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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 8 of 8 Research Studies DisplayedIantorno SE, Scaife JH, Bryce JR
Emergency department utilization for pediatric gastrostomy tubes across the United States.
This study investigated the number and nature of emergency department (ED) visits to community hospitals for pediatric gastrostomy tube complication. The authors used the 2019 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample to perform a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of pediatric patients (<18 y) with a primary diagnosis of gastrostomy tube complication. Their primary outcome was a potentially preventable ED visit, defined as an encounter that did not result in any imaging, procedures, or an inpatient admission. They observed 32,036 ED visits at 535 hospitals and 15,165 (47.3%) were potentially preventable. Median age was 2 years, and 17,707 (55%) were male. Compared to White patients, patients with higher odds of potentially preventable visits were Black and Hispanic. Patients with residential zip codes in the first, second, and third median household income quartiles had higher odds of potentially preventable visits compared to the highest.
AHRQ-funded; HS025776.
Citation: Iantorno SE, Scaife JH, Bryce JR .
Emergency department utilization for pediatric gastrostomy tubes across the United States.
J Surg Res 2024 Mar; 295:820-26. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.11.028.
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Children/Adolescents, Emergency Department, Healthcare Utilization, Surgery, Adverse Events
Decker S, Dworsky M, Gibson TB
AHRQ Author: Decker S
The Impact of the Affordable Care Act Insurance Expansions on Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits.
The authors leveraged ACA coverage expansions, including Medicaid expansion and Marketplaces, to study the impact of health insurance on opioid-related emergency department (ED) visits. They used ZIP-code–level ED utilization data from HCUP’s State Inpatient Databases (SID) and State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) for 29 states. They found evidence of a dose-response relationship between pre-ACA uninsured and changes in ED visit rates in both expansion and non-expansion states: areas with higher uninsured rates prior to ACA saw larger reductions in opioid-related ED visits after the ACA took effect. The authors concluded that these findings suggest that increased insurance coverage may to help mitigate the opioid crisis.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Decker S, Dworsky M, Gibson TB .
The Impact of the Affordable Care Act Insurance Expansions on Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits.
American Journal of Health Economics 2023 Sum; 9(3):405–34..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Opioids, Policy, Health Insurance, Emergency Department, Access to Care, Medicaid, Healthcare Utilization
Michelson KA, Cushing AM, Bucholz EM
Association of county-level availability of pediatricians with emergency department visits.
This study examined whether children in counties with more pediatricians had fewer emergency department (ED) visits. The authors conducted a cross-sectional study of all ED visits among children younger than 18 years from 6 states. Each additional pediatrician per 1000 children was associated with a 13.7% decrease in ED visits in the state-adjusted model. In the full model however, there was no association. Other factors such as presence of an urgent care facility, high socioeconomic status, urban status and higher proportions of White race and nonpublic insurance were also associated with decreased ED visit rates.
AHRQ-funded; HS026503.
Citation: Michelson KA, Cushing AM, Bucholz EM .
Association of county-level availability of pediatricians with emergency department visits.
Pediatr Emerg Care 2022 Feb;38(2):e953-e57. doi: 10.1097/pec.0000000000002502..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Emergency Department, Healthcare Utilization, Workforce, Provider: Physician, Rural Health
Heslin KC, Barrett ML, Hensche M
AHRQ Author: Heslin KC, Karaca Z, Owens PL
Effects of hurricanes on emergency department utilization: an analysis across 7 US storms.
This study examines changes in emergency department (ED) utilization for residents of 344 counties after the occurrence of 7 US hurricanes between 2005 and 2016. Using HCUP data, findings showed that the overall population rate of weekly ED visits changed little post-hurricane, but rates by disease categories and age demonstrated varying results. ED utilization rates for respiratory disorders exhibited the largest post-hurricane increase, especially 2-3 weeks following the hurricane. The change in population rates by disease categories and age tended to be higher for people residing in counties closer to the hurricane path.
Citation: Heslin KC, Barrett ML, Hensche M .
Effects of hurricanes on emergency department utilization: an analysis across 7 US storms.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2021 Dec;15(6):762-69. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2020.281..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Emergency Department, Healthcare Utilization, Emergency Preparedness
Hoffmann JA, Hall M, Lorenz D
Emergency department visits for suicidal ideation and self-harm in rural and urban youths.
The authors sought to compare emergency department (ED) visit rates for suicidal ideation and/or self-harm among youth by urban-rural location of residence. Data was taken from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. They found that, compared with youths living in urban areas, youths living in rural areas had higher ED visit rates for self-harm, including self-inflicted firearm injuries. The researchers recommended preventive approaches for self-harm based in community and ED settings in order to help address these differences.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Hoffmann JA, Hall M, Lorenz D .
Emergency department visits for suicidal ideation and self-harm in rural and urban youths.
J Pediatr 2021 Nov;238:282-89.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.07.013..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Children/Adolescents, Emergency Department, Behavioral Health, Rural Health, Urban Health, Healthcare Utilization
Allen L, Cummings JR, Hockenberry JM
The impact of urgent care centers on nonemergent emergency department visits.
This study looked at the impact of urgent care centers on nonemergency emergency department (ED) use. Secondary data from a novel urgent care center database, linked to the HCUP State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) from six states was used. Data from ZIP codes with no urgent care centers served as a control group compared to areas with local urgent care centers. Having an open urgent care center in a ZIP code reduced the total number of ED visits by residents by 17.2% largely due to visits for less urgent conditions. The effect was concentrated in areas with hospitals with the longest ED wait times. The total number of uninsured visits to the ED were reduced by 21% and for Medicaid visits by 29.1%.
AHRQ-funded; HS2484501.
Citation: Allen L, Cummings JR, Hockenberry JM .
The impact of urgent care centers on nonemergent emergency department visits.
Health Serv Res 2021 Aug;56(4):721-30. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13631..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Emergency Department, Healthcare Utilization, Access to Care
Martsolf GR, Nuckols TK, Fingar KR
AHRQ Author: Stocks C, Owens PL
Nonspecific chest pain and hospital revisits within 7 days of care: variation across emergency department, observation and inpatient visits.
The purpose of this study was to compare the rate at which patients with nonspecific chest pain return to the hospital within 7 days after index observation visits versus after index emergency department and inpatient visits. Findings showed that up to 1 in 10 patients discharged with nonspecific chest pain returned to the hospital within 1week. Compared with emergency department and inpatient care, observation visits were associated with lower revisit rates. Recommendations include further research to refine clinical standards of care for nonspecific chest pain as well as to investigate the healthcare delivery and patient factors that influence 7-day revisit rates.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201300002C.
Citation: Martsolf GR, Nuckols TK, Fingar KR .
Nonspecific chest pain and hospital revisits within 7 days of care: variation across emergency department, observation and inpatient visits.
BMC Health Serv Res 2020 Jun 8;20(1):516. doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-05200-x..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Emergency Department, Pain, Healthcare Utilization, Hospitals, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions
Hirayama A, Goto T, Shimada YJ
Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and subsequent risk of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for atrial fibrillation.
Although emerging evidence has suggested the relationship of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with atrial fibrillation (AF), little is known about whether acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) increases the risk of repeated AF-related healthcare utilization. The investigators found that among patients with existing AF, AECOPD was associated with a higher risk of AF-related ED visit or hospitalization in the first 90-day post-AECOPD period.
AHRQ-funded; HS023305.
Citation: Hirayama A, Goto T, Shimada YJ .
Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and subsequent risk of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for atrial fibrillation.
Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2018 Sep;11(9):e006322. doi: 10.1161/circep.118.006322..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Emergency Department, Respiratory Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Chronic Conditions, Hospitalization, Risk, Healthcare Utilization