Health system collapse 45 days after the detection of COVID-19 in Ceará, Northeast Brazil: a preliminary analysis
Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop
;
53: e20200354, 2020. tab, graf
Article
in English
| SES-SP, ColecionaSUS, LILACS
| ID: biblio-1136826
ABSTRACT
Abstract INTRODUCTION:
COVID-19 emerged in late 2019 and quickly became a serious public health problem worldwide. This study aim to describe the epidemiological course of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 and their impact on hospital bed occupancy rates in the first 45 days of the epidemic in the state of Ceará, Northeastern Brazil.METHODS:
The study used an ecological design with data gathered from multiple government and health care sources. Data were analyzed using Epi Info software.RESULTS:
The first cases were confirmed on March 15, 2020. After 45 days, 37,268 cases reported in 85.9% of Ceará's municipalities, with 1,019 deaths. Laboratory test positivity reached 84.8% at the end of April, a period in which more than 700 daily tests were processed. The average age of cases was 67 (<1 - 101) years, most occurred in a hospital environment (91.9%), and 58% required hospitalization in an ICU bed. The average time between the onset of symptoms and death was 18 (1 - 56) days. Patients who died in the hospital had spent an average of six (0 - 40) days hospitalized. Across Ceará, the bed occupancy rate reached 71.3% in the wards and 80.5% in the ICU.CONCLUSIONS:
The first 45 days of the COVID-19 epidemic in Ceará revealed a large number of cases and deaths, spreading initially among the population with a high socioeconomic status. Despite the efforts by the health services and social isolation measures the health system still collapsed.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Bed Occupancy
/
Betacoronavirus
/
Health Services Needs and Demand
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop
Year:
2020
Type:
Article
Institution/Affiliation country:
Centro Universitário Christus/BR
/
Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Ceará/BR
/
Secretaria de Saúde do Estado do Ceará/BR
/
Universidade Federal do Ceará/BR
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS