SP3.1.5 Variation and predictors of emergency surgery in emergency hospital admissions from the Emergency Surgery Or Not (ESORT) study

Aims To assess variation in use of emergency surgery (ES) for emergency hospital admissions with acute appendicitis, cholelithiasis, diverticular disease, abdominal wall hernia or intestinal obstruction. Methods Cohorts were extracted from Hospital Episode Statistics for 136 acute NHS trusts in England. Clinical panel consensus defined ES for emergency admissions between 1/4/2010 and 31/12/2019. The association of socio-demographic characteristics with ES use was estimated by multivariable logistic regression, with adjustment for comorbidity, frailty, diagnosis and trust. Results The cohort sizes ranged from 49,385 (hernia) to 184,777 (appendicitis) patients. ES was less likely for: patients aged over 80, with odds ratios (ORs) across conditions from 0.15 to 0.84 versus those aged under 40; the most deprived, ORs 0.83 to 0.92, versus least deprived; and Asian patients, ORs 0.72 to 0.88, versus White patients. Black patients were less likely to have emergency surgery for appendicitis (OR 0.78) and cholelithiasis (OR 0.78). Females were less likely to have ES for appendicitis (OR 0.94 versus males), but more likely to have surgery for intestinal obstruction (OR 1.29), hernia (OR 1.13) and cholelithiasis (OR 1.22). Unexplained variation in ES across trusts, remained after case-mix adjustment, and was greatest for cholelithiasis (median of 16%, 10 to 90 centile 5%-34%), and hernia (61%, 52%-71%), followed by intestinal obstruction (29%, 24%-36%). appendicitis (93%, 89%-95%), and diverticular disease (15%, 11%-20%). Conclusions The socio-demographic characteristics of emergency admissions are associated with the likelihood of receiving ES. Variation in ES use between NHS trusts remained after adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics.

Influence of Pharmaceutical Copayment on Emergency Hospital Admissions: A 1978–2018 Time Series Analysis in Spain

No studies have evaluated the influence of pharmaceutical copayment on hospital admission rates using time series analysis. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the relationship between hospital admission rates and the influence of the introduction of a pharmaceutical copayment system (PCS). In July 2012, a PCS was implemented in Spain, and we designed a time series analysis (1978–2018) to assess its impact on emergency hospital admissions. Hospital admission rates were estimated between 1978 and 2018 each month using the Hospital Morbidity Survey in Spain (the number of urgent hospital admissions per 100,000 inhabitants). This was conducted for men, women and both and for all-cause, cardiovascular and respiratory hospital discharges. Life expectancy was obtained from the National Institute of Statistics. The copayment variable took a value of 0 before its implementation (pre-PCS: January 1978–June 2012) and 1 after that (post-PCS: July 2012–December 2018). ARIMA (Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average) (2,0,0)(1,0,0) models were estimated with two predictors (life expectancy and copayment implementation). Pharmaceutical copayment did not influence hospital admission rates (with p-values between 0.448 and 0.925) and there was even a reduction in the rates for most of the analyses performed. In conclusion, the PCS did not influence hospital admission rates. More studies are needed to design health policies that strike a balance between the amount contributed by the taxpayer and hospital admission rates.

Comparison of the impact of two national health and social care integration programmes on emergency hospital admissions

Background Policy-makers expect that integration of health and social care will improve user and carer experience and reduce avoidable hospital use. [We] evaluate the impact on emergency hospital admissions of two large nationally-initiated service integration programmes in England: the Pioneer (November 2013 to March 2018) and Vanguard (January 2015 to March 2018) programmes. The latter had far greater financial and expert support from central agencies. Methods Of the 206 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in England, 51(25%) were involved in the Pioneer programme only, 22(11%) were involved in the Vanguard programme only and 13(6%) were involved in both programmes. We used quasi-experimental methods to compare monthly counts of emergency admissions between four groups of CCGs, before and after the introduction of the two programmes. Results CCGs involved in the programmes had higher monthly hospital emergency admission rates than non-participants prior to their introduction [7.9 (95% CI:7.8–8.1) versus 7.5 (CI: 7.4–7.6) per 1000 population]. From 2013 to 2018, there was a 12% (95% CI:9.5–13.6%) increase in emergency admissions in CCGs not involved in either programme while emergency admissions in CCGs in the Pioneer and Vanguard programmes increased by 6.4% (95% CI: 3.8–9.0%) and 8.8% (95% CI:4.5–13.1%), respectively. CCGs involved in both initiatives experienced a smaller increase of 3.5% (95% CI:-0.3–7.2%). The slowdown largely occurred in the final year of both programmes. Conclusions Health and social care integration programmes can mitigate but not prevent rises in emergency admissions over the longer-term. Greater financial and expert support from national agencies and involvement in multiple integration initiatives can have cumulative effects.

Associations between attainment of incentivised primary care indicators and emergency hospital admissions among type 2 diabetes patients: a population-based historical cohort study

Objectives England has invested considerably in diabetes care over recent years through programmes such as the Quality and Outcomes Framework and National Diabetes Audit. However, associations between specific programme indicators and key clinical endpoints, such as emergency hospital admissions, remain unclear. We aimed to examine whether attainment of Quality and Outcomes Framework and National Diabetes Audit primary care diabetes indicators is associated with diabetes-related, cardiovascular, and all-cause emergency hospital admissions. Design Historical cohort study. Setting A total of 330 English primary care practices, 2010–2017, using UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Participants A total of 84,441 adults with type 2 diabetes. Main Outcome Measures The primary outcome was emergency hospital admission for any cause. Secondary outcomes were (1) diabetes-related and (2) cardiovascular-related emergency admission. Results There were 130,709 all-cause emergency admissions, 115,425 diabetes-related admissions and 105,191 cardiovascular admissions, corresponding to unplanned admission rates of 402, 355 and 323 per 1000 patient-years, respectively. All-cause hospital admission rates were lower among those who met HbA1c and cholesterol indicators (incidence rate ratio = 0.91; 95% CI 0.89–0.92; p < 0.001 and 0.87; 95% CI 0.86–0.89; p < 0.001), respectively), with similar findings for diabetes and cardiovascular admissions. Patients who achieved the Quality and Outcomes Framework blood pressure target had lower cardiovascular admission rates (incidence rate ratio = 0.98; 95% CI 0.96–0.99; p = 0.001). Strong associations were found between completing 7–9 (vs. either 4–6 or 0–3) National Diabetes Audit processes and lower rates of all admission outcomes ( p-values < 0.001), and meeting all nine National Diabetes Audit processes had significant associations with reductions in all types of emergency admissions by 22% to 26%. Meeting the HbA1c or cholesterol Quality and Outcomes Framework indicators, or completing 7–9 National Diabetes Audit processes, was also associated with longer time-to-unplanned all-cause, diabetes and cardiovascular admissions. Conclusions Attaining Quality and Outcomes Framework-defined diabetes intermediate outcome thresholds, and comprehensive completion of care processes, may translate into considerable reductions in emergency hospital admissions. Out-of-hospital diabetes care optimisation is needed to improve implementation of core interventions and reduce unplanned admissions.

Why have emergency admissions in under-5s been increasing?

A recent report found that emergency hospital admissions for children under 5 have increased considerably in the last decade in the UK. Dave Hancock highlights some of the reasons why families seek urgent care