Predictors of Emergency Department Use Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

A cross-sectional research study was conducted to explore factors associated with and predictors of emergency department (ED) use among community-dwelling older adults. Data were collected using questionnaires regarding demographic characteristics, health literacy, comprehensive assessment instruments, and ED use. Age, fall frequency, number of diseases, number of medications, health literacy, nutritional status, cognitive function, and activities of daily living were associated with ED use. Age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.00, 1.07]), health literacy (aOR = 0.89, 95% CI [0.79, 0.99]), number of diseases (aOR = 1.34, 95% CI [1.01, 1.78]), and cognitive function (aOR = 0.73, 95% CI [0.55, 0.96]) were significant predictors of ED use. Health care professionals, researchers, and education providers need to assess patients' health literacy, number of diseases, and cognitive function and take approaches to improve health literacy in older adults to maintain their health as well as reduce ED use.