Analysis of patient clinical characteristics visiting single regional emergency department in COVID-19 pandemic era: a before-and-after observational study
- Author:
Jingook CHOI
1
;
Haewon JUNG
;
Jae Yun AHN
;
Hyun Wook RYOO
;
Sungbae MOON
;
Jae Wan CHO
;
Kang Suk SEO
;
Jungbae PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2022;33(1):60-68
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Objective:This study aimed at analyzing the clinical characteristics of patients visiting the emergency department (ED) and pre-triage clinic during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic era in Daegu, South Korea.
Methods:We conducted a retrospective observational study by using the medical records of patients who visited the ED and pre-triage clinic from February 22 to March 31, 2020 and comparing them with the corresponding period in 2019.
Results:The number of patients visiting the ED per day decreased from 122 (115-138) to 77 (66-93). The percentage of patients with respiratory infection increased from 6.6% to 15.4% (P<0.001). The length of the ED stay increased from 269 (150-562) to 559 (293-941) minutes, especially in patients with fever (P<0.001). The rate of injured and less urgent patients decreased from 24.7 to 13.2 and 53.4% to 50.2%, respectively (P<0.001). Sixty-one-point nine percent of patients visiting the ED were triaged and discharged at the pre-triage clinic without entering the ED.
Conclusion:In the COVID-19 pandemic era, there was an increase in the proportion of patients with fever and respiratory symptoms and a decrease in the proportion of injured patients. At the pre-triage clinic, a significant number of patients with suspected COVID-19 or less urgent conditions were treated and discharged without their having to enter the ED.
