Hospitalization Rates Difference of Adult Emergency Patients between Urban and Suburban in Tianjin

Aim: Compare the hospitalization rate of adult emergency patients within 6 h of arrival between urban and suburban hospitals in Tianjin.Method: We analyzed a cross-sectional survey data for adult emergency patients. Fifty hospitals were divided into two groups: urban and suburban group according to geographical location. Each group was classified into two (secondary and tertiary hospital) subgroups. The emergency hospitalization rate within 6 h of arrival, gender and age of patients, Emergency Severity Index (ESI), as well as the mode of arrival and primary diagnosis, were collected and compared using Student’s t-test, χ2 test, or Fisher’s exact test as appropriate between both groups and subgroups.Results: 1) 6569 patients visited emergency departments and 494 (7.52%) were hospitalized within 6 h of arrival. 178 of 3680 (4.84%) and 316 of 2889 (10.94%) patients were hospitalized in the urban and suburban group, there was a significant difference between two groups (P <0.05). 2) Concerning tertiary subgroup, 157 of 2984 (5.26%) urban and 253 of 1833 (13.80%) suburban patients were hospitalized; in secondary subgroup, 21 of 696 (3.02%) urban and 63 of 1056 (5.97%) suburban patients were hospitalized, there were a significant difference between both two subgroups (P<0.05). 3) There was a significant difference in age, yet no significant difference in other aspects. 4) Injury patients in suburban hospitals were more than urban hospitals while pregnancy/childbirth patients were converse (P<0.05).Conclusions: Adult emergency patients' hospitalization rate was 7.52% in Tianjin and suburban tertiary hospitals possess the relatively higher hospitalization rate.