Table 1.
Clinical data
| Period 1 | Period 2 | P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of total ED visits per year | 97,500 | 99,000 | |
| Number of patients with constipation referred to ED | 269 (0.27%) | 286 (0.29%) | NS |
| Average age ± SD (years) | 64.5 ± 21.8 | 62.8 ± 22.7 | NS |
| Age | |||
| 20–49 years | 62 (23.0%) | 78 (27.2%) | NS |
| 50–64 years | 42 (15.6%) | 51 (17.8%) | NS |
| 65–93 years | 165 (61.3%) | 157 (54.9%) | NS |
| Sex | |||
| Female | 142 (52.8%) | 142 (49.6%) | NS |
| Male | 127 (47.2%) | 144 (50.4%) | NS |
| Shifts | |||
| Morning (07:00–14:59) | 118 (43.8%) | 127 (44.4%) | NS |
| Evening (15:00–22:59) | 118 (43.9%) | 133 (46.5%) | NS |
| Night (23:00–06:59) | 33 (12.3%) | 26 (9.1% ) | NS |
| Length of stay at ED: average ± SD (hours) | 9.1 ± 5.7 | 5.5 ± 4.2 | <0.0001 |
Abbreviations: ED, Emergency Department, NS, not significant; SD, standard deviation.