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Published on: January 23, 2017
[Emergency department utilization by children aged less than two years old]
D Oterino de la Fuente1, S Peiró Moreno
1Fundación Instituto de Investigación en Servicios de Salud. Centro Salud de Teatinos. Asturias. España. doterino@eresmas.net
Anales De Pediatria (Barcelona, Spain : 2003)
|March 12, 2003
Summary
Emergency department (ED) visits increased significantly in children despite a falling birth rate. More children accessed ED services, with higher visit frequencies observed over a five-year period.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
- Healthcare Utilization
Background:
- Rising emergency department (ED) visits contrast with a decreasing birth rate.
- Understanding trends in pediatric ED utilization is crucial for resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare emergency department (ED) utilization between children born in 1991 and 1996.
- To analyze ED visit frequency and patterns in the first two years of life.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study in Mieres, Spain (1991 and 1996 birth cohorts).
- Inclusion of all children born in the specified years (n=600 in 1991, n=423 in 1996).
- Calculation of ED visit frequency, mean visits, and patient demographics.
Main Results:
- Gross ED visits remained stable, but the proportion of children visiting the ED increased by 34.8%.
- Visit frequency rose by 41.7%, with a higher concentration of visits among a smaller percentage of children.
- ED utilization was significantly higher in the municipality closest to the hospital.
Conclusions:
- Despite stable gross ED visit numbers, pediatric ED utilization substantially increased within a five-year timeframe.
- Findings highlight a growing trend in ED use among young children, necessitating further investigation into contributing factors.
