Procter, A.M.Gialamas, A.Pilkington, R.M.Montgomerie, A.Chittleborough, C.R.Smithers, L.G.Lynch, J.W.2020-09-092020-09-092021Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2021; 57(1):64-721034-48101440-1754http://hdl.handle.net/2440/127449First published: 20 August 2020AIM:To quantify the frequency of emergency department (ED) presentations and profile the socio-demographic, health and presentation characteristics of paediatric ED frequent presenters. METHODS:A population-based data linkage study of 55 921 children in the South Australian Early Childhood Data Project aged 0-12 years with 100 976 presentations to public hospital EDs in South Australia. For each child, the total number of recurrent ED presentations during a 364-day period post-index presentation was calculated. Frequent presenters were children who experienced ≥4 recurrent ED presentations. We determined the socio-demographic, health and presentation characteristics by number of recurrent presentations. RESULTS:Children with ≥4 recurrent presentations (4.4%) accounted for 15.4% of all paediatric ED presentations and 22.5% of subsequent admissions to hospital during the 12-month study period. Compared to children with no recurrent ED presentation, frequent presenters had higher proportions of socio-economic and health disadvantage at birth. One in two (49.3%) frequent presenters had at least one injury presentation and one (21.3%) in five had at least one presentation related to a chronic condition. CONCLUSIONS:Children with ≥4 presentations do not represent the majority of ED users. Nevertheless, they represent a disproportionate burden accounting for 15% of all paediatric ED presentations in a 12-month period. Frequent presenters were characterised by early socio-economic and health disadvantage, and childhood injury. Strategies targeting social disadvantage and childhood injury may reduce the burden of ED presentations.en© 2020 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (The Royal Australasian College of Physiciadata linkageemergency departmentfrequent presenterpaediatricJournal article100002521910.1111/jpc.151190005608281000012-s2.0-85089557143544450Procter, A.M. [0000-0001-8612-2188]Gialamas, A. [0000-0001-7440-8154]Pilkington, R.M. [0000-0001-6974-8496]Montgomerie, A. [0000-0002-9620-3894]Chittleborough, C.R. [0000-0003-3196-7137]Smithers, L.G. [0000-0002-6585-7836]Lynch, J.W. [0000-0003-2781-7902]