tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Am J Emerg Med
. 2022 Feb 5;54:111-116.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.02.002. Online ahead of print.
A modified emergency severity index level is associated with outcomes in cancer patients with COVID-19
Demis N Lipe[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sorayah S Bourenane[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Monica K Wattana[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Susan Gaeta[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Patrick Chaftari[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Maria T Cruz Carreras[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Joanna-Grace Manzano[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Cielito Reyes-Gibby[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate a modified emergency severity index (mESI)-based triage of cancer patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the emergency department (ED) and determine the associations between mESI level and ED disposition, hospital length of stay, and overall survival.
Methods: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for all patients who presented to our institution's ED between March 22, 2020, and March 12, 2021, and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
Results: A total of 306 cancer patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with 45% of patients triaged to level 2 (emergent) and 55% to level 3 (urgent). Among all patients, 61.8% were admitted to the hospital, 15.7% were admitted to the intensive care unit, 2.9% were sent for observation, and 19.6% were discharged. Although demographic and clinical characteristics did not significantly vary by triage level, we observed significant differences in ED length of stay (urgent = 6.67 h, emergent = 5.97 h; p < 0.01). Hospital and intensive care unit admission rates were also significantly higher among emergent patients than among urgent patients (p < 0.05). There were 75 deaths (urgent = 32; emergent = 43), and the 30-day mortality rate was significantly higher among emergent patients (urgent = 8%, emergent = 15%; p < 0.05). The mESI level persisted as a significant factor associated with overall survival (hazard ratio = 1.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.09-2.81) in multivariable analysis.
Conclusion: The mESI level is associated with ED disposition, ED length of stay, and overall survival in cancer patients presenting with COVID-19. These results indicate that the mESI triage tool can be effectively used in cancer patients with COVID-19, whose condition can rapidly deteriorate.
Keywords: COVID-19; Cancer; ESI; Emergency department; Emergency severity index.
. 2022 Feb 5;54:111-116.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.02.002. Online ahead of print.
A modified emergency severity index level is associated with outcomes in cancer patients with COVID-19
Demis N Lipe[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sorayah S Bourenane[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Monica K Wattana[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Susan Gaeta[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Patrick Chaftari[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Maria T Cruz Carreras[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Joanna-Grace Manzano[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Cielito Reyes-Gibby[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35152119
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.02.002
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate a modified emergency severity index (mESI)-based triage of cancer patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the emergency department (ED) and determine the associations between mESI level and ED disposition, hospital length of stay, and overall survival.
Methods: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for all patients who presented to our institution's ED between March 22, 2020, and March 12, 2021, and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
Results: A total of 306 cancer patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with 45% of patients triaged to level 2 (emergent) and 55% to level 3 (urgent). Among all patients, 61.8% were admitted to the hospital, 15.7% were admitted to the intensive care unit, 2.9% were sent for observation, and 19.6% were discharged. Although demographic and clinical characteristics did not significantly vary by triage level, we observed significant differences in ED length of stay (urgent = 6.67 h, emergent = 5.97 h; p < 0.01). Hospital and intensive care unit admission rates were also significantly higher among emergent patients than among urgent patients (p < 0.05). There were 75 deaths (urgent = 32; emergent = 43), and the 30-day mortality rate was significantly higher among emergent patients (urgent = 8%, emergent = 15%; p < 0.05). The mESI level persisted as a significant factor associated with overall survival (hazard ratio = 1.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.09-2.81) in multivariable analysis.
Conclusion: The mESI level is associated with ED disposition, ED length of stay, and overall survival in cancer patients presenting with COVID-19. These results indicate that the mESI triage tool can be effectively used in cancer patients with COVID-19, whose condition can rapidly deteriorate.
Keywords: COVID-19; Cancer; ESI; Emergency department; Emergency severity index.