Incidences and variations of hospital acquired venous thromboembolism in Australian hospitals: a population-based study

Trends of Hospital-Acquired Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis in an Academic Medical Center in China from 2007 to 2021

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the demographic characteristics and changing trends in the incidence of hospital-acquired lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (HA-LEDVT) in Chinese inpatients over the course of 15 years.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of the HA-LEDVT events in a medical center between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2021.

RESULTS

A total of 846,347 eligible patients were analyzed. The overall incidence of HA-LEDVT was 2.53 per 1,000 admissions. The incidence was 0.22 and 4.20 per 1,000 admissions in 2007 and 2017, respectively (P < 0.01). Medical patients had a higher incidence of HA-LEDVT than surgical patients (3.19 vs. 2.14 per 1,000 admissions; P < 0.01). The incidence of HA-LEDVT increased from 0.28 to 11.90 per 1,000 admissions for those aged 17-29 years and 80-89 years, respectively (P < 0.01). The increase in HA-LEDVT incidence mainly occurred in patients aged ≥60 years. The median length of stay of HA-LEDVT patients was longer than that of other eligible patients (17 vs. 7 days; P < 0.01). Most of the HA-LEDVT events (77.8%) were diagnosed between hospital day 3 and 15, and the time from admission to HA-LEDVT diagnosis decreased by year. The rate of vascular surgery consultation for diagnosed or suspected HA-LEDVT and HA-LEDVT-related discharge instructions both decreased by half gradually over the 15 years of this study. Isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) accounted for 83.3% of all HA-LEDVT events, and the proportion increased significantly from 62.5% in 2007 to 88.7% in 2021 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of HA-LEDVT has been high in the Chinese population. More high-quality prospective studies are needed to guide prevention of HA-LEDVTs.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of venous thromboembolism risk in surgical patients with recent air travel

ObjectiveRisk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is classically associated with recent surgery; additionally, long-haul air travel is a known VTE risk factor. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the post-operative VTE risk associated with recent air travel.MethodsEmbase, Medline, Cochrane and Scopus databases were accessed from inception to May 2024. Inclusion criteria were any study design of participants undergoing surgical intervention with recent air travel, reporting VTE incidence. Papers were screened and data extracted independently by two reviewers, then pooled using fixed and random effects. The primary outcome was pooled VTE rate, with secondary outcomes of pooled rate of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Subgroup analyses of pre- and post-operative flight, flight >4 h and high VTE risk surgery were conducted. The ROBINS-I tool was used to assess risk of bias.ResultsSeven retrospective studies were included in the analysis, totalling 24,975 patients. The pooled VTE odds ratio (OR) in the flying plus surgery group was 1.96 (95% CI: 0.54-7.08). For surgery with post-operative flight, the VTE OR was 1.31 (95% CI: 0.63-2.71), whilst for surgery with pre-operative flight the OR was 7.86 (95% CI: 0.23-265.26). In a subgroup analysis of air travel >4 h, the VTE OR was 2.35 (95% CI: 0.29-19.36). In the subgroup analysis of high VTE risk surgery, the VTE OR was 1.20 (95% CI: 0.45-3.20). Three studies reported DVT/PE incidence specifically. For surgery and recent air travel, the pooled DVT rate was 0.67% (95% CI: 0.31%-1.51%) versus 0.45% (95% CI: 0.10%-2.00%) in surgery alone. For surgery and recent air travel, the pooled PE rate was 0.41 (95% CI: 0.00%-1.29%) versus 0.55% (95% CI: 0.31%-0.86%) for surgery alone.ConclusionThis meta-analysis suggests that air travel confers no additional VTE risk for patients undergoing surgical intervention. However, this does not account for confounding factors. Future research should risk score then propensity match participants to generate higher quality evidence.

Reducing unnecessary use of intermittent pneumatic compression in intensive care: A before-and-after pilot study with environmental perspective

BACKGROUND

The healthcare sector in Australia has committed to reducing carbon emissions associated with care delivery. Thirty percent of care delivered in the Australian hospital sector is considered low-value care. Intensive care uses chemical prophylaxis to reduce risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Mechanical prophylaxis methods, which include intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC), are often used as an adjunct to chemical prophylaxis but can also be used in patients where chemical prophylaxis is contraindicated. Recent literature demonstrates, however, that there is no additional benefit to the routine use of IPC, in reducing VTE risk when used as an adjunct to chemical VTE prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to assess the effect of the implementation of an education package on the use of single-use IPC devices in the intensive care unit to determine the carbon footprint of a pair of IPC devices, and to determine change in waste production, greenhouse gas emissions, and the financial cost associated with change in IPC use.

METHODS

A before-and-after pilot study was undertaken in a single, level III intensive care unit. An audit was conducted to determine the appropriate use of IPC over a 3-month period before and after the delivery of an education package to guide prescription and use of IPC.

RESULTS

Unnecessary use of IPC reduced from 33/58 (56.9%) to 3/31 (9.7%) after delivery of an education package. According to a bottom-up carbon footprinting analysis, embodied carbon of a single pair of IPC devices was 432.2 g carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). This study represents a minimum annual saving of $7682.40, 14.9 Kg waste and 51.8 KgCO2e associated with reduced unnecessary use of IPC.

CONCLUSION

Staff education and behaviour change reduced the number of IPC devices used. The number of IPC devices applied inappropriately also reduced, as did associated greenhouse gas emissions and financial cost.

Development and evaluation of a national administrative code-based system for estimation of hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism in Ireland

BACKGROUND

Hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism (HA-VTE) is a significant patient safety concern contributing to preventable deaths. Internationally, estimating HA-VTE relies on administrative codes, in particular the International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes, but their accuracy has been debated. The Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) launched a National Key Performance Indicator (KPI) in 2019 for monitoring HA-VTE rates using the Australian Modification of ICD-10 (ICD-10-AM) codes.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to (1) describe the development of the national HSE KPI and determine the national HA-VTE occurrence rate per 1000 discharges in 2022; (2) assess the contribution of each VTE ICD-10-AM code to the national HA-VTE figure; (3) estimate the positive predictive value (PPV) of the HSE KPI against true HA-VTE, in a single large tertiary (Irish Model 4) hospital.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study used national data from Irish publicly funded acute hospitals, focusing on discharges from 2022. The HSE KPI was based on an assessment of HA-VTE as a rate per 1000 hospital discharges (as per the national metadata). Inclusion criteria were inpatient only, length of stay ≥2 days, age ≥16 years and non-maternity admission type (elective or emergency only). Maternity and paediatric hospitals were excluded.The PPV was determined through a detailed review of HA-VTE cases identified through the HSE KPI from April 2020 to October 2022 in a single large tertiary referral centre and determining the proportion indicating a true HA-VTE. Data analysis employed GraphPad Prism (Horsham, PA, USA).

RESULTS

The national mean monthly HA-VTE rate was 11.38 per 1000 discharges in 2022. Pulmonary embolism (PE) without acute cor pulmonale (I26.9) was the most frequent contributor (59%). The mean PPV in the tertiary hospital was 0.37, with false positives attributed to acute illnesses, historical VTE coding errors and dual VTE diagnoses at admission.

DISCUSSION

HA-VTE is a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, necessitating accurate measurement. Administrative codes, while cost-effective and timely, reveal limitations in precision. This study identifies opportunities to improve code accuracy, address coding challenges and enhance the PPV.

CONCLUSION

This study provides valuable insights into estimated HA-VTE rates, the contribution of each individual ICD-10-AM code to the overall HA-VTE rate and the PPV of the measure. Ongoing refinement and quality enhancement are needed.

Do Decision Support Tools Decrease the Prevalence of Hospital-Acquired Venous Thromboembolisms When Compared to Clinical Judgement? A Single-Center Pre-Post Study

