TOPLINE:
Older adults who present to the emergency department (ED) with anaphylaxis may be more likely than younger adults to be hospitalized and to have medications or intravenous contrast as triggers, a study showed. Older patients also may be less likely to receive epinephrine from emergency medical services (EMS).
METHODOLOGY:
- Researchers examined data from ED visits for anaphylaxis at one center from April 2008 through December 2022 to compare adults aged 65 years or older and younger adults.
- Of 1422 patient visits, 1210 were from younger adults (median age, 39 years; 65% women) and 212 were from older adults (median age, 73 years; 54.7% women).
TAKEAWAY:
- Older adults were more likely than younger adults to have medication (odds ratio [OR], 1.85; P < .001) or intravenous contrast (OR, 2.50; P < .001) as suspected triggers….