The New England journal of medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A clinical trial of a chest-pain observation unit for patients with unstable angina. Chest Pain Evaluation in the Emergency Room (CHEER) Investigators.
Nearly half of patients hospitalized with unstable angina eventually receive a non-cardiac-related diagnosis, yet 5 percent of patients with myocardial infarction are inappropriately discharged from the emergency department. We evaluated the safety, efficacy, and cost of admission to a chest-pain observation unit (CPU) located in the emergency department for such patients. ⋯ A CPU located in the emergency department can be a safe, effective, and cost-saving means of ensuring that patients with unstable angina who are considered to be at intermediate risk of cardiovascular events receive appropriate care.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Atovaquone compared with dapsone for the prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with HIV infection who cannot tolerate trimethoprim, sulfonamides, or both. Community Program for Clinical Research on AIDS and the AIDS Clinical Trials Group.
Although trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is the drug of choice for the prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, many patients cannot tolerate it and must switch to an alternative agent. ⋯ Among patients who cannot tolerate trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, atovaquone and dapsone are similarly effective for the prevention of P. carinii pneumonia. Our results support the continuation of dapsone prophylaxis among patients who are already receiving it. However, among those not receiving dapsone, atovaquone is better tolerated and may be the preferred choice for prophylaxis against P. carinii pneumonia.
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In order to elucidate the medical care of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the United States, we randomly sampled HIV-infected adults receiving medical care in the contiguous United States at a facility other than military, prison, or emergency department facility during the first two months of 1996. We interviewed 76 percent of 4042 patients selected from among the patients receiving care from 145 providers in 28 metropolitan areas and 51 providers in 25 rural areas. ⋯ In this national survey we found that most HIV-infected adults who were receiving medical care had advanced disease. The patient population was disproportionately male, black, and poor. Many Americans with diagnosed or undiagnosed HIV infection are not receiving medical care at least as often as every six months. The total cost of medical care for HIV-infected Americans accounts for less than 1 percent of all direct personal health expenditures in the United States.