Predictors of Mother and Infant Emergency Department Attendance and Admission: A Prospective Observational Study

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Child Health
• Healthcare Utilization
• Predictive Analytics in Medicine

Background:

• Emergency department (ED) attendance and hospital admissions are significant healthcare utilization metrics for mothers and infants.
• Understanding the predictors of these events is crucial for targeted interventions and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key factors predicting emergency department (ED) attendance and hospital admission for both mothers and their infants.
• To explore the relationship between maternal sociodemographic factors, mental health, and healthcare utilization patterns.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study involving self-reported data on ED attendance and admission from mothers and infants.
• Data collected at baseline and 12 months across four sites in England (May 2017 - March 2020).
• Analysis included logistic regression for attendance/admission and Poisson regression for frequency of attendance.

Main Results:

• Infant ED attendance was predicted by lower gestational age, maternal mental health, and maternal ED attendance. Infant admissions were primarily for respiratory and infectious diseases, predicted by prior health issues.
• Maternal ED attendance was associated with mixed/multiple ethnic origin, male infant sex, and previous hospitalizations. Maternal hospital admissions were mainly for reproductive health, predicted by prior ED visits and anxiety/depression.

Conclusions:

• Improving maternal reproductive and mental health is vital for preventing adverse maternal and infant health outcomes.
• Targeted interventions focusing on maternal well-being may significantly reduce emergency service utilization and hospitalizations.