Childhood obesity in the ED: A prospective Australian study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine (i) the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children presenting to all EDs in a large regional Australian city and (ii) whether age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES) or hospital setting (public vs private) were associated with overweight and obesity. METHODS: This prospective observational study included children aged ≥2 and <18 years who presented to any of three EDs over an 18 month period who had their height and weight measured. Age, sex and residential postcode were collected. Weight category was determined by sex and age standardised body mass index (BMI) z-score. Weight category was assessed by sex, age, SES and hospital setting with chi-squared tests, and ordinal logistic regression with cluster sandwich error estimators. Results were reported using odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Data were collected for 3827 children, of which 11.6% were obese and 19.8% overweight. The prevalence of obesity was highest in those aged 8-14 years and in those from lower SES postcodes. The likelihood of obesity was higher in the public than the private hospitals (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.51-0.86), whereas the likelihood of overweight was similar (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.83-1.22). CONCLUSIONS: Almost one-third of children who presented to EDs were overweight or obese. Obesity was particularly high in those aged 8-14 years and those from lower SES postcodes. In the evolving obesity crisis, the high proportion of children presenting to EDs above a healthy weight might represent an opportunity for EDs to identify and refer children for body weight and lifestyle management.

Wrist, hand and finger injuries in Australian football: A prospective observational study of emergency department presentations.

OBJECTIVES: Investigate the characteristics of wrist, hand and finger (WHF) injuries in Australian footballers presenting to EDs and determine if injury profiles differed between females and males, and between children and adults. METHODS: In this prospective observational study that took place during an entire football season, patients attended 1 of 10 EDs in Victoria, Australia with a WHF injury sustained while playing Australian football. Data were extracted from patient medical records by trained researchers. Data included injury type (e.g. fracture), body part (e.g. metacarpal) and mechanism of injury. Males versus females, and children versus adults were compared using chi-squared tests or Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: In total, 528 patients had a WHF injury, of which 105 (19.9%) were female and 308 (59.2%) were children. Fractures and sprains were the most common injury types (45.3% and 38.6%, respectively). Fingers were more often injured than wrists or hands (62.5%, 23.5% and 15.0%, respectively). Ball contact was the most common mechanism of injury (38.1% of injuries). Females were more likely than males to (i) have a sprain/strain injury, (ii) injure a finger (rather than wrist or hand) and (iii) injure themselves through ball contact. Children were more likely to injure their wrists, have a sprain/strain injury, or be injured falling to the ground. Adults were more likely to dislocate a joint or injure their hands. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in injury type, location and mechanism between females and males, and children and adults, suggest an opportunity for customised injury prevention and management strategies by sex and age.

Economic consequences of injury in female Australian footballers: A prospective observational study of emergency department presentations.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the economic consequences of injuries to female Australian footballers from a health sector and societal perspective. METHODS: This prospective observational study invited 242 females to complete an online questionnaire 3-6 months following an Australian football injury which involved presentation to an ED in Victoria, Australia. The questionnaire inquired regarding healthcare use, time off work, return to playing football and extent of recovery following injury. Relevant information was also extracted from respondents' medical records regarding injury-type, body part injured, investigations and treatments. Healthcare costs were determined for each respondent's ED presentation, hospital admission/s (when relevant), and subsequent healthcare use. Societal costs were determined as lost income to the respondent and/or carer. RESULTS: A total of 108 people responded to the questionnaire. Sprains/strains and fractures accounted for 84.2% of respondents' injuries. Sixteen respondents (14.8%) required admission to hospital at the time of injury and 81 (75.0%) required subsequent healthcare appointments following discharge from the ED or hospital. Time off work or school following the injury was common (64.8% of respondents) and 27.8% of respondents had a carer take time off work. More than 80% of respondents missed training and matches following the injury. The median healthcare cost per respondent was AUD$753 and the median cost due to work absence was AUD$1393. One-quarter of respondents reported a full recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Injuries to female Australian footballers can produce substantial healthcare and societal costs, which has important implications for healthcare provision and prioritising and implementing injury prevention programmes and post-injury rehabilitation.

Most common principal diagnoses assigned to Australian emergency department presentations involving alcohol use: a multi-centre study.

OBJECTIVES: Alcohol is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in Australia and the consequences of alcohol consumption have enormous personal and social impacts. This study aimed to describe the principal diagnoses of emergency department (ED) presentations involving alcohol use in the previous 12 hours at eight hospitals in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. METHODS: Twelve months' data (1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019) were collected from eight EDs, including demographics, ICD-10 codes, hospital location and self-reported drinking in the preceding 12 hours. The ten most common ICD-10 discharge codes were analysed based on age, sex and hospital geographic area. RESULTS: ICD codes pertaining to mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol use accounted for the highest proportion in most EDs. Suicide ideation/attempt was in the five highest ICD codes for all but one hospital. It was the second most common alcohol-related presentation for both males and females. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol plays a major role in a range of presentations, especially in relation to mental health and suicide. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: The collection of alcohol involvement in ED presentations represents a major step forward in informing the community about the burden of alcohol on their health resources.

