Analysis of the Use of Resources and Features of Presentations and the Trends in Geriatric Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department: 2011-2015

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate presentation and resource utilization at the emergency department by patients >= 65 years of age and the associated trends over the years.

Materials and Method: This is a descriptive and retrospective study. Data related to patients >= 65 years of age who presented to emergency department of an urban university hospital between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2015 were gathered from the hospital information management system. The data were analyzed using SPSS v17.0 software.

Results: A total of 29,298 (20.3%) of emergency department visits were made by patients >= 65 years of age. The composition of this group of patients was predominantly female and within the 65-74-year-old age group. A 25% increase in the number of emergency department visits by geriatric patients was observed between 2011 and 2015. Among the geriatric presentations, 76.5% had urgent conditions and 9.3% were admitted to the hospital. Most of the non-urgent patients were females of 65-74 years of age (p<0.05). Female patients had the highest wait times before evaluation by a physician and the highest non-admission rates (p>0.05). Patients of 75-84 years of age had the highest total costs as a group, whereas patients >= 85 years of age had the highest per-patient costs.

Conclusion: Resource utilization, length of emergency department stay, and hospital costs increased with geriatric patients' age. Analysis of the frequency of ED use and of resource utilization by geriatric patients would allow patient-centered and cost-effective planning for emergency department care.