Spanish Emergency Departments Research Articles

Association between lactate determined at emergency department arrival and the probability of inhospital mortality and intensive care admission in elderly patients.

Elderly patients often have atypical clinical presentations. Lactate measurement on arrival at the Emergency Department (ED) could be useful to identify elderly patients with a bad prognosis. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum lactate determined at ED arrival and the probability of inhospital mortality and intensive care (ICU) admission in elderly patients. Retrospective multipurpose registry. Secondary analysis of the EDEN cohort (Elderly Department and Elder Needs). All patients ≥65 years attending 52 Spanish EDs during 2 week and in whom serum lactate was determined at ED arrival. The relationship between serum lactate values and the risk of inhospital all-cause death and transfer from the ED to the ICU was assessed by unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression assuming linearity and restricted cubic spline models assuming nonlinearity. The cohort included 25 557 patients. The 3024 patients in whom lactate was measured were analyzed. The median age was 81 years (74-87), 1506 (27.2%) were women, 591 (19.5%) had serious comorbidities, 475 (15.7%) severe dependency, and 648 (21.4%) dementia. Death occurred during hospitalization in 217 patients (7.2%) and 53 patients (1.75%) were admitted to the ICU. Serum lactate values were nonlinear related to inhospital mortality and ICU admission. Serum lactate >3.1 mmol/L [odds ratio (OR): 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-2.50] for inhospital mortality and 3.2 mmol/L (OR: 2.83, 95% CI: 1.03-6.79) for ICU admission were associated with significantly increased ORs in the adjusted models. Serum lactate measured at ED arrival has a significant and exponential relationship with inhospital mortality and ICU admission in elderly patients.

Epidemiological and clinical management aspects related to urinary tract infections diagnosed in the emergency department in elderly patients in Spain: Results of the EDEN-36 study

To estimate the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTI) in elderly patients in Spanish emergency departments (ED), the need for hospitalization, diagnostic confirmation in hospitalized patients, adverse events and the predictive capacity of several biomarkers. In this a posteriori substudy of a generic study of reasons for ED visits in elderly patients, we included patients aged ≥65 years seen in 52 Spanish EDs for 1 week, selecting those diagnosed with UTI. As adverse events, in-hospital and 30-day mortality and combined adverse event (death or hospitalization) at 30 days post-discharge were collected. Relative risks (RR) were calculated. The predictive capacity of 10 variables and 6 biomarkers was investigated. A total of 25,375 patients were included, 1058 with UTI (annual incidence: 24.7 per 1000 inhabitants aged ≥65 years and year, 95%CI: 24.5-24.9). A total of 36.5% were hospitalized, and in 80% the diagnosis of UTI was confirmed at discharge. Overall 30-day mortality was 5.4% and in-hospital mortality was 3.4%. Functional dependence was associated with both events (RR:2.91;1.18-7.17 and RR:12.61;1.47-108.11, respectively), as was having a CRP greater than 100 mg/L (RR:2.24;1.17-4.30 and RR:3.21;1.37-7.51, respectively). The combined post-high event occurred in 10.6%, and was associated with functional dependence (RR:2.05;1.04-4.06). CRP and hemoglobin had significant value in predicting 30-day post-discharge mortality or hospitalization. UTI is a frequent diagnosis in elderly patients consulting in the ED. Functional dependence is the best factor associated with adverse events. The biomarkers analyzed do not have a good predictive capacity.

Association of Benzodiazepine Prescription With Short-Term Prognosis in Elderly Patients Attended in Emergency Department: Results From the EDEN PROJECT.

