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Ann Geriatr Med Res > Volume 14(2); 2010 > Article
Journal of the Korean Geriatrics Society 2010;14(2):77-83.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4235/jkgs.2010.14.2.77    Published online June 30, 2010.
Factors Associated with Early Revisits and Hospitalization after a Revisit to the Emergency Department in Elderly Patients
Byoung Cheon Lee, Kwang Jin Choi, Mao Lung Sun
Department of Emergency Medicine, Sung-Ae Hospital, Seoul, Korea. lbc75@hanmail.net
노인환자에서 응급실 조기 재방문과 재방문 후 입원과 관련된 요인
이병천,최광진,손무륭
성애병원 응급의학과
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to find out what factors affect revisits by elderly patients to the emergency department (ED) with the same symptoms within 72 hours and hospitalization after a revisit. Delineating these factors can reduce unnecessary revisits to the ED and minimize problems with diagnosing and treating, improving the quality of treatment provided and of discharge decisions.
METHODS
This is a retrospective study involving 3790 elderly patients who presented initially to a general hospital ED between May 1, 2007 to June 30, 2009. Of these, 176 cases revisited the ED within 72 hours with the same symptoms. Their medical records were reviewed. A comparative analysis was conducted of the early revisit group by classifying them into 'discharge' and 'admission' considering age, gender, insurance status, means of arrival, chief complaint, diagnosis, length of stay, time of arrival, comorbidity disease, time lapse, and day of the week.
RESULTS
The factors affecting revisits were age (< or =79 years), insurance status (medical aid), means of arrival (walk-in), and chief complaint (dysuria.flank pain, skin rash). The factors affecting hospitalization after a revisit were age (> or =80 years), means of arrival (by ambulance), increasing length of stay, and high comorbidity index (> or =2).
CONCLUSION
The factors affecting revisits to the ED or hospitalization after a revisit were age, insurance status, means of arrival, chief complaint, length of stay, and comorbidity index. Physicians should be more careful when deciding discharge for elderly patients, especially those with the above factors.
Key Words: Revisit, Emergency department, Elderly, Quality assurance


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