TY - JOUR
T1 - Altered Mental Status in Danish Emergency Department Patients
T2 - A Cohort Study of Aetiology and Mortality
AU - Mose, Cathrine Præst
AU - Ovesen, Stig Holm
AU - Lisby, Marianne
AU - Sørensen, Søren Flink
AU - Hansen, Line
AU - Kirkegaard, Hans
PY - 2023/4
Y1 - 2023/4
N2 - Objective: Altered Mental Status (AMS) is a common presentation of patients in emergency departments, and it is associated with a high mortality rate. This study aimed to examine the aetiologies and outcomes in emergency department patients with AMS. Methods: This was a single-centre retrospective cohort study. All patients (age ≥18 years) presenting to the emergency department at Aarhus University Hospital with the chief complaint of AMS from July 2016 to June 2017 was included. Primary end points were aetiology and 30-day mortality. Patients were stratified by age group (18-59 years/+60 years) and hospital admission (yes/no) for further analysis. Results: A total of 554 patients were included. The most common cause of AMS was unspecific R-diagnosis (22.2%). Among younger adults (18–59 years), intoxication was the most common aetiology, whereas infection was the most common cause in older patients (≥60 years). The total 30-day mortality rate was 10.8%. The odds of dying within 30 days after admission were significantly higher for patients with system/organ dysfunction compared to the rest of the study population (OR: 6.2, 95% CI: 3.0 to 12.6; p<0.001). Conclusion: Non-neurological disorders appear dominant at all ages. Intoxication was primarily seen among younger adults (1859 years), while infection was a more common cause among the elderly (>60 years). AMS is associated with a high 30-day mortality rate. Patients with system/organ dysfunction had significantly higher odds of dying within 30 days compared to the rest of the study population.
AB - Objective: Altered Mental Status (AMS) is a common presentation of patients in emergency departments, and it is associated with a high mortality rate. This study aimed to examine the aetiologies and outcomes in emergency department patients with AMS. Methods: This was a single-centre retrospective cohort study. All patients (age ≥18 years) presenting to the emergency department at Aarhus University Hospital with the chief complaint of AMS from July 2016 to June 2017 was included. Primary end points were aetiology and 30-day mortality. Patients were stratified by age group (18-59 years/+60 years) and hospital admission (yes/no) for further analysis. Results: A total of 554 patients were included. The most common cause of AMS was unspecific R-diagnosis (22.2%). Among younger adults (18–59 years), intoxication was the most common aetiology, whereas infection was the most common cause in older patients (≥60 years). The total 30-day mortality rate was 10.8%. The odds of dying within 30 days after admission were significantly higher for patients with system/organ dysfunction compared to the rest of the study population (OR: 6.2, 95% CI: 3.0 to 12.6; p<0.001). Conclusion: Non-neurological disorders appear dominant at all ages. Intoxication was primarily seen among younger adults (1859 years), while infection was a more common cause among the elderly (>60 years). AMS is associated with a high 30-day mortality rate. Patients with system/organ dysfunction had significantly higher odds of dying within 30 days compared to the rest of the study population.
M3 - Journal article
SN - 2380-0879
VL - 7
JO - Austin Journal of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine Sciences
JF - Austin Journal of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine Sciences
IS - 1
M1 - 1070
ER -