TY - JOUR
T1 - Characteristics and admission patterns of patients presenting with syncope to U.S. emergency departments, 1992-2000
AU - Sun, Benjamin C.
AU - Emond, Jennifer A.
AU - Camargo, Carlos A.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by an Emergency Medicine Foundation Center of Excellence Grant (CAC) and the Richard C. Wuerz Scholarship for Emergency Medicine Research (BCS).
PY - 2004/10
Y1 - 2004/10
N2 - To describe the characteristics and admission patterns of patients with syncope presenting to U.S. emergency departments (EDs).The ED portion of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1992-2000, was analyzed. Nationally representative weighted estimates for incidence and admission rates were estimated and stratified by demographic variables. Presence of cardiovascular diagnoses on ED discharge was noted.Of the 865 million ED visits during the nine-year study period, an estimated 6.7 million (0.77%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.69% to 0.85%) were related to syncope. Higher incidences of ED visits for syncope were found in elder, female, and non-Hispanic patients compared with their reference groups. The overall admission rate was 32% (95% CI = 28% to 36%). Older, male, and white patients were admitted more frequently than their counterparts. Of patients older than 80 years of age, 58% (95% CI = 49% to 67%) were admitted. Associated cardiovascular International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), codes for ischemic, structural, and arrhythmic heart disease were noted in 10% (95% CI = 8% to 13%) of patients, and 66% (95% CI = 56% to 76%) of these patients were admitted.Syncope is a frequent reason for ED visits and admissions. Elders and patients with associated cardiovascular diagnoses are frequently discharged, and admission practices appear to deviate from consensus panel guidelines.
AB - To describe the characteristics and admission patterns of patients with syncope presenting to U.S. emergency departments (EDs).The ED portion of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1992-2000, was analyzed. Nationally representative weighted estimates for incidence and admission rates were estimated and stratified by demographic variables. Presence of cardiovascular diagnoses on ED discharge was noted.Of the 865 million ED visits during the nine-year study period, an estimated 6.7 million (0.77%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.69% to 0.85%) were related to syncope. Higher incidences of ED visits for syncope were found in elder, female, and non-Hispanic patients compared with their reference groups. The overall admission rate was 32% (95% CI = 28% to 36%). Older, male, and white patients were admitted more frequently than their counterparts. Of patients older than 80 years of age, 58% (95% CI = 49% to 67%) were admitted. Associated cardiovascular International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), codes for ischemic, structural, and arrhythmic heart disease were noted in 10% (95% CI = 8% to 13%) of patients, and 66% (95% CI = 56% to 76%) of these patients were admitted.Syncope is a frequent reason for ED visits and admissions. Elders and patients with associated cardiovascular diagnoses are frequently discharged, and admission practices appear to deviate from consensus panel guidelines.
KW - National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.
KW - fainting
KW - practice variation
KW - syncope
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U2 - 10.1197/j.aem.2004.05.032
DO - 10.1197/j.aem.2004.05.032
M3 - Article
C2 - 15466144
AN - SCOPUS:4544273909
SN - 1069-6563
VL - 11
SP - 1029
EP - 1034
JO - Academic Emergency Medicine
JF - Academic Emergency Medicine
IS - 10
ER -