Dataset Information

The Value of Local Heatwave Impact Assessment: A Case-Crossover Analysis of Hospital Emergency Department Presentations in Tasmania, Australia.

ABSTRACT: Heatwaves have been identified as a threat to human health, with this impact projected to rise in a warming climate. Gaps in local knowledge can potentially undermine appropriate policy and preparedness actions. Using a case-crossover methodology, we examined the impact of heatwave events on hospital emergency department (ED) presentations in the two most populous regions of Tasmania, Australia, from 2008-2016. Using conditional logistic regression, we analyzed the relationship between ED presentations and severe/extreme heatwaves for the whole population, specific demographics including age, gender and socio-economic advantage, and diagnostic conditions that are known to be impacted in high temperatures. ED presentations increased by 5% (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09) across the whole population, by 13% (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03-1.24) for children 15 years and under, and by 19% (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04-1.36) for children 5 years and under. A less precise association in the same direction was found for those over 65 years. For diagnostic subgroups, non-significant increases in ED presentations were observed for asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation. These findings may assist ED surge capacity planning and public health preparedness and response activities for heatwave events in Tasmania, highlighting the importance of using local research to inform local practice.

SUBMITTER: Campbell SL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6801666 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The Value of Local Heatwave Impact Assessment: A Case-Crossover Analysis of Hospital Emergency Department Presentations in Tasmania, Australia.

Campbell Sharon L SL Remenyi Tomas A TA Williamson Grant J GJ White Christopher J CJ Johnston Fay H FH

International journal of environmental research and public health 20191002 19

Heatwaves have been identified as a threat to human health, with this impact projected to rise in a warming climate. Gaps in local knowledge can potentially undermine appropriate policy and preparedness actions. Using a case-crossover methodology, we examined the impact of heatwave events on hospital emergency department (ED) presentations in the two most populous regions of Tasmania, Australia, from 2008-2016. Using conditional logistic regression, we analyzed the relationship between ED presen ...[more]

PMID: 31581630

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundAfter hours general practice clinics provide medical attention for clients with non-emergency situations but are seeking immediate treatment and unable to wait for a general practitioner during routine opening hours. Evidence on the impact that after hours clinics have on emergency department presentations is equivocal. This study explored outcomes of the Bathurst After Hours General Practice Clinic (BAHGPC). Specifically it examined: clients' perceived urgency of, and satisfaction with their presentation to the BAHGPC; general practitioners' perception of the appropriateness of presentations to the BAHGPC; and whether the frequency of non-urgent and semi-urgent emergency department presentations at Bathurst Base Hospital has changed since the opening of the BAHGPC.MethodsClients presenting to the BAHGPC from 01/02/2015 to 30/06/2015 were asked to participate in the client presentation survey and follow-up satisfaction survey. General practitioner surveys were completed for individual clients from 01/12/2014 to 30/06/2015 to document the appropriateness of each presentation. Descriptive statistics are used to describe survey responses. Thematic analysis was applied for qualitative responses. Emergency department presentations were retrieved from the Emergency Department Data Collection. A comparison of presentations in the two years prior and subsequent to the opening of the BAHGPC was conducted using independent T-tests and Chi-square tests to compare mean presentations and proportional data for the different time periods examined.ResultsMost clients (76%) presenting to the BAHGPC classified their visit as essential. General practitioners considered most presentations to be appropriate (87%). Sixty percent (60%) of clients would have gone to the emergency department had the BAHGPC not been operational. Client satisfaction was high and 99% would use the clinic again. A significant reduction in total non-urgent presentations to the Emergency Department occurred in the two years since the opening of the BAHGPC clinic compared to the two years prior (418.5 vs. 245.5; P < 0.05).ConclusionsThere was concordance between general practitioners and clients regarding the appropriateness of presentations to the BAHGPC. The findings of this study highlight that after hours general practitioner clinics are an essential service in regional areas and contribute to reducing the burden of non-urgent presentations to the local emergency department.

Project description:OBJECTIVES:The aim of the current study is to quantify mental health-related emergency department (ED) presentations and hospitalisations, and associated child and family characteristics, in children recruited through four Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations. SETTING:Four Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services that deliver primary care. All services were located in urban or large regional centres in New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS:1476 Aboriginal children aged 0-17 years at recruitment to the Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES:ED presentations and hospital admissions with a primary mental health diagnosis obtained via linkage to population health datasets. RESULTS:Over a median of 6-year follow-up, there were 96 ED presentations affecting 62 children (10.7/1000 person-years) and 49 hospitalisations affecting 34 children (5.5/1000 person-years) for mental health conditions. Presentations/admissions increased with age. ED presentation was increased with: living in foster versus parental care (adjusted rate ratio (RR)=3.97, 95% CrI 1.26 to 11.80); high versus low baseline child emotional/behavioural problems (adjusted RR=2.93, 95% CrI 1.50 to 6.10); and caregiver chronic health conditions versus none (adjusted RR=2.81, 95% CrI 1.31 to 6.63). Hospitalisations were significantly increased with caregiver unemployment versus home duties (adjusted RR=4.48, 95% CrI 1.26 to 17.94) and caregiver chronic health problems versus none (adjusted RR=3.83, 95% CrI 1.33 to 12.12). CONCLUSIONS:Tertiary care for mental health issues was relatively common among participating Aboriginal children, with risk elevated for those living in foster care, with prior mental health and behavioural problems and with carers with chronic illness and/or unemployment. While this study suggests high rates of serious mental health events among children from participating communities, the optimum means for reducing these rates, and the need for tertiary care, has not yet been determined. Such information is urgently required to inform policy and programmes to support Aboriginal child and adolescent mental health.

Project description:Background and aimsPharmaceutical opioids are a significant contributor to the global 'opioid crisis', yet few studies have comprehensively distinguished between opioid types. We measured whether a range of common pharmaceutical opioids varied in their contribution to the rates and characteristics of harm in a population-wide indicator of non-fatal overdose.DesignRetrospective observational study of emergency department (ED) patient care records in the Victorian Emergency Minimum Data set (VEMD), July 2009 to June 2019.SettingVictoria, Australia.CasesED presentations for non-fatal overdose related to pharmaceutical opioid use (n = 5403), where the specific pharmaceutical opioid was documented.MeasurementsWe compared harms across the nine individual pharmaceutical opioids most commonly sold, and considered where multiple opioids contributed to the overdose. We calculated supply-adjusted rates of ED presentations using Poisson regression and used multinomial logistic regression to compare demographic and clinical characteristics of presentations among nine distinct pharmaceutical opioids and a 10th category where multiple opioids were documented for the presentation.FindingsThere were wide differences, up to 27-fold, between supply-adjusted rates of overdose. When considering presentations with sole opioids, the highest supply-adjusted overdose rates [per 100 000 oral morphine equivalents (OME); 95% confidence interval (CI)] were for codeine (OME = 0.078, 95% CI = 0.073-0.08) and oxycodone (OME =0.029, 95% CI = 0.027-0.030) and the lowest were for tapentadol (OME = 0.004, 95% CI = 0.003-0.006) and fentanyl (OME = 0.003, 95% CI = 0.002-0.004). These rates appeared related to availability rather than opioid potency. Most (62%) poisonings involved females. Codeine, oxycodone and tramadol were associated with younger presentations (respectively, 59.5%, 41.7% and 49.8% of presentations were 12-34 years old), and intentional self-harm (respectively 65.2%, 50.6%, and 52.8% of presentations). Relative to morphine, fentanyl [ 0.32 relative risk ratio (RRR)] and methadone ( 0.58 RRR) presentations were less likely to be coded as self-harm. Relative to morphine-buprenorphine, codeine, oxycodone and tramadol presentations were significantly more likely to be associated with the less urgent triage categories (respectively 2.18, 1.80, 1.52, 1.65 RRR).ConclusionsIn Victoria, Australia, rates and characteristics of emergency department presentations for pharmaceutical opioids show distinct variations by opioid type.

Project description:ObjectivesTo: (1) examine the 90-day incidence of unplanned hospitalisation and emergency department (ED) presentations after residential aged care facility (RACF) entry, (2) examine individual-related, facility-related, medication-related, system-related and healthcare-related predictors of these outcomes and (3) create individual risk profiles.DesignRetrospective cohort study using the Registry of Senior Australians. Fine-Gray models estimated subdistribution HRs and 95% CIs. Harrell's C-index assessed risk models' predictive ability.Setting and participantsIndividuals aged ≥65 years old entering a RACF as permanent residents in three Australian states between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2016 (N=116 192 individuals in 1967 RACFs).Predictors examinedIndividual-related, facility-related, medication-related, system and healthcare-related predictors ascertained at assessments or within 90 days, 6 months or 1 year prior to RACF entry.Outcome measures90-day unplanned hospitalisation and ED presentation post-RACF entry.ResultsThe cohort median age was 85 years old (IQR 80-89), 62% (N=71 861) were women, and 50.5% (N=58 714) had dementia. The 90-day incidence of unplanned hospitalisations was 18.0% (N=20 919) and 22.6% (N=26 242) had ED presentations. There were 34 predictors of unplanned hospitalisations and 34 predictors of ED presentations identified, 27 common to both outcomes and 7 were unique to each. The hospitalisation and ED presentation models out-of-sample Harrell's C-index was 0.664 (95% CI 0.657 to 0.672) and 0.655 (95% CI 0.648 to 0.662), respectively. Some common predictors of high risk of unplanned hospitalisation and ED presentations included: being a man, age, delirium history, higher activity of daily living, behavioural and complex care needs, as well as history, number and recency of healthcare use (including hospital, general practitioners attendances), experience of a high sedative load and several medications.ConclusionsWithin 90 days of RACF entry, 18.0% of individuals had unplanned hospitalisations and 22.6% had ED presentations. Several predictors, including modifiable factors, were identified at the time of care entry. This is an actionable period for targeting individuals at risk of hospitalisations.

Dataset Information

The Value of Local Heatwave Impact Assessment: A Case-Crossover Analysis of Hospital Emergency Department Presentations in Tasmania, Australia.

Publications

The Value of Local Heatwave Impact Assessment: A Case-Crossover Analysis of Hospital Emergency Department Presentations in Tasmania, Australia.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets