Ambulance Use, Health Outcomes, and Costs for Emergency Department Visits for Primary Diagnosis of Syncope in Canada.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Syncope is a common presentation to the emergency department (ED), yet little is known regarding patient mode of arrival.

Methods

We identified patients ≥20 years old who presented to the ED with a primary diagnosis of syncope in Alberta and Ontario, Canada, between 2010 and 2016. Outcomes included 30-day in-hospital mortality, ED revisits, and rehospitalizations according to mode of arrival and discharge status. The estimated cost for ambulance use was calculated based on the provincial rates (Alberta CAD$385 and Ontario $240).

Results

A total of 271,601 syncope presentations to the ED were identified and 60.7% arrived by ambulance. A total of 76.3% (n = 125,793) of ambulance users and 87.0% of self-presenters (n = 92,845) were discharged from the ED. Rega

SUBMITTER: Gupta AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7499390 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature