NU627 Week 6 Peer Responses

Hi,

I need to respond to 2 of my peers, which I have listed below. For each peer I need you to use different resources to support your response. Each peer must have 1-2 references that are scholarly journal articles from 2021-current; the sources must be reputable, must be accessible, must have a hyperlink to access them, and full-access. I will attach my case study for this week and the instructions will be below:

Peer Response

Instructions:

Please respond to two peers post regarding their differential diagnosis list and/or plan.

• What did you find interesting about their response?
• How did their differential diagnosis list or plan compare to yours?

Responses need to address all components of the question, demonstrate critical thinking and analysis, and include peer reviewed journal evidence to support the students position.

Please be sure to validate your opinions and ideas with citations and references in APA format.

Please review the rubric to ensure that your response meets the criteria.

Here are the 2 peers I must respond to:

Brian Stormes (Peer #1):

Pertinent Positives

• 68-year-old male presenting with acute-onset, constant dizziness beginning approximately 10 hours prior, first noted upon getting out of bed to use the bathroom
• History of type 2 diabetes mellitus managed with metformin
• Polyuria and polydipsia beginning the same morning as dizziness
• Elevated blood pressure (160/97 mmHg) on presentation
• Presence of a harsh crescendodecrescendo systolic murmur best heard at the right upper sternal border with radiation to the carotids
• Mild frontal headache (2/10)
• BMI 28.43 (overweight)
• Family history significant for hypertension, diabetes, and dementia

Pertinent Negatives

• Denies chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, syncope, or focal neurological deficits
• No vertigo, room spinning, gait instability, or lightheadedness
• No nausea, vomiting, or visual disturbances
• Neurological exam intact with normal strength, sensation, reflexes, coordination, and negative Romberg
• No fever, infection symptoms, or recent trauma
• Oxygen saturation within acceptable range (95%)
• No orthostatic symptoms reported

Missing Information

• Orthostatic vital signs
• Hemoglobin A1c and fasting blood glucose
• Serum electrolytes and renal function
• Urinalysis to assess for glucosuria or dehydration
• Echocardiogram to further evaluate systolic murmur
• Lipid profile and cardiovascular risk assessment
• Medication adherence and recent dietary intake
• Home blood pressure and glucose monitoring data

Differential Diagnoses

1. Uncontrolled hypertension supported by elevated BP and headache, which may contribute to dizziness
2. Aortic stenosis suggested by systolic murmur radiating to carotids and exertional or positional dizziness
3. Hyperglycemia-related dehydration polyuria, polydipsia, and dizziness consistent with osmotic diuresis

Plan of Care

Diagnostics

• Obtain orthostatic blood pressures
• Basic metabolic panel, fasting glucose, HbA1c
• Urinalysis
• Lipid panel
• Transthoracic echocardiogram to assess for valvular disease
• ECG to evaluate for left ventricular hypertrophy or arrhythmia (Carey et al., 2018)

Therapeutics

• Initiate first-line antihypertensive therapy (ACE inhibitor or ARB) per ACC/AHA guidelines
• Continue metformin; adjust diabetic regimen pending lab results
• Encourage adequate oral hydration
• Lifestyle modification targeting weight reduction and sodium intake (ElSayed et al., 2023; Carey et al., 2018)

Educational

• Educate patient on blood pressure and glucose self-monitoring
• Review signs and symptoms requiring urgent evaluation (syncope, chest pain, neurological deficits)
• Discuss DASH diet principles, physical activity, and diabetes control
• Reinforce medication adherence and routine follow-up

Consultation / Referrals

• Cardiology referral for murmur evaluation and echocardiography
• Consider endocrinology if glycemic control remains suboptimal
• Nutrition referral for dietary counseling

References

Carey, R. M., & Whelton, P. K. (2018). Prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: Synopsis of the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Hypertension Guideline. Annals of Internal Medicine, 168(5), 351358. https://doi.org/10.7326/m17-3203

ElSayed, N. A., Aleppo, G., Bannuru, R. R., Beverly, E. A., Bruemmer, D., Collins, B. S., Cusi, K., Darville, A., Das, S. R., Ekhlaspour, L., Fleming, T. K., Gaglia, J. L., Galindo, R. J., Gibbons, C. H., Giurini, J. M., Hassanein, M., Hilliard, M. E., Johnson, E. L., Khunti, K., … Gabbay, R. A. (2023). Introduction and methodology: standards of care in diabetes2024. Diabetes Care, 47(Supplement_1). https://doi.org/10.2337/dc24-sint

Yujin Eom (Peer #2):

Pertinent Positives

The patient is a 68 year old male presenting with acute onset dizziness that began approximately 10 hours prior to evaluation. The dizziness started when rising from bed during the night and remained constant. He reports a mild frontal headache rated 2/10 and new onset polyuria and polydipsia beginning the same morning. His past medical history is significant for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Objective findings include elevated blood pressure at 160/97 and a harsh crescendodecrescendo systolic murmur best heard at the right upper sternal border with radiation to the carotid arteries. Advanced age, overweight status with central obesity, and cardiovascular risk factors increase concern for a cardiac etiology contributing to dizziness and fall risk (Gauer & Semidey, 2019; ACC/AHA, 2020).

Pertinent Negatives

The patient denies vertigo, syncope, near-syncope, gait instability, or lightheadedness. He reports no chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea, or visual changes. Neurological examination is normal, including intact cranial nerves, strength, sensation, coordination, and a negative Romberg test. Oxygen saturation is within normal limits, and there are no focal neurological deficits, making an acute neurologic event less likely (Gauer & Semidey, 2019).

Missing Information

Important missing data include orthostatic vital signs, recent glycemic control measurements such as HbA1c, electrolyte levels, renal function tests, and hydration status. Prior cardiac workup, including echocardiography, would be essential given the auscultated murmur. Additional information regarding fall history and home safety assessment would further support evaluation of fall risk in this older adult (CDC, 2017).

Differential Diagnoses

The priority diagnosis is suspected aortic stenosis, supported by the characteristic systolic murmur radiating to the carotids and the patients dizziness, which may represent presyncope. Aortic stenosis is a common cause of exertional dizziness and syncope in older adults and significantly increases fall risk (ACC/AHA, 2020). Uncontrolled hypertension is another consideration, as elevated blood pressure can contribute to headache and dizziness in the geriatric population (James et al., 2014). Hyperglycemia with osmotic diuresis is also possible given the acute onset of polyuria and polydipsia, which may result in volume depletion and dizziness. Orthostatic hypotension remains a differential diagnosis due to symptom onset upon rising, though confirmation requires orthostatic measurements (Gauer & Semidey, 2019).

Diagnostics

A transthoracic echocardiogram is indicated to confirm the presence and severity of aortic stenosis. Additional testing should include an electrocardiogram, orthostatic vital signs, basic metabolic panel, HbA1c, and urinalysis to evaluate metabolic and volume status (ACC/AHA, 2020).

Therapeutics

Blood pressure management should be approached cautiously until valvular disease is evaluated, as aggressive reduction may worsen symptoms in patients with aortic stenosis. The patient should continue metformin therapy, with adjustments guided by laboratory findings. Adequate hydration should be encouraged, and fall precautions should be implemented to reduce injury risk (CDC, 2017).

Education

The patient should be educated on fall prevention strategies, including slow positional changes and use of adequate nighttime lighting. He should be instructed to seek immediate care if symptoms such as syncope, chest pain, or worsening dizziness occur. Education regarding the significance of the cardiac murmur and the need for further evaluation is essential (ACC/AHA, 2020).

Consultation and Referrals

Referral to cardiology is warranted for further evaluation and management of suspected aortic stenosis. Additional referrals may be considered based on diagnostic results and fall risk assessment.

References

American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association. (2020). 2020 ACC/AHA guideline for the management of patients with valvular heart disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 77(4), e25e197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.018

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Falls are serious and costly.

Gauer, R. L., & Semidey, M. J. (2019). Dizziness: Approach to evaluation and management. American Family Physician, 100(12), 756764.

James, P. A., et al. (2014). Evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults. JAMA, 311(5), 507520.