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We investigated association between epidemiological and clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and clinical outcomes in Korea. This nationwide retrospective cohort study included 5621 discharged patients with COVID-19, extracted from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) database. We compared clinical data between survivors (n = 5387) and non-survivors (n = 234). We used logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards model to explore risk factors of death and fatal adverse outcomes. Increased odds ratio (OR) of mortality occurred with age (≥ 60 years) [OR 11.685, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.655–34.150, p  < 0.001], isolation period, dyspnoea, altered mentality, diabetes, malignancy, dementia, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The multivariable regression equation including all potential variables predicted mortality (AUC = 0.979, 95% CI 0.964–0.993). Cox proportional hazards model showed increasing hazard ratio (HR) of mortality with dementia (HR 6.376, 95% CI 3.736–10.802, p  < 0.001), ICU admission (HR 4.233, 95% CI 2.661–6.734, p  < 0.001), age ≥ 60 years (HR 3.530, 95% CI 1.664–7.485, p  = 0.001), malignancy (HR 3.054, 95% CI 1.494–6.245, p  = 0.002), and dyspnoea (HR 1.823, 95% CI 1.125–2.954, p  = 0.015). Presence of dementia, ICU admission, age ≥ 60 years, malignancy, and dyspnoea could help clinicians identify COVID-19 patients with poor prognosis.

Survival benefits of prehospital advanced airway and epinephrine in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients are controversial, but few studies evaluated this together. This study evaluated association of prehospital advanced airway and epinephrine with survival outcomes in OHCA patients. This was observational study using a prospective multicentre KoCARC registry. Adult OHCA patients between October 2015 and December 2021 were included. The variables of interest were prehospital managements, which was classified into basic life support (BLS)-only, BLS + advanced airway, and BLS + advanced airway + epinephrine. In total, 8217 patients were included in analysis. Survival to discharge and good neurological outcomes were lowest in the BLS + advanced airway + epinephrine group (22.1% in BLS-only vs 13.2% in BLS + advanced airway vs 7.5% in BLS + advanced airway + epinephrine, P  < 0.001 and 17.1% in BLS-only vs 9.2% in BLS + advanced airway vs 4.3% in BLS + advanced airway + epinephrine, P  < 0.001, respectively). BLS + advanced airway + epinephrine group was less likely to survive to discharge and have good neurological outcomes (aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.28–0.55, P  < 0.001 and aOR 0.33, 95% CI 0.21–0.51, P  < 0.001, respectively) than BLS-only group after adjusting for potential confounders. In prehospital settings with intermediate EMS providers and prehospital advanced airway insertion is performed followed by epinephrine administration, prehospital management with BLS + advanced airway + epinephrine in OHCA patients was associated with lower survival to discharge rate compared to BLS-only.

Muscle mass depletion is associated with mortality and morbidity in various conditions including sepsis. However, few studies have evaluated muscle mass using point-of-care ultrasound in patients with sepsis. This study aimed to evaluate the association between thigh muscle mass, evaluated using point-of-care ultrasound with panoramic view in patients with sepsis in the emergency department, and mortality. From March 2021 to October 2022, this prospective observational study used sepsis registry. Adult patients who were diagnosed with sepsis at the emergency department and who underwent point-of-care ultrasounds for lower extremities were included. The thigh muscle mass was evaluated by the cross-sectional area of the quadriceps femoris (CSA-QF) on point-of-care ultrasound using panoramic view. The primary outcome was 28 day mortality. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard model was performed. Of 112 included patients with sepsis, mean CSA-QF was significantly lower in the non-surviving group than surviving group (49.6 [34.3–56.5] vs. 63.2 [46.9–79.6] cm 2 , p = 0.002). Each cm 2 increase of mean CSA-QF was independently associated with decreased 28 day mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 0.961, 95% CI 0.928–0.995, p = 0.026) after adjustment for potential confounders. The result of other measurements of CSA-QF were similar. The muscle mass of the quadriceps femoris evaluated using point-of-care ultrasound with panoramic view was associated with mortality in patients with sepsis. It might be a promising tool for determining risk factors for mortality in sepsis patients in the early stages of emergency department.

