COVID-19 outbreak impact on discharge against medical advice from the ED: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the habits of patients, as well as its negative effects on human health. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors associated with discharge against medical advice (DAMA) from the emergency department (ED) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of the charts of DAMA cases (pandemic group) between May 1 and October 30, 2021 in a tertiary hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Our data were compared with DAMA cases between May 1 and October 30, 2019 (pre-pandemic group-control group). RESULTS: During the pandemic period, DAMA cases increased by 24.5% in the ED compared to the previous period. Compared to the pre-COVID-19 period, among DAMA cases during the COVID-19 period, the rate of those arriving by ambulance (10.9 vs. 18.8%), those with one or more comorbid diseases (8.9 vs. 18.4%), those with a high triage level (4.0 vs. 7.4%), those with health tourism or refugee/asylum insurance (2.9 vs. 6.1%), those with trauma (11.5 vs. 19.9%) or alcohol/drug abuse (2.7 vs. 4.0%) increased significantly (p < 0.001). It was observed that DAMA cases' waiting times for total ED and from the door to doctor decreased during the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period. CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 pandemic period, it was observed that the rate of those with severe disease increased among DAMA cases. Necessary precautions should be taken for all patients, especially seriously ill patients, to feel safe in the hospital and to be treated, and the negative consequences that may develop should be prevented by addressing the concerns of the patients and their relatives.

Retrospective Analysis of Intracranial Hemorrhages in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

AIM: To identify the characteristics of patients admitted to the emergency department with intracranial hemorrhages in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with spontaneous intracranial bleeding who were admitted to emergency departments and treated in neurosurgery clinics between March 11, 2020, and September 11, 2020, were included in the study. RESULTS: The most frequent symptom was the loss of consciousness (32.1%), followed by headache (15.4%), syncope (10.3%), motor loss (9%), and seizures (9%). Antiaggregant and anticoagulant drug use were detected in 37.2% of the patients. Intraparenchymal hematoma was the most common type of intracranial hemorrhage (59%). Viral pneumonia was detected in 52.6% of the patients in thorax CTs. Surgical treatment was applied to 23.1% of the patients. There was no significant difference between patients with pneumonia and patients without pneumonia in the treatment modalities or 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that low Glasgow Coma Scores affected mortality and that mechanical ventilation needs are higher in ICH patients with COVID-19. Nevertheless, the treatment differences may not have affected the outcomes.

COVID-19 outbreak impact on emergency trauma visits and trauma surgery in a level 3 trauma center.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to compare emergency trauma visits' severity, emergency surgical needs, and characteristics between the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary training and research hospital between 1 and 30 April 2020 (pandemic group) and compared with the previous year's same dates (pre-pandemic group). Trauma patients aged 18 and over were included in the study. Emergency Severity Index (ESI) levels, trauma surgery needs, and injury characteristics were compared. RESULTS: A total of 2097 patients (592 pandemic and 1505 pre-pandemic) were included. There was an approximately 60% reduction in total and daily visits. ESI levels 1 (0.2% vs. 1.4%) and 2 (0.8% vs. 1.9%) patients increased during pandemic period. Trauma surgery needs (1.6% vs. 2.2%), intensive care unit (ICU) admission (0.4% vs. 0.2%), and ward admission (6.3% vs. 7.9%) did not change during pandemic period. CONCLUSION: Despite the decrease in the visit frequency of adult trauma patients during the pandemic period, the needs for trauma surgery, ICU, and ward admission did not change. Trauma teams should continue their duties during the pandemic period.

Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Emergency Visits and Emergency Consultations: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background This study aimed to determine the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on emergency department (ED) visits and emergency consultations according to the triage levels indicating the patients' urgency. Methods A cross-sectional retrospective study was performed in the ED of a tertiary training and research hospital between 1 April and 31 May 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey. The daily count of emergency visits and the count of the emergency consultations during the study period were recorded. The emergency visits and consultations in the same months of the previous year (1 April-31 May 2019) were included as a control group. Results Approximately 50% reduction in ED visits and a 30% reduction in emergency consultations were detected. A significant decrease was detected in all triage levels of visits and emergency consultations (p < 0.001). Within total ED visits, a significant increase was found in the red (4.32% vs. 4.74%) and yellow (21.66% vs. 33.16%) triage levels visit rates, while the green (74.01% vs. 62.1%) level was decreased. Within total emergency consultations, anesthesiology (0.83% vs. 1.56%) and cardiology (3.17% vs. 3.75%) consultation rates increased, neurology (2.22% vs. 1.15%), orthopedics (3.53% vs. 3.01%), and ophthalmology (2.89% vs. 1.57%) consultation rates decreased, internal medicine (2.45% vs. 2.49%), and general surgery (4.46% vs. 4.64%) consultation rates did not change. Conclusions During the COVID-19 pandemic, ED visits at all triage levels decreased. While the rate of critical patient visits increased, non-emergency patient visit rates decreased. The total count of consultations decreased, while the total consultation rates increased. The management of the COVID-19 pandemic will be easier by using or developing appropriate triage scores, as well as establishing good interdisciplinary coordination.