Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe changes and characteristics in emergency admissions to a West Midlands National Health Service Trust, 2002-2005, with a focus on short stay emergency admissions. METHODS: A longitudinal descriptive study using retrospective analysis of routine admissions data. Admissions were categorised as short (0/1 day) or long (>or=2 days) and examined separately using a General Linear Model. Factors favouring short stays as opposed to long stays were examined using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: There were 151 478 emergency admissions to the Trust between 1 April 2002 and 31 December 2005, of which 2910 (1.92%) had no discharge date recorded. Adjusted means showed a 7.76% increase in emergency admissions in winter months (October-January) and a 14.50% increase across the study period. Increases were greater in short stay (34.03%) than long stay emergency admissions (8.38%). Odds of short stays in admitted patients increased by 25%. Higher odds of short stays were also associated with younger age, winter month and medical admitting specialty (p
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 553-7 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Emergency Medicine Journal |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2007 |