INTRODUCTION: Early warning scores are designed for monitoring hospitalized patients and enable a timely response to deviating vital signs. The aim of this study was to examine whether 7-day mortality, associated with an initial early warning score, differs between age groups. Our hypothesis was that elderly patients are at greater risk of dying compared to a younger patient with a similar early warning score. METHODS: This observational cohort study included adult emergency department patients from five hospitals in Denmark over three consecutive months in 2015. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between patients' initial early warning scores category (0, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7+) and 7-day mortality in different age groups (16-59 years, 60-79 years, 80+ years). Mortality rates in each early warning scores category are compared between the youngest patients (16-59 years, reference group) and the two older age groups (60-79 years and 80+ years). RESULTS: A total of 19 123 emergency patients were included. The senior age groups (60-79 years and 80+ years) both displayed significantly higher 7-day mortality, in all early warning score categories, when compared to the youngest patients (16-59 years). The mortality difference between the youngest (16-59 years) and oldest age group (80+ years) remained significant in all early warning scores categories after adjusting for comorbidity. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that the oldest emergency department patients (80+ years) have a higher 7-day mortality compared to young patients (16-59 years) with a similar initial early warning score.
INTRODUCTION: Early warning scores are designed for monitoring hospitalized patients and enable a timely response to deviating vital signs. The aim of this study was to examine whether 7-day mortality, associated with an initial early warning score, differs between age groups. Our hypothesis was that elderly patients are at greater risk of dying compared to a younger patient with a similar early warning score. METHODS: This observational cohort study included adult emergency department patients from five hospitals in Denmark over three consecutive months in 2015. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between patients' initial early warning scores category (0, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7+) and 7-day mortality in different age groups (16-59 years, 60-79 years, 80+ years). Mortality rates in each early warning scores category are compared between the youngest patients (16-59 years, reference group) and the two older age groups (60-79 years and 80+ years). RESULTS: A total of 19 123 emergency patients were included. The senior age groups (60-79 years and 80+ years) both displayed significantly higher 7-day mortality, in all early warning score categories, when compared to the youngest patients (16-59 years). The mortality difference between the youngest (16-59 years) and oldest age group (80+ years) remained significant in all early warning scores categories after adjusting for comorbidity. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that the oldest emergency department patients (80+ years) have a higher 7-day mortality compared to young patients (16-59 years) with a similar initial early warning score.
Authors: Francisco Martín-Rodríguez; Ancor Sanz-García; Laura Melero Guijarro; Guillermo J Ortega; Marta Gómez-Escolar Pérez; Miguel A Castro Villamor; Julio C Santos Pastor; Juan F Delgado Benito; Raúl López-Izquierdo Journal: J Adv Nurs Date: 2021-09-14 Impact factor: 3.057
Authors: Maj Juhl Skov; Jacob Dynesen; Marie K Jessen; Janet Yde Liesanth; Julie Mackenhauer; Hans Kirkegaard Journal: Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med Date: 2020-04-10 Impact factor: 2.953
Authors: Thomas Gilbert; Quentin Cordier; Stéphanie Polazzi; Marc Bonnefoy; Eilìs Keeble; Andrew Street; Simon Conroy; Antoine Duclos Journal: Age Ageing Date: 2022-01-06 Impact factor: 10.668