Outcomes for Emergency Department Final Diagnosis of Non-specific Complaint compared to Dyspnoea and Pain.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To compare outcomes in Emergency Department (ED) final diagnoses of (non-specific complaint) NSC, dyspnoea and pain. METHODS: We studied all ED final diagnoses of NSC, dyspnoea, and pain over 6 years (2015-2020). Multivariable logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: There were 49,965 admissions. 30-day in-hospital mortality was significantly lower for pain, 3.0% (95%CI 2.4%, 3.6%), compared to NSC, 4.2% (95%CI 3.8%, 4.7%), and dyspnoea, 4.6% (95%CI 4.2%, 5.0%). NSC did not predict 30-day in-hospital mortality- univariate OR 1.05 (95%CI 0.93, 1.19), multivariable OR 1.07 (95%CI 0.93, 1.23). Comorbidity and Acute Illness Severity Scores demonstrated a curvilinear relationship with 30-day in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: An ED final diagnosis of NSC did not predict 30-day in-hospital mortality.