Research Article

Risk Factors for Prolonged Length of Stay of Older Patients in an Academic Emergency Department: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Table 1

Categories for presenting complaints.

CategoryType of complaints

Traumatic injuriesPain after trauma, wounds, burns, complaints after falling, osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Small interventionsPlacing a urinary catheter for a newly diagnosed urinary retention, nose bleeds, abscesses.

Neurological complaintsDizziness, epileptic insult, headache, radiating pain back/leg, neurological paralysis, slurred speech.

Respiratory complaintsDyspnoea, haemoptysis, cough, suspected pneumonia / pulmonary embolism, pneumosepsis.

Internal medicineAllergic reaction, anaemia, rash, hypertension, hyper/hypoglycaemia, complaints while on chemotherapy, fever, painful joints without trauma, fatigue, skin infections, pain in eyes or ears, intoxication, septic arthritis.

Abdominal complaintsVomiting, abdominal ache, diarrhoea, hematemesis, haematuria, icterus, melena, nausea, constipation, rectal blood loss, vaginal blood loss, pain in testes or vulva, suspected kidney stones, pain in groin or side.

Painful or swollen legPainful leg or ankle without trauma, suspected deep venous thromboembolism, painful hip without trauma, diabetic foot.

Altered consciousnessCollapse, confused, lowered level of consciousness.

Chest complaintsChest pain.

Complaints due to medical treatmentAll problems following surgery (bleeding, fever, pain, infection), catheter related problems, problems with plaster, casts and bandages, problems with drains and other medical devices.

ResuscitationIn need of resuscitation when arriving at the ED.

ED: emergency department