Turbulence in the system: Higher rates of left-without-being-seen emergency department visits and associations with increased risks of adverse patient outcomes since 2020.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine risks of severe adverse patient outcomes shortly after a left-without-being-seen emergency department (LWBS ED) visit since 2020.

Methods

In this retrospective study using linked administrative data, we examined temporal trends in monthly rates of ED and LWBS visits for adults in Ontario, Canada, 2014‒2023. In patient-level analyses restricted to the first eligible LWBS ED visit, we used modified Poisson regression to compare the composite outcome of 7-day all-cause mortality or hospitalization following a LWBS ED visit for April 1, 2022‒March 31, 2023 (recent period) to April 1, 2014‒March 31, 2020 (baseline period), adjusted for age, sex, and Charlson comorbidity index.

Results

Despite fewer monthly ED visits since 2020, temporal trends revealed

SUBMITTER: McNaughton CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11655912 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature