LAUSR

Key Points Question What is the association between maternal prepregnancy emergency department (ED) use and infant ED use in the first year of life? Findings This population-based cohort study of 2 088 111 singleton livebirths was completed within a universal health care system. An ED visit within 90 days before the start of pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of an infant ED visit(s), and low-acuity maternal ED visits were most highly associated with low-acuity infant ED visits. Meaning This study’s results suggest that prepregnancy ED use forecasts a higher rate of ED use in infants, and it potentially offers a useful trigger for health system interventions to decrease acute care utilization for low acuity indications in infancy.