Low Rate of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients Presenting to Urgent Care With Chest Pain and a Moderate HEART Risk Score Who Were Referred for an Expedited Outpatient Cardiology Evaluation

Introduction: The HEART score is an effective method of risk stratifying emergency department (ED) patients with chest pain. The low rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with a moderate risk HEART score referred from an urgent care (UC) center for an expedited outpatient cardiology evaluation was first described by this group in 2020. This is a follow up study with a total of 446 patient over a 36 month period. Hypothesis: Patients with a moderate risk HEART score who present to the ED are usually hospitalized for further evaluation. The safety of outpatient evaluation of these patients is not well studied. We assessed the hypothesis that there is a low rate of MACE when patients with a moderate risk HEART score were referred from an UC for an expedited outpatient cardiology follow up. Method(s): A cross sectional study was performed from 2/14/2019 through 3/30/2022 in 5 UC centers of 446 patients who presented with chest pain or anginal equivalent and a HEART score of 4 to 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A streamlined disposition protocol was adopted by all UC providers for an expedited outpatient cardiology instead of ED referral. The population was followed for 6 weeks with a primary endpoint of MACE (death, myocardial infarction (MI), revascularization) determined by electronic medical records review and direct phone contact with patients. Outcomes were confirmed in 93% of patients. Result(s): The average age was 65 years with 52% female and 48% male. 395 patients (89%) were seen by a cardiology provider, 346 patients (88%) were seen within 3 days. 265 stress tests (67%), 42 coronary CT angiograms (11%) and 19 invasive coronary angiograms (5%) were ordered. 8 patients (2%) were found to have MACE: 2 had routine surgical revascularization, 4 had non-fatal MI followed by revascularization, 2 patients died: 1 was urgently referred for mitral valve replacement and died after surgery from renal failure and COVID, the other patient died from COVID pneumonia. There were no ischemic cardiac deaths. Conclusion(s): In conclusion, patients with a moderate risk HEART score referred from UC for an expedited outpatient cardiology evaluation had a low rate of MACE and no ischemic cardiac deaths due to delay of care.

COVID-19 clearance among patients with cancer during the Delta and Omicron waves

Background: COVID-19 presents a particular challenge in oncology, as in-person visits and treatments can be delayed during infection and patients are at risk for prolonged viral shedding. Our center uses two consecutive negative PCR tests for patients to return to clinic. As vaccination rates increase, we questioned the need for this strategy vs a time-based clearance approach. Method(s): We identified cancer patients who tested positive for COVID-19 from 10/1/2021 to 3/31/2022 at a single tertiary care center and performed chart review under an IRB-approved protocol. Subgroups were compared using the Welch's t-test and Welch's ANOVA for 2 or > 2 groups, respectively. Result(s): 169 patients were identified. 153 had documented clearance defined as two consecutive negative PCR tests. The mean clearance time was 35.7 days (95% CI 32.3-39.0). There was a trend toward longer clearance time in patients with hematologic vs solid tumors (39.6 vs 33.2, p =.06) and a significant increase in patients treated with B cell depletion (58.0) vs chemo/targeted therapy (35.7, p =.01) or immunotherapy (29.0, p =.004). No significant difference was found by vaccination status or between the Delta and Omicron waves. If defined as one negative test, mean clearance time was 25.9 days (95% CI 23.6- 28.1), and there was a significant difference in patients with hematologic vs solid tumors and in those treated with B cell depletion vs other therapies. However, 16.0% (27/169) of patients had a subsequent positive test after a first negative result, with increased incidence in patients with hematologic malignancy (26.2%, 16/61) and stem cell/adoptive cell transplant (46.2%, 6/13). Conclusion(s): COVID- 19 is a significant barrier to oncologic care, and clearance times remain longer than reported for the general population. In this single center study, clearance time was > 1 month and further increased in patients with hematologic malignancy or on B cell depleting therapy. While adjusting clearance criteria to a single negative test or specific timeframe may be an attractive option to reduce delays, a large proportion of patients may have further positive PCR testing.

