OBJECTIVE To estimate the proportion of visits to United States emergency departments (EDs) receiving a diagnosis of elder abuse using two nationally representative datasets. DESIGN Retrospective cross-sectional analysis. SETTING U.S. ED visits recorded in either the 2012 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), or the 2011 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). PARTICIPANTS All ED visits by patients aged 60 years and older. MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was elder abuse as defined by ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes. The proportion of visits with elder abuse was estimated using survey weights. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated to identify patient demographics and common ED diagnoses associated with elder abuse. RESULTS In 2012, NEDS contained 6,723,667 ED visits by older adults, representing an estimated 29,056,673 ED visits. Elder abuse was diagnosed in an estimated 3,846 visits, corresponding to a weighted diagnosis period prevalence of elder abuse in U.S. EDs of 0.013% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.012– 0.015%). Neglect and physical abuse were the most common types diagnosed, accounting for 32.9% and 32.2% of cases, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed increased weighted odds of elder abuse diagnosis in females (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.68–2.26), and patients with contusion (OR 2.91, 95% CI 2.36–3.57), urinary tract infection (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.84–2.65), or septicemia (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.44–2.55). In the 2011 NHAMCS dataset, zero cases of elder abuse were recorded among the 5,965 older adult ED visits. CONCLUSION Among US ED visits by older adults, the proportion of visits receiving a diagnosis of elder abuse is at least two orders of magnitude lower than the estimated prevalence in the population. Efforts to improve the identification of elder abuse in EDs may be warranted.

Objectives Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are the second most common cause of non-fatal injury among U.S. adults age 65 years and older. However, the frequency of emergency department (ED) visits, disposition, pain locations, and pain severity for older adults experiencing MVCs have not previously been described. The authors sought to determine these characteristics using information from two nationally representative data sets. Methods Data from the 2008 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), were used to estimate MVC-related ED visits and ED disposition for patients 65 years and older. NHAMCS data from 2004 through 2008 were used to further characterize MVC-related ED visits. Results In 2008, the NEDS contained 28,445,564 patient visits, of which 760,356 (2.7%) were due to MVCs. The NHAMCS contained 34,134 patient visits, of which 1,038 (3.0%) were due to MVCs. National estimates of MVC-related ED visits by patients 65 years and older in 2008 are 226,000 (95% CI = 210,000 to 240,000), for NEDS and 270,000 (95% CI = 185,000 to 355,000) for NHAMCS. Most older adults with MVC-related ED visits were sent home from the ED (proportion discharged NEDS 78%, 95% CI 78% to 79%; NHAMCS 77%, 95% CI 66% to 86%). During the years 2004 through 2008, of MVC-related ED visits by older adults not resulting in hospital admission, moderate or severe pain was reported in 61% (95% CI = 52% to 70%) of those with recorded pain scores. Older patients sent home after MVC-related ED visits were less likely than younger patients to receive analgesics (35%, 95% CI 26% to 43% vs. 47%, 95% CI 44% to 50%) during their ED evaluations, or as discharge prescriptions (52%, 95% CI 41% to 62% vs. 65%, 95% CI = 61% to 68%). Conclusions In 2008, adults age 65 years or older made more than 200,000 MVC-related ED visits. Approximately 80% of these visits were discharged home from the ED, but the majority of discharged patients reported moderate or severe pain. Further studies of pain and functional outcomes in this population are needed.

Background: Little is known about the optimal use of shared decision making (SDM) to guide palliative and end-of-life decisions in the emergency department (ED).

Objectives To determine if nonspecific symptoms and fever affect the posttest probability of acute bacterial infection in older patients in the emergency department (ED). Design Preplanned, secondary analysis of a prospective observational study. Setting Tertiary care, academic ED. Participants A total of 424 patients in the ED, 65 years or older, including all chief complaints. Measurements We identified presence of altered mental status, malaise/lethargy, and fever, as reported by the patient, as documented in the chart, or both. Bacterial infection was adjudicated by agreement among two or more of three expert reviewers. Odds ratios were calculated using univariable logistic regression. Positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR and NLR, respectively) were used to determine each symptom's effect on posttest probability of infection. Results Of 424 subjects, 77 (18%) had bacterial infection. Accounting for different reporting methods, presence of altered mental status (PLR range, 1.40‐2.53) or malaise/lethargy (PLR range, 1.25‐1.34) only slightly increased posttest probability of infection. Their absence did not assist with ruling out infection (NLR, greater than 0.50 for both). Fever of 38°C or higher either before or during the ED visit had moderate to large increases in probability of infection (PLR, 5.15‐18.10), with initial fever in the ED perfectly predictive, but absence of fever did not rule out infection (NLR, 0.79‐0.92). Results were similar when analyzing lower respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) individually. Of older adults diagnosed as having UTIs, 47% did not complain of UTI symptoms. Conclusions The presence of either altered mental status or malaise/lethargy does not substantially increase the probability of bacterial infection in older adults in the ED and should not be used alone to indicate infection in this population. Fever of 38°C or higher is associated with increased probability of infection. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:484–492, 2019.

OBJECTIVES To assess the relationship between older patients’ perceptions of shared decision making in the selection of an analgesic to take at home for acute musculoskeletal pain and 1) patient satisfaction with the analgesic and 2) changes in pain scores at one week. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Single academic emergency department. PARTICIPANTS Individuals age 65 or older with acute musculoskeletal pain. MEASUREMENTS Two components of shared decision making were assessed: 1) information provided to the patient about the medication choice; and 2) patient participation in the selection of the analgesic. Optimal satisfaction with the analgesic was defined as being “a lot” satisfied. Pain scores were assessed in the ED and at one week using a 0-to-10 scale. RESULTS Of 159 patients reached by phone, 111 patients met all eligibility criteria and completed the survey. Half (52%) of patients reported receiving information about pain medication options, and one third (31%) reported participating in the analgesic selection. Patients who received information were more likely to report optimal satisfaction with the pain medication than those who did not (67% vs. 34%; p<0.001). Patients who participated in the decision were also more likely to report optimal satisfaction with the analgesic (71% vs. 43%; p<0.01) and had a greater average decrease in pain score (4.1 vs. 2.9; p=0.05). After adjusting for measured confounders, patients who reported receiving information remained more likely to report optimal satisfaction with the analgesic (63% vs. 38%; p=0.04). CONCLUSION These results provide preliminary evidence that shared decision making in analgesic selection for older patients with acute musculoskeletal pain may improve outcomes.