title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003906:Developing Countries; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D019456:Health Transition; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012621:Seasons; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014218:Triage; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology