Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of patients according to the clinical presentation at the emergency department
| Total, n = 348 | Explicit n = 245 | Vague n = 103 | OR | 95% CI | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | |||||
| Age, median year (IQR) | 70.6 (50–90) | 71.1 (52–90) | 1.00 | 0.98–1.02 | 0.72 |
| Gender female (%) | 98 (40) | 32 (31) | 0.68 | 0.41–1.10 | 0.12 |
| Smoke (%) | 75 (30.6) | 34 (33) | 1.12 | 0.68–1.83 | 0.66 |
| Alcohol (%) | 47 (19.2) | 28 (27,2) | 1.57 | 0.92–2.69 | 0.09 |
| Underlying diseases | |||||
| Hypertension (%) | 121 (49.4) | 59 (57.3) | 1.37 | 0.86–2.19 | 0.18 |
| CHF (%) | 47 (19.2) | 19 (18.4) | 0.95 | 0.53–1.72 | 0.87 |
| Myocardial infarction (%) | 49 (20) | 24 (23.3) | 1.22 | 0.69–2.11 | 0.49 |
| Atrial fibrillation (%) | 77 (31.4) | 35 (34) | 1.12 | 0.69–1.83 | 0.64 |
| PAOD (%) | 33 (13.5) | 24 (23.3) | 1.95 | 0.09–3.51 | 0.025 |
| DVT (%) | 27 (11) | 10 (9.7) | 1.95 | 1.09–3.51 | 0.72 |
| Diabetes mellitus (%) | 76 (31) | 29 (28.2) | 0.87 | 0.53–1.45 | 0.59 |
| COPD (%) | 34 (13.9) | 18 (17.5) | 1.31 | 0.70–2.45 | 0.39 |
| Asthma (%) | 17 (6.9) | 1 (1) | 0.13 | 0.02–1.00 | 0.05 |
| CKD (%) | 36 (14.7) | 19 (18.5) | 1.31 | 0.71–2.42 | 0.38 |
| Stroke (%) | 19 (7.8) | 14 (13.6) | 1.87 | 0.89–3.89 | 0.09 |
| Neurocognitive disease (%) | 18 (7.3) | 10 (9.7) | 1.35 | 0.60–3-05 | 0.46 |
| Cirrhosis (%) | 18 (7.3) | 6 (5.8) | 0.78 | 0.30–2.03 | 0.61 |
| Immunosuppressive drugs (%) | 43 (17.6) | 12 (11.6) | 0.62 | 0.31–1.23 | 0.17 |
| Haematological malignancy (%) | 37 (15.1) | 7 (6.8) | 0.41 | 0.18–0.95 | 0.03 |
| Solid cancer (%) | 56 (22.9) | 25 (24.3) | 1.08 | 0.63–1.86 | 0.78 |
| Infection site | |||||
| Pneumonia (%) | 117 (47.8) | 52 (50.5) | 1.12 | 0.70–1.77 | 0.64 |
| Urinary tract infection (%) | 53 (21.6) | 14 (13.6) | 0.57 | 0.30–1.08 | 0.08 |
| SST infection (%) | 16 (6.5) | 4 (3.9) | 0.58 | 0.19–1.77 | 0.34 |
| GI source of infection (%) | 14 (5.7) | 6 (5.8) | 1.02 | 0.38–2.73 | 0.97 |
| Biliary source of infection (%) | 7 (2.9) | 10 (9.7) | 3.66 | 1.35–9.89 | 0.01 |
| Bacteremia (%) | 91 (37.1) | 26 (25.2) | 0.57 | 0.34–0.96 | 0.03 |
ED, Emergency Department; OR, Odds Ratio; CI, Confidence Interval; CHF, Chronic Heart Failure; PAOD, Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease; DVT, Deep Venous Thrombosis; COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; CKD, Chronic Kidney Disease; SST, Skin and Soft Tissues; GI, Gastrointestinal; IQR, Inter Quartile Range