Trends in advanced imaging and hospitalization for emergency department syncope care before and after ACEP clinical policy

ObjectivesTo describe recent trends in advanced imaging and hospitalization of emergency department (ED) syncope patients, both considered “low-value”, and examine trend changes before and after the publication of American College Emergency Physician (ACEP) syncope guidelines in 2007, compared to conditions that had no changes in guideline recommendations.MethodsWe analyzed 2002–2015 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data using an interrupted-time series with comparison series design. The primary outcomes were advanced imaging among ED visits with principal diagnosis of syncope and headache and hospitalization for ED visits with principal diagnosis of syncope, chest pain, dysrhythmia, and pneumonia. We adjusted annual imaging and hospitalization rates using survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression, controlling for demographic and visit characteristics. Using adjusted outcomes as datapoints, we compared linear trends and trend changes of annual imaging and hospitalization rates before and after 2007 with aggregate-level multivariable linear regression.ResultsFrom 2002 to 2007, advanced imaging rates for syncope increased from 27.2% to 42.1% but had no significant trend after 2007 (trend change: ?3.1%; 95%CI ?4.7, ?1.6). Hospitalization rates remained at approximately 37% from 2002 to 2007 but declined to 25.7% by 2015 (trend change: ?2.2%; 95%CI ?3.0, ?1.4). Similar trend changes occurred among control conditions versus syncope, including advanced imaging for headache (difference in trend change: ?0.6%; 95%CI ?2.8, 1.6) and hospitalizations for chest pain, dysrhythmia, and pneumonia (differences in trend changes: 0.1% [95%CI ?1.9, 2.0]; ?0.9% [95%CI ?3.1, 1.3]; and ?1.2% [95%CI ?5.3, 2.9], respectively).ConclusionsBefore and after the release of 2007 ACEP syncope guidelines, trends in advanced imaging and hospitalization for ED syncope visits had similar changes compared to control conditions. Changes in syncope care may, therefore, reflect broader practice shifts rather than a direct association with the 2007 ACEP guideline. Moreover, utilization of advanced imaging remains prevalent. To reduce low-value care, policymakers should augment society guidelines with additional policy changes such as reportable quality measures.     

Assessing Risk Category of Breast Cancer by Ultrasound Imaging Characteristics

The purpose of our study was to assess the potential clinical value of ultrasound imaging in predicting risk category in patients with breast cancer. Three hundred thirty-six patients were enrolled and divided into a high-risk group (99, 29.5%) and mid- to low-risk group (237, 70.5%) according to the St. Gallen risk criteria. All data were retrospectively collected to analyze correlations between ultrasound features and risk category. The results revealed that the ultrasound features of irregular shape (p?=?0.002), vertical growth orientation (p?=?0.002), angular contour (p?=?0.022) and high color Doppler flow imaging grade (p?=?0.001) tended to be present in images of the high-risk group. Therefore, tumor ultrasound features should be recognized as an ideal option for determination of risk category in patients with breast cancer.