Benzodiazepine prescription is a growing phenomenon among the elderly population. However, information related to the frequency of these drugs among the elderly population attending in emergency departments (ED) and its impact over prognosis is scarce. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of benzodiazepine prescription and to analyze its association with short-term prognosis in elderly patients attended in ED. A retrospective analysis of the EDEN (Emergency Department Elderly in Need) cohort was conducted. This registry included all elderly patients attending in 52 Spanish EDs for any condition, between April 1st and 7th in 2019. Socio-demographic data, comorbidities, and medication were recorded by consulting the patient's electronic health records. The assessed outcomes consisted on new ED visit, hospitalization, and mortality at 30 days after the first ED visit, associated with the use of benzodiazepines at baseline in comparison with no prescription of benzodiazepines. Crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses including patient's comorbidities were performed. Two sensitivity analyses were performed considering concomitant prescription of other central nervous system depressants as well as direct discharge from the ED. 25 557 patients were evaluated (mean age 78 [IQR: 71-84]). 7865 (30.8%) patients were taken benzodiazepines at admission. After adjustment for comorbidities and other central nervous system drugs, benzodiazepine prescription was associated with ED revisit [OR: 1.10 (95%CI: 1.03-1.18)]. Similar results were found in the sensitivity analysis, eliminating patients with central nervous depressors [OR: 1.11 (1.03-1.25)] and patients discharged to home [OR: 1.13 (1.04-1.23)]. No association was found between the use of these drugs and new hospitalizations [OR: 0.90 (0.77-1.05)] or mortality 30 days after discharge [OR: 1.01 (0.88-1.18)]. The results held for all three outcomes in the sensitivity analyses. The use of benzodiazepines is a frequent phenomenon among the elderly population attended in the ED, being associated with an increased risk of new visits to the emergency room, but not with an increased risk of 30-day hospitalization or mortality.

Relationship between clinical congestion and worsening renal function after intravenous initiation of furosemide in patients with acute heart failure.

To investigate if worsening renal function (WRF) appearing in some patients with acute heart failure (AHF) after intravenous furosemide initiation is influenced by severity of congestion. We conducted a retrospective secondary analysis of consecutive patients diagnosed with AHF and prospectively included in 10 Spanish emergency departments (EDs) for whom serum creatinine at ED arrival and after 2-7days of intravenous furosemide initiation were available. Congestion was clinically evaluated by identification of 7 signs/symptoms and by chest X-ray. The outcome was WRF, defined as a delta-creatinine ≥ 0.3mg/dL. Risk of WRF according to congestion was estimated in models adjusted by patient baseline characteristics and vitals at ED arrival, and interaction was also investigated. We included 3027 patients (median age 82years, 56% women), and 657 (21.7%) presented WRF after intravenous furosemide initiation. When signs/symptoms were individually considered, only lower limbs edema was associated with decreased risk of WRF (20.1% vs. 24.8%; OR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.64-0.91). After adjustment, lower limbs edema persisted inversely associated with WRF (aOR = 0.78, 95%CI = 0.65-0.94), with significant lower risk for patients ≤ 80years and without chronic kidney disease, functional limitation, and hypoxemia (p for interaction 0.01, 0.04, 0.02 and 0.03, respectively). Neither degree of clinical congestion (number of signs/symptoms of congestion) nor radiological congestion in chest X-ray were related to WRF. Worsening renal function was associated with a higher 1-year all-cause mortality (40.1% vs 34.6%; HR = 1.27, 1.10-1.46; aHR = 1.331, 1.151-1.540). In patients with WRF, liver cirrhosis, chronic treatment with loop diuretics and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, age (> 80years), dementia, heart valve disease and NYHA class III-IV were associated with higher mortality. Intravenous furosemide initiation in patients with AHF without lower limbs edema must be cautious, as they are at increasing risk of developing WRF during the next following days, which in turn is associated with a higher 1-year mortality.

Tachypnea in response to hypoxemia decreases with age in older patients.

