Table 1 Distribution of medical records, clinical symptoms found, assumed LP indications, the performance of CT before LP, and final diagnoses in the presence of efficient LP according to patients’ age (coded in three classes). The frequency and the proportion (% in parentheses) of patients’ features are indicated among each subpopulation, defined according to age. Significant distribution differences according to patients’ age are assessed using chi-square tests
From: Lumbar punctures: use and diagnostic efficiency in emergency medical departments
Age (years) | Total | p | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Less than 35 | Between 35 & 65 | Over 65 | |||
n (%) | 56 (22.7) | 104 (42.1) | 87 (35.2) | 247 (100) | – |
Medical records | |||||
Neurological records | 1 (1.8) | 27 (26) | 36 (41.4) | 64 (25.9) | <0.001 |
Alcoholism | 2 (3.6) | 26 (25) | 8 (9.2) | 36 (14.6) | <0.001 |
Diabetes | 0 (0) | 7 (6.7) | 15 (17.2) | 22 (8.9) | – |
Headaches | 7 (12.5) | 11 (10.6) | 1 (1.1) | 19 (7.7) | – |
Clinical symptoms | |||||
Nonfocal neurological symptoms (confusion) | 15 (26.8) | 47 (45.2) | 55 (63.2) | 117 (47.4) | <0.001 |
Fever | 11(19.6) | 32 (30.8) | 36 (41.4) | 79 (32) | 0.024 |
Symptoms of an infection outside the CNS | 14 (25) | 24 (23.1) | 38 (43.7) | 76 (30.8) | 0.006 |
Headaches | 42 (75) | 51 (49) | 17 (19.5) | 110 (44.5) | <0.001 |
Neck stiffness | 19 (33.9) | 31 (29.8) | 31 (35.6) | 81 (32.8) | 0.68 |
Neck pain | 12 (21.4) | 10 (9.6) | 5 (5.7) | 27 (10.9) | 0.012 |
Vomiting | 20 (35.7) | 20 (19.2) | 10 (11.5) | 50 (20.2) | 0.002 |
Photophobia | 17 (30.4) | 15 (14.4) | 1 (1.1) | 33 (13.4) | <0.001 |
Phonophobia | 4 (7.1) | 4 (3.8) | 0 (0) | 8 (3.2) | – |
Focal neurological symptoms | 2 (3.6) | 8 (7.7) | 14 (16.1) | 24 (9.7) | 0.032 |
Altered consciousness | 2 (3.6) | 18 (17.3) | 12 (13.8) | 32 (13) | 0.046 |
Seizures | 3 (5.4) | 21 (20.2) | 5 (5.7) | 29 (11.7) | 0.003 |
Assumed primary LP indications | |||||
Infection of the CNS | 32 (57.1) | 54 (51.9) | 67 (77) | 153 (61.9) | 0.002 |
SAH | 18 (32.1) | 33 (31.7) | 12 (13.8) | 63 (25.5) | 0.008 |
Acute polyradiculoneuropathy (GBS) | 2 (3.6) | 6 (5.8) | 0 (0) | 8 (3.2) | – |
Undetermined | 4 (7.1) | 11 (10.6) | 8 (9.2) | 23 (9.3) | 0.78 |
CT prior to LP | 50 (89.3) | 93 (89.4) | 79 (90.8) | 222 (89.9) | 0.94 |
Diagnosis | |||||
Aseptic meningitis | 12 (21.4) | 8 (7.7) | 1 (1.1) | 21 (8.5) | – |
Bacterial meningitis | 1 (1.8) | 3 (2.9) | 2 (2.3) | 6 (2.4) | – |
Carcinomatous meningitis | 0 (0) | 1 (1) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.4) | – |
All meningitis | 13 (23.2) | 12 (11.5) | 3 (3.4) | 28 (11.3) | 0.002 |
SAH | 0 (0) | 1 (1) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.4) | – |
Acute polyradiculoneuropathy (GBS) | 1 (1.8) | 2 (1.9) | 1 (1.1) | 4 (1.6) | – |
All contributive LP | 14 (25) | 15 (14.4) | 4 (4.6) | 33 (13.4) | 0.003 |