Table 7 Studies on how the assessment of the urgency of need to see a physician according to different triage systems could predict hospitalization.

Van Gerven R et al

2001, [39]

The Netherlands

ATS

3 650 patients,

Age & sex not given

Hospital admission

Triage level:

1: 85%

2: 71%

3: 48%

4: 18%

5: 17%

p < 0.0001

Moderate

Chi CH et al

2006, [16]

Taiwan

ESI2

3 172 patients

47 years

47% female

Hospital admission

Triage level:

1: 96%

2: 47%

3: 31%

4: 7%

5: 7%

p < 0.0001

- ESI scored in retrospect

- Unclear inclusion criteria

Moderate

Wuerz RC et al

2000, [40]

USA

ESI

493 patients

40 years

52% female

Hospital admission

Triage level:

1: 92%

2: 61%

3: 36%

4: 10%

5: 0 %

p < 0.0001

- Unclear inclusion criteria

Low

Dent A et al

1999, [35]

ATS

42 778 patients

Age & sex not given

Hospital admission

Triage level:

1: 83%

2: 69%

3: 49%

4: 33%

5: 9%

p < 0.0001

Moderate

Eitel DR et al

2003, [37]

USA

ESI2

1 042 patients

7 different EDs

43 years

47% female

Hospital admission

Triage level:

1: 83%

2: 67%

3: 42%

4: 8%

5: 4%

p < 0.001

- Not consecutive patients

Moderate

Tanabe P et al

2004, [38]

USA

ESI3

403 patients

45 years

49% female

Hospital admission

Triage level:

1: 80%

2: 73%

3: 51%

4: 6%

5: 5%

p < 0.001

- Not consecutive patients

- Retrospective triage

Low

Wuerz RC et al

2001b, [41]

USA

ESI

8 251 patients

Age & sex not given

Hospital admission

Triage level:

1: 92%

2: 65%

3: 35%

4: 6%

5: 2%

p < 0.001

- consecutive patients

Moderate

Doherty S et al

2003, [36]

ATS

84 802 patients

Age & sex not given

Hospital admission

Triage level:

1: 79%

2: 60%

3: 41%

4: 18%

5: 3.1%

p < 0.001

- consecutive patients

Moderate

Maningas PA et al

2006, [6]

SRTS

33 850 patients

Age 30, 56% female

Hospital admission

Triage level:

1: 43%

2: 30%

3: 13%

4: 3.0%

5: 1.4%

p < 0.0001

- consecutive patients

Moderate