Characteristics of older versus younger emergency patients Analysis of over 356,000 visits from the AKTIN German emergency department data registry

Background This nationwide study aims to analyze age-specific differences and characteristics of emergency patients with a special focus on older patients. Method In 2019, data were obtained from 11 emergency departments (EDs), all part of the German Emergency Department Data (AKTIN) registry. All patients 18 years and older visiting the EDs were included. In addition to demographic data, variables such as referral, type of transport, primary assessment, diagnoses, length of stay and type of transfer were recorded and compared by age group and specifically by younger (18-64 years) and older patients (65+ years). Results Data from 356,354 patients (39.1% were aged 65+ years) were included. Compared to younger patients, older ED patients were more likely to be accompanied by emergency medical services (15.4 vs. 34.3%) and almost twice as often by an emergency physician (6.4 vs. 12.2%). The need for treatment increased with age; 47.1% of younger and 66.1% of older people were classified as yellow, orange or red. The proportion of patients with internal diseases was higher for patients 65+ years (22.5 vs. 38.8%). Older patients were more often hospitalized (27.5 vs. 60.3%) and were more frequently transferred to an intensive care unit (4.5 vs. 11.9%). Conclusion About 40% of adult emergency patients are 65+ years. They require more urgent treatment and are more often hospitalized than younger patients. In older patients, internal diseases were more common.