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Table 3 Patient descriptors

From: Template for documenting and reporting data in physician-staffed pre-hospital services: a consensus-based update

Data variable numberMain data variable nameType of dataData variable categories or valuesData variable sub-categories or valuesTypeDefinition of data variableHow often should variable be reported
3. Patient descriptors
3.1.AgeContinuous  NumberPatient age at the time of eventFor each mission
3.2.GenderCategorical3.2.1 Female Bullet listPatient genderFor each mission
  3.2.2 Male    
  3.2.3 Unknown    
3.3.Pre-event comorbidityOrdinal  Bullet listPre-event ASA-PS. The comorbidity existing before event. Derangements from present disease should not be consideredFor each mission
  3.3.1 ASA-PS 1  A normal healthy patient 
  3.3.2 ASA-PS 2  A patient with mild systemic disease 
  3.3.3 ASA-PS 3  A patient with severe systemic disease 
  3.3.4 ASA-PS 4  A patient with severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life 
  3.3.5 ASA-PS 5  A moribund patient who is not expected to survive without operation 
  3.3.6 ASA-PS 6  A declared brain-dead patient whose organs are being removed for donor purposes 
  3.3.7 ASA Unknown    
3.4.Chronic medicationsCategorical3.4.1 Yes Bullet listDoes patient use medication on a regular basis?For each mission
  3.4.2 No    
  3.4.3 Unknown    
3.5.Medical problemCategorical  Bullet listThe condition most likely to be the patient’s true medical problem, main clinical symptom or diagnosis, decided by attending p-EMSFor each mission
  3.5.1 Cardiac arrest medical aetiology    
  3.5.2 Cardiac arrest traumatic aetiology    
  3.5.3 Trauma    
  3.5.4 Breathing difficulties    
  3.5.5 Myocardial infarction (MI)  Confirmed by ECG 
  3.5.6 Chest pain, MI not confirmed    
  3.5.7 Stroke    
  3.5.8 Acute neurology excluding stroke    
  3.5.9. Reduced level of consciousness  Aetiology unknown 
  3.5.10 Poisoning/Intoxication    
  3.5.11 Burns    
  3.5.12 Obstetrics and childbirth    
  3.5.13 Infection    
  3.5.14 Anaphylaxis    
  3.5.15 Surgical    
  3.5.16 Asphyxiation    
  3.5.17 Drowning    
  3.5.18 Psychiatry excluding poisoning/intoxication    
  3.5.19 Other    
3.6.Glasgow Coma ScaleOrdinal3.6.1 First NumberFirst recorded pre-interventional GCS upon arrival of p-EMSFor each mission
  3.6.2 Last  GCS at end of patient care or patient handover 
  3.6.3 Not recorded    
 Categorical3.6.4 Patient intubated3.6.4.1 YesBullet list  
   3.6.4.2 No   
3.7.Heart rateContinuous  NumberDocumented by ECG (1st choice), palpation or SpO2 curves (3rd choice) 
  3.7.1 First  First heart rate per minute measured by p-EMS upon arrival 
  3.7.2 Last  Heart rate per minute at end of care or patient handover 
  3.7.3 Not recorded    
3.8.Systolic blood pressureContinuous3.8.1 Lowest NumberLowest recorded systolic blood pressure measured by p-EMS (sphygmomanometer, monitor or intra-arterial line) upon arrival 
  3.8.2 First  First recorded systolic blood pressure measured by p-EMS (sphygmomanometer, monitor or intra-arterial line) upon arrival 
  3.8.3 Last  Systolic blood pressure at end of care or patient handover 
  3.8.4 Not recordable  Not possible to record despite several attempts 
  3.8.5 Not recorded    
3.9.Cardiac rhythm/ECG rhythmCategorical3.9.1 First3.9.1.1 Sinus rhythmBullet listFirst cardiac rhythm interpreted by p-EMS (minimum 3-channel lead). At primary survey/upon arrivalFor each mission
   3.9.1.2. SVES, VESmono   
   3.9.1.3 AF/AFL/AV-block gr II/III, VESpoly   
   3.9.1.4 VF, VT, Asystole, PEA   
   3.9.1.5 Not recorded   
  3.9.2 Last3.9.2.1 Sinus rhythm Cardiac rhythm at end of care or patient handover (minimum 3-channel lead) 
   3.9.2.2 SVES, VESmono   
   3.9.2.3 AF/AFL/AV-block gr II/III, VESpoly   
   3.9.2.4 VF, VT, Asystole, PEA   
   3.9.2.5 Not recorded   
3.10.SpO2Continuous3.10.1 Lowest NumberLowest recorded oxygen saturation by p-EMS (measured with pulse oximeter or arterial blood gas (SaO2))For each mission
  3.10.2 First  First recorded oxygen saturation by p-EMS (measured with pulse oximeter or arterial blood gas (SaO2) upon arrival) 
  3.10.3 Last  Oxygen saturation at end of care or patient handover 
  3.10.4 Not recordable  Not possible to record despite several attempts 
  3.10.5 Not recorded    
3.11.Oxygen supplementationCategorical3.11.1 Oxygen supplementation at first measurement of SpO23.11.1.1 YesBullet listFirst measurement by p-EMSFor each mission
   3.11.1.2 No   
  3.11.2 Oxygen supplementation at last measurement of SpO23.11.2.1 Yes Last measurement by p-EMS 
   3.11.2.2 No   
3.12.Respiratory rateContinuous3.12.1 First NumberFirst respiratory rate per minute measured by p-EMS upon arrival. If mechanically ventilated; document ventilation rateFor each mission
  3.12.2 Last  Respiratory rate at end of care or patient handover 
  3.12.3 Not recorded    
3.13.PainCategorical3.13.1 First VAS score NumberFirst VAS score assessed by p-EMS upon arrivalFor each mission
  3.13.2 Last VAS score  VAS score at end of care or patient handover 
  3.13.3 Not recorded    
3.14.End-tidal CO2Continuous3.14.1 First NumberFirst end-tidal CO2 measured by p-EMSFor each mission
  3.14.2 Last  Last end-tidal CO2 measured by p-EMS 
  3.14.3 Not recorded    
3.15.Temperature (core)Continuous3.15.1 First NumberFirst core temperature measured by p-EMS upon arrivalFor each mission
  3.15.2 Last  Last core temperature measured by p-EMS 
  3.15.3 Not recorded    
3.16Airway at primary surveyCategorical3.16.1 Clear Bullet listAs rated by attending physicianFor each mission
  3.16.2 Threatened    
  3.16.3 Obstructed    
  3.16.4 Unknown    
  1. ASA-PS American Society of Anesthesiologists physical scale, p-EMS physician-staffed emergency medical services, MI Myocardial infarction, ECG Electrocardiogram, GCS Glasgow coma score, SpO2 Peripheral capillary oxygen saturation, SVES Supraventricular extrasystole, VESmono Ventricular extrasystole, monomorphic, AF Atrial fibrillation, AFL Atrial flutter, AV-block Atrioventricular block, VESpoly Ventricular extrasystole, polymorphic, VF Ventricular fibrillation, VT Ventricular tachycardia, PEA Pulseless electrical activity, SaO2 Arterial oxygen saturation, VAS Visual analogue scale, CO2 Carbon dioxide
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