Table 1 Characteristics of study patients
Variable | Number (%) |
|---|---|
Overall | 349 (100%) |
Age (years), median (IQR) | 45 (29–60) |
Below 50 years | 212 (60.7) |
Above 50 years | 137 (39.3) |
Female Sex | 177 (50.7) |
Common comorbidity | 194 (55.6) |
Hypertension | 82 (23.5) |
Heart failure | 48 (13.8) |
Diabetes Mellitus | 26 (7.4) |
HIV infection | 12 (3.5) |
Chronic kidney disease | 10 (2.9) |
Sickle cell disease | 9 (2.6) |
Arrived by ambulance | 43 (12.3) |
Arrived by non-ambulance | 306 (87.7) |
Referral from peripheral hospitals | 99 (28.4) |
Self – referral | 250 (71.6) |
Associated symptoms | |
Shortness/difficulty in breathing | 109 (31.2) |
Cough | 62 (17.8) |
Heart beat awareness | 37 (10.6) |
Chest tightness | 32 (9.2) |
Fever | 29 (8.3) |
Abnormal vital signs | |
Tachypnea (RR > 20breaths/min at rest) | 132 (38.0) |
Tachycardia (HR > 100beats/min at rest) | 95 (27.4) |
High MAP (> 110mmhg) | 54 (15.4) |
Hypoxia (Spo2 < 94% in room air) | 31 (8.9) |
GCS < 15 | 20 (5.7) |