Author Interviews, Emergency Care, Nature, Weight Research / 02.05.2013
Effects of obesity on patient experience in the emergency department
MedicalResearch.com eInterview with Professor David McDonald Taylor
Emergency Department, Austin Health
PO Box 5555, Heidelberg, Vic. 3084, Australia
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?
Answer: Overall, obese and non-obese patients have similar experiences during their ED stay. However, while obese patients tend to be younger and less sick, their more frequent presentation with potentially cardiac-related disease is reflected in their management. The excess of liver function tests and abdominal xrays performed on obese patients is likely to reflect examination difficulties and over investigation. Obese patients do experience more attempts at IV cannulation.
(more…)