Relationships between Age, Body Mass Index, Comorbidity and Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Patients with Respiratory Infection at an Emergency Unit

Abstract

This descriptive, correlational research aimed to examine the relationships between age, body mass index, comorbidity, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The Roy’s adaptation model was employed as a conceptual framework of the study. The sample included 85 patients with lower respiratory tract infections in the emergency unit at Sukhothai hospital, Sukhothai Province. Data were collected by using a demographic and illness questionnaire, comorbidity questionnaire, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome score record. The data were analyzed by using frequency distribution, percentage, mean and Pearson’s product–moment correlation. The results showed that the sample group’s average age was 58.85 years old, of which 73.5 were males, age and comorbidity was significantly positively correlated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. However, the body mass index was not correlated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The results of this study suggest that nurses at the emergency unit should assess and   monitor the systemic inflammatory response syndrome, especially in elderly and high-comorbidity patients and report the occurrence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome to the patient care team for further appropriate treatment and care for the patients.