Table 2.
Multivariable Analysis of Factors Associated with Selected Outcomes.*
| Factor | Odds Ratio (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Diversion | Transport to a Hospital | Hospital Admission | |
| Age | 1.01 (1.006–1.014) | 1.01 (1.008–1.013) | 1.02 (1.016–1.026) |
| Medical problem | |||
| Syncope | 0.82 (0.63–1.06) | 0.84 (0.73–0.97) | 1.04 (0.77–1.42) |
| Respiratory symptoms | 1.14 (0.82–1.58) | 0.96 (0.80–1.15) | 2.13 (1.48–3.06) |
| Cardiac symptoms | 2.75 (2.07–3.66) | 2.41 (1.99–2.91) | 1.95 (1.37–2.77) |
| Abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting | 0.99 (0.72–1.35) | 1.35 (1.14–1.60) | 1.13 (0.79–1.62) |
| Seizures | 2.07 (1.48–2.89) | 1.90 (1.53–2.35) | 1.57 (1.04–2.37) |
| Possible stroke | 2.52 (1.61–3.96) | 2.26 (1.64–3.10) | 3.36 (1.88–6.03) |
| Type of aircraft | |||
| Wide-body | 1.02 (0.80–1.30) | 0.68 (0.58–0.79) | 1.56 (1.14–2.13) |
| Jumbo | 1.23 (0.93–1.65) | 0.73 (0.59–0.91) | 1.62 (1.03–2.55) |
| AED used | 3.02 (1.89–4.83) | 3.89 (2.46–6.15) | 1.79 (0.96–3.32) |
| Volunteer provider of medical assistance | |||
| Physician | 2.32 (1.76–3.04) | 1.53 (1.35–1.75) | 1.33 (1.01–1.75) |
| Nurse | 1.86 (1.36–2.53) | 1.47 (1.26–1.71) | 1.09 (0.80–1.48) |
| EMS provider | 2.82 (1.87–4.24) | 1.83 (1.45–2.31) | 1.52 (0.96–2.39) |
| Other | 2.48 (1.53–4.03) | 1.43 (1.08–1.90) | 0.79 (0.43–1.44) |
| Patient was airline employee | 1.87 (1.09–3.24) | 1.97 (1.34–2.91) | — |
| Airline no. | |||
| 1 | 0.78 (0.60–1.02) | 1.28 (1.12–1.46) | 0.32 (0.24–0.42) |
| 2 | 2.08 (1.66–2.61) | 1.10 (0.96–1.26) | 0.84 (0.64–1.09) |
| 3 | 0.49 (0.32–0.74) | 0.93 (0.79–1.09) | 0.83 (0.61–1.13) |
| 4 | 2.80 (2.05–3.83) | NA | NA |
| Flight distance | |||
| 2500–4999 km | 1.26 (1.05–1.51) | — | — |
| 5000–7499 km | 1.23 (0.91–1.67) | — | — |
| 7500–9999 km | 1.09 (0.76–1.57) | — | — |
| ≥10,000 km | 0.25 (0.13–0.50) | — | — |
Age was evaluated as a continuous variable. An odds ratio of 1.01 for aircraft diversion indicates that for a 1-year increase in age, the odds of diversion increase by 1%, with other factors held constant. For each categorical variable, the odds ratio identifies the increase or decrease in the likelihood of the selected outcome on the basis of a reference factor. The reference factors were “other” as the medical problem, narrow-body aircraft, automated external defibrillator (AED) not used, no medical provider assisting, patient was not an airline employee, Airline 5, and flight distance of less than 2500 km. Factors that were not significant in the univariable analysis and were therefore excluded from the multivariable analysis are indicated by a dash. EMS denotes emergency medical services, and NA not available.