Decrease in prehospital emergency care call outs and emergency department visits during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND The coronavirus pandemic has affected the use of health services nationwide. We conducted a study on prehospital emergency care call outs, visits to the Emergency Department and intensive care use at Kuopio University Hospital (KUH) during the state of emergency.

METHODS The prehospital emergency care call outs, patient visits to the KUH Emergency Department and periods of in-hospital and intensive care at KUH were studied between 16 March and 31 May 2020 and in the corresponding period in 2019. Data were retrieved from the registers of the Northern Savo Hospital District and the City of Kuopio.

RESULTS The number of prehospital emergency care call outs and visits to the Emergency Department decreased in all age groups during the state of emergency compared to the corresponding period of time in 2019. In particular, the number of paediatric patients decreased. Visits to the Emergency Department due to infectious diseases, respiratory infections, and the most common symptomatic diagnoses decreased. There were no significant changes in the number of severe acute cases such as ST segment elevation infarction, cerebral infarction and TIA, in the number of hip fractures or in the use of intensive care.

CONCLUSIONS Patients with severe health conditions were also seeking acute care during the state of emergency. The reduction in the need for treatment due to infections may result from the avoidance of social contacts. The intensive care resources were sufficient at KUH during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.