Table 2.

Predictors of Repeat Emergency Department Visits^a

Predictor	Patients Without a Repeat ED Visit (n = 86,521)	Patients With a Repeat ED Visit (n = 15,596)	Adjusted Odds Ratio (95% CI) (n = 97,323)b
Patient predisposing characteristics
Age ≥55 y	64.1	62.9	0.96 (0.93, 0.99)
Female	8.1	1.8	0.94 (0.89, 1.01)
African American race	18.6	20.9	1.05 (0.99, 1.11)
Unknown/missing race	28.2	25.4	0.92 (0.88, 0.97)
Unmarried	54.4	58.3	1.09 (1.05, 1.13)
Enabling resources
Low income	38.9	41.3	1.04 (0.99, 1.09)
Homeless	4.9	9.4	1.70 (1.59, 1.82)
Uninsured	54.7	56.0	1.02 (0.98, 1.06)
Need characteristics
Comorbidity score, mean (SD)c	0.8 (0.9)	1.0 (1.0)	1.07 (1.05, 1.09)
50% or more service-connected disability	24.1	24.7	1.06 (1.01, 1.11)
ED visit in previous 180 days	14.3	23.3	1.66 (1.58, 1.74)
Hospital admission in previous 180 days	8.6	12.9	1.28 (1.22, 1.35)
≥5 primary care provider visits in previous year	30.5	35.0	1.15 (1.10, 1.20)
Aid and Attendance benefitsd	1.9	2.3	1.08 (0.97, 1.20)
Index ED visit characteristics
Weekend visit	19.3	21.3	1.15 (1.10, 1.20)
Discharge diagnosis category
Injury/acute musculoskeletal	22.5	22.6	1.01 (0.97, 1.05)
Chronic condition	20.7	20.4	0.96 (0.92, 1.00)
Non-musculoskeletal symptoms	15.6	15.1	0.97 (0.93, 1.01)
Infection	13.4	15.4	1.14 (1.09, 1.19)
Unclassified	27.7	26.4	0.93 (0.90, 0.97)
Facility l ocation
Northeast	13.7	13.3	0.96 (0.89, 1.02)
South	45.7	44.7	0.97 (0.91,1.03)
Midwest	19.4	19.0	0.99 (0.92, 1.06)
West	21.2	23.0	1.10 (1.02, 1.17)

CI indicates confidence interval; ED, emergency department.

^aValues are percentages unless indicated otherwise. Facility intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.004; C = 0.58.

^bModel sample size reduced due to case deletions for missing data.

^cAccording to Diagnostic Cost Groups score.

^dIndicates severe functional impairment.