Aeromedical retrieval diagnostic trends during a period of Coronavirus 2019 lockdown.
Intern Med J
; 50(12): 1457-1467, 2020 12.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-840543
Preprint
This scientific journal article is probably based on a previously available preprint. It has been identified through a machine matching algorithm, human confirmation is still pending.
See preprint
This scientific journal article is probably based on a previously available preprint. It has been identified through a machine matching algorithm, human confirmation is still pending.
See preprint
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Little is known on the trends of aeromedical retrieval (AR) during social isolation.AIM:
To compare the pre, lockdown, and post-lockdown AR patient characteristics during a period of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) social isolation.METHODS:
An observational study with retrospective data collection, consisting of AR between 26 January and 23 June 2020.RESULTS:
There were 16 981 AR consisting of 1983 (11.7%) primary evacuations and 14 998 (88.3%) inter-hospital transfers, with a population median age of 52 years (interquartile range 29.0-69.0), with 49.0% (n = 8283) of the cohort being male and 38.0% (n = 6399) being female. There were six confirmed and 230 suspected cases of COVID-19, with the majority of cases (n = 134; 58.3%) in the social isolation period. As compared to pre-restriction, the odds of retrieval for the restriction and post-restriction period differed across time between the major diagnostic groups. This included, an increase in cardiovascular retrieval for both restriction and post-restriction periods (odds ratio (OR) 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.24 and OR 1.18 95%, CI 1.08-1.30 respectively), increases in neoplasm in the post restriction period (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.04-1.64) and increases for congenital conditions in the restriction period (OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.39-4.71). Cardiovascular and congenital conditions had increased rates of priority 1 patients in the restriction and post restriction periods. There was a decrease in endocrine and metabolic disease retrievals in the restriction period (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.53-0.98). There were lower odds during the post-restriction period for retrievals of the respiratory system (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.67-0.93), and disease of the skin (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.6-1.0). Distribution between the 2019 and 2020 time periods differed (P < 0.05), with the lockdown period resulting in a significant reduction in activity.CONCLUSION:
The lockdown period resulted in increased AR rates of circulatory and congenital conditions.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Quarantine
/
Communicable Disease Control
/
Patient Transfer
/
Air Ambulances
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
English
Journal:
Intern Med J
Journal subject:
Internal Medicine
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Imj.15091
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