The Accuracy of Interqual Criteria in Determining the Observation versus Inpatient Status in Older Adults with Syncope.

Background: McKesson's InterQual criteria are widely used in hospitals to determine if patients should be classified as observation or inpatient status, but the accuracy of the criteria is unknown.

Objective: We sought to determine whether InterQual criteria accurately predicted length of stay (LOS) in older patients with syncope.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of a cohort study of adults ≥60 years of age who had syncope.

Risk Stratification of Older Adults Who Present to the Emergency Department With Syncope: The FAINT Score.

Study Objective: Older adults with syncope are commonly treated in the emergency department (ED). We seek to derive a novel risk-stratification tool to predict 30-day serious cardiac outcomes.

Methods: We performed a prospective, observational study of older adults (≥60 years) with unexplained syncope or near syncope who presented to 11 EDs in the United States.

Clinical Benefit of Hospitalization for Older Adults With Unexplained Syncope: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Study Objective: Many adults with syncope are hospitalized solely for observation and testing. We seek to determine whether hospitalization versus outpatient management for older adults with unexplained syncope is associated with a reduction in postdisposition serious adverse events at 30 days.

Methods: We performed a propensity score analysis using data from a prospective, observational study of older adults with unexplained syncope or near syncope who presented to 11 emergency departments (EDs) in the United States.

Do High-sensitivity Troponin and Natriuretic Peptide Predict Death or Serious Cardiac Outcomes After Syncope?

Objectives: An estimated 1.2 million annual emergency department (ED) visits for syncope/near syncope occur in the United States. Cardiac biomarkers are frequently obtained during the ED evaluation, but the prognostic value of index high-sensitivity troponin (hscTnT) and natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are unclear.

Prevalence of Pulmonary Embolism Among Emergency Department Patients With Syncope: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Study Objective: The prevalence of pulmonary embolism among patients with syncope is understudied. In accordance with a recent study with an exceptionally high pulmonary embolism prevalence, some advocate evaluating all syncope patients for pulmonary embolism, including those with another clear cause for their syncope. We seek to evaluate the pulmonary embolism prevalence among emergency department (ED) patients with syncope.

Comparison of 30-Day Serious Adverse Clinical Events for Elderly Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Near-Syncope Versus Syncope.

Study Objective: Controversy remains in regard to the risk of adverse events for patients presenting with syncope compared with near-syncope. The purpose of our study is to describe the difference in outcomes between these groups in a large multicenter cohort of older emergency department (ED) patients.

Methods: From April 28, 2013, to September 21, 2016, we conducted a prospective, observational study across 11 EDs in adults (≥60 years) with syncope or near-syncope.

Inter-rater Reliability of the HEART Score.

Background: The HEART score is a risk stratification tool for suspected acute coronary syndrome and contains several subjective components. A single previous study found good inter-rater reliability. Our objective was to assess the inter-rater reliability of the HEART score in an external prospective cohort.

Predictors of Clinically Significant Echocardiography Findings in Older Adults with Syncope: A Secondary Analysis.

Background: Syncope is a common reason for visiting the emergency department (ED) and is associated with significant healthcare resource utilization.

Objective: To develop a risk-stratification tool for clinically significant findings on echocardiography among older adults presenting to the ED with syncope or nearsyncope.

Design: Prospective, observational cohort study from April 2013 to September 2016.

QTc prolongation as a marker of 30-day serious outcomes in older patients with syncope presenting to the Emergency Department.

Background: Syncope is a common chief complaint in the ED, and the electrocardiogram (ECG) is a routine diagnostic tool in the evaluation of syncope. We assessed whether increasingly prolonged QTc intervals are associated with composite 30-day serious outcomes in older adults presenting to the ED with syncope.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective, observational study at 11 EDs in adults 60 years or older who presented with syncope or near syncope.

Outcomes of Patients With Syncope and Suspected Dementia.

Objectives: Syncope and near-syncope are common in patients with dementia and a leading cause of emergency department (ED) evaluation and subsequent hospitalization. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical trajectory and short-term outcomes of patients who presented to the ED with syncope or near-syncope and were assessed by their ED provider to have dementia.

Methods: This multisite prospective cohort study included patients 60 years of age or older who presented to the ED with syncope or near-syncope between 2013 and 2016.

ECG Predictors of Cardiac Arrhythmias in Older Adults With Syncope.

Study Objective: Cardiac arrhythmia is a life-threatening condition in older adults who present to the emergency department (ED) with syncope. Previous work suggests the initial ED ECG can predict arrhythmia risk; however, specific ECG predictors have been variably specified. Our objective is to identify specific ECG abnormalities predictive of 30-day serious cardiac arrhythmias in older adults presenting to the ED with syncope.

Estimating the Cost of Care for Emergency Department Syncope Patients: Comparison of Three Models.

Introduction: We sought to compare three hospital cost-estimation models for patients undergoing evaluation for unexplained syncope using hospital cost data. Developing such a model would allow researchers to assess the value of novel clinical algorithms for syncope management.

Methods: We collected complete health services data, including disposition, testing, and length of stay (LOS), on 67 adult patients (age 60 years and older) who presented to the emergency department (ED) with syncope at a single hospital.

Minimizing Attrition for Multisite Emergency Care Research.

Loss to follow-up of enrolled patients (a.k.a.

Reliability of Clinical Assessments in Older Adults With Syncope or Near Syncope.

Objectives: Clinical prediction models for risk stratification of older adults with syncope or near syncope may improve resource utilization and management. Predictors considered for inclusion into such models must be reliable. Our primary objective was to evaluate the inter-rater agreement of historical, physical examination, and electrocardiogram (ECG) findings in older adults undergoing emergency department (ED) evaluation for syncope or near syncope.

Emergency department visits for nontraumatic dental problems: a mixed-methods study.

Objectives: We documented emergency department (ED) visits for nontraumatic dental problems and identified strategies to reduce ED dental visits.

Methods: We used mixed methods to analyze claims in 2010 from a purposive sample of 25 Oregon hospitals and Oregon's All Payer All Claims data set and interviewed 51 ED dental visitors and stakeholders from 6 communities.

Results: Dental visits accounted for 2.