Table 2 Prevalence of keywords* exceeding 20% among ED patients discharged with ICD-10 code sepsis based on age

1

Abnormal, or suspected abnormal temperature

In turn including primary keywords shivering OR hypothermia OR the following combined keywords: Confirmed or suspected fever, Confirmed abnormal temperature (confirmed fever or hypothermia)

319

66.6

(62.3–70.7)

97

70.8

(62.4–78.3)

72

70.6

(60.7–79.2)

150

62.5

(56.0–68.6)

0.163

2

Pain

Abdominal/extremity/back/ undefined/urinary tract/joint/ chest/general/headache/throat/ wound/painful muscle cramp/ positive Pasternatsy´s sign (costovertebral angle tenderness)

230

48.0

(43.6–52.5)

87

63.5

(54.9–71.6)

44

43.1

(33.4–53.3)

99

41.3

(35.0–47.8)

0.000094

 < 65 years vs 65–74 years: 0.002

 < 65 years vs ≥ 75 years: 0.000032

65–74 years vs ≥ 75 years: 0.746

3

Abnormal breathing

Tachypnea, low oxygen saturation, airway secretions, breathing difficulties, cough, or obstructive breathing

210

43.8

(39.5–48.3)

44

32.1

(24.4–40.6)

51

50.0

(39.9–60.1)

115

47.9

(41.4–54.4)

0.004

 < 65 years vs 65–74 years: 0.005

 < 65 years vs ≥ 75 years: 0.003

65–74 years vs ≥ 75 years: 0.724

4

Risk factors for sepsis

Known ongoing or recent infection, current antibiotic treatment, recent invasive procedures, substance abuse, compromised immune system, chronically compromised breathing

172

36.0

(31.7–40.3)

74

54.0

(45.3–62.6)

43

42.2

(32.4–52.3)

55

22.9

(17.8–28.8)

3.6677E-9

 < 65 years vs 65–74 years: 0.070

 < 65 years vs ≥ 75 years: 9.2784E-10

65–74 years vs ≥ 75 years: 0.000318

5

Abnormal circulation

Weak pulse or difficulties to palpate the pulse, peripheral coldness, cardiac arrest, tachycardia, low blood pressure, prolonged capillary refill time or non-measurable circulatory variables

163

34.0

(29.9–38.4)

47

34.3

(26.4–42.9)

40

39.2

(29.7–49.4)

76

31.7

(25.8–38.0)

0.402

6

Temporal deterioration 

Stated deterioration or expressions describing a temporal change

144

30.1

(26.1–34.3)

43

31.4

(23.7–39.9)

34

33.3

(24.3–43.4)

67

27.9

(22.3–34.1)

0.560

7

Gastrointestinal symptoms

Vomiting, diarrhoea, reduced amount of stool, gastrointestinal bleeding, obstipation, pale faeces

137

28.6

(24.7–32.8)

44

32.1

(24.4–40.6)

27

26.5

(18.2–36.1)

66

27.5

(22.0–33.6)

0.549

8

Acute altered mental status

Abnormal behaviour or level of consciousness (excluding previously known dementia or mental retardation without statement worse) OR abnormal verbal response defined as no/decreased verbal response

127

26.5

(22.8–30.6)

28

20.4

(14.0–28.2)

22

21.6

(14.0–30.8)

77

32.1

(26.2–38.4)

0.021

 < 65 years vs 65–74 years: 0.832

 < 65 years vs ≥ 75 years: 0.015

65–74 years vs ≥ 75 years: 0.050

9

Abnormal skin

Paleness, wounds or wound infection, sweaty, cyanosis, redness, icterus, mottling, bruises, rash, blisters or peteckiae, change of skin turgor, exuding skin

125

26.1

(22.4–30.2)

46

33.6

(25.7–42.1)

20

19.6

(12.4–28.6)

59

24.6

(19.3–30.5)

0.039

 < 65 years vs 65–74 years: 0.017

 < 65 years vs ≥ 75 years: 0.061

65–74 years vs ≥ 75 years: 0.318

10

Abnormal urination

Abnormal urination (such as haematuria without trauma, bad smelling or cloudy urine, increased frequency of urination) OR urinary tract pain OR decreased urinary volumes OR dysfunction of urinary catheters defined as obstruction/leakage/problematic urinary catheters including nefrostomias

118

24.6

(21.0–28.7)

23

16.8

(11.0–24.1)

28

27.5

(19.1–37.2)

67

27.9

(22.3–34.1)

0.041

 < 65 years vs 65–74 years: 0.047

 < 65 years vs ≥ 75 years: 0.015

65–74 years vs ≥ 75 years: 0.930

11

Loss of energy

Defined as fatigue, weakness, faintness or similar expressions

113

23.6

(20.0–27.6)

28

20.4

(14.0–28.2)

19

18.6

(11.6–27.6)

66

27.5

(22.0–33.6)

0.123

12

Decreased mobility

in turn including primary keywords remained sitting or lying in an abnormal way OR decreased miscellaneous mobility OR the following combined keywords: “weakness of the legs” and” fallen or being found on the floor”

106

22.1

(18.6–26.1)

18

13.1

(8.0–20.0)

22

21.6

(14.0–30.8)

66

27.5

(22.0–33.6)

0.005

 < 65 years vs 65–74 years: 0.084

 < 65 years vs ≥ 75 years: 0.001

65–74 years vs ≥ 75 years: 0.251