Potentially Avoidable Emergency Department Utilization by Persons With Psoriatic Arthritis and Radiographic Axial...

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Health Services Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Emergency department (ED) utilization for lower acuity issues may be reduced by improved ambulatory care access.
• Understanding ED use patterns in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) is crucial for optimizing healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine emergency department (ED) utilization patterns among individuals with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA).
• To identify characteristics of ED visits, including acuity, diagnoses, and disposition, for these patient cohorts in a universal healthcare setting.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of linked population-based administrative datasets in Alberta, Canada (2007-2018).
• Assessment of yearly ED visit frequency, timing, triage acuity, most responsible diagnoses, and disposition for PsA and r-axSpA cohorts.

Main Results:

• High rates of annual ED access for PsA (47.6%) and r-axSpA (35.7%) were observed.
• Low acuity encounters (44.2% PsA, 50.3% r-axSpA) and visits for infection/injury were common.
• Rural patients exhibited higher ED visit frequency, more low-acuity presentations, and lower admission rates.

Conclusions:

• Frequent ED use for non-urgent concerns is prevalent in PsA and r-axSpA populations, particularly in rural settings.
• Data support the need for tailored health service delivery and improved access solutions for rural residents with these conditions.