The demand for Hospital Emergency Services: trends during the first month of Covid-19 response
Autor(a) principal: | |
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Data de Publicação: | 2020 |
Outros Autores: | , , , , |
Tipo de documento: | Artigo |
Idioma: | eng |
Título da fonte: | Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) |
Texto Completo: | http://hdl.handle.net/10362/113611 |
Resumo: | ABSTRACT - Introduction: Since December 2019, more than 925,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide, 8,251 cases in Portugal by the end of March. Previous studies related to the SARS pandemic showed a decrease up to 80% in the emergency care episodes. Hence, the objective of this study is to analyze the use of emergency services during the first pandemic month, compared to historical records. Methods: Data from emergency episodes in mainland Portugal, from January 2014 to March 2020, were downloaded from the National Health Service (NHS) Transparency Portal and the NHