Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients

Age (years), median(IQR)

76 (70–82)

76 (69–82)

80 (70.5–88)

0.06

Female, n(%)

149 (55.4)

125 (54.6)

24 (60)

0.53

Had palliative care plan

28 (10.4)

17 (7.4)

11 (27.5)

< 0.001

Fever (BT > 37.5 C)

41 (15.2)

23 (10)

18 (45)

< 0.001

Systolic blood pressure (SBP) mmHg, median(IQR)

143 (122–165)

144 (124–170)

129.5 (109.5–158)

0.03

SBP < 90 mmHg, n(%)

11 (4.1)

9 (3.9)

2 (5)

0.75

Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (mmHg), median(IQR)

76 (65–86)

78 (66–86)

71 (61–84)

0.06

DBP < 60 mmHg, n(%)

47 (17.5)

37 (16.2)

10 (25)

0.17

Pulse rate (PR), median(IQR)

82 (70–95)

80 (70–92)

96 (82.5-112.5)

< 0.001

PR > 100 bpm, n(%)

52 (19.3)

33 (14.4)

19 (47.5)

< 0.001

Respiratory rate(RR), median(IQR)

20 (18–24)

20 (18–22)

22 (20–30)

< 0.001

RR > 20 bpm, n(%)

48 (17.8)

31 (13.5)

17 (42.5)

< 0.001

O₂ saturation, median(IQR)

98 (96–100)

98 (97–100)

96 (92.5–99)

< 0.001

O₂ saturation < 95%, n(%)

36 (13.4)

23 (10)

13 (32.5)

< 0.001

Charlson co-morbidity index (CCI), median(IQR)

5 (4–7)

5 (4–7)

6 (4–8)

0.06

CCI ≥ 7, n(%)

85 (31.6)

66 (28.8)

19 (47.5)

0.02

ADL at baseline, median(IQR)

18 (12–20)

18 (14–20)

13.5 (3–18)

< 0.001

Triage level, n(%)

< 0.001

 ESI 1

34 (12.6)

21 (9.2)

13 (32.5)

 ESI 2

155 (57.6)

132 (57.6)

23 (57.5)

 ESI 3

80 (29.7)

76 (33.2)

4 (10)

Treatment, n(%)

< 0.001

 Full life support

233 (86.6)

210 (91.7)

23 (57.5)

 Palliative care

36 (13.4)

19 (8.3)

17 (42.5)

ED disposition, n(%)

< 0.001

 ED observation

36 (13.4)

34 (14.9)

2 (5)

 Discharge home

115 (42.8)

107 (46.7)

8 (20)

 Admit ward

113 (42)

84 (36.7)

29 (72.5)

 Admit ICU

5 (1.9)

4 (1.8)

1 (2.5)