Effectiveness of echocardiographic imaging by nurses to identify left ventricular systolic dysfunction in high-risk patients.
Recognizing left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction is critical. The investigators sought to evaluate whether nurses could be trained to use a hand-carried ultrasound (HCU) device to screen for LV systolic dysfunction in high-risk patients. Sixty-three patients from an outpatient diabetes clinic underwent brief echocardiographic examinations by nurses using HCU devices. Of the 63 patients enrolled in the study, 3 (4.7%) had LV systolic dysfunction. The nurses correctly identified these 3 patients as having LV systolic dysfunction (sensitivity 100%, negative predictive value 100%). The identification of occult LV systolic dysfunction in diabetic patients may allow the initiation of therapies known to improve prognosis.
Kirkpatrick
James N
JN
University of Chicago, Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Belka
Vicki
V
Furlong
Kathy
K
Balasia
Beth
B
Jacobs
Larry D
LD
Corcoran
Matt
M
Anderson
Allen S
AS
Pastoret
Anne
A
Spencer
Kirk T
KT
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000451:nursing*