Table 3.
Examination findings, initial ECG and management.
| Data are n (%) unless stated. N = 242 (125/117) unless stated. Different denominators due to missing data | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intervention n = 125 |
Control n = 117 |
Total n = 242 |
|||||
| Examination | |||||||
| Initial pulse at triage /bpm - mean (SD) | 85.3 (19.4) (n = 124) |
83.0 (15.2) (n = 116) |
84.2 (17.5) (n = 240) |
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| Initial systolic BP at triage /mmHg - mean (SD) | 139.0 (22.5) (n = 124) |
139.0 (20.5) (n = 116) |
139.0 (21.5) (n = 240) |
||||
| Initial diastolic BP at triage /mmHg - mean (SD) | 83.8 (12.7) (n = 124) |
84.1 (13.6) (n = 116) |
83.9 (13.1) (n = 240) |
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| First postural difference if present /mmHg - mean (SD) | 6.7 (7.6) (n = 7) |
0.3 (0.8) (n = 6) |
3.8 (6.3) (n = 13) |
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| Admission ECG | |||||||
| Rate /bpm - mean (SD) | 78.8 (18.8) | 77.5 (16.1) | 78.2 (17.5) | ||||
| QRS axis - median (IQR) | 79.0 (39.0–88.0) (n = 117) |
80.0 (42.0–90.0) (n = 107) |
79.5 (40.5–89.0) (n = 224) |
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| QTc int /ms - mean (SD) | 395.1 (86.7) (n = 125) |
401.5 (47.3) (n = 114) |
398.2 (70.6) (n = 239) |
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| Sinus rhythm | 123 | 98.4 | 117 | 100.0 | 240 | 99.2 | |
| PR > 200 ms | 7 | 5.6 | 4 | 3.4 | 11 | 4.5 | |
| Slow risk in the initial portion of the QRS | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Heart block? | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| QRS duration ≥ 120 ms | 2 (n = 124) | 1.6 | 3 (n = 116) | 2.6 | 5 (n = 240) | 2.1 | |
| Number of ventricular ectopics | 0 | 118 (n = 124) | 95.2 | 115 (n = 116) | 99.1 | 233 (n = 240) | 97.1 |
| 1 | 4 (n = 124) | 3.2 | 1 (n = 116) | 0.9 | 5 (n = 240) | 2.1 | |
| 2 | 2 (n = 124) | 1.6 | 0 (n = 116) | 0.0 | 2 (n = 240) | 0.8 | |
| ED clinician rating of likelihood of any underlying cardiac arrhythmia | 1 | 14 (n = 121) | 11.6 | 23 (n = 116) | 19.8 | 37 (n = 237) | 15.6 |
| 2 | 18 (n = 121) | 14.9 | 12 (n = 116) | 10.3 | 30 (n = 237) | 12.7 | |
| 3 | 15 (n = 121) | 12.4 | 18 (n = 116) | 15.5 | 33 (n = 237) | 13.9 | |
| 4 | 15 (n = 121) | 12.4 | 17 (n = 116) | 14.7 | 32 (n = 237) | 13.9 | |
| 5 | 19 (n = 121) | 15.7 | 13 (n = 116) | 11.2 | 32 (n = 237) | 13.9 | |
| 6 | 13 (n = 121) | 10.7 | 14 (n = 116) | 12.1 | 27 (n = 237) | 11.4 | |
| 7 | 14 (n = 121) | 11.6 | 6 (n = 116) | 5.2 | 20 (n = 237) | 8.4 | |
| 8 | 10 (n = 121) | 8.3 | 8 (n = 116) | 6.9 | 18 (n = 237) | 7.6 | |
| 9 | 3 (n = 121) | 2.5 | 4 (n = 116) | 3.4 | 7 (n = 237) | 3.0 | |
| 10 | 0 (n = 121) | 0.0 | 1 (n = 116) | 0.9 | 1 (n = 237) | 0.4 | |
| Management | |||||||
| Participant discharged from the ED/AMU | 117 | 93.6 | 114 | 97.4 | 231 | 95.5 | |
| Participant referred to outpatients | 15 (n = 116) | 12.9 | 15 (n = 114) | 13.2 | 30 (n = 230) | 13.0 | |
| If admitted then where? | |||||||
| Ward - Non monitored | 3 (n = 8) | 37.5 | 2 (n = 3) | 66.7 | 5 (n = 11) | 45.5 | |
| Ward - Monitored | 0 (n = 8) | 0.0 | 0 (n = 3) | 0.0 | 0 (n = 3) | 0.0 | |
| Coronary Care Unit | 2 (n = 8) | 25.0 | 1 (n = 3) | 33.3 | 3 (n = 11) | 27.3 | |
| Direct to cardiology ward | 3 (n = 8) | 37.5 | 0 (n = 3) | 0.0 | 3 (n = 11) | 27.3 | |
| Reason(s) for admission? | |||||||
| Palpitation/pre-syncope investigation | 8 (n = 8) | 100.0 | 2 (n = 3) | 66.7 | 10 (n = 11) | 90.9 | |
| Other | 0 (n = 8) | 0.0 | 1 (n = 3) | 33.3 | 1 (n = 11) | 9.1 | |