Summary
Respiratory rate as a predictor of severity in outpatients with SARS-CoV-2 infection
Cristina García Marichal1, Manuel Francisco Aguilar Jerez2, Onán Pérez Hernández3, Fernando Armas González3, Luciano Delgado Plasencia4,5, Candelaria Martín González3,5
Affiliation of the authors
1Gerencia de Servicios Sanitarios de La Gomera, Servicio Canario de la Salud, Spain. 2Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Tenerife, Spain. 3Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario de Canarias. Spain. 4Sección de Cirugía de Urgencias, Servicio de Cirugía General y Digestiva. Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain. 5Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Sección de Medicina. Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife. Spain.
DOI
Quote
García Marichal C, Aguilar Jerez MF, Pérez Hernández O, Armas González F, Delgado Plasencia L, Martín González C. Respiratory rate as a predictor of severity in outpatients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Rev Esp Urg Emerg. 2024;3:144-9
Summary
OBJECTIVE. To evaluate the usefulness of respiratory rate (RR) as a predictor of severity in community-treated SARS-CoV-2 infection and to analyze the association of RR with course of disease.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. We included case records for 4019 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed in the community who were over the age of 60 years and/or were considered at high risk. The following clinical data were recorded for all patients: baseline oxygen saturation, blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, RR, and symptoms. Routine laboratory analyses and chest x-rays were also ordered for patients who were admitted to hospital.
RESULTS. Three hundred thirty-six patients (8.4%) were transferred to an emergency department, 293 (7.3%) were admitted, and 3726 were followed during treatment in the community. RR was associated with the number of days hospitalized (ρ, 0.15; P = .014). Tachypnea was associated with higher comorbidity, more symptoms (P < .001 for all symptoms evaluated), admission to an intensive
care unit (46.6% vs 28.0%; χ2 = 6.49; P = .011) with elevated markers of inflammation. None of the community-treated patients died (vs 28 of the hospitalized patients). Tachypnea observed during community treatment was associated with higher mortality (in 43% vs 2.9%; χ2 = 133.29; P < .001). RR was a predictor of admission to hospital (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve,
0.789 ± 0.015; 95% CI, 0.759-0.818; P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS. RR is a useful as a clinical sign that predicts hospital admission and mortality.