https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2022.10216
Characteristics of psychiatric comorbidities in emergency medicine setting and impact on length of hospitalization: A retrospective study
Submitted: 12 October 2021
Accepted: 10 January 2022
Published: 29 March 2022
Accepted: 10 January 2022
Abstract Views: 759
PDF: 225
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
This study aims to evaluate clinical correlates of psychiatric comorbidity and length of hospitalization in patients admitted in a general hospital emergency medicine setting. Overall, 160 patients hospitalized for different acute medical pathologies were selected consecutively over 12 months. All subjects were evaluated with proper forms to collect data on medical and psychiatric diagnoses. Levels of C-reactive protein were also measured in all patients. Statistical analyses were conducted with univariate, logistic, and multiple linear regressions. Patients with psychiatric comorbidity had significantly longer hospitalization than did patients with no psychiatric diagnoses (days 10.9±9.5 vs. 6.9±4.5, p<0.005). Agitation and delirium were more frequent in the psychiatry comorbidity study group (p<0.05), as was cognitive impairment (p=0.001). These variables predicted longer hospitalisation (respectively: t=-3.27, p=0.002; t=-2.64, p=0.009; t=-2.85, p=0.006). Psychiatric comorbidity acts as an adjunct factor in determining clinical severity and predicting a more difficult recovery in patients hospitalized in an emergency medicine setting.
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How to Cite
Pini, S., Benvenuti, A., Pacciardi, B., Massimetti, G., Abelli, M., Sapia, G., Pardini, F., Massa, L., Miniati, M., Salarpi, G., Forfori, F., & Palagini, L. (2022). Characteristics of psychiatric comorbidities in emergency medicine setting and impact on length of hospitalization: A retrospective study. Emergency Care Journal, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/ecj.2022.10216
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