title: Respiratory rates in emergency department patients.
abstract: The respiratory rate is a sensitive and nonspecific indicator of respiratory dysfunction. Establishing a "normal" respiratory rate has mainly been arbitrary. This study evaluated "normal" respiratory rates in 110 emergency department patients. The mean respiratory rate was 20.1 (+/- 4.0). Women had a more rapid respiratory rate 20.9 (+/- 3.9) than men 19.4 (+/- 4.0) (p less than .04). Smokers had a higher respiratory rate 20.5 (+/- 4.0) than nonsmokers 19.3 (+/- 4.0), but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.124). It was also noted that the respiratory rate measured by the nurse was almost always different from that measured by the medical student (P less than 0.0001). Based on a review of the literature concerning what constitutes a "normal" respiratory rate, we conclude that the "normal" respiratory rate may be higher than that suggested in the medical literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, KY 40292.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hooker
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Danzl
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barefoot
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012119:Respiration; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects