[Use of emergency rooms by so-called multiple users: results of a prospective study with special consideration of the...

Can we identify predictive factors for the group of so-called multiple users (MU; 4 and more uses of an emergency department [ED] in the past 12 months)? Are people with a migration background more likely to be classified in the MU group?

Included were consecutive patients who visited three EDs in Berlin from July 2017 to July 2018. Using a questionnaire, diseases, reasons for visiting the ED and socioeconomic factors were recorded. Comparisons between migrants (1st generation), their descendants (2nd generation) and nonmigrants were assessed using logistic regression.

A total of 2339 patients were included in the evaluation (repeat rate 56%), of which 901 had a migration background. Young women (<30 years), chronically ill, pregnant women, patients with severe complaints and people with (self-assessed) moderate and poor health quality as well as those without medical referral had a greater chance of multiple use of ED.

MU burden the already increasing patient volume of ED. However, they represent a heterogeneous group of patients, among whom people with a migration background are not common. Further research is warranted to better understand the factors that lead to frequent use and to develop effective strategies to address the complex health needs of MUs.