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KMID : 0385920150260010128
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Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2015 Volume.26 No. 1 p.128 ~ p.133
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Characteristics of Emergency Department Visits in Older Homeless Adults
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Yoon Chul-Su
Choi Han-Jo
Kim Hahn-Bom
Park Sang-Hyun
Park Keun-Hong
Kwak Myoung-Kwan
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Abstract
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Purpose: The average age of the homeless is increasing as the aging society advances. We analyzed characteristics of older homeless patients who visit the emergency depart-ment (ED).
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a public hospital between March 2011 and February 2014 from homeless patients who visited the ED. We compared their sex rates, insurance, diagnostic test, medications for dis-charge, admission rates, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), length of ED stay, and discharge diagnosis.
Results: A total of 3237 patients were enrolled during the study period; 95.4% were male and mean age was 50.18 years, and 1734 (53.57%) were 50 years and older. The rates of health insurance coverage for these groups are similar but older homeless had more insurance of lower income (10.0% vs 12.9%; p=0.003). Older homeless were admitted to hospital more often (14.0% vs 17.9%; p=0.003) and were received medication less often (43.7% vs 40.2%; p=0.043) than younger homeless. In most cases discharge diagnosis was substance use alcohol related (36.9% vs 34.3%). Older homeless had more discharge diagnoses related to endocrine, urinary, and musculoskeletal and con-nective tissue, and fewer discharge diagnoses related to digestive and psychiatric. The CPR rate did not differ (1.4% vs 1.5%; p=0.906).
Conclusion: This study suggested that the pattern of ED care for older homeless is different from those of younger homeless. The number of older homeless will increase and lead to admission to the hospital, thus, health care systems should be prepared by characteristics.
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KEYWORD
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Homeless persons, Health policy, Age groups
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