title: Non-critical care telemetry and in-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Telemetry is increasingly used to monitor hospitalized patients with lower intensities of care, but its effect on in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) outcomes in non-critical care patients is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Telemetry utilization in non-critical care patients does not affect IHCA outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort analysis of all patients in non-critical care beds that experienced a cardiac arrest in a university-affiliated teaching hospital during calendar years 2011 and 2012 was performed. Data were collected as part of AHA Get With the Guidelines protocol. The independent variable and exposure studied were whether patients were on telemetry or not. Telemetry was monitored from a central location. The primary endpoint was return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and the secondary end point was survival to discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 123 IHCA patients, the mean age was 75±15 and 74 (61%) were male. 80 (65%) patients were on telemetry. Baseline demographics were similar except for age; patients on telemetry were younger with mean age of 70.3 vs. 76.8 in the non-telemetry group (p=0.024). 72 patients (60%) achieved ROSC and 46 (37%) achieved survival to discharge. By univariate analysis, there was no difference between patients that had been on telemetry vs. no telemetry in ROSC (OR=1.13, p=0.76) or survival to discharge (OR=1.18, p=0.67). Similar findings were obtained with multivariate analysis for ROSC (0.91, p=0.85) and survival to discharge (OR=0.92, p=0.87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of cardiac telemetry in non-critical care beds, when monitored remotely in a central location, is not associated with improved IHCA outcomes.
authors: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Palm Beach Regional Campus, Atlantis, FL. Electronic address: Rami.mohammad@gmail.com.
authors: Rami
authors: R
authors: Mohammad
authors: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Palm Beach Regional Campus, Atlantis, FL.
authors: Sachil
authors: S
authors: Shah
authors: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Palm Beach Regional Campus, Atlantis, FL.
authors: Elie
authors: E
authors: Donath
authors: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Palm Beach Regional Campus, Atlantis, FL.
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Hartmann
authors: JFK Medical Center, Atlantis, FL.
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Rasmussen
authors: JFK Medical Center, Atlantis, FL.
authors: Shaun
authors: S
authors: Isaac
authors: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Palm Beach Regional Campus, Atlantis, FL; Charles E. Schmidt School of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL.
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Borzak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003422:Critical Care; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013686:Telemetry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: General clinical cardiology; Monitoring