Outcomes for people 75 and older after an emergency department visit for an acute medical problem
Outcomes of Patients Over 75 Years of Age Who Consulted the Emergency Department for a Medical Problem, Depending on Their Direct Admission to a Medical Ward Versus Prior Hospitalization in the Short-Stay Unit (UHCD).
This project will see what happens to people aged 75 and older who came to the Strasbourg emergency department in 2019 for an acute medical problem and were considered for hospital admission.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 2000 (estimated) |
| Ages | 75 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Strasbourg, France Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Strasbourg) |
| Trial ID | NCT07302555 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a retrospective observational review of hospital records for patients aged 75 and older who presented to the Strasbourg Emergency Department (Hautepierre and NHC) in 2019 with an acute medical problem and an indication for conventional medical ward hospitalization. The analysis will describe care pathways including use of the Short-Stay Unit (UHCD), admission to conventional wards, transfers to ICU, in-ED deaths, discharge destinations, and downstream outcomes such as length of stay and readmission when available. Patients with scheduled admissions, surgical presentations, those who died in the ED prior to hospitalization, those discharged home from the ED, and those admitted directly to intensive care are excluded. The aim is to characterize how ED operational changes and UHCD use affect hospital flow and outcomes for frail older adults.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: People aged 75 or older who visited the Strasbourg Emergency Department (Hautepierre or NHC) in 2019 for an acute medical problem and were judged to need conventional medical ward hospitalization.
Not a fit: Patients admitted for scheduled hospitalizations, those with surgical conditions, patients who died in the ED before hospitalization, those discharged home from the ED, and those admitted directly to intensive care are excluded and will not be represented in this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If patterns that harm or help older patients are identified, hospitals could change how they use short-stay units and ED beds to reduce harmful admissions and improve care for people over 75.
How similar studies have performed: Observational work at other centers has reported mixed results—short-stay units can relieve ED crowding but may sometimes compromise care for frail older adults—so this project builds on existing, not wholly novel, evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient aged ≥ 75 years * Patient admitted to the Strasbourg Emergency Department (Hautepierre and NHC) during 2019 for an acute medical problem * Patient with an indication for hospitalization in a conventional medical ward Exclusion Criteria: * Patient who died during their visit to the Emergency Department prior to hospitalization * Patient admitted for a scheduled hospitalization * Patient not requiring hospitalization in a conventional medical ward (either discharged home after the Emergency Department visit or admitted to intensive care) * Patient admitted to the Emergency Department for a surgical condition
Where this trial is running
Strasbourg
- Service de Soins de Soins Médicaux et de Réadaptation - Réanimation - CHU de Strasbourg - France — Strasbourg, France (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Alexandre BOUSSUGE, MD
- Email: alexandre.boussuge@chru-strasbourg.fr
- Phone: 33 3 88 11 54 61
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.