Skip to main content
. 2008 Jul 25;25(8):486–491. doi: 10.1136/emj.2007.052142

Table 1. Baseline characteristics of study patients with abdominal pain at the emergency department.

Characteristics US (n = 392) No US (n = 391)
Mean (SD) n (%) Mean (SD) n (%)
Age 47 (20) 48 (19)
Sex
    Male 160 (40.8) 171 (43.7)
    Female 232 (59.2) 220 (56.3)
Length 172 (9) 172 (10)
Weight 73 (16) 73 (16)
Body mass index 24.8 (4.5) 24.8 (4.3)
Abdominal-related co-morbidity 76 (19.4) 78 (19.9)
Co-morbidity related to heart or diabetes 66 (16.8) 74 (18.9)
History of abdominal malignancy 6 (1.5) 12 (3.1)
History of other malignancy 11 (2.8) 14 (3.6)
Other co-morbidity 132 (33.7) 123 (31.5)
Admission for abdominal pain within1 year 124 (32.0) 137 (35.3)
Referral for admission 92 (24.4) 126 (32.9)
Duration of pain
    0–8 h 44 (14.8) 43 (14.4)
    8–24 h 99 (33.2) 97 (32.4)
    >24 h 147 (49.3) 151 (50.5)
    Cannot answer 8 (2.7) 8 (2.7)
Actual VAS (of pain) 4.3 (2.8) 4.4 (2.6)
Maximal recall VAS (of pain) 7.6 (2.6) 7.6 (1.8)
Temperature 37.0 (0.8) 37.0 (0.7)
Affected general condition 90 (23.3) 74 (19.1)
Tenderness 338 (86.4) 347 (89.2)
Rigidity 51 (13.1) 49 (12.6)
Palpable mass 23 (5.9) 29 (7.5)

US, ultrasound; VAS, visual analogue scale (scale 0–10 where 0 represents no pain at all and 10 represents unbearable pain).