Against Medical Advice Research Articles

Abstract 4134692: In-Hospital Mortality Rate and Predictors of 30-Day Readmission in Cancer Patients with MI Undergoing PCI -A Cross Sectional Study From Nationwide Readmission Database

Background and objectives: Data regarding readmission rates and predictors of readmission in cancer patients undergoing PCI are sparce. With the increasing survival rates and prevalence of cardiovascular complications in cancer patients, understanding the patterns and predictors of readmission in this population is paramount for optimizing their outcomes. Cancer patients pose unique clinical challenges due to their combined prothrombotic state and propensity for bleeding. We attempted to identify factors associated with readmission in cancer patients. Methods: We utilized the Nationwide Readmission Database from 2016 to 2020 and included patients more than 18 years of age with primary diagnosis of myocardial infarction(MI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) and have a preexisting diagnosis of cancer. We used International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD10 CM) codes to define MI, PCI, and cancer. The primary outcome was the 30-day readmission rate, and secondary outcomes were mortality rates, predictors of readmission, and common causes of readmission. The independent predictors of readmission were analyzed using cox regression analysis. Results: Of the 52,307 cancer patients who underwent PCI, 7,767 were readmitted within a 30-day period. The readmission rate for these patients was 15.70%. The mortality rate was 6.05% for index admission and 6.80% for readmitted cases. Among the readmitted patients in the strongest independent predictor for readmission were leaving against medical advice(AMA), anemia, congestive heart failure, and discharge to a skilled nursing facility or home health. Common causes of readmission within this time included hypertensive heart disease with concomitant CKD stage I-IV and heart failure (6.21%), sepsis (6.12%), NSTEMI (5.60%), hypertensive heart disease with concomitant heart failure (4.62%) and acute kidney injury (1.98%). Conclusions: Thirty-day readmission rate was 15.70%. Independent predictors of readmission were anemia, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, malnutrition, peripheral artery disease, leaving against medical advice, and discharge to facility. Most common cause of readmission was hypertensive heart and kidney disease with heart failure, which comprised 6.21%.

Leaving Against Medical Advice From Children's Hospitals.

Leaving the hospital against medical advice (AMA) reflects a breakdown in the family-clinician relationship and creates ethical dilemmas in inpatient pediatric care. There are no national data on frequency or characteristics of leaving AMA from US children's hospitals. We performed a retrospective cohort study of hospital discharges for children under 18 years old from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022 in 43 children's hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database. The primary outcome was leaving AMA. Exposures were demographic, geographic, and clinical characteristics. We used multivariable mixed effects logistic regression models to assess independent factors associated with leaving AMA and all-cause 14-day hospital readmission. Among 3 672 243 included inpatient encounters, 2972 (0.08%) ended in leaving AMA. Compared with non-Hispanic white patients, non-Hispanic Black patients had higher odds of leaving AMA (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.31 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-1.44]), whereas Hispanic patients (aOR 0.66 [95% CI 0.59-0.75]) had lower odds of leaving AMA. Hospitalizations for patients with noncommercial insurance were more likely to end in leaving AMA. Leaving AMA was associated with increased odds of 14-day inpatient readmission (aOR 1.41 [95% CI 1.24-1.61]) compared with patients who did not leave AMA. There was substantial interhospital variability in standardized rates of leaving AMA (range 0.18-2.14 discharges per 1000 inpatient encounters). Approximately 1 in 1235 inpatient encounters ended in leaving AMA. Non-Hispanic Black patients had increased odds of leaving AMA. Leaving AMA was associated with increased odds of 14-day readmission.

The last word: An analysis of power dynamics in clinical notes documenting against-medical-advice discharges

Against Medical Advice (AMA) discharges pose significant challenges to the healthcare system, straining patient-clinician relationships while contributing to avoidable morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, though these discharges culminate in patients' departure from hospitals, their effects reverberate long after, propagated by clinician notes stored in patients' medical records. These notes capture exceptionally fraught interactions between patients and providers, describing the circumstances surrounding breakdowns in clinical relationships. Additionally, they represent just one side of complex, contentious social interactions, for in describing AMA discharges, clinician notewriters quite literally have the last word. For these reasons, notes documenting AMA discharges provide insight into the ways in which clinicians conceptualize, characterize, and propagate power differentials in the contemporary healthcare system. Here, we present a qualitative thematic analysis of 185 notes documenting AMA discharges from a large urban US medical center, interpreting note dynamics through three sociological models of power analysis: (i) the distributive model of power promulgated by Max Weber, (ii) the collectivist power model characterized by Talcott Parsons and Hannah Arendt, and (iii) structural interpretations of power developed by Michel Foucault. We argue that in documenting AMA discharges, clinicians appear to conceive of their relationship with patients in almost exclusively distributive terms, which in turn contributes to an adversarial dynamic whereby both patients and clinicians ultimately suffer disempowerment. We furthermore argue that by facilitating clinicians' recognition of power's collectivist and structural dimensions, we may help transform breakdowns in patient-clinician relationships into opportunities for collaboration.

