Evaluation of Demographic and Clinical Findings in Patients with Non-Traumatic Loss of Consciousness Referring to the Emergency Department of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia

Abstract

Background: Rapid identification of the underlying causes of non-traumatic loss of consciousness in the emergency department is critical because prompt diagnosis and timely intervention significantly improve clinical outcomes. Objectives: To address the paucity of regional data from West Azerbaijan Province, this study aimed to investigate the frequency of causes of NT-LOC and their associated clinical outcomes among patients presenting to the ED at Imam Khomeini Referral Hospital in Urmia, Iran, during 2022 - 2024. Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study evaluated all patients with NT-LOC admitted to the ED of Imam Khomeini Hospital using a census sampling method. Demographic and clinical data—including age, sex, consciousness level score, length of stay, blood pressure, pulse rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), respiratory rate (RR), body temperature, and final clinical outcome (survival/mortality)—were extracted from medical records using a researcher-designed checklist. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and appropriate analytical tests in SPSS. Results: A total of 1030 patients met the inclusion criteria, including 559 (54.3%) males and 471 (45.7%) females, with a mean age of 71 years. The mean consciousness level score was 2.32 ± 1.01, and the mean LOS was 11 days. The most common etiology of NT-LOC was cerebrovascular accidents, which accounted for 34.8% of cases. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 20.8%. A statistically significant association was observed between the final clinical outcome and pulse rate, body temperature, and SpO2 levels (P < 0.05); however, no significant association was found with baseline blood pressure (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Cerebrovascular accidents are the leading cause of non-traumatic altered consciousness at our center and are associated with a substantial mortality rate. Because key vital signs—specifically pulse rate, body temperature, and oxygen saturation—are significantly associated with patient outcomes, prioritizing these parameters during initial triage and clinical assessment can facilitate faster decision-making and optimize the management of patients with NT-LOC in emergency settings.