Table 1.
Demographic characteristics of older ED patients with dyspnea (n=79). All data presented as n (%) unless otherwise noted.
| Patient characteristic | n (%) |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Age, years [mean (std dev)] | 73.1 (7.0) |
| Female | 35 (44.3) |
| Race | |
| White/Caucasian | 63 (79.8) |
| African American | 15 (19.0) |
| Other/unknown | 1 (1.3) |
| Emergency severity index (ESI) score | |
| 1 (most urgent) | 4 (5.1) |
| 2 (emergent) | 70 (88.6) |
| 3 (urgent) | 4 (5.1) |
| 4 (less urgent) | 0 (0.0) |
| 5 (non-urgent) | 0 (0.0) |
| Unknown | 1 (1.3) |
| ED Disposition | |
| Admit to floor | 61 (77.2) |
| Admit to intermediate or intensive care | 6 (7.6) |
| Discharge home | 10 (12.7) |
| ED observation unit | 2 (2.5) |
| Place of residence | |
| Home/apartment | 72 (91.1) |
| Assisted living | 4 (5.1) |
| Rehabilitation | 1 (1.3) |
| Skilled nursing facility/nursing home | 2 (2.5) |
| Criterion standard reviewer diagnosis1 | |
| Heart Failure (HF) | 31 (39.2) |
| Pneumonia | 10 (12.7) |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | 9 (11.4) |
| Atypical / Non-cardiac chest pain | 6 (7.6) |
| Arrhythmia | 6 (7.6) |
| Viral respiratory illness | 5 (6.3) |
| Acute coronary syndrome/cardiac chest pain | 4 (5.1) |
| Dyspnea not otherwise specified | 4 (5.1) |
| Anemia | 3 (3.8) |
| Pulmonary HTN | 3 (3.8) |
| Renal disease | 3 (3.8) |
| Pleural effusions | 2 (2.5) |
| Pericardial disease | 2 (2.5) |
| Other | 17 (21.3) |
| Co-diagnosis of pneumonia, COPD and HF | 8 (10.1) |
1
Not mutually exclusive, 105 diagnoses in 79 patients