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Objective: The objective of this study was to describe patterns of older adult patient visits to emergency departments (EDs) for self-harm and suicide-related injuries., Methods: A retrospective, secondary data analysis of the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample was conducted. Nationally representative estimates of patient visits by older adults attempting suicide were calculated using available sampling weights. Population estimates were calculated using estimates from the US Census Bureau., Results: Findings suggest that 22,444 ED patient visits were made by adults aged 65 years and older for suicide-related injuries, representing an estimated population rate of 63 ED patient visits per 100000 adults aged 65 years and older, with nearly half of all visits involving substance use. Total ED and hospital charges exceeded $353.9 million., Conclusions: Effort is needed to better integrate and deliver suicide screening and support services in the ED, while also connecting at-risk older adults with mental health services before and after the ED encounter., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine the epidemiology of injury among older adults treated in emergency departments (EDs) and to explore the effect of advanced age and nursing home residence on associated outcomes., Methods: A secondary data analysis of a nationally representative sample from the National Hospital Ambulatory Care Survey was conducted using available sampling weights and data from the US Census Bureau. Weighted multivariate logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with injury outcomes, including hospitalization and receipt of potentially inappropriate medications., Results: Nearly 21 million injury-related ED patient visits were made by older adults during the study period. Nearly 10% of episodes were identified as adverse events, which increased hospitalization risk 3-fold. Potentially inappropriate medications were provided during nearly 12% of encounters., Conclusions: Injury reductions among elders could be achieved by reducing adverse events, whereas quality could be improved by reducing potentially inappropriate medication use in the ED.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of advanced age on ED outcomes, including hospitalization for any reason, ambulatory care-sensitive hospitalizations (ACSHs), and supply-sensitive hospitalizations., Methods: A secondary data analysis of the National Hospital Ambulatory Care Survey was conducted. National estimates of patient visits were obtained using available sampling weights from National Hospital Ambulatory Care Survey, and population estimates were calculated using estimates published by the US Census Bureau., Results: Older adults made 48 million patient visits to ED between 2000 and 2002. Overall, 20.3% was for an ambulatory care-sensitive condition, yielding 5 million ACSH, whereas 62% was for a supply-sensitive condition, yielding 9.5 million supply-sensitive hospitalizations. Residents from nursing homes and patients aged 85 years or older were more likely to be hospitalized for any reason, for ACSH, and for supply-sensitive conditions., Conclusions: Further research is needed to understand how comorbidity contributes to increasing ED and hospital use among older adults.