Impact of the Early COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Department Visits of Adult Cancer Patients With Fever or Respiratory Symptoms: A Korean Nationwide Population-Based Study, 2016–2020
10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e187
- Author:
Kyung Shin LEE
1
;
Ho Kyung SUNG
;
Youn Young CHOI
;
Changwoo HAN
;
Hye Sook MIN
Author Information
1. Public Health Research Institute, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2024;39(23):e187-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:We performed a nationwide analysis to evaluate the impact of the early coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on emergency department (ED) visits by adult cancer patients having COVID-like symptoms.
Methods:We analyzed the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) data on ED visits by adult cancer patients who presented with chief complaints of fever or respiratory symptoms (FRS) indicative of COVID-19, from 2016 to 2020. An interrupted time series analysis with a quasi-Poisson regression model was performed, adjusting for seasonality and time, to evaluate whether underlying trends for monthly ED visits and the in-hospital mortality rate (%) per month changed with the pandemic among these patients.We also estimated the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of in-hospital deaths among cancer patients using multivariable logistic regression analysis.
Results:ED visits by cancer patients with FRS decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic (relative risk [RR] with 95% confidence interval [CI]: slope change, 0.99 [0.98–1.00] and step change, 0.84 [0.76–0.92]). However, the in-hospital mortality rate (%) for these patients was increased (slope change, 1.14 [1.04–1.25] and step change, 0.99 [0.98–1.01]). Factors such as urgent triage status, ambulance use, and treatment in hospitals with fewer than 300 staffed beds significantly contributed to increased aOR of in-hospital deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period.
Conclusion:Further studies are needed to highlight the importance of ED service preparation in planning and managing resources for cancer patients during future pandemics.
