Do Really Urgent Cases Present to the Emergency Department: What a Pandemic Has Shown

Authors : Seyran BOZKURT BABUŞ, Çağrı Safa BUYURGAN, Ataman KÖSE, Akif YARKAÇ, Gülhan TEMEL, Hakan AYTAN

Pages : 25-31

Doi:10.54996/anatolianjem.1177098

View : 20 | Download : 11

Publication Date : 2023-03-08

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant health and social impacts globally. This study aimed to describe the variance in emergency department admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic and to reveal the profile of patients admitted to the emergency department insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ED);. Material and Methods: Data from patients in the ED between 11.03.2020-23.04.2020, which is a period of the pandemic, and 11.03.2019-23.04.2019, which is the non-pandemic period, was retrospectively analyzed. The frequency, demographic and clinical characteristics, and financial costs of patients admitted to the ED in those two periods were compared. Results: While the ratio of patients presenting to the emergency department was 69.6% in the non-pandemic period, it was calculated to be 30.4% in the pandemic period insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p < 0.001);. A higher admission rate was found in patients aged 18-24 years during the non-pandemic period and in patients aged 45-64 years and ≥ 65 years during the pandemic period insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.001);. It was determined that the rate of patients transferred by ambulance insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.001);, the rate of “very urgent” patient admission insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.001);, and requirements for consultation insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.001); and laboratory tests were higher during the pandemic period insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.001);. During the pandemic period, the rates of patients who needed hospitalization and admission to intensive care units insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ICU); were higher insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.001);. While the mortality rate was 0.7% in the non-pandemic period, this rate was 1.6% in the pandemic period insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.001);. The total invoice amount was higher in patients who presented during the non-pandemic period, and the mean invoice amount was higher in patients who presented during the pandemic period insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p < 0.001);. Patients who presented during the pandemic period had a higher risk of being transferred to the emergency department by an ambulance insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(OR 9.947, CI 8.65–11.44);, being in the very urgent triage category insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(OR 1.892, CI 1.712–2.09);, in-hospital mortality insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(OR 2.263, CI 1.69–3.03);, and the total invoice amount increased by 1.004 times for each unit increase. Conclusion: Although overall and non-urgent patient visits to the ED during the pandemic period were found to be decreased, “very urgent” patient visits, mortality, and costs per patient were found to be increased.
Keywords : Acil servis, COVID 19 pandemisi, hasta özellikleri, maliyet