Evaluation of the Impact of Lung Ultrasound on Mortality and Rehospitalization in Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department With Dyspnea (HOSPITALUS)

Evaluation of the Impact of Lung Ultrasound on Mortality and Rehospitalization in Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department With Dyspnea: a Prospective Observational Cohort

Dyspnea is a frequent reason for referral to emergency departments, leading to a 30-day mortality rate of up to 10% and a 3-month rehospitalization rate of over 30%.

Multiple etiologies, as well as poor performance of clinical examination and chest radiography, lead to a diagnostic error rate of nearly 30% at the end of emergency department care. These diagnostic errors lead to rehospitalization and an excess mortality rate of more than 50% compared to patients with a correct initial diagnosis, which is explained in particular by the use of inappropriate therapies.

Lung ultrasound is a rapid, non-irradiating, non-invasive, inexpensive, reproducible imaging test that can be used at the bedside. It has a better diagnostic performance than chest radiography, commonly performed in emergency departments.The immediate benefit of lung ultrasound for the most common diagnoses in emergency medicine has already been demonstrated.

From an organizational point of view, a few studies have shown a benefit of lung ultrasound in reducing the time spent in emergency departments and the number of additional examinations necessary for the final diagnosis. However, there is no data in the literature on the longer term impact of its use in the emergency department.

The primary objective is to evaluate the impact of performing lung ultrasound in terms of 3-month mortality and rehospitalization as part of the diagnostic process for patients admitted to the emergency department with dyspnea.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Dyspnea
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: phone call at 3 months

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 385

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Lyon, France, 69003
    • Hôpital Edouard-Herriot - Emergency Department

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

This study will focus on adult patients consulting for dyspnea in the emergency department of the Edouard-Herriot Hospital (HCL).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Admission to the emergency department with dyspnea defined by:

The functional sign of dyspnea experienced by the patient; Or a clinical sign of respiratory distress.

- Non-opposition of the patient or patient's family if the patient isn't able

Exclusion Criteria:

• Trauma-induced dyspnea;
• Patient being on palliative care;
• Patient with criteria for initial resuscitation with admission to a critical care unit;
• Pregnant women, women in labour or nursing mothers;
• Persons deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision;
• Persons under psychiatric care;
• Persons admitted to a health or social institution for purposes other than research;
• Persons of full age subject to a legal protection measure (guardianship, curatorship);

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
With Lung Ultrasonography; Patient who meet inclusions criteria, and which lung ultrasonography were performed during their medical care in Emergency Department	Other: phone call at 3 months; patients will be called at 3 months to know if they are alive and to know if they have been rehospitalized
Without Lung Ultrasonography; Patient who meet inclusions criteria, and which lung ultrasonography were not performed during their medical care in Emergency Department.	Other: phone call at 3 months; patients will be called at 3 months to know if they are alive and to know if they have been rehospitalized

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The primary objective is to evaluate the impact of performing lung ultrasound in terms of 3-month mortality as part of the diagnostic process for patients admitted to the emergency department with dyspnea.	The primary endpoint is the rate of mortality at 3 months.	at 3 months
The primary objective is to evaluate the impact of performing lung ultrasound in terms of 3-month rehospitalization as part of the diagnostic process for patients admitted to the emergency department with dyspnea.	the primary endpoint is the rate of rehospitalization at 3 months	at 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hospices Civils de Lyon
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: JULIA MORERE, MD, Hospices Civils de Lyon

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 16, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 28, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): November 28, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 15, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 15, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): March 28, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 6, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: emergency department; mortality; rehospitalization; Lung ultrasonography
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Disease Attributes; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Emergencies; Dyspnea
• Other Study ID Numbers: 69HCL23_0002; 2023-A00177-38 (Other Identifier: ANSM)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No