RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Are changes in vital signs, mobility and mental status while in hospital measures of the quality of care?
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 320
OP 324
DO 10.7861/clinmed.2021-0712
VO 22
IS 4
A1 John Kellett
A1 Mark Holland
A1 Jelmer Alsma
A1 Christian H Nickel
A1 Mikkel Brabrand
A1 Alfred Lumala
YR 2022
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/22/4/320.abstract
AB Introduction Little is known of the changes in patients' health condition while in hospital in low-resource settings. The aim of this exploratory study is to examine dependency of patients on hospital admission and discharge in a low-resource sub-Saharan hospital.Methods We carried out a retrospective observational study of changes in the health condition, as reflected by their mental status, mobility and vital signs, of 5,888 consecutive patients between hospital admission and discharge.Results Mental status, mobility and vital signs were normal in 25% of patients on hospital admission and 30% of patients at discharge. Although very few patients with normal mental status, mobility and vital signs on admission died in hospital, the condition of 40% of them deteriorated.Conclusion No comparative data on changes in health condition between hospital admission and discharge have been published. Our proposed health condition categories identify changes that may matter most to patients and should be considered as a standard metric of hospital care.