Journal of Clinical Research & Bioethics

Abstract

Determinants of Emergency Hospital Admissions among Patients in Blackpool, England: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Gabriel Agboado and Judith Mills

Objectives: To examine the relative importance of patients’ socio-demographic characteristics, health service factors, health conditions, day and season of admission as predictors of emergency admissions among Blackpool residents.
Study design: Population-based cross-sectional study using routine patient admission data. Records of admissions among Blackpool patients were analysed to examine the effects of socio-demographic factors, health service factors, health conditions, day and season of admissions on emergency admissions.
Principal results: The emergency admission risk has declined over the study period. Compared with admissions in people aged 35 to 44, admissions in those aged 85 and above were 3.2 times more likely to be emergencies. Admissions from 4th IMD quintile areas were 43% more likely to be emergencies compared with those from 2nd IMD quintile areas. Admissions among patients registered with Blackpool GPs were less likely to be emergencies compared with those registered with GPs outside Blackpool. Admissions to geriatric medical specialties were most likely to be emergencies. Emergency admission risk was highest for admissions attributed to accidents. Emergency admission risk was also highest for Saturday admissions and lowest for Wednesday admissions. No significant association was observed between emergency admissions and patients’ sex.
Conclusions: The risk of emergency admissions among Blackpool patients has declined over the period of this study. Socio-demographic and health service factors, health conditions, day and season of admission were independently associated with emergency admissions.