Initial assessment in emergency departments by chief complaint and respiratory rate.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding heterogeneity of the respiratory rate (RR) as a risk stratification marker across chief complaints is important to reduce misinterpretation of the risk posed by outcome events and to build accurate risk stratification tools. This study was conducted to investigate the associations between RR and clinical outcomes according to the five most frequent chief complaints in an emergency department (ED): fever, shortness of breath, altered mental status, chest pain, and abdominal pain.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study examined ED data of all adult patients who visited the ED of a tertiary medical center during April 2018-September 2019. The primary exposure was RR at the ED visit. Outcome measures were hospitalization and mechanical ventilation use.

SUBMITTER: Soeno S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8245737 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature