Rapid Emergency Medicine Score can predict long-term mortality in nonsurgical emergency department patients.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the Rapid Emergency Medicine Score (REMS) as a predictor of long-term (4.7 years) mortality in the nonsurgical emergency department (ED).

METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study. A total of 12,006 nonsurgical patients consecutively presenting to an adult ED at a 1,200-bed university hospital during a period of one year were enrolled. REMS (including blood pressure, respiratory rate, pulse rate, Glasgow Coma Scale score, peripheral oxygen saturation, and patient age) was calculated for all patients admitted to the ED. The statistical associations between REMS and long-term mortality were examined.

RESULTS: REMS could predict mortality over 4.7 years (hazard ratio, 1.26; p < 0.0001). Similar results were obtained in the major patient groups (chest pain, stroke, coma, dyspnea, and diabetes).

CONCLUSIONS: REMS was a powerful predictor of long-term mortality in patients attending the ED for a wide range of common nonsurgical disorders.