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Table 4 Characteristics of the study population (all patients accessing the ED with a relevant presenting complaint), effect outcome, and balancing measure

From: Feasibility of a quality improvement project to increase adherence to evidence-based pulmonary embolism diagnosis in the emergency department

 

Denominator (for proportions)

Before, N (%)*

After, N (%)*

Percentage difference for outcome (95% CI)

Total no. of patients (n)

NA

70,932

10,171

NA

No. of patients per month [median (Q1, Q3)]

NA

3073 (3206, 3324)

3038 (3437, 3696)

NA

Age, years [median (Q1, Q3)]

NA

58 (40, 73)

58 (40, 72)

NA

Female, n (%)

All patients

38,120 (54%)

5519 (54%)

NA

Outcomes

Tested for PE

All patients

5094 (7.2)

899 (8.8)

1.6 (− 0.3; 3.4)

Test appropriate

Patients tested for PE

3782 (74.2)

740 (82.3)

8.1 (5.0; 11.2)

Imaging use

All patients

1903 (2.7)

364 (3.6)

0.9 (− 1.1; 3.4)

Imaging positive yield

Patients with imaging

247 (13.0)

38 (10.4)

− 2.6 (− 13.1; 8.0)

Imaging not appropriate

Patients with imaging

432 (22.7)

22 (9.1)

− 13.6 (− 26.3; − 0.9)

Imaging missed

Patients with positive D-dimer

665 (35.0)

98 (26.0)

− 9.0 (− 18.4; 0.4)

PE prevalence

All patients

247 (0.4)

38 (0.4)

0.0 (− 2.0; 2.1)

  Central PE

All patients

221 (0.3)

34 (0.3)

0.0 (− 2.0; 2.1)

  Distal PE

All patients

26 (0.04)

4 (0.04)

0.0 (− 2.1; 2.1

D-dimer use

All patients

4643 (6.6)

862 (8.5)

1.9 (− 0.1; 3.9)

  1. CI confidence interval, Q1 first quartile, Q3 third quartile, PE pulmonary embolism
  2. *Unless otherwise specified