TY - JOUR T1 - Exercise-induced hypoxia among emergency department patients admitted for suspected COVID-19 JF - Emergency Medicine Journal JO - Emerg Med J SP - 794 LP - 797 DO - 10.1136/emermed-2021-211220 VL - 38 IS - 10 AU - Peter Davies AU - Timothy Jones AU - Francisca Bartilotti-Matos AU - Tim Crowe AU - Andrew Russell AU - Catie Sykes Y1 - 2021/10/01 UR - http://emj.bmj.com/content/38/10/794.abstract N2 - Background Exercise-induced hypoxia (EIH) has been assessed at ED triage as part of an assessment of COVID-19; however, evidence supporting this practice is incomplete. We assessed the use of a 1-minute sit-to-stand exercise test among ED patients admitted for suspected COVID-19.Methods A case note review of all ED patients assessed for suspected COVID-19 between March and May 2020 at Monklands University Hospital was conducted. Demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, baseline blood tests and radiographic findings, hospital length of stay, intensive care and maximum oxygen requirement were obtained for those admitted. Using logistic regression, the association between EIH at admission triage and COVID-19 diagnosis was explored adjusting for confounding clinical parameters.Results Of 127 ED patients admitted for possible COVID-19, 37 were ultimately diagnosed with COVID-19. 36.4% of patients with COVID-19 and EIH had a normal admission chest radiograph. In multivariate analysis, EIH was an independent predictor of COVID-19 (adjusted OR 3.73 (95% CI (1.25 to 11.15)), as were lymphocyte count, self-reported exertional dyspnoea, C-reactive peptide and radiographic changes.Conclusions This observational study demonstrates an association between EIH and a COVID-19 diagnosis. Over one-third of patients with COVID-19 and EIH exhibited no radiographic changes. EIH may represent an additional tool to help predict a COVID-19 diagnosis at initial presentation and may assist in triaging need for admission.All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information. All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article. ER -