Comparison of validity of Korean triage and acuity scale levels assessed by triage nurse in real-time and by retrospectively applying strict systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria in patients with fever

Abstract

The strict application of vital signs has substantial risk of over-triage. Therefore, this study assessed the predictive value of Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) level calculated using strict Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) criteria versus that evaluated by a verified triage nurse (TN). The study is based on a retrospective observational cohort of a single-center emergency department (ED) from 01 May 2018 to 30 April 2019. Study subjects were patients aged ≥18 years with fever. Intensive care unit admission rate or death in ED (IADE) and general ward admission rate according to two differently defined KTAS levels were compared by receiver operating characteristic curve and logistic regression. A total of 2322 patients were included. In comparing the area under the curves (AUCs) of TN- and SIRS-KTAS, TN-KTAS’ predictive power for IADE (0.802) was higher than that of SIRS-KTAS (0.7440, p = 0.0489). The odds ratio of level 3 for IADE (1.35) was not significantly different from that of level 4 in SIRS-KTAS (p = 0.5429). In KTAS, the severity of illness in patients was more accurately predicted by the triage nurse’s decision based on clinical experience than the strict application of SIRS criteria with only vital signs.