Highlights
- •Adult visits to pediatric emergency departments have increased over time.
- •Adults ages 22 and older represent approximately 2% of all pediatric ED visits each year.
- •Majority of the adults presenting to pediatric EDs do not have a childhood onset chronic condition.
- •Pregnancy related concerns and chest pain among most common presenting complaints
Abstract
Objective
Adults presenting to pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) include those with complex
chronic conditions (CCCs) often still followed by pediatric providers, and those without
CCCs (non-CCCs). This paper describes recent trends in adults seen within PEDs, both
by age subgroups and CCC status.
Methods
Data were retrospectively reviewed from the Pediatric Health Information System for
PED visits between Jan 1, 2013 and Dec 31, 2017. Yearly visit rates were trended for
all adult visits, age subgroups (18–21, 22–25, 26–40, and 41–95 years), and by CCC
status. The most frequent diagnoses were reviewed for each adult age group and CCC
category.
Results
Rates of adult PED visits significantly increased from 3.7% in 2013 to 4.2% in 2017
(P < 0.0001). While the overall majority (88% overall and >70% for each age group)
of adult PED patients were non-CCC, the rate of CCC patients increased overall (P < 0.0001),
especially among older patients (41–95 years) from 8.7% in 2013 to 29% in 2017 (P < 0.0001).
The most frequent CCC diagnoses were sickle cell disease (18–21 and 22–25 years),
cardiac pathology (26–40 years), and hyperlipidemia (41–95 years). The most frequent
non-CCC diagnoses were abdominal pain (18–21 years), pregnancy-related (22–25 and
26–40 years), and chest pain (41–95 years).
Conclusion
Visits to PEDs by adult patients have increased over time, with the majority of the
population being represented by non-CCC adults. The results of this study can be used
to guide specifics in adult medicine training during Pediatric Emergency Medicine
fellowship and assist in continuing education efforts.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: April 07, 2020
Accepted:
April 3,
2020
Received in revised form:
March 29,
2020
Received:
January 27,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Published by Elsevier Inc.
