The relationship between age and outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

Aim: To determine the association between age and outcome in a large multicenter cohort of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

Methods: Retrospective, observational, cohort study of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest from the CARES registry between 2006 and 2013. Age was categorized into 5-year intervals and the association between age group and outcomes (return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival and good neurological outcome) was assessed in univariable and multivariable analysis.

Are echocardiography, telemetry, ambulatory electrocardiography monitoring, and cardiac enzymes in emergency department patients presenting with syncope useful tests? A preliminary investigation.

Background: Prior studies of admitted geriatric syncope patients suggest that diagnostic tests affect management < 5% of the time; whether this is true among all emergency department (ED) patients with syncope remains unclear.

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic yield of routine testing in the hospital or after ED discharge among patients presenting to an ED with syncope.

Methods: A prospective, observational, cohort study of consecutive ED patients aged ≥ 18 years presenting with syncope was conducted.

Can elderly patients without risk factors be discharged home when presenting to the emergency department with syncope?

Age is often a predictor for morbidity and mortality. Although we previously proposed risk factors for adverse outcome in syncope, after accounting for the presence of these risk factors, it is unclear whether age is an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes in syncope. Our objective was to determine whether age is an independent risk factor for adverse outcome following a syncopal episode.

Linking mosquito infestation to resident socioeconomic status, knowledge, and source reduction practices in suburban Washington, DC.

Eliminating water-holding containers where mosquitoes oviposit and develop (source reduction) can help manage urban disease-vector mosquitoes. Source reduction requires residents to be knowledgeable of effective practices and motivated to implement them. We tested relationships between demographics, resident knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP), and mosquito infestation by administering larval mosquito surveys and KAP questionnaires in Washington, DC.

Is telemetry useful in evaluating chest pain patients in an observation unit?

Since the development of coronary care units (CCUs), telemetry has rapidly become the standard of care in evaluating patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes, regardless of the probability for ischemia. However, there is no data to support this practice. Our objective was to evaluate the utility of routine cardiac monitoring in a chest pain observation unit.