Mark Muscat
Researcher, Malta
Publications
-
Research Article
A Study of Routine Electrocardiogram Requests for Patients Admitted to Acute Medical Wards
Author(s): Mark Muscat*, Darren Borg Azzopardi and Daniela Cassar DeMarco
Background: Patients admitted to acute medical wards often undergo routine Electrocardiograms (ECGs), though not always with clear justification. While ACCF/AHA guidelines recommend ECGs for patients with hypertension or diabetes for cardiovascular risk assessment, there are no guidelines for ECG use in patients without cardiac risk factors. Aim: To evaluate the justification for ECGs in patients admitted to Acute medical wards, assessing the need for repeat 12-lead ECGs. Methods: A retrospective cohort study analysed a random sample of acute medical admissions over two months. Data from the first two days of admission included patient diagnosis, bed type, ECG frequency, presenting complaints, clinical findings, and relevant factors such as troponin tests or electrolyte imbalances. Results: .. Read More»