TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - The impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on emergency department visits in a tertiary hospital
JO  - Risk management and healthcare policy
A1  - Shen, Bisheng
A1  - Chen, Baoxin
A1  - Li, Kuangyi
A1  - Cheng, Weiyin
A1  - Mofatteh, Mohammad
A1  - Regenhardt, Robert W.
A1  - Wellington, Jack
A1  - Liang, Zhangrong
A1  - Tang, Qi
A1  - Chen, Jingli
A1  - Chen, Yimin
SP  - 1309
EP  - 1316
VL  - 16
IS  - 
N2  - PURPOSE: This study aimed to highlight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on emergency department (ED) visits of non-COVID-19 patients in a tertiary hospital and evaluate protocol development during this period. <br><br>PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical data of patients who visited the ED of Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine during the first-level response in Foshan, Guangdong province in 2020 (from January 23 to February 24) and the same period in 2019 and 2021 were collected. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was performed to understand the characteristics of critically ill patients and compare the proportion of hospitalizations, deaths, and emergency ambulance calls (EACs). <br><br>RESULTS: The number of patients presenting to the ED was significantly decreased, with a 37.75% reduction in 2020 (6196) compared to the same period in 2019 (9954). A rise in patient ED presentations was observed in the same period in 2021 (10,503). This decline was mostly in the 15-45 age group. In 2019, 2020, and 2021, critically ill patients treated by the ED totaled 568 (5.706%), 339 (5.495%), and 590 (5.617%), respectively. Compared to the same period in 2019 and 2021, the proportion of critically ill patients with respiratory system involvement, severe trauma, and poisoning decreased most significantly in 2020 (P<0.05). In contrast, the rates of EACs, hospitalizations, and deaths increased significantly (P<0.05). <br><br>CONCLUSION: The number of ED visits to hospitals was decreased during the 2020 lockdown, while the rates of EACs, hospitalizations, and deaths increased significantly though there were no documented COVID-19 cases. Optimizing emergency medical resources and ensuring the safety of healthcare providers and patients were essential to provide efficient emergency diagnosis and treatment during the lockdown.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1179-1594
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S415704
ID  - ref1
ER  -