TABLE 3.
Characteristics of emergency department (ED) course categorized by admission status
| Characteristic | Admitted (n=91) | Discharged (n=604) | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Received inhaled β2-agonists in first hour of arrival | 61 (67.0) | 374 (61.9) | 0.476 |
| Treatments*, median (IQR) | 2 (0–3) | 1 (0–2) | 0.021 |
| Received inhaled β2-agonists during ED stay | 82 (90.1) | 511 (84.6) | 0.336 |
| Treatments*, median (IQR) | 7 (4–11) | 3 (1–4) | <0.001 |
| Received any systemic corticosteroid treatment | 86 (94.5) | 468 (77.5) | <0.001 |
| Received inhaled anticholinergics in first hour of arrival | 54 (59.3) | 340 (56.2) | 0.523 |
| Treatments*, median (IQR) | 1 (0–2) | 1 (0–2) | 0.916 |
| Received inhaled anticholinergics during ED stay | 80 (87.9) | 461 (76.3) | 0.451 |
| Treatments*, median (IQR) | 4 (2–6) | 2 (1–3) | <0.001 |
| MgSO4 medication in the ED | 20 (22) | 12 (2) | <0.001 |
Data presented as n (%) unless indicated otherwise.
*
Each nebulizer treatment was counted as equivalent to six ‘puffs’ from a metered-dose inhaler. β Beta; IQR interquartile range; MgSO4 Magnesium sulphate (intravenous)