ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: After the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, nationwide school closures were implemented in many countries. This study aimed to determine the impact of the school closure on pediatric ambulance transport, comparing the situation before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted using data from the Kochi-Iryo-Net database. In Kochi Prefecture, schools were closed from March 6 to May 24, 2020. Pediatric emergency transports during the school closure period in 2020 was compared to that of the same period in 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) and in 2021 (schools are not closed). Chi-squared tests and correction for multiple testing was performed by Bonferroni adjustments. To adjust for patient backgrounds, we also performed multiple logistic regression analyses for cases of pediatric ambulance transports. RESULTS: The rate of pediatric ambulance transports was significantly lower (p=0.008) in 2020 (276; 3.97%) than in 2019 (391; 4.87%), but there was no significant difference (p=0.360) between 2019 (391; 4.87%) and 2021 (352; 4.56%). Multivariable analysis revealed similar trends (2019 vs. 2020: odds ratio [OR] 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-1.00; 2019 vs. 2021: OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.82-1.11). Regarding the characteristics of pediatric ambulance transport cases, there were no significant differences in 2019, 2020, and 2021 in terms of sex, severity, locations of fire stations, and injury mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: There was a decrease in pediatric ambulance transportation due to the public health interventions for COVID-19, including school closures. However, this decrease was not solely due to school closures.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes in people's drinking habits and the emergency management system for various diseases. However, no studies have investigated the pandemic's impact on emergency transportation for acute alcoholic intoxication. This study examines the effect of the pandemic on emergency transportation due to acute alcoholic intoxication in Kochi Prefecture, Japan, a region with high alcohol consumption. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted using data of 180,747 patients from the Kochi-Iryo-Net database, Kochi Prefecture's emergency medical and wide-area disaster information system. Chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. The association between emergency transportation and alcoholic intoxication was examined. The differences between the number of transportations during the voluntary isolation period in Japan (March and April 2020) and the same period for 2016-2019 were measured. RESULTS: In 2020, emergency transportations due to acute alcoholic intoxication declined by 0.2%, compared with previous years. Emergency transportation due to acute alcoholic intoxication decreased significantly between March and April 2020, compared with the same period in 2016-2019, even after adjusting for confounding factors (adjusted odds ratio 0.67; 95% confidence interval 0.47-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected the number of emergency transportations; in particular, those due to acute alcoholic intoxication decreased significantly.