[Hospital and primary care emergency services in Asturias [Spain]: variations among health areas and trends between 1994-2001]. / Urgencias hospitalarias y de atención primaria en Asturias: variaciones entre áreas sanitarias y evolución desde 1994 hasta 2001.

OBJECTIVE: To describe primary care and hospital emergency utilization rates in Asturias health districts from 1994 to 2001 and to analyse their variability. METHODS: Hospital and primary care rates from 1994 to 2001 in the 8 Asturias health districts were estimated. Their variability was analysed using indirect standardisation and small area variation statistics. RESULTS: Almost 6.5 million of emergencies (hospitals: 43.8%) were attended in Asturias from 1994 to 2001. The average annual growth was 6.2% (primary care: 7.8%; hospitals: 5.1%) with differences among districts. Primary care variability was higher (variation coefficient: 0.38 and 0.27 in 1994 and 2001) than hospital variability (variation coefficient: 0.14 and 0.11) and it decreased in the period. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency Health Services utilization growth between 1994 and 2001, with strong variability among health districts.

Urgencias hospitalarias y de atención primaria en Asturias: variaciones entre áreas sanitarias y evolución desde 1994 hasta 2001 / Hospital and primary care emergency services in Asturias [Spain]: variations among health areas and trends between 1994-2001

Objetivo: Describir la frecuencia de utilización de los servicios de urgencias en las áreas sanitarias de Asturias desde 1994 a 2001 y analizar su variabilidad. Métodos: Se estimó la demanda de urgencias hospitalarias y de atención primaria en las 8 áreas sanitarias de Asturias, y se analizó su evolución y las diferencias entre áreas, usando la estandarización indirecta y estadísticos de variabilidad. Resultados: Entre 1994 y 2001 se realizaron casi 6,5 millones de urgencias (un 43,8% en hospitales), con un crecimiento medio anual del 6,2% (un 7,8% en atención primaria y un 5,1% en hospitales) con gran heterogeneidad entre áreas. La variabilidad fue mayor en atención primaria y disminuyó en el período estudiado (coeficientes de variación: 0,38 y 0,27 para 1994 y 2001 en atención primaria, y 0,14 y 0,11 en hospitales, respectivamente). Conclusiones: La utilización de las urgencias creció en el período estudiado y se observa una gran variabilidad entre áreas sanitarias

Objective: To describe primary care and hospital emergency utilization rates in Asturias health districts from 1994 to 2001 and to analyse their variability. Methods: Hospital and primary care rates from 1994 to 2001 in the 8 Asturias health districts were estimated. Their variability was analysed using indirect standardisation and small area variation statistics. Results: Almost 6.5 million of emergencies (hospitals: 43.8%) were attended in Asturias from 1994 to 2001. The average annual growth was 6.2% (primary care: 7.8%; hospitals: 5.1%) with differences among districts. Primary care variability was higher (variation coefficient: 0.38 and 0.27 in 1994 and 2001) than hospital variability (variation coefficient: 0.14 and 0.11) and it decreased in the period. Conclusions: Emergency Health Services utilization growth between 1994 and 2001, with strong variability among health districts