Few studies have quantified the vulnerability of people experiencing homelessness and its association with emergency department (ED) reattendances. The study objectives were to identify the health and social-related vulnerability, comorbidities and reattendance to an ED within 28 days, of people experiencing homelessness and people living in stable housing.

Prospective cohort study, 28 September 2023 to 12 October 2023.

Metropolitan ED in an inner-city public hospital.

Eligible participants were those who attended the ED between 8am and 5pm during the 2 week study period (2023), those aged 18 years and over and able to provide informed consent, and those deemed well enough to participate.

The homeless health access to care tool (HHACT) assesses a person’s unmet needs and quantifies their level of health and social-related vulnerability (low, moderate, high). The HHACT was applied to each participant. Routinely collected administrative data was used to identify participant demographics and ED usage on the day of study enrolment and any ED reattendance within 28 days.

Outcome measures were the identification of participants’ level of health and social-related vulnerability and its relationship to ED reattendance.

Of the 300 ED participants, 38 (12.6%) were experiencing homelessness. There was a greater than twofold increase in odds of 28-day ED reattendance for participants experiencing homelessness (OR=2.93, CI 1.29 to 6.36; p=0.008) or had moderate to high vulnerability scores (participants living in stable housing and participants homeless) (OR=2.67, CI 1.29 to 5.36; p=0.007). Compared with participants in stable housing, prevalence of comorbidities among participants experiencing homelessness was greater regarding mental health challenges (65.8% vs 21.8%); three or more physical health conditions (36.8% vs 13%) and greater alcohol and other drug use (36.8% vs 17.2%).

The high ED reattendance suggests that people experiencing homelessness are not being adequately screened for unmet needs on their first presentation. Comprehensive screening using the HHACT may enhance the identification of the risk of reattendance and provide opportunities to intervene through targeted responses, such as integrated care pathways. While EDs are not designed to address the multifaceted needs of people experiencing homelessness, there is an urgent need to consider how to optimise this population’s access to appropriate care.