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Objectives: Little is known about the value of routine clinical assessment in identifying patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the emergency department (ED). We aimed to compare the exposure history, signs and symptoms, laboratory, and radiographic features of ED patients who tested positive and negative for COVID-19. Methods: This was a case-control study in 7 EDs in Hong Kong from 20 January to 29 February 2020. Thirty-seven patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were age- and sex-matched to 111 controls. We compared the groups with univariate analysis and calculated the odds ratio (OR) of having COVID-19 for each characteristic that was significantly different between the groups with adjustment for age and presumed location of acquiring the infection. Results: There were no significant differences in patient characteristics and reported symptoms between the groups. A positive contact history within 14 days (adjusted OR 37.61, 95% CI: 10.86-130.19), bilateral chest radiograph shadow (adjusted OR 13.19, 95% CI: 4.66-37.35), having prior medical consultation (adjusted OR 7.43, 95% 2.89-19.09), a lower white blood cell count (adjusted OR 1.30, 95% CI: 1.11-1.51), and a lower platelet count (adjusted OR 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.12) were associated with a higher odds of COVID-19 separately. A higher neutrophil count was associated with a lower odds of COVID-19 (adjusted OR 0.77, 95% CI: 0.65-0.91). Conclusion: This study highlights a number of clinical features that may be useful in identifying high-risk patients for early testing and isolation while waiting for the test result. Further studies are warranted to verify the findings.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Accidents involving high-speed passenger ferries have the potential to cause mass-casualty incidents (MCIs), yet there is a lack of relevant studies available to inform hospital disaster preparedness planning. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to study the injury patterns and outcomes of MCI victims involved in high-speed passenger ferry accidents in Hong Kong waters. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2015. All MCIs involving high-speed passenger ferries were captured from the Marine Department of Hong Kong. Victims of all age who were sent to the accident and emergency departments (A&Es) of seven public hospitals around Victoria Harbour, including three trauma centres, were identified from electronic disaster registries of the study hospitals. Data on injury patterns and outcomes were extracted from medical records with the Injury Severity Score (ISS) calculated for each victim. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare medians of the ISS across different mechanisms of injury. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors for major trauma (ISS≥16). RESULTS: During the study period, eight MCIs involving high-speed passenger ferries were reported and 512 victims (median age: 44 years, age range: 2-85 years) were sent to the study hospitals. The A&E triage categories were Cat 1, 3.1%; Cat 2, 4.3%; Cat 3, 19.3%; Cat 4, 72.9%; and Cat 5, 0.4%, respectively. The median ISS was 1.0 (interquartile range: 1.0-2.0). Fourteen victims (2.7%) had an ISS≥16 and age was the only independent predictor for major trauma (OR 1.06, p = 0.025, 95% CI 1.01-1.11). Trauma call was activated at A&E for 11 victims. In total, 100 victims (19.5%) were admitted to the study hospitals, including 19 (3.5%) and 15 (2.9%) who required surgery and intensive care unit stay, respectively. Eleven victims (2.1%) died, mostly due to drowning. CONCLUSION: MCIs involving high-speed passenger ferries can result in a sudden surge in demand for both A&E and in-patient care, though the majority of victims may have minor injuries. Better access to lifejackets and mandatory seatbelt use may help to reduce injuries and deaths.