The Unhoused Burn Population: An Alarming Increase of Leaving Against Medical Advice.

Unhoused burn patients (UBP) have historically been more likely to leave against medical advice (AMA) and suffer worse health outcomes than the general population. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created a major strain on the healthcare system, resulting in worse overall health outcomes for burn patients. We sought to investigate how COVID-19 impacted treatment for UBP, specifically the rate of leaving AMA. We conducted a retrospective chart analysis of patients admitted to a regional burn center between June 2015 and January 2023. March 1, 2020, was used as a cut point to separate the cohorts into patients seen pre-COVID-19 (p-CV) and during COVID-19 (CV). Outcomes included leaving treatment AMA and readmission within 30 days. 385 patients met criteria for being unhoused and were included in our analytic sample, of which 199 were in the p-CV cohort and 186 in the CV cohort. UBP were significantly more likely to leave AMA during CV compared to p-CV (22.6% vs. 7.5%, p<0.001). Housed burn patients did not experience an increase in discharges AMA during this time period. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an increase in discharges AMA among unhoused patients only. While the etiology is unclear, our findings suggest that this vulnerable patient population is receiving inadequate care post-COVID. Future research should determine the driving force behind these increases and identify early interventions to mitigate them.

Hidden Dangers of Frailty: Higher Mortality, Complications and Costs in Acute Pancreatitis.

Frailty is a clinically recognizable state of increased vulnerability due to age-related decline in reserve and function across multiple physiologic systems that compromises the ability to cope with acute stress. As frailty is being identified as an important risk factor in outcomes of gastrointestinal pathologies, we aimed to assess outcomes in patients with acute pancreatitis within this cohort. We conducted a retrospective study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. ICD-10 codes were used to inquire for patients admitted with acute pancreatitis between September 2015 through 2017. ICD-10 codes corresponding to the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) were used to divide the study sample into 2 cohorts: low risk (< 5 points) and intermediate or high risk (> 5 points). To calculate the points, we fitted a logistic regression model that included membership of the frail group as the binary dependent variable (frail vs. non-frail) and the set of ICD-10 codes as binary predictor variables (1 = present, 0 = absent for each code). To simplify the calculation and interpretation, we multiplied regression coefficients by five to create a points system, so that a certain number of points are awarded for each ICD-10 code and added together to create the final frailty risk score. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to find adjusted mortality. Out of a total of 1,267,744 patients admitted with acute pancreatitis, 728,953 (57.5%) were identified as intermediate and high risk (> 5 points) (study cohort) and 538,781 (42.5%) as low risk (< 5 points). The mean age in the study cohort was 64.8 ± 12.6 and that in the low-risk group was 58.6 ± 9.5. Most of the patients in both groups were males and Caucasians; Medicare was the predominant insurance provider. A majority of the admissions in both groups were in an urban teaching hospital and were emergency. (Table1). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality which was significantly higher in the study cohort as compared to the low-risk group (4.3% vs. 2.5%, p < 0.0001). The age-adjusted Odds ratio of mortality was 1.72(95% CI (Confidence Interval) 1.65-1.80, p < 0.05). When compared between the two groups; median length of stay (6 vs. 4); hospitalization cost ($14,412 vs. $10,193), disposition to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) (17.1% vs. 8.6%) and need for home health care (HHC) was significantly higher in the study cohort. Complications like septicemia, septic shock, and acute kidney injury were also higher in the study group (Table2). Table1 Baseline demographics of the cohort Characteristics Acute pancreatitis with High HES Frailty score (> 5, intermediate + high) Acute pancreatitis with low HES Frailty score (< 5) P-value N = 1,267,744 N = 728,953 (57.5%) N = 538,781 (42.5%) Age Mean years (Mean ± SD) 64.8 ± 12.6 58.6 ± 9.5 < 0.001 Gender < 0.001 Male 59.1% 52.3% Female 40.9% 47.7% *Missing-475 Age groups < 0.001 18-44 3.7% 14.3% 45-64 48% 52.9% 65-84 32.2% 28.7% ≥ 85 16.1% 4.1% Race < 0.001 Caucasians 67.4% 61.9% African Americans 9.6% 16.8% Others 23% 21.3% *Missing-10 Insurance type < 0.001 Medicare 40.9% 36.3% Medicaid 17.2% 24.3% Private 31.8% 27.9% Other 9.9% 11.4% *Missing-75 Active smoking 32.7% 37.9% 0.005 Biliary Stone 36.2% 16.7% < 0.001 Admission Type < 0.001 Emergent 93.7% 94.3% Elective 6.3% 5.7% *Missing-2880 Hospital ownership/control < 0.001 Rural 7.8% 10% Urban nonteaching 26.3% 26.6% Urban teaching 65.9% 63.4% Table2 Outcomes Outcomes Acute pancreatitis with High HES Frailty score (> 5, intermediate + high) Acute pancreatitis with low HES Frailty score (< 5) P-value In-hospital mortality *Missing-920 4.3% 2.5% < .0001 1.72(1.65-1.80) < .0001 Length of stay, days (Median,IQR) 6(3-8) 4(2-6) < .0001 Total hospitalization cost, $ (Median,IQR) 14,412(8843-20,216) 10,193(6840-13,842) < .0001 In-Hospital Complications ARDS 0.4% 0.3% 0.08 Ventilator dependence respiratory failure 0.23% 0.29% 0.25 Septicemia 15.2% 9.6% < .0001 Septic Shock 6.1% 2.9% < .0001 AKI 24.8% 14.9% < .0001 Disposition < .0001 Discharge to home 58.9% 74.9% Transfer other: includes Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), Intermediate Care Facility (ICF), and another type of facility 17.1% 8.6% Home health care 11.5% 8.1% Against medical advice (AMA) 1.6% 3.4% *Missing-920 CONCLUSION: Using frailty as a construct to identify those who are at greater risk for adverse outcomes, can help formulate interventions to target individualized reversible factors to improve outcomes in patients with acute pancreatitis. Future large-scale prospective studies are warranted to understand the dynamic and longitudinal relationship between pancreatitis and frailty.

Discharges Against Medical Advice in Pregnant Patients at a Canadian Tertiary Care Center: Does Lack of Access to Childcare Play a Role? [ID 2683591

INTRODUCTION: Discharges against medical advice (AMA) during pregnancy have been associated with poor maternal and fetal outcomes. Moreover, one of the documented reasons why female patients might leave the hospital AMA is lack of access to childcare. In recent years, lack of access to childcare has been identified as a potential risk factor for discharge AMA and maternal mortality at a tertiary care center in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The goal of this chart review project is to study the characteristics of pregnant women who leave AMA from this center, and to determine what proportion of these discharges is due to difficulties securing childcare. METHODS: Ethics approval was obtained through the University of Alberta’s Health Research Ethics Board. All patients who were discharged AMA from the triage and antepartum units at the study site between May 28, 2021, and May 27, 2022, were identified. Patients were included in the chart review as long as they remained undelivered at the time of discharge. Reasons for admission and discharge AMA were extracted from each patient’s chart whenever available. Patients' age, gravidity, parity, and gestational age at the time of discharge were also collected. RESULTS: During the study period, approximately 9.3% of recorded discharges from the triage and antepartum units were for patients who left AMA. In total, we included 89 individual patient visits that ended with a discharge AMA. For these patients, the most frequent reason for admission was threatened preterm labor (including short cervix). Although the reason motivating discharges AMA was not documented in the majority of charts reviewed (49/89), lack of access to childcare was the most frequently documented reason provided by patients for leaving AMA (15/40). CONCLUSION: Improving access to childcare for pregnant patients who are admitted to the study site might help to decrease discharges AMA, and therefore help reduce perinatal complications.

Examining trauma, anxiety, and depression as predictors of dropout from residential treatment for substance use disorders.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly prevalent and have deleterious effects on one's health and well-being. Inpatient treatment for SUDs reduces patient relapse, which subsequently ameliorates these negative effects on the individual and society. Additionally, those who complete treatment are less likely to relapse compared to those who do not complete treatment. Thus, maintaining patient engagement in treatment and reducing the rates of those leaving against medical advice (AMA) is particularly important. Examining the factors and comorbidities that may contribute to treatment dropout has the potential to identify at-risk patients in need of additional individualized intervention. The current study aimed to examine comorbid anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as predictors of dropout AMA in a residential substance use treatment population. Results showed that patients with social anxiety were more likely to leave treatment AMA, while those with PTSD were more likely to complete treatment. Findings suggest that PTSD-specific treatment, as offered in this facility, may help with patient retention, while group focused therapy may be distressing to those with social anxiety. Clinical implications of this research may include incorporating evidence-based practice for social anxiety early during inpatient treatment to reduce anxiety such that patients may better engage with SUDs treatment.

Association between physician resource utilization, throughput, and patient experience in the emergency department

Background and Importance: Emergency department (ED) care is complex, involving multifaceted factors such as patient volume, provider experience, throughput metrics, and patient-provider interactions. While some studies have explored relationships between these parameters, there is still much to understand about the nuances in ED care. Objective: Our study aimed to analyze the statistical relationships between admission rates, Press Ganey (PG) scores, and various throughput/resource utilization variables in the ED. These variables include imaging and lab ordering rates, door-to-doctor (D2D) success rate, disposition times for specific patient acuities, and elopement or discharge against medical advice (AMA) rates. Design: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from eight emergency facilities within the Valley Health System. Settings and Participants: Data from six community hospital EDs and two freestanding emergency departments (FEDs) in the Valley Health System, spanning August 1, 2020, to July 31, 2021, were examined. The analysis involved 99 physicians and approximately 200,000 adult patients. Outcome Measures and Analysis: Correlations between admission rates, PG scores, and various ED metrics were examined using the Jamovi software. Separate analyses were conducted based on facility type using ANOVAs. Main Results: Our findings revealed several significant correlations. There was a positive correlation between lab ordering and admission rates, while D2D success rates showed a negative correlation with admission rates. Additionally, there was a positive association between D2D success rates and quick dispositioning of lower acuity patients. Patient satisfaction (PG score) was negatively correlated with admission, AMA, and D2D success rates, whereas it positively correlated with lab ordering rates. Conclusion: This study identifies significant relationships among ED throughput, resource utilization, and patient satisfaction metrics. These findings can guide further research to understand the patient experience better, optimize resource utilization, and improve overall ED efficiency.

Factors associated with pediatric trauma patients leaving against medical advice

BackgroundDischarge against medical advice (AMA) leads to worse patient outcomes, increased readmission rates, and higher cost. However, AMA discharge has received limited study, particularly in pediatric trauma patients. Our objective was to explore the risk factors associated with leaving AMA in pediatric trauma patients. MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis on pediatric trauma patients from 2017 to 2019 using the National Trauma Data Bank. We examined patient characteristics including age (<18 years), race, sex, Glasgow Coma Scale, trauma type, primary payment methods, and Abbreviated Injury Scale. Multiple Logistic Regression models were utilized to determine characteristics associated with leaving AMA. ResultsOf the 224,196 pediatric patients included in the study, 238 left AMA (0.1%). Our study showed black pediatric trauma patients were more likely to leave AMA compared to nonblack patients (OR 1.987, 95% CI 1.501 to 2.631). Patients with self-pay coverage were more likely to leave AMA than those with other insurance coverages (OR 1.759, 95% CI 1.183 to 2.614). Blunt trauma patients were more likely to leave AMA than those with penetrating trauma (OR 1.683, 95% CI 1.216 to 2.330). Every one-year increase in age led to 15% increase in odds of AMA discharge (OR 1.150, 95% CI 1.115 to 1.186). Pediatric patients with severe abdominal injuries were less likely to leave AMA compared to those with mild abdominal injuries (OR 0.271, 95% CI 0.111 to 0.657). Patients with severe lower extremity injury were less likely to leave AMA compared to those with mild lower extremity injuries (OR 0.258, 95% CI 0.127 to 0.522). ConclusionRace, insurance, injury type, and age play a role in AMA discharge of pediatric trauma patients. Black pediatric trauma patients have ∼ double the AMA discharge rate of nonblack patients. AMA discharge remains relevant, and addressing racial and socioeconomic factors provide opportunities for future interventions in pediatric trauma care.Level of Evidence: III, retrospective study.

