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ObjectivesValidation of acute morbidity as a novel outcome in emergency medicine.MethodsConstruct validity of acute morbidity was established by comparison to other outcomes using linear and logistic regression models.ResultsData of 4608 patients were analysed. 1869 patients (40.6%) fulfilled the criteria for acute morbidity. Using multivariate analyses, acute morbidity was associated with outcomes such as hospitalisation (OR: 11, 95%-CI 9–13), mortality (OR 15, 95%-CI 6–49), and ICU admission (OR: 46, 95%-CI 25–96). Reliability of the construct “acute morbidity” was estimated using Cohens Kappa, which was 0.96 for intra-rater and 0.94 for inter-rater reliability.ConclusionReliability of the framework for acute morbidity was high. Construct validity was shown by associations with hospitalisation, mortality, and ICU admission.

Patients referred by EMS have higher odds of admission to hospital and ICU, a longer ED LOS, and higher short- and long-term mortalities than the general ED population.