Cost and outcomes of assessing XXXX with @entity662 in an Australian @entity341 .

@entity1 @entity1187 @entity662 @entity713 @entity341 @entity1151 @entity65
OBJECTIVES: We sought to characterise the demographics, length of admission, final diagnoses, long-term outcome and costs associated with the population who presented to an Australian @entity341 ( @entity341 ) with symptoms of possible @entity1187 ( @entity1187 ). DESIGN, SETTING AND @entity1 : Prospectively collected data on @entity341 @entity1 presenting with suspected @entity1187 between November 2008 and February 2011 was used, including data on presentation and at 30 days after presentation. Information on @entity1 disposition, length of stay and costs incurred was extracted from hospital administration records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were mean and median cost and length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes were diagnosis of @entity1187 , other @entity65 or non- @entity65 within 30 days of presentation. RESULTS: An @entity1187 was diagnosed in 103 (11.1%) of the 926 @entity1 recruited. 193 @entity1 (20.8%) were diagnosed with other cardiovascular-related conditions and 622 @entity1 (67.2%) had non-cardiac-related @entity662 . @entity1187 events occurred in 0 and 11 (1.9%) of the low-risk and intermediate-risk groups, respectively. Ninety-two (28.0%) of the 329 high-risk @entity1 had an @entity1187 event. @entity1 with a proven @entity1187 , high-grade @entity713 , @entity1151 and other respiratory conditions had the longest length of stay. The mean cost was highest in the @entity1187 group ( 13  509; 95% CI,  11  794- 15  223) followed by other @entity65 ( 7283; 95% CI,  6152- 8415) and non- @entity65 ( 3331; 95% CI,  2976- 3685). CONCLUSIONS: Most @entity341 @entity1 with symptoms of possible @entity1187 do not have a cardiac cause for their presentation. The current guideline-based process of assessment is lengthy, costly and consumes significant resources. Investigation of strategies to shorten this process or reduce the need for objective cardiac testing in @entity1 at intermediate risk according to the National Heart Foundation and Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand guideline is required.
