title: Labelling 'unexpected' deaths on a neurology service.
abstract: We wrote a list of descriptive phrases to dichotomize admissions to a neurology service by a priori perceptions of risk of death within 30 days as "higher than average" versus "lower than average." In 500 consecutive admissions, the higher-risk list carried a 17-fold relative risk of death for the 20% of admissions so classified. The list is a valid and informative predictor of 30-day outcome that supports a classification of deaths as "expected" or "unexpected."
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Harlem Hospital Center, New York, NY 10037.
authors.forename: S Q
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Shafer
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Brust
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Healton
mesh_terms: D002423:Cause of Death; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D009462:Neurology; D009519:New York City; D010343:Patient Admission; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis