Barfod et al reported triage at the Hillerod Hospital in Denmark. One parameter was vital signs. This is one component of the Hillerod Acute Process Triage (HAPT) system.
Patient selection: adult being triaged to the Emergency Department
Vital sign groups:
(1) airway
(2) breathing: oxygen saturation and respiratory rate in breaths per minute
(3) circulation: heart rate in beats per minute and systolic blood pressure
(4) Glasgow coma score (GCS)
(5) temperature in °C
|
Number |
Color Code |
Response Time |
|
1 |
red |
immediate |
|
2 |
orange |
15 minutes (urgent) |
|
3 |
yellow |
60 minutes (less urgent) |
|
4 |
green |
180 minutes (not urgent) |
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
airway |
normal |
4 |
|
|
threatened |
2 |
|
|
obstructed or stridor |
1 |
|
oxygen saturation |
>= 95% |
4 |
|
|
90 to 94% |
3 |
|
|
80 to 89% |
2 |
|
|
< 80% |
1 |
|
respiratory rate |
< 8 breaths per minute |
1 |
|
|
8 to 25 |
4 |
|
|
26 to 30 |
3 |
|
|
31 to 35 |
2 |
|
|
> 35 breaths per minute |
1 |
|
heart rate |
< 40 beats per minute |
2 |
|
|
40 to 49 |
3 |
|
|
50 to 110 |
4 |
|
|
111 to 120 |
3 |
|
|
121 to 130 |
2 |
|
|
> 130 beats per minute |
1 |
|
systolic blood pressure |
>= 90 |
4 |
|
|
80 to 89 mm Hg |
2 |
|
|
< 80 mm Hg |
1 |
|
GCS |
15 |
4 |
|
|
14 |
3 |
|
|
9 to 13 |
2 |
|
|
3 to 8 |
1 |
|
temperature |
< 32°C |
2 |
|
|
32 to 34°C |
3 |
|
|
34.1 to 38.0°C |
4 |
|
|
38.1 to 40°C |
3 |
|
|
> 40°C |
2 |
In-hospital mortality increased with the number of abnormal vital signs (based on vital sign groups). It is assumed that abnormal referred to codes red and orange (not stated).
|
Abnormal Vital Signs |
OR for Mortality |
|
0 |
1 |
|
1 |
4 |
|
2 |
12 |
|
3 |
29 |
|
4 |
37 |
|
5 |
NA |
Specialty: Surgery, orthopedic, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Surgery, general
