Information was available on 38,762 patients for inclusion. Four-level triage scale (P1 to P4) is used in the AKUH ED and was used for the purpose of this study. Patients with life threatening conditions are labeled P1, those in a critical state are labeled P2, P3 are patients who require urgent medical care, and P4 are walk-in stable patients. When all the ED beds are occupied,
non-critical patients are usually asked to wait till a bed is available for them. In this study, diversion means a situation in which the ED continues to accept critical patients despite of full occupancy but less critical patients are diverted to other healthcare facilities. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical This diversion status is reviewed every four hours. Statistical analysis Data of patients, who were treated in ED and those with LWBS visit, was compiled and analyzed. Proportions
were calculated for both groups and significant differences were assessed using the Chi-square test. Percentages of LWBS visits along with their 95% CIs were then calculated for all categories. We used Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical logistic regression to assess association of patient characteristics with LWBS visits at the univariate and multivariable level. For the logistic regression, LWBS visit status was taken as the outcome and its relationships with independent variables including sex of patient, age, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical and triage level, diversion status of ED, month and day and time of presentation. Waiting times Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical in the ED before leaving were not included in the model due to uncertainty in their accuracy (exact value was difficult to ascertain as LWBS status was only identified when the staff called for the patient. The patient could have left any time after the initial triage). All variables were included at the univariate level and a p-value of 0.25 was considered the cut-off for inclusion in the multivariable model. The enter method was used to derive Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical the final regression model. UnBIBW2992 clinical trial adjusted and adjusted
odds ratios (ORs) are presented in the results. SPSS version 19 was used to analyze the data. An exemption of ethical approval was given by the Ethical Review Committee on 13th May, 2011 at Aga Khan University. Results A total of 38,762 patients were triaged from April to December 2010 at AKU – ED and were included in our study; 13866(35.33%) were admitted. BIX 01294 order Total 5,086 patients left the ED without getting medical care during this period, giving an overall rate of over 13% over 9 month period. There were significant differences between those patients receiving medical care and those who left before treatment (Table 1). Percentage of LWBS visits for females was slightly higher than males but the relationship between sex of patient and LWBS visits was not significant in the multivariable regression model (Tables 2 &3). For triage level assignments, proportion of patients in P3 categories was highest (15.