Abstract
Objective
Knowing the population’s needs in order to plan measures to reduce emergency department
(ED) use is fundamental. The objective of this study was to describe gynaecological
ED visits and associated findings in women of reproductive age.
Methods
This study was a retrospective anonymized chart review analysis of visits to the ED
for gynaecological disturbances at the University Hospital of Modena. All consecutive
women of reproductive age were included. Women aged <18 years and postmenopausal women
were excluded from this study.
Results
In total, 461 records were analysed. The median age was 41 (interquartile range 34–46)
years. The most common symptom was dysmenorrhoea (42.7 %), followed by heavy menstrual
bleeding (33.2 %). The most common gynaecological findings in the ED were adenomyosis
(86.1 %), endometriosis (37.1 %) and leiomyomas (13.7 %). Adenomyosis was the most
common finding, regardless of age. Endometriosis was more prevalent in women aged
<41 years (43.8 % vs 31.2 %; p < 0.05). Meanwhile, adenomyosis and leiomyomas were more prevalent in women aged
≥41 years (81.11 % vs 90.57 % and 7.37 % vs 19.26 %, respectively; p < 0.05). Moreover, potentially life-threatening findings had low prevalence [i.e.
haemorrhagic ovarian cyst (0.2 %), tubo-ovarian abscess (0.2 %) and pelvic inflammatory
disease (0.4 %)].
Conclusion
In the study setting, chronic pathologies such as adenomyosis, endometriosis and leiomyomas
significantly impacted use of the ED. Adenomyosis was the most common pathology, regardless
of age. Adenomyosis and leiomyomas were more prevalent in women aged ≥41 years, and
endometriosis was more prevalent in women aged <41 years.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 06, 2023
Accepted:
January 5,
2023
Received in revised form:
December 3,
2022
Received:
September 21,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
