earticle

영어

The purpose of this study was to determine the change trend of emergency department visits among elderly patients with chronic diseases. Using the National Emergency Department Information System data, from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019, the selected patient data were evaluated for the emergency department discharge main diagnosis codes for eight chronic diseases. The incidence of elderly chronic diseases, emergency department visits, and admission rates were analyzed. Since 2014, there has been a consistent increase in the number of elderly patients visiting the emergency department, especially among those aged over 85 years. The number of emergency department visits among the elderly chronically ill patients also increased, with a significant increase in ischemic heart disease and arthrosis cases. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the number of chronically ill patients in each year from 2014–2019 (P<0.001). With respect to the trend of admission rates to the emergency department by chronic disease, most diseases showed an increasing trend (P<0.001). however, hyperlipidemia showed a continuous decreasing trend in all age groups since 2014 (P<0.001). Among the elderly chronically ill patients, a greater increase in the admission rate following emergency department visits was noted in those over 85 years of age, with a significant difference in all diseases, except for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and tuberculosis (P<0.001). As the aging population grows, the emergency department admission rates among the elderly chronically ill patients will rise rapidly. This could create issues with respect to the use and consumption of emergency medical resources. Hence, it is necessary to manage chronic diseases effectively in the elderly.

한국어

본 논문은 만성질환으로 응급실에 내원한 노인 환자의 응급의료 이용 변화 추이를 알아보고자 하였다. 2014년 1월 1일부터 2019년 12월 31일까지의 국가응급진료정보망 자료에서 응급실 퇴실 주 진단 상병코드가 8개 만성질환에 해당하는 환자를 선택하여 응급실 이용 현황 및 응급실 내원과 입원의 변화 추이를 살펴보았다. 2014년을 기준으로 만성질환으로 응급 실을 내원한 노인 환자는 지속 증가하였고, 특히 85세 이상의 환자가 급격히 증가하였다. 만성질환별 응급실 내원 비율 변화 추이에서는 대부분 질환에서 증가세를 보였고(P<0.001), 그 중 허혈성심장질환, 관절병증에서 높은 증가율을 보였으나 고지혈 증은 전 연령에서 감소세를 보였다(P<0.001). 응급실 입원율 변화 추이에서는 고지혈증, 고혈압, 결핵을 제외한 만성질환에서 지속적으로 증가세를 보였다(P<0.001). 만성질환을 가진 노인 환자의 응급실 내원 및 입원율의 지속적인 증가는 응급의료자원 의 점유 및 의료 소비량 증가 문제를 가속시킬 수 있는 원인으로 작용할 수 있으므로 적절한 만성질환 관리가 필요하다.