"It's always hard being a mom, but the pandemic has made everything harder": A qualitative exploration of the experiences of perinatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the psychosocial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in vulnerable groups, such as pregnant and parenting women, is a critical research and clinical imperative. Although many survey-based perinatal health studies have contributed important information about mental health, few have given full voice about the experiences of pregnant and postpartum women during the prolonged worldwide pandemic using a qualitative approach. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experience of pregnant and postpartum women in the United States during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Qualitative phenomenological study. SETTING: This study was conducted in the community, by recruiting women throughout the U.S. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-four pregnant and postpartum women participated in qualitative interviews. METHODS: Data from one-on-one semi-structured interviews were analyzed using a team-based phenomenological qualitative approach. RESULTS: Two key themes were apparent: the pandemic has shined a light on the many typical struggles of motherhood; and, there is a lack of consistent, community-based or healthcare system resources available to address the complex needs of pregnant and postpartum women, both in general and during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Going forward, as the world continues to deal with the current pandemic and possible future global health crises, health care systems and providers are encouraged to consider the suggestions provided by these participants: talk early and often to women about mental health; help pregnant and postpartum women create and institute a personal plan for early support of their mental health needs and create an easily accessible mental health network; conceptualize practice methods that enhance coping and resilience; practice in community-based and interdisciplinary teams (e.g., midwives, doulas, perinatal social workers/ psychotherapists) to ensure continuity of care and to foster relationships between providers and pregnant/ postpartum women; and consider learning from other countries' successful perinatal healthcare practices. REGISTRATION: Number (& date of first recruitment): not applicable. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Pregnant and postpartum women insist that mental health care must be overhauled, stating the pandemic has highlighted inherent cracks in the system.

There is a low rate of major adverse cardiovascular events in chest pain patients with a moderate risk heart score referred from urgent care for expedited outpatient cardiology evaluation: A multi-center study

The HEART score is an effective method of risk stratifying emergency department (ED) patients with chest pain. The rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) Background in patients with moderate HEART score referred from an urgent care (UC) for an expedited outpatient cardiology evaluation for 11 months was described in 133 patients in a previous study. This is a follow-up study with 18 months of data and 206 patients. The primary outcome was to examine the rate of MACE when patients with moderate HEART score were referred for an expedited outpatient cardiology Aim follow-up after evaluation in urgent care. The secondary outcome was to determine if there is a decrease in rate of ED transfer after this protocol was introduced. A cross-sectional study was conducted by a multispecialty group in Las Vegas, Nevada, which included 206 patients with a HEART score of 4 to 6 (i.e.: moderate risk) who presented to one of five UC centers with chest pain or an anginal equivalent. A streamlined evaluation protocol to assess each HEART score component was adopted by all UC providers to facilitate an expedited outpatient cardiology follow-up, Methods as an alternative to referral to the emergency department. Data was collected from February 14, 2019 through August 13, 2020. The population was followed for 6 weeks with a primary endpoint of MACE determined by electronic medical record review and direct phone contact with patients. Outcomes were confirmed in 98% of patients. Chest pain transfer data was compared between 12 months prior to implementing HEART protocol and 18 months of data analysis while using the new protocol. Over the course of 18 months, 206 patients with a moderate risk HEART score were referred to outpatient cardiology in an expedited manner. The average age was 65 with 53% female and 47% male patients. 150 patients (73% of the 206) were seen within 3 days, 114 (55%) underwent stress testing, 6 (3%) had coronary computed tomography angiogram, and 6 (3%) received an invasive coronary angiogram. Five patients were found to have MACE: one patient who had a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction Results and subsequent coronary stent, two patients were found to have obstructive disease after coronary angiography with subsequent coronary artery bypass graft, one patient had an abnormal stress test and subsequent coronary stent, and one patient had critical mitral stenosis, multi-vessel coronary artery disease and underwent coronary artery bypass graft with mitral valve replacement with complications of renal failure and COVID-19 and expired. The emergency department referral rate declined by 21%. Patients with a moderate risk HEART score referred from UC for an expedited Conclusion outpatient cardiology evaluation had a low rate of MACE and no deaths due to delay of care. There was also a significant decrease in the rate of ED referrals. © 2021 Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases. All rights reserved.