A Retrospective Clinical Study of Patients who visited the Emergency Room of Korean Medicine Hospital affiliated with the Korean Medical School

Sung Min Bong; Woo Seok Jang; Kyung Ho Kim; Bong, Sung Min; Jang, Woo Seok; Kim, Kyung Ho

doi:10.13048/jkm.20018

JKM > Volume 41(2); 2020 > Article

Bong, Jang, and Kim: A Retrospective Clinical Study of Patients who visited the Emergency Room of Korean Medicine Hospital affiliated with the Korean Medical School

Original Article

The Journal of Korean Medicine 2020; 41(2): 107-121.

Published online: June 1, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.20018

A Retrospective Clinical Study of Patients who visited the Emergency Room of Korean Medicine Hospital affiliated with the Korean Medical School

Sung Min Bong

, Woo Seok Jang

, Kyung Ho Kim^*

Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Dongguk University Ilsan Oriental Hospital

Correspondence to: Kyung Ho Kim, Dongguk University Ilsan Oriental Hospital, 27, Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 10326, Republic of Korea, Tel: +82-31-961-9117, FAX: +82-31-961-9128, E-Mail: omdkkh@hanmail.net

Received April 17, 2020 Revised May 16, 2020 Accepted May 21, 2020

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of patients who visited the emergency room (ER) of a Korean medicine (KM) hospital and to provide basic data for further research.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis using electronic medical records of 263 patients who visited the ER of OO University Oriental Hospital from January 1 to December 31, 2019.

Results

Of the 263 patients’ medical records, 245 were included in this analysis. The male-to-female ratio was 1.09:1. The average age was 52 years, with patients in their 40s having the largest distribution. The district where the hospital was located had the largest number of patients. The distribution by visit time was the lowest in the early morning. Most patients visited on Sunday, in September, and on the day of onset. The admission rate was 39.18%, and largest number of patients was admitted to the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. The percentage of patients who revisited the KM hospital as an outpatient were 26.17%. The diagnosis for most patients was musculoskeletal disease. Acupuncture was the most common treatment, accounting for 62.45% of the cases, followed by herbal medicines, accounting for 54.69% of the cases. National health insurance was the most common type of insurance registered. Most patients visited the ER of the KM hospital via the ER of the hospital.

Conclusions

This clinical analysis helped us identify the characteristics of patients visiting the ER of a KM hospital. Continuous data accumulation is required in relation to this for further studies.

Keywords: Korean medicine hospital, emergency room, clinical study, Korean medicine, emergency medicine

Fig. 1

Flow diagram

Fig. 2

Classification by Arrival Time

Fig. 3

Classification by Week

Fig. 4

Classification by Month

Table 1

Classification by Sex and Age

Age	Male (Ratio, %)	Female (Ratio, %)
10~19	3 (1.22)	0 (0)
20~29	13 (5.31)	9 (3.67)
30~39	27 (11.02)	13 (5.31)
40~49	25 (10.20)	29 (11.84)
50~59	23 (9.39)	28 (11.43)
60~69	18 (7.35)	12 (4.90)
70~79	12 (4.90)	15 (6.12)
80~89	4 (1.63)	9 (3.67)
90≥	3 (1.22)	2 (0.82)

Total	128 (52.24)	117 (47.76)

Table 2

Classification by Residence

Residence	Number (Ratio, %)
Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si	93 (37.96)
Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si	39 (15.92)
Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si	33 (13.47)
Paju-si	25 (10.20)
Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul	14 (5.71)
Mapo-gu, Seoul	1 (0.41)
Gangseo-gu, Seoul	3 (1.22)
Seoul (excluding Eunpyeong-gu, Mapo-gu, Gangseo-gu)	10 (4.08)
Gyeonggi-do (excluding Goyang-si, Paju-si)	12 (4.90)
Incheon	5 (2.04)
Others	10 (4.08)

Total	245

Table 3

Classification by Onset time

Time after onset	Number (Ratio, %)
0~24hrs	91 (37.14)
1day	46 (18.78)
2days	34 (13.88)
3days	19 (7.76)
4days	10 (4.08)
5days	6 (2.45)
6days	4 (1.63)
7days	6 (2.45)
1~2weeks	14 (5.71)
2~4weeks	4 (1.63)
4~6weeks	6 (2.45)
Over 6weeks	5 (2.04)

Total	245

Table 4

Classification by hospitalization or revisit patient

Admission or Discharge	Number (Ratio, %)
Admission	96 (39.18)
Acupuncture & Moxibustion	52 (21.22)
Korean Medicine Rehabilitation	35 (14.29)
Internal Korean Medicine	7 (2.86)
Korean Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology	2 (0.82)
Revisit after discharge from emergency room	53 (21.63)
Acupuncture & Moxibustion	17 (6.94)
Korean Medicine Rehabilitation	17 (6.94)
Internal Korean Medicine	2 (0.82)
Other department	3 (1.22)
Emergency room	14 (5.71)
No revisits	96 (39.18)

Total	245

Table 5

Classification by Disease

Disease	Number (Ratio, %)
Musculoskeletal system
Neck pain	57 (23.27)
Back pain	87 (35.51)
Shoulder pain	12 (4.90)
Ankle pain	7 (2.86)
Thorax pain	4 (1.63)
Hip pain	8 (3.27)
Knee pain	7 (2.86)
Foot pain	2 (0.82)
Wrist pain	2 (0.82)
L/E pain	5 (2.04)
Pelvic pain	4 (1.63)

Circulatory & Nervous system
Headache	2 (0.82)
Facial palsy	21 (8.57)
Cerebral concussion	4 (1.63)
Dizziness	5 (2.04)
Paresthesia	2 (0.82)

Digestive system
Abdominal pain	3 (1.22)
Dyspepsia	4 (1.63)
Nausea	1 (0.41)
Vomiting	1 (0.41)

Respiratory system
Chronic cough	1 (0.41)
Dyspnea	1 (0.41)

Psychogenic disease
Anxiety	3 (1.22)

The others
General weakness	1 (0.41)
Skin disease	1 (0.41)

Total	245

Table 6

Classification by Treatment

Treatment	Number (Ratio, %)
Acupuncture	153 (62.45)
Cupping, dry	38 (15.51)
Cupping, wet	105 (42.86)

Herbal medicine	134 (54.69)
Dangkwisoo-san	20 (8.16)
Jackyakgamcho-tang	21 (8.57)
Sodo-hwan	3 (1.22)
Hwallak-dan	24 (9.80)
Hyeonggaeyeongyo-tang	2 (0.82)
Ojeok-san	1 (0.41)
Banhasasim-tang	1 (0.41)
Gamiguibi-tang	1 (0.41)
Hyangsapyeongwi-san	1 (0.41)
Banhabakchulchunma-tang	4 (1.63)
Cheongsimwon	1 (0.41)
Chungsanggyuntong-tang	1 (0.41)

Herbal pain relief patch	54 (22.04)

Others
Exercise therapy education	2 (0.82)
Neck collar	4 (1.63)
Counseling (No prescription)	2 (0.82)
Chuna therapy	1 (0.41)
Blood pricking therapy	2 (0.82)
Taping therapy	1 (0.41)
Intradermal acupuncture	1 (0.41)

Table 7

Classification by insurance type

Insurance	Number (Ratio, %)
National health insurance	162 (66.12)
Protection type 1 insurance	6 (2.45)
Auto insurance	77 (31.43)

Total	245

Table 8

Classification according to Hospital visits prior to emergency room of the Korean Medicine Hospital

Visit	Number (Ratio, %)
Emergency room of the Hospital (Including visits 1~3 days ago)	164 (66.94)
Other Hospitals	10 (4.08)
Only Emergency room of the Korean Medicine Hospital	71 (28.98)

Total	245

Table 9

Classification by treatment in emergency room of the Hospital before visiting emergency room of the Korean Medicine Hospital

Treatment	Number (Ratio, %)
X-ray	136
CT	40
MRI	18
Lab	33
Analgesic	125
Medication excluding analgesic	9

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