Changing use of the emergency department by the elderly in the United Arab Emirates, 1989 and 1999

Abstract

Changes in use by the elderly of the emergency department of a major hospital in Al-Ain in the years 1989 and 1999 were examined. All patients aged 65 years or older who attended the emergency room were included in this cross-sectional survey. Patient numbers rose from 321 in 1989 to 1347 in 1999 with no significant change in the female to male ratio of 0.78 or the mean age of the elderly attendees 72.9 ± 7.4 years. Attendance rose 5.4 fold while non-urgent attendance rose 14.7 fold, demonstrating rising use but falling illness severity over time.