Diagnosis and treatment following transfer (n=350)
| Final diagnosis (in order of frequency) | n (%) |
| Drug effect or toxidrome | 87 (24.9) |
| Prescribed psychotropics (see table 1) | 67 (19.1) |
| Heroin, codeine, fentanyl | 7 (2.0) |
| Amphetamines or methamphetamines | 5 (1.4) |
| Alcohol intoxication | 3 (0.9) |
| Gamma-hydroxybutyrate | 2 (0.6) |
| Uncertain agent | 3 (0.9) |
| Infection or sepsis | 70 (20.0) |
| Dehydration or malnutrition | 58 (16.6) |
| Stroke or seizure | 39 (11.1) |
| Psychosis or behavioural | 32 (9.1) |
| Gastrointestinal or liver disease | 17 (4.9) |
| Exacerbation of asthma or COPD | 14 (4.0) |
| Arrhythmia | 12 (3.4) |
| Acute coronary syndrome | 10 (2.9) |
| DVT or pulmonary embolism | 5 (1.4) |
| Diabetic complication | 4 (1.1) |
| Severe electrolyte disorder | 2 (0.6) |
| Highest level of treatment needed* | |
| Observation only | 91 (26.0) |
| Medication adjustment† | 75 (21.4) |
| Intravenous fluids or transfusion | 94 (26.9) |
| Intravenous antibiotics | 62 (17.7) |
| Non-invasive ventilation | 6 (1.7) |
| Inotropic support | 3 (0.9) |
| Mechanical ventilation | 15 (4.3) |
| Ventilatory and inotropic support | 4 (1.1) |
*Mutually exclusive categories, even though multiple treatments may be needed. For example, a patient needing intravenous antibiotics and inotropic support is allocated the inotropic support category only.
†Includes oral antibiotics.
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; DVT, deep vein thrombosis.;