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How Has Covid-19 Pandemic Affected Crowded Emergency Services?
  • Nazlı Görmeli Kurt,
  • Celal GÜNEŞ
Nazlı Görmeli Kurt
Ministry of Health Ankara City Hospital

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Celal GÜNEŞ
Batman University
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Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate the demographic shifts in emergency service admissions, possible measures and room for improvement in emergency services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methodology: Our study retrospectively analyzed the demographic features and clinical admission types of patients admitted to Batman District State Hospital Emergency Service at two different time periods, one prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and the other during the Covid-19 pandemic. The results were compared between the two periods designated as the pandemic period and the pre-pandemic period. Results: The number of patients admitted to emergency service was 47.681 in the pre-pandemic period and 9455 in the pandemic period (p<0.01). The number of patients admitted for trauma was 1247(2.61%) in the pre-pandemic period and 59(0.62%) in the pandemic period (p<0.01). The number of patients hospitalized to cardiology department or coronary care unit for acute coronary syndrome was 602(1.26%) in the pre-pandemic period and 29(0.3%) in the pandemic period (p<0.01). The number of patients hospitalized to neurological intensive care unit for acute cerebrovascular disease was 542(1.13%) in the pre-pandemic period and 22(0.2%) in the pandemic period (p<0.01). The number of patients hospitalized to pulmonary diseases department or intensive care unit for dyspnea was 622(1.21%) in the pre-pandemic period and 515 (5.4%) in the pandemic period (p <0.01). Conclusion: Measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infection have caused a significant drop in emergency service admissions. We are of the opinion that this will lead to an increase in deaths occurring at home, and we will soon encounter patients with worse prognosis and overcrowded emergency services. In order to prevent this problem, we believe that the public awareness about emergency conditions requiring emergency service admission should be heightened alongside of the ‘stay home’ calls.
14 Jun 2020Submitted to International Journal of Clinical Practice
17 Jun 2020Submission Checks Completed
17 Jun 2020Assigned to Editor
18 Jun 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
22 Jun 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 Jun 20201st Revision Received
26 Jun 2020Assigned to Editor
26 Jun 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
26 Jun 2020Submission Checks Completed
26 Jun 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
27 Jun 20202nd Revision Received
27 Jun 2020Submission Checks Completed
27 Jun 2020Assigned to Editor
27 Jun 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
12 Jul 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Jul 2020Editorial Decision: Accept