Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2024
Growing burden of gamma-hydroxybutyrate intoxication on emergency department resource utilisation.
Recreational gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) use is rising in Australia. We aimed to describe ED presentation patterns related to GHB over time and the impact this has on ED resource use. ⋯ GHB presentations to ED are rising and the impact on acute bed space and clinical resources is significant.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2024
Observational StudyChildhood obesity in the ED: A prospective Australian study.
To determine (i) the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children presenting to all EDs in a large regional Australian city and (ii) whether age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES) or hospital setting (public vs private) were associated with overweight and obesity. ⋯ Almost one-third of children who presented to EDs were overweight or obese. Obesity was particularly high in those aged 8-14 years and those from lower SES postcodes. In the evolving obesity crisis, the high proportion of children presenting to EDs above a healthy weight might represent an opportunity for EDs to identify and refer children for body weight and lifestyle management.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2024
Summer alcohol-related emergency department workload and occupancy in Australasia 2019-2022.
Alcohol is a major public health issue and the ACEM funds regular 'snapshot' surveys of the prevalence of alcohol-related presentations in EDs. The present study uses these data to investigate ED occupancy and alcohol- and methamphetamine-related presentations at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ The present study demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic did not affect summer alcohol-related ED presentations in Australasia but was associated with an unsustainable increase in ED crowding.