Table 1.
Selected characteristics of emergency departments visits by patients with SCD, 1999–2007 (% [SE] unless otherwise indicated)
| Characteristic | All visits | Visits by patients aged 0–19 years | Visits by patients aged ≥ 20 years | p-value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||||
| Male | 50.6 (3.0) | 57.1 (5.7) | 48.1 (3.5) | 0.172 |
| Female | 49.4 (3.0) | 42.9 (5.7) | 51.9 (3.5) | — |
| Race | ||||
| Black/African-American | 93.9 (1.5) | 91.0 (3.3) | 95.0 (1.7) | 0.223 |
| Other or >1 race | 6.1 (1.5) | 9.0 (3.2) | 5.0 (1.7) | — |
| Mode of arrivala | ||||
| Ambulance | 14.0 (2.2) | 6.7 (3.2) | 16.6 (2.8) | 0.151 |
| Walk-in | 79.2 (2.6) | 87.2 (4.3) | 76.3 (3.2) | — |
| Other/unknown | 6.8 (1.6) | 6.1 (3.2) | 7.1 (1.9) | — |
| Age (years) | ||||
| 0–9 | 12.2 (2.3) | — | — | — |
| 10–19 | 15.0 (2.1) | — | — | — |
| 20–29 | 31.1 (2.9) | — | — | — |
| 30–45 | 34.6 (3.3) | — | — | — |
| ≥45 | 7.0 (1.4) | — | — | — |
| Expected source of payment | ||||
| Private insurance | 13.6 (2.0) | 19.7 (4.4) | 11.4 (2.1) | NA |
| Medicaid/SCHIP | 57.8 (3.0) | 70.2 (5.3) | 53.2 (3.6) | NA |
| Medicare | 13.8 (2.4) | — | 19.0 (3.0) | NA |
| Other/unknown | 14.7 (2.2) | 10.1 (3.6) | 16.4 (2.8) | NA |
| Episode of careb | ||||
| Initial visit | 66.2 (4.2) | 74.3 (6.3) | 63.7 (5.4) | 0.047 |
| Follow-up visit | 22.7 (4.6) | 9.5 (3.8) | 26.9 (5.7) | — |
| Unknown | 11.1 (2.3) | 16.2 (5.9) | 9.4 (2.6) | — |
| Admitted to the hospital from emergency department | ||||
| Yes | 29.4 (2.8) | 37.4 (5.6) | 26.4 (3.0) | 0.059 |
| No | 70.6 (2.8) | 62.6 (5.6) | 73.6 (3.0) | — |
Note: Estimates in boldface have relative SE (RSE; SE/point estimate) of >30% and/or are based on <30 observations; estimates with RSE of >30% do not meet standards of reliability or precision.
Analysis was based on data from only 1999–2000 and 2003–2007 NHAMCS (383 cases).
Analysis was based on data from only 2001–2004 and 2007 NHAMCS (292 cases).
p-value for Rao–Scott chi-square test for % with characteristic among patients aged 0–19 years and those aged ≥20 years.
NA, not available/could not be computed; NHAMCS, National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey; SCD, sickle cell disease; SCHIP, Medicaid/State Children’s Health Insurance Program