Outcomes for emergency department patients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19: An analysis of the Australian experience in 2020 (COVED-5).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients presenting to Australian EDs with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 during 2020, and to determine the predictors of in-hospital death for SARS-CoV-2 positive patients. METHODS: This analysis from the COVED Project presents data from 12 sites across four Australian states for the period from 1 April to 30 November 2020. All adult patients who met local criteria for suspected COVID-19 and underwent testing for SARS-CoV-2 in the ED were eligible for inclusion. Study outcomes were mechanical ventilation and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Among 24 405 eligible ED presentations over the whole study period, 423 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. During the 'second wave' from 1 July to 30 September 2020, 26 (6%) of 406 SARS-CoV-2 patients received invasive mechanical ventilation, compared to 175 (2%) of the 9024 SARS-CoV-2 negative patients (odds ratio [OR] 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.3-5.2, P < 0.001), and 41 (10%) SARS-CoV-2 positive patients died in hospital compared to 312 (3%) SARS-CoV-2 negative patients (OR 3.2; 95% CI 2.2-4.4, P = 0.001). For SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, the strongest independent predictors of hospital death were age (OR 1.1; 95% CI 1.1-1.1, P < 0.001), higher triage category (OR 3.5; 95% CI 1.3-9.4, P = 0.012), obesity (OR 4.2; 95% CI 1.2-14.3, P = 0.024) and receiving immunosuppressive treatment (OR 8.2; 95% CI 1.8-36.7, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: ED patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 had higher odds of mechanical ventilation and death in hospital. The strongest predictors of death were age, a higher triage category, obesity and receiving immunosuppressive treatment.

Gender differences in female and male Australian Football injuries - A prospective observational study of emergency department presentations.

OBJECTIVES: To compare injury-profiles of females and males presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs) with an Australian Football injury. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: All patients presenting to one of 10 EDs in Victoria, Australia, with an Australian Football injury were included in the study. Data were prospectively collected over a 10 month period, coinciding with a complete Australian Football season, including pre-season training and practice matches. Relevant information was extracted from patient medical records regarding injury-type, body part injured, investigations and treatments required. Female and male data were compared with chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: 1635 patients were included, of whom 242 (14.8%) were female. Females had a higher proportion of hand/finger injuries (34.3% v 23.4%), neck injuries (6.6% v 2.5%) and patella dislocations (2.9% v 0.6%). Males had a higher proportion of shoulder injuries (11.5% v 5.8%), skin lacerations (8.0% v 1.7%), and thorax/abdominal/pelvic injuries (5.7% v 2.1%). Concussion rates were similar between the genders, occurring in 14.1% of all patients. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries were infrequent (1.0%) and not significantly different between genders. Females received more imaging investigations (83.1% v 74.7%) and analgesia (62.4% v 48.5%). A higher proportion of males required admission to hospital (5.0% v 2.1%), usually for surgery. CONCLUSION: Australian Football injury profiles differed between females and males. Gender-specific injury prevention and management programs would be indicated based on the study findings.

Epidemiology and clinical features of emergency department patients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19: A multisite report from the COVID-19 Emergency Department Quality Improvement Project for July 2020 (COVED-3).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to describe the epidemiology and clinical features of patients presenting to the ED with suspected and confirmed COVID-19. METHODS: The COVID-19 ED (COVED) Project is an ongoing prospective cohort study in Australian EDs. This analysis presents data from eight sites across Victoria and Tasmania for July 2020 (during Australia's 'second wave'). All adult patients who met criteria for 'suspected COVID-19' and underwent testing for SARS-CoV-2 in the ED were eligible for inclusion. Study outcomes included a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result and mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: In the period 1 July to 31 July 2020, there were 30 378 presentations to the participating EDs and 2917 (9.6%; 95% confidence interval 9.3-9.9) underwent testing for SARS-CoV-2. Of these, 50 (2%) patients returned a positive result. Among positive cases, two (4%) received mechanical ventilation during their hospital admission compared to 45 (2%) of the SARS-CoV-2 negative patients (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 0.4-7.3; P = 0.47). Two (4%) SARS-CoV-2 positive patients died in hospital compared to 46 (2%) of the SARS-CoV-2 negative patients (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 0.4-7.1; P = 0.49). Strong clinical predictors of a positive SARS-CoV-2 result included self-reported fever, non-smoking status, bilateral infiltrates on chest X-ray and absence of a leucocytosis on first ED blood tests (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this prospective multi-site study from July 2020, a substantial proportion of ED patients required SARS-CoV-2 testing, isolation and enhanced infection prevention and control precautions. Presence of SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swab was not associated with death or mechanical ventilation.

Epidemiology and clinical features of emergency department patients with suspected COVID-19: Insights from Australia's 'second wave' (COVED-4).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to describe the epidemiology and clinical features of patients presenting to the ED with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 during Australia's 'second wave'. METHODS: The COVID-19 ED (COVED) Project is an ongoing prospective cohort study in Australian EDs. This analysis presents data from 12 sites across four Australian states for the period from 1 July to 31 August 2020. All adult patients who met the criteria for 'suspected COVID-19' and underwent testing for SARS-CoV-2 in the ED were eligible for inclusion. Study outcomes included a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result, mechanical ventilation and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: There were 106 136 presentations to the participating EDs and 12 055 (11.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 11.2-11.6) underwent testing for SARS-CoV-2. Of these, 255 (2%) patients returned a positive result. Among positive cases, 13 (5%) received mechanical ventilation during their hospital admission compared to 122 (2%) of the SARS-CoV-2 negative patients (odds ratio 2.7; 95% CI 1.5-4.9, P = 0.001). Nineteen (7%) SARS-CoV-2 positive patients died in hospital compared to 212 (3%) of the SARS-CoV-2 negative patients (odds ratio 2.3; 95% CI 1.4-3.7, P = 0.001). Strong clinical predictors of the SARS-CoV-2 test result included self-reported fever, sore throat, bilateral infiltrates on chest X-ray, and absence of a leucocytosis on first ED blood tests (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective multi-site study during Australia's 'second wave', a substantial proportion of ED presentations required SARS-CoV-2 testing and isolation. Presence of SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swab was associated with an increase in the odds of death and mechanical ventilation in hospital.