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Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments see high attendance for injuries, particularly among males under 45 and those in lower social classes. Fracture rates were significant, with most patients requiring X-ray examination.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
- Trauma Care
Background:
- Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments manage a high volume of patient attendances.
- Understanding patient demographics and injury patterns is crucial for resource allocation and service improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze attendance patterns and injury prevalence in a large A&E department.
- To identify demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with A&E utilization for injuries.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 1027 patient attendance cards from a 1-in-76 random sample over one year.
- Data analysis focused on injury rates, diagnostic procedures (X-ray), fracture identification, and demographic/socioeconomic factors.
Main Results:
- Injuries were present in 79.9% of A&E attenders.
- 35.7% of patients underwent X-ray, with 13.0% diagnosed with a fracture.
- Higher attendance rates were observed in males, individuals under 45 years, and those in social classes IV and V.
Conclusions:
- A&E departments frequently treat injuries, with fractures being a notable diagnosis.
- Demographic factors like age and sex, along with socioeconomic status, significantly influence A&E attendance for injuries.
- Proximity to the hospital did not correlate with higher attendance rates.
Abstract:
Cards recording attendances at a large Accident and Emergency Department for 1 year were reviewed by means of a 1 in 76 random sample, which provided 1027 cards for scrutiny. Injuries were found in 79.9 per cent of attenders; 35.7 per cent underwent X-ray examination and 13.0 per cent were found to have a fracture. Males and those under 45 years had higher attendance rates than females and older people (46 years and over). Those in social classes IV and V had higher attendance rates than those in social classes I, II and III. Living near the hospital did not seem to be associated with a high attendance rate.