Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40788325›Full record

Observational studyInternal and emergency medicine2026

The impact of chronic conditions on emergency department length of stay.

Arian Zaboli, Marta Ziller, Francesco Brigo, Alessandro Cipriano, Norbert Pfeifer, Antonio Voza, Lorenzo Ghiadoni, Gianni Turcato

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Internal and emergency medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
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

8 authors.

Arian ZaboliInnovation, Research and Teaching Service (SABES-ASDAA), Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU), Via A. Volta, 13°, Bolzano, Italy. zaboliarian@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4204-8884
Marta ZillerCardiology Department, Hospital of Bolzano, 39100, Bolzano, Italy.
Francesco BrigoInnovation, Research and Teaching Service (SABES-ASDAA), Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU), Via A. Volta, 13°, Bolzano, Italy.
Alessandro CiprianoEmergency Department, Nuovo Santa Chiara Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
Norbert PfeiferDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Hospital of Merano-Meran (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy.
Antonio VozaEmergency Department, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
Lorenzo GhiadoniDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Gianni TurcatoIntermediate Care Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Alto Vicentino (AULSS-7), Santorso, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEmergency Departments (EDs) are increasingly managing elderly patients with chronic diseases and complex comorbidities. While the association between chronic conditions and poor clinical outcomes is well established, their impact on ED operational performance, particularly on length of stay (LOS), remains underexplored.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective, single-center observational study at Merano Hospital (Italy), analyzing a random sample of adults ED visits in 2023. Patients were classified as having chronic conditions if they had ≥ 2 pre-existing chronic conditions. Demographic, clinical, and access-related variables were extracted from electronic health records. The primary outcome was ED LOS, defined as the time from registration to ED chart closure, excluding boarding time. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of prolonged LOS (≥ 75th percentile).

resultsAmong 4172 patients, 12.9% were classified as having chronic conditions. These patients were significantly older and more likely to present with prolonged symptoms and acute exacerbations of chronic illnesses. Median ED LOS was significantly longer among chronic patients (127.6 vs. 97.0 min, p < 0.001). Chronic status emerged as an independent predictor of prolonged LOS (OR 1.537, 95% CI 1.223-1.932). In patients with low triage priority, the presence of chronic conditions was associated with a 54-min increase in LOS and a 52% increase in log-transformed LOS (p < 0.001).

conclusionsChronic conditions are associated with significantly longer ED management times, irrespective of clinical urgency. These findings highlight the need for targeted strategies to enhance care integration and alleviate the burden on ED services.

Indexed as

Emergency Service, HospitalLength of StayAgedAged, 80 and overChronic DiseaseEmergency Room VisitsFemaleHumansItalyLogistic ModelsMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesChronic diseaseEmergency serviceHealthcare utilizationHospitalLength of stayMultimorbidity

Identifiers

PMID40788325

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.