ORCID Profile
0000-0003-2120-0792
Current Organisation
Western Health
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.HLC.2021.08.020
Abstract: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is the most common cause of hospital admission in patients over 65, with poorer outcomes demonstrated in rural versus metropolitan areas. The aim of this study was to compare the in-hospital and post-discharge management of ADHF patients admitted to rural versus metropolitan hospitals in Victoria. Data from the Victorian Cardiac Outcomes Registry, Heart Failure (VCOR-HF) project was used. This was a prospective, observational, non-randomised study of consecutive patients admitted to participating hospitals in Victoria, Australia, with ADHF as their primary diagnosis over four 30-day periods during consecutive years. All patients were followed up for 30 days post discharge. 1,357 patients (1,260 metropolitan, 97 rural) were admitted to study hospitals with ADHF during the study periods. Cohorts were similar in age (average 76.87±13.12 yrs) and percentage of male gender (56.4% overall). Metropolitan patients were more likely to have diabetes (44.4% vs 34.0%, p=0.046), kidney disease (65.8% vs 37.1%, p<0.01) and anaemia (31.9% vs 19.6%, p=0.01). There was no significant difference in length of stay between metropolitan and rural patients (7.49 vs 6.37 days, p=0.12). There was no significant difference between metropolitan and rural patients in 30-day rehospitalisations (19.1% vs 11.6%, p=0.07, respectively) and all-cause 30-day mortality (8.2% vs 4.1%, p=0.15, respectively). Metropolitan patients were significantly more likely to have seen their general practitioner (GP) (68.1% vs 53.2%, p<0.01) or attend an outpatient clinic (35.9% vs 10.6%, p<0.01) by 30 days. There was no significant difference in number of days to follow-up of any kind between groups. Referrals to a heart failure home visiting program remained low overall (19.9%). There was no significant difference in 30-day rehospitalisations or mortality between patients admitted to rural versus metropolitan hospitals. Geographical discrepancies were noted in follow-up by 30 days, with significantly more metropolitan patients having seen a doctor by 30 days post-discharge. Overall follow-up rates remain suboptimal.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-08-2023
DOI: 10.1111/IMJ.15887
Abstract: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an important complication of interstitial lung disease (ILD), as its development confers a poor prognosis. There are no specific recommendations for methods of assessment for PH in ILD populations. To determine current assessment practices for PH in an Australian ILD centre. In the Austin Health ILD database, 162 consecutive patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or connective tissue disease‐associated ILD were identified and retrospectively evaluated for methods of PH assessment with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), serum N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) and right heart catheterisation (RHC) in relation to patient demographic and physiological parameters. The median follow‐up was 30 (14.4–56.4) months. At baseline, vital capacity was 80.0 ± 18.4% predicted, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide was 59.6 ± 15.2% predicted. Evaluation for PH was performed in 147 (90.7%) patients, among whom 105 (64.8%) had TTE performed at least once. At the initial TTE, 33.7% patients had high probability of PH, defined as RVSP mmHg + RAp and/or right ventricular dysfunction. At the time of the most recent TTE, these criteria were met in 45 (52.3%) patients. Elevated serum NT‐proBNP levels during the first year were observed in 47 (38.8%) patients. Only 14 (8.6%) patients had RHC. Our institutional PH assessment practice in ILD demonstrates a substantial prevalence of probable PH at baseline. As new therapies emerge for the treatment of PH in ILD, well‐defined screening practices are important in this population for early identification and optimal management.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-2021
DOI: 10.1111/IMJ.15218
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2021
DOI: 10.1111/IMJ.15075
Abstract: Countries with a high prevalence of COVID‐19 have identified a reduction in crude hospital admission rates for non‐COVID‐19 conditions during the pandemic. There remains a paucity of such data from lower prevalence countries, including Australia. To describe the patterns of unplanned hospital daily admission rates during the COVID‐19 pandemic in a major Australian metropolitan hospital, with a focus on acute medical presentations including acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stroke and falls. This single‐centre retrospective analysis analysed hospital admission episodes between 1 March and 30 April 2020 (COVID‐19‐era) and compared this to a historical cohort during the same period between 2017 and 2019 (pre‐COVID‐19). Information collected included total admission rates and patient characteristics for ACS, stroke and falls patients. A total of 12 278 unplanned admissions was identified across the study period. The daily admission rate was lower in the COVID‐19‐era compared with pre‐COVID‐19 (46.59 vs 51.56 days, P 0.001). There was also a reduced average daily admission rate for falls (7.79 vs 9.95 days, P 0.001) however, similar admission rates for ACS (1.52 vs 1.49 days, P = 0.83) and stroke (1.56 vs 1.76 days, P = 0.33). Public health interventions have been effective in reducing domestic cases of COVID‐19 in Australia. At our tertiary metropolitan hospital, we have observed a significant reduction in unplanned hospital admission rates during the COVID‐19‐era, particularly for falls. Public health messaging needs to focus on educating the public how to seek medical care safely and promptly in the context of the ongoing COVID‐19 crisis.
No related grants have been discovered for Roseanne Kimberley Chan.