Abstract
Objectives
We used a statistical cluster detection technique to identify geographic areas with higher numbers of adolescents who 1) presented to an emergency department (ED) for a mood disorder, and 2) were without a physician follow-up visit for mental health within 30 days of an ED visit.
Methods
We conducted a population-based analysis of ED visits (n = 6,829) made by adolescents aged 10–17 years (n = 5,877) using administrative databases from Alberta, Canada (2002–2011). Statistical analyses included summaries, directly standardized rates (DSRs per 100,000), and the spatial scan cluster test.
Results
Sex- and age-adjusted DSRs increased by 21.8% from 2002 to 2011 (160.2/100,000 to 195.1/100,000). Northern Alberta had consistently higher DSRs than other areas of the province and areas in the north, southwest and central parts were identified as geographical and temporal clusters with relative risks of 1.67, 2.78 and 1.42 respectively. Many of these areas also had higher relative risks for adolescents who did not have a mental health-related visit with a physician within 30 days of the ED visit. About 32% (n = 1,870) did not have a post-ED physician visit.
Conclusion
The potential clusters identified may represent geographic areas with higher disease severity or more acute care sought because of less availability of other services. The clusters are not all likely to have occurred by chance and further investigations and discussions with local health care policy-makers about reducing the number of ED visits for mood disorders and increasing physician follow-up after the ED visit is an important next step.
Key Words: Adolescence, cluster analysis, space-time clustering, disease clustering, emergency services, mood disorders
Résumé
Objectifs
Nous avons employé une technique de détection statistique des grappes de cas pour repérer les zones géographiques comportant un plus grand nombre de jeunes qui: 1) s’étaient présentés aux urgences pour un trouble de l’humeur et 2) qui n’avaient pas eu de visite de suivi en santé mentale avec unmédecin dans un délai de 30 jours de leur visite aux urgences.
Méthode
Nous avons mené une analyse en population des visites aux urgences (n = 6 829) effectuées par les jeunes de 10 à 17 ans (n = 5 877) en utilisant les bases de données administratives de l’Alberta, au Canada (2002–2011). Nos analyses statistiques ont porté sur les résumés, sur les taux directement standardisés (TDS p. 100 000 habitants) et sur un test de balayage spatial pour identifier les grappes.
Résultats
Les TDS rajustés selon le sexe et l’âge ont augmenté de 21,8 % entre 2002 et 2011 (160,2/100 000 à 195,1/100 000). Le nord de l’Alberta présentait des TDS systématiquement plus élevés que ceux d’autres zones de la province, et les zones du nord, du sud-ouest et du centre ont été identifiées comme ayant des grappes géographiques et temporelles avec des risques relatifs de 1,67, 2,78 et 1,42, respectivement. Beaucoup de ces zones avaient également des risques relatifs plus élevés pour les jeunes n’ayant pas visité un médecin pour des raisons de santé mentale dans un délai de 30 jours après une visite aux urgences. Environ 32% (n = 1 870) n’avaient pas vu de médecin après leur visite aux urgences.
Conclusion
Les grappes potentielles repérées pourraient représenter des zones géographiques où la gravité des maladies ou la demande de soins actifs est plus élevée en raison de la moins grande disponibilité d’autres services. Les grappes ne sont pas toutes susceptibles de s’être formées aléatoirement; il est donc important pour la suite des choses de pousser la recherche et les discussions avec les responsables locaux des politiques de soins de santé en vue de réduire le nombre de visites aux urgences pour des troubles de l’humeur et d’accroître les suivis médicaux après les visites aux urgences.
Mots Clés: adolescence; analyse en grappes; agrégation spatiotemporelle; agrégation de cas de maladies; service urgences; troubles de l’humeur
Footnotes
Funding sources: The study was funded by an operating grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; Ottawa, Canada). Dr. Rosychuk is salary supported by Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions (AI-HS; Edmonton, Canada) as a Health Scholar. Dr. Newton holds a CIHR New Investigator Award.
Disclosures: This study is based in part on data provided by Alberta Health. The interpretation and conclusions contained herein are those of the researchers and do not necessarily represent the views of the Government of Alberta. Neither the Government nor Alberta Health expresses any opinion in relation to this study.
Conflict of Interest: None to declare.
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