This study determined predictive risk factors for hospitalization and in-hospital mortality (IHM) in cancer patients presenting to the emergency department (ED).
METHODS
Patients diagnosed with cancer who visited the general ED were reviewed retrospectively for the period
from October 01, 2016, to April 01, 2019. We recorded age, sex, triage category, and vital signs at ED
admission and laboratory results of blood samples collected in the ED. Data were analyzed to evaluate
the association of the abovementioned parameters with rates of hospitalization and IHM.
RESULTS
We enrolled 493 patients (males 283 [57.4%], females 210 [42.6%]; mean age±SD [range] 59.58±17.07
[18?96] years). The overall hospitalization rate was 26.4%; IHM occurred in 90 (18.3%) patients. Levels
of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),
and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as the prothrombin time (PTT) differed significantly between
hospitalized and non-hospitalized (p=0.001, 0.003, 0.011, 0.020, and 0.031; respectively) patient groups
and the survivor and non-survivor (p=<0.001, 0.015, <0.001, <0.001, and 0.005; respectively) hospitalized
patient groups.
CONCLUSION
Vital signs, liver function tests, and coagulation parameters at ED admission could predict IHM of cancer
patients. These parameters must be evaluated in oncology patients admitted to the ED.