ArticlePloS one2015
Predictors of Frequent Emergency Room Visits among a Homeless Population.
Article in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
28 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Infectious Diseases Among People Experiencing Homelessness: A Systematic Review of the Literature in the United States and Canada, 2003-2022.Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)Pooled it
- Sociodemographic and Health Behaviour of Frequent, Avoidable Emergency Department Users in Ontario, Canada: A Population-based Descriptive Study.The western journal of emergency medicine · 2025Article
- Article
- Evaluating the impact of the Medicaid expansion program on diabetes hospitalization.Journal of public health policy · 2024Article
- "Whatever journey you want to take, I'll support you through": a mixed methods evaluation of a peer worker program in the hospital emergency department.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Real-world clinical effectiveness and sustainability of universal bloodborne virus testing in an urban emergency department in the UK.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- The Impact of Supportive Housing on Liver-Related Outcomes Among Persons With Hepatitis C Virus Infection.The Journal of infectious diseases · 2022Article
- Differences in outpatient, emergency, and inpatient use among pregnant women with a substance-related diagnosis.American journal of obstetrics & gynecology MFM · 2022Article
- A Scoping Review of Current Social Emergency Medicine Research.The western journal of emergency medicine · 2021Article
- Emergency department targeted screening for hepatitis C does not improve linkage to care.World journal of gastroenterology · 2020Article
- Predictors of Overnight and Emergency Treatment among Homeless Adults.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- Risk factors for unplanned hospital admission in a specialist homeless general practice population: case-control study to investigate the relationship with tri-morbidity.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2020Article
- Comparing Unsheltered and Sheltered Homeless: Demographics, Health Services Use and Predictors of Health Services Use.Community mental health journal · 2020Article
- Predictors of Emergency Department Use among Individuals with Current or Previous Experience of Homelessness.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2019Article
- Statistical tools used for analyses of frequent users of emergency department: a scoping review.BMJ open · 2019Article
- "Maybe if I stop the drugs, then maybe they'd care?"-hospital care experiences of people who use drugs.Harm reduction journal · 2019Article
- Article
- Emergency Department Visits in a Cohort of Persons with Substance Use: Incorporating the Role of Social Networks.Substance use & misuse · 2018Article
- Implementing routine blood-borne virus testing for HCV, HBV and HIV at a London Emergency Department - uncovering the iceberg?Epidemiology and infection · 2018Article
- Childhood Trauma and the Inability to Access Hospital Care Among People who Inject Drugs.Journal of traumatic stress · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundHomelessness, HIV, and substance use are interwoven problems. Furthermore, homeless individuals are frequent users of emergency services. The main purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for frequent emergency room (ER) visits and to examine the effects of housing status and HIV serostatus on ER utilization. The second purpose was to identify risk factors for frequent ER visits in patients with a history of illicit drug use.
methodsA retrospective analysis was performed on 412 patients enrolled in a Boston-based health care for the homeless program (HCH). This study population was selected as a 2:1 HIV seronegative versus HIV seropositive match based on age, sex, and housing status. A subgroup analysis was performed on 287 patients with history of illicit drug use. Chart data were analyzed to compare demographics, health characteristics, and health service utilization. Results were stratified by housing status. Logistic models using generalized estimating equations were used to predict frequent ER visits.
resultsIn homeless patients, hepatitis C was the only predictor of frequent ER visits (OR 4.49, p<0.01). HIV seropositivity was not predictive of frequent ER visits. In patients with history of illicit drug use, mental health (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.07-5.95) and hepatitis C (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.37-5.93) were predictors of frequent ER use. HIV seropositivity did not predict ER use (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21 - 0.97).
conclusionsIn a HCH population, hepatitis C predicted frequent ER visits in homeless patients. HIV seropositivity did not predict frequent ER visits, likely because HIV seropositive HCH patients are engaged in care. In patients with history of illicit drug use, hepatitis C and mental health disorders predicted frequent ER visits. Supportive housing for patients with mental health disorders and hepatitis C may help prevent unnecessary ER visits in this population.
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