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Use of a syndromic surveillance system to describe the trend in cycling‐related presentations to emergency departments in S ydney
Author(s) -
Dinh Michael M,
Kastelein Christopher,
Bein Kendall J,
Green Timothy C,
Bautovich Tanya,
Ivers Rebecca
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
emergency medicine australasia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.602
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1742-6723
pISSN - 1742-6731
DOI - 10.1111/1742-6723.12422
Subject(s) - medicine , emergency department , cycling , presentation (obstetrics) , population , pediatrics , emergency medicine , medical emergency , environmental health , surgery , archaeology , psychiatry , history
Objectives To describe population‐based trends in cycling‐related presentations to EDs over the past decade. Methods A retrospective cohort of road trauma patients (motor vehicle, motor cyclist, cyclist and pedestrian) presenting to EDs in the S ydney Greater Metropolitan Area between 2004 and 2013 was obtained using the P ublic H ealth R eal‐time E mergency D epartment S urveillance S ystem. The outcomes of interest were the cycling‐related ED presentation rate per 1000 population, as well as the proportion of cycling‐related presentations that died in ED or were admitted to a critical care ward. Trends in ED presentation rates based on presentation counts and S ydney population data were plotted and described. Results There were 68 438 cycling‐related presentations identified, representing 30% of all road trauma patients presenting to EDs in S ydney. There was a 91% increase in cycling‐related presentations for the 35 to 64‐year‐old age group and a 123% increase in cycling‐related presentations in the 65‐year‐old and over age group. All other age groups were associated with a stable or decrease in cycling‐related ED presentation rates. The proportion of presentations requiring critical care ward admission or death in ED has decreased by 20%. Conclusion Using an ED syndromic surveillance system, cycling‐related ED presentation rates in S ydney A ustralia have increased in those aged 35 years and over the past 10 years, with a relative decrease in the proportion of deaths in ED or those requiring critical care admission.