We have located links that may give you full text access.
Comparative Study
Journal Article
Multicenter Study
The impact of emergency medical services in acute heart failure.
International Journal of Cardiology 2017 April 2
BACKGROUND: Real-life data on the role of emergency medical services (EMS) in acute heart failure (AHF) are scarce. Our aim was to describe prehospital treatment of AHF and to compare patients using EMS with self-presented, non-EMS patients.
METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from three university hospitals in Helsinki metropolitan area between July 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013. According to the use of EMS, patients were divided into EMS and non-EMS groups.
RESULTS: The study included 873 AHF patients. One hundred were (11.5%) EMS and 773 (88.5%) non-EMS. EMS patients more often had comorbidities. Initial heart rate (HR) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) differed between EMS and non-EMS patients; mean HR 89.2 (SD 22.5) vs. 83.7 (21.5)/min (p=0.02) and SpO2 90.3 (8.6) vs. 92.9 (6.6)% (p=0.01). However, on presentation to ED EMS patients' vital signs were similar to non-EMS patients'. On presentation to ED 46.0% were normotensive and 68.2% "warm and wet". Thirty-four percentage of EMS patients received prehospital medication. In-hospital mortality was 6.0% and 7.1% (p=0.84) and length of stay (LOS) 7.7 (7.0) and 8.5 (7.9) days (p=0.36) in EMS and non-EMS groups.
CONCLUSION: The use of EMS and administration of prehospital medication was low. EMS patients had initially worse HR and SpO2 than non-EMS patients. However, EMS patients' signs improved and were similar on presentation to ED. There were no differences in in-hospital mortality and LOS. This underscores the need for equal attention to any AHF patient independent of the arrival mode.
METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from three university hospitals in Helsinki metropolitan area between July 1, 2012 and July 31, 2013. According to the use of EMS, patients were divided into EMS and non-EMS groups.
RESULTS: The study included 873 AHF patients. One hundred were (11.5%) EMS and 773 (88.5%) non-EMS. EMS patients more often had comorbidities. Initial heart rate (HR) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) differed between EMS and non-EMS patients; mean HR 89.2 (SD 22.5) vs. 83.7 (21.5)/min (p=0.02) and SpO2 90.3 (8.6) vs. 92.9 (6.6)% (p=0.01). However, on presentation to ED EMS patients' vital signs were similar to non-EMS patients'. On presentation to ED 46.0% were normotensive and 68.2% "warm and wet". Thirty-four percentage of EMS patients received prehospital medication. In-hospital mortality was 6.0% and 7.1% (p=0.84) and length of stay (LOS) 7.7 (7.0) and 8.5 (7.9) days (p=0.36) in EMS and non-EMS groups.
CONCLUSION: The use of EMS and administration of prehospital medication was low. EMS patients had initially worse HR and SpO2 than non-EMS patients. However, EMS patients' signs improved and were similar on presentation to ED. There were no differences in in-hospital mortality and LOS. This underscores the need for equal attention to any AHF patient independent of the arrival mode.
Full text links
Related Resources
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app