clinical characteristics and meteorological factors affecting the use of emergency medical services by pediatric emergency patients: a single-center study (2005 – 2019)

Background: there are insufficient studies on clinical and environmental factors that affect the use of emergency medical services (ems) in pediatric patients. objectives: we sought to identify the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients transported to the emergency department (ed) by ems and meteorological factors affecting the use of ems. methods: we reviewed the medical records of patients younger than 19 years who visited the ed from january 2005 to december 2019. results: the rate of ems use was higher among older patients [adjusted odds ratio (aor): 1.12; 95% confidence interval (ci): 1.11 - 1.13] and increased with disease severity (aor: 0.35; 95% ci: 0.33 - 0.37 for ktas and aor: 0.73; 95% ci: 0.70 - 0.77 for gcs). the rate of ems use was higher in patients with injury than in those with disease (aor:3.47; 95% ci: 3.15 - 3.83). compared with winter, the summer season was a risk factor for ems use (aor: 1.36; 95% ci: 1.08 - 1.72). precipitation greater than 40mmper day increased the risk of ems use (aor: 1.31; 95% ci: 1.03 - 1.72), as did higher concentrations of o3 and no2 (aor per 0.001 ppm: 1.006; 95% ci: 1.001 - 1.011 for o3 and aor per 0.001 ppm: 1.02; 95% ci: 1.01 - 1.03 for no2, respectively). conclusions: several clinical characteristics, meteorological factors, and air pollutants might increase the risk of ems use among pediatric patients.