Singapore medical journal最新文献

Introduction: Adverse clinical outcomes and patient dissatisfaction with care often have elements of poor communication. Factors such as illness and pharmacotherapy can affect cognition, and overestimation of patients' health literacy may contribute to suboptimal communication with patients regarding their hospitalisation and post-discharge instructions. Improved patient understanding and recall of their diagnoses and treatment is critical for adherence to treatment, follow-up and optimal clinical outcomes. The aim of the study was to assess whether a coproduced and codesigned patient-centred discharge form (PCDF) improves patients' understanding of their discharge diagnosis, in-hospital treatment and post-discharge plan.

Methods: A sample of 111 patients was enrolled through simple randomisation by admission to one of two identically operating general medicine wards. Over a 3-month period, 59 patients received the coproduced and codesigned form and 52 patients were controls. Assessment of patients' understanding of diagnosis, in-hospital management, post-discharge instructions and overall experience of care was undertaken by a blinded phone survey conducted approximately 6 days after discharge.

Results: Patients who received PCDF were significantly more likely to report adequate understanding of their hospital management (P < 0.001) and the post-discharge plan (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of understanding of diagnosis. Patients who received PCDF reported better understanding of care and recall of admission.

Conclusion: The use of PCDF is associated with improved patient understanding with respect to their hospital management and post-discharge instructions. It is also associated with high levels of satisfaction as assessed by measures of patient experience.

Introduction: Prolonged cardiac monitoring after cryptogenic stroke or embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is necessary to identify atrial fibrillation (AF) that requires anticoagulation. Wearable devices may improve AF detection compared to conventional management. We aimed to review the evidence for the use of wearable devices in post-cryptogenic stroke and post-ESUS monitoring.

Methods: We performed a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and clinicaltrials.gov on 21 July 2022, identifying all studies that investigated the use of wearable devices in patients with cryptogenic stroke or ESUS. The outcomes of AF detection were analysed. Literature reports on electrocardiogram (ECG)-based (external wearable, handheld, patch, mobile cardiac telemetry [MCT], smartwatch) and photoplethysmography (PPG)-based (smartwatch, smartphone) devices were summarised.

Results: A total of 27 relevant studies were included (two randomised controlled trials, seven prospective trials, 10 cohort studies, six case series and two case reports). Only four studies compared wearable technology to Holter monitoring or implantable loop recorder, and these studies showed no significant differences on meta-analysis (odds ratio 2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-7.48, I 2 = 70%). External wearable devices detected AF in 20.7% (95% CI 14.9-27.2, I 2 = 76%) of patients and MCT detected new AF in 9.6% (95% CI 7.4%-11.9%, I 2 = 56%) of patients. Other devices investigated included patch sensors, handheld ECG recorders and PPG-based smartphone apps, which demonstrated feasibility in the post-cryptogenic stroke and post-ESUS setting.

Conclusion: Wearable devices that are ECG or PPG based are effective for paroxysmal AF detection after cryptogenic stroke and ESUS, but further studies are needed to establish how they compare with Holter monitors and implantable loop recorder.

Abstract: Ischaemia with no obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) has been a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for decades. Several studies have demonstrated that INOCA is associated with an increased risk of death, adverse cardiovascular events, poor quality of life and high healthcare cost. Although there is increasing recognition of this entity in the Western population, in the Asian population, INOCA remains elusive and its prevalence uncertain. Despite its prognostic significance, diagnosis of INOCA is often delayed. In this review, we identified the multiple barriers to its diagnosis and management, and proposed strategies to overcome them.

Introduction: Clinical assessment is pivotal in diagnosing acute coronary syndrome. Our study aimed to identify clinical characteristics predictive of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in an Asian population and to derive a risk score for MACE.

Methods: Patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain and non-diagnostic 12-lead electrocardiograms were recruited. Clinical history was recorded in a predesigned template. Random glucose and direct low-density lipoprotein measurements were taken, in addition to serial troponin. We derived the age, coronary risk factors (CRF), sex and symptoms (ACSS) risk score based on multivariate analysis results, considering age, CRF, sex and symptoms and classifying patients into very low, low, moderate and high risk for MACE. Comparison was made with the ED Assessment of Chest Pain Score (EDACS) and the history, electrocardiogram, age, risk factors, troponin (HEART) score. We also modified the HEART score with the CRF that we had identified. The outcomes were 30-day and 1-year MACE.

Results: There were a total of 1689 patients, with 172 (10.2%) and 200 (11.8%) having 30-day and 1-year MACE, respectively. Symptoms predictive of MACE included central chest pain, radiation to the jaw/neck, associated diaphoresis, and symptoms aggravated by exertion and relieved by glyceryl trinitrate. The ACSS score had an area under the curve of 0.769 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.735-0.803) and 0.760 (95% CI: 0.727-0.793) for 30-day and 1-year MACE, respectively, outperforming EDACS. Those in the very-low-risk and low-risk groups had <1% risk of 30-day MACE.

Conclusion: The ACSS risk score shows potential for use in the local ED or primary care setting, potentially reducing unnecessary cardiac investigations and admission.