Short-term prognosis analysis of critically ill patients entering the emergency department by different ways based on propensity score matching

Abstract

The aim was to explore the short-term prognosis of critically ill patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) by 2 different means of transportation (ambulance and nonambulance), aiming to identify critically ill patients and ensure patient safety. Critically ill patients admitted to the ED from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, were included and divided into 2 groups: those with ambulance transportation and those with nonambulance transportation. The 2 groups were matched via the propensity score matching method, and the short-term prognoses of the 2 groups when the patients left the ED were compared. A total of 1150 patients were enrolled, including 713 (62.0%) male and 437 (38.0%) female patients with a median age of 70 (58, 83) years. Patients aged 70 years and older who were transported by ambulance had longer stays (P = .023), experienced a greater number of resuscitations within 24 hours (P = .007) and were more likely to experience in-hospital death or intensive care unit admission (P = .007) than those with nonambulance transportation. Compared with patients with nonambulance transportation, patients with ambulance transportation who were admitted to the ED or who died within 24 hours after discharge from the hospital had more rescue visits and longer stays in the emergency room, and a greater number of these patients were transferred to the ward unit or the hospital. More attention should be given to the management of patients with ambulance transportation to reduce the risk of adverse nursing outcomes.