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Presentations to emergency departments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Alberta: a population-based study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Rhonda J. Rosychuk ,
Donald C. Voaklander ,
Ambikaipakan Senthilselvan ,
Terry P. Klassen ,
Thomas J. Marrie  and
Brian H. Rowe
Rhonda J. Rosychuk*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta. Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Edmonton, Alta.
Donald C. Voaklander
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
Ambikaipakan Senthilselvan
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
Terry P. Klassen
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta. Women and Children's Health Research Institute, Edmonton, Alta.
Thomas J. Marrie
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
Brian H. Rowe
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta. Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta.
*
Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, 9423 Aberhart Centre, 11402 University Ave. NW, Edmonton AB T6G 2J3; rhonda.rosychuk@ualberta.ca

Abstract

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Objective:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a widespread illness with an increasing prevalence in older adults; exacerbations resulting in visits to the emergency department (ED) are common. We sought to determine the epidemiology of COPD presentations to EDs by older adults in Alberta.

Methods:

Administrative databases were used to examine all ED encounters for COPD from April 1999 to March 2005 in Alberta. Data included demographics of patients and timing of ED visits. Data analysis included descriptive summaries and age–sex directly standardized visit rates (DSVRs).

Results:

There were 85 330 ED visits for acute COPD made by 38 638 patients 55 years of age or older during the study period. More men (53.2%) presented, and the mean age at presentation was 72 years. The age–sex DSVRs remained stable from 2000/01 (24.4/1000) to 2004/05 (25.6/1000). Presentation rates differed among population subgroups. Overall, 67% of visits resulted in discharge from the ED.

Conclusion:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common presentation in Alberta EDs; however, the rates of presentation were stable during the study period, and monthly and hourly trends exhibited similar patterns for each year. Disparities based on age, sex, and socio-economic and cultural statuses were identified. Targeted interventions could be implemented to reduce future ED visits for COPD.

Keywords

chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseemergency medicineepidemiologyrespiratory diseases
Type
Original Research • Recherche originale
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 12 , Issue 6 , September 2010 , pp. 500 - 508
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2010

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