Table 2.
Therapeutics and disposition of febrile patients.
| Variables, n (%) | Total (n = 562) | Older adults (n = 155) | Younger adults (n = 407) |
p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parenteral management in the ED | ||||
| IV hydration | 520 (92.5) | 145 (93.5) | 375 (92.1) | 0.570 |
| Antipyretics | 345 (61.4) | 93 (60.0) | 252 (61.9) | 0.677 |
| Narcotic analgesics | 93 (16.5) | 30 (19.4) | 63 (15.5) | 0.269 |
| Antiemetics | 62 (11.0) | 18 (11.6) | 44 (10.8) | 0.786 |
| Antimicrobials | 70 (12.5) | 38 (24.5) | 32 (7.9) | <0.001 |
| Resources utilized in the ED | ||||
| Laboratory test | 502 (89.3) | 149 (96.1) | 353 (86.7) | 0.001 |
| Chest X-ray | 151 (97.4) | 375 (92.1) | 0.022 | |
| COVID-19 PCR | 325 (57.8) | 102 (65.8) | 223 (54.8) | 0.018 |
| Brain CT | 91 (16.2) | 30 (19.4) | 61 (15.0) | 0.209 |
| Chest CT | 197 (35.1) | 87 (56.1) | 110 (27.0) | <0.001 |
| Abdominal CT | 81 (14.4) | 48 (31.0) | 33 (8.1) | <0.001 |
| ED disposition | ||||
| Discharge | 491 (87.4) | 103 (66.5) | 388 (95.3) | <0.001 |
| Admission to general ward | 53 (9.4) | 40 (25.8) | 13 (3.2) | |
| Admission to ICU | 15 (2.7) | 11 (7.1) | 4 (1.0) | |
| Transfer | 3 (0.5) | 1 (0.6) | 2 (0.5) | |
| ED length of stay, hrs | 2.5 (2.0–4.0) | 3.5 (2.0–7.0) | 2.0 (2.0–3.0) | <0.001 |
Values are presented as number (%) or the median (IQR). IV; intravenous, PCR; polymerase chain reaction.