Emergency Department Visits and Subsequent Hospital Admission Trends for Patients with Chest Pain and a History of Coronary Artery Disease

INTRODUCTION: Hospitalization is the largest component of health care spending in the United States. Most hospitalized patients first visit the emergency department (ED), where hospitalization decisions are made. Optimal utilization of hospital resources is critical for all stakeholders. METHODS: We performed a population-based, cross-sectional study evaluating ED visits and subsequent inpatient admissions for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and chest pain (CP) suggestive of CAD from 2006 to 2013 using the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample database weighted for national estimates. We analyzed trends using a generalized linear regression model with a Poisson distribution and Wald test. RESULTS: From 2006 to 2013, there was a 15% decrease in ED visits for CAD (p < 0.01), while ED visit rates for CP increased 31% (p < 0.01). Subsequent inpatient admission rates decreased 18% for CAD (p < 0.01) and 33% for CP (p < 0.01). Trends were not modified by patient and hospital strata. CONCLUSION: ED visits and subsequent inpatient admissions resulting from CAD decreased from 2006 to 2013. Patients with CP had a substantially higher number of ED visits, with a significant decline in inpatient admissions.