Introduction: Hospital-acquired venous thromboembolisms (HA-VTEs) carry a significant health burden on patients and a financial burden on hospitals due to reimbursement penalties. VTE prophylaxis at our institute was performed through utilizing an order set based on healthcare professionals' perceived level of risk. However, the use of standardized risk assessment models is recommended by multiple professional societies. Furthermore, integrating decision support tools (DST) based on the standardized risk assessment models has been shown to increase the administration of appropriate deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis. Nonetheless, such scoring systems are not inherently flawless and their integration into EMR as a mandatory step can come at the risk of healthcare professional fatigue and burnout. We conducted a study to evaluate the incidence of HA-VTE and length of stay pre- and post implementation of a DST. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, pre-post-implementation observational study at a tertiary medical center after implementing a mandatory DST. The DST used Padua scores for medical patients and Caprini scores for surgical patients. Patients were identified through ICD-10 codes and outcomes were collected from electronic charts. Healthcare professionals were surveyed through an anonymous survey and stored securely. Statistical analysis was conducted by using R (version 3.4.3). Results: A total of 343 patients developed HA-VTE during the study period. Of these, 170 patients developed HA-VTE in the 9 months following the implementation of the DST, while 173 patients were identified in the 9 months preceding the implementation. There was no statistically significant difference in mean HA-VTE/1000 discharge/month pre- and post implementation (4.4 (SD 1.6) compared to 4.6 (SD 1.2), confidence interval [CI] -1.6 to 1.2, p = 0.8). The DST was used in 73% of all HA-VTE cases over the first 6 months of implementation. The hospital length of stay (LOS) was 14.2 (SD 1.9) days prior to implementation and 14.1 (SD 1.6) days afterwards. No statistically significant change in readmission rates was noted (8.8% (SD 2.6) prior to implementation and 15.53% (SD 9.6) afterwards, CI -14.27 to 0.74, p = 0.07). Of the 56 healthcare professionals who answered the survey, 84% (n = 47) reported to be dissatisfied or extremely dissatisfied with the DST, while 91% (n = 51) reported that it slowed them down. Conclusions: There were no apparent changes in the prevalence of HA-VTE, length of stay, or readmission rates when VTE prophylaxis was mandated through DST compared to a prior model which used order sets based on perceived risk. Further studies are needed to further evaluate the current risk assessment models and improve healthcare professionals' satisfaction with DST.

An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Impact of Graduated Compression Stockings in Addition to Pharmacological Thromboprophylaxis for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Surgical Inpatients

OBJECTIVE

To compare the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in surgical inpatients with pharmacological thromboprophylaxis and additional graduated compression stockings (GCSs) versus pharmacological thromboprophylaxis alone.

BACKGROUND

Surgical inpatients have elevated VTE risk; recent studies cast doubt on whether GCS confers additional protection against VTE, compared with pharmacological thromboprophylaxis alone.

METHODS

The review followed "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses" guidelines using a registered protocol (CRD42017062655). The MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched up to November 2022. Randomized trials reporting VTE rate after surgical procedures, utilizing pharmacological thromboprophylaxis, with or without GCS, were included. The rates of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, and VTE-related mortality were pooled through fixed and random effects.

RESULTS

In a head-to-head meta-analysis, the risk of DVT for GCS and pharmacological thromboprophylaxis was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.54-1.36) versus for pharmacological thromboprophylaxis alone (2 studies, 70 events, 2653 participants). The risk of DVT in pooled trial arms for GCS and pharmacological thromboprophylaxis was 0.54 (95% CI: 0.23-1.25) versus pharmacological thromboprophylaxis alone (33 trial arms, 1228 events, 14,108 participants). The risk of pulmonary embolism for GCS and pharmacological prophylaxis versus pharmacological prophylaxis alone was 0.71 (95% CI: 0.0-30.0) (27 trial arms, 32 events, 11,472 participants). There were no between-group differences in VTE-related mortality (27 trial arms, 3 events, 12,982 participants).

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence from head-to-head meta-analysis and pooled trial arms demonstrates no additional benefit for GCS in preventing VTE and VTE-related mortality. GCS confer a risk of skin complications and an economic burden; current evidence does not support their use for surgical inpatients.

A systematic review of venous thromboembolism mechanical prophylaxis devices during surgery

PURPOSE

Hospitalisation and surgery are major risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) and graduated compression stockings (GCS) are common mechanical prophylaxis devices used to prevent VTE. This review compares the safety and efficacy of IPC and GCS used singularly and in combination for surgical patients.

METHODS

Ovid Medline and Pubmed were searched in a systematic review of the literature, and relevant articles were assessed against eligibility criteria for inclusion along PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS

This review is a narrative description and critical analysis of available evidence. Fourteen articles were included in this review after meeting the criteria. Results of seven studies comparing the efficacy of IPC versus GCS had high heterogeneity but overall suggested IPC was superior to GCS. A further seven studies compared the combination of IPC and GCS versus GCS alone, the results of which suggest that combination mechanical prophylaxis may be superior to GCS alone in high-risk patients. No studies compared combination therapy to IPC alone. IPC appeared to have a superior safety profile, although it had a worse compliance rate and the quality of evidence was poor. The addition of pharmacological prophylaxis may make mechanical prophylaxis superfluous in the post-operative setting.

CONCLUSION

IPC may be superior to GCS when used as a single prophylactic device. A combination of IPC and GCS may be more efficacious than GCS alone for high-risk patients. Further high-quality research is needed focusing on clinical relevance, safety and comparing combination mechanical prophylaxis to IPC alone, particularly in high-risk surgical settings when pharmacological prophylaxis is contraindicated.

Small-Area Analysis of Treatment and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Venous Thromboembolism in Denmark: A Nationwide Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

 To investigate geographical variation in initiation and extended treatment with anticoagulants and clinical outcomes among patients hospitalized with first-time venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Denmark between 2007 and 2018.

METHODS

 Using nationwide health care registries, we identified all patients with a first-time VTE hospital diagnosis supported by imaging data from 2007 to 2018. Patients were grouped according to residential region (5) and municipality (98) at the time of VTE diagnosis. Cumulative incidence of initiation of and extended (beyond 365 days) anticoagulation treatment as well as clinical outcomes, including recurrent VTE, major bleeding, and all-cause death, were assessed. Sex- and age-adjusted relative risks (RRs) of the outcomes were computed when comparing across individual regions and municipalities. Overall geographic variation was quantified by computing the median RR.

RESULTS

 We identified 66,840 patients with a first-time VTE hospitalization. A difference in initiation of anticoagulation treatment of more than 20 percentage points between regions was observed (range: 51.9-72.4%, median RR: 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-1.13). Variation was also observed for extended treatment (range: 34.2-46.9%, median RR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02-1.14). The cumulative incidence of recurrent VTE ranged from 3.6 to 5.3% at 1 year (median RR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01-1.15). The difference remained after 5 years, and variation was also observed for major bleeding (median RR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03-1.15), whereas it appeared smaller for all-cause mortality (median RR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05).

CONCLUSION

 Substantial geographical variation in anticoagulation treatment and clinical outcomes occurs in Denmark. These findings indicate a need for initiatives to ensure uniform high-quality care for all VTE patients.

Mortality data from omission of early thromboprophylaxis in critically ill patients highlights the importance of an individualised diagnosis-related approach

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is effective in reducing VTE events, however, its impact on mortality is unclear. We examined the association between omission of VTE prophylaxis within the first 24 h after intensive care unit (ICU) admission and hospital mortality.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the Australian New Zealand Intensive Care Society Adult Patient Database. Data were obtained for adult admissions between 2009 and 2020. Mixed effects logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between omission of early VTE prophylaxis and hospital mortality.

RESULTS

Of the 1,465,020 ICU admissions, 107,486 (7.3%) did not receive any form of VTE prophylaxis within the first 24 h after ICU admission without documented contraindication. Omission of early VTE prophylaxis was independently associated with 35% increased odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratios (OR): 1.35; 95% CI: 1.31-1.41). The associations between omission of early VTE prophylaxis and mortality varied by admission diagnosis. In patients diagnosed with stroke (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05-1.52), cardiac arrest (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.65-2.07) or intracerebral haemorrhage (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.19-1.84), omission of VTE prophylaxis was associated with increased risk of mortality, but not in patients diagnosed with subarachnoid haemorrhage or head injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Omission of VTE prophylaxis within the first 24 h after ICU admission was independently associated with increased risk of mortality that varied by admission diagnosis. Consideration of early thromboprophylaxis may be required for patients with stroke, cardiac arrest and intracerebral haemorrhage but not in those with subarachnoid haemorrhage or head injury. The findings highlight the importance of individualised diagnosis-related thromboprophylaxis benefit-harm assessments.

Higher Complication Rate in COVID-19 Recovered Patients Undergoing Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

There is limited data reviewing complication risks associated with total joint arthroplasty (TJA) after recovering from COVID-19. This study evaluated complications within 90 days of TJA in patients who had a COVID-19 diagnosis at varying intervals prior to surgery vs a non-COVID-19 cohort.

METHODS

A large national database was used to identify patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the six months prior to total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The incidence of complications within 90 days of surgery was recorded and compared to a COVID-19 negative control group matched 1:3 for age range in 5-year intervals, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and sex. There were 7,780 patients included in the study; 5,840 (75.1%) never diagnosed with COVID-19, 1,390 (17.9%) who had a COVID-19 diagnosis 0 to 3 months prior to surgery, and 550 (7.1%) who had a COVID-19 diagnosis 3 to 6 months prior to surgery.

RESULTS

When compared to their COVID negative controls, patients who had a COVID-19 diagnosis 0 to 3 months prior to surgery had significantly higher rates of re-admission (14.0 vs 11.1%, P=.001), pneumonia (2.2 vs 0.7%, P<.001), deep vein thrombosis (3.3 vs 1.9%, P=.001), kidney failure (2.4 vs 1.4%, P=.006), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (1.4 vs 0.7%, P=.01). Patients who had a COVID-19 diagnosis 3 to 6 months prior to surgery had significantly higher rates of pneumonia (2.0 vs 0.7%, P=.002) and deep vein thrombosis (3.6 vs 1.9%, P=.005) when compared to their COVID negative controls.

CONCLUSION

Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 within three months prior to TJA have an increased risk of 90-day postoperative complications. Risk for pneumonia and deep vein thrombosis remains elevated even when surgery was performed as far as 3 to 6 months after COVID-19 diagnosis.

Exploring the Clinical Efficacy of Venous Thromboembolism Management in Saudi Arabian Hospitals: An Insight into Patient Outcomes

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common condition that can recur, leading to multiple therapeutic strategies to prevent it. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical efficacy of VTE management in Saudi Arabian hospitals and to gain insights into patient outcomes. A retrospective single-center study was conducted that retrieved the data of all patients with VTE registered from January 2015 to December 2017. Patients of all age groups were included if they attended the thrombosis clinic at KFMC during the data collection period. The study analyzed the various therapeutic strategies used for VTE and their effect on patient outcomes. The results showed that 14.6% of the patients had provoked VTE, with a higher incidence among females and younger patients. The most commonly prescribed treatment was combination therapy, followed by warfarin, oral anticoagulants, and factor Xa inhibitor. Despite being prescribed treatment, 74.9% of the patients experienced recurrence of VTE. There was no associated risk factor for recurrence in 79.9% of the patients. Thrombolytic therapy and catheter-directed thrombolysis were found to be associated with a lower risk of VTE recurrence, while anticoagulation therapy, including oral anticoagulants, was associated with a higher risk. Vitamin K antagonist (warfarin) and factor Xa inhibitor (rivaroxaban) had a significant positive association with VTE recurrence, while the use of a direct thrombin inhibitor (dabigatran) showed a lower risk, but it was not statistically significant. The results of the study highlight the need for further research to determine the most effective therapeutic strategy for VTE management in Saudi Arabian hospitals. The findings also suggest that anticoagulation therapy, including oral anticoagulants, may increase the risk of VTE recurrence, while thrombolytic therapy and catheter-directed thrombolysis may lower the risk.

Improving compliance with venous thromboembolism prophylaxis guidelines in obese inpatients

Obesity is a well-recognised risk factor for venous thromboembolism, and increased dosing of pharmacological prophylaxis is recommended in obese inpatients. We performed a clinical decision support intervention by adjusting order sentences of prophylactic enoxaparin within our electronic medical records, which significantly improved appropriate dosing for thromboprophylaxis in obese inpatients at our institution.

Preventability of Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalised Patients

BACKGROUND

Hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

AIM

Our study aimed to determine the proportion of patients with hospital-acquired VTE that are preventable.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of patients in two tertiary care hospitals in Sydney, Australia. Data were collected for patients with hospital-acquired VTE based on ICD-10-AM coding from January 2018 to May 2020. Patients were classified as low, moderate or high risk of developing a VTE during hospitalization based on demographic and clinical factors. A hospital-acquired VTE was considered to be potentially preventable if there was suboptimal prophylaxis in the absence of contraindications. Suboptimal therapy included at least one of the following related to VTE prophylaxis: low dose, missed dose (prior to developing a VTE), suboptimal drug, and delayed start (>24 hours from admission).

RESULTS

There were 229 patients identified with VTE based on ICD-10-AM coding. A subset of 135 were determined to have actual hospital-acquired VTEs. Of these, there were no patients at low risk, 64% (87/135) at moderate risk, and 44% (48/135) at high risk of developing a VTE. Most patients (65%, n=88/135) had one or more contraindications to receive recommended prophylaxis. Overall, the proportion of patients who received suboptimal prophylaxis was 11% (15/135).

CONCLUSION

Approximately, 1 in 10 hospital-acquired VTE are preventable. Hospitals should focus on measuring and reporting VTE that are preventable to provide a more accurate measure of the burden of VTEs that can be reduced by improving care. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of a Broad-Spectrum Partially Automated Adverse Event Surveillance System: A Potential Tool for Patient Safety Improvement in Hospitals With Limited Resources

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity and resource efficiency of a partially automated adverse event (AE) surveillance system for routine patient safety efforts in hospitals with limited resources.

METHODS

Twenty-eight automated triggers from the hospital information system's clinical and administrative databases identified cases that were then filtered by exclusion criteria per trigger and then reviewed by an interdisciplinary team. The system, developed and implemented using in-house resources, was applied for 45 days of surveillance, for all hospital inpatient admissions (N = 1107). Each trigger was evaluated for its positive predictive value (PPV). Furthermore, the sensitivity of the surveillance system (overall and by AE category) was estimated relative to incidence ranges in the literature.

RESULTS

The surveillance system identified a total of 123 AEs among 283 reviewed medical records, yielding an overall PPV of 52%. The tool showed variable levels of sensitivity across and within AE categories when compared with the literature, with a relatively low overall sensitivity estimated between 21% and 44%. Adverse events were detected in 23 of the 36 AE categories defined by an established harm classification system. Furthermore, none of the detected AEs were voluntarily reported.

CONCLUSIONS

The surveillance system showed variable sensitivity levels across a broad range of AE categories with an acceptable PPV, overcoming certain limitations associated with other harm detection methods. The number of cases captured was substantial, and none had been previously detected or voluntarily reported. For hospitals with limited resources, this methodology provides valuable safety information from which interventions for quality improvement can be formulated.

Nurse staffing practices and adverse events in acute care hospitals: The research protocol of a multisite patient-level longitudinal study

Aims

We describe an innovative research protocol to: (a) examine patient‐level longitudinal associations between nurse staffing practices and the risk of adverse events in acute care hospitals and; (b) determine possible thresholds for safe nurse staffing.

Design

A dynamic cohort of adult medical, surgical and intensive care unit patients admitted to 16 hospitals in Quebec (Canada) between January 2015–December 2019.

Methods

Patients in the cohort will be followed from admission until 30‐day postdischarge to assess exposure to selected nurse staffing practices in relation to the subsequent occurrence of adverse events. Five staffing practices will be measured for each shift of an hospitalization episode, using electronic payroll data, with the following time‐varying indicators: (a) nursing worked hours per patient; (b) skill mix; (c) overtime use; (d) education mix and; and (e) experience. Four high‐impact adverse events, presumably associated with nurse staffing practices, will be measured from electronic health record data retrieved at the participating sites: (a) failure‐to‐rescue; (b) in‐hospital falls; (c) hospital‐acquired pneumonia and; and (d) venous thromboembolism. To examine the associations between the selected nurse staffing exposures and the risk of each adverse event, separate multivariable Cox proportional hazards frailty regression models will be fitted, while adjusting for patient, nursing unit and hospital characteristics, and for clustering. To assess for possible staffing thresholds, flexible non‐linear spline functions will be fitted. Funding for the study began in October 2019 and research ethics/institutional approval was granted in February 2020.

Discussion

To our knowledge, this study is the first multisite patient‐level longitudinal investigation of the associations between common nurse staffing practices and the risk of adverse events. It is hoped that our results will assist hospital managers in making the most effective use of the scarce nursing resources and in identifying staffing practices that minimize the occurrence of adverse events.

Perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infections increase mortality, pulmonary complications, and thromboembolic events: A Dutch, multicenter, matched-cohort clinical study

Background

A direct comparison of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 positive patients with a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 negative control group undergoing an operative intervention during the current pandemic is lacking, and a reliable estimate of the assumed difference in morbidity and mortality between both patient categories remains unknown.

