|
| Variable | | Prolonged ED-LOS | |
| All patients | No | Yes | p-value |
| (n=2000) | (n=1495) | (n=505) |
|
| Patient characteristics | | | | |
| Age at ED visit, mean ± SD | 78 ± 6.2 | 78 ± 6.4 | 78 ± 5.9 | 0.631 |
| Sex, n (%) | | | | 0.792 |
| Men | 1048 (52) | 786 (53) | 262 (52) | |
| Women | 952 (48) | 709 (47) | 243 (48) | |
| Presence of cognitive impairment, n (%) | 346 (17) | 256 (17) | 90 (18) | 0.722 |
| Polypharmacy, n (%) | 1310 (66) | 945 (63) | 365 (72) | <0.0012 |
| CACI, mean ± SD | 5.6 ± 2.1 | 5.5 ± 2.1 | 5.6 ± 2.1 | 0.461 |
|
| Organizational and logistical factors | | | | |
| Day of presentation, n (%) | | | | 0.0362 |
| Monday through Friday | 1536 (77) | 1131 (76) | 405 (80) | |
| Saturday and Sunday | 464 (23) | 364 (24) | 100 (20) | |
| Time of presentation, n (%) | | | | 0.0222 |
| Night (00.00 - 6.59) | 138 (6.9) | 108 (7.2) | 30 (5.9) | |
| Morning (7.00 - 11.59) | 406 (20) | 306 (20) | 100 (20) | |
| Afternoon (12.00 - 17.59) | 980 (49) | 705 (47) | 275 (54) | |
| Evening (18.00 - 23.59) | 476 (24) | 376 (25) | 100 (20) | |
| Number of consultations per patient, mean ± SD | 0.47 ± 0.74 | 0.34 ± 0.63 | 0.84 ± 0.90 | <0.0011 |
| Number of diagnostic interventions per patient, mean ± SD | 2.2 ± 1.4 | 2.0 ± 1.3 | 2.9 ± 1.3 | <0.0011 |
| Number of therapeutic interventions per patient, mean ± SD | 0.096 ± 0.33 | 0.10 ± 0.34 | 0.07 ± 0.29 | 0.0711 |
| Mode of presentation, n (%) | | | | <0.0012 |
| General practitioner | 760 (38) | 538 (36) | 222 (44) | |
| Specialist of our institution | 561 (28) | 425 (28) | 136 (27) | |
| Emergency call | 447 (22) | 333 (22) | 114 (23) | |
| Self-referral | 157 (7.9) | 134 (9.0) | 23 (4.6) | |
| Another hospital | 75 (3.8) | 65 (4.4) | 10 (2.0) | |
| Method of transport, n (%) | | | | 0.0212 |
| Self-transport | 1171 (59) | 862 (58) | 309 (61) | |
| Ambulance | 782 (39) | 590 (39) | 192 (38) | |
| MMT/trauma helicopter | 33 (1.7) | 32 (2.1) | 1 (0.20) | |
| Other | 14 (0.70) | 11 (0.74) | 3 (0.59) | |
| Seniority of physician, n (%) | | | | 0.0152 |
| Resident | 1678 (84) | 1237 (83) | 441 (87) | |
| Attending specialist | 322 (16) | 258 (17) | 64 (13) | |
| Assigned urgency, n (%) | | | | <0.0012 |
| U0 | 101 (5.1) | 91 (6.1) | 10 (2.0) | |
| U1 - U2 | 876 (44) | 625 (42) | 251 (50) | |
| U3 - U4 | 751 (38) | 537 (36) | 214 (42) | |
| U5 or missing | 272 (14) | 242 (16) | 30 (5.9) | |
| Destination after ED visit, n (%) | | | | <0.0012 |
| Admitted to hospital | 1251 (63) | 860 (58) | 391 (77) | |
| Discharged | 735 (37) | 624 (42) | 111 (22) | |
| Deceased at the ED | 14 (0.70) | 11 (0.74) | 3 (0.59) | |
|
| Clinical factors | | | | |
| Presenting complaint, n (%) | | | | <0.0012 |
| Internal medicine | 1032 (52) | 720 (48) | 312 (62) | |
| Trauma | 329 (16) | 270 (18) | 59 (12) | |
| Neurological | 285 (14) | 228 (15) | 57 (11) | |
| Altered consciousness | 119 (6.0) | 79 (5.3) | 40 (7.9) | |
| Sequelae of medical procedure | 112 (5.6) | 98 (6.6) | 14 (2.8) | |
| Other | 64 (3.2) | 49 (3.3) | 15 (3.0) | |
| High impact trauma | 34 (1.7) | 29 (1.9) | 5 (0.99) | |
| Resuscitation | 25 (1.3) | 22 (1.5) | 3 (0.59) | |
| Diagnosis at ED visit, n (%) | | | | <0.0012 |
| Internal medicine | 642 (32) | 441 (30) | 201 (40) | |
| Neurology | 339 (17) | 275 (18) | 64 (13) | |
| Surgical, other than trauma | 325 (16) | 237 (16) | 88 (17) | |
| Cardiology or pulmonology | 308 (15) | 207 (14) | 101 (20) | |
| Trauma | 237 (12) | 197 (13) | 40 (7.9) | |
| Other | 106 (5.3) | 99 (6.6) | 7 (1.4) | |
| Resuscitation | 26 (1.3) | 23 (1.5) | 3 (0.59) | |
| Multitrauma | 17 (0.85) | 16 (1.1) | 1 (0.2) | |
| Treating specialty, n (%) | | | | <0.0012 |
| Emergency physician | 729 (36) | 569 (38) | 160 (32) | |
| Internal medicine | 462 (23) | 295 (20) | 167 (33) | |
| Neurology | 216 (11) | 173 (12) | 43 (8.5) | |
| Surgery | 193 (9.7) | 134 (9.0) | 59 (12) | |
| Other | 173 (8.7) | 153 (10) | 20 (4.0) | |
| Pulmonology | 123 (6.2) | 77 (5.2) | 46 (9.1) | |
| Geriatrics | 104 (5.2) | 94 (6.3) | 10 (2.0) | |
|
