 30-day mortality in older patients with AHF who were attended in EDs. Routine screening of risk of malnutrition may help emergency physicians in decision-making and establishing a care plan.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): Josep Font 2019 Grant from Hospital Clinic de Barcelona Background Differences between female (F) and male (M) with coronary disease (CD) are related to time delays in detriment of women such as: hospital presentation, recognition of symptoms or an appropriate treatment. Further research based on sex and gender (S&G) is at important to confront the interplay of factors that shape health inequities. Purpose To do an analysis based on S&G of the admissions in the chest pain unit (CPU) of an emergency department (ED), comparing clinical features and also the physician’s initial diagnostic orientation after the first evaluation of the patients (FEoP) . Methods This is an observational descriptive unicentric study of consecutive cases. We retrospectively analysed all the cases admitted in a CPU from 2008-2019 and recorded the cardiovascular risk factors (cvrf), and the clinical and electrocardiographic (ECG) features. We also recorded the final diagnostic after all the management in the CPU and the FEoP [based on the clinical history, physical examination and ECG; before other complementary examinations like troponins (Tnc)]. The characteristics were compared according to sex (F or M). Results 41828 patients were included (42% F), with an older median age in F [Md (RIC) [65 (47-78) vs 59 (43-73)] y.o.; p Conclusions There is a gender gap in the first evaluation of chest pain with an underestimation of risk in women, not only by the patients who are more often late presenters, but also by the physicians, which entails a higher risk of being misdiagnosed or late diagnosed.

Objective We investigated which factors predict late presentation (LP) to the emergency department (ED) in patients with non-traumatic chest pain (CP). Methods All CP cases attended at a single ED (2008–2017) were included. LP was considered if time from CP onset to ED arrival was >6 h. We analyzed associations between 42 patient/CP-related characteristics and LP in the whole cohort and in patients with CP due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Results The cohort included 25,693 cases (LP=50.6%; ACS=19.0%). Twenty factors were associated with LP, and 8 were also found in patients with ACS: CP of short-duration, aggravated by exertion or breathing/movement, undulating or recurrent CP increased the risk of LP, whereas CP accompanied by diaphoresis, irradiated to the throat, and chronic treatment with nitrates decreased the risk of LP. Exertional and recurrent CP were associated with both, LP and ACS. Conclusion Some characteristics, mainly CP-related, may lead to LP to the ED. CP aggravated by exercise and recurrent CP were associated with both LP and a final diagnosis of ACS. Practice implications Patient educational initiatives should consider these two features as potential warnings for ACS and thereby encourage patients to seek early medical consultation.

Caregiver burnout syndrome is an increasingly seen condition, although the subjective nature of self-administered psychometric tests and the lack of a consensual diagnostic tool might hinder a proper diagnosis. The availability of objective psychosomatic measures of stress might facilitate the early diagnosis and clinical management of these patients. For this reason, the aim of this work was to develop a quantitative tool to evaluate the stress level of caregivers in a noninvasive and repeatable manner. An observational, controlled, matched study was designed including a group of 38 principal caregivers of chronic patients and a control group of 38 non-caregivers. Psychometric, biochemical, and electrophysiological data were analyzed along with sociodemographic data. A quantitative chronic stress reference scale (CSRs) was constructed based on the weighted contribution of several psychometric and biochemical variables and afterwards, a predictive psychosomatic model (ESBSm) correlated with CSRs was elaborated from extracted variables of several electrophysiological signals monitored for 10 min. The resulting CSR scale shows a high power to discriminate caregivers from the control group while the ESBSm shows a 79% correlation with the CSR scale validated through a 5-fold process. Therefore, the results demonstrate that the ESBS model is an objective and validated tool to diagnose the degree of stress linked to burnout in caregivers of chronic patients from a 10-min session of noninvasive monitoring with a reliability equivalent to the questionnaires currently used to quantify stress in caregivers.

Objective: To assess the value of frailty screening tool (Identification of Senior at Risk [ISAR]) in predicting 30-day mortality risk in older patients attended in emergency department (ED) for acute heart failure (AHF). Design: Observational multicenter cohort study. Setting: OAK-3 register. Subjects: Patients aged >= 65 years attended with ADHF in 16 Spanish EDs from January to February 2016. Intervention: No. Variables: Variable of study was ISAR scale. The outcome was all-cause 30-day mortality. Results: We included 1059 patients (mean age 85 +/- 5,9 years old). One hundred and sixty (15.1%) cases had 0-1 points, 278 (26.3%) 2 points, 260 (24.6%) 3 points, 209 (19.7%) 4 points, and 152 (14.3%) 5-6 points of ISAR scale. Ninety five (9.0%) patients died within 30 days. The percentage of mortality increased in relation to ISAR category (lineal trend P value < .001). The area under curve of ISAR scale was 0.703 (95%Cl 0.655-0.751; P

Resumen Fundamento y objetivos Definir en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (ICA) dados de alta directamente desde Urgencias: las tasas de reconsulta a Urgencias y hospitalizacion por ICA y de muerte por cualquier causa a 30 dias; la tasa de estos 3 episodios combinados a 7 dias; y los factores asociados con tales episodios. Pacientes y metodo Incluimos pacientes diagnosticados consecutivamente de ICA durante 2 meses en 27 servicios de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH) dados de alta sin hospitalizacion. Recogimos 43 variables independientes, con seguimiento a 30 dias, e investigamos los factores predictivos para episodios adversos mediante regresion de Cox. Resultados Evaluamos 785 pacientes (78 ± 9 anos, 54,7% mujeres). Las tasas de reconsulta, hospitalizacion y mortalidad a 30 dias, y de episodio combinado a 7 dias fueron de 26,1, 15,7, 1,7 y 10,6%, respectivamente. Los factores independientes asociados a reconsulta fueron no administrar diureticos intravenosos en urgencias (HR 2,86; IC 95% 2,01-4,04), tasa de filtrado glomerular (TFG) Conclusion Presentamos por primera vez en Espana las tasas de episodios adversos en pacientes con ICA dados de alta directamente desde los SUH y definimos los factores asociados, lo cual deberia ayudar a determinar acciones para mejorar la seleccion de los pacientes candidatos al alta directa desde Urgencias.

Caregiving induces chronic stress with physical and psychological impact on informal caregivers health. Therefore, subjective and objective indicators are needed for the early diagnosis of pathologic stress to prevent the risk of developing stress-related diseases in caregivers. Our aim was to assess the self-perceived stress, that is, how and how much the stressor affects the individual, through endocrine, metabolic, and immunologic biomarkers levels in geriatric and oncologic informal caregivers. Informal caregivers and non-caregivers were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study at the Clinic Hospital of Barcelona. Demographic and lifestyle characteristics, self-perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Stress Visual Analogue Scale), and biomarkers (copeptin, glucose, glycated hemoglobin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), cholesterol, triglycerides, α-amylase, cortisol, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and Interleukins (IL-6 and IL-10)) were evaluated. Descriptive and non-parametric statistical data analysis were performed. Fifty-six subjects (19 non-caregivers, 17 geriatric caregivers, and 20 oncologic caregivers) participated. Median age (IQR) was 57 years (47-66) and 71.46% were women. Self-perceived stress was higher in oncologic caregivers than geriatric caregivers in all psychometric test analyzed (Wilcoxon Rank Sum test, p value .05). Glucose concentrations and glycated hemoglobin levels differed statistically among groups (Kruskal-Wallis test (K-W tests), p value .05), even though the median levels were not clinically relevant. Levels of other biomarkers did not differ significantly (K-W tests, p value .05). These findings suggest that perceived stress is not homogeneous in the caregivers community and thus these two groups could be differentiated. These results provide the baseline information to initiate social actions addressed to each group of caregivers to increase their wellbeing.

The objectives were to determine the impact of frailty and disability on 30-day mortality and whether the addition of these variables to HFRSS EFFECT risk score (FBI-EFFECT model) improves the short-term mortality predictive capacity of both HFRSS EFFECT and BI-EFFECT models in older patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) atended in the emergency department. We performed a retrospective analysis of OAK Registry including all consecutive patients ≥65 years old with ADHF attended in 3 Spanish emergency departments over 4 months. FBI-EFFECT model was developed by adjusting probabilities of HFRSS EFFECT risk categories according to the 6 groups (G1: non frail, no or mildly dependent; G2: frail, no or mildly dependent; G3: non frail, moderately dependent; G4: frail, moderately dependent; G5: severely dependent; G6: very severely dependent).We included 596 patients (mean age: 83 [SD7]; 61.2% females). The 30-day mortality was 11.6% with statistically significant differences in the 6 groups (p

To analyze changes in the characteristics of consecutively treated patients attended in the chest pain unit of a hospital emergency department over a 10-year period.All patients presenting with nontraumatic chest pain (NTCP) were included. We analyzed changes over time in epidemiologic characteristics, initial diagnostic classification (on clinical and electrocardiographic evaluation), final diagnosis (on discharge), and time until these diagnoses.A total of 34 552 consecutive patients with a mean (SD) age of 59 (13) years were included; 42% were women. The annual number of visits rose over time. Visits were fewer in summer and more numerous on workdays and between the hours of 8 AM and 4 PM (P.001, both comparisons). The number of women increased over time (up 0.29% annually, P.05) as did the number of patients under the age of 50 years (up 0.92% annually, P.001). With time, patients had fewer cardiovascular risk factors and less often had a history of ischemic heart disease. Fewer cases of NTCP had signs suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ACS was ruled out at the time of initial and final diagnoses in 52.2% and 80.4%, respectively, and these percentages which rose over the 10-year period by 1.86% (P.001) and 0.56% (P=.04). Time to initial diagnosis did not change. However, time to final diagnosis did increase (P.001), and the delay was longer in patients diagnosed with ACS (P.001).The chest pain unit was more active at the end of the period, in keeping with the increase in patients with NTCP whose characteristics were not typical of coronary disease. The percentages of patients initially and finally diagnosed with ACS decreased with time.Analizar la evolución de las características epidemiológicas de las visitas atendidas de forma consecutiva en una unidad de dolor torácico (UDT) de un servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH) durante un periodo de 10 años.Se incluyeron todas las visitas por dolor torácico no traumático (DTNT), analizándose la evolución temporal de las características epidemiológicas, de la clasificación diagnóstica inicial (evaluación clínica inicial y electrocardiograma) y final (al alta de la UDT), y los tiempos necesarios para alcanzar las mismas.Se incluyeron 34.552 pacientes consecutivos con una edad media 59 (DE 13) años, el 42% mujeres. Se observó un incrementó en el número anual de visitas a la UDT (p0,001), menor afluencia los meses de verano (p0,001), y mayor los días laborables (p0,001) y de 8-16 horas (p0,001). Se comprobó que progresivamente más pacientes eran mujeres (+0,29% anual, p0,05), menores de 50 años (+0,92%, p0,001), con más factores de riesgo cardiovascular, menos antecedentes de cardiopatía isquémica y con DTNT menos sugestivo de síndrome coronario agudo (SCA). La clasificación diagnóstica inicial y final descartó SCA en un 52,2% y un 80,4% de pacientes, respectivamente, hecho que aumentó progresivamente durante el periodo evaluado (+1,86%, p0,001; y +0,56%, p = 0,04; respectivamente). El tiempo de clasificación inicial no se modificó, pero se incrementó el necesario para la clasificación final (p0,001), que resultó superior en pacientes con diagnóstico final de SCA (p0,001).Se observa un mayor uso de la UDT tras su creación, causado por un incremento de pacientes con DTNT de características no típicamente coronarias, disminuyendo el porcentaje de clasificados inicial y finalmente como debidos a SCA.

Study objective The Multiple Estimation of Risk Based on the Emergency Department Spanish Score in Patients With Acute Heart Failure (MEESSI-AHF) is a validated clinical decision tool that characterizes risk of mortality in emergency department (ED) acute heart failure patients. The objective of this study is to compare the distribution of risk categories between hospitalized and discharged ED patients with acute heart failure. Methods We included consecutive acute heart failure patients from 34 Spanish EDs. Patients were retrospectively classified according to MEESSI-AHF risk categories. We calculated the odds of hospitalization (versus direct discharge from the ED) across MEESSI-AHF risk categories. Next, we assessed the following 30-day postdischarge outcomes: ED revisit, hospitalization, death, and their combination. We used Cox hazards models to determine the adjusted association between ED disposition decision and the outcomes among patients who were stratified into low- and increased-risk categories. Results We included 7,930 patients (80.5 years [SD 10.1 years]; women 54.7%; hospitalized 75.3%). Compared with that for low-risk MEESSI-AHF patients, odds ratios for hospitalization of patients in intermediate-, high-, and very-high-risk categories were 1.83 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.64 to 2.05), 3.05 (95% CI 2.48 to 3.76), and 3.98 (95% CI 3.13 to 5.05), respectively. However, almost half (47.6%) of all discharged patients were categorized as being at increased risk by MEESSI-AHF, and 19.0% of all the increased-risk patients were discharged from the ED. Among the low-risk MEESSI-AHF patients, the 30-day postdischarge mortality did not differ by ED disposition (hazard ratio [HR] for discharged patients with respect to hospitalized ones 0.65; 95% CI 0.70 to 1.11), nor did it differ in the increased-risk group (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.63 to 1.23). The discharged low-risk MEESSI-AHF patients had higher risks of 30-day ED revisit and hospitalization (HR 1.86, 95% CI 1.57 to 2.20; and HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.54 to 2.40, respectively) compared with the admitted patients, as did the discharged patients in the increased-risk group (HR 1.62, 95% CI 1.39 to 1.89; and HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.68, respectively), with similar results for the combined endpoint. Conclusion The disposition decisions made in current clinical practice for ED acute heart failure patients calibrate with MEESSI-AHF risk categories, but nearly half of the patients currently discharged from the ED fall into increased-risk MEESSI-AHF categories.

To profile patients aged 65 years or older who are attended in a hospital emergency department after falls. To describe the falls, their severity, and factors relevant to recommended preventive measures.The FALL-ER is a multipurpose, multicenter prospective registry of a systematically described cohort of patients aged 65 years or older attended in 5 hospital emergency departments on 52 days of the same year. We collected data on 68 independent variables. Patients were classified according to whether they had received recommendations related to preventing falls in any of the following categories: exercise, education on fall prevention, referral to a specialist or changes in medication.. A total of 1507 patients or carers were interviewed (93.6% of the 1610 patients in the registry). The cohort was of advanced age and had high rates of comorbidity, polypharmacy, and history of geriatric syndromes. The majority of falls occurred during the day and in the patients home. Half the falls were not witnessed. Forty-eight percent of the patients reported fear of falling, 22% had acute functional impairment, 16% were admitted, and 0.6% died in the hospital. Recommendations directed to preventing falls were received by 509 (33.8%) cases. Loss of hearing acuity, self-reported cognitive impairment, emergency first aid at the site of the fall, fear of falling again, acute functional impairment, and hospitalization were associated with a greater likelihood of receiving recommendations for preventing falls. Loss of visual acuity was associated with a lower likelihood of receiving recommendations.Only a third of elderly patients attended in an emergency department after falls receive recommendations that target preventing further falls. Certain patient and fall characteristics are associated with a greater likelihood of receiving such recommendations.Estudiar el perfil de los pacientes de 65 años o más atendidos por una caída en los servicios de urgencias (SU), las características de las caídas, y el grado y los factores asociados con la realización de recomendaciones para prevenir las caídas (RPC).FALL-ER es un registro de cohortes multipropósito, prospectivo y multicéntrico, con muestreo sistemático, que incluyó todos los pacientes de 65 años o más atendidos por caída en 5 SU durante 52 días en un año. Se recogieron 68 variables independientes. Los pacientes se clasificaron en función de recibir o no RPC (cualquiera de las siguientes: ejercicio, educación sobre prevención de las caídas, derivación a especialista o modificación de fármacos relacionados con las caídas).Se analizaron 1.507 (93,6%) del total de 1.610 pacientes. Los pacientes tenían una edad muy avanzada y alto grado de comorbilidad, polifarmacia y síndromes geriátricos previos. La caída suele suceder de día, en domicilio y en la mitad de casos sin testigo. Un 48% refirió miedo a caerse, un 22% presentó deterioro funcional agudo, un 16% ingresó y un 0,6% falleció. Se realizaron RPC en 509 (33,8%) casos. La disminución de la agudeza auditiva, deterioro cognitivo autorreferido, atención médica en el lugar de la caída, miedo a volver a caerse, deterioro funcional agudo y hospitalización se asociaron con mayor probabilidad de RPC, y la disminución de la agudeza visual con menor probabilidad.Solo tres de cada diez pacientes ancianos atendidos por una caída en urgencias recibe RPC posteriores, aunque existen ciertas características relacionadas con el paciente y la caída que se asocian a una mayor probabilidad de recibirlas.

To compare short-term outcomes after an episode of acute heart failure (AHF) in patients with reduced and preserved ejection fractions (HFrEF, 49%; respectively) according to their destinations after emergency department (ED) care. Methods and results: This secondary analysis of the EAHFE Registry (consecutive AHF patients diagnosed in 41 Spanish EDs) investigated 30-day all-cause mortality, in-hospital all-cause mortality, prolonged hospitalisation (> 7 days), and 30-day post-discharge ED revisit due to AHF, all-cause death, and combined endpoint (ED revisit/death) in 5829 patients with echocardiographically documented HFrEF and HfpEF (HFrEF/HFpEF: 1,442/4,387). Adjusted ratios were calculated for patients admitted to internal medicine (IM), short stay unit (SSU), and discharged from the ED without hospitalisation (DEDWH) and compared with those admitted to cardiology. For HFrEF, the only significant differences were lower in-hospital mortality (OR = 0.26; 95% CI 0.08-0.81; p = 0.021) and prolonged hospitalisation (OR = 0.07; 95% CI 0.04-0.13; p

Technology based advances in healthcare are leading to social changes that, in turn, will require innovative responses from health systems. Mainly due to these advances, life expectancy grows so, the aging of world population increases and with it the percentage of chronic patients. Because ofthese two factors: aging people and chronic patients, new needs are posed to the current health system. Together with these patients,a population of non-professional caregivers emerges playing a key role in the care process. However, the impact of the care burden on their health is usually underminedalthough an increasing number of studies report caregiver associated diseases. One of the challenges that arise from health systems: To acknowledgeand to take care this population of caregivers,to avoid the so-called burned caregiver syndrome as well as to reduce the risks of comorbidities associated with the caregiver's stress by setting up appropriate interventions. Having in mind all these considerations, from the Clinic Hospital in Barcelona we are starting to work ona biofeedback program involvingdifferent populations of caregivers: 30 caregivers of oncological patients and 30 caregivers of geriatric patients and the corresponding control group. The project that is presented in this paper is aiming to determine if these therapies can become effective interventions to reduce the stress that represents the caregiver syndrome. The follow-up of the project willfocus on the possibility to indirectly demonstrate if the decrease of stress actually results in a decrease of the derived diseases and of the total cost that it entails.

Scientific research has led to enhanced medical assistance, and hence higher disease control and a continuous lifespan dilation. However, research mainly focusses on the patient’s condition, and, in some cases, caregivers’ health is undervalued. In this paper, a close-related emotionally involved caregiver group is examined and compared to a non-caregiver group in order to investigate the role of chronic stress in their psychological and physiological state. For this purpose, blood, saliva, and hair samples, physiological signals and three validated psychometric tests are collected from both groups. Results from 39 subjects show interesting significant differences among all the psychometric profiles between the two groups although no sufficient biochemical data supports the relation with potential health consequences.

The aim of this study was to define the following in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) discharged directly from accident and emergency (AE): rates of reconsultation to AE and hospitalisation for AHF, and all-cause death at 30 days, rate of combined event at 7 days and the factors associated with these rates.The study included patients consecutively diagnosed with AHF during 2 months in 27 Spanish AE departments who were discharged from AE without hospitalisation. We collected 43 independent variables, monitored patients for 30 days and evaluated predictive factors for adverse events using Cox regression analysis.We evaluated 785 patients (78±9) years, 54.7% women). The rates of reconsultation, hospitalisation, and death at 30 days and the combined event at 7 days were: 26.1, 15.7, 1.7 and 10.6%, respectively. The independent factors associated with reconsultation were no endovenous diuretics administered in AE (HR 2.86; 95% CI 2.01-4.04), glomerular filtration rate (GFR)60ml/min/mThis is the first study in Spain to describe the rates of adverse events in patients with AHF discharged directly from AE and define the associated factors. These data should help establish the most adequate approaches to managing these patients.

Resumen Fundamento y objetivo Comparar la calidad tecnica, los resultados de salud y el grado de satisfaccion de los pacientes ingresados en una Unidad de Hospitalizacion a Domicilio (UHDOM) desde urgencias de los que lo hicieron desde una sala de hospitalizacion convencional. Pacientes y metodos Estudio comparativo y descriptivo, con recogida de datos efectuada mediante revision del informe de alta de los pacientes ingresados en la UHDOM y entrevista telefonica posterior. Se analizaron aspectos clinicos y de comorbilidad, resultados de salud, indicadores de calidad tecnica y calidad percibida por pacientes y cuidadores. Resultados Se incluyeron 111 pacientes (65 de urgencias y 46 de salas convencionales). Se realizo entrevista telefonica a 76 pacientes y 57 cuidadores. No se observaron diferencias en relacion a los resultados de salud, indicadores de calidad tecnica o calidad percibida de los pacientes. El tiempo de estancia hospitalaria fue inferior en los pacientes procedentes de urgencias (media [DE] de 1,02 [0,44] frente a 2,23 [0,94] dias, p Conclusiones Podria obviarse el periodo de hospitalizacion convencional y todos los pacientes candidatos, tras un periodo de observacion en urgencias, podrian ingresar directamente en hospitalizacion domiciliaria.

ResumenObjetivoIdentificar los factores asociados a la aceptación por parte del paciente de la hospitalización a domicilio directamente desde el servicio de urgencias.Pacientes y métodosEstudio de cohortes prospectivo observacional de pacientes que, una vez visitados en urgencias, reunían criterios de ingreso en sala convencional, podían responder a una entrevista y disponían de un posible cuidador. Se tomó como variable dependiente la predisposición a aceptar o no un ingreso en hospitalización a domicilio. De cada paciente, como variables independientes se recogieron aspectos demográficos, factores de su estado de salud-comorbilidad y de su enfermedad actual, y percepciones psicosociales relacionadas con la hospitalización a domicilio. La relación entre variables se estableció por análisis de regresión logística múltiple.ResultadosSe realizaron 129 entrevistas. La predisposición a aceptar un ingreso en hospitalización a domicilio fue del 71%. Sólo las percepciones psicosociales del paciente, con independencia de sus aspectos demográficos e incluso de su estado de salud actual y comorbilidad, se relacionaron con la predisposición a aceptar un ingreso en hospitalización a domicilio, en concreto las adecuadas condiciones físicas del domicilio (odds ratio [OR]: 4,31; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 1,18–15,78), la ausencia de miedo por tener que manejar el oxígeno (OR: 5,99; IC95%: 2,05–17,52), la ausencia de miedo a una mala evolución clínica (OR: 6,07; IC95%: 1,94–18,96) y la percepción de una mayor libertad de horarios (OR: 12,61; IC95%: 3,31–48,01).ConclusionesLa hospitalización a domicilio tendría una buena aceptación si se ofreciera directamente en el Servicio de Urgencias como alternativa a la hospitalización convencional. Esta aceptación se asocia a percepciones psicosociales, que deberían tenerse en cuenta al ofrecer esta modalidad asistencial.AbstractAimTo identify the factors associated with patients’ acceptance of emergency department discharge directly to hospital-at-home care.Patients and methodsWe performed a prospective observational cohort study of patients seen at the emergency department who met the following inclusion criteria: need for hospital admission, ability to be interviewed, and availability of an informal caregiver. The dependent variable was defined as the predisposition to accept or refuse hospital-at-home care. For each patient, the following independent variables were recorded: demographic characteristics, health-related factors, comorbidities, current illness and psychosocial perceptions related to hospital-at-home care. The associations among the variables were tested by means of logistic regression analysis.ResultsWe included 129 patients. Seventy-one percent would have accepted hospital-at-home care. Acceptance of hospital-at-home care was associated with psychosocial perceptions only, independently of demographic characteristics, current illness severity and comorbidities. These psychosocial perceptions included adequate conditions at home (OR: 4.31; 95% CI: 1.18–15.78), not being afraid of oxygen manipulation (OR: 5.99; 95% CI: 2.05–17.52), lack of fear of a poor outcome (OR: 6.07; 95% CI: 1.94–18.96) and the possibility of enjoying a more flexible schedule (OR: 12.61; 95% CI: 3.31–48.01).ConclusionsHospital-at-home care would be well accepted by patients if offered in the emergency department as an alternative to conventional hospitalization. Acceptance depends on patients’ psychosocial perceptions, which should be assessed before this mode of care is proposed.

The WHO has qualified stress as a 'world epidemic' due to its increasingly greater incidence on health. The work described in this paper represents an attempt to objectively quantify the level of stress.The aim of the method developed here is to measure how close or how far a subject is from a situation that can be considered 'normal' in medical and social terms.The literature on the pathophysiology of stress and its methods of study in experiments on both animals and humans was reviewed. Nine prospective observational studies were undertaken with different types of subjects and stressors covering the different types of stress.The results of the literature review made it possible to identify the different types of stress, the indicators that yield significant results, the psychometric tests and the well-documented 'stressors'. This material was then used to design the general method and the details of the nine clinical trials. The preliminary results obtained in some of the studies were used to validate the indicators as well as the efficacy of the techniques used experimentally to diminish stress or to produce it.The early results obtained in the experimental trials show that we are on the right path towards defining and validating multivariable markers for quantifying levels of stress and also suggest that the method can be applied in a similar way to the study of mental disorders.Proyecto ES3: intentando la cuantificacion y medida del nivel de estres.Introduccion. La Organizacion Mundial de la Salud ha calificado al estres de 'epidemia mundial', debido a su cada vez mayor incidencia en la salud. El trabajo que se presenta en este articulo representa un intento de cuantificar objetivamente el nivel de estres. Objetivo. La metodologia desarrollada tiene como objetivo medir cuan lejos o cuan cerca se encuentra un sujeto de una situacion considerada medica y socialmente como 'normal'. Sujetos y metodos. Se ha realizado un estudio bibliografico de la fisiopatologia del estres y sus metodos de estudio, en experimentacion animal y en humanos. Se han puesto en marcha nueve estudios prospectivos observacionales con distintas tipologias de sujetos y estresores que cubren las diferentes tipologias de estres. Resultados. Como resultado del estudio bibliografico, se han identificado las distintas tipologias de estres, los indicadores que describen resultados significativos, los tests psicometricos y los 'agentes estresantes' bien documentados. Este material ha permitido diseñar la metodologia general y el detalle de los nueve ensayos clinicos. Los resultados preliminares obtenidos en algunos de los estudios han servido para validar los indicadores, asi como la eficacia de las tecnicas utilizadas experimentalmente para disminuir el estres o para producirlo. Conclusiones. Los resultados preliminares obtenidos en los ensayos experimentales muestran que se esta en el camino correcto hacia la definicion y validacion de marcadores multivariable para la cuantificacion de los niveles de estres, y sugieren que la metodologia puede ser aplicada de forma similar al estudio de trastornos mentales.

Objective To describe the different types of malignancies associated with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Methods We performed a computer-assisted (MEDLINE, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD) search of the literature from 1966 to 2003 to identify all cases of malignancies having aPL. Results One hundred twenty patients were found. The mean age was 56 ± 17 years (range 5 to 88). Sixty-two (52%) patients were men and 58 (48%) were women. A heterogeneous group of malignancies were found. Regarding hematological malignancies, 10 (8%) patients suffered from B-cell lymphoma, 8 (7%) from spleen lymphoma, 7 (6%) from chronic myeloid leukemia, and 6 (5%) from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Regarding solid tumors, renal cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 7 (6%) patients, primary tumor with unknown origin in 7 (6%), lung adenocarcinoma in 6 (5%), breast carcinoma in 6 (5%), and melanoma in 6 (5%). The main aPL-related manifestations were thrombocytopenia (25%), cerebrovascular accidents (24%), deep vein thrombosis (19%), pulmonary embolism (15%), and heart valve lesions (9%). In 17 cases, catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome was considered to be triggered by the malignancy. Seventy-one (63%) of 113 patients recovered or are still alive after cancer treatment. Twenty-three (35%) of 65 patients achieved aPL remission after proper treatment of the malignancy. Conclusions It is important to bear in mind, especially in elderly patients, that thrombotic events associated with aPL can be the first manifestation of malignancy. At the same time, the presence of aPL in patients with malignancies has important implications in their treatment and prognosis.

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and clinical significance of circulating auto-antibodies against nuclear and non-nuclear antigens in a large cohort of Spanish patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS). We studied 335 patients diagnosed with primary SS seen consecutively in our department since 1994 and tested for anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-Ro/SS-A, anti-La/SS-B, anti-Sm, anti-ribonucleoprotein (anti-RNP), anti-smooth muscle antibodies (anti-SMA), anti-parietal cell antibodies (anti-PCA), anti-liver–kidney microsome type-1 (anti-LKM-1) antibodies and anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA). ANA were detected in 278 (83%) patients. The association of positive ANA with the presence of anti-Ro/SS-A and anti-La/SS-B antibodies reached statistical significance at a titre of ANA >1/80 (p

To compare technical quality, patient health outcomes, and satisfaction degree of patients admitted to hospital at home (HAH) from the emergency department (ED) with those with standard hospitalization (SH).Comparative prospective study. Medical records of patients admitted to the HAH were reviewed and then they were also called and surveyed. The following variables were recorded: demographic and clinical aspects, patient health status at the time of phone survey, technical and perceived quality.Patients included: 111 (65 from the ED and 46 from the SH). Phone survey was performed to 76 patients and 57 carers. Length of stay was significantly shorter in patients from the ED compared with those from SH (1.02 ± 0.44 vs 2.23 ± 0.94 days, P.0005). No other differences were observed in patients' demographics, clinical aspects and health status, in technical quality, and in perceived quality between both groups.When HAH is an option, these results seem to indicate that patient hospital stay can be shortened if HAH admittance is obvious, after a period of patient treatment and stabilization, from the ED instead from HAH.

Introduction The WHO has qualified stress as a 'world epidemic' due to its increasingly greater incidence on health. The work described in this paper represents an attempt to objectively quantify the level of stress. Aim The aim of the method developed here is to measure how close or how far a subject is from a situation that can be considered 'normal' in medical and social terms. Subjects and methods The literature on the pathophysiology of stress and its methods of study in experiments on both animals and humans was reviewed. Nine prospective observational studies were undertaken with different types of subjects and stressors covering the different types of stress. Results The results of the literature review made it possible to identify the different types of stress, the indicators that yield significant results, the psychometric tests and the well-documented 'stressors'. This material was then used to design the general method and the details of the nine clinical trials. The preliminary results obtained in some of the studies were used to validate the indicators as well as the efficacy of the techniques used experimentally to diminish stress or to produce it. Conclusions The early results obtained in the experimental trials show that we are on the right path towards defining and validating multivariable markers for quantifying levels of stress and also suggest that the method can be applied in a similar way to the study of mental disorders.

Objectives To analyze the clinical characteristics, follow-up, and fulfillment of classification criteria for other systemic autoimmune diseases (SAD) in patients with primary Sjogren syndrome (SS) and atypical autoantibodies. Methods We studied 402 patients diagnosed with primary SS seen consecutively in our Department since 1994. We considered anti-DNA, anti-Sm, anti-RNP, antitopoisomerase1/Scl70, anticentromere (ACA), anti-Jo1, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), anticardiolipin antibodies (aPL), and lupus anticoagulant as atypical autoantibodies. The patients were prospectively followed after inclusion into the protocol, focusing on the development of features that might lead to the fulfillment of classification criteria for additional SAD. As a control group, we selected an age–sex-matched subset of patients with primary SS without atypical autoantibodies. Results Eighty-two (20%) patients showed atypical autoantibodies (36 had aPL, 21 anti-DNA, 13 ANCA, 10 anti-RNP, 8 ACA, 6 anti-Sm, 2 anti-Scl70, and 1 anti-Jo-1 antibodies). There were 77 (94%) women and 5 (6%) men, with a mean age of 57 years. Patients with atypical autoantibodies had no statistical differences in the prevalence of the main sicca features, extraglandular manifestations (except for a higher prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon, 28% versus 7%, P = 0.001), immunological markers, and in the fulfillment of the 2002 classification criteria, compared with the control group. After a follow-up of 534 patient-years, 13 (16%) of the 82 patients with atypical autoantibodies developed an additional SAD (systemic lupus erythematosus in 5 cases, antiphospholipid syndrome in 4, limited scleroderma in 3, and microscopic polyangiitis in 1) compared with none in the control group ( P Conclusions This study shows an immunological overlap (defined by the presence of autoantibodies considered typical of other SAD) in 20% of our patients with primary SS. However, the clinical significance of these atypical autoantibodies varies widely depending on the autoantibodies detected, with a broad spectrum of prevalence and clinical patterns of disease expression, and a specific predilection for association with some SAD in preference to others.

Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS-1, OMIM 240300) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, characterized by the presence of at least two of three major diseases: hypoparathyroidism, Addison’s disease, and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. We aim to identify the molecular defects and investigate the clinical and mutational characteristics in an index case and other members of a consanguineous family. We identified a novel homozygous mutation in the splice site acceptor (SSA) of intron 5 (c.653-1G>A) in two siblings with different clinical outcomes of APS-1. Coding DNA sequencing revealed that this AIRE mutation potentially compromised the recognition of the constitutive SSA of intron 5, splicing upstream onto a nearby cryptic SSA in intron 5. Surprisingly, the use of an alternative SSA entails the uncovering of a cryptic donor splice site in exon 5. This new transcript generates a truncated protein (p.A214fs67X) containing the first 213 amino acids and followed by 68 aberrant amino acids. The mutation affects the proper splicing, not only at the acceptor but also at the donor splice site, highlighting the complexity of recognizing suitable splicing sites and the importance of sequencing the intron-exon junctions for a more precise molecular diagnosis and correct genetic counseling. As both siblings were carrying the same mutation but exhibited a different APS-1 onset, and one of the brothers was not clinically diagnosed, our finding highlights the possibility to suspect mutations in the AIRE gene in cases of childhood chronic candidiasis and/or hypoparathyroidism otherwise unexplained, especially when the phenotype is associated with other autoimmune diseases.