Methods

We included all consecutive patients with a confirmed pre- or postoperative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 positive status (operated in 27 hospitals) and negative control patients (operated in 4 hospitals) undergoing emergency or elective operations. A propensity score-matched comparison of clinical outcomes was performed between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 positive and negative tested patients (control group). Primary outcome was overall 30-day mortality rate between both groups. Main secondary outcomes were overall, pulmonary, and thromboembolic complications.

Results

In total, 161 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 positive and 342 control severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 negative patients were included in this study. The 30-day overall postoperative mortality rate was greater in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 positive cohort compared with the negative control group (16% vs 4% respectively; P = .007). After propensity score matching, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 positive group consisted of 123 patients (median 70 years of age [interquartile range 59–77] and 55% male) were compared with 196 patients in the matched control group (median 69 years (interquartile range 58–75] and 53% male). The 30-day mortality rate and risk were greater in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 positive group compared with the matched control group (12% vs 4%; P = .009 and odds ratio 3.4 [95% confidence interval 1.5–8.5]; P = .005, respectively). Overall, pulmonary and thromboembolic complications occurred more often in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 positive patients (P < .01).

Conclusion

Patients diagnosed with perioperative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 have an increased risk of 30-day mortality, pulmonary complications, and thromboembolic events. These findings serve as an evidence-based argument to postpone elective surgery and selected emergency cases.

Improving the adoption of optimal venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in critically ill patients: A process evaluation of a complex quality improvement initiative

PURPOSE

This study evaluated a complex initiative to increase evidence-based use of low molecular weight heparin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis among adult medical-surgical ICU patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included: quantitative survey and interviews. Participants were healthcare providers within four ICUs. Surveys collected knowledge of evidence underpinning best practice, exposure to the implementation strategies and their perceived utility, and recommendations. The interview expanded on survey topics. Descriptive statistics summarized the data and chi-squared tests were used to compare groups. Qualitative data were analyzed using a blended deductive and inductive coding approach.

RESULTS

Providers had good knowledge of the evidence (range = 58% to 94%). Pharmacist-to-physician reminders (80%), other reminders (50%), and local guidelines (50%) were the most commonly observed strategies. Local champions (76%), on-site education (74%), and computerized decision support system (69%) were perceived to be most helpful. Interviews elicited five themes: provider roles, perceptions of the implementation strategies, facilitators and barriers to uptake of best practice, and recommendations. Assessment of the implementation strategies varied by professional group.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this process evaluation identified implementation strategies that can improve the use of evidence-informed practices, help interpret outcomes in the context of interventions and guide future quality improvement initiatives.

Incidence of in-hospital and post-discharge diagnosed hospital-associated venous thromboembolism using linked administrative data

BACKGROUND

Hospital-associated venous thromboembolism (HA-VTE) is a serious adverse event, preventable with appropriate care during and post-admission. Accurate measurement of in-hospital and post-discharge incidences is essential for implementation and evaluation of prevention strategies and monitoring.

AIMS

To estimate in-hospital and post-discharge diagnosed VTE, trends and risk factors.

METHODS

This was a population-based study in New South Wales, Australia, using linked hospital admission and emergency department data for 2010-2013 of adult patients with a minimum stay of 48 h. HA-VTE were diagnosed in-hospital or post-discharge (within 90 days). Multi-level modelling schemes produced adjusted rates and ratios for patient, admission and hospital-related characteristics.

RESULTS

From 1 865 059 admissions, the HA-VTE incidence rate was 9.7 per 1000 admissions; 71% were diagnosed post-discharge, and 4.3% died with a greater risk for VTE diagnosed in hospital compared to post-discharge (8.4% vs 2.6%, P < 0.001). Compared with surgical patients, medical patients developed fewer HA-VTE (IRR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.58-0.63) but were more likely to be diagnosed post-discharge (OR = 2.19; 95% CI: 2.00-2.40). HA-VTE increased 6.5% over the period, driven by the 44% increase in in-hospital diagnoses and not by the 9% decrease in post-discharge diagnoses.

CONCLUSIONS

HA-VTE is a continuing burden, and diagnosis after recent hospital discharge is notably high. Incidence varies across patients and facilities, highlighting the need for individual VTE risk assessment. Inclusive measures and routine monitoring of HA-VTE incidence and mortality are essential for implementing best practice and assessing effectiveness of prevention strategies.