AB1179 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT LENGTH OF STAY FOR PATIENTS WITH ACUTE GOUT

Abstract

Background:Emergency department (ED) visits for acute gout increased by approximately 20% between 2006 and 2014 in the United States. (1) Reducing ED length of stay (LOS) can help improve health outcomes, and reduce ED crowding and cost of care for patients with gout.Objectives:The aim of our study was to assess ED LOS and to identify factors associated with prolonged ED LOS in patients with acute gout.Methods:In this retrospective analysis, we included the first ED visit of adult patients (>18years) with acute gout who presented to the 3 EDs affiliated with Lifespan Health Systems, the largest healthcare provider in Rhode Island. Our study period was 3/30/2015 to 9/30/2017.We calculated ED LOS as the time spent by patients in the ED until they were discharged. Patients presenting to the ED and subsequently admitted to the hospital were excluded given the differential effect of systems factors in these patients. We assessed the following factors’ association with being in the upper quartile of ED LOS: (a) Patient factors – demographics, comorbidities and clinical presentation of gout (number of joints involved, severity as gauged by an ED triage nurse on a scale of 1 to 5; 1 being the worst) and (b) systems factors – time of day, day of the week, and time of year at presentation to the ED, teaching versus non-teaching hospital setting, and performing an arthrocentesis. We performed univariate and multivariable analyses to identify factors associated with prolonged ED LOS in patients with acute gout.Results:A total of 355 patients (mean age 56.6 ± 16.03 years, 81.3% males) were included. The median ED LOS was 2.65 hours (1.75, 4.3 hours). A quarter of the patients spent more than 4.3 hours in the ED; the national average across all medical illnesses being 3.7 hours (2). In the univariate analysis, older age (> 65 years), comorbidities (hypertension, congestive heart failure), worse ED severity score, procedural delays, and teaching hospital setting were associated with being in the upper quartile of ED LOS. In a multivariable analysis, age >65 years, procedural delays, and worse ED acuity score continued to be associated with longer ED LOS.Conclusion:In our study settings, patients with acute gout spent a longer time in the ED than the national median of 120-150 minutes. (2) We noted that older age and higher acuity score in addition to procedural delays led to longer length of stay in the ED. The results of our study should guide future interventions to reduce ED LOS for patients with acute gout.