Kelly Cunningham, MD

In This Edition

Literature at a Glance

A guide to this month’s studies

• Continuous insulin infusion in non-ICU patients
• How hospitalists spend their day
• Outcomes of patients leaving against medical advice
• Prediction rule for readmission
• Effects of high- vs. low-dose PPIs for peptic ulcer
• Hospital utilization by generalists before hospitalists
• Effect of hospitalist fragmentation on length of stay
• Medication errors at admissions in older patients

Continuous Insulin Infusion Provides Effective Glycemic Control in Non-ICU Patients

Clinical question: Is continuous insulin infusion (CII) a safe and effective option in the management of hyperglycemia in non-ICU patients?

Background: Hyperglycemia has been associated with worse outcomes in hospitalized patients. Prior research has demonstrated the benefit of CII in managing hyperglycemia in the ICU setting. However, outcomes have not been evaluated in the general medical (non-ICU) setting, where hyperglycemia is often inadequately addressed.

Study design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Urban tertiary-care medical center.

Synopsis: Charts of 200 adult patients treated with CII in non-ICU areas were reviewed with the primary outcomes including mean daily blood glucose (BG) levels and number of hyper- and hypoglycemic events occurring on CII. Mean BG dropped from 323 mg/dL to 182 mg/dL by day one, with a BG≤of 150 achieved in 67% of patients by day two of therapy. Twenty-two percent of patients suffered a hypoglycemic event (BG<60), reportedly similar to prior studies of insulin use in ICU and non-ICU settings. Eighty-two percent of patients received some form of nutritional support while on CII. In multivariate analyses, receiving oral nutrition (either a solid or liquid diet) was the only factor associated with increased risk of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.

This study was limited by its retrospective analysis in a single center. No comparison was made with basal-bolus or sliding-scale insulin therapy regarding efficacy or safety.

Bottom line: Non-ICU patients with hyperglycemia who received CII were able to achieve effective glycemic control within 48 hours of initiation, with rates of hypoglycemia comparable to those observed in ICU settings.

Citation: Smiley D, Rhee M, Peng L, et al. Safety and efficacy of continuous insulin infusion in noncritical care settings. J Hosp Med. 2010;5(4):212-217.

Hospitalists Spend More Time on Indirect, Rather Than Direct, Patient Care

Clinical question: What are the components of the daily workflow of hospitalists working on a non-housestaff service?

Background: The use of hospitalists is associated with increased efficiency in the hospital setting. However, it is not known how this efficiency is achieved. Prior literature has attempted to address this question, but with increasing demands and patient census, the representativeness of existing data is unclear.

Study design: Observational time-motion study.

Setting: Urban tertiary-care academic medical center.

Synopsis: Twenty-four hospitalists were directly observed for two weekday shifts. An electronic collection tool was developed using initial data on hospitalist activities and piloted prior to formal study data collection. Direct patient care was defined as involving face-to-face interaction between hospitalist and patient, while indirect patient care involved activities relevant to patient care but not performed in the patient’s presence.

Approximately 500 hours of observation were collected. Direct patient care comprised only a mean of 17.4% of the hospitalists’ daily workflow, while more was spent on indirect care, mainly electronic health record (EHR) documentation (mean 34.1%) and communication activities (mean 25.9%). Multitasking occurred 16% of the time, typically during communication or “critical documentation activities” (e.g. writing prescriptions). As patient volume increased, less time was spent in communication, and documentation was deferred to after hours.

These results were consistent with prior observational studies but were limited to a single center and might not represent the workflow of hospitalists in other settings, such as community hospitals, or nocturnists.

Bottom line: Hospitalists on non-housestaff services spend most of their time on indirect patient care and, with increasing patient census, communication is sacrificed. Multitasking is common during periods of communication and critical documentation.

Citation: Tipping MD, Forth VE, O’Leary KJ, et al. Where did the day go?—a time-motion study of hospitalists. J Hosp Med. 2010;5(6):323-328.

Patients Who Leave Against Medical Advice Have Higher Readmission, Mortality Rates

Clinical question: What are the 30-day hospital readmission and mortality rates for Veterans Administration (VA) patients discharged against medical advice (AMA) compared with those appropriately discharged from the hospital?

Background: Patients discharged AMA might be at increased risk of experiencing worse outcomes. Small studies have demonstrated that patients with asthma and acute myocardial infarction (MI) discharged AMA have increased risk of readmission and death. However, it is unclear whether these risks are generalizable to a wider medical population.

Study design: Five-year retrospective cohort study.

Setting: One hundred twenty-nine VA acute-care hospitals.

Synopsis: Of the nearly 2 million patients admitted to the VA from 2004 to 2008, 1.7% were discharged AMA. Patients discharged AMA generally were younger, had lower incomes, and were more likely to be black. Furthermore, patients discharged AMA had statistically significant higher rates of 30-day readmission (17.7% vs. 11%, P<0.001) and higher 30-day mortality rates (0.75% vs. 0.61%, P=0.001) compared with those who had been appropriately discharged. In hazard models, discharge AMA was a significant predictor of 30-day readmission and conferred a nonstatistically significant increase in 30-day mortality.

Because all patients were seen in VA facilities, the results might not be generalizable to other acute-care settings. Although VA patients differ from the general medical population, the characteristics of patients discharged AMA are similar to those in previously published studies. The study utilized administrative data, which are very reliable but limited by little information on clinical factors that could contribute to AMA discharges.

Bottom line: Patients discharged AMA are at increased risk of worse post-hospitalization outcomes, including hospital readmission and death.

Citation: Glasgow JM, Vaughn-Sarrazin M, Kaboli PJ. Leaving against medical advice (AMA): risk of 30-day mortality and hospital readmission. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(9): 926-929.

Simple Model Predicts Hospital Readmission

Clinical question: Which patient-level factors can be used in a simple model to predict hospital readmission of medicine patients?

Background: Hospital readmissions are common and costly. Previously published readmission prediction models have had limited utility because they focused on a specific condition, setting, or population, or were too cumbersome for practical use.

Study design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: Six academic medical centers.

Synopsis: Data from nearly 11,000 general medicine patients were included in the analysis. Overall, almost 18% of patients were readmitted within 30 days of discharge.

In the prediction model derived and validated from the data, seven factors were significant predictors of readmission within 30 days of discharge: insurance status, marital status, having a regular healthcare provider, Charlson comorbidity index, SF 12 physical component score, one or more admissions within the last year, and current length of stay greater than two days. Points assigned from each significant predictor were used to create a risk score. The 5% of patients with risk scores of 25 and higher had 30-day readmission rates of approximately 30%, compared to readmission rates of approximately 16% in patients with scores of less than 25.

These results might not be generalizable to small, rural, nonacademic settings. Planned admissions could not be excluded from the data, and readmissions to nonstudy hospitals could not be ascertained. Despite these limitations, this model is easier to use than prior models and relevant to a broad population of patients.

Bottom line: A simple prediction model using patient-level factors can be used to identify patients at higher risk of readmission within 30 days of discharge to home.

Citation: Hasan O, Meltzer DO, Shaykevich SA, et al. Hospital readmission in general medicine patients: a prediction model. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(3):211-219.

No Difference in Outcomes Between High- and Non-High-Dose Proton Pump Inhibitors in Bleeding Peptic Ulcers

Clinical question: Do high-dose proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) decrease the rate of rebleeding, surgical intervention, or mortality in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers who have undergone endoscopic treatment?

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated superiority of both high- and low-dose PPIs to H2 receptor antagonists and placebo in reducing rebleeding rates in patients with peptic ulcers. However, no clear evidence is available to suggest that high-dose PPIs are more effective than non-high-dose PPIs for treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers.

Study design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting: Multicenter and single-site studies conducted in several countries.

Synopsis: Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials, compared high- versus non-high-dose PPIs, evaluated endoscopically confirmed bleeding ulcers, gave PPIs after endoscopy, and documented outcomes regarding rates of rebleeding, surgical intervention, or mortality. High-dose PPIs were defined as equivalent to omeprazole 80 mg intravenous bolus followed by continuous intravenous infusion at 8 mg/hr for 72 hours.

Seven studies met inclusion criteria. The pooled odds ratios for rebleeding, surgical intervention, and mortality were 1.30 (95% CI, 0.88-1.91), 1.49 (95% CI, 0.66-3.37), and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.37-2.13), respectively, for high-dose versus non-high-dose PPIs. The authors concluded that high-dose PPIs were not superior to non-high-dose PPIs in reducing the rates of these adverse outcomes after endoscopic treatment of bleeding ulcers. Considering the cost of high-dose PPIs, further studies are indicated to help guide PPI dosing for patients with peptic ulcers.

Major limitations of this study were the small number of studies (1,157 patients in total) and their heterogeneity, and the lack of intention-to-treat analysis. The studies also included a high Asian predominance, and it has been shown that Asian populations have an enhanced PPI effect.

Bottom line: High-dose PPIs did not demonstrate reduced rates of ulcer rebleeding, surgical intervention, or mortality compared with non-high-dose PPIs in this meta-analysis, which included a small number of studies and patients.

Citation: Wang CH, Ma MH, Chou HC, et al. High-dose vs. non-high-dose proton pump inhibitors after endoscopic treatment in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(9):751-758.

Hospital Utilization by Practicing Generalists Declined before the Emergence of Hospitalists

Clinical question: What has been the pattern of hospital utilization by generalists before and after the emergence of hospitalists?

Background: It has been proposed that the emergence of hospitalists has “crowded out” generalist physicians from the U.S. hospital setting. This study evaluated the trends of inpatient practice by generalists both before and after the emergence of hospitalists.

Study design: Retrospective analysis of national databases.

Setting: U.S. data from 1980 to 2005.

Synopsis: Utilizing the National Hospital Discharge Survey and the American Medical Association’s Physician Characteristics and Distribution in the U.S., information was extracted to evaluate the average number of annual inpatient encounters relative to generalist workforce from 1980 to 2005. Total inpatient encounters for each year were calculated by multiplying the total number of hospital admissions by the average hospital length of stay. The emergence of hospitalists was defined as beginning in 1994.

Total inpatient encounters by generalists declined by 35% in the pre-hospitalist era but remained essentially unchanged in the hospitalist era. During the pre-hospitalist period, the number of generalists doubled, to more than 200,000 from approximately 100,000, while the number of hospital discharges remained relatively stable and the length of stay declined by a third. The decrease in average inpatient encounters in the pre-hospitalist era is thought to have been secondary to decreased length of stay and increased workforce.

Bottom line: Hospital utilization relative to generalist physician workforce was decreasing prior to the emergence of hospitalists mainly due to decreased length of hospital stay and increased numbers of physicians.

Citation: Meltzer DO, Chung JW. U.S. trends in hospitalization and generalist physician workforce and the emergence of hospitalists. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(5):453-459.

Fragmentation of Hospitalist Care Is Associated with Increased Length of Stay

Clinical question: Does fragmentation of care (FOC) by hospitalists affect length of stay (LOS)?

Background: Previous investigations have explored the impact of FOC provided by residency programs on LOS and quality of care. Results of these studies have been mixed. However, there have been no prior studies on the impact of the fragmentation of hospitalist care on LOS.

Study design: Concurrent control study.

Setting: Hospitalist practices all over the country managed by IPC: The Hospitalist Company.

Synopsis: Investigators looked at 10,977 patients admitted with diagnoses of pneumonia or heart failure. The primary endpoint was LOS. The independent variable of interest was a measure of FOC. The FOC was calculated as a quantitative index, by determining the percentage of hospitalist care delivered by a physician other than the primary hospitalist.

Multivariable analyses revealed a statistically significant increase in LOS of 0.39 days for each 10% increase in fragmentation level for pneumonia admissions. Similarly, for patients with heart failure, there was a significant increase in LOS of 0.30 days for each 10% increase in fragmentation level.

The study is a concurrent control study, so conclusions cannot be drawn about causality. Additionally, there are likely unmeasured differences between every hospital and hospitalist practice, which could further confound the relationships between hospitalist care and LOS.

Bottom line: Fragmentation of care provided by hospitalists is associated with an increased LOS in patients hospitalized for pneumonia or heart failure.

Citation: Epstein K, Juarez E, Epstein A, Loya K, Singer A. The impact of fragmentation of hospitalist care on length of stay. J Hosp Med. 2010;5(6):335-338.

Admission Medication Errors Are Common and Most Harmful in Older Patients Taking Many Medications

Clinical question: What are the risk factors and potential harm associated with medication errors at hospital admission?

Background: Obtaining a medication history from a hospitalized patient is an error-prone process. Several variables can affect the completeness and quality of medication histories, but existing data are limited regarding patient or medication risk factors associated with medication errors at admission.

Study design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic hospital in Chicago.

Synopsis: Pharmacist and admitting physician medication histories were compared with admission medication orders to identify any unexplained discrepancies. Discrepancies resulting in order changes were defined as medication errors.

Of the 651 adult medical inpatients studied, 234 (35.9%) had medication order errors identified at admission. Errors originated in the medication histories for 85% of these patients. The most frequent type of error was an omission (48.9%). An age of 65 or older (odds ratio [OR]=2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-4.30) and increased number of medications (OR=1.21, 95% CI, 1.14-1.29) were the only risk factors identified by multivariate analysis to be independently associated with increased risk of medication order errors potentially causing harm or requiring monitoring or intervention. Presenting a medication list upon admission was a significant protective factor (OR=0.35, 95% CI, 0.19-0.63).

Though this is the largest study to date evaluating admission medication errors in hospitalized medical patients, it remains limited by its single hospital site. Because the authors were unable to interview patients who were too ill or unwilling to participate and had no caregiver present, they might have underestimated the number of admission errors. Further, the harm assessment was based on potential and not actual harm.

Bottom line: Admission medication order errors are frequent, most commonly originate in the medication histories, and have increased potential to cause adverse outcomes in older patients and those taking higher numbers of medications.

Citation: Gleason KM, McDaniel MR, Feinglass J, et al. Results of the Medications At Transitions and Clinical Handoffs (MATCH) study: an analysis of medication reconciliation errors and risk factors at hospital admission. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(5):441-447.

In This Edition

Literature at a Glance

A guide to this month’s studies

• Continuous insulin infusion in non-ICU patients
• How hospitalists spend their day
• Outcomes of patients leaving against medical advice
• Prediction rule for readmission
• Effects of high- vs. low-dose PPIs for peptic ulcer
• Hospital utilization by generalists before hospitalists
• Effect of hospitalist fragmentation on length of stay
• Medication errors at admissions in older patients

Continuous Insulin Infusion Provides Effective Glycemic Control in Non-ICU Patients

Clinical question: Is continuous insulin infusion (CII) a safe and effective option in the management of hyperglycemia in non-ICU patients?

Background: Hyperglycemia has been associated with worse outcomes in hospitalized patients. Prior research has demonstrated the benefit of CII in managing hyperglycemia in the ICU setting. However, outcomes have not been evaluated in the general medical (non-ICU) setting, where hyperglycemia is often inadequately addressed.

Study design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Urban tertiary-care medical center.

Synopsis: Charts of 200 adult patients treated with CII in non-ICU areas were reviewed with the primary outcomes including mean daily blood glucose (BG) levels and number of hyper- and hypoglycemic events occurring on CII. Mean BG dropped from 323 mg/dL to 182 mg/dL by day one, with a BG≤of 150 achieved in 67% of patients by day two of therapy. Twenty-two percent of patients suffered a hypoglycemic event (BG<60), reportedly similar to prior studies of insulin use in ICU and non-ICU settings. Eighty-two percent of patients received some form of nutritional support while on CII. In multivariate analyses, receiving oral nutrition (either a solid or liquid diet) was the only factor associated with increased risk of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.

This study was limited by its retrospective analysis in a single center. No comparison was made with basal-bolus or sliding-scale insulin therapy regarding efficacy or safety.

Bottom line: Non-ICU patients with hyperglycemia who received CII were able to achieve effective glycemic control within 48 hours of initiation, with rates of hypoglycemia comparable to those observed in ICU settings.

Citation: Smiley D, Rhee M, Peng L, et al. Safety and efficacy of continuous insulin infusion in noncritical care settings. J Hosp Med. 2010;5(4):212-217.

Hospitalists Spend More Time on Indirect, Rather Than Direct, Patient Care

Clinical question: What are the components of the daily workflow of hospitalists working on a non-housestaff service?

Background: The use of hospitalists is associated with increased efficiency in the hospital setting. However, it is not known how this efficiency is achieved. Prior literature has attempted to address this question, but with increasing demands and patient census, the representativeness of existing data is unclear.

Study design: Observational time-motion study.

Setting: Urban tertiary-care academic medical center.

Synopsis: Twenty-four hospitalists were directly observed for two weekday shifts. An electronic collection tool was developed using initial data on hospitalist activities and piloted prior to formal study data collection. Direct patient care was defined as involving face-to-face interaction between hospitalist and patient, while indirect patient care involved activities relevant to patient care but not performed in the patient’s presence.

Approximately 500 hours of observation were collected. Direct patient care comprised only a mean of 17.4% of the hospitalists’ daily workflow, while more was spent on indirect care, mainly electronic health record (EHR) documentation (mean 34.1%) and communication activities (mean 25.9%). Multitasking occurred 16% of the time, typically during communication or “critical documentation activities” (e.g. writing prescriptions). As patient volume increased, less time was spent in communication, and documentation was deferred to after hours.

These results were consistent with prior observational studies but were limited to a single center and might not represent the workflow of hospitalists in other settings, such as community hospitals, or nocturnists.

Bottom line: Hospitalists on non-housestaff services spend most of their time on indirect patient care and, with increasing patient census, communication is sacrificed. Multitasking is common during periods of communication and critical documentation.

Citation: Tipping MD, Forth VE, O’Leary KJ, et al. Where did the day go?—a time-motion study of hospitalists. J Hosp Med. 2010;5(6):323-328.

Patients Who Leave Against Medical Advice Have Higher Readmission, Mortality Rates

Clinical question: What are the 30-day hospital readmission and mortality rates for Veterans Administration (VA) patients discharged against medical advice (AMA) compared with those appropriately discharged from the hospital?

Background: Patients discharged AMA might be at increased risk of experiencing worse outcomes. Small studies have demonstrated that patients with asthma and acute myocardial infarction (MI) discharged AMA have increased risk of readmission and death. However, it is unclear whether these risks are generalizable to a wider medical population.

Study design: Five-year retrospective cohort study.

Setting: One hundred twenty-nine VA acute-care hospitals.

Synopsis: Of the nearly 2 million patients admitted to the VA from 2004 to 2008, 1.7% were discharged AMA. Patients discharged AMA generally were younger, had lower incomes, and were more likely to be black. Furthermore, patients discharged AMA had statistically significant higher rates of 30-day readmission (17.7% vs. 11%, P<0.001) and higher 30-day mortality rates (0.75% vs. 0.61%, P=0.001) compared with those who had been appropriately discharged. In hazard models, discharge AMA was a significant predictor of 30-day readmission and conferred a nonstatistically significant increase in 30-day mortality.

Because all patients were seen in VA facilities, the results might not be generalizable to other acute-care settings. Although VA patients differ from the general medical population, the characteristics of patients discharged AMA are similar to those in previously published studies. The study utilized administrative data, which are very reliable but limited by little information on clinical factors that could contribute to AMA discharges.

Bottom line: Patients discharged AMA are at increased risk of worse post-hospitalization outcomes, including hospital readmission and death.

Citation: Glasgow JM, Vaughn-Sarrazin M, Kaboli PJ. Leaving against medical advice (AMA): risk of 30-day mortality and hospital readmission. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(9): 926-929.

Simple Model Predicts Hospital Readmission

Clinical question: Which patient-level factors can be used in a simple model to predict hospital readmission of medicine patients?

Background: Hospital readmissions are common and costly. Previously published readmission prediction models have had limited utility because they focused on a specific condition, setting, or population, or were too cumbersome for practical use.

Study design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: Six academic medical centers.

Synopsis: Data from nearly 11,000 general medicine patients were included in the analysis. Overall, almost 18% of patients were readmitted within 30 days of discharge.

In the prediction model derived and validated from the data, seven factors were significant predictors of readmission within 30 days of discharge: insurance status, marital status, having a regular healthcare provider, Charlson comorbidity index, SF 12 physical component score, one or more admissions within the last year, and current length of stay greater than two days. Points assigned from each significant predictor were used to create a risk score. The 5% of patients with risk scores of 25 and higher had 30-day readmission rates of approximately 30%, compared to readmission rates of approximately 16% in patients with scores of less than 25.

These results might not be generalizable to small, rural, nonacademic settings. Planned admissions could not be excluded from the data, and readmissions to nonstudy hospitals could not be ascertained. Despite these limitations, this model is easier to use than prior models and relevant to a broad population of patients.

Bottom line: A simple prediction model using patient-level factors can be used to identify patients at higher risk of readmission within 30 days of discharge to home.

Citation: Hasan O, Meltzer DO, Shaykevich SA, et al. Hospital readmission in general medicine patients: a prediction model. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(3):211-219.

No Difference in Outcomes Between High- and Non-High-Dose Proton Pump Inhibitors in Bleeding Peptic Ulcers

Clinical question: Do high-dose proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) decrease the rate of rebleeding, surgical intervention, or mortality in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers who have undergone endoscopic treatment?

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated superiority of both high- and low-dose PPIs to H2 receptor antagonists and placebo in reducing rebleeding rates in patients with peptic ulcers. However, no clear evidence is available to suggest that high-dose PPIs are more effective than non-high-dose PPIs for treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers.

Study design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting: Multicenter and single-site studies conducted in several countries.

Synopsis: Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials, compared high- versus non-high-dose PPIs, evaluated endoscopically confirmed bleeding ulcers, gave PPIs after endoscopy, and documented outcomes regarding rates of rebleeding, surgical intervention, or mortality. High-dose PPIs were defined as equivalent to omeprazole 80 mg intravenous bolus followed by continuous intravenous infusion at 8 mg/hr for 72 hours.

