How often do women in the emergency department without intimate violence injuries return with such injuries?

To determine the rate at which a group of women visiting the ED for reasons other than intimate violence return to the ED at a later time for intimate-violence-related injuries.

Retrospective cohort study of a group of women with intimate-violence-related injuries on an index visit and a matched comparison group. Return visit rates to the ED for intimate violence injuries over the next 5 years were then compared.

The 95 women in each group were followed an average of 57 months. The return rates in the positive index case group and matched comparison group, respectively, for any reason were 74.9% vs 77.9% (p = 0.463) and for intimate violence injuries were 29.5% vs 18.9% (p = 0.118).

Women in the ED without intimate violence injuries often return to the ED later with such injuries. This suggests the ED may play an important role in identifying women at risk for future intimate-violence-related injury.