Little is known about the utilization and burden of emergency department (ED) visits for cellulitis/erysipelas in the United States.
To determine the prevalence, risk factors, complications and cost of emergency care for cellulitis/erysipelas in the US.
Cross-sectional study of the 2006-2016 National Emergency Department Sample, including a 20% sample of US ED visits (n=320,080,467).
The mean annual incidence of ED visits with a primary diagnosis of cellulitis/erysipelas was 2.42-3.55 per-million adult and 1.14-2.09 per-million pediatric ED visits. ED visits for cellulitis/erysipelas decreased significantly from 2006 to 2015 (Rao-Scott Chi-square, P<0.0001). ED visits with vs. without a primary diagnosis of cellulitis/erysipelas were associated with public or no insurance, lower household income-quartiles, and more likely to occur during weekends and summer months. The mean cost of ED visits for cellulitis/erysipelas more than doubled in adults ($720-$1,680) and tripled in children ($939-$2,823) from 2006-2016. ED visits for cellulitis/erysipelas were associated with multiple risk factors and increased infectious complications.
No data on cellulitis and erysipelas treatment or recurrence.
There is a substantial and increasing burden of ED visits for cellulitis/erysipelas in the US. Many ED visits occurred for uncomplicated cellulitis/erysipelas, in part due to healthcare disparities.

Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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