标题：A dangerously underrated entity? Non-specific complaints at emergency department presentation are associated with utilisation of less diagnostic resources
摘要：Background
Patients presenting with non-specific complaints (NSC), such as generalised weakness, or feeling unwell, constitute about 20% of emergency care consultations. In contrast to patients presenting with specific symptoms, these patients experience more hospitalisations, longer stays in hospital and even higher mortality. However, little is known about the actual resources spent on patients with NSC in the emergency department (ED).
Methods
We have conducted a retrospective analysis from January 1st, 2013 until December 31st, 2017 in a Swiss tertiary care ED to assess the impact of NSC on the utilisation of diagnostic resources in adult patients with highlyurgent or urgent medical complaints.
Results
We randomly selected 1500 medical consultations from our electronic health record database: The majority of patients (
n = 1310, 87.3%) presented with a specific complaint;
n = 190 (12.7%) with a NSC. Univariate analysis showed no significant difference in the utilisation of total diagnostic resources in the ED [specific complaints: 844 (577–1313) vs. NSC: 778 (551–1183) tax points,
p = 0.092, median (interquartile range)
