Clin Exp Emerg Med.  2023 Nov;10(S):S1-S12. 10.15441/ceem.23.151.

Epidemiologic trends of patients who visited nationwide emergency departments: a report from the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) of Korea, 2018–2022

• Yoo HH
• Ro YS
• Ko E
• Lee JH
• Han Sh
• Kim T
• Shin TG
• Kim S
• Chang H

• KMID: 2550928
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15441/ceem.23.151

Abstract

Objective
This study analyzed trends in emergency department (ED) visits in South Korea using the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) data from 2018 to 2022.
Methods
This was a retrospective observational study using data from the NEDIS database from 2018 to 2022. Age- and sex-standardized ED visits per 100,000 population, as well as age- and sex-standardized rates for mortality, admission, and transfer, were calculated.
Results
The standardized ED visits per 100,000 population was approximately 20,000 from 2018 to 2019 and decreased to about 18,000 in 2022. The standardized mortality rate ranged from 1.4% to 1.7%. The admission rate (18.4%–19.4%) and the transfer rates (1.6%–1.8%) were similar during the study period. Approximately 5.5% of patients were triaged as Korean Triage and Acuity Scale score 1 or 2. About 91% of patients visited the ED directly and 21.7% of patients visited the ED with an ambulance. The ED length of stay was less than 6 hours in 90.3% of patients and the ED mortality rate was 0.6%. Acute gastroenteritis was the most common diagnosis. Respiratory virus symptoms, such as fever and sore throat, were also common chief complaints.
Conclusion
ED visits decreased during the 5-year period, while admission, transfer, and death rates remained relatively stable.

Keyword

Epidemiology; Emergency departments; National health programs