Characteristics of anaphylaxis patients who visited emergency departments in Korea: Results from a national emergency department information system.

Abstract

BackgroundAnaphylaxis is an allergic disease with fatal respiratory or cardiovascular symptoms that require immediate emergency treatment. We aimed to understand the characteristics and frequency of emergency department (ED) visits of patients with anaphylaxis in Korea.MethodsBetween 2007 and 2013, using data from 147 ED from the National Emergency Department Information System in Korea, we retrospectively evaluated patients with a primary diagnosis of anaphylaxis.ResultsDuring the study, a total 23,313 patients visited the ED due to anaphylaxis. The number of patients with anaphylaxis who visited the ED increased from 3.0 per 100,000 population in 2007 to 11.6 per 100,000 population in 2013 (PConclusionBased on ICD-10 codes, the number of ED visits due to anaphylaxis is increasing in Korea, and the incidence of anaphylaxis varies by region, season, and age.