Epidemiology of a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Research Network

• DOI: 10.1097/01.pec.0000236830.39194.c0
• Publication Date: 2006-10-13T22:36:05Z
• Authors: Elizabeth R. Alpern; Rachel M. Stanley; Marc H. Gorelick; Amy Donaldson; Stacey Knight; Stephen J. Teach; Tasmeen Singh; Prashant Mahajan; Julius G. Goepp; Nathan Kuppermann; J. Michael Dean; James M. Chamberlain
• Keywords: Pediatric emergency medicine

Objective: To examine the epidemiology of pediatric patient visits to emergency departments (ED). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study ED at participating Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) hospitals in 2002. provide descriptive characteristics and comparison database National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Survey (NHAMCS). Bivariate analyses were calculated assess associated with hospital admission, death ED, length visit. also performed multivariate regression model likelihood admission hospital. Results: Mean age was 6.2 years; 53.5% boys; 47.5% black; 43.2% had Medicaid insurance. The most common diagnoses fever, upper respiratory infection, asthma, otitis media, viral syndromes. inpatient rate 11.6%. requiring hospitalization dehydration, bronchiolitis, pneumonia. In analysis, patients who black or Hispanic, insurance uninsured, older than 1 year less likely be hospitalized. Demographics PECARN population similar NHAMCS, notable exceptions larger proportion admitted from EDs. Conclusion: describe previously unavailable epidemiological information about childhood illnesses injuries that can inform development future studies on effectiveness, outcomes, quality medical services for children. Most our sought care infectious causes asthma discharged ED. differed according age, payer type, race/ethnicity, diagnosis.