Causes for consultation in the emergency room among patients with systemic autoimmune diseases

• Published in: Revista medíca de Chile 2015-12, Vol.143 (12), p.1546-1551
• Main Authors: Rivera Núñez, María Angélica, Martínez Caballero, Carlos, Estébanez Muñoz, Miriam, Calvin García, María Elena, Robles M, Ángel, Quintana Díaz, Manuel
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Autoimmune Diseases - classification; Autoimmune Diseases - therapy; Chile; Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Tertiary Care Centers; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0717-6163
• DOI: 10.4067/S0034-98872015001200007

The causes of acute decompensations of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases are not well known. To describe the causes for consultation in an emergency room of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. Review of medical records of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases, aged over 14 years, consulting in an emergency room of a general hospital during three months. In the study period, 166 patients with systemic autoimmune diseases consulted in the emergency room, of a total of 18,153 consultations (0.9%). Patients with rheumatoid arthritis were those that consulted with higher frequency (37%) followed by patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (21%). The most common causes for consultation were cardiovascular diseases in 25%, followed by digestive disorders in 15%. The most common diagnosis was chest pain with suspected ischemic heart disease in 36%. No differences in cardiovascular risk factors were observed between those patients consulting for cardiovascular diseases and those consulting for other causes. The most common cause of consultation in the emergency room of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases is cardiovascular.