Seven studies met inclusion criteria. The pooled odds ratios for rebleeding, surgical intervention, and mortality were 1.30 (95% CI, 0.88-1.91), 1.49 (95% CI, 0.66-3.37), and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.37-2.13), respectively, for high-dose versus non-high-dose PPIs. The authors concluded that high-dose PPIs were not superior to non-high-dose PPIs in reducing the rates of these adverse outcomes after endoscopic treatment of bleeding ulcers. Considering the cost of high-dose PPIs, further studies are indicated to help guide PPI dosing for patients with peptic ulcers.

Major limitations of this study were the small number of studies (1,157 patients in total) and their heterogeneity, and the lack of intention-to-treat analysis. The studies also included a high Asian predominance, and it has been shown that Asian populations have an enhanced PPI effect.

Bottom line: High-dose PPIs did not demonstrate reduced rates of ulcer rebleeding, surgical intervention, or mortality compared with non-high-dose PPIs in this meta-analysis, which included a small number of studies and patients.

Citation: Wang CH, Ma MH, Chou HC, et al. High-dose vs. non-high-dose proton pump inhibitors after endoscopic treatment in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(9):751-758.

Hospital Utilization by Practicing Generalists Declined before the Emergence of Hospitalists

Clinical question: What has been the pattern of hospital utilization by generalists before and after the emergence of hospitalists?

Background: It has been proposed that the emergence of hospitalists has “crowded out” generalist physicians from the U.S. hospital setting. This study evaluated the trends of inpatient practice by generalists both before and after the emergence of hospitalists.

Study design: Retrospective analysis of national databases.

Setting: U.S. data from 1980 to 2005.

Synopsis: Utilizing the National Hospital Discharge Survey and the American Medical Association’s Physician Characteristics and Distribution in the U.S., information was extracted to evaluate the average number of annual inpatient encounters relative to generalist workforce from 1980 to 2005. Total inpatient encounters for each year were calculated by multiplying the total number of hospital admissions by the average hospital length of stay. The emergence of hospitalists was defined as beginning in 1994.

Total inpatient encounters by generalists declined by 35% in the pre-hospitalist era but remained essentially unchanged in the hospitalist era. During the pre-hospitalist period, the number of generalists doubled, to more than 200,000 from approximately 100,000, while the number of hospital discharges remained relatively stable and the length of stay declined by a third. The decrease in average inpatient encounters in the pre-hospitalist era is thought to have been secondary to decreased length of stay and increased workforce.

Bottom line: Hospital utilization relative to generalist physician workforce was decreasing prior to the emergence of hospitalists mainly due to decreased length of hospital stay and increased numbers of physicians.

Citation: Meltzer DO, Chung JW. U.S. trends in hospitalization and generalist physician workforce and the emergence of hospitalists. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(5):453-459.

Fragmentation of Hospitalist Care Is Associated with Increased Length of Stay

Clinical question: Does fragmentation of care (FOC) by hospitalists affect length of stay (LOS)?

Background: Previous investigations have explored the impact of FOC provided by residency programs on LOS and quality of care. Results of these studies have been mixed. However, there have been no prior studies on the impact of the fragmentation of hospitalist care on LOS.

Study design: Concurrent control study.

Setting: Hospitalist practices all over the country managed by IPC: The Hospitalist Company.

Synopsis: Investigators looked at 10,977 patients admitted with diagnoses of pneumonia or heart failure. The primary endpoint was LOS. The independent variable of interest was a measure of FOC. The FOC was calculated as a quantitative index, by determining the percentage of hospitalist care delivered by a physician other than the primary hospitalist.

Multivariable analyses revealed a statistically significant increase in LOS of 0.39 days for each 10% increase in fragmentation level for pneumonia admissions. Similarly, for patients with heart failure, there was a significant increase in LOS of 0.30 days for each 10% increase in fragmentation level.

The study is a concurrent control study, so conclusions cannot be drawn about causality. Additionally, there are likely unmeasured differences between every hospital and hospitalist practice, which could further confound the relationships between hospitalist care and LOS.

Bottom line: Fragmentation of care provided by hospitalists is associated with an increased LOS in patients hospitalized for pneumonia or heart failure.

Citation: Epstein K, Juarez E, Epstein A, Loya K, Singer A. The impact of fragmentation of hospitalist care on length of stay. J Hosp Med. 2010;5(6):335-338.

Admission Medication Errors Are Common and Most Harmful in Older Patients Taking Many Medications

Clinical question: What are the risk factors and potential harm associated with medication errors at hospital admission?

Background: Obtaining a medication history from a hospitalized patient is an error-prone process. Several variables can affect the completeness and quality of medication histories, but existing data are limited regarding patient or medication risk factors associated with medication errors at admission.

Study design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic hospital in Chicago.

Synopsis: Pharmacist and admitting physician medication histories were compared with admission medication orders to identify any unexplained discrepancies. Discrepancies resulting in order changes were defined as medication errors.

Of the 651 adult medical inpatients studied, 234 (35.9%) had medication order errors identified at admission. Errors originated in the medication histories for 85% of these patients. The most frequent type of error was an omission (48.9%). An age of 65 or older (odds ratio [OR]=2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-4.30) and increased number of medications (OR=1.21, 95% CI, 1.14-1.29) were the only risk factors identified by multivariate analysis to be independently associated with increased risk of medication order errors potentially causing harm or requiring monitoring or intervention. Presenting a medication list upon admission was a significant protective factor (OR=0.35, 95% CI, 0.19-0.63).

Though this is the largest study to date evaluating admission medication errors in hospitalized medical patients, it remains limited by its single hospital site. Because the authors were unable to interview patients who were too ill or unwilling to participate and had no caregiver present, they might have underestimated the number of admission errors. Further, the harm assessment was based on potential and not actual harm.

Bottom line: Admission medication order errors are frequent, most commonly originate in the medication histories, and have increased potential to cause adverse outcomes in older patients and those taking higher numbers of medications.

Citation: Gleason KM, McDaniel MR, Feinglass J, et al. Results of the Medications At Transitions and Clinical Handoffs (MATCH) study: an analysis of medication reconciliation errors and risk factors at hospital admission. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(5):441-447.

In This Edition

Literature at a Glance

A guide to this month’s studies

• Continuous insulin infusion in non-ICU patients
• How hospitalists spend their day
• Outcomes of patients leaving against medical advice
• Prediction rule for readmission
• Effects of high- vs. low-dose PPIs for peptic ulcer
• Hospital utilization by generalists before hospitalists
• Effect of hospitalist fragmentation on length of stay
• Medication errors at admissions in older patients

Continuous Insulin Infusion Provides Effective Glycemic Control in Non-ICU Patients

Clinical question: Is continuous insulin infusion (CII) a safe and effective option in the management of hyperglycemia in non-ICU patients?

Background: Hyperglycemia has been associated with worse outcomes in hospitalized patients. Prior research has demonstrated the benefit of CII in managing hyperglycemia in the ICU setting. However, outcomes have not been evaluated in the general medical (non-ICU) setting, where hyperglycemia is often inadequately addressed.

Study design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Urban tertiary-care medical center.

Synopsis: Charts of 200 adult patients treated with CII in non-ICU areas were reviewed with the primary outcomes including mean daily blood glucose (BG) levels and number of hyper- and hypoglycemic events occurring on CII. Mean BG dropped from 323 mg/dL to 182 mg/dL by day one, with a BG≤of 150 achieved in 67% of patients by day two of therapy. Twenty-two percent of patients suffered a hypoglycemic event (BG<60), reportedly similar to prior studies of insulin use in ICU and non-ICU settings. Eighty-two percent of patients received some form of nutritional support while on CII. In multivariate analyses, receiving oral nutrition (either a solid or liquid diet) was the only factor associated with increased risk of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.

This study was limited by its retrospective analysis in a single center. No comparison was made with basal-bolus or sliding-scale insulin therapy regarding efficacy or safety.

Bottom line: Non-ICU patients with hyperglycemia who received CII were able to achieve effective glycemic control within 48 hours of initiation, with rates of hypoglycemia comparable to those observed in ICU settings.

Citation: Smiley D, Rhee M, Peng L, et al. Safety and efficacy of continuous insulin infusion in noncritical care settings. J Hosp Med. 2010;5(4):212-217.

Hospitalists Spend More Time on Indirect, Rather Than Direct, Patient Care

Clinical question: What are the components of the daily workflow of hospitalists working on a non-housestaff service?

Background: The use of hospitalists is associated with increased efficiency in the hospital setting. However, it is not known how this efficiency is achieved. Prior literature has attempted to address this question, but with increasing demands and patient census, the representativeness of existing data is unclear.

Study design: Observational time-motion study.

Setting: Urban tertiary-care academic medical center.

Synopsis: Twenty-four hospitalists were directly observed for two weekday shifts. An electronic collection tool was developed using initial data on hospitalist activities and piloted prior to formal study data collection. Direct patient care was defined as involving face-to-face interaction between hospitalist and patient, while indirect patient care involved activities relevant to patient care but not performed in the patient’s presence.

Approximately 500 hours of observation were collected. Direct patient care comprised only a mean of 17.4% of the hospitalists’ daily workflow, while more was spent on indirect care, mainly electronic health record (EHR) documentation (mean 34.1%) and communication activities (mean 25.9%). Multitasking occurred 16% of the time, typically during communication or “critical documentation activities” (e.g. writing prescriptions). As patient volume increased, less time was spent in communication, and documentation was deferred to after hours.

These results were consistent with prior observational studies but were limited to a single center and might not represent the workflow of hospitalists in other settings, such as community hospitals, or nocturnists.

Bottom line: Hospitalists on non-housestaff services spend most of their time on indirect patient care and, with increasing patient census, communication is sacrificed. Multitasking is common during periods of communication and critical documentation.

Citation: Tipping MD, Forth VE, O’Leary KJ, et al. Where did the day go?—a time-motion study of hospitalists. J Hosp Med. 2010;5(6):323-328.

Patients Who Leave Against Medical Advice Have Higher Readmission, Mortality Rates

Clinical question: What are the 30-day hospital readmission and mortality rates for Veterans Administration (VA) patients discharged against medical advice (AMA) compared with those appropriately discharged from the hospital?

Background: Patients discharged AMA might be at increased risk of experiencing worse outcomes. Small studies have demonstrated that patients with asthma and acute myocardial infarction (MI) discharged AMA have increased risk of readmission and death. However, it is unclear whether these risks are generalizable to a wider medical population.

Study design: Five-year retrospective cohort study.

Setting: One hundred twenty-nine VA acute-care hospitals.

Synopsis: Of the nearly 2 million patients admitted to the VA from 2004 to 2008, 1.7% were discharged AMA. Patients discharged AMA generally were younger, had lower incomes, and were more likely to be black. Furthermore, patients discharged AMA had statistically significant higher rates of 30-day readmission (17.7% vs. 11%, P<0.001) and higher 30-day mortality rates (0.75% vs. 0.61%, P=0.001) compared with those who had been appropriately discharged. In hazard models, discharge AMA was a significant predictor of 30-day readmission and conferred a nonstatistically significant increase in 30-day mortality.

Because all patients were seen in VA facilities, the results might not be generalizable to other acute-care settings. Although VA patients differ from the general medical population, the characteristics of patients discharged AMA are similar to those in previously published studies. The study utilized administrative data, which are very reliable but limited by little information on clinical factors that could contribute to AMA discharges.

Bottom line: Patients discharged AMA are at increased risk of worse post-hospitalization outcomes, including hospital readmission and death.

Citation: Glasgow JM, Vaughn-Sarrazin M, Kaboli PJ. Leaving against medical advice (AMA): risk of 30-day mortality and hospital readmission. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(9): 926-929.

Simple Model Predicts Hospital Readmission

Clinical question: Which patient-level factors can be used in a simple model to predict hospital readmission of medicine patients?

Background: Hospital readmissions are common and costly. Previously published readmission prediction models have had limited utility because they focused on a specific condition, setting, or population, or were too cumbersome for practical use.

Study design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: Six academic medical centers.

Synopsis: Data from nearly 11,000 general medicine patients were included in the analysis. Overall, almost 18% of patients were readmitted within 30 days of discharge.

In the prediction model derived and validated from the data, seven factors were significant predictors of readmission within 30 days of discharge: insurance status, marital status, having a regular healthcare provider, Charlson comorbidity index, SF 12 physical component score, one or more admissions within the last year, and current length of stay greater than two days. Points assigned from each significant predictor were used to create a risk score. The 5% of patients with risk scores of 25 and higher had 30-day readmission rates of approximately 30%, compared to readmission rates of approximately 16% in patients with scores of less than 25.

These results might not be generalizable to small, rural, nonacademic settings. Planned admissions could not be excluded from the data, and readmissions to nonstudy hospitals could not be ascertained. Despite these limitations, this model is easier to use than prior models and relevant to a broad population of patients.

Bottom line: A simple prediction model using patient-level factors can be used to identify patients at higher risk of readmission within 30 days of discharge to home.

Citation: Hasan O, Meltzer DO, Shaykevich SA, et al. Hospital readmission in general medicine patients: a prediction model. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(3):211-219.

No Difference in Outcomes Between High- and Non-High-Dose Proton Pump Inhibitors in Bleeding Peptic Ulcers

Clinical question: Do high-dose proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) decrease the rate of rebleeding, surgical intervention, or mortality in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers who have undergone endoscopic treatment?

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated superiority of both high- and low-dose PPIs to H2 receptor antagonists and placebo in reducing rebleeding rates in patients with peptic ulcers. However, no clear evidence is available to suggest that high-dose PPIs are more effective than non-high-dose PPIs for treatment of bleeding peptic ulcers.

Study design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting: Multicenter and single-site studies conducted in several countries.

Synopsis: Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials, compared high- versus non-high-dose PPIs, evaluated endoscopically confirmed bleeding ulcers, gave PPIs after endoscopy, and documented outcomes regarding rates of rebleeding, surgical intervention, or mortality. High-dose PPIs were defined as equivalent to omeprazole 80 mg intravenous bolus followed by continuous intravenous infusion at 8 mg/hr for 72 hours.

Seven studies met inclusion criteria. The pooled odds ratios for rebleeding, surgical intervention, and mortality were 1.30 (95% CI, 0.88-1.91), 1.49 (95% CI, 0.66-3.37), and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.37-2.13), respectively, for high-dose versus non-high-dose PPIs. The authors concluded that high-dose PPIs were not superior to non-high-dose PPIs in reducing the rates of these adverse outcomes after endoscopic treatment of bleeding ulcers. Considering the cost of high-dose PPIs, further studies are indicated to help guide PPI dosing for patients with peptic ulcers.

Major limitations of this study were the small number of studies (1,157 patients in total) and their heterogeneity, and the lack of intention-to-treat analysis. The studies also included a high Asian predominance, and it has been shown that Asian populations have an enhanced PPI effect.

Bottom line: High-dose PPIs did not demonstrate reduced rates of ulcer rebleeding, surgical intervention, or mortality compared with non-high-dose PPIs in this meta-analysis, which included a small number of studies and patients.

Citation: Wang CH, Ma MH, Chou HC, et al. High-dose vs. non-high-dose proton pump inhibitors after endoscopic treatment in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(9):751-758.

Hospital Utilization by Practicing Generalists Declined before the Emergence of Hospitalists

Clinical question: What has been the pattern of hospital utilization by generalists before and after the emergence of hospitalists?

Background: It has been proposed that the emergence of hospitalists has “crowded out” generalist physicians from the U.S. hospital setting. This study evaluated the trends of inpatient practice by generalists both before and after the emergence of hospitalists.

Study design: Retrospective analysis of national databases.

Setting: U.S. data from 1980 to 2005.

Synopsis: Utilizing the National Hospital Discharge Survey and the American Medical Association’s Physician Characteristics and Distribution in the U.S., information was extracted to evaluate the average number of annual inpatient encounters relative to generalist workforce from 1980 to 2005. Total inpatient encounters for each year were calculated by multiplying the total number of hospital admissions by the average hospital length of stay. The emergence of hospitalists was defined as beginning in 1994.

Total inpatient encounters by generalists declined by 35% in the pre-hospitalist era but remained essentially unchanged in the hospitalist era. During the pre-hospitalist period, the number of generalists doubled, to more than 200,000 from approximately 100,000, while the number of hospital discharges remained relatively stable and the length of stay declined by a third. The decrease in average inpatient encounters in the pre-hospitalist era is thought to have been secondary to decreased length of stay and increased workforce.

Bottom line: Hospital utilization relative to generalist physician workforce was decreasing prior to the emergence of hospitalists mainly due to decreased length of hospital stay and increased numbers of physicians.

Citation: Meltzer DO, Chung JW. U.S. trends in hospitalization and generalist physician workforce and the emergence of hospitalists. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(5):453-459.

Fragmentation of Hospitalist Care Is Associated with Increased Length of Stay

Clinical question: Does fragmentation of care (FOC) by hospitalists affect length of stay (LOS)?

Background: Previous investigations have explored the impact of FOC provided by residency programs on LOS and quality of care. Results of these studies have been mixed. However, there have been no prior studies on the impact of the fragmentation of hospitalist care on LOS.

Study design: Concurrent control study.

Setting: Hospitalist practices all over the country managed by IPC: The Hospitalist Company.

Synopsis: Investigators looked at 10,977 patients admitted with diagnoses of pneumonia or heart failure. The primary endpoint was LOS. The independent variable of interest was a measure of FOC. The FOC was calculated as a quantitative index, by determining the percentage of hospitalist care delivered by a physician other than the primary hospitalist.

Multivariable analyses revealed a statistically significant increase in LOS of 0.39 days for each 10% increase in fragmentation level for pneumonia admissions. Similarly, for patients with heart failure, there was a significant increase in LOS of 0.30 days for each 10% increase in fragmentation level.

The study is a concurrent control study, so conclusions cannot be drawn about causality. Additionally, there are likely unmeasured differences between every hospital and hospitalist practice, which could further confound the relationships between hospitalist care and LOS.

Bottom line: Fragmentation of care provided by hospitalists is associated with an increased LOS in patients hospitalized for pneumonia or heart failure.

Citation: Epstein K, Juarez E, Epstein A, Loya K, Singer A. The impact of fragmentation of hospitalist care on length of stay. J Hosp Med. 2010;5(6):335-338.

Admission Medication Errors Are Common and Most Harmful in Older Patients Taking Many Medications

Clinical question: What are the risk factors and potential harm associated with medication errors at hospital admission?

Background: Obtaining a medication history from a hospitalized patient is an error-prone process. Several variables can affect the completeness and quality of medication histories, but existing data are limited regarding patient or medication risk factors associated with medication errors at admission.

Study design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic hospital in Chicago.

Synopsis: Pharmacist and admitting physician medication histories were compared with admission medication orders to identify any unexplained discrepancies. Discrepancies resulting in order changes were defined as medication errors.

Of the 651 adult medical inpatients studied, 234 (35.9%) had medication order errors identified at admission. Errors originated in the medication histories for 85% of these patients. The most frequent type of error was an omission (48.9%). An age of 65 or older (odds ratio [OR]=2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-4.30) and increased number of medications (OR=1.21, 95% CI, 1.14-1.29) were the only risk factors identified by multivariate analysis to be independently associated with increased risk of medication order errors potentially causing harm or requiring monitoring or intervention. Presenting a medication list upon admission was a significant protective factor (OR=0.35, 95% CI, 0.19-0.63).

Though this is the largest study to date evaluating admission medication errors in hospitalized medical patients, it remains limited by its single hospital site. Because the authors were unable to interview patients who were too ill or unwilling to participate and had no caregiver present, they might have underestimated the number of admission errors. Further, the harm assessment was based on potential and not actual harm.

Bottom line: Admission medication order errors are frequent, most commonly originate in the medication histories, and have increased potential to cause adverse outcomes in older patients and those taking higher numbers of medications.

Citation: Gleason KM, McDaniel MR, Feinglass J, et al. Results of the Medications At Transitions and Clinical Handoffs (MATCH) study: an analysis of medication reconciliation errors and risk factors at hospital admission. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(5):441-447.

In This Edition

Literature at a Glance

A guide to this month’s studies

• Risk of VTE with travel
• Hyponatremia and mortality
• Clopidogrel and aspirin for atrial fibrillation
• Cost-effective evaluation of syncope
• Early vs. delayed intervention in STEMI patients receiving fibrinolytics
• Predictors of prolonged SSU length of stay
• Rates of survival for in-hospital CPR
• Hospitalists and hospital quality measures

Travel Increases Risk for Venous Thromboembolism in a Dose-Response Relationship

Clinical question: What is the association between travel and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE)?

Background: Previous studies evaluating the relationship between long-distance travel and VTE have been heterogeneous and inconclusive. Though a relationship is often discussed, only about half of prior investigations have identified an elevated VTE risk in those who travel, and the impact of duration on VTE risk is unclear.

Study design: Meta-analysis.

Setting: Western countries.

Synopsis: Studies were included if they investigated the association between travel and VTE for persons using any mode of transportation and if nontraveling persons were included for comparison. Fourteen studies met the criteria, and included 4,055 patients with VTE. Compared with nontravelers, the overall pooled relative risk for VTE in travelers was 2.0 (95% CI, 1.5-2.7).

Significant heterogeneity was present among these 14 studies, specifically with regard to the method used for selecting control participants. Six case-control studies used control patients who had been referred for VTE evaluation. When these studies were excluded, the pooled relative risk for VTE in travelers was 2.8 (95% CI, 2.2-3.7).

A dose-response relationship was identified. There was an 18% higher risk for VTE for each two-hour increase in duration of travel among all modes of transportation (P=0.010). When studies evaluating only air travel were analyzed, a 26% higher risk was found for every two-hour increase in air travel (P=0.005).

Bottom line: Travel is associated with a three-fold increase in the risk for VTE, and for each two-hour increase in travel duration, the risk increases approximately 18%.

Citation: Chandra D, Parisini E, Mozaffarian D. Meta-analysis: travel and risk for venous thromboembolism. Ann Intern Med. 2009;151(3):180-190.

