title: Elderly and Nonelderly Use of a Dedicated Ambulance Corps' Emergency Medical Services in Taiwan.
abstract: Backgrounds and Aim. Taiwan's population is gradually aging; however, there are no comparative data on emergency medical services (EMS) use between the elderly and nonelderly. Methods. We analyzed the emergency calls dealt with between January 1 and April 4, 2014, by EMS in one city in Taiwan. All calls were divided into two groups: elderly (≥65 years) and nonelderly (<65 years). Nontransport and transport calls were compared between the groups for demographic characteristics, transport time, reasons for calling EMS, vital signs, and emergency management. Results. There were 1,001 EMS calls: 226 nontransport and 775 transport calls. The elderly accounted for significantly (P < 0.05) fewer (28 (9.2%)) nontransport calls than did the nonelderly (136 (21.4%)). In the transport calls, 276 (35.6%) were the elderly. The elderly had a higher proportion of histories for cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, end-stage renal disease, cancer, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, the elderly had significantly longer total transport time, more nontrauma reasons, and poorer consciousness levels and lower oxygen saturation and needed more respiratory management and more frequent resuscitation during transport than did the nonelderly. Conclusion. The elderly have more specific needs than do the nonelderly. Adapting EMS training, operations, and government policies to aging societies is mandatory and should begin now.
authors.affiliation: Tainan City Government Fire Bureau, Annan Branch, Tainan 709, Taiwan; Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan 711, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Chia
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei 106, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei 242, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Lung
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan 710, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan 710, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Chin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan 710, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan 710, Taiwan; Department of Emergency Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan 710, Taiwan; Department of Leisure, Recreation and Tourism Management, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan 710, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan 736, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Bin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
authors.forename: How-Ran
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan 710, Taiwan; Department of Occupational Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan 710, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Bachelor Program of Senior Service, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan 710, Taiwan; Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan 710, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Cheng
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3595-2952
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan 711, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pi-Ching
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6673-4232
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000552:Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review