Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38594928›Full record

ArticleAge and ageing2024

The epidemiology of dying within 48 hours of presentation to emergency departments: a retrospective cohort study of older people across Australia and New Zealand.

Amy L Sweeny, Nemat Alsaba, Laurie Grealish, Kerina Denny, Bill Lukin, Andrew Broadbent, Ya-Ling Huang, Jamie Ranse, Kristen Ranse, Katya May and 1 more

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Age and ageing, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
2.1field-weighted citation impact, top 15% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Observational
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Amy L SweenyDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8392-5612
Nemat AlsabaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Laurie GrealishMenzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Kerina DennyDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Bill LukinFaculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Andrew BroadbentFaculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Ya-Ling HuangDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Jamie RanseDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Kristen RanseMenzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Katya MayDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Julia CrillyDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Griffith University · AUBond University · AUGold Coast Hospital · AUQueensland Health · AU

Funding

Emergency Medicine Foundation EMLE-129R31-2019
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEmergency department (ED) clinicians are more frequently providing care, including end-of-life care, to older people.

objectivesTo estimate the need for ED end-of-life care for people aged ≥65 years, describe characteristics of those dying within 48 hours of ED presentation and compare those dying in ED with those dying elsewhere.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study analysing data from 177 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. Data on older people presenting to ED from January to December 2018, and those who died within 48 hours of ED presentation, were analysed using simple descriptive statistics and univariate logistic regression.

resultsFrom participating hospitals in Australia or New Zealand, 10,921 deaths in older people occurred. The 48-hour mortality rate was 6.43 per 1,000 ED presentations (95% confidence interval: 6.31-6.56). Just over a quarter (n = 3,067, 28.1%) died in ED. About one-quarter of the cohort (n = 2,887, 26.4%) was triaged into less urgent triage categories. Factors with an increased risk of dying in ED included age 65-74 years, ambulance arrival, most urgent triage categories, principal diagnosis of circulatory system disorder, and not identifying as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person. Of the 7,677 older people admitted, half (n = 3,836, 50.0%) had an encounter for palliative care prior to, or during, this presentation.

conclusionsOur findings provide insight into the challenges of recognising the dying older patient and differentiating those appropriate for end-of-life care. We support recommendations for national advanced care planning registers and suggest a review of triage systems with an older person-focused lens.

Indexed as

Emergency Service, HospitalHospitalizationAgedAustraliaHumansNew ZealandRetrospective Studiesagedemergency careend-of-life careepidemiologyolder peoplepalliative care

Identifiers

PMID38594928
PMCPMC11004355
OpenAlexW4394675059

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.