Impact of the Population Pyramid on the Emergency Department

Abstract

A country’s population pyramid can affect the qual-ity and demand for emergency departments (ED) in several ways. EDs may need specialized resources and equipment to meet the population’s needs. In this research, we present an analysis of scenarios through agent-based modeling and simulation. We analyzed the population pyramids of Spain, Argentina, and Paraguay to provide insight into how demographic structure impacts the length of stay (LoS) and the need for medical and nursing staff. This can help policymakers and health managers better plan health resources and services in each country. We verified the evolution of the parameters, length of stay (LoS), and the occupation of doctors and nurses depending on different scenarios, such as the age of the patients and the number of patients arriving, and how it can lead to saturation of the ED. Through several scenarios analyzed using simulations of the age pyramids of Spain, Argentina, and Paraguay, we conclude that the age pyramid of patients treated in ED affects the demand for services, the need for specialized care regarding human and material resources, and waiting time. Implementing measures to manage demand and optimize available resources is essential to ensure adequate patient care.