Patterns of pediatric emergency department visits in a tertiary women's and children's hospital in China: A 2021 retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the pediatric ED visits in a hospital in China.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of 198,628 pediatric ED visits to a women's and children's hospital in China from January 1 to December 31, 2021. Data concerning patient name, gender, age, registration number, home address, chief complaints, medical history, date of visit, time of visit, triage levels, wait time for treatment, physician name, diagnosis, and disposition were obtained from the hospital information system.

RESULTS

There were more male patients (55.128 %) than female patients (44.872 %). The patients aged ≥3 years but <6 years accounted for the largest proportion (33.235 %). The numbers of patients triaged to levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 128 (0.06 %), 1164 (0.59 %), 14,560 (7.33 %), and 182,776 (92.02 %), respectively. Patients with diseases of the respiratory system accounted for 66.45 %. Pediatric diseases originating in the perinatal period were the primary ones in patients triaged to levels 1, 2, and 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-urgent patients accounted for a large proportion of pediatric ED patients. Dissemination of information concerning the prevention and treatment of common symptoms of pediatric diseases should be strengthened.