Cross-sectional analysis of California State ED Database (SEDD-HCUP) records (2018–2020) examining demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical predictors of IPV-related ED visits among women aged 15–64 years (n=1,387,772 visits).
Only 0.41% (5,729) of visits involved IPV, but risk was markedly higher in women from the most distressed communities (aOR 1.74; 95% CI 1.52–2.00), those aged 15–24 vs. 55–64 years (aOR 4.07; 95% CI 3.56–4.65), and uninsured/self-pay women vs. privately insured (aOR 2.59; 95% CI 2.23–3.00). Bipolar disorder, PTSD, and alcohol use disorder were each independently associated with elevated IPV risk.
- Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference and cannot capture IPV events that never reached an ED. - IPV defined by ICD-10-CM codes may underestimate true prevalence due to well-documented undercoding in ED settings. - Data limited to California (2018–2020), limiting generalizability to other regions or time periods.
Clinicians should prioritize universal IPV screening in EDs, especially for young uninsured women and those with bipolar disorder, PTSD, or alcohol use disorder. Integrating mental health services and connecting patients to community resources are evidence-aligned steps to reduce IPV burden.
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