Difference between admission and discharge of measured physiological variables in 30 patients either readmitted (n=9) or not readmitted (n=21) within 14 days of hospital discharge
| ∆MEWS* | ∆FEV1† | Previous admissions* | ∆EMGpara%max | ∆NRDI | |
| Readmitted | 0 (−1–2) | 0.09±0.15 | 4 (0–14) | 1.98±4.36 | 76±134 |
| Not readmitted | 0 (−3–2) | 0.08±0.10 | 3 (0–10) | −4.05±10.30 | −127±305 |
| Mean difference (95% CI) | 0.1 (0.14 to 0.11) | 6.03 (11.5 to 0.54) | 203 (39 to 366) | ||
| p Value | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.03 | 0.02 |
Data presented as mean±SD or *median (range).
↵† Seven patients were unable to perform spirometry on two occasions so analysis of FEV1 was performed on readmitted (n=6) and not readmitted (n=17).
EMGpara%max, EMGpara during tidal breathing normalised for maximum EMGpara produced during a sniff manoeuvre; EMGpara, parasternal electromyogram activity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; MEWS, medical early warning score; NRDI, neural respiratory drive index (respiratory rate × EMGpara%max).