Paolo Cotogni1, Anna DE Luca2, Andrea Evangelista3, Claudia Filippini4, Renata Gili5, Antonio Scarmozzino6, Giovannino Ciccone3, Luca Brazzi4. 1. Pain Management and Palliative Care, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy - paolo.cotogni@unito.it. 2. Pain Management and Palliative Care, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy. 3. Section of Clinical Epidemiology, Center for Epidemiology and Oncologic Prevention (CPO Piemonte), Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy. 4. Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. 5. University of Turin, Turin, Italy. 6. Department of Health Management, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of an Emergency Department (ED)-initiated screening to identify seriously ill patients in need of palliative care (PC) and to develop a simplified screening tool (SST). METHODS: Eligible patients with known diagnosis of chronic heart, lung, liver, and kidney failures, progressive neurological diseases or advanced cancer, awaiting to be hospitalized after an ED visit, were assessed with the screening tool from the Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation, and Intensive Care (SIAARTI). RESULTS: Out of 1497 patients with an ED visit, 485 were hospitalized, and 257 of them met the inclusion criteria. Of 257 enrolled patients, 91 (35%) were identified as in need of PC. Comparing patients with 4 positive criteria to those with <4, the general clinical indicators more frequently positive were: ≥1 admission within the last 12 months (P<0.001); hospital admission from or awaiting admission to health care services (HCS)/Hospice (P<0.001); cachexia (P<0.012); home oxygen use (P<0.001); dialysis (P<0.008). A SST was developed to identify patients in need of PC when a Palliative Performance Scale score <50 was present with at least one of the following indicators: ≥1 admission within the last 12 months; hospital admission from HCS; awaiting admission to HCS/Hospice; dialysis; home oxygen use; non-invasive ventilation. This SST showed a good agreement with the SIAARTI one as sensitivity (97.8%), specificity (92.8%), and accuracy (94.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study estimated that over one-third of the people with chronic diseases awaiting to be hospitalized after an ED visit were in need of PC and can be identified with this easy-to-use, non-disease-specific SST.
BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of an Emergency Department (ED)-initiated screening to identify seriously ill patients in need of palliative care (PC) and to develop a simplified screening tool (SST). METHODS: Eligible patients with known diagnosis of chronic heart, lung, liver, and kidney failures, progressive neurological diseases or advanced cancer, awaiting to be hospitalized after an ED visit, were assessed with the screening tool from the Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation, and Intensive Care (SIAARTI). RESULTS: Out of 1497 patients with an ED visit, 485 were hospitalized, and 257 of them met the inclusion criteria. Of 257 enrolled patients, 91 (35%) were identified as in need of PC. Comparing patients with 4 positive criteria to those with <4, the general clinical indicators more frequently positive were: ≥1 admission within the last 12 months (P<0.001); hospital admission from or awaiting admission to health care services (HCS)/Hospice (P<0.001); cachexia (P<0.012); home oxygen use (P<0.001); dialysis (P<0.008). A SST was developed to identify patients in need of PC when a Palliative Performance Scale score <50 was present with at least one of the following indicators: ≥1 admission within the last 12 months; hospital admission from HCS; awaiting admission to HCS/Hospice; dialysis; home oxygen use; non-invasive ventilation. This SST showed a good agreement with the SIAARTI one as sensitivity (97.8%), specificity (92.8%), and accuracy (94.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study estimated that over one-third of the people with chronic diseases awaiting to be hospitalized after an ED visit were in need of PC and can be identified with this easy-to-use, non-disease-specific SST.
Authors: Rahul M Rege; Kelee Peyton; Sarah E Pajka; Corita R Grudzen; Mark J Conroy; Lauren T Southerland Journal: J Pain Symptom Manage Date: 2021-08-17 Impact factor: 5.576
Authors: Margaret R Paulson; Karla Maita; Francisco R Avila; Ricardo A Torres-Guzman; John P Garcia; Abdullah Eldaly; Antonio J Forte; Michael J Maniaci Journal: Case Rep Surg Date: 2022-09-29