How frequently are physiological variables recorded in the emergency room in patients with obstructive pulmonary diseases and pneumonia?

Abstract

Aim:

To assess how frequently measurements of relevant physiological variables are made in patients presenting acutely to hospital with obstructive pulmonary diseases (OPD) and pneumonia.

Methods:

Patients admitted to three hospitals in western Norway with OPD (asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) and/or pneumonia over a 75-day period were included in the study. The assessing physicians in the emergency room (ER) were asked to measure and record physiological variables according to normal practice.

Results:

There were 338 patients (54% women), with an average age of 64 (SD 19) years. The initial diagnoses were OPD (176), pneumonia (103) and a combination of OPD and pneumonia (59). Heart rate and body temperature were recorded in almost all patients, whereas the recording of all other variables varied from 45% to 91%. Most variables were recorded more frequently in OPD than in pneumonia.

Conclusions:

The importance of recording respiratory rate, cutaneous oxygen saturation, and peak expiratory flow should be stressed in the training of physicians.

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