An Observational Study of Dyspnea in Emergency Departments: The Asia, Australia, and New Zealand Dyspnea in Emergency Departments Study (AANZDEM)

• Published in: Academic emergency medicine 2017-03, Vol.24 (3), p.328-336
• Main Authors: Kelly, Anne Maree, Keijzers, Gerben, Klim, Sharon, Graham, Colin A., Craig, Simon, Kuan, Win Sen, Jones, Peter, Holdgate, Anna, Lawoko, Charles, Laribi, Said, Mark Courtney, D., Cowell, David Lord, Jain, Nitin, Villecourt, Tracey, Lee, Kendall, Chalkley, Dane, Lozzi, Lydia, Asha, Stephen Edward, Duffy, Martin, Watkins, Gina, Rosengren, David, Thone, Jae, Martin, Shane, Orda, Ulrich, Thom, Ogilvie, Kinnear, Frances, Watson, Michael, Eley, Rob, Ryan, Alison, Morel, Douglas Gordon, Furyk, Jeremy, Smith, Richard D. B., Grummisch, Michelle, Meek, Robert, Rosengarten, Pamela, Chan, Barry, Haythorne, Helen, Archer, Peter, Wilson, Kathryn, Knott, Jonathan, Ritchie, Peter, Bryant, Michael, MacDonald, Stephen, Mahlangu, Mlungisi, Scott, Michael, Cheri, Thomas, Nguyen, Mai, Chor, Melvin S. Y., Wong, Chi Pang, Wong, Tai Wai, Leung, Ling‐Pong, Man, Chan Ka, Rahman, Nik Hisamuddin, Lee, Wee Yee, Lee, Francis Chun Yue, Goh, Shaun E., Russell, Kerrie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Australia; Cohort Studies; Comorbidity; Dyspnea; Dyspnea - diagnosis; Dyspnea - epidemiology; Emergency medical care; Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Epidemiology; Female; Heart failure; Hong Kong - epidemiology; Hospital Mortality; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Life Sciences; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Mortality; New Zealand - epidemiology; Observational studies; Prospective Studies; Risk; Singapore - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1069-6563; 1553-2712
• DOI: 10.1111/acem.13118

Objectives The objective was to describe the epidemiology of dyspnea presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in the Asia‐Pacific region, to understand how it is investigated and treated and its outcome. Methods Prospective interrupted time series cohort study conducted at three time points in EDs in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia of adult patients presenting to the ED with dyspnea as a main symptom. Data were collected over three 72‐hour periods and included demographics, comorbidities, mode of arrival, usual medications, prehospital treatment, initial assessment, ED investigations, treatment in the ED, ED diagnosis, disposition from ED, in‐hospital outcome, and final hospital diagnosis. The primary outcomes of interest are the epidemiology, investigation, treatment, and outcome of patients presenting to ED with dyspnea. Results A total of 3,044 patients were studied. Patients with dyspnea made up 5.2% (3,105/60,059, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.0% to 5.4%) of ED presentations, 11.4% of ward admissions (1,956/17,184, 95% CI = 10.9% to 11.9%), and 19.9% of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (104/523, 95% CI = 16.7% to 23.5%). The most common diagnoses were lower respiratory tract infection (20.2%), heart failure (14.9%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (13.6%), and asthma (12.7%). Hospital ward admission was required for 64% of patients (95% CI = 62% to 66%) with 3.3% (95% CI = 2.8% to 4.1%) requiring ICU admission. In‐hospital mortality was 6% (95% CI = 5.0% to 7.2%). Conclusion Dyspnea is a common symptom in ED patients contributing substantially to ED, hospital, and ICU workload. It is also associated with significant mortality. There are a wide variety of causes however chronic disease accounts for a large proportion.