The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Department Admissions

Year 2023, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 89 - 93, 31.05.2023

Begüm Öktem Üzer , Secdegül Coşkun Yaş , Zeynep Gökkuş , Fatma Mutlu Kukul Güven , Ahmet Demircan

https://doi.org/10.47482/acmr.1266328

Abstract

Background: This study has been conducted to evaluate the emergency department (ED) admissions during the pandemic period.
Method: The study is a multicentre, retrospective study. ED admissions in two hospitals between April 1st, 2019 and May 31st, 2019 (pre-COVID-19 period); and between April 1st, 2020 and May 31st, 2020 (the period of COVID-19) have been compared.
Result: Among 47888 ED admissions, 22854 (47.7%) females and 25034 (52.3%) males, with a mean age of 40.9±19.6 years have been included in the study. Of all patients, 30.1% (14440) were admitted to the EDs during the pandemic period in 2020. When the processes have been compared, it can be seen that while more laboratory examinations were requested from the EDs in the pre-pandemic period, more radiological examinations were requested during the pandemic period. Patients were consulted approximately 5 times more during the pandemic period than in the previous year. There has been a statistically significant difference between the periods in terms of consultation (p< 0.001). When the patients have been evaluated in terms of hospitalization, it can be seen that 5.1% of the patients were hospitalized in pre-pandemic period and 9.7% of the patients in the pandemic period (p<0.001).
Conclusion: A significant decrease has been observed in the number of ED admissions during the pandemic in both hospitals. The most important reason for this decrease might be that patients prefer not to apply to the ED in case of an illness that can be resolved with a simple intervention and the restrictions applied due to Covid-19.

Keywords

COVID-19, Pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, Emergency, admission

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