Table 3 Details of potential PC cases (n = 9) among EMS patients (outpatients triaged of lower urgency visiting during regular physicians’ hours)
Attribute | Measure(s) | Value(s) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Age | Mean (SD) Median (Range) | 49.33 (24.51) 53.0 (19–77) | Four patients were > 65 years of age |
Sex | n | ||
Male | 4 | ||
Female | 5 | ||
Migration and travel | n | ||
Migrant first generation | 1 | Has lived in Germany for > 40 years | |
Tourist | 1 | Born in Germany, but lives abroad | |
Education | n | ||
Low | 2 | ||
Intermediate | 5 | ||
High | 2 | ||
MTS category | n | ||
4 | 8 | None had abnormal respiratory rate or a fever | |
5 | 1 | ||
First-time symptoms | n | 3 | |
Symptom onset | n | ||
Same day | 4 | Presenting symptoms (multiple indications allowed) were cough n = 2, dyspnea n = 7, thoracic pain n = 1, fatigue = 1, dizziness n = 1 | |
Longer | 5 | ||
Symptom-associated distress | Mean (SD) Median (Range) | 8.33 (1.32) 8.5 (5.5–10.0) | Symptom severity (as component of distress) was rated as 10 by n = 2 and 9 by n = 3 on a 0–10 scale |
ED Diagnoses | case no | ||
1 | R05 | Cough | |
2 | J06.9 | RTI | |
3 | J20.9 R09.1 | Acute bronchitis Pleuritis | |
4 | M31.3 no code given | Wegener’s Granulomatosis Gastroenteritis | |
5 | E86 | Dehydration | |
6 | R06.0 | Dyspnea | |
7 | R06.0 | Dyspnea | |
8 | R11 | Nausea and vomiting | |
9 | no code given | Psychogenic dyspnea | |
Chronic pulmonary condition | n | 6 | Other notable chronic conditions: HIV n = 1 Lung cancer n = 1 Wegener’s granulomatosis (incl. kidney disease with peritoneal dialysis) n = 1 Implanted defibrillator after resuscitation due to ventricular fibrillation n = 1 |
Multimorbidity | n | 5 | |
Attached to GP | n | 9 | Six reported to have been a patient there for five years or longer, all reported to be either satisfied or very satisfied (5-point likert scale) with their GP |
Other ED visit(s) in past six months | n | 4 | Four patients reported an inpatient stay, three of these also had an ED visit |
PHQ4 score | Mean (SD) Median (Range) | 4.67 (3.94) 4.00 (0–11) | Two cases with score ≥ 9 |
Consultation motive categories | n | None reported in “quality” and “convenience” categories | |
Distress | 6 | ||
Access | 1 |