Indication‐specific event rates among hospitalized patients undergoing continuous cardiac monitoring

BACKGROUND: Cardiac telemetry monitoring is widely utilized for a variety of clinical indications, yet indication‐specific event rates for monitored patients are seldomly reported. HYPOTHESIS: High‐risk hospitalized patients for clinical deterioration can be identified using standardized telemetry monitoring indications. METHODS: Adjudicated data from events triggering emergency response team (ERT) activation were systematically characterized at the Cleveland Clinic from among standardized telemetry indications ordered over a 13‐month period. RESULTS: Among 72 199 orders created for telemetry monitored patients, ERT activation occurred in 2677 patients (3.7%), of which 1326 (49.5%) were cardiac‐related. Patients with deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (DVT/PE) demonstrated the highest overall event rate (ERT: n = 41 of 593 pts [6.9%]; 25/41 cardiac related [61%]). Cardiac‐related events were proportionally highest among patients with coronary disease awaiting revascularization (ERT: n = 19 of 847 patients [2.2%]; 13/19 cardiac‐related [68.4%]). Arrhythmia‐specific events were highest among patients who underwent cardiac surgery (n = 78 of 193 cardiac‐related ERT [40.4%]), and patients with known or suspected tachyarrhythmias (n = 318 of 788 cardiac‐related ERT [40.4%]). Bubble plot analysis identified patients hospitalized with DVT/PE, drug or alcohol exposures, and acute coronary syndrome as among the highest overall and cardiac‐related events while identifying patients with respiratory disorder monitoring indications as carrying the highest noncardiac event rate. CONCLUSION: High‐risk hospitalized patients can be identified by telemetry indication and prioritized according to concerns for cardiac, arrhythmia‐specific and noncardiac clinical deterioration. This is particularly useful when monitored bed resources are constrained.