Impact of emergency department overcrowding on the occurrence of in-hospital cardiac arrest

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317457
• Publication Date: 2025-01-17T19:55:33Z
• Authors: Jin Hae Jun; Chae Ryoung Park; Incheol Park; Ji Hwan Lee; Yun Ho Roh; Min Joung Kim
• Keywords: Overcrowding

We aimed to determine whether emergency department (ED) overcrowding affects the occurrence of in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) requiring resuscitation in ED. This retrospective study was conducted ED a single hospital. applied propensity score-matching method adjust for differences clinical characteristics patients who visited during overcrowded conditions. The indicators were: total number patients, undergoing treatment, and boarded awaiting hospital admission at time patient’s arrival. defined existence based on 75%, 80%, 90% thresholds each indicator. included 153,353 160 cases IHCA occurred, showing an incidence rate 0.10%. increased overcrowding, as indicated by rising 0.15% 0.17%, respectively, threshold (p = 0.0407 0.0203, respectively). did not increase treatment. In comparison after score matching, significantly higher group than non-overcrowding group, 80% (0.15% vs. 0.08%, p 0.0222). logistic regression results that both full-study score-matched cohorts showed tendency patients. treatment affect IHCA. Although this needs be confirmed larger studies, we found particularly blocked access, tends suggests protect patient safety it is essential entire make concerted efforts maintain flow