May 15, 2021 — American Journal of Cardiology
Limited data suggests ultrasound enhancing agent (UEA) use is associated with changes in clinical management and lower mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We conducted a retrospective observational study to determine if contrast echocardiography (vs non-contrast echocardiography) is associated with differences in length of stay (LOS) and subsequent resource utilization in the ICU setting.
The Premier Healthcare Database (Charlotte, NC) was analyzed to identify patients receiving Definity vs. no use of contrast during the initial rest transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) in an ICU setting. The primary outcomes of interest were subsequent TTE and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during the index hospitalization, and ICU LOS. Propensity scoring was used to statistically model treatment selection to minimize selection bias.
A total of 1,538,864 patients from 773 hospitals were identified as undergoing resting TTE in the ICU with use of DEFINITY in 51,141 (3.3%) patients and no contrast agent use in 1,487,723 (96.7%) patients. After adjusting for patient, clinical, and hospital characteristics, patients in the Definity cohort were less likely to undergo a subsequent TTE or TEE as compared to those in the no contrast cohort (odds ratio = 0.704 for TTE, odds ratio = 0.841 for TEE; p < 0.0001 for both). Adjusted mean ICU LOS for the Definity cohort was shorter than that of the no contrast cohort (4.59 vs 4.15 days, p < 0.0001).
In conclusion, Definity-enhanced echocardiography in the ICU setting (in comparison with non-contrast TTE) is associated with lower rates of subsequent TTE and TEE during the index hospitalization, and shorter ICU LOS.
Authors: Michael L. Main, MDa; Julia Weleski Fu, PhDb; Jake Gundrum, MSb; Nancy Allen LaPointe, PharmDb,c; Linda D. Gillam, MDd; Sharon L. Mulvagh, MDe
aSaint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO; bPremier Applied Sciences, Premier, Inc., Charlotte, NC; cDepartment of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC; dDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Morristown Medical Center/Atlantic Health System, Morristown, NJ; eDepartment of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Read full text at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.03.039