Background Timely and accurate triage is crucial for the emergency department (ED) care. Recently, there has been growing interest in applying large language models (LLMs) to support triage decision-making. However, most existing studies have evaluated these models using simulated scenarios rather than real-world clinical cases. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of multiple commercial LLMs for non-critical triage support in ED using real-world clinical conversations. Methods We retrospectively analyzed real-world triage conversations prospectively collected from three tertiary hospitals in South Korea. Multiple commercial LLMs—including OpenAI GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, O3, Google Gemini 2.0 flash, Gemini 2.5 flash, Gemini 2.5 pro, DeepSeek V3, and DeepSeek R1—were evaluated for the accuracy in triaging patient urgency based solely on unsummarized dialogue. The Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) assigned by triage nurses was used as the gold standard for evaluating the LLM classifications. Model performance was assessed under both a zero-shot prompting condition and a few-shot prompting condition that included representative examples. Results A total of 1,057 triage cases were included in the analysis. Among the models, Gemini 2.5 flash achieved the highest accuracy (73.8%), specificity (88.9%), and PPV (94.0%). Gemini 2.5 pro demonstrated the highest sensitivity (90.9%) and F1-score (82.4%), though with lower specificity (23.3%). GPT-4.1 also showed balanced high accuracy (70.6%) and sensitivity (81.3%) with practical response times (1.79s). Performance varied widely between models and even between different versions from the same vendor. With few-shot prompting, most models showed further improvements in accuracy and F1-score. Conclusions LLMs can accurately triage ED patient urgency using real-world clinical conversations. Several models demonstrated both high sensitivity and acceptable response times, supporting the feasibility of LLM in non-critical triage support tools in diverse clinical environments. These findings apply to non-critical patients (KTAS 3–5), and further research should address integration with objective clinical data and real-time workflow.

AbstractIntroductionIdentifying patients with at a high risk of progressing to septic shock is essential. Due to systemic vasodilation in the pathophysiology of septic shock, the use of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) has emerged. We hypothesized that the initial shock index (SI) and diastolic SI (DSI) at the emergency department (ED) triage can predict septic shock. MethodThis observational study used the prospectively collected sepsis registry. The primary outcome was progression to septic shock. Secondary outcomes were the time to vasopressor requirement, vasopressor dose, and severity according to SI and DSI. Patients were classified by tertiles according to the first principal component of shock index and diastolic shock index. ResultsA total of 1267 patients were included in the analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for predicting progression to septic shock for DSI was 0.717, while that for SI was 0.707. The AUC for predicting progression to septic shock for DSI and SI were significantly higher than those for conventional early warning scores. Middle tertile showed adjusted Odd ratio (aOR) of 1.448 (95% CI 1.074–1.953), and that of upper tertile showed 3.704 (95% CI 2.299–4.111). ConclusionThe SI and DSI were significant predictors of progression to septic shock. Our findings suggest an association between DSI and vasopressor requirement. We propose stratifying lower tertile as being at low risk, middle tertile as being at intermediate risk, and upper tertile as being at high risk of progression to septic shock. This system can be applied simply at the ED triage.

Although rib fractures are a risk factor, not all rib fracture patients will develop delayed hemothorax. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors which can identify rib fracture patients in the emergency department who may develop delayed hemothorax. Adult patients seen in the emergency room between January 2016 and February 2021 with rib fractures caused by blunt chest trauma were included in this retrospective observational study. Patients who underwent chest tube insertion within 2 days and those without follow-up chest radiographs within 2–30 days were excluded. We used a stepwise backward-elimination multivariable logistic regression model for analysis. A total of 202 patients were included in this study. The number of total (P < 0.001), lateral (P = 0.019), and displaced (P < 0.001) rib fractures were significantly associated with delayed hemothorax. Lung contusions (P = 0.002), and initial minimal hemothorax (P < 0.001) and pneumothorax (P < 0.001) were more frequently associated with delayed hemothorax. Age (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00–1.06, P = 0.022), mechanical ventilator use (aOR 9.67, 95% CI 1.01–92.75, P = 0.049), initial hemothorax (aOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.05–4.65, P = 0.037) and pneumothorax (aOR 2.99, 95% CI 1.36–6.54, P = 0.006), and displaced rib fractures (aOR 3.51, 95% CI 1.64–7.53, P = 0.001) were independently associated with delayed hemothorax. Age, mechanical ventilation, initial hemo- or pneumothorax, and displaced rib fractures were risk factors for delayed hemothorax. Patients with these risk factors, and especially those with ≥2 displaced rib fractures, require close chest radiography follow-up of 2–30 days after the initial trauma.

There is insufficient evidence regarding the use of second-line vasopressors following norepinephrine administration in the post-resuscitation management of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the survival outcomes between norepinephrine plus epinephrine and norepinephrine plus vasopressin as vasopressor combinations after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in patients with OHCA. This retrospective observational study included data from a prospective multicenter registry. Adult patients with OHCA who achieved sustained ROSC and received vasopressor combinations of norepinephrine plus epinephrine or norepinephrine plus vasopressin were included in the study. The variable of interest was the vasopressor combination either norepinephrine plus epinephrine or norepinephrine plus vasopressin within 24 h from sustained ROSC. The primary outcome was survival to discharge. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted. Between October 2015 and June 2024, 901 patients were analyzed. Survival to discharge and good neurological outcome were significantly higher in the group with norepinephrine plus epinephrine than in the group with norepinephrine plus vasopressin (17.0% vs. 9.1%, p = 0.001, and 8.1% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.002, respectively). Norepinephrine plus vasopressin was independently associated with worse survival to discharge and neurological outcome compared to norepinephrine plus epinephrine, after adjusting for potential confounders (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.454, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.277–0.746, p = 0.002 and aOR 0.346, 95% CI 0.150–0.794, p = 0.012, respectively). These findings were maintained in multiple regression models and sensitivity analyses. Norepinephrine plus epinephrine administration within 24 h from sustained ROSC showed better survival to discharge than norepinephrine plus vasopressin in patients with OHCA.

This study aimed to describe the timely strategies used to prevent the spread of the emerging coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and present the activities performed in a regional base hospital in South Korea, from the identification of the index patient until the pandemic declaration. This is a descriptive study detailing the step-by-step guidelines implemented to manage COVID-19 in a regional tertiary base hospital from January to March 2020. We described our three-phase response to the COVID-19 outbreak as per the national and global quarantine procedures applied during each critical event and highlighted the activities implemented from the perspective of public health crisis preparedness involving emerging infectious diseases. During the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea, we improved and implemented a rapid and flexible screening system for visiting patients using patient history and radiological testing and created a separate isolation zone for patients under investigation. This active identification-isolation strategy has been effectively applied in the COVID-19 outbreak. The step-by-step enforced strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19, though not perfect, adequately reduced the risk of transmission of the highly contagious infectious disease in the hospital while maintaining the emergency medical system.

Sex differences in the in-hospital management of sepsis exist. Previous studies either included patients with sepsis that was defined using previous definitions of sepsis or evaluated the 3-h bundle therapy. Therefore, this study sought to assess sex differences in 1-h bundle therapy and in-hospital management among patients with sepsis and septic shock, defined according to the Sepsis-3 definitions. This observational study used data from Korean Shock Society (KoSS) registry, a prospective multicenter sepsis registry. Adult patients with sepsis between June 2018 and December 2021 were included in this study. The primary outcome was adherence to 1-h bundle therapy. Propensity score matching (PSM) and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Among 3264 patients with sepsis, 3129 were analyzed. PSM yielded 2380 matched patients (1190 men and 1190 women). After PSM, 1-h bundle therapy was performed less frequently in women than in men (13.0% vs. 19.2%; p  < 0.001). Among the bundle therapy components, broad-spectrum antibiotics were administered less frequently in women than in men (25.4% vs. 31.6%, p  < 0.001), whereas adequate fluid resuscitation was performed more frequently in women than in men (96.8% vs. 95.0%, p  = 0.029). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, 1-h bundle therapy was performed less frequently in women than in men [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.559; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.245–1.951; p  < 0.001] after adjustment. Among the bundle therapy components, broad-spectrum antibiotics were administered less frequently to women than men (aOR 1.339, 95% CI 1.118–1.605; p  = 0.002), whereas adequate fluid resuscitation was performed more frequently for women than for men (aOR 0.629, 95% CI 0.413–0.959; p  = 0.031). Invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring was performed less frequently in women than in men. Resuscitation fluid, vasopressor, steroid, central-line insertion, ICU admission, length of stay in the emergency department, mechanical ventilator use, and renal replacement therapy use were comparable for both the sexes. Among patients with sepsis and septic shock, 1-h bundle therapy was performed less frequently in women than in men. Continuous efforts are required to increase adherence to the 1-h bundle therapy and to decrease sex differences in the in-hospital management of patients with sepsis and septic shock.

Background The disadvantages and complications of computed tomography (CT) can be minimized if CT is performed in rib fracture patients with high probability of intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal injuries and CT is omitted in rib fracture patients with low probability of intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal injuries. This study aimed to evaluate the factors that can identify patients with rib fractures with intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal injuries in the emergency department among patients with rib fracture. Methods This retrospective observational study included adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) diagnosed with rib fracture on chest radiography prior to chest CT due to blunt chest trauma in the emergency department who underwent chest CT from January 2016 to February 2021. The primary outcomes were intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal injuries that could be identified on a chest CT. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Results Among the characteristics of rib fractures, the number of rib fractures was greater (5.0 [3.0–7.0] vs. 2.0 [1.0–3.0], p  < 0.001), bilateral rib fractures were frequent (56 [20.1%] vs. 12 [9.8%], p  = 0.018), and lateral and posterior rib fracture was more frequent (lateral rib fracture: 160 [57.3%] vs. 25 [20.5%], p  < 0.001; posterior rib fracture: 129 [46.2%] vs. 21 [17.2%], p  < 0.001), and displacement was more frequent (99 [35.5%] vs. 6 [6.6%], p  < 0.001) in the group with intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal injuries than in the group with no injury. The number of rib fractures (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–1.78; p  = 0.001), lateral rib fracture (aOR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.32–5.95; p  = 0.008), and posterior rib fracture (aOR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.45–6.94; p  = 0.004) were independently associated with intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal injuries. The optimal cut-off for the number of rib fractures on the outcome was three. The number of rib fractures ≥ 3 (aOR, 3.01; 95% CI, 1.35–6.71; p  = 0.007) was independently associated with intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal injuries. Conclusion In patients with rib fractures due to blunt trauma, those with lateral or posterior rib fractures, those with ≥ 3 rib fractures, and those requiring O 2 supplementation require chest CT to identify significant intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal injuries in the emergency department.