[Factors associated with revisit and admission in patients complaining of fever that are discharged from the emergency department].
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors associated with both emergency department (ED) revisit, and hospital admission of patients complaining of fever that have previously been seen and discharged from the ED.


METHODS
From September, 2003 to April, 2004, 300 patients complaining of fever were discharged from the ED. Revisit rate and admission rate were calculated. Factors from the first visit associated with revisit, and revisit and admission were assessed by univariate and multivariate regression analysis.


RESULTS
Fifty-one (17%) patients were revisit, 26 (9%) of whom were finally admitted. The independent factors associated with revisit were: age greater than 65 (OR = 1.96; p = 0.01), presence of comorbidity (OR = 3.23; p = 0.01), and C-reactive protein higher than 15 mg/dl (OR = 6.67; p = 0.02). The independent factors associated with revisit and admission were: age greater than 65 (OR = 4.51; p = 0.03), and presence of comorbidity (OR = 3.31; p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
One-sixth of patients complaining of fever that are discharged from an ED will be seen again. These patients are also more likely to be admitted if they are older than 65 and have any comorbidity present.
Ortega
Mar
M
Sección de Urgencias Medicina, Area de Urgencias, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España. mortega@clinic.ub.es
Miró
Oscar
O
Muñoz
Ana
A
López
Beatriz
B
Coll-Vinent
Blanca
B
Sánchez
Miquel
M
D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors