Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39779261›Full record

Observational studyBMJ open2025

Utilisation of outpatient care immediately before emergency admission for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions in Japan: a retrospective observational study.

Ryotaro Nagashima, Hirotaka Kato, Tatsuya Matsuzaki, Takayoshi Nagahama, Rei Goto

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Ryotaro NagashimaGraduate School of Health Management, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-0586-5116
Hirotaka KatoSchool of Economics and Business Administration, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan kato.hir.lh@yokohama-cu.ac.jp.
Tatsuya MatsuzakiJMDC Inc, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Takayoshi NagahamaDepartment of Social Medicine, Toho University, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Rei GotoGraduate School of Health Management, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study assessed whether patients with potentially preventable emergency admissions had limited access to outpatient care immediately before admission and whether they received appropriate outpatient care during their outpatient visits.

designRetrospective observational study.

settingLinked outpatient and inpatient care records obtained from a nationwide claims database in Japan.

participantsPatients who experienced emergency admissions for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions between April 2005 and March 2020. Patient and regional characteristics were examined to assess the types of patients who faced difficulties with outpatient visits and receiving outpatient care related to the disease that resulted in admissions (hereafter referred to as admission-related outpatient care).

main outcome measures(1) Whether patients had an outpatient visit during the 2 weeks preceding admission and (2) whether patients received admission-related outpatient care during the 2 weeks before admission.

resultsThis study included 18 449 emergency admissions for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions, representing 16.3% (18 449/113 669) of all emergency admissions in our data. Among patients with emergency admissions for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions, 37.4% did not have an outpatient visit within the 2 weeks preceding admission and 29.9% did not receive admission-related outpatient care despite having an outpatient visit. In total, 67.4% did not receive admission-related outpatient care during the 2 weeks preceding admission. Patients in their 40s and 50s were less likely to have outpatient visits and receive admission-related outpatient care before admission. No evidence associates regional characteristics with outpatient visits and receiving admission-related outpatient care before admission.

conclusionMost patients who underwent emergency admissions for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions did not have an outpatient visit or receive admission-related outpatient care, despite having an outpatient visit immediately before admission. Our findings suggest that emergency admissions may be prevented by improving access to timely and effective outpatient care.

Indexed as

Ambulatory CareEmergency Service, HospitalAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHospitalizationHumansInfantInfant, NewbornJapanMaleEmergency Service, HospitalEPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIESHealth Services AccessibilityObservational StudyQuality in health care

Identifiers

PMID39779261
PMCPMC11749703

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.