A111 CHARACTERISTICS OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASE WHO LEAVE AGAINST MEDICAL ADVICE

Abstract Background Hospitalized inpatients who leave against medical advice (AMA) may have incomplete care, resulting in readmission and increased healthcare costs. Limited evidence exists in patients diagnosed with a primary gastrointestinal (GI) disease who leave AMA. Identifying patients with GI diagnoses who leave AMA may inform risk stratification to determine which patients are at risk of unplanned discharge. Aims Identify characteristics in patients diagnosed with GI diseases who leave AMA. Methods A retrospective evaluation was conducted using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2016 to 2020. The NIS provides national-level estimates of cost, quality, and outcomes from hospitalizations in the United States. We used International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision diagnostic coding to identify patients admitted with a primary GI problem. The proportion of patients who left AMA for each diagnosis was determined (Figure 1). A multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine factors associated with an AMA discharge, adjusting for age, sex, elective or weekend admission, primary payment method, race, hospital setting, geography, income, Elixhauser comorbidity index, alcohol and/or drug abuse and depression status. Results Between 2016 and 2020, 1.61% of patients with a GI primary problem left the hospital AMA. Characteristics associated with leaving AMA included: older age, female sex, non-white race, rural hospital admission, higher income and having comorbid conditions (Table 1). Patients with a history of alcohol abuse were more likely to leave AMA, while patients with a history of drug abuse were less likely to leave AMA. Conclusions Approximately 1 in 60 patients admitted with a primary GI problem leave hospital AMA and we identify both structural and patient-level factors associated with unplanned discharge. Table 1: Factors Associated With AMA Discharge For GI-related Diagnoses Funding Agencies None

Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders and Their Association With Clinical Outcomes in Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Syndrome

BackgroundDiabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) are life-threatening conditions that send nearly 180,000 patients to the ICU each year, with mortality rates up to 5-10%. Little is known about the impact of concurrent psychiatric disorders on specific DKA/HHS outcomes. Identifying these relationships offers opportunities to improve clinical management, treatment planning, and mitigate associated morbidity and mortality. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review including adult DKA/HHS admissions within a large Massachusetts hospital system from 2010 – 2019. We identified patients admitted inpatient for DKA or HHS, then filtered by ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM codes for psychiatric diagnoses that were present in patients EMR at any point in this observational period. Outcomes included number of inpatient admissions for DKA/HHS, age of death, rates of discharging against medical advice (AMA) from any inpatient admission, and ESRD/dialysis status. Multivariate regression was conducted using R software to control for variables across patients and evaluate relationships between outcomes and concurrent psychiatric disorders. Significance was set at p <0.05. Results7756 patients were admitted for DKA or HHS, 66.9% of which had a concurrent psychiatric disorder. 54.5% of these patients were male, 70.4% White, and an average age of 61.6 years. This compares with 26.1% with concurrent psychiatric condition within the general diabetes population, 52.1% of which were male, 72.1% White, and an average of 68.2 years . A concurrent psychiatric disorder was associated with increased odds of rehospitalization (aOR= 1.62 95%Cl 1.35 - 1.95, p<0.001), of being diagnosed with end-stage renal disease and on dialysis (aOR = 1.02 95% Cl 1.002 – 1.035, p = 0.02), and in leaving AMA (aOR = 6.44 95%Cl 4.46 – 9.63, p <0.001). The average age of death for those with a concurrent psychiatric disorder had an adjusted mean difference in years of -7.5 years (95% Cl -9.3 5.8) compared to those without a psychiatric disorder. Conclusion66.9% of patients with DKA/HHS have a concurrent psychiatric disorder. Patients with a concurrent psychiatric disorder admitted for DKA/HHS were more likely to have multiple admissions, to leave AMA, to be on renal dialysis, and have a lower age of mortality.

Impulsivity Dimensions Predict Treatment Dropout Among Women in Residential Treatment for Substance Use Disorders.

Residential treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) is effective at reducing substance use, dependence, and other related problems. However, dropout from treatment against medical advice (AMA) is common in residential treatment settings. Studies have shown that impulsivity is associated with substance misuse and treatment dropout in predominately male samples, but less is known regarding whether impulsivity dimensions predict treatment dropout among women. This study examined impulsivity dimensions (ie, negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of perseverance, lack of premeditation, and sensation seeking) as predictors of dropout AMA among women in a residential substance use treatment facility (N = 229). Logistic regression results demonstrated that elevations in lack of perseverance and sensation seeking were associated with an increased odds of treatment dropout AMA and that lack of premeditation was associated with a decreased odds of treatment dropout AMA. Study findings suggest that early evidence-based interventions for sensation seeking and lack of perseverance may improve retention of women in residential treatment.

A Rare Case of Sheehan’s Syndrome Presenting as Depression and Dyselectrolytaemia in a Multiparous Woman

Sheehan’s Syndrome (SS) is a rare endocrine condition that presents with complex features in women with intrapartum or Postpartum Haemorrhage (PPH) seen in clinical practice. The spectrum of symptoms is diverse, and early detection with prompt treatment of this endocrinopathy is facilitated by a high index of suspicion, sound clinical acumen, and an appropriate diagnostic strategy by an astute physician. SS, which manifests as a major depressive disorder, but not accompanied with dyselectrolytaemia, is an interesting finding in the present case study. In fact, most of the time, it presents with non specific symptoms that delays the diagnosis and management. Hereby, the authors present the case of a 39-year-old multiparous woman who was diagnosed with depression for two months by the psychiatrist. Later, she developed symptoms including anorexia, for which she presented to the Medicine Department. On detailed examination, her vitals were poor. Again, she was evaluated in detail for her obstetric history presented as a history of agalactia and early amenorrhoea two years ago. Followed by the history, laboratory investigation and imaging techniques were done, and found to have thinned pituitary gland and flattened against the sella floor. With this prompt examination, diagnosed with SS due to PPH. Yet, her laboratory investigation resulted in abnormal electrolytes made the final diagnosis as SS with dyselectrolytaemia and depression as neuropsychiatric manifestations. She was treated with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Due to her financial constraints, her treatment switched to oral drugs and discharged Against Medical Advice (AMA) with follow-up advice.

Association between Psychiatric Disorders and the Incidence of Heart Failure in Women.

Depression and anxiety occur more frequently in women and are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Data on the association between these psychiatric conditions and the incidence of acute heart failure (HF) and how they influence heart failure outcomes in women are lacking. We investigated this potential relationship using data from the National Inpatient Sample. We used ICD-10 codes to extract encounters for acute heart failure and/or the acute exacerbation of chronic heart failure, anxiety, and depression from the discharge data of the NIS from 2019 to 2020. We compared baseline characteristics and length of stay (LOS), cost of care (COC) and acute HF by depression/anxiety status for males and females and employed regression models to assess the influence of these psychiatric conditions on the outcomes. There were 6,394,136 encounters involving females, which represented 56.6% of the sample. The prevalence of depression and anxiety were 15.7% and 16.8%, respectively. Among females, the occurrence of acute CHF did not differ by depression or anxiety status. However, Takostubo cardiomyopathy was more prevalent in those with depression (0.3% vs. 0.2%, p = 0.003) and anxiety (0.3% vs. 0.2%, p = 0.03) compared to those without these conditions. Among those with depression, LOS was significantly longer (3 days IQR: 2-6, vs. 3 days IQR:2-5 days, p < 0.001). The COC was USD 1481 more in patients with depression. On the contrary, LOS and COC were significantly lower in those without anxiety. Depression was associated with an increased LOS among both men and women and an increased cost of care among women. Anxiety was associated with a decreased LOS and cost of care among women, which may be related to an increased rate of against medical advice (AMA) discharges among this population. Further research is necessary to identify optimal management strategies for depression and anxiety among patients hospitalized with HF.

Inequities among patient placement in emergency department hallway treatment spaces

BackgroundLimited capacity in the emergency department (ED) secondary to boarding and crowding has resulted in patients receiving care in hallways to provide access to timely evaluation and treatment. However, there are concerns raised by physicians and patients regarding a decrease in patient centered care and quality resulting from hallway care. We sought to explore social risk factors associated with hallway placement and operational outcomes. Study design/methodsObservational study between July 2017 and February 2020. Primary outcome was the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of patient placement in a hallway treatment space adjusting for patient demographics and ED operational factors. Secondary outcomes included left without being seen (LWBS), discharge against medical advice (AMA), elopement, 72-h ED revisit, 10-day ED revisit and escalation of care during boarding. ResultsAmong 361,377 ED visits, 100,079 (27.7%) visits were assigned to hallway beds. Patient insurance coverage (Medicaid (aOR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01,1.06) and Self-pay/Other (1.08, (1.03, 1.13))) with comparison to private insurance, and patient sex (Male (1.08, (1.06, 1.10))) with comparison to female sex are associated with higher odds of hallway placement but patient age, race, and language were not. These associations are adjusted for ED census, triage assigned severity, ED staffing, boarding level, and time effect, with social factors mutually adjusted. Additionally adjusting for patients' social factors, patients placed in hallways had higher odds of elopement (1.23 (1.07,1.41)), 72-h ED revisit (1.33 (1.08, 1.64)) and 10-day ED revisit (1.23 (1.11, 1.36)) comparing with patients placed in regular ED rooms. We did not find statistically significant associations between hallway placement and LWBS, discharge AMA, or escalation of care. ConclusionWhile hallway usage is ad hoc, we find consistent differences in care delivery with those insured by Medicaid and self-pay or male sex being placed in hallway beds. Further work should examine how new front-end processes such as provider in triage or split flow may be associated with inequities in patient access to emergency and hospital care.

Abstract 13406: Surveillance Bias: Inpatient Outcomes of Heart Failure in Substance Users as an Example

Introduction: Substance use (SU), including opioid, methamphetamine, and cocaine use, is not infrequent among those with heart failure (HF). We aimed to characterize substance use among patients with heart failure and its association with inpatient outcomes. Methods: We used the Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) for 2019 for our retrospective study. First, we extracted all cases older than 18 years that included a primary diagnosis of HF. Appropriate survey and domain analyses were applied to obtain national estimates using SAS 9.4. Results: We identified 1,318,006 discharges with a primary diagnosis of HF. SU was present in 5% of the study cohort (n= 57,395 cases). Patients with SU were younger than those without SU (mean age 55 years vs. 72 years, p&lt;0.001) and fewer women (29% vs. 49%, p&lt;0.001). Patients with SU had a higher prevalence of underlying hypertension, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and chronic lung and liver disease, but a lower prevalence of malignancy, dementia, end-stage renal disease, diabetes, and cerebrovascular disease (p&lt;0.001). Substance users had significantly lower inpatient mortality (1.4% vs. 2.9%, p&lt;0.001), but higher leaving against medical advice (AMA) (8% vs. 1%, p&lt;0.001), length of stay (mean 9 days vs. 8 days, p&lt;0.001), and all-cause 30-day readmission rates (58% vs. 46%, p&lt;0.001). Even after adjusting for age, gender, and comorbidities, the presence of SU continued to be associated with lower inpatient mortality compared to those without SU (OR 0.81 [0.73-0.90]). In this case, mortality rates are calculated based on discharge-level records rather than patient-level records. This leads to a dilution of the inpatient mortality rate because drug users who have multiple readmissions contribute more to the denominator. After excluding patients who left AMA or had readmission in the same year, SU was not associated with any favorable outcome (OR 1 [0.90-1.12]). Conclusions: While administrative data offers opportunities to study clinical outcomes, understanding how data is created and analyzed is key. Because the NRD database is built based on discharge-level rather than patient-level records, this is an example of how these calculations can introduce bias.

Who Left the Hospital Against Medical Advice During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic?

Patients leaving against medical advice (AMA) presents a challenge to hospitals as they try to manage costs and improve patient outcomes in an ever-increasing competitive market. Investigating AMA discharges that occurred during the early COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to better understand this phenomenon and be better prepared for the future. This retrospective analysis of 34 379 patients from a nationwide private healthcare system across 20 states analyzed patients during the early stages of the pandemic who chose to leave against medical advice (AMA) after being admitted with COVID-19 infection and identified several patient characteristics associated with subsequent AMA discharge. These patient characteristics included being younger than 50; identifying as male sex; having non-white ethnicity, including both Black and Hispanic; having either Medicaid or no health insurance; and the presence of specific medical comorbidities. The identified medical comorbidities were substance abuse, renal failure, deep vein thrombosis, hypertension with heart failure, hypertension with chronic kidney disease stage 5, rheumatoid arthritis or collagen vascular diseases, alcohol abuse, chronic pulmonary disease, hypertensive encephalopathy, and solid tumor. This study confirms some of the findings in previous studies looking at AMA discharges and has some interesting findings as it relates specifically to the COVID-19-infected patient population. An additional understanding of the factors leading to AMA discharges can help providers and administrators prevent suboptimal discharge outcomes in the future.

