Lung and cardiac ultrasound for respiratory distress in the elderly: study protocol of the LUC REED stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Dyspnea is a common chief complaint leading to emergency department (ED) visits. Multiple conditions may cause or be associated with dyspnoea, including bacterial pneumonia, acute heart failure (AHF), exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma and pulmonary embolism. Each of these diagnoses has a specific treatment recommended by international guidelines. Inappropriate treatment in the ED is more frequent among elderly patients and is independently associated with in-hospital mortality. Point-of-care ultrasound is immediately available at the bedside. Lung and cardiac ultrasound (LuCUS) offers excellent diagnostic accuracy for bacterial pneumonia, AHF and COPD exacerbations, even in elderly patients. The primary objective of the LUC REED tri

SUBMITTER: Balen F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12359426 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature