Sex disparities in older patients attending the european emergency departments: an EGERS sub-analysis

This study explores the epidemiology and sex-specific characteristics of geriatric patients presenting to 36 Emergency Departments (EDs) across 9 European countries (EGERS study). This sub-analysis investigates potential associations between sex disparities and various characteristics, including demographics, personal traits, clinical findings, and main clinical outcomes, both in the general study population and across different age groups (old: 65–74 years, older: 75–84 years, and oldest: 85 years and above). Overall, females were more represented than males (51.5% vs. 48.5%), and this difference increased with increasing age groups. Females were more likely to use home support services, were visited for traumatic causes, and had a history of falls. In contrast, males had higher rates of hospitalization in ordinary wards (45.4% vs. 41.2%) and intensive care units (ICUs) (9.8% vs. 7.6%). In-hospital mortality was also higher in males (9.3%) compared to females (7.5%), and the difference increases with increasing age. In ED patients, the male-to-female ratio favoured women, particularly among those aged 85+ years. Males had more comorbidities, such as coronary artery disease, dyslipidaemia, active malignancy, prior stroke, chronic renal failure, history of coronary events, chronic liver disease, excessive smoking and alcohol abuse. Females had more traumatic events and falls. Hospitalisation and mortality rates were higher in males, especially in the older and oldest age groups. A list of the EGERS research network study group’s names is available in the supplementary materials.