41 Prolonged length of stay of older patients in the ED CHAPTER 2 Conclusions In the current study, we were able to identify several risk factors for prolonged LOS of older patients at the ED. We found that the type of presenting complaints is of influence for the LOS at the ED: older patients with altered consciousness, neurological complaints or complaints in the field of internal medicine, had a higher likelihood of a prolonged LOS at the ED. Patients with a higher number of consultations or higher number of diagnostic interventions also had a higher likelihood of prolonged LOS at the ED. We also found evident differences between medical specialties regarding LOS at the ED: older patients treated by physicians of the departments of surgery, internal medicine or pulmonology were more likely to result in prolonged LOS at the ED. The results of our study underlines that LOS of older patients at the ED depends on organizational- and clinical factors. It is necessary that physicians take these factors into consideration in the challenge of avoiding prolonged LOS of older patients at the ED.
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