Racial disparities in lower extremity orthopaedic injuries presenting to U.S. emergency departments from 2010 to 2020

Introduction Racial and ethnic disparities remain a major problem in orthopedic surgery, driving inequitable resource distribution, disparate clinical outcomes, and increased healthcare costs. The objective of this study was to investigate potential racial/ethnic disparities in the incidence and injury patterns of orthopedic lower extremity trauma (LET) in the United States over the past 10 years, as well as differences in final disposition outcomes. Materials and Methods The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database was queried for all orthopedic LET presenting to U.S. emergency departments from 2010 to 2020. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) were used to compare incidence rates between racial/ethnic groups. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to compare disposition outcomes. Results Black/African Americans (Black/AAs) consistently experienced the highest incidence of LET over the 10-year period analyzed (709.108 per 100,000 person-years), followed by Whites (547.159 per 100,000 person-years). Furthermore, Black/AAs had the highest incidence of polytrauma (114.19 per 100,000 person-years), over 1.7x greater than Whites (IRR: 1.73 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.72–1.75]). Black/AAs had over 2-fold higher odds of death after LET compared to Whites (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.15 [95% CI: 1.78–2.59]). By 2019 to 2020, the incidence of deaths among Black/AAs reached more than triple that of Whites (IRR: 3.50 [95% CI: 2.74–4.46]). Black/AAs were also the most likely to be discharged against medical advice (AMA) (aOR: 1.94 [95% CI: 1.92–1.96]), and the least likely to be admitted as inpatients (aOR: 0.683 [95% CI: 0.679–0.688]). Conclusions Despite Black/AAs experiencing a disproportionately higher incidence of LET and over 2-fold greater odds of death compared to Whites, they were also the most likely to be discharged AMA and least likely to be admitted as inpatients. Understanding the effects of conscious/unconscious biases and the importance of effective communication and patient education may help physicians ensure that injuries in this patient population are not prematurely discharged, potentially improving clinical outcomes, and reducing mortality. Level of Evidence III.

What Do We Owe to Patients Who Leave Against Medical Advice? The Ethics of AMA Discharges.

Discharges against medical advice (AMA) make up a significant number of hospital discharges in the United States, and often involve vulnerable patients who struggle to obtain adequate medical care. Unfortunately, much of the AMA discharge process focuses on absolving the medical center of liability for what happens to these patients once they leave the acute setting. Comparatively little attention is paid to the ethical obligations of the medical team once an informed decision to leave the acute care setting AMA has been made. Via a case narrative, we offer an ethical framework that we believe can help guide an ethically defensible AMA discharge process. By emphasizing our duty to provide the best care possible under the circumstances, we contend, our ethical obligations to promote the patient's best interests can still be met despite their decision to leave the acute setting against medical advice.

Identifying Risk Factors for AMA Discharge After Injury at a Level 1 Trauma Center.

Discharging a patient against medical advice (AMA) is used to describe when a patient opts to leave the hospital prior to a physician's recommendation while acknowledging the risks of doing so. There are limited published data that identify risk factors for patients leaving AMA, particularly after trauma. This study sought to delineate risk factors for AMA discharge after trauma. Trauma patients who left AMA at our ACS-verified level 1 trauma center were retrospectively included (2021-2022) without exclusions. Demographics, clinical/injury data, and outcomes were collected. The primary outcome was patient-stated reason for leaving AMA. Study variables were summarized with descriptive statistics. During the study period, 262 (8%) of 3218 admitted trauma patients left AMA. Psychiatric disease was present in most patients (n = 197, 75%), including substance abuse (n = 146, 56%), and alcohol abuse (n = 95, 36%). Common patient-stated reasons for leaving AMA were inability/unwillingness to wait for procedure, imaging, or placement (n = 56, 22%); and psychiatric disease other than alcohol/substance abuse (n = 39, 15%). Of the patients who left AMA, 29% (n = 77) returned to the hospital 30days, and 13% (n = 35) were readmitted. Patients who leave AMA are at elevated risk of returning to the hospital, which incurs additional costs in already resource-constrained systems. These findings provide impetus for early identification of high-risk patients and efforts to decrease wait times for imaging, procedures, and placement. These actions may mitigate AMA discharges and their resultant impact on patients and hospitals.