Table 3 Factors associated with preventable adverse events in patients discharged from the emergency department.
| Characteristic | Preventable AE | No preventable AE | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | 17 | 382 | |
| Median age, years (IQR) | 60 (49–72) | 48 (35–67) | 0.06 |
| Gender (male) | 8 (47%) | 193 (51%) | 0.80 |
| CTAS | 0.60 | ||
| Non‐urgent | 0 (0%) | 10 (3%) | |
| Less urgent | 2 (12%) | 49 (13%) | |
| Urgent | 10 (59%) | 239 (63%) | |
| Emergent | 4 (24%) | 77 (20%) | |
| Resuscitation | 1 (6%) | 7 (2%) | |
| ED care area* | 0.29 | ||
| Cubicles | 2 (12%) | 106 (28%) | |
| Observation | 7 (41%) | 140 (37%) | |
| Resuscitation | 8 (48%) | 136 (36%) | |
| Median ED length of stay (hours:minutes) (IQR) | 4:44 (3:16–6:44) | 4:09 (2:51–6:06) | 0.36 |
| Acute diagnosis (top five) | |||
| Chest pain | 5 (29%) | 69 (18%) | |
| Bone and joint disorders | 1 (6%) | 54 (14%) | |
| Genitourinary (infection/stones/other) | 1 (6%) | 27 (7%) | |
| Atrial fibrillation | 1 (6%) | 17 (4%) | |
| Abdominal pain (cause unspecified) | 1 (6%) | 16 (4%) | |
| Number of chronic illnesses | 0.82 | ||
| 0 | 5 (29%) | 146 (38%) | |
| 1 | 8 (47%) | 121 (32%) | |
| 2 | 3 (18%) | 70 (18%) | |
| 3 | 1 (6%) | 32 (8%) | |
| ⩾4 | 0 (0%) | 13 (3%) |
AE, adverse event; CTAS, Canadian Triage and Acuity Score.
*The location within the emergency department from where the patient was discharged. Patients in the cubicles, observation and resuscitation areas are cared for in no bed, a bed and a monitored bed, respectively.