Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 169 – 268 (2023)

Further reflections of the role of artificial intelligence in acute medicine

Correspondence, Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 169 – 268 (2023)

We read with great interest the article “Artificial Intelligence: its Future and Impact on Acute Medicine”. Regarding the historical perspective on artificial intelligence (AI) origins, we believe the role of John von Neumann (1903-1957) also deserves emphasis.

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An Unusual Case of a Primary Hyperparathyroidism Mimic

Case Reports, Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 169 – 268 (2023)

A 32-year-old lady with a history of bulimia nervosa was noted to have a raised adjusted calcium of 2.94mmol/L associated with high parathyroid hormone (PTH) 17.2pmol/L. On review, she had an apparent hypercalcaemia for at least three years, and also had a chronic, severe alkalosis with a bicarbonate up to 81.9mEQ/L. Ionised calcium during that time had actually been low, down to 1.03mmol/L.
This case highlights the effects of alkalosis on calcium, as more albumin is available for binding to ionised calcium. This results in a low ionised calcium, which triggers PTH release and overall leads to raised adjusted calcium levels. Clinicians may misdiagnose a similar patient with primary hyperparathyroidism and treatment would cause worsening of true hypocalcaemia.

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Bilateral orbital myositis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis on treatment with tofacitinib: a report and review of literature

Case Reports, Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 169 – 268 (2023)

Orbital myositis is a rare inflammatory condition affecting the extraocular muscles of the eyes. It has also been linked to systemic autoimmune diseases. We present a case of orbital myositis in a 57-year-old male undergoing treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with tofacitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor (JAK). Prompt administration of intravenous steroids led to rapid symptom improvement. To date, only six published cases have documented the association between RA and orbital myositis. This is the first description of orbital myositis occurring during treatment with the anti-inflammatory drug tofacitinib, an increasingly used disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). We review the literature and emphasize the importance of ongoing vigilance regarding adverse events linked to tofacitinib.

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How to improve inpatient sleep in regular care wards: a systematic review and meta-analysis of sleep disturbers and non-pharmacological interventions

Review Articles, Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 169 – 268 (2023)

Objective: To determine factors affecting inpatient sleep and assess the range and effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions aimed at improving the sleep of patients admitted to regular care wards.
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in five scientific databases, including articles published from inception to June 23rd, 2023. Eligible studies evaluated sleep disturbing factors or the effect of non-pharmacological intervention(s). Meta-analyses on intervention studies were conducted using a random effects model. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.
Results: Out of 591 potentially eligible studies, 229 were included in this review. Sleep disturbers were identified in 153 studies, and 102 studies were eligible for meta-analysis. Common factors contributing to poor sleep included noise, light, care-related interruptions, pain, and anxiety. The meta-analyses revealed large pooled effects in favor of sleep for the use of eye masks and earplugs, headphones and white noise, aromatherapy, massage, muscle relaxation and breathing exercises, and advanced nursing strategies. However, the certainty of the evidence ranged from moderate to very low.
Conclusion: Inpatient sleep is often disturbed by patient-related, care-related, and environmental factors. While there are promising non-pharmacological interventions, the overall quality of studies, heterogeneity in study populations, and differences in outcome measures present challenges for drawing definitive conclusions.

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Society for Acute Medicine undergraduate syllabus for Acute Internal Medicine

Special Article, Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 169 – 268 (2023)

This syllabus is intended to act as a guide for students and their instructors in medical schools. It describes the range of clinical presentations that they should be able to recognize and the underlying conditions that they should know how to treat. It also includes knowledge of the practice of Acute Internal Medicine and systems of care. The appropriate level of knowledge is that which would be expected of a non-specialist Foundation level doctor.

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The incidence and mortality of neutropenic fever in hematologic patients did not change during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic

Original Articles, Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 169 – 268 (2023)

During the current SARS-CoV2 pandemic, fear of nosocomial infection could keep neutropenic patients from contacting the healthcare system with infection. We analyzed nationwide hospital contacts for neutropenic fever during the first seven weeks of the Danish shelter at home order. Using national registers, we extracted data on all unplanned hospital contacts due to neutropenic fever. We included 311 admissions, 13-30 per week, and found no difference between 2017-2019 and 2020. The incidence rate ratio varied between 0.68 and 1.11 with no effect on mortality. Thus, our data indicate that Danish neutropenic patients are admitted with fever, even during a pandemic.

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A retrospective observational study investigating safety netting documentation in the emergency department

Original Articles, Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 169 – 268 (2023)

Background: Safety netting is an important aspect of medical practice, especially for first contact clinicians. Adequate safety netting provision and documentation is vital for optimal patient care and medicolegal security. This is the first study to report safety netting documentation practices in the emergency department, a specialty with a variety of high-acuity presentations and which is particularly vulnerable to medicolegal issues.
Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at University Hospital Wales (UHW) Emergency Department (ED) in the months January-February and August 2023. Randomized paper notes review was performed for adult patients who were discharged from the ED without admission to hospital. Patient characteristics, time of consultation, grade of emergency medicine practitioner (EMP) and presence/level of safety netting documentation was recorded. The statistical software STATA was used to identify any associations between these factors on safety netting practices.
Results: A total of 500 notes were included. Safety netting advice was documented in 45% of consultations (n=224). This was ‘basic’ in 166 cases, ‘general’ in 32, ‘specific’ in 15 and both ‘general and specific’ in 11. Frequency of safety netting documentation was higher for ages < 65 years and consultations within working hours (09:00 – 17:00). Conclusion: This study shows that there is no ‘universal’ level of safety netting documentation amongst practicing EMPs. Although there is well-established guidance about when, what and how safety netting should be provided, there is little guidance in terms of documentation details. Further audit and quality improvement to embed safety netting documentation in ED clerking is required to further improve safety netting practices.

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Quantitative assessment of the relative effects of patient and pulmonary embolism-related factors on longer-term mortality after pulmonary embolism

Original Articles, Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 169 – 268 (2023)

This observational study used a large audit dataset to examine the relative effects of patient-related factors and those related to the pulmonary embolism (PE) on longer-term mortality after PE. We identified that longer-term mortality is higher in provoked compared to unprovoked PE and that, in this group, obesity is relatively protective. Simplified PE severity index (sPESI), known to link to short term mortality, remains predictive in the longer-term and there is no relationship of mortality to right heart strain or extent of clot. Interestingly mortality is higher in those with negative CTPA scans than those with PE. These clinically important results should encourage careful, holistic clinical assessment of patients in these groups prior to discharge to look for treatable comorbidities.

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Outcomes for Emergency Department Final Diagnosis of Non-specific Complaint compared to Dyspnoea and Pain

Original Articles, Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 169 – 268 (2023)

Aim: To compare outcomes in Emergency Department (ED) final diagnoses of (non-specific complaint) NSC, dyspnoea and pain.
Methods: We studied all ED final diagnoses of NSC, dyspnoea, and pain over 6 years (2015-2020). Multivariable logistic regression was performed.
Results: There were 49,965 admissions. 30-day in-hospital mortality was significantly lower for pain, 3.0% (95%CI 2.4%, 3.6%), compared to NSC, 4.2% (95%CI 3.8%, 4.7%), and dyspnoea, 4.6% (95%CI 4.2%, 5.0%). NSC did not predict 30-day in-hospital mortality– univariate OR 1.05 (95%CI 0.93, 1.19), multivariable OR 1.07 (95%CI 0.93, 1.23). Comorbidity and Acute Illness Severity Scores demonstrated a curvilinear relationship with 30-day in-hospital mortality.
Conclusion: An ED final diagnosis of NSC did not predict 30-day in-hospital mortality.

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Rates and Reasons for Readmission after Hospitalisation on the Acute Medical Unit

Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 169 – 268 (2023)

Introduction: Readmission after hospital discharge is an ongoing challenge that healthcare systems face worldwide, with multimorbidity increasing the readmission risk significantly. Identifying higher risk groups of patients allows for safety netting at discharge to be implemented to prevent harm. The aim of this study was to compare readmission rates and reasons across common diagnostic groups presenting to the acute medical unit.
Method: A retrospective analysis was performed on an anonymous dataset extracted from Salford Royal Hospital from 2014 – 2022 covering all non-elective inpatient admissions to AMU or medical same day emergency care where the patient survived to discharge. Episodes were grouped according to ICD-10 diagnostic codes, with readmission rates and reasons at 30 and 90 day calculated and compared using descriptive statistics. Further subgroups were evaluated according to demographic and co-morbid features.
Results: There were 89,897 admissions to AMU and SDEC where patients survived to discharge: age 68±19 years, 53% female. 5,880 episodes were excluded due to inpatient death.
The most common first admission reasons were pneumonia (n=9,121), COPD (4,800) and sepsis (3,440). The overall 30 day readmission rate was 12.3%, with the highest rates being found where first admission episode was due to liver disease (21.9%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 21.1%), and falls (17.9%). 6% of all patients were readmitted within 30 days due to recurrence of the primary presenting illness, representing 49% of all readmissions. After primary illness recurrence, pneumonia was the second most common readmission reason in 17 of 22 diagnostic groups and accounted for 25% of all readmissions excluding primary illness recurrence.
Overall 90 day readmission rate was 24.2% with the same 3 most common diagnostic groups (liver disease 44%, COPD 39% and falls 34%). For 90 day readmission reasons according to specified comorbidities, the highest rates were seen in heart failures (34.1%) and COPD (33.1%). The highest readmission reason in the diagnostic groups was 41.4% of heart failure patients being readmitted with respiratory causes.
Heart failure was the most impactful co-morbid factor associated with higher likelihood of 90 day readmission in other disease presentations (34.4% with heart failure, 22.8% without).
Discussion: Readmission rates vary significantly between diagnostic and co-morbid groups meaning that targeting high risk groups for safety netting may be possible using only simple admission details.

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