Table 2.
Patients with an EMS call requiring ambulance transport within 10 days of first EMS contact.
| Variable | Primarily discharged at the scene (n= 93) | Primarily transported to hospital (n= 40) | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | n=113 | 56 (17.4) | 49.6 (SD 18.7) | 0.058 |
| Male | n=113 | 48 (51.6%) | 16 (40.0%) | 0.219 |
| Days from first EMS call | n=113 | 2 (1-4) | 3 (2-5) | 0.068 |
| Days from symptom onset to new EMS call | 9 (7-11) | 8 (5-11) | 0.171 | |
| Medical history | n=113 | |||
| Pulmonary disease | 16 (17.2%) | 5 (12.5%) | 0.672 | |
| Hypertension | 24 (25.8%) | 11 (27.5%) | 1 | |
| Hypercholesterolemia | 20 (21.5%) | 4 (10.0%) | 0.181 | |
| Diabetes | 17 (18.3%) | 4 (10.0%) | 0.346 | |
| Cardiac disease | 6 (6.5%) | 3 (7.5%) | 1 | |
| Dispatch code | n=113 | |||
| Dyspnea | 41 (44.1%) | 23 (57.5%) | 0.218 | |
| Malaise | 34 (36.6%) | 4 (10.0%) | 0.004 | |
| Chest pain | 4 (4.3%) | 1 (2.5%) | 1 | |
| Abdominal pain | 2 (2.2%) | 3 (7.5%) | 0.160 | |
| High priority used | 14 (15.1%) | 9 (22.5%) | 0.429 | |
| Abnormal vital life functions | ||||
| Respiratory rate ≤8 or ≥25 per minute | n=122 | 18 (20.7%) | 8 (22.9%) | 0.984 |
| SpO2 ≤91% | n=130 | 36 (38.7%) | 7 (18.9%) | 0.050 |
| Systolic BP <91 mmHg | n=117 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | n/a |
| Pulse rate ≤40 or ≥131 beats per minute | n=126 | 2 (2.2%) | 2 (5.9%) | 0.294 |
| Glasgow Coma Score <9 | n=124 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | n/a |
| Tympanic temperature ≤35 or ≥ 39.1 °C | n=129 | 17 (18.3%) | 6 (15.0%) | 0.804 |
| Hypoglycemia (blood glucose < 4.0 mmol/l) | n=75 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | n/a |
| National Early Warning Score (NEWS) | ||||
| 0-2 | 31 (33.3%) | 17 (42.5%) | 0.416 | |
| 3-4 | 21 (22.6%) | 6 (15.0%) | 0,446 | |
| 5-6 | 13 (14.0%) | 10 (25.0%) | 0.197 | |
| >7 | 28 (30.1%) | 7 (17.5%) | 0,194 | |
| Prehospital interventions | n=133 | |||
| Supplemental oxygen | 28 (30.1%) | 5 (12.5%) | 0.053 | |
| Inhaled medication | 1 (1.1%) | 0 (0%) | 1 | |
| Intravenous medication | 1 (1.1%) | 1 (2.5%) | 0.513 | |
| EMS phycisian consulted | 7 (7.5%) | 6 (15.0%) | 0.311 | |
| EMS phycisian on-scene | 0 (0%) | 1 (2.5%) | 0.663 | |
| Transport code | n=133 | |||
| Malaise | 44 (47.3%) | 16 (40.0%) | 0.557 | |
| Dyspnea | 38 (40.9%) | 17 (42.5%) | 1 | |
| Chest pain | 3 (3.2%) | 1 (2.5%) | 1 | |
| Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea | 2 (2.2%) | 1 (2.5%) | 1 | |
| High priority used | 6 (6.2%) | 2 (5.0%) | 1 | |
Data are presented as mean (standard deviation), median (interquartile range), or n (%) where applicable
EMS=emergency medical services
National Early Warning score (NEWS) is highest total score given recorded during EMS call. Unmeasured vital functions are calculated as "0" by system