Hyponatremia in Hospitalized Patients is Associated with Increased Mortality

Clinical question: Is hyponatremia in hospitalized patients associated with increased mortality?

Background: Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients. Patients admitted with hyponatremia have increased in-hospital mortality. Long-term mortality in hospitalized patients with hyponatremia is not known. Further, the effects of the degree of hyponatremia on mortality are not known.

Study design: Prospective cohort.

Setting: Two teaching hospitals in Boston.

Synopsis: The study identified 14,290 patients with hyponatremia (serum sodium <135 mEq/L) at admission (14.5%) and an additional 5,093 patients (19,383 total patients, or 19.7% of the 98,411 study patients) with hyponatremia at some point during their hospital stay. After multivariable adjustments and correction for hyperglycemia, patients with hyponatremia had increased mortality in the hospital (OR 1.47, 95% CI, 1.33-1.62), at one year (HR 1.38, 95% CI, 1.32-1.46), and at five years (HR 1.25, 95% CI, 1.21-1.30) compared with normonatremic patients. These mortality differences were seen in patients with mild, moderate, and moderately severe hyponatremia (serum sodium concentrations 130-134, 125-129, and 120-124 mEq/L, respectively), but not in patients with severe hyponatremia (serum sodium <120 mEq/L).

This study is limited by its post-hoc identification and classification of patients using ICD-9-CM codes, which could have resulted in some misclassification. Also, this study includes only two teaching hospitals in an urban setting; the prevalence of hyponatremia might differ in other settings. Causality cannot be determined based on these results.

Bottom line: Hospitalized patients with hyponatremia have increased in-hospital and long-term mortality.

Citation: Waikar SS, Mount DB, Curhan GC. Mortality after hospitalization with mild, moderate, and severe hyponatremia. Am J Med. 2009;122(9):857-865.

Clopidogrel Plus Aspirin in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Reduces Risk of Major Vascular Events

Clinical question: Does the addition of clopidogrel to aspirin therapy reduce the risk of major vascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation for whom vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are unsuitable?

Background: Although VKAs reduce the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation, many patients are unable to use VKAs and are treated with aspirin instead. The potential benefits of adding clopidogrel to aspirin therapy in this population are unknown.

Study design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Five hundred eighty medical centers in 33 countries.

Synopsis: More than 7,500 patients with atrial fibrillation who were also at high risk for stroke were randomly assigned to receive either clopidogrel or placebo once daily. All patients also received aspirin at a dose of 75 mg to 100 mg daily. A major vascular event occurred in 6.8% of patients per year who received clopidogrel and in 7.6% of patients per year who received placebo (RR 0.89, 95% CI, 0.89-0.98, P=0.01). This reduction primarily was due to a reduction in stroke, which occurred in 2.4% of patients per year who received clopidogrel, compared with 3.3% of patients per year who received placebo (RR 0.72, 95% CI, 0.62-0.83, P<0.001).

Major bleeding occurred in 2% of patients per year who received clopidogrel and in 1.3% of patients per year who received placebo (RR 1.57, 95% CI, 1.29-1.92, P<0.001).

Bottom line: Adding clopidogrel to aspirin in patients with atrial fibrillation who are not eligible for VKAs decreases the risk of major vascular events, including stroke, but increases risk of major hemorrhage compared with aspirin alone.

Citation: ACTIVE Investigators, Connolly SJ, Pogue J, et al. Effect of clopidogrel added to aspirin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(20):2066-2078.

Prioritize Syncope Testing by Diagnostic Yield and Cost Effectiveness

Clinical question: What are the utilization, yield, and cost effectiveness of tests used for evaluation of syncope in older patients?

Background: Clinicians utilize multiple diagnostic tests to help delineate the cause of syncope, but the yield and cost effectiveness of many of these tests are unclear. Further, it is unknown if considering patient characteristics, as in the San Francisco syncope rule (SFSR), can improve the yield of diagnostic tests.

Study design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Single acute-care hospital.

Synopsis: Review of 2,106 admissions in patients 65 and older with syncope revealed that the most common tests were electrocardiogram (99%), telemetry (95%), cardiac enzymes (95%), and head computed tomography (CT) scan (63%). The majority of tests did not affect diagnosis or management.

Postural blood pressure (BP) reading was infrequently recorded (38%) but had the highest yield. BP influenced diagnosis at least 18% of the time and management at least 25% of the time. Tests with the lowest likelihood of affecting diagnosis and management were head CT, carotid ultrasound, electroencephalography (EEG), and cardiac enzymes.

EEG had the highest cost per test affecting the diagnosis or management ($32,973), followed by head CT. The cost per test affecting diagnosis or management for postural BP was $17. Cardiac testing, including telemetry, echocardiogram, and cardiac enzymes, had significantly better yield in patients who met SFSR criteria.

Bottom line: In patients with syncope, the history and exam should guide evaluation, and tests with high yield and low cost per test, such as postural BP, should be prioritized.

Citation: Mendu ML, McAvay G, Lampert R, Stoehr J, Tinetti ME. Yield of diagnostic tests in evaluating syncopal episodes in older patients. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(14): 1299-1305.

Early PCI is Superior to Delayed Intervention in Patients with STEMI Receiving Fibrinolytic Therapy

Clinical question: Does early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improve clinical outcomes compared with standard management in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who receive fibrinolysis?

Background: Prior research has demonstrated the benefit of timely PCI in the management of acute coronary syndrome, specifically with ST elevation. However, many hospitals do not have this capability and utilize fibrinolysis as a standard alternative. The optimal timing of subsequent invasive intervention following fibrinolysis has not been established.

Study design: Multicenter randomized trial.

Setting: Fifty-two sites in three provinces in Canada.

Synopsis: This study randomized 1,059 patients presenting with STEMI and receiving fibrinolysis to early intervention (immediate transfer to another hospital with PCI less than six hours after fibrinolysis) versus standard intervention (rescue PCI if needed, or delayed angiography at more than 24 hours). The primary outcome was the composite of death, reinfarction, recurrent ischemia, new or worsening congestive heart failure, or cardiogenic shock within 30 days.

The primary outcome occurred in 11% of patients in the early intervention group, compared with 17.2% of patients randomized to standard intervention (RR 0.64, 95% CI, 0.47-0.87, P=0.004). Urgent catheterization was performed within 12 hours of fibrinolysis in 34.9% of patients randomized to the standard treatment group.

This study was not powered to detect differences in mortality and other individual components of the primary endpoint.

Bottom line: STEMI patients who received fibrinolysis had a lower risk of adverse outcomes when receiving transfer and PCI within six hours, compared with standard delayed intervention.

Citation: Cantor WJ, Fitchett D, Borgundvaag B, et al. Routine early angioplasty after fibrinolysis for acute myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(26):2705-2718.

Specialty Consultation and Limited Access Tests Predict Unsuccessful SSU Admissions

Clinical question: In patients admitted to short-stay units (SSUs), what characteristics are associated with unsuccessful SSU admission?

Background: Short-stay units have become prevalent in U.S. hospitals, but it is unclear which patient populations are best served by SSUs.

Study design: Prospective cohort.

Setting: Fourteen-bed SSU in a 500-bed public teaching hospital in Chicago.

Synopsis: More than 700 patients admitted to the Cook County Hospital SSU over a four-month period were interviewed and examined, and their ED and inpatient records were reviewed. An SSU admission was defined as “successful” if the length of stay (LOS) was less than 72 hours and the patient was discharged directly from the SSU.

Overall, 79% of patients had a successful SSU admission. In multivariate analysis, the strongest predictors of an unsuccessful SSU stay were subspecialty consultation (OR 8.1, P<0.001), a provisional diagnosis of heart failure (OR 1.9, P=0.02), and limited availability of a diagnostic test (OR 2.5, P<0.001).

The study was limited primarily to patients with cardiovascular diagnoses.

Bottom line: Patients admitted to SSUs who receive specialty consultation, carry a diagnosis of heart failure, or require diagnostic testing that is not readily available might have a longer LOS or eventual inpatient admission.

Citation: Lucas BP, Kumapley R, Mba B, et al. A hospitalist-run short-stay unit: features that predict length-of-stay and eventual admission to traditional inpatient services. J Hosp Med. 2009;4(5):276-284.

Lack of Significant Gains in Survival Rates Following In-Hospital CPR

Clinical question: Is survival after in-hospital CPR improving over time, and what are the factors associated with survival?

Background: Advances in out-of-hospital CPR have improved outcomes. However, it is unknown whether the survival rate after in-hospital CPR is improving over time, and it is unclear which patient and/or hospital characteristics predict post-CPR survival.

Study design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Inpatient Medicare beneficiaries from 1992 to 2005.

Synopsis: The study examined more than 150 million Medicare admissions, 433,985 of which underwent in-hospital CPR. Survival to discharge occurred in 18.3% of CPR events and did not change significantly from 1992 to 2005. The cumulative incidence of in-hospital CPR events was 2.73 per 1,000 admissions; it did not change substantially over time.

The survival rate was lower among black patients (OR 0.76, 95% CI, 0.74-0.79), which is partially explained due to the fact they tended to receive CPR at hospitals with lower post-CPR survival. Gender (specifically male), older age, race (specifically other nonwhite patients), higher burden of chronic illness, and admission from a skilled nursing facility were significantly associated with decreased survival to hospital discharge following CPR.

Limitations of this study included the identification of CPR by ICD-9 codes, which have not been validated for this purpose and could vary among hospitals. Other factors that might explain variations in survival were not available, including severity of acute illness and the presence (or absence) of a shockable rhythm at initial presentation.

Bottom line: Rates of survival to hospital discharge among Medicare beneficiaries receiving in-hospital CPR have remained constant over time, with poorer survival rates among blacks and other nonwhite patients.

Citation: Ehlenbach WJ, Barnato AE, Curtis JR, et al. Epidemiologic study of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the elderly. N Engl J Med. 2009;361(1):22-31.

Hospitalists Are Associated with Improved Performance on Quality Metrics

Clinical question: Is the presence of hospitalist physicians associated with improved performance on standard quality measures for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), and pneumonia?

Background: Previous investigations have demonstrated significant improvements in cost and LOS for patients under the care of hospitalists compared with other inpatient providers. The association between hospitalist prevalence and quality of care, as measured by standard quality process measures, is unknown.

Study design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: More than 3,600 hospitals participating in the Health Quality Alliance (HQA) program.

Synopsis: Investigators looked at a large sample of HQA hospitals in the American Hospital Association survey, and identified facilities with hospitalist services and those without. The primary endpoint was the adherence to composites of standard quality process measures across three disease categories (AMI, CHF, and pneumonia) and two domains of care (disease treatment/diagnosis and counseling/prevention).

Multivariable analyses revealed a statistically significant association between the presence of hospitalists and adherence to composite quality measures for AMI and pneumonia. This association was demonstrated for both treatment and counseling domains.

The study is cross-sectional, so conclusions cannot be drawn about causality. Also, there are likely unmeasured differences between hospitals that utilize hospitalists compared with those that do not, which could further confound the relationship between the presence of hospitalists and adherence to quality measures.

Finally, this study only evaluated hospital-level performance, and it cannot offer insight on the quality of individual patient care by hospitalist providers.

Bottom line: The presence of hospitalists is associated with improvement in adherence to quality measures for both AMI and pneumonia, and across clinical domains of treatment and counseling.

Citation: López L, Hicks LS, Cohen AP, McKean S, Weissman JS. Hospitalists and the quality of care in hospitals. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(15):1389-1394. TH

PEDIATRIC HM LITerature

Inpatient Curriculum Implicit, but Aligns with ACGME Competencies

By Mark Shen, MD

Reviewed by Pediatric Editor Mark Shen, MD, medical director of hospital medicine at Dell Children’s Medical Center, Austin, Texas.

Clinical question: Does implicit resident learning on an inpatient unit correspond to the explicit Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competencies?

Background: The ACGME competency-based model of education places an emphasis on task-oriented ability as a translation of skills and knowledge. Although it is recognized that most learning occurs through the process of daily patient care, it is unclear how much learning is explicit and linked to ACGME competencies, as defined in the goals and objectives of an inpatient rotation.

Study design: Qualitative, ethnographic case study.

Setting: One general pediatric floor in a large, urban pediatric hospital.

Synopsis: Over an eight-month period, one researcher directly observed and asked questions of inpatient teams as they worked on a general pediatric service. There was a particular emphasis on morning rounds. Data coding was completed in an iterative manner, and both data and method triangulation were used to enhance trustworthiness.

Curricular convergence occurred and was most obvious in the patient-care domain; however, the explicit curriculum was not formally referred to during the study period. The implicit curriculum was ill-structured and unpredictable, typically dictated by the patients’ socioclinical environment.

Make sure to check out Dr. Shen’s column on the need for strategic HM planning.

The primary limitations of this work are the focus on one service on one hospital floor, and that the study authors were former trainees or employees of that institution. This institution-specific bias, however, might be gauged by the degree to which the themes in this research will resonate with clinician-educators who read this article. Given the increasing time constraints on explicit inpatient didactic teaching, the vignettes and conclusions within this report are likely to find many a sympathetic ear. Illumination of the hidden curriculum could further support learner-centered education.

Bottom line: The inpatient service is a fertile and primarily implicit training ground for the ACGME competencies.

Citation: Balmer DF, Master CL, Richards B, Giardino AP. Implicit versus explicit curricula in general pediatrics education: is there a convergence? Pediatrics. 2009;124(2):e347-354.

In This Edition

Literature at a Glance

A guide to this month’s studies

• Risk of VTE with travel
• Hyponatremia and mortality
• Clopidogrel and aspirin for atrial fibrillation
• Cost-effective evaluation of syncope
• Early vs. delayed intervention in STEMI patients receiving fibrinolytics
• Predictors of prolonged SSU length of stay
• Rates of survival for in-hospital CPR
• Hospitalists and hospital quality measures

Travel Increases Risk for Venous Thromboembolism in a Dose-Response Relationship

Clinical question: What is the association between travel and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE)?

Background: Previous studies evaluating the relationship between long-distance travel and VTE have been heterogeneous and inconclusive. Though a relationship is often discussed, only about half of prior investigations have identified an elevated VTE risk in those who travel, and the impact of duration on VTE risk is unclear.

Study design: Meta-analysis.

Setting: Western countries.

Synopsis: Studies were included if they investigated the association between travel and VTE for persons using any mode of transportation and if nontraveling persons were included for comparison. Fourteen studies met the criteria, and included 4,055 patients with VTE. Compared with nontravelers, the overall pooled relative risk for VTE in travelers was 2.0 (95% CI, 1.5-2.7).

Significant heterogeneity was present among these 14 studies, specifically with regard to the method used for selecting control participants. Six case-control studies used control patients who had been referred for VTE evaluation. When these studies were excluded, the pooled relative risk for VTE in travelers was 2.8 (95% CI, 2.2-3.7).

A dose-response relationship was identified. There was an 18% higher risk for VTE for each two-hour increase in duration of travel among all modes of transportation (P=0.010). When studies evaluating only air travel were analyzed, a 26% higher risk was found for every two-hour increase in air travel (P=0.005).

Bottom line: Travel is associated with a three-fold increase in the risk for VTE, and for each two-hour increase in travel duration, the risk increases approximately 18%.

Citation: Chandra D, Parisini E, Mozaffarian D. Meta-analysis: travel and risk for venous thromboembolism. Ann Intern Med. 2009;151(3):180-190.

Hyponatremia in Hospitalized Patients is Associated with Increased Mortality

Clinical question: Is hyponatremia in hospitalized patients associated with increased mortality?

Background: Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients. Patients admitted with hyponatremia have increased in-hospital mortality. Long-term mortality in hospitalized patients with hyponatremia is not known. Further, the effects of the degree of hyponatremia on mortality are not known.

Study design: Prospective cohort.

Setting: Two teaching hospitals in Boston.

Synopsis: The study identified 14,290 patients with hyponatremia (serum sodium <135 mEq/L) at admission (14.5%) and an additional 5,093 patients (19,383 total patients, or 19.7% of the 98,411 study patients) with hyponatremia at some point during their hospital stay. After multivariable adjustments and correction for hyperglycemia, patients with hyponatremia had increased mortality in the hospital (OR 1.47, 95% CI, 1.33-1.62), at one year (HR 1.38, 95% CI, 1.32-1.46), and at five years (HR 1.25, 95% CI, 1.21-1.30) compared with normonatremic patients. These mortality differences were seen in patients with mild, moderate, and moderately severe hyponatremia (serum sodium concentrations 130-134, 125-129, and 120-124 mEq/L, respectively), but not in patients with severe hyponatremia (serum sodium <120 mEq/L).

This study is limited by its post-hoc identification and classification of patients using ICD-9-CM codes, which could have resulted in some misclassification. Also, this study includes only two teaching hospitals in an urban setting; the prevalence of hyponatremia might differ in other settings. Causality cannot be determined based on these results.

Bottom line: Hospitalized patients with hyponatremia have increased in-hospital and long-term mortality.

Citation: Waikar SS, Mount DB, Curhan GC. Mortality after hospitalization with mild, moderate, and severe hyponatremia. Am J Med. 2009;122(9):857-865.

Clopidogrel Plus Aspirin in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Reduces Risk of Major Vascular Events

Clinical question: Does the addition of clopidogrel to aspirin therapy reduce the risk of major vascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation for whom vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are unsuitable?

Background: Although VKAs reduce the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation, many patients are unable to use VKAs and are treated with aspirin instead. The potential benefits of adding clopidogrel to aspirin therapy in this population are unknown.

Study design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Five hundred eighty medical centers in 33 countries.

Synopsis: More than 7,500 patients with atrial fibrillation who were also at high risk for stroke were randomly assigned to receive either clopidogrel or placebo once daily. All patients also received aspirin at a dose of 75 mg to 100 mg daily. A major vascular event occurred in 6.8% of patients per year who received clopidogrel and in 7.6% of patients per year who received placebo (RR 0.89, 95% CI, 0.89-0.98, P=0.01). This reduction primarily was due to a reduction in stroke, which occurred in 2.4% of patients per year who received clopidogrel, compared with 3.3% of patients per year who received placebo (RR 0.72, 95% CI, 0.62-0.83, P<0.001).

Major bleeding occurred in 2% of patients per year who received clopidogrel and in 1.3% of patients per year who received placebo (RR 1.57, 95% CI, 1.29-1.92, P<0.001).

Bottom line: Adding clopidogrel to aspirin in patients with atrial fibrillation who are not eligible for VKAs decreases the risk of major vascular events, including stroke, but increases risk of major hemorrhage compared with aspirin alone.

Citation: ACTIVE Investigators, Connolly SJ, Pogue J, et al. Effect of clopidogrel added to aspirin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(20):2066-2078.

Prioritize Syncope Testing by Diagnostic Yield and Cost Effectiveness

Clinical question: What are the utilization, yield, and cost effectiveness of tests used for evaluation of syncope in older patients?

Background: Clinicians utilize multiple diagnostic tests to help delineate the cause of syncope, but the yield and cost effectiveness of many of these tests are unclear. Further, it is unknown if considering patient characteristics, as in the San Francisco syncope rule (SFSR), can improve the yield of diagnostic tests.

Study design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Single acute-care hospital.

Synopsis: Review of 2,106 admissions in patients 65 and older with syncope revealed that the most common tests were electrocardiogram (99%), telemetry (95%), cardiac enzymes (95%), and head computed tomography (CT) scan (63%). The majority of tests did not affect diagnosis or management.

Postural blood pressure (BP) reading was infrequently recorded (38%) but had the highest yield. BP influenced diagnosis at least 18% of the time and management at least 25% of the time. Tests with the lowest likelihood of affecting diagnosis and management were head CT, carotid ultrasound, electroencephalography (EEG), and cardiac enzymes.

EEG had the highest cost per test affecting the diagnosis or management ($32,973), followed by head CT. The cost per test affecting diagnosis or management for postural BP was $17. Cardiac testing, including telemetry, echocardiogram, and cardiac enzymes, had significantly better yield in patients who met SFSR criteria.

Bottom line: In patients with syncope, the history and exam should guide evaluation, and tests with high yield and low cost per test, such as postural BP, should be prioritized.

Citation: Mendu ML, McAvay G, Lampert R, Stoehr J, Tinetti ME. Yield of diagnostic tests in evaluating syncopal episodes in older patients. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(14): 1299-1305.

Early PCI is Superior to Delayed Intervention in Patients with STEMI Receiving Fibrinolytic Therapy

Clinical question: Does early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improve clinical outcomes compared with standard management in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who receive fibrinolysis?

Background: Prior research has demonstrated the benefit of timely PCI in the management of acute coronary syndrome, specifically with ST elevation. However, many hospitals do not have this capability and utilize fibrinolysis as a standard alternative. The optimal timing of subsequent invasive intervention following fibrinolysis has not been established.

Study design: Multicenter randomized trial.

Setting: Fifty-two sites in three provinces in Canada.

Synopsis: This study randomized 1,059 patients presenting with STEMI and receiving fibrinolysis to early intervention (immediate transfer to another hospital with PCI less than six hours after fibrinolysis) versus standard intervention (rescue PCI if needed, or delayed angiography at more than 24 hours). The primary outcome was the composite of death, reinfarction, recurrent ischemia, new or worsening congestive heart failure, or cardiogenic shock within 30 days.

The primary outcome occurred in 11% of patients in the early intervention group, compared with 17.2% of patients randomized to standard intervention (RR 0.64, 95% CI, 0.47-0.87, P=0.004). Urgent catheterization was performed within 12 hours of fibrinolysis in 34.9% of patients randomized to the standard treatment group.

This study was not powered to detect differences in mortality and other individual components of the primary endpoint.

Bottom line: STEMI patients who received fibrinolysis had a lower risk of adverse outcomes when receiving transfer and PCI within six hours, compared with standard delayed intervention.

Citation: Cantor WJ, Fitchett D, Borgundvaag B, et al. Routine early angioplasty after fibrinolysis for acute myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(26):2705-2718.

Specialty Consultation and Limited Access Tests Predict Unsuccessful SSU Admissions

Clinical question: In patients admitted to short-stay units (SSUs), what characteristics are associated with unsuccessful SSU admission?

Background: Short-stay units have become prevalent in U.S. hospitals, but it is unclear which patient populations are best served by SSUs.

Study design: Prospective cohort.

Setting: Fourteen-bed SSU in a 500-bed public teaching hospital in Chicago.

Synopsis: More than 700 patients admitted to the Cook County Hospital SSU over a four-month period were interviewed and examined, and their ED and inpatient records were reviewed. An SSU admission was defined as “successful” if the length of stay (LOS) was less than 72 hours and the patient was discharged directly from the SSU.

Overall, 79% of patients had a successful SSU admission. In multivariate analysis, the strongest predictors of an unsuccessful SSU stay were subspecialty consultation (OR 8.1, P<0.001), a provisional diagnosis of heart failure (OR 1.9, P=0.02), and limited availability of a diagnostic test (OR 2.5, P<0.001).

The study was limited primarily to patients with cardiovascular diagnoses.

Bottom line: Patients admitted to SSUs who receive specialty consultation, carry a diagnosis of heart failure, or require diagnostic testing that is not readily available might have a longer LOS or eventual inpatient admission.

Citation: Lucas BP, Kumapley R, Mba B, et al. A hospitalist-run short-stay unit: features that predict length-of-stay and eventual admission to traditional inpatient services. J Hosp Med. 2009;4(5):276-284.

Lack of Significant Gains in Survival Rates Following In-Hospital CPR

Clinical question: Is survival after in-hospital CPR improving over time, and what are the factors associated with survival?

Background: Advances in out-of-hospital CPR have improved outcomes. However, it is unknown whether the survival rate after in-hospital CPR is improving over time, and it is unclear which patient and/or hospital characteristics predict post-CPR survival.

Study design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Inpatient Medicare beneficiaries from 1992 to 2005.

Synopsis: The study examined more than 150 million Medicare admissions, 433,985 of which underwent in-hospital CPR. Survival to discharge occurred in 18.3% of CPR events and did not change significantly from 1992 to 2005. The cumulative incidence of in-hospital CPR events was 2.73 per 1,000 admissions; it did not change substantially over time.

The survival rate was lower among black patients (OR 0.76, 95% CI, 0.74-0.79), which is partially explained due to the fact they tended to receive CPR at hospitals with lower post-CPR survival. Gender (specifically male), older age, race (specifically other nonwhite patients), higher burden of chronic illness, and admission from a skilled nursing facility were significantly associated with decreased survival to hospital discharge following CPR.

Limitations of this study included the identification of CPR by ICD-9 codes, which have not been validated for this purpose and could vary among hospitals. Other factors that might explain variations in survival were not available, including severity of acute illness and the presence (or absence) of a shockable rhythm at initial presentation.

Bottom line: Rates of survival to hospital discharge among Medicare beneficiaries receiving in-hospital CPR have remained constant over time, with poorer survival rates among blacks and other nonwhite patients.

Citation: Ehlenbach WJ, Barnato AE, Curtis JR, et al. Epidemiologic study of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the elderly. N Engl J Med. 2009;361(1):22-31.

Hospitalists Are Associated with Improved Performance on Quality Metrics

Clinical question: Is the presence of hospitalist physicians associated with improved performance on standard quality measures for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), and pneumonia?

Background: Previous investigations have demonstrated significant improvements in cost and LOS for patients under the care of hospitalists compared with other inpatient providers. The association between hospitalist prevalence and quality of care, as measured by standard quality process measures, is unknown.

Study design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: More than 3,600 hospitals participating in the Health Quality Alliance (HQA) program.

Synopsis: Investigators looked at a large sample of HQA hospitals in the American Hospital Association survey, and identified facilities with hospitalist services and those without. The primary endpoint was the adherence to composites of standard quality process measures across three disease categories (AMI, CHF, and pneumonia) and two domains of care (disease treatment/diagnosis and counseling/prevention).

Multivariable analyses revealed a statistically significant association between the presence of hospitalists and adherence to composite quality measures for AMI and pneumonia. This association was demonstrated for both treatment and counseling domains.

The study is cross-sectional, so conclusions cannot be drawn about causality. Also, there are likely unmeasured differences between hospitals that utilize hospitalists compared with those that do not, which could further confound the relationship between the presence of hospitalists and adherence to quality measures.

Finally, this study only evaluated hospital-level performance, and it cannot offer insight on the quality of individual patient care by hospitalist providers.

Bottom line: The presence of hospitalists is associated with improvement in adherence to quality measures for both AMI and pneumonia, and across clinical domains of treatment and counseling.

Citation: López L, Hicks LS, Cohen AP, McKean S, Weissman JS. Hospitalists and the quality of care in hospitals. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(15):1389-1394. TH

PEDIATRIC HM LITerature

Inpatient Curriculum Implicit, but Aligns with ACGME Competencies

By Mark Shen, MD

Reviewed by Pediatric Editor Mark Shen, MD, medical director of hospital medicine at Dell Children’s Medical Center, Austin, Texas.

Clinical question: Does implicit resident learning on an inpatient unit correspond to the explicit Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competencies?

Background: The ACGME competency-based model of education places an emphasis on task-oriented ability as a translation of skills and knowledge. Although it is recognized that most learning occurs through the process of daily patient care, it is unclear how much learning is explicit and linked to ACGME competencies, as defined in the goals and objectives of an inpatient rotation.

Study design: Qualitative, ethnographic case study.

Setting: One general pediatric floor in a large, urban pediatric hospital.

Synopsis: Over an eight-month period, one researcher directly observed and asked questions of inpatient teams as they worked on a general pediatric service. There was a particular emphasis on morning rounds. Data coding was completed in an iterative manner, and both data and method triangulation were used to enhance trustworthiness.

Curricular convergence occurred and was most obvious in the patient-care domain; however, the explicit curriculum was not formally referred to during the study period. The implicit curriculum was ill-structured and unpredictable, typically dictated by the patients’ socioclinical environment.

Make sure to check out Dr. Shen’s column on the need for strategic HM planning.

The primary limitations of this work are the focus on one service on one hospital floor, and that the study authors were former trainees or employees of that institution. This institution-specific bias, however, might be gauged by the degree to which the themes in this research will resonate with clinician-educators who read this article. Given the increasing time constraints on explicit inpatient didactic teaching, the vignettes and conclusions within this report are likely to find many a sympathetic ear. Illumination of the hidden curriculum could further support learner-centered education.

Bottom line: The inpatient service is a fertile and primarily implicit training ground for the ACGME competencies.

Citation: Balmer DF, Master CL, Richards B, Giardino AP. Implicit versus explicit curricula in general pediatrics education: is there a convergence? Pediatrics. 2009;124(2):e347-354.

In This Edition

Literature at a Glance

A guide to this month’s studies

• Risk of VTE with travel
• Hyponatremia and mortality
• Clopidogrel and aspirin for atrial fibrillation
• Cost-effective evaluation of syncope
• Early vs. delayed intervention in STEMI patients receiving fibrinolytics
• Predictors of prolonged SSU length of stay
• Rates of survival for in-hospital CPR
• Hospitalists and hospital quality measures

Travel Increases Risk for Venous Thromboembolism in a Dose-Response Relationship

Clinical question: What is the association between travel and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE)?

Background: Previous studies evaluating the relationship between long-distance travel and VTE have been heterogeneous and inconclusive. Though a relationship is often discussed, only about half of prior investigations have identified an elevated VTE risk in those who travel, and the impact of duration on VTE risk is unclear.

Study design: Meta-analysis.

Setting: Western countries.

Synopsis: Studies were included if they investigated the association between travel and VTE for persons using any mode of transportation and if nontraveling persons were included for comparison. Fourteen studies met the criteria, and included 4,055 patients with VTE. Compared with nontravelers, the overall pooled relative risk for VTE in travelers was 2.0 (95% CI, 1.5-2.7).

Significant heterogeneity was present among these 14 studies, specifically with regard to the method used for selecting control participants. Six case-control studies used control patients who had been referred for VTE evaluation. When these studies were excluded, the pooled relative risk for VTE in travelers was 2.8 (95% CI, 2.2-3.7).

A dose-response relationship was identified. There was an 18% higher risk for VTE for each two-hour increase in duration of travel among all modes of transportation (P=0.010). When studies evaluating only air travel were analyzed, a 26% higher risk was found for every two-hour increase in air travel (P=0.005).

Bottom line: Travel is associated with a three-fold increase in the risk for VTE, and for each two-hour increase in travel duration, the risk increases approximately 18%.

Citation: Chandra D, Parisini E, Mozaffarian D. Meta-analysis: travel and risk for venous thromboembolism. Ann Intern Med. 2009;151(3):180-190.

Hyponatremia in Hospitalized Patients is Associated with Increased Mortality

Clinical question: Is hyponatremia in hospitalized patients associated with increased mortality?

Background: Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients. Patients admitted with hyponatremia have increased in-hospital mortality. Long-term mortality in hospitalized patients with hyponatremia is not known. Further, the effects of the degree of hyponatremia on mortality are not known.

Study design: Prospective cohort.

Setting: Two teaching hospitals in Boston.

Synopsis: The study identified 14,290 patients with hyponatremia (serum sodium <135 mEq/L) at admission (14.5%) and an additional 5,093 patients (19,383 total patients, or 19.7% of the 98,411 study patients) with hyponatremia at some point during their hospital stay. After multivariable adjustments and correction for hyperglycemia, patients with hyponatremia had increased mortality in the hospital (OR 1.47, 95% CI, 1.33-1.62), at one year (HR 1.38, 95% CI, 1.32-1.46), and at five years (HR 1.25, 95% CI, 1.21-1.30) compared with normonatremic patients. These mortality differences were seen in patients with mild, moderate, and moderately severe hyponatremia (serum sodium concentrations 130-134, 125-129, and 120-124 mEq/L, respectively), but not in patients with severe hyponatremia (serum sodium <120 mEq/L).

This study is limited by its post-hoc identification and classification of patients using ICD-9-CM codes, which could have resulted in some misclassification. Also, this study includes only two teaching hospitals in an urban setting; the prevalence of hyponatremia might differ in other settings. Causality cannot be determined based on these results.

Bottom line: Hospitalized patients with hyponatremia have increased in-hospital and long-term mortality.

Citation: Waikar SS, Mount DB, Curhan GC. Mortality after hospitalization with mild, moderate, and severe hyponatremia. Am J Med. 2009;122(9):857-865.

Clopidogrel Plus Aspirin in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Reduces Risk of Major Vascular Events

Clinical question: Does the addition of clopidogrel to aspirin therapy reduce the risk of major vascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation for whom vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are unsuitable?

Background: Although VKAs reduce the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation, many patients are unable to use VKAs and are treated with aspirin instead. The potential benefits of adding clopidogrel to aspirin therapy in this population are unknown.

Study design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Five hundred eighty medical centers in 33 countries.

Synopsis: More than 7,500 patients with atrial fibrillation who were also at high risk for stroke were randomly assigned to receive either clopidogrel or placebo once daily. All patients also received aspirin at a dose of 75 mg to 100 mg daily. A major vascular event occurred in 6.8% of patients per year who received clopidogrel and in 7.6% of patients per year who received placebo (RR 0.89, 95% CI, 0.89-0.98, P=0.01). This reduction primarily was due to a reduction in stroke, which occurred in 2.4% of patients per year who received clopidogrel, compared with 3.3% of patients per year who received placebo (RR 0.72, 95% CI, 0.62-0.83, P<0.001).

Major bleeding occurred in 2% of patients per year who received clopidogrel and in 1.3% of patients per year who received placebo (RR 1.57, 95% CI, 1.29-1.92, P<0.001).

Bottom line: Adding clopidogrel to aspirin in patients with atrial fibrillation who are not eligible for VKAs decreases the risk of major vascular events, including stroke, but increases risk of major hemorrhage compared with aspirin alone.

Citation: ACTIVE Investigators, Connolly SJ, Pogue J, et al. Effect of clopidogrel added to aspirin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(20):2066-2078.

Prioritize Syncope Testing by Diagnostic Yield and Cost Effectiveness

Clinical question: What are the utilization, yield, and cost effectiveness of tests used for evaluation of syncope in older patients?

Background: Clinicians utilize multiple diagnostic tests to help delineate the cause of syncope, but the yield and cost effectiveness of many of these tests are unclear. Further, it is unknown if considering patient characteristics, as in the San Francisco syncope rule (SFSR), can improve the yield of diagnostic tests.

Study design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Single acute-care hospital.

Synopsis: Review of 2,106 admissions in patients 65 and older with syncope revealed that the most common tests were electrocardiogram (99%), telemetry (95%), cardiac enzymes (95%), and head computed tomography (CT) scan (63%). The majority of tests did not affect diagnosis or management.

Postural blood pressure (BP) reading was infrequently recorded (38%) but had the highest yield. BP influenced diagnosis at least 18% of the time and management at least 25% of the time. Tests with the lowest likelihood of affecting diagnosis and management were head CT, carotid ultrasound, electroencephalography (EEG), and cardiac enzymes.

EEG had the highest cost per test affecting the diagnosis or management ($32,973), followed by head CT. The cost per test affecting diagnosis or management for postural BP was $17. Cardiac testing, including telemetry, echocardiogram, and cardiac enzymes, had significantly better yield in patients who met SFSR criteria.

Bottom line: In patients with syncope, the history and exam should guide evaluation, and tests with high yield and low cost per test, such as postural BP, should be prioritized.

Citation: Mendu ML, McAvay G, Lampert R, Stoehr J, Tinetti ME. Yield of diagnostic tests in evaluating syncopal episodes in older patients. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(14): 1299-1305.

Early PCI is Superior to Delayed Intervention in Patients with STEMI Receiving Fibrinolytic Therapy

Clinical question: Does early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improve clinical outcomes compared with standard management in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who receive fibrinolysis?

Background: Prior research has demonstrated the benefit of timely PCI in the management of acute coronary syndrome, specifically with ST elevation. However, many hospitals do not have this capability and utilize fibrinolysis as a standard alternative. The optimal timing of subsequent invasive intervention following fibrinolysis has not been established.

Study design: Multicenter randomized trial.

Setting: Fifty-two sites in three provinces in Canada.

Synopsis: This study randomized 1,059 patients presenting with STEMI and receiving fibrinolysis to early intervention (immediate transfer to another hospital with PCI less than six hours after fibrinolysis) versus standard intervention (rescue PCI if needed, or delayed angiography at more than 24 hours). The primary outcome was the composite of death, reinfarction, recurrent ischemia, new or worsening congestive heart failure, or cardiogenic shock within 30 days.

The primary outcome occurred in 11% of patients in the early intervention group, compared with 17.2% of patients randomized to standard intervention (RR 0.64, 95% CI, 0.47-0.87, P=0.004). Urgent catheterization was performed within 12 hours of fibrinolysis in 34.9% of patients randomized to the standard treatment group.

This study was not powered to detect differences in mortality and other individual components of the primary endpoint.

Bottom line: STEMI patients who received fibrinolysis had a lower risk of adverse outcomes when receiving transfer and PCI within six hours, compared with standard delayed intervention.

Citation: Cantor WJ, Fitchett D, Borgundvaag B, et al. Routine early angioplasty after fibrinolysis for acute myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(26):2705-2718.

Specialty Consultation and Limited Access Tests Predict Unsuccessful SSU Admissions

Clinical question: In patients admitted to short-stay units (SSUs), what characteristics are associated with unsuccessful SSU admission?

Background: Short-stay units have become prevalent in U.S. hospitals, but it is unclear which patient populations are best served by SSUs.

Study design: Prospective cohort.

Setting: Fourteen-bed SSU in a 500-bed public teaching hospital in Chicago.

Synopsis: More than 700 patients admitted to the Cook County Hospital SSU over a four-month period were interviewed and examined, and their ED and inpatient records were reviewed. An SSU admission was defined as “successful” if the length of stay (LOS) was less than 72 hours and the patient was discharged directly from the SSU.

Overall, 79% of patients had a successful SSU admission. In multivariate analysis, the strongest predictors of an unsuccessful SSU stay were subspecialty consultation (OR 8.1, P<0.001), a provisional diagnosis of heart failure (OR 1.9, P=0.02), and limited availability of a diagnostic test (OR 2.5, P<0.001).

The study was limited primarily to patients with cardiovascular diagnoses.

Bottom line: Patients admitted to SSUs who receive specialty consultation, carry a diagnosis of heart failure, or require diagnostic testing that is not readily available might have a longer LOS or eventual inpatient admission.

Citation: Lucas BP, Kumapley R, Mba B, et al. A hospitalist-run short-stay unit: features that predict length-of-stay and eventual admission to traditional inpatient services. J Hosp Med. 2009;4(5):276-284.

Lack of Significant Gains in Survival Rates Following In-Hospital CPR

Clinical question: Is survival after in-hospital CPR improving over time, and what are the factors associated with survival?

Background: Advances in out-of-hospital CPR have improved outcomes. However, it is unknown whether the survival rate after in-hospital CPR is improving over time, and it is unclear which patient and/or hospital characteristics predict post-CPR survival.

Study design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Inpatient Medicare beneficiaries from 1992 to 2005.

Synopsis: The study examined more than 150 million Medicare admissions, 433,985 of which underwent in-hospital CPR. Survival to discharge occurred in 18.3% of CPR events and did not change significantly from 1992 to 2005. The cumulative incidence of in-hospital CPR events was 2.73 per 1,000 admissions; it did not change substantially over time.

The survival rate was lower among black patients (OR 0.76, 95% CI, 0.74-0.79), which is partially explained due to the fact they tended to receive CPR at hospitals with lower post-CPR survival. Gender (specifically male), older age, race (specifically other nonwhite patients), higher burden of chronic illness, and admission from a skilled nursing facility were significantly associated with decreased survival to hospital discharge following CPR.

Limitations of this study included the identification of CPR by ICD-9 codes, which have not been validated for this purpose and could vary among hospitals. Other factors that might explain variations in survival were not available, including severity of acute illness and the presence (or absence) of a shockable rhythm at initial presentation.

Bottom line: Rates of survival to hospital discharge among Medicare beneficiaries receiving in-hospital CPR have remained constant over time, with poorer survival rates among blacks and other nonwhite patients.

Citation: Ehlenbach WJ, Barnato AE, Curtis JR, et al. Epidemiologic study of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the elderly. N Engl J Med. 2009;361(1):22-31.

Hospitalists Are Associated with Improved Performance on Quality Metrics

Clinical question: Is the presence of hospitalist physicians associated with improved performance on standard quality measures for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), and pneumonia?

Background: Previous investigations have demonstrated significant improvements in cost and LOS for patients under the care of hospitalists compared with other inpatient providers. The association between hospitalist prevalence and quality of care, as measured by standard quality process measures, is unknown.

Study design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: More than 3,600 hospitals participating in the Health Quality Alliance (HQA) program.

Synopsis: Investigators looked at a large sample of HQA hospitals in the American Hospital Association survey, and identified facilities with hospitalist services and those without. The primary endpoint was the adherence to composites of standard quality process measures across three disease categories (AMI, CHF, and pneumonia) and two domains of care (disease treatment/diagnosis and counseling/prevention).

Multivariable analyses revealed a statistically significant association between the presence of hospitalists and adherence to composite quality measures for AMI and pneumonia. This association was demonstrated for both treatment and counseling domains.

The study is cross-sectional, so conclusions cannot be drawn about causality. Also, there are likely unmeasured differences between hospitals that utilize hospitalists compared with those that do not, which could further confound the relationship between the presence of hospitalists and adherence to quality measures.

Finally, this study only evaluated hospital-level performance, and it cannot offer insight on the quality of individual patient care by hospitalist providers.

Bottom line: The presence of hospitalists is associated with improvement in adherence to quality measures for both AMI and pneumonia, and across clinical domains of treatment and counseling.

Citation: López L, Hicks LS, Cohen AP, McKean S, Weissman JS. Hospitalists and the quality of care in hospitals. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(15):1389-1394. TH

PEDIATRIC HM LITerature

Inpatient Curriculum Implicit, but Aligns with ACGME Competencies

By Mark Shen, MD

Reviewed by Pediatric Editor Mark Shen, MD, medical director of hospital medicine at Dell Children’s Medical Center, Austin, Texas.

Clinical question: Does implicit resident learning on an inpatient unit correspond to the explicit Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competencies?

Background: The ACGME competency-based model of education places an emphasis on task-oriented ability as a translation of skills and knowledge. Although it is recognized that most learning occurs through the process of daily patient care, it is unclear how much learning is explicit and linked to ACGME competencies, as defined in the goals and objectives of an inpatient rotation.

Study design: Qualitative, ethnographic case study.

Setting: One general pediatric floor in a large, urban pediatric hospital.

Synopsis: Over an eight-month period, one researcher directly observed and asked questions of inpatient teams as they worked on a general pediatric service. There was a particular emphasis on morning rounds. Data coding was completed in an iterative manner, and both data and method triangulation were used to enhance trustworthiness.

Curricular convergence occurred and was most obvious in the patient-care domain; however, the explicit curriculum was not formally referred to during the study period. The implicit curriculum was ill-structured and unpredictable, typically dictated by the patients’ socioclinical environment.

Make sure to check out Dr. Shen’s column on the need for strategic HM planning.

The primary limitations of this work are the focus on one service on one hospital floor, and that the study authors were former trainees or employees of that institution. This institution-specific bias, however, might be gauged by the degree to which the themes in this research will resonate with clinician-educators who read this article. Given the increasing time constraints on explicit inpatient didactic teaching, the vignettes and conclusions within this report are likely to find many a sympathetic ear. Illumination of the hidden curriculum could further support learner-centered education.

Bottom line: The inpatient service is a fertile and primarily implicit training ground for the ACGME competencies.

Citation: Balmer DF, Master CL, Richards B, Giardino AP. Implicit versus explicit curricula in general pediatrics education: is there a convergence? Pediatrics. 2009;124(2):e347-354.