Table 1.
Baseline characteristics
| Variables | Result (n=2168) |
| Gender, n (%) | |
| Male | 972 (44.8) |
| Female | 1196 (55.2) |
| Age (years), median (IQR) | 74 (56–84) |
| Triage scale, n (%) | |
| Category 3 | 1777 (82.0) |
| Category 4/5 | 391 (18.0) |
| Arrival time, n (%) | |
| 0700 hours to 1900 hours | 1528 (70.5) |
| 1900 hours to 0700 hours | 640 (29.5) |
| Arrival day of week, n (%) | |
| Monday | 356 (16.4) |
| Tuesday | 294 (13.6) |
| Wednesday | 327 (15.1) |
| Thursday | 300 (13.8) |
| Friday | 308 (14.2) |
| Saturday | 257 (11.9) |
| Sunday | 326 (15.0) |
| Mode of arrival, n (%) | |
| Private/public transport | 906 (41.8) |
| State ambulance* | 1262 (58.2) |
| Study ED, n (%) | |
| A | 723 (33.4) |
| B | 193 (8.9) |
| C | 301 (13.9) |
| D | 530 (24.5) |
| E | 239 (11.0) |
| F | 182 (8.4) |
| Patient disposition, n (%) | |
| Admitted | 1567 (72.3) |
| Discharged | 545 (25.1) |
| Other† | 56 (2.6) |
| Test order episode, median (IQR) | 3 (2–4) |
| Overall tests ordered, median (IQR) | 7 (5–9) |
| Test result, n (%) | |
| Positive | 626 (28.9) |
| Negative | 1542 (71.1) |
*Fifteen patients arriving by either wheelchair, correctional services vehicle, helicopter rescue service or walked-in were combined with ‘State ambulance’.
†Transferred to another hospital or left ED at own risk.
ED, emergency department.