Abstract
Assessment of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with suspected cardiac chest pain and a nondiagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) is lengthy and costly. It was hypothesized that myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) can be cost-efficient in such patients by detecting those with chest pain that is noncardiac in nature. Accordingly, cost-efficiency was evaluated in 957 patients presenting to the ED with suspected cardiac chest pain, but no ST-segment elevation on the ECG, who underwent MCE. Economic outcome calculations were based on costs estimated from national average Medicare charges adjusted by a cost-charge ratio. Based on routine clinical criteria, 641 patients (67%) were admitted to the hospital, whereas 316 (33%) were discharged directly from the ED. The average cost per patient using routine evaluation was $5,000. Patients with normal MCE results (n = 523) had a very low primary event rate (death, acute myocardial infarction) of 0.6% within 24 hours after presentation, making it relatively safe to discharge patients directly from the ED with a normal MCE result. Hence, if MCE had been used for decision making, 523 patients (55%) would have been discharged directly from the ED and 434 (45%) would have been admitted to the hospital. Preventing unnecessary admissions and tests would have saved an average of $900 per patient, in addition to reducing their ED stay. In conclusion, by excluding cardiac causes in patients presenting to the ED with chest pain and a nondiagnostic ECG, MCE can prevent unnecessary admissions and downstream resource utilization, making it a cost-efficient tool in the evaluation of these patients.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 649-652 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | American Journal of Cardiology |
| Volume | 102 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 15 2008 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Cite this
Cost-Efficiency of Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Chest Pain of Suspected Cardiac Origin and a Nondiagnostic Electrocardiogram. / Wyrick, Jared J.; Kalvaitis, Saul; McConnell, Kenneth (John); Rinkevich, Diana; Kaul, Sanjiv; Wei, Kevin.
In: American Journal of Cardiology, Vol. 102, No. 6, 15.09.2008, p. 649-652.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cost-Efficiency of Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Chest Pain of Suspected Cardiac Origin and a Nondiagnostic Electrocardiogram
AU - Wyrick, Jared J.
AU - Kalvaitis, Saul
AU - McConnell, Kenneth (John)
AU - Rinkevich, Diana
AU - Kaul, Sanjiv
AU - Wei, Kevin
PY - 2008/9/15
Y1 - 2008/9/15
N2 - Assessment of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with suspected cardiac chest pain and a nondiagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) is lengthy and costly. It was hypothesized that myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) can be cost-efficient in such patients by detecting those with chest pain that is noncardiac in nature. Accordingly, cost-efficiency was evaluated in 957 patients presenting to the ED with suspected cardiac chest pain, but no ST-segment elevation on the ECG, who underwent MCE. Economic outcome calculations were based on costs estimated from national average Medicare charges adjusted by a cost-charge ratio. Based on routine clinical criteria, 641 patients (67%) were admitted to the hospital, whereas 316 (33%) were discharged directly from the ED. The average cost per patient using routine evaluation was $5,000. Patients with normal MCE results (n = 523) had a very low primary event rate (death, acute myocardial infarction) of 0.6% within 24 hours after presentation, making it relatively safe to discharge patients directly from the ED with a normal MCE result. Hence, if MCE had been used for decision making, 523 patients (55%) would have been discharged directly from the ED and 434 (45%) would have been admitted to the hospital. Preventing unnecessary admissions and tests would have saved an average of $900 per patient, in addition to reducing their ED stay. In conclusion, by excluding cardiac causes in patients presenting to the ED with chest pain and a nondiagnostic ECG, MCE can prevent unnecessary admissions and downstream resource utilization, making it a cost-efficient tool in the evaluation of these patients.
AB - Assessment of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with suspected cardiac chest pain and a nondiagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) is lengthy and costly. It was hypothesized that myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) can be cost-efficient in such patients by detecting those with chest pain that is noncardiac in nature. Accordingly, cost-efficiency was evaluated in 957 patients presenting to the ED with suspected cardiac chest pain, but no ST-segment elevation on the ECG, who underwent MCE. Economic outcome calculations were based on costs estimated from national average Medicare charges adjusted by a cost-charge ratio. Based on routine clinical criteria, 641 patients (67%) were admitted to the hospital, whereas 316 (33%) were discharged directly from the ED. The average cost per patient using routine evaluation was $5,000. Patients with normal MCE results (n = 523) had a very low primary event rate (death, acute myocardial infarction) of 0.6% within 24 hours after presentation, making it relatively safe to discharge patients directly from the ED with a normal MCE result. Hence, if MCE had been used for decision making, 523 patients (55%) would have been discharged directly from the ED and 434 (45%) would have been admitted to the hospital. Preventing unnecessary admissions and tests would have saved an average of $900 per patient, in addition to reducing their ED stay. In conclusion, by excluding cardiac causes in patients presenting to the ED with chest pain and a nondiagnostic ECG, MCE can prevent unnecessary admissions and downstream resource utilization, making it a cost-efficient tool in the evaluation of these patients.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.amjcard.2008.05.008
DO - 10.1016/j.amjcard.2008.05.008
M3 - Article
VL - 102
SP - 649
EP - 652
JO - American Journal of Cardiology
JF - American Journal of Cardiology
SN - 0002-9149
IS - 6
ER -