The association between emergency department revisit and elderly patients

Background: Emergency department (ED) revisits may be associated with a higher percentage of adverse events and increased costs. Our hospital is a university affiliation hospital accepted regional referral patients, and located in the region in Taiwan with the highest percentage of elderly people. In this study, we attempted to identify whether old age was a risk factor of ED revisit. Methods: Patients who visited the ED from July 2011 to June 2016 were included. Factors associated with revisit were collected from medical information database. A total of 239,405 patients were included in our study, with 13,272 having ED revisits within 72 hours. Chi square and independent t test were applied for univariable factors, and a logistic regression model was used for multivariable analysis. Results: Old age (age ≥ 65 years) was found to be a risk factor for ED revisit (odds ratio [OR]: 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.19). Diagnosis, pulse rate, diastolic blood pressure, fever, pain management, paracentesis, triage level, registration category, male gender, discharge status, and major illness may have some effect on ED revisit. Conclusions: In our patients, old age is a risk factor for ED revisit; however, only a weak association was found.