Telecardiology Assessment of Patients Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery Dataset
Description
Objective: Healthcare providers perform approximately 300 million major non-cardiac surgeries worldwide yearly and individualized risk assessments can significantly reduce perioperative complications. Telemedicine improves access to specialists, but its effectiveness in these evaluations is not fully understood. This study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics and management strategies of patients referred for telecardiology consultations specifically for preoperative cardiovascular risk assessment. Methods: A retrospective observational study at a Telemedicine Center in São Paulo, Brazil, reference for 380 primary health care facilities was performed from May 2021 to March 2024. We included adults over 18 years old. Thirty-five cardiologists conducted real-time teleconsultations alongside general practitioners, reviewing patient data, surgical type, clinical details, complementary exams, and consultation outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results: A total of 3,476 patients (63% female, mean age 52.1 years) were evaluated. Among them, 3,307 (95.1%) were asymptomatic, 1,241 (35.70%) had hypertension, and 1,312 (48.4%) led sedentary lifestyles. The most frequently performed surgical procedure was intra-abdominal surgery, performed in 1,665 (47.9%) cases. Risk stratification categorized 3,161 (90.93%) patients as low risk, 90 (2.59%) as intermediate risk, and 36 (1.03%) as high risk. Ancillary testing was requested in 504 (14.50%) cases, with laboratory evaluations conducted in 304 (8.74%) and electrocardiograms in 234 (6.73%). Telecardiology interventions encompassed antihypertensive adjustments for 192 (5.52%) patients, statin prescriptions for 88 (2.53%), and guidance for postoperative monitoring in 98 (2.81%). Conclusion: This exploratory study demonstrates that most cardiologists successfully perform perioperative risk stratification via telemedicine during the initial consultation, targeting a predominantly low-risk population.