Emergency department utilization patterns among older adults
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological and Me..., 2008, 63A (2), pp. 204 - 209
- Issue Date:
- 2008-01
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| Filename | Description | Size | |||
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 | 2009000208OK.pdf | 4.04 MB |
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Background. We identified 4-year (2 years before and 2 years after the index [baseline] interview) ED use patterns in older adults and the factors associated with them. Methods. A secondary analysis of baseline interview data from the nationally representative Survey on Assets and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old linked to Medicare claims data. Participants were 4310 self-respondents 70 years old or older. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes 99281 and 99282 identified low-intensity use, and CPT codes 9928399285 identified high-intensity use. Exploratory factor analysis and multivariable multinomial logistic regression were used. Results. The majority (56.6%) of participants had no ED visits during the 4-year period. Just 5.7% had only low-intensity ED use patterns, whereas 28.9% used the ED only for high-intensity visits, and 8.7% had a mixture of low-intensity and high-intensity use. Participants with lower immediate word recall scores and those who did not live in major metropolitan areas were more likely to be low-intensity-only ED users. Older individuals, those who did not live in rural counties, had greater morbidity and functional status burdens, and lower immediate word recall scores were more likely to be high-intensity-only ED users. Participants who were older, did not live in major cities, had lower education levels, had greater morbidity and functional status burdens, and lower immediate word recall scores were more likely to have mixed ED use patterns
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