Table 1 Patient characteristics with respect to breathlessness and the presentation
From: Breathlessness and presentation to the emergency department: a survey and clinical record review
Patient characteristics (self-report) | n = 245/1,212 (except as noted) |
|---|---|
Age mean (SD) | 65Â yrs (19) |
Gender | 117Â M (48%) 128Â F (52%) |
mMRC grade (n = 236) | |
 0 | 20 (8%) |
 1 | 28 (12%) |
 2 | 29 (12%) |
 3 | 72 (31%) |
 4 | 87 (37%) |
Severity of breathlessness (n = 242) At decision to present | |
 None | 5 (2%) |
 Mild | 32 (13%) |
 Moderate | 79 (33%) |
 Severe | 126 (52%) |
Whilst waiting in the ED | |
 None | 33 (14%) |
 Mild | 104 (43%) |
 Moderate | 85 (35%) |
 Severe | 21 (8%) |
Duration of chronic breathlessness (n = 237) | |
 1 to 6 m | 85 (36%) |
 7 m to 2 yrs | 40 (17%) |
 More than 2 years | 112 (47%) |
Who does the patient talk to about their breathlessness? | |
 GP | 178 (73%) |
 Practice nurse | 14 (6%) |
 Respiratory nurse | 34 (14%) |
 Breathing clinic | 7 (3%) |
 Heart failure nurse | 3 (1%) |
 Specialist doctor | 29 (12%) |
 Macmillan nurse | 5 (2%) |
 Long Term Conditions Nurse | 16 (7%) |
 Family/friends | 64 (26%) |
 Support group | 1 (0.4%) |
 No one | 34 (14%) |
Factors relevant to ED presentation (self-report) | |
Who was involved in the decision to present? | Â |
 Self | 92 (37%) |
People known to patient | |
 Family/friend | 98 (40%) |
 Paid carer | 9 (4%) |
 GP surgery | 47 (19%) |
 Long Term Condition Nurse | 4 (2%) |
 Heart failure nurse | 0 (0%) |
 Respiratory nurse | 4 (2%) |
 Macmillan nurse | 3 (1%) |
Emergency services | |
 Out of hours service | 7 (3%) |
 NHS Direct | 18 (7%) |
 999 (Emergency number) | 14 (6%) |
 Paramedic | 43 (18%) |