IMPORTANCE: Opioids are commonly used for pain control during and after invasive procedures. However, opioid-related adverse drug events (ORADEs) are common and have been associated with worse ...patient outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To examine the incidence of ORADEs in patients undergoing hospital-based surgical and endoscopic procedures and to evaluate the association of ORADEs with clinical and cost outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this retrospective study of clinical and administrative data, ORADEs were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes for known adverse effects of opioids or by opioid antagonist use. Multivariable regression analysis was used to measure the association of ORADEs with outcomes after adjusting for potential confounding factors. The setting was 21 acute care hospitals in a large integrated health care delivery system. Participants were 135 379 patients (aged ≥18 years, admitted from January 1, 2013, to September 30, 2015) who underwent surgical and endoscopic procedures and were given opioids. EXPOSURE: Opioid use, reported as morphine milligram equivalent doses. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Opioid-related adverse drug events and their association with inpatient mortality, discharge to another care facility, length of stay, cost of hospitalization, and 30-day readmission. RESULTS: Among 135 379 adult patients in this study (67.5% female), 14 386 (10.6%) experienced at least one ORADE. Patients with ORADEs were more likely to be older, of white race/ethnicity, and male and have more comorbidities. Patients with ORADEs received a higher total dose of opioids (median morphine milligram equivalent dose, 46.8 vs 30.0 mg; P < .001) and for a longer duration (median, 3.0 vs 2.0 days; P < .001). In adjusted analyses, ORADEs were associated with increased inpatient mortality (odds ratio OR, 28.8; 95% CI, 24.0-34.5), greater likelihood of discharge to another care facility (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 2.7-3.0), prolonged length of stay (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 2.8-3.4), high cost of hospitalization (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.4-3.0), and higher rate of 30-day readmission (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.2-1.4). ORADEs were associated with a 2.9% increase in absolute mortality, an $8225 increase in cost for the index hospitalization, and a 1.6-day increase in length of stay for the index hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Opioid-related adverse drug events were common among patients undergoing hospital-based invasive procedures and were associated with significantly worse clinical and cost outcomes. Hospital-acquired harm from ORADEs in the surgical patient population is an important opportunity for health systems to improve patient safety and reduce cost.
Although NPWTi-d has been associated with improved patient outcomes compared with NPWT alone, questions remain regarding the timing of NPWTi-d initiation.
This study examined the effect of the timing ...of NPWTi-d initiation on patient outcomes and costs.
A retrospective analysis was conducted utilizing a national, all-payer hospital database and included patients who received NPWTi-d in 2019. A matched cohort of 514 patients who received either early (within 1 day of NPWT application) or late (within 2-7 days of NPWT application) NPWTi-d initiation was created using propensity scoring. Differences in clinical outcomes and costs were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum, chi-square, and t tests.
Early NPWTi-d initiation was associated with significantly shorter NPWT duration (7.0 vs. 11.4 days; P <.0001) and inpatient stay (13.4 vs. 16.3 days; P <.0001) compared with late NPWTi-d initiation. Early NPWTi-d initiation was also associated with fewer debridements, OR visits during hospitalization, days until final OR procedure, and wound-related readmissions. Patients with early NPWTi-d initiation had a $10 877 lower mean cost of index admission (P <.0001), which included lower NPWT costs.
Study data suggest that in these patients with wounds, early NPWTi-d initiation helped improve patient outcomes and reduced care costs.
OBJECTIVES:Growing evidence supports the Awakening and Breathing Coordination, Delirium monitoring/management, and Early exercise/mobility (ABCDE) bundle processes as improving a number of short- and ...long-term clinical outcomes for patients requiring ICU care. To assess the cost-effectiveness of this intervention, we determined the impact of ABCDE bundle adherence on inpatient and 1-year mortality, quality-adjusted life-years, length of stay, and costs of care.
DESIGN:We conducted a 2-year, prospective, cost-effectiveness study in 12 adult ICUs in six hospitals belonging to a large, integrated healthcare delivery system.
SETTING:Hospitals included a large, urban tertiary referral center and five community hospitals. ICUs included medical/surgical, trauma, neurologic, and cardiac care units.
PATIENTS:The study included 2,953 patients, 18 years old or older, with an ICU stay greater than 24 hours, who were on a ventilator for more than 24 hours and less than 14 days.
INTERVENTION:ABCDE bundle.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:We used propensity score-adjusted regression models to determine the impact of high bundle adherence on inpatient mortality, discharge status, length of stay, and costs. A Markov model was used to estimate the potential effect of improved bundle adherence on healthcare costs and quality-adjusted life-years in the year following ICU admission. We found that patients with high ABCDE bundle adherence (≥ 60%) had significantly decreased odds of inpatient mortality (odds ratio 0.28) and significantly higher costs ($3,920) of inpatient care. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of high bundle adherence was $15,077 (95% CI, $13,675–$16,479) per life saved and $1,057 per life-year saved. High bundle adherence was associated with a 0.12 increase in quality-adjusted life-years, a $4,949 increase in 1-year care costs, and an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $42,120 per quality-adjusted life-year.
CONCLUSIONS:The ABCDE bundle appears to be a cost-effective means to reduce in-hospital and 1-year mortality for patients with an ICU stay.
Despite many studies comparing on- versus off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), there is no consensus as to whether one of these techniques offers patients better outcomes.
We searched PubMed ...from inception to June 30, 2015, and identified additional studies from bibliographies of meta-analyses and reviews. We identified 42 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 31 rigorously adjusted observational studies (controlling for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons-recognized risk factors for mortality) reporting mortality for off-pump versus on-pump CABG at specified time points. Trial data were extracted independently by 2 researchers using a standardized form. Differences in probability of mortality (DPM) were estimated for the RCTs and observational studies separately and combined, for time points ranging from 30 days to 10 years.
RCT-only data showed no significant differences at any time point, whereas observational-only data and the combined analysis showed short-term mortality favored off-pump CABG (n = 1.2 million patients; 36 RCTs, 26 observational studies; DPM 95% confidence interval (CI), −44.8% −45.4%, −43.8%) but that at 5 years it was associated with significantly greater mortality (n = 60,405 patients; 3 RCTs, 5 observational studies; DPM 95% CI, 10.0% 5.0%, 15.0%). At 10 years, only observational data were available, and off-pump CABG showed significantly greater mortality (DPM 95% CI, 14.0% 11.0%, 17.0%).
Evidence from RCTs showed no differences between the techniques, whereas rigorously adjusted observational studies (with >1.1 million patients) and the combined analysis indicated that off-pump CABG offers lower short-term mortality but poorer long-term survival. These results suggest that, in real-world settings, greater operative safety with off-pump CABG comes at the expense of lasting survival gains.
Education on the self-management of COPD has been shown to improve patients' quality of life and reduce hospital admissions. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of a pilot, pragmatic COPD ...Chronic Care (CCC) education program led by registered respiratory therapists and determine the CCC's impact on hospital readmissions, patient activation, and health status.
This was a prospective, randomized, pilot study of inpatients with COPD admitted to a US community hospital between August 2014 and February 2016. In total, 308 patients were randomized 1:1 to receive standard care with or without the CCC program. Outcomes included the number of patients completing the program, frequency and time to first all-cause and COPD-related hospital readmissions, and changes in the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) and COPD Assessment Test (CAT).
Overall, 37% (n=52) of patients in the CCC group and 29% (n=48) of patients in the control group remained in the study for 6 months and completed all follow-up phone calls. In total, 74% (n=105) of patients in the CCC group and 69% (n=115) of patients in the control group had at least one readmission (
=0.316). The time to first all-cause and COPD-related readmission appeared shorter for patients in the CCC group compared with the control group (mean standard deviation: 50.2 54.5 vs 59.9 63.1 days and 95.1 80.2 vs 113.7 82.4 days, respectively; both
=0.231). Patients experienced significant improvement from baseline in mean PAM (both groups) and CAT (CCC group) scores.
Utilizing respiratory therapists to lead a chronic care education program for COPD in a community hospital was feasible. Although CCC patients showed improvements in perceived symptom severity, they were readmitted sooner than control group patients. However, the program did not impact the frequency of hospital readmissions. A more comprehensive disease management program may be needed to improve outcomes.
Type II diabetes continues to be a major health problem in USA, particularly in minority populations. The Diabetes Equity Project (DEP), a clinic-based diabetes self-management and education program ...led by community health workers (CHWs), was designed to reduce observed disparities in diabetes care and outcomes in medically underserved, predominantly Hispanic communities.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the DEP on patients' clinical outcomes, diabetes knowledge, self-management skills, and quality of life.
The DEP was implemented in five community clinics from 2009 to 2013 and 885 patients completed at least two visits with the CHW. Student's paired t-tests were used to compare baseline clinical indicators with indicators obtained from patients' last recorded visit with the CHW and to assess differences in diabetes knowledge, perceived competence in managing diabetes, and quality of life. A mixed-effects model for repeated measures was used to examine the effect of DEP visits on blood glucose (HbA1c), controlling for patient demographics, clinic and enrolment date.
DEP patients experienced significant (P < 0.0001) improvements in HbA1c control, blood pressure, diabetes knowledge, perceived competence in managing diabetes, and quality of life. Mean HbA1c for all DEP patients decreased from 8.3% to 7.4%.
Given the increasing prevalence of diabetes in USA and documented disparities in diabetes care and outcomes for minorities, particularly Hispanic patients, new models of care such as the DEP are needed to expand access to and improve the delivery of diabetes care and help patients achieve improved outcomes.
Limited data exist on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management-major drivers of healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in the USA. We describe prevalence and exacerbation ...rates, therapeutic interventions, and HCRU for asthma and/or COPD within a large, integrated healthcare system. Patients with asthma, COPD, and asthma + COPD were identified from retrospective electronic health record data (2016-2018) of >1.7 million patients. Descriptive analysis of disease prevalence and exacerbation frequencies, pharmacotherapies, and HCRU was performed. Time-to-event analysis of time to first exacerbation was performed in patients with asthma and/or COPD. Exacerbation rates, pharmacotherapies, and HCRU were examined by exploratory analysis in an outpatient subset. Overall, 149,086 unique patients (8.6%) had encounters for asthma, COPD, or asthma + COPD. Acute care utilization was high, including emergency department visits (asthma, 52.9%; COPD, 35.1%) and hospitalizations (asthma, 26.7%; COPD, 65.7%). Many patients were prescribed short-acting therapies (asthma, 45.3%; COPD, 40.0%; asthma + COPD, 54.7%). Prescription rates for maintenance therapies were low (17.1%, 20.8%, 31.7%) and annual exacerbation rates were 0.65, 0.80, and 1.33. This analysis showed a substantive prevalence of pulmonary disease, variability between documented prescriptions and pharmacotherapy guidelines, and high HCRU. Appropriate tailoring of pharmacotherapies and management of asthma and COPD over a continuum are opportunities to improve patient care.
Objective:
The objective of this review is to examine the effectiveness, implementation, and costs of multifaceted care approaches, including care bundles, for the prevention and mitigation of ...delirium in patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs).
Data Sources:
A systematic search using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted utilizing PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL. Searches were limited to studies published in English from January 1, 1988, to March 31, 2014. Randomized controlled trials and comparative studies of multifaceted care approaches with the reduction of delirium in ICU patients as an outcome and evaluations of the implementation or cost-effectiveness of these interventions were included.
Data Extraction:
Data on study methods including design, cohort size, interventions, and outcomes were abstracted, reviewed, and summarized. Given the variability in study design, populations, and interventions, a qualitative review of findings was conducted.
Data Synthesis:
In all, 14 studies met our inclusion criteria: 6 examined outcomes, 5 examined implementation, 2 examined outcomes and implementation, and 1 examined cost-effectiveness. The majority of studies indicated that multifaceted care approaches were associated with improved patient outcomes including reduced incidence and duration of delirium. Additionally, improvements in functional status and reductions in coma and ventilator days, hospital length of stay, and/or mortality rates were observed. Implementation strategies included structured quality improvement approaches with ongoing audit and feedback, multidisciplinary care teams, intensive training, electronic reporting systems, and local support teams. The cost-effectiveness analysis indicated an average reduction of $1000 in hospital costs for patients treated with a multifaceted care approach.
Conclusion:
Although multifaceted care approaches may reduce delirium and improve patient outcomes, greater improvements may be achieved by deploying a comprehensive bundle of care practices including awakening and breathing trials, delirium monitoring and treatment, and early mobility. Further research to address this knowledge gap is essential to providing best care for ICU patients.
Background The ABCDE (Awakening and Breathing Coordination, Delirium monitoring and management, and Early exercise/mobility) bundle has been associated with reductions in delirium incidence and ...improved patient outcomes but has not been widely adopted. Objective The objective of this study was to determine how to facilitate ABCDE bundle adoption by examining the impact of different implementation strategies on bundle adherence rates and assessing clinicians' perceptions of the bundle and implementation efforts. Methods This study examined the effect of 2 bundle implementation strategies on patient care in 8 adult intensive care units. The basic strategy included electronic health record (EHR) modification, whereas the enhanced strategy included EHR modification plus additional bundle training, clinical champions, and staff engagement. A total of 84 nurses, physicians, and therapists participated in interviews and a survey to assess bundle implementation. Results Respondents indicated bundle use resulted in “best care” through care standardization and coordination and improved patient outcomes. Intensive care units in both intervention groups had significant improvements in bundle adherence after implementation efforts, but intensive care units in the basic intervention group outperformed other sites after initiating their own implementation strategies. Successful implementation tactics included incorporating the bundle into multidisciplinary rounds and providing ongoing support, training, and routine auditing and feedback. Discussion The ABCDE bundle can improve quality of care and outcomes, and implementation can be accelerated through EHR tools, trainings, and performance feedback.