TABLE 2.
Study population – potential covariates
| Characteristic | n (%), n=209 | 95% CI* |
|---|---|---|
| Systolic blood pressure (<90 mmHg) | 190 (90.9) | 87.0–94.8 |
| ASA score† | ||
| 1–2 | 65 (31) | 24.8–37.4 |
| 3 | 93 (44) | 37.7–51.3 |
| 4–5 | 51 (24) | 18.5–30.3 |
| Rectal examination | ||
| Bright red blood per rectum | 18 (9) | 4.8–12.6 |
| Melena | 98 (47) | 40.5–54.2 |
| Occult blood-positive | 59 (28) | 22.3–34.7 |
| Occult blood-negative | 18 (9) | 4.8–12.6 |
| Not documented | 16 (8) | 4.0–11.3 |
| Nasogastric aspirate yield | ||
| Bright red blood | 45 (22) | 15.7–27.4 |
| Coffee grounds | 52 (25) | 19.0–30.8 |
| Bile | 10 (5) | 1.5–7.1 |
| Tube not placed or not documented | 102 (49) | 42.0–55.6 |
*
95% CIs are reported for the percentage of patients for each characteristic;
†
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification of a patient’s severity and acuity of disease