Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Older patients are more likely to be undertriaged as they often suffer from multiple diseases and complain of non-specific symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the characteristics of undertriaged older patients in emergency departments.
METHODS: This descriptive study retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the electronic medical records of older patients who visited the emergency department of a general hospital in Seoul between January and December 2019.
RESULTS: Approximately 29 % (n = 4,823) of older patients who visited the emergency department during the study period were classified as Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) level 4 or 5, and approximately 8 % (n = 397) were undertriaged. Approximately 73 % (n = 288) of patients were hospitalized after visiting the emergency department. The undertriaged older patients exhibited nervous system symptoms such as dizziness and headache (28.8 %), cardiopulmonary symptoms such as chest discomfort, palpitations, and abdominal pain (28.4 %), head trauma (12.8 %), and respiratory symptoms such as cough and dyspnea (12.5 %).
CONCLUSIONS: Triage nurses in emergency departments should carefully triage older patients as their chief complaints can be non-specific. In particular, when older patients visit the emergency department and exhibit symptoms such as dizziness, abnormal pain, chest discomfort, palpitations, and head trauma, they are more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit. Therefore, meticulous care for older patients showing these symptoms is essential.
METHODS: This descriptive study retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the electronic medical records of older patients who visited the emergency department of a general hospital in Seoul between January and December 2019.
RESULTS: Approximately 29 % (n = 4,823) of older patients who visited the emergency department during the study period were classified as Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) level 4 or 5, and approximately 8 % (n = 397) were undertriaged. Approximately 73 % (n = 288) of patients were hospitalized after visiting the emergency department. The undertriaged older patients exhibited nervous system symptoms such as dizziness and headache (28.8 %), cardiopulmonary symptoms such as chest discomfort, palpitations, and abdominal pain (28.4 %), head trauma (12.8 %), and respiratory symptoms such as cough and dyspnea (12.5 %).
CONCLUSIONS: Triage nurses in emergency departments should carefully triage older patients as their chief complaints can be non-specific. In particular, when older patients visit the emergency department and exhibit symptoms such as dizziness, abnormal pain, chest discomfort, palpitations, and head trauma, they are more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit. Therefore, meticulous care for older patients showing these symptoms is essential.
摘要：
背景：年龄较大的患者更有可能被低估，因为他们经常患有多种疾病并抱怨非特异性症状。因此,有必要确定急诊科年龄不足的老年患者的特征。
方法：这项描述性研究回顾性分析了2019年1月至12月在首尔综合医院急诊科就诊的老年患者的电子病历。
结果：在研究期间到急诊科就诊的老年患者中，约有29%(n=4,823)被归类为韩国分诊和敏锐度量表(KTAS)4级或5级，约有8%(n=397)被诊断不足。大约73％（n=288）的患者在急诊就诊后住院。年龄不足的老年患者出现神经系统症状，如头晕和头痛(28.8%)，心肺症状，如胸部不适，心悸,腹痛（28.4%），头部外伤(12.8%),以及咳嗽和呼吸困难等呼吸道症状(12.5%)。
结论：急诊科的分诊护士应仔细分诊老年患者，因为他们的主诉可能是非特异性的。特别是,当老年患者到急诊科就诊并出现头晕等症状时，异常疼痛,胸部不适，心悸,和头部创伤,他们更有可能被送入重症监护室。因此,对于出现这些症状的老年患者，细致的护理至关重要。
方法：这项描述性研究回顾性分析了2019年1月至12月在首尔综合医院急诊科就诊的老年患者的电子病历。
结果：在研究期间到急诊科就诊的老年患者中，约有29%(n=4,823)被归类为韩国分诊和敏锐度量表(KTAS)4级或5级，约有8%(n=397)被诊断不足。大约73％（n=288）的患者在急诊就诊后住院。年龄不足的老年患者出现神经系统症状，如头晕和头痛(28.8%)，心肺症状，如胸部不适，心悸,腹痛（28.4%），头部外伤(12.8%),以及咳嗽和呼吸困难等呼吸道症状(12.5%)。
结论：急诊科的分诊护士应仔细分诊老年患者，因为他们的主诉可能是非特异性的。特别是,当老年患者到急诊科就诊并出现头晕等症状时，异常疼痛,胸部不适，心悸,和头部创伤,他们更有可能被送入重症监护室。因此,对于出现这些症状的老年患者，细致的护理至关重要。
