The Impact of ‘Stay At Home’ Orders on Emergency Room Admissions

Abdullah Osman Kocak
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Sinem Dogruyol
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Ilker Akbas
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Bugra Kerget
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Sultan Tuna Akgol Gur
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Zeynep Cakir
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Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
Department of Emergency Medicine, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam, Kahramanmaras, Turkey
Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
Received: 18 July 2020 / Accepted: 15 August 2020 / Published: 30 September 2020

Abstract

Introduction. The 2019-novel-coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak has become a common problem for the whole world.

Aim. To investigate the impact of the 2019-nCoV pandemic period in our country on emergency room admissions.

Material and methods. The study was designed as a retrospective cohort. The first case of pneumonia infected with nCoV in our country was diagnosed on March 11, 2020. Considering the date of March 11, 2020, emergency room admissions for two periods of 7 days were investigated, pre-COVID-19 and COVID19. Demographic data, admission diagnosis, vital findings, stay times in emergency room, terminations and emergency department mortality examined. A group of ‘geriatric’ patient populations were created to examine the admission characteristics of patients aged-65 and over.

Results. The 3466 patients included in the study. The average number of daily admissions was significantly higher in the pre-COVID-19 period (350.4 ± 54.5), compared to the COVID-19 period (144.7 ± 20.2, p=0001). While the proportion of cardiac-caused admissions increased during the COVID period, the proportion of gastrointestinal-induced admissions decreased (p<0001). Hospitalization rates for both adult and geriatric patients increased during the COVID period (p<0001).

Conclusion. Despite all the negativity caused by the outbreak, this period has been one in which the public is aware of unnecessary emergency room which has been subsequently lessened.

 

Cite

Kocak AO, Dogruyol S, Akbas I, Kerget B, Akgol Gur ST, Cakir Z. The Impact of ‘Stay At Home’ Orders on Emergency Room Admissions. Eur J Clin Exp Med. 2020;18(3):165–169. doi: 10.15584/ejcem.2020.3.2

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