To investigate if tachypneic response to hypoxia is decreased in older patients. We included all patients ≥65 years of age attending 52 Spanish emergency departments (EDs) for whom peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (SatO2) measured by pulsioxymetry and respiratory rate (RR) were registered at ED arrival. We assessed the relationship between SatO2 and RR in different models, and with the best-fitting model, we independently analyzed this relationship in four subgroups according to patient age (65-69, 70-79, 80-89, and ≥90 years). Five sensitivity analyses using different subsets of patients were carried out to check for the consistency of the results. We included 7126 patients, with medians for SatO2 and RR of 97% (interquartile range [IQR]: 94-98) and 15 bpm (IQR: 15-16), respectively. We found significant associations (P < 0.001) between SatO2 and RR in every model tested (P < 0.001 for all), with the quadratic model obtaining the best fit (R2: 0.098) over those obtained with linear (R2: 0.096) and logarithmic (R2: 0.092) models. The same was observed in sensitivity analyses, with R2 for quadratic models ranging from 0.069 in patients with low comorbidity and 0.102 in patients breathing room air. The mean RR for 100% SatO2 was 15 bpm and increased as SatO2 decreased, although with a progressive slowing of the slope, with a mean RR of 27 at 50% SatO2. We detected a decreased RR response to increasing hypoxemia according to age and, while the RR curve was higher and with a progressively steepening slope in the 972 patients aged 65-69 (mean RR of 42 bpm with 50% SatO2), a progressive slowing of slope was observed in the 2693 patients aged 70-79 (mean RR of 28 with 50% SatO2), the 2582 aged 80-89 (mean RR of 25) and the 879 aged ≥90 (mean RR of 23). Sensitivity analyses provided very similar results. Tachypneic response to hypoxemia in older patients decreases as age advances, regardless of the reason leading to hypoxemia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 1120-1129.

Procalcitonin for safe reduction of unnecessary blood cultures in the emergency department: Development and validation of a prediction model

Blood cultures (BCs) are commonly ordered in emergency departments (EDs), while a minority yields a relevant pathogen. Diagnostic stewardship is needed to safely reduce unnecessary BCs. We aimed to develop and validate a bacteremia prediction model for ED patients, with specific focus on the benefit of incorporating procalcitonin. We included adult patients with suspected bacteremia from a Dutch ED for a one-year period. We defined 23 candidate predictors for a "full model", of which nine were used for an automatable "basic model". Variations of both models with C-reactive protein and procalcitonin were constructed using LASSO regression, with bootstrapping for internal validation. External validation was done in an independent cohort of patients with confirmed infection from 71 Spanish EDs. We assessed discriminative performance using the C-statistic and calibration with calibration curves. Clinical usefulness was evaluated by sensitivity, specificity, saved BCs, and Net Benefit. Among 2111 patients in the derivation cohort (mean age 63 years, 46% male), 273 (13%) had bacteremia, versus 896 (20%) in the external cohort (n=4436). Adding procalcitonin substantially improved performance for all models. The basic model with procalcitonin showed most promise, with a C-statistic of 0.87 (0.86-0.88) upon external validation. At a 5% risk threshold, it showed a sensitivity of 99% and could have saved 29% of BCs while only missing 10 out of 896 (1.1%) bacteremia patients. Procalcitonin-based bacteremia prediction models can safely reduce unnecessary BCs at the ED. Further validation is needed across a broader range of healthcare settings.

Factors associated with dischargehome in older patients admitted to emergency department observation units: Lookingfor a predictive scale.

The selection of patients who are going to be admitted to an emergency department observation unit (EDOU) is essential for the good management of these units, intended fundamentally to avoid unnecessary hospitalization of patients. This is especially important when dealing with older patients. It would be important to know what factors are associated with discharge home and to have a clinical predictive scale that appropriately selects older patients who are going to be admitted to an EDOU. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted of all patients ≥65 years of age assisted in 48 Spanish Emergency Departments for 7 consecutive days and were admitted to the EDOU. Demographics-functional, vital signs data and initial laboratory results were analyzed to investigate its association with discharge home and develop and validate a prediction model for discharge home from EDOU. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to develop a prediction model, and a scoring system was created. Among 5457 patients admitted to the EDOU from the emergency room, 2508 (46%) patients were discharged home, and 2949 (54%) were admitted to the hospital. Five variables were strongly associated with discharge home: the absence of fever (adjusted OR: 3.61, 95% CI:1.53-8.54), Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 points (2.80, 1.63-4.82), absence of tachypnea (2.51, 1.74-3.64) or leukocytosis (2.07, 1.70-2.52) and oxygen saturation >94% (2.00, 1.64-2.43). The final model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.648 (IC95% = 0.627-0.668) in the development cohort and 0.635 (0.614-0.656) in the validation cohort. There are factors associated with a greater probability of discharge home of older patients admitted to EDOUs. Prediction at the individual level remains elusive, as the best model obtained in this study did not have sufficient validity to be applied in the clinical setting.

Sociodemographic characteristics, functional status, and health resource use of older patients treated in Spanish emergency departments: a description of the EDEN cohort

Sociodemographic characteristics, functional status, and health resource use of older patients treated in Spanish emergency departments: a description of the EDEN cohort

How organisational factors and clinical decision support system affect nurses’ knowledge for decisions in triage

ABSTRACT This paper delves into heuristic decision-making by nurses during the triage process, aiming to elucidate how organisational factors influence nurses’ decision-making regarding the assignment of priority codes to patients, and to assess the effectiveness of Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) in this context. Drawing on an experimental dataset of 25 triage cases evaluated by 35 nurses via interviews, the study was conducted in two Spanish Emergency Departments using CDSS. Findings indicate that organisational factors predominantly influence decisions in cases with complete and coherent information. However, in cases where information is incoherent or missing, individual nurse characteristics guide decision-making. Furthermore, it suggests that CDSS should be tailored to nurses’ clinical reasoning to serve as effective support for individual decision-making processes.

Association of intravenous digoxin use in acute heart failure with rapid atrial fibrillation and short-term mortality according to patient age, renal function, and serum potassium.

Intravenous digoxin is still used in emergency departments (EDs) to treat patients with acute heart failure (AHF), especially in those with rapid atrial fibrillation. Nonetheless, many emergency physicians are reluctant to use intravenous digoxin in patients with advanced age, impaired renal function, and potassium disturbances due to its potential capacity to increase adverse outcomes. We investigated whether intravenous digoxin used to treat rapid atrial fibrillation in patients with AHF may influence mortality in patients with specific age, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and serum potassium classes. A secondary analysis of patients included in in the Spanish EAHFE cohort, which includes patients diagnosed with AHF in the ED. 45 Spanish EDs. Two thousand one hundred ninety-four patients with AHF and rapid atrial fibrillation (heart rate ≥100 bpm) not receiving digoxin at home, divided according to whether they were or were not treated with intravenous digoxin in the ED. The relationships between age, eGFR, and potassium with 30-day mortality were investigated using restricted cubic spline (RCS) models adjusted for relevant patient and episode variables. The impact of digoxin use on such relationships was assessed by checking interaction. The median age of the patients was 82 years [interquartile range (IQR) = 76-87], 61.4% were women, 65.2% had previous episodes of atrial fibrillation, and the median heart rate at ED arrival was 120 bpm (IQR = 109-135). Digoxin and no digoxin groups were formed by 864 (39.4%) and 1330 (60.6%) patients, respectively. There were 191 deaths within the 30-day follow-up period (8.9%), with no differences between patients receiving or not receiving digoxin (8.5 vs. 9.1%, P = 0.636). Although analysis of RCS curves showed that death was associated with advanced age, worse renal function, and hypo- and hyperkalemia, use of intravenous digoxin did not interact with any of these relationships ( P = 0.156 for age, P = 0.156 for eGFR; P = 0.429 for potassium). The use of intravenous digoxin in the ED was not associated with significant changes in 30-day mortality, which was confirmed irrespective of patient age or the existence of renal dysfunction or serum potassium disturbances.

Use of diagnostic tests in elderly patients consulting the emergency department. Analysis of the emergency department and elder needs cohort (EDEN-8)

ObjectiveAnalyse the association between the use of diagnostic tests and the characteristics of older patients 65 years of age or more who consult the emergency department (ED). MethodsWe performed an analysis of the EDEN cohort that includes patients who consulted 52 Spanish EDs. The association of age, sex, and ageing characteristics with the use of diagnostic tests (blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), microbiological cultures, X-ray, computed tomography, ultrasound, invasive techniques) was studied. The association was analysed by calculating the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their 95 % confidence intervals (CI) using a logistic regression model. ResultsA total of 25,557 patients were analysed. There was an increase in the use of diagnostic tests based on age, with an aOR for blood test of 1.805 (95 %CI 1.671 – 1.950), ECG 1.793 (95 %CI 1.664 – 1.932) and X-ray 1.707 (95 %CI 1.583 – 1.840) in the group of 85 years or more. The use of diagnostic tests is lower in the female population. Most ageing characteristics (cognitive impairment, previous falls, polypharmacy, dependence, and comorbidity) were independently associated with increased use of diagnostic tests. ConclusionsAge, and the characteristics of ageing itself are generally associated with a greater use of diagnostic tests in the ED.

Overnight stay in Spanish emergency departments and mortality in older patients.

To assess whether older adults who spend a night in emergency departments (ED) awaiting admission are at increased risk of mortality. This was a retrospective review of a multipurpose cohort that recruited all patients ≥ 75years who visited ED and were admitted to hospital on April 1 to 7, 2019, at 52 EDs across Spain. Study groups were: patients staying in ED from midnight until 8:00 a.m. (ED group) and patients admitted to a ward before midnight (ward group). The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality, truncated at 30days, and secondary outcomes assessed length of stay for the index episode. The sample comprised 3,243 patients (median [IQR] age, 85 [81-90] years; 53% women), with 1,096 (34%) in the ED group and 2,147 (66%) in the ward group. In-hospital mortality for patients spending the night in the ED the ED group was 10.7% and 9.5% for patients transferred to a ward bed before midnight the ward group (adjusted OR: 1.12, 95%CI: 0.80-1.58). Sensitivity analyses rendered similar results (ORs ranged 1.06-1.13). Interaction was only detected for academic/non-academic hospitals (p < 0.001), with increased mortality risk for the latter (1.01, 0.33-3.09 vs 2.86, 1.30-6.28). There were no differences in prolonged hospitalization (> 7days), with adjusted OR of 1.16 (0.94-1.43) and 1.15 (0.94-1.42) depending on whether time spent in the ED was or was not taken into consideration. No increased risk of in-hospital mortality or prolonged hospitalization was found in older patients waiting overnight in the ED for admission. Nonetheless, all estimations suggest a potential harmful effect of staying overnight, especially if a proper bedroom and hospitalist ward bed and hospitalized care are not provided.

Effect of early initiation of noninvasive ventilation in patients transported by emergency medical service for acute heart failure

Background While the indication for noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in severely hypoxemic patients with acute heart failure (AHF) is often indicated and may improve clinical course, the benefit of early initiation before patient arrival to the emergency department (ED) remains unknown. Objective This study aimed to assess the impact of early initiation of NIV during emergency medical service (EMS) transportation on outcomes in patients with AHF. Design A secondary retrospective analysis of the EAHFE (Epidemiology of AHF in EDs) registry. Setting Fifty-three Spanish EDs. Participants Patients with AHF transported by EMS physician-staffed ambulances who were treated with NIV at any time during of their emergency care were included and categorized into two groups based on the place of NIV initiation: prehospital (EMS group) or ED (ED group). Outcome measures Primary outcome was the composite of in-hospital mortality and 30-day postdischarge death, readmission to hospital or return visit to the ED due to AHF. Secondary outcomes included 30-day all-cause mortality after the index event (ED admission) and the different component of the composite primary endpoint considered individually. Multivariate logistic regressions were employed for analysis. Results Out of 2406 patients transported by EMS, 487 received NIV (EMS group: 31%; EMS group: 69%). Mean age was 79 years, 48% were women. The EMS group, characterized by younger age, more coronary artery disease, and less atrial fibrillation, received more prehospital treatments. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for composite endpoint was 0.66 (95% CI: 0.42–1.05). The aOR for secondary endpoints were 0.74 (95% CI: 0.38–1.45) for in-hospital mortality, 0.74 (95% CI: 0.40–1.37) for 30-day mortality, 0.70 (95% CI: 0.41–1.21) for 30-day postdischarge ED reconsultation, 0.80 (95% CI: 0.44–1.44) for 30-day postdischarge rehospitalization, and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.25–2.04) for 30-day postdischarge death. Conclusion In this ancillary analysis, prehospital initiation of NIV in patients with AHF was not associated with a significant reduction in short-term outcomes. The large confidence intervals, however, may preclude significant conclusion, and all point estimates consistently pointed toward a potential benefit from early NIV initiation.

Characteristics of digoxin toxicity attended in Spanish emergency departments according to type of poisoning and administration of digoxin antibodies: the DIGITOX study

Characteristics of digoxin toxicity attended in Spanish emergency departments according to type of poisoning and administration of digoxin antibodies: the DIGITOX study

Clinical course in older patients diagnosed with syncope treated in Spanish emergency departments: results from the Emergency Department and Elder Needs-17 study.

To study factors associated with hospitalization in an unselected population of patients aged 65 years or older treated for syncope in Spanish hospital emergency departments (EDs). To determine the prevalence of adverse events at 30 days in patients discharged home and the factors associated with such events. We included all patients aged 65 years or older who were diagnosed with syncope during a single week in 52 Spanish EDs, recording patient clinical and ED case management data. We compared the findings between hospitalized patients and those discharged home, following the latter for 30 days. In discharged patients, we explored predictors of a composite adverse-event outcome (occurrence of any of the following: ED revisits, hospitalization related to the index visit, or any-cause death). A total of 477 patients with syncope were identified; 67 (14%) were admitted, and 5 (7.5%) died. The median (interquartile range) length of hospital stay was 6 days (3-11 days). Comorbidity increased the probability of hospitalization (odds ratio, 2.172; 95% CI, 1.013-4.655). Among the 410 patients (86%) discharged home from the ED, 9.2% experienced an adverse event within 30 days (ED revisits, 8.,1%; hospitalization, 2.2%; death, 1.5%). No factors were associated with the 30-day composite outcome. The majority of patients aged 65 years or older are discharged home from EDs, and 30-day adverse events, while infrequent, are difficult to predict. Hospitalization was related to comorbidity and an absence of cognitive decline.

Salmonella Bacteremia in Spanish Pediatric Emergency Departments: Uncommon But Not Mild.

Salmonella spp. is an uncommon microorganism in bloodstream infections among pediatric patients in our setting, although in developing countries it is the most common causative organism in blood cultures. We describe the children presenting to pediatric emergency departments and diagnosed with Salmonella bacteremia (SB) and identify clinical and laboratory predictors of poor outcome (ie, complications, sequelae and death) by bivariate analysis. We performed an observational study and subanalysis of a multicenter prospective registry, including patients <18 years of age with a positive blood culture obtained at any of the 22 participating Spanish pediatric emergency departments between 2011 and 2016. We considered young age, chronic diseases, immunosuppressive treatment and intestinal flora disruption as risk factors for SB. Of the 55 patients with SB (3.2% of registered bacteremia), 32 (58.2%) had no risk factors for SB, 42 (76.3%) had a normal pediatric assessment triangle and 45 (81.8%) an associated gastrointestinal infection (acute gastroenteritis or enteric fever). Nine (16.4%) had a poor outcome, including 1 death (1.8%). A poor outcome was more common in patients with an abnormal pediatric assessment triangle [odds ratio (OR): 51.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 9.2-289.5], an altered physical examination (OR: 15.2; 95% CI: 4.4-58.8) and elevated C-reactive protein (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.005-1.03). Most SBs were related to a gastrointestinal infection. One in 6 children had a poor outcome; abnormal pediatric assessment triangle on arrival (25% of patients) was the main risk factor identified.

Impact of dementia on 30-, 180-, and 365-day mortality during the first pandemic wave in older adults seen in spanish emergency departments diagnosed with or without COVID-19

Objectives To assess whether dementia is an independent predictor of death after a hospital emergency department (ED) visit by older adults with or without a COVID-19 diagnosis during the first pandemic wave. Method We used data from the EDEN-Covid (Emergency Department and Elderly Needs during Covid) cohort formed by all patients ≥65 years seen in 52 Spanish EDs from March 30 to April 5, 2020. The association of prior history of dementia with mortality at 30, 180 and 365 d was evaluated in the overall sample and according to a COVID-19 or non COVID diagnosis. Results We included 9,770 patients aged 78.7 ± 8.3 years, 51.1% men, 1513 (15.5%) subjects with prior history of dementia and 3055 (31.3%) with COVID-19 diagnosis. 1399 patients (14.3%) died at 30 d, 2008 (20.6%) at 180 days and 2456 (25.1%) at 365 d. The adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) for age, sex, comorbidity, disability and diagnosis for death associated with dementia were 1.16 (95% CI 1.01–1.34) at 30 d; 1.15 at 180 d (95% CI 1.03–1.30) and 1.19 at 365 d (95% CI 1.07–1.32), p < .001. In patients with COVID-19, the aHR were 1.26 (95% CI: 1.04–1.52) at 30 days; 1.29 at 180 d (95% CI: 1.09–1.53) and 1.35 at 365 d (95% CI: 1.15–1.58). Conclusion Dementia in older adults attending Spanish EDs during the first pandemic wave was independently associated with 30-, 180- and 365-day mortality. This impact was lower when adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity and disability, and was greater in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Epidemiological aspects, clinical management and short-term outcomes in elderly patients diagnosed with acute heart failure in the emergency department in Spain: results of the EDEN-34 study

ObjectiveTo estimate the incidence of acute heart failure (AHF) diagnosis in elderly patients in emergency departments (ED), diagnostic confirmation in hospitalized patients, and short-term adverse events. MethodsAll patients aged ≥65 years attended in 52 Spanish EDs during 1 week were included and those diagnosed with AHF were selected. In hospitalized patients, those diagnosed with AHF at discharge were collected. As adverse events, in-hospital and 30-day mortality, and combined adverse event (death or hospitalization) at 30 days post-discharge were collected. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) for association of demographic variables, baseline status and constants at ED arrival with mortality and 30-day post-discharge adverse event were calculated. ResultsWe included 1,155 patients with AHF (annual incidence: 26.5 per 1000 inhabitants ≥65 years, 95% CI: 25.0–28.1). In 86% the diagnosis of AHF was known at discharge. Overall 30-day mortality was 10.7% and in-hospital mortality was 7.9%, and the combined event in 15.6%. In-hospital and 30-day mortality was associated with arterial hypotension (adjusted OR: 74.0, 95% CI: 5.39–1015. and 42.6, 3.74–485, respectively and hypoxemia (2.14, 1.27–3.61; and 1.87, 1.19–2.93) on arrival at the ED and requiring assistance with ambulation (2.24, 1.04–4.83; and 2.48, 1.27–4.86) and age (per 10-year increment; 1.54, 1.04–2.29; and 1.60, 1.13–2.28). The combined post-discharge adverse event was not associated with any characteristic. ConclusionsAHF is a frequent diagnosis in elderly patients consulting in the ED. The functional impairment, age, hypotension and hypoxemia are the factors most associated with mortality.

Short-term prognosis of polypharmacy in elderly patients treated in emergency departments: results from the EDEN project.

Polypharmacy is a growing phenomenon among elderly individuals. However, there is little information about the frequency of polypharmacy among the elderly population treated in emergency departments (EDs) and its prognostic effect. This study aims to determine the prevalence and short-term prognostic effect of polypharmacy in elderly patients treated in EDs. A retrospective analysis of the Emergency Department Elderly in Needs (EDEN) project's cohort was performed. This registry included all elderly patients who attended 52 Spanish EDs for any condition. Mild and severe polypharmacy was defined as the use of 5-9 drugs and ⩾10 drugs, respectively. The assessed outcomes were ED revisits, hospital readmissions, and mortality 30 days after discharge. Crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses, including the patient's comorbidities, were performed. A total of 25,557 patients were evaluated [mean age: 78 (IQR: 71-84) years]; 10,534 (41.2%) and 5678 (22.2%) patients presented with mild and severe polypharmacy, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, mild polypharmacy and severe polypharmacy were associated with an increase in ED revisits [odds ratio (OR) 1.13 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-1.23) and 1.38 (95% CI: 1.24-1.51)] and hospital readmissions [OR 1.18 (95% CI: 1.04-1.35) and 1.36 (95% CI: 1.16-1.60)], respectively, compared to non-polypharmacy. Mild and severe polypharmacy were not associated with increased 30-day mortality [OR 1.05 (95% CI: 0.89-2.26) and OR 0.89 (95% CI: 0.72-1.12)], respectively. Polypharmacy was common among the elderly treated in EDs and associated with increased risks of ED revisits and hospital readmissions ⩽30 days but not with an increased risk of 30-day mortality. Patients with polypharmacy had a higher risk of ED revisits and hospital readmissions ⩽30 days after discharge.

Impact of First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic on Mortality at Emergency Department in Older Patients with COVID and Non-COVID Diagnoses

Introduction: Mortality in emergency departments (EDs) is not well known. This study aimed to assess the impact of the first-wave pandemic on deaths accounted in the ED of older patients with COVID and non-COVID diseases. Methods: We used data from the Emergency Department and Elderly Needs (EDEN) cohort (pre-COVID period) and from the EDEN-COVID cohort (COVID period) that included all patients ≥65 years seen in 52 Spanish EDs from April 1 to 7, 2019, and March 30 to April 5, 2020, respectively. We recorded patient characteristics and final destination at ED. We compared older patients in the pre-COVID period, with older patients with non-COVID and with COVID-19. ED-mortality (before discharge or hospitalization) is the prior outcome and is expressed as an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% interval confidence. Results: We included 23,338 older patients from the pre-COVID period (aged 78.3 [8.1] years), 6,715 patients with non-COVID conditions (aged 78.9 [8.2] years) and 3,055 with COVID (aged 78.3 [8.3] years) from the COVID period. Compared to the older patients, pre-COVID period, patients with non-COVID and with COVID-19 were more often male, referred by a doctor and by ambulance, with more comorbidity and disability, dementia, nursing home, and more risk according to qSOFA, respectively (p < 0.001). Compared to the pre-COVID period, patients with non-COVID and with COVID-19 were more often to be hospitalized from ED (24.8% vs. 44.3% vs. 79.1%) and were more often to die in ED (0.6% vs. 1.2% vs. 2.2%), respectively (p < 0.001). Compared to the pre-COVID period, aOR for age, sex, comorbidity and disability, ED mortality in elderly patients cared in ED during the COVID period was 2.31 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.76–3.06), and 3.75 (95% CI: 2.77–5.07) for patients with COVID. By adding the variable qSOFA to the model, such OR were 1.59 (95% CI: 1.11–2.30) and 2.16 (95% CI: 1.47–3.17), respectively. Conclusions: During the early first pandemic wave of COVID-19, more complex and life-threatening older with COVID and non-COVID diseases were seen compared to the pre-COVID period. In addition, the need for hospitalization and the ED mortality doubled in non-COVID and tripled in COVID diagnosis. This increase in ED mortality is not only explained by the complexity or severity of the elderly patients but also because of the system’s overload.