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Table 4 Criteria for adverse events of hospitalisation

From: Hospitalisation in an emergency department short-stay unit compared to an internal medicine department is associated with fewer complications in older patients – an observational study

In-hospital events

 Events that occur at any time during index hospital stay, regardless of whether the patient is transferred to another treatment unit later in the observation period. If clear documentation of suspicion of the disease or deficits existed in the admission note, it was not deemed an adverse event.

 - Medication error

 - Drug side effect i.e. any adverse drug side effect or reaction

 - Transfer to intensive care unit

 - Unplanned transfer to another ward, department or hospital

 - Unplanned surgery i.e. any unplanned surgery

 - Injury due to invasive procedure i.e. any unplanned removal, injury, or repair of organ or structure during surgery, invasive procedure

 - Gastrointestinal bleeding

 - Neurologic deficit i.e. development of neurological deficit not present on admission

 - Unexpected death i.e. not an expected outcome of the disease during hospital stay

 - Cardiac or respiratory arrest

 - In-hospital fall

 - Nosocomial infection i.e. any hospital acquired infection or sepsis during index hospital stay

 - Decubitus acquired in hospital

 - Thromboembolic event i.e. any thromboembolic event including myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, cerebrovascular accident, pulmonary embolism

 - Disturbances of fluid balance i.e. any episode of dehydration, overhydration, and electrolyte imbalances that was not present at time of admission

 - Any other undesirable outcomes (not covered by any of the other criteria)

Post-discharge events

 - Inappropriate discharge defined as discharge in spite of presence of serious conditions that were not addressed during hospitalisation or time of discharge

 - Unplanned readmission defined as a return to hospital that led to unplanned admission within 30 days after discharge from index admission