Patient influx to emergency departments at two Norwegian university hospitals from 2012-21

The increase in patient visits to emergency departments is a global challenge. We wished to survey patient inflow and patient composition over time at two Norwegian university hospitals.

A retrospective, descriptive study of patient contacts (patients ≥ 16 years of age) in the emergency departments of Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, and St Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital in the period 2012-21. Data were retrieved from patient records and the patient administration system.

A total of 585 780 patient contacts were included. The number of patient contacts in the emergency departments was 30 696 in 2012 and 40 396 in 2021 at Haukeland University Hospital, and 18 967 in 2012 and 28 822 in 2021 at St Olav's Hospital. The largest increase during the study period appeared to be in the age group 67-79 years, with an increase of 57 % (from 6 190 to 9 691) at Haukeland University Hospital, and 77 % (from 3 849 to 6 817) at St Olav's Hospital. The proportion of patient contacts that ended in hospitalisation was 82 % in 2012 and 74 % in 2021 at Haukeland University Hospital, and 87 % in 2012 and 61 % in 2021 at St Olav's Hospital. Of the patients that were admitted, the median age was 65 years, while the median age of those who were discharged from the emergency department was 48 years at Haukeland University Hospital and 52 years at St Olav's Hospital.

The study showed an increase in patient contacts in the emergency departments at Haukeland University Hospital and St Olav's Hospital over a period of ten years. The number of older adults in the population will continue to increase in the years ahead, and the need for urgent care assessments will correspondingly increase. It is important that the health services are aware of changes in patient influx and patient composition in order to ensure patient safety and the working environment of emergency departments in the future.