Improved Utilization of Serial Testing Without Increased Admissions after Implementation of High-Sensitivity Troponin I: a Controlled Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND

Guidelines recommend high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) for diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Use of hs-cTn is increasing across the U.S., but questions remain regarding clinical and operational impact. Prior studies have had methodologic limitations and yielded conflicting results.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of transitioning from conventional cardiac troponin (cTn) to hs-cTn on test and resource utilization, operational efficiency, and patient safety.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study in two New York City hospitals during the months before and after transition from conventional cTn to hs-cTn at Hospital 1. Hospital 2 served as a control.

PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive emergency department (ED) patients with at least one cTn test resulted.

INTERVENTION

Multifaceted hs-cTn intervention bundle, including a 0/2-h diagnostic algorithm for non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, an educational bundle, enhancements to the electronic medical record, and nursing interventions to facilitate timed sample collection.

MAIN MEASURES

Primary outcomes included serial cTn test utilization, probability of hospital admission, ED length of stay (LOS), and among discharged patients, probability of ED revisit within 72 h resulting in hospital admission. Multivariable regression models adjusted for age, sex, temporal trends, and interhospital differences.

KEY RESULTS

The intervention was associated with increased use of serial cTn testing (adjusted risk difference: 48 percentage points, 95% CI: 45-50, P < 0.001) and ED LOS (adjusted geometric mean difference: 50 min, 95% CI: 50-51, P < 0.001). There was no significant association between the intervention and probability of admission (adjusted relative risk [aRR]: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.89-1.1, P = 0.81) or probability of ED revisit within 72 h resulting in admission (aRR: 1.1, 95% CI: 0.44-2.9, P = 0.81).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of a hs-cTn intervention bundle was associated with an improvement in serial cTn testing, a neutral effect on probability of hospital admission, and a modest increase in ED LOS.