Table 2

Patient Characteristics Independently Associated with Each Process of Care*

Characteristics classified by each process
Odds ratio (95% CI)
P value

Any ED antibiotics



Age ≥65
2.03
(1.28–3.21)
0.003
Heart rate†
1.01
(1.004–1.02)
0.005
Confusion
0.48
(0.27–0.85)
0.012
HIV
0.31
(0.17–0.59)
<0.001
Shortness of breath
0.58
(0.36–0.91)
0.018
Normal lung examination
0.58
(0.38–0.89)
0.013




ED antibiotics within 4 hours



Age ≥65
1.1
(0.83–1.43)
0.484
Cerebrovascular disease
1.87
(1.12–3.11)
0.016
Temperature†
1.11
(1.04–1.19)
0.003
Respiratory rate†
1.05
(1.02–1.07)
<0.001
Normal lung examination
0.59
(0.43–0.81)
0.001
White blood cell count†
1.02
(1.001–1.04)
0.038
Chest x-ray with pneumonia
1.74
(1.31–2.30)
<0.001




Blood cultures in ED



Age ≥65
1.02
(0.78–1.32)
0.9
Cough
1.31
(1.01–1.70)
0.04
Fever
1.68
(1.28–2.22)
<0.001
Abdominal pain
2.26
(1.27–4.03)
0.006
Confusion
2.03
(1.34–3.07)
0.001
Neoplasm
1.85
(1.35–2.53)
<0.001
Liver disease
3.02
(1.30–6.99)
0.01
Temperature†
1.16
(1.08–1.24)
<0.001
Systolic blood pressure†
0.99
(0.99–1.00)
0.007
Chest x-ray with pneumonia
1.38
(1.06–1.79)
0.018




Assessment of oxygenation in ED



Age ≥65
2.10
(1.18–3.72)
0.011
Shortness of breath
2.27
(1.37–3.75)
0.001
Heart rate†
1.02
(1.004–1.03)
0.012
Fever
0.53
(0.31–0.89)
0.016
Abdominal pain
0.45
(0.21–0.96)
0.039

* Values are odds ratios (95% CI). P values represent the Wald statistic.

†Continuous variables

Caterino et al. BMC Emergency Medicine 2008 8:6   doi:10.1186/1471-227X-8-6