Objective: Pneumonia can be life-threatening, but it is challenging to diagnose because of the low accuracy of chest Xray (CXR), the diagnostic standard. This study examined predictors of pneumonia on computed tomography (CT) in febrile patients with nondiagnostic CXR. Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study conducted in the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary referral center between November 2019 and October 2020. Among adult febrile patients who underwent CXR and a CT scan, 105 cases with pneumonia on CT and 105 controls without pneumonia on CT were consecutively included. None of the patients had a fever focus or a nondiagnostic CXR at the initial work-up. Results: Multivariate regression analysis revealed the following to be significantly associated with pneumonia on CT: male (odds ratio [OR], 2.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-4.07), lower respiratory symptoms (OR, 4.33; 95% CI, 1.93-9.72 for one symptom; OR, 7.64; 95% CI, 3.19-18.31 for two or more symptoms), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) <95% (OR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.03-8.42), body temperature ≥40.0°C (OR, 5.18; 95% CI, 1.14-23.63), and leukocytosis (OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.12-4.55). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine (Cr) ≥20 (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.00-4.57) and absolute neutrophil count <500/mm3 (OR, 8.41; 95% CI, 0.81-87.57) tended to have an association with pneumonia on CT. Conclusion Males, lower respiratory tract symptoms, lower SpO2, higher body temperature, and leukocytosis were independent predictors of a diagnosis of pneumonia on CT with nondiagnostic CXR in febrile patients at the ED. In addition, neutropenia and an increased BUN-to-Cr ratio were important predictors of pneumonia.

BACKGROUND:The accelerated diagnostic protocol(ADP)using the Emergency Department Assessment of Chest pain Score(EDACS-ADP),a tool to identify patients at low risk of a major adverse cardiac event(MACE)among patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department,was developed using a contemporary troponin assay.This study was performed to validate and compare the performance of the EDACS-ADP incorporating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I between patients who had a 30-day MACE with and without unstable angina(MACE I and Ⅱ,respectively). METHODS:A single-center prospective observational study of adult patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome was performed.The performance of EDACS-ADP in predicting MACE was assessed by calculating the sensitivity and negative predictive value. RESULTS:Of the 1,304 patients prospectively enrolled,399(30.6％;95％confidence interval[95％CI]:27.7％-33.8％)were considered low-risk using the EDACS-ADP.Among them,the rates of MACE I andⅡ were 1.3％(5/399)and 1.0％(4/399),respectively.The EDACS-ADP showed sensitivities and negative predictive values of 98.8％(95％CI:97.2％-99.6％)and 98.7％(95％CI:97.0％-99.5％)for MACE I and 98.7％(95％CI:96.8％-99.7％)and 99.0％(95％CI:97.4％-99.6％)for MACE Ⅱ,respectively. CONCLUSION:EDACS-ADP could help identify patients as safe for early discharge.However,when unstable angina was added to the outcome,the 30-day MACE rate among the designated low-risk patients remained above the level acceptable for early discharge without further evaluation.

Objective: Emergency medical system reform is an important part of the 4th Emergency Medical Care 5-year plan in Korea, published in 2023. However, little is known about the current emergency department (ED) utilization status of local emergency medical agencies (EMAs). We sought to compare the ED utilization code between the emergency medical centers (EMCs) (n=58) and the local EMAs (n=152) based on parameters such as the admission rate or transfer rate in patients with a critical illness. Methods: Consecutive emergency patients registered on the National Emergency Department Information System from January 2022 to December 2022 were included in this study and their records were analyzed. The study included critically ill patients who were defined as having a critical illness code. Results: Among 590,878 (EMC of 450,007; local EMA of 140,871) critical illness code patients, the admission rate was 76.2% for EMCs and 52.9% for local EMAs. Of the critical illness code patients who visited local EMAs, 89.4% were Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) grade 3-5 patients. The hospitalization volume of critical illness code patients in the local EMAs was 74,571, mostly major trauma (47.5%) and ischemic stroke (11.5%). If KTAS grade 1 or 2 patients could not be transferred to the local EMAs, the EMCs covered up to 14,989 ED patients and 74,571 admitted patients additionally. Conclusion If the local EMAs maintain their current roles in the areas of major trauma and ischemic stroke, and take charge of the admission of patients with critical illness codes transferred from the EMC after emergency treatment, then the local EMAs can still maintain their functions even after the proposed emergency medical system reform.

BACKGROUND:The accelerated diagnostic protocol(ADP)using the Emergency Department Assessment of Chest pain Score(EDACS-ADP),a tool to identify patients at low risk of a major adverse cardiac event(MACE)among patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department,was developed using a contemporary troponin assay.This study was performed to validate and compare the performance of the EDACS-ADP incorporating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I between patients who had a 30-day MACE with and without unstable angina(MACE I and Ⅱ,respectively). METHODS:A single-center prospective observational study of adult patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome was performed.The performance of EDACS-ADP in predicting MACE was assessed by calculating the sensitivity and negative predictive value. RESULTS:Of the 1,304 patients prospectively enrolled,399(30.6％;95％confidence interval[95％CI]:27.7％-33.8％)were considered low-risk using the EDACS-ADP.Among them,the rates of MACE I andⅡ were 1.3％(5/399)and 1.0％(4/399),respectively.The EDACS-ADP showed sensitivities and negative predictive values of 98.8％(95％CI:97.2％-99.6％)and 98.7％(95％CI:97.0％-99.5％)for MACE I and 98.7％(95％CI:96.8％-99.7％)and 99.0％(95％CI:97.4％-99.6％)for MACE Ⅱ,respectively. CONCLUSION:EDACS-ADP could help identify patients as safe for early discharge.However,when unstable angina was added to the outcome,the 30-day MACE rate among the designated low-risk patients remained above the level acceptable for early discharge without further evaluation.

BACKGROUND:The accelerated diagnostic protocol(ADP)using the Emergency Department Assessment of Chest pain Score(EDACS-ADP),a tool to identify patients at low risk of a major adverse cardiac event(MACE)among patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department,was developed using a contemporary troponin assay.This study was performed to validate and compare the performance of the EDACS-ADP incorporating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I between patients who had a 30-day MACE with and without unstable angina(MACE I and Ⅱ,respectively). METHODS:A single-center prospective observational study of adult patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome was performed.The performance of EDACS-ADP in predicting MACE was assessed by calculating the sensitivity and negative predictive value. RESULTS:Of the 1,304 patients prospectively enrolled,399(30.6％;95％confidence interval[95％CI]:27.7％-33.8％)were considered low-risk using the EDACS-ADP.Among them,the rates of MACE I andⅡ were 1.3％(5/399)and 1.0％(4/399),respectively.The EDACS-ADP showed sensitivities and negative predictive values of 98.8％(95％CI:97.2％-99.6％)and 98.7％(95％CI:97.0％-99.5％)for MACE I and 98.7％(95％CI:96.8％-99.7％)and 99.0％(95％CI:97.4％-99.6％)for MACE Ⅱ,respectively. CONCLUSION:EDACS-ADP could help identify patients as safe for early discharge.However,when unstable angina was added to the outcome,the 30-day MACE rate among the designated low-risk patients remained above the level acceptable for early discharge without further evaluation.

BACKGROUND:The accelerated diagnostic protocol(ADP)using the Emergency Department Assessment of Chest pain Score(EDACS-ADP),a tool to identify patients at low risk of a major adverse cardiac event(MACE)among patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department,was developed using a contemporary troponin assay.This study was performed to validate and compare the performance of the EDACS-ADP incorporating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I between patients who had a 30-day MACE with and without unstable angina(MACE I and Ⅱ,respectively). METHODS:A single-center prospective observational study of adult patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome was performed.The performance of EDACS-ADP in predicting MACE was assessed by calculating the sensitivity and negative predictive value. RESULTS:Of the 1,304 patients prospectively enrolled,399(30.6％;95％confidence interval[95％CI]:27.7％-33.8％)were considered low-risk using the EDACS-ADP.Among them,the rates of MACE I andⅡ were 1.3％(5/399)and 1.0％(4/399),respectively.The EDACS-ADP showed sensitivities and negative predictive values of 98.8％(95％CI:97.2％-99.6％)and 98.7％(95％CI:97.0％-99.5％)for MACE I and 98.7％(95％CI:96.8％-99.7％)and 99.0％(95％CI:97.4％-99.6％)for MACE Ⅱ,respectively. CONCLUSION:EDACS-ADP could help identify patients as safe for early discharge.However,when unstable angina was added to the outcome,the 30-day MACE rate among the designated low-risk patients remained above the level acceptable for early discharge without further evaluation.

BACKGROUND:The accelerated diagnostic protocol(ADP)using the Emergency Department Assessment of Chest pain Score(EDACS-ADP),a tool to identify patients at low risk of a major adverse cardiac event(MACE)among patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department,was developed using a contemporary troponin assay.This study was performed to validate and compare the performance of the EDACS-ADP incorporating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I between patients who had a 30-day MACE with and without unstable angina(MACE I and Ⅱ,respectively). METHODS:A single-center prospective observational study of adult patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome was performed.The performance of EDACS-ADP in predicting MACE was assessed by calculating the sensitivity and negative predictive value. RESULTS:Of the 1,304 patients prospectively enrolled,399(30.6％;95％confidence interval[95％CI]:27.7％-33.8％)were considered low-risk using the EDACS-ADP.Among them,the rates of MACE I andⅡ were 1.3％(5/399)and 1.0％(4/399),respectively.The EDACS-ADP showed sensitivities and negative predictive values of 98.8％(95％CI:97.2％-99.6％)and 98.7％(95％CI:97.0％-99.5％)for MACE I and 98.7％(95％CI:96.8％-99.7％)and 99.0％(95％CI:97.4％-99.6％)for MACE Ⅱ,respectively. CONCLUSION:EDACS-ADP could help identify patients as safe for early discharge.However,when unstable angina was added to the outcome,the 30-day MACE rate among the designated low-risk patients remained above the level acceptable for early discharge without further evaluation.

BACKGROUND:The accelerated diagnostic protocol(ADP)using the Emergency Department Assessment of Chest pain Score(EDACS-ADP),a tool to identify patients at low risk of a major adverse cardiac event(MACE)among patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department,was developed using a contemporary troponin assay.This study was performed to validate and compare the performance of the EDACS-ADP incorporating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I between patients who had a 30-day MACE with and without unstable angina(MACE I and Ⅱ,respectively). METHODS:A single-center prospective observational study of adult patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome was performed.The performance of EDACS-ADP in predicting MACE was assessed by calculating the sensitivity and negative predictive value. RESULTS:Of the 1,304 patients prospectively enrolled,399(30.6％;95％confidence interval[95％CI]:27.7％-33.8％)were considered low-risk using the EDACS-ADP.Among them,the rates of MACE I andⅡ were 1.3％(5/399)and 1.0％(4/399),respectively.The EDACS-ADP showed sensitivities and negative predictive values of 98.8％(95％CI:97.2％-99.6％)and 98.7％(95％CI:97.0％-99.5％)for MACE I and 98.7％(95％CI:96.8％-99.7％)and 99.0％(95％CI:97.4％-99.6％)for MACE Ⅱ,respectively. CONCLUSION:EDACS-ADP could help identify patients as safe for early discharge.However,when unstable angina was added to the outcome,the 30-day MACE rate among the designated low-risk patients remained above the level acceptable for early discharge without further evaluation.

BACKGROUND:The accelerated diagnostic protocol(ADP)using the Emergency Department Assessment of Chest pain Score(EDACS-ADP),a tool to identify patients at low risk of a major adverse cardiac event(MACE)among patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department,was developed using a contemporary troponin assay.This study was performed to validate and compare the performance of the EDACS-ADP incorporating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I between patients who had a 30-day MACE with and without unstable angina(MACE I and Ⅱ,respectively). METHODS:A single-center prospective observational study of adult patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome was performed.The performance of EDACS-ADP in predicting MACE was assessed by calculating the sensitivity and negative predictive value. RESULTS:Of the 1,304 patients prospectively enrolled,399(30.6％;95％confidence interval[95％CI]:27.7％-33.8％)were considered low-risk using the EDACS-ADP.Among them,the rates of MACE I andⅡ were 1.3％(5/399)and 1.0％(4/399),respectively.The EDACS-ADP showed sensitivities and negative predictive values of 98.8％(95％CI:97.2％-99.6％)and 98.7％(95％CI:97.0％-99.5％)for MACE I and 98.7％(95％CI:96.8％-99.7％)and 99.0％(95％CI:97.4％-99.6％)for MACE Ⅱ,respectively. CONCLUSION:EDACS-ADP could help identify patients as safe for early discharge.However,when unstable angina was added to the outcome,the 30-day MACE rate among the designated low-risk patients remained above the level acceptable for early discharge without further evaluation.

BACKGROUND:The accelerated diagnostic protocol(ADP)using the Emergency Department Assessment of Chest pain Score(EDACS-ADP),a tool to identify patients at low risk of a major adverse cardiac event(MACE)among patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department,was developed using a contemporary troponin assay.This study was performed to validate and compare the performance of the EDACS-ADP incorporating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I between patients who had a 30-day MACE with and without unstable angina(MACE I and Ⅱ,respectively). METHODS:A single-center prospective observational study of adult patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome was performed.The performance of EDACS-ADP in predicting MACE was assessed by calculating the sensitivity and negative predictive value. RESULTS:Of the 1,304 patients prospectively enrolled,399(30.6％;95％confidence interval[95％CI]:27.7％-33.8％)were considered low-risk using the EDACS-ADP.Among them,the rates of MACE I andⅡ were 1.3％(5/399)and 1.0％(4/399),respectively.The EDACS-ADP showed sensitivities and negative predictive values of 98.8％(95％CI:97.2％-99.6％)and 98.7％(95％CI:97.0％-99.5％)for MACE I and 98.7％(95％CI:96.8％-99.7％)and 99.0％(95％CI:97.4％-99.6％)for MACE Ⅱ,respectively. CONCLUSION:EDACS-ADP could help identify patients as safe for early discharge.However,when unstable angina was added to the outcome,the 30-day MACE rate among the designated low-risk patients remained above the level acceptable for early discharge without further evaluation.