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van Dam CS, Peters MJL, Hoogendijk EO, Nanayakkara PWB, Muller M, Trappenburg MC. Older patients with nonspecific complaints at the Emergency Department are at risk of adverse health outcomes. Eur J Intern Med 2023; 112:86-92. [PMID: 37002150 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2023.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Older adults at the Emergency Department (ED) often present with nonspecific complaints (NSC) such as 'weakness' or 'feeling unwell'. Health care workers may underestimate illness in patients with NSC, leading to adverse health outcomes. This study compares characteristics and outcomes of NSC-patients versus specific complaints (SC) patients. METHODS Cohort study in patients ≥ 70 years in two Dutch EDs. NSC was classified according to the BANC-study-framework based on the medical history in the ED letter, before additional diagnostics took place. A second classification was performed at the end of the ED visit/hospital admission. Primary outcomes were functional decline, institutionalization, and mortality at 30 days. RESULTS 26% (n = 228) of a total of 888 included patients presented with NSC. Compared with SC-patients, NSC-patients were older, more frail, and more frequently female. NSC-patients had a higher risk of functional decline and institutionalization at 30 days (adjusted ORs 1.84, 95% CI 1.27 - 2.72, and 2.46, 95% CI 1.51-4.00, respectively), but not mortality (adjusted OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.58 - 2.73). Reclassification to a specific complaint after the ED visit or hospital admission occurred in 54% of NSC-patients. CONCLUSION NSC occur especially in older, frail female patients and are associated with an increased risk of functional decline and institutionalization, even after adjustment for worse baseline status. In half of the patients, a specific complaint revealed during ED or hospital stay. Physicians at the ED should consider NSC as a red flag needing appropriate observation and evaluation of underlying serious conditions and needs of this vulnerable patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S van Dam
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences research institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - M J L Peters
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences research institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine and Vascular Medicine, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, UMC Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - E O Hoogendijk
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of General Practice, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - P W B Nanayakkara
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Section General Internal Medicine, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - M Muller
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences research institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - M C Trappenburg
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences research institute, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Amstelland Hospital, Amstelveen, the Netherlands
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Kemp K, Mertanen R, Niemi-Murola L, Lehtonen L, Castrén M. A common definition should be used in future studies of NSC. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 2021; 29:33. [PMID: 33593405 PMCID: PMC7885594 DOI: 10.1186/s13049-021-00851-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsi Kemp
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Services, Helsinki University Hospital, and Emergency Medicine, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Reija Mertanen
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Services, Helsinki University Hospital, and Emergency Medicine, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Leila Niemi-Murola
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lasse Lehtonen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maaret Castrén
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Services, Helsinki University Hospital, and Emergency Medicine, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
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