Table 3.
Comparison between mode of transport and patient characteristics
| Patient characteristics | Mode of transport | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground (n = 413) | Air (n = 428) | P | |
| Median age (y), median (IQR) | 5.86 (1.22–13.46) | 3.91 (0.67–12.43) | 0.034 |
| Diagnosis, n (%) | 0.057 | ||
| Respiratory | 121 (29.3) | 131 (30.6) | |
| Neurologic | 113 (27.4) | 111 (25.9) | |
| Cardiovascular | 41 (9.9) | 58 (13.6) | |
| Sepsis | 33 (8.0) | 28 (6.5) | |
| Gastrointestinal | 21 (5.1) | 28 (6.5) | |
| Trauma | 19 (4.6) | 27 (6.3) | |
| Metabolic | 22 (5.3) | 22 (5.1) | |
| Other | 19 (4.6) | 8 (1.9) | |
| Hematology/oncology | 16 (3.9) | 5 (1.2) | |
| Renal | 8 (1.9) | 10 (2.3) | |
| Median PIM-2, median (IQR) | − 4.58 (− 4.83 to − 3.53) | − 4.55 (− 4.83 to − 3.17) | 0.007 |
| Median PRISM-3, median (IQR) | 2.00 (0.00–5.00) | 3.00 (0.00–7.00) | 0.014 |
| Median PRISM-3 POD, median (IQR) | 0.51 (0.30–1.08) | 0.63 (0.30–1.79) | 0.135 |
| Inotrope/vasopressor drip on admission, n (%) | 63 (15.3) | 96 (22.4) | 0.008 |
| Ventilated on admission, n (%) | 65 (15.7) | 109 (25.5) | < 0.001 |
| Transport characteristics | |||
| Helicopter (vs. ground), n (%) | 0 (0) | 428 (100) | – |
| Emergent transport (vs. urgent), n (%) | 174 (42.1) | 134 (31.3) | 0.001 |
| Physician present, n (%) | 82 (19.9) | 157 (36.7) | < 0.001 |
| Median mobilization time (h), median (IQR) | 0.99 (0.63–1.58) | 1.55 (1.17–2.23) | 0.005 |
| Median stabilization time (h), median (IQR) | 0.52 (0.37–0.75) | 0.80 (0.58–1.15) | < 0.001 |
| Median return time (h), median (IQR) | 0.50 (0.33–0.75) | 0.63 (0.42–1.00) | 0.268 |
| Median stabilization + return time (h), median (IQR) | 1.08 (0.83–1.53) | 1.50 (1.17–2.03) | < 0.001 |
| Median response time (h), median (IQR) | 1.65 (0.98–2.65) | 2.20 (1.72–3.03) | 0.456 |
| Outcomes | |||
| Mortality (within 48 h of hospital admission), n (%) | 5 (1.2) | 8 (1.9) | 0.439 |
| Mortality (during hospital admission), n (%) | 19 (4.6) | 35 (8.2) | 0.034 |
| Median hospital LOS (d), median (IQR) | 4.51 (1.76–10.83) | 5.40 (2.43–15.51) | 0.001 |
| Median ICU LOS (d), median (IQR) | 2.40 (1.24–5.78) | 2.97 (1.51–9.45) | 0.001 |
Due to some missing time interval data, time intervals are not additive. PIM-2 pediatric index of mortality-2, PRISM-3 pediatric risk of mortality-3, POD probability of death, LOS length of stay, ICU intensive care unit, IQR 25–75th interquartile range. “–” none