Short summary

Emergency departments (ED) internationally are treating an increasing number of patients. Most require hospital services but some could be better cared for on alternative pathways. D-dimer has some unique properties. It is non-specific and is elevated in many acute conditions; but conversely remains normal in the absence of significant disease. Previous studies have shown that having a normal D-dimer on arrival to the emergency department is associated with a very low risk of 30-day all-cause

Rationale

The study is to test if physician knowledge of the risk of 30-day all-cause mortality based on the blood D- dimer level of patients arriving to the emergency department with normal vital signs and able to walk without assistance, changes the time to disposition decision made by treating physician, the proportion of patients admitted to hospital, their length of emergency department and hospital stay, their resource utilization while in hospital, and the mortality rates of all patients (both admitted and discharged).

Description of the cohort

Patients arriving to an emergency department with normal vital signs and ambulatory that require blood tests

Data and biological material

The blood test D-dimer and demographic information.

Collaborating researchers and departments

The Emergency Departments at Holbæk, Slagelse and Esbjerg Hospitals

• Michael Dan Arvig (Slagelse)
• Jogvan Matras (Holbæk)
• Peter Biesenbach (Esbjerg)

Department of Emergency Medicine