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Published on: December 9, 2015
Emergency department use by persons with MS: A population-based descriptive study with a focus on infection-related
Jonas Graf1, Huah Shin Ng1, Feng Zhu1
1Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, UBC Hospital, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Abstract:
We described emergency department (ED) visits (all visits and infection-related) by persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) in British Columbia, Canada (1 April 2012 to 31 December 2017). We identified 15,350 MS cases using health administrative data; 73.4% were women, averaging 51.4 years at study entry. Over 4.9 years of follow-up (mean), 56.0% of MS cases visited an ED (mean = 0.6 visits/person/year; total = 37,072 visits). A diagnosis was documented for 25,698 (69.3%) ED visits, and 18.4% (4725/25,698) were infection-related. Inpatient admissions were reported for 20.4% (5238/25,698) of all and 29.2% (1380/4725) of infection-related ED visits. Findings suggest that the ED plays a substantial role in MS healthcare and infection management.
Insights
Emergency department visits are common for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, with infections frequently leading to hospital admissions. This highlights the crucial role of emergency care in managing MS and related infections.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease impacting many individuals.
- Understanding healthcare utilization patterns, particularly emergency department (ED) visits, is crucial for managing MS patient care.
- Infections are a significant concern for individuals with MS, potentially leading to severe health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize emergency department (ED) utilization among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) in British Columbia.
- To determine the frequency and nature of infection-related ED visits in the MS population.
- To assess inpatient admission rates following ED visits for both general and infection-related reasons in MS patients.
Main Methods:
- Utilized health administrative data from British Columbia, Canada, covering April 1, 2012, to December 31, 2017.
- Identified 15,350 individuals with MS.
- Analyzed ED visit data, including diagnoses and subsequent inpatient admissions, focusing on infection-related visits.
Main Results:
- Over a mean follow-up of 4.9 years, 56.0% of MS cases visited the ED, totaling 37,072 visits.
- A documented diagnosis was recorded for 69.3% of ED visits.
- 18.4% of diagnosed ED visits were infection-related, with 29.2% of these leading to inpatient admission.
Conclusions:
- The emergency department (ED) is a significant component of healthcare delivery for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Infections represent a substantial proportion of ED visits for MS patients and are associated with higher rates of inpatient admission.
- Effective infection management within the ED setting is critical for the overall healthcare of the MS population.
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