Determinants of emergency department visits by older adults: a systematic review

To conduct a systematic review of the literature on the determinants of hospital emergency department (ED) visits by elders, using a modification of the Andersen behavioral model of health services, adapted to explain ED utilization.

Relevant articles were identified through MEDLINE and a search of reference lists and personal files. Studies of populations aged 65 or older in which ED visits were a study outcome were included if they were: original, not restricted to a particular medical condition, written in English or French, and investigated one or more determinants. Data were abstracted and checked by two authors using a standard protocol.

Fourteen studies (reported in 15 articles) were reviewed, 10 community-based and four using clinical samples. Among ten studies that measured multiple determinants, determinants reported from multivariate analyses included measures of need (perceived and evaluated health status, prior utilization), predisposing factors (health beliefs and sociodemographic variables), and enabling factors (physician availability, regular source of care, family resources, geographical access to services).

Need is usually the primary determinant of ED visits in older people. Controlling for need, predisposing and enabling factors that promote access to primary medical care are associated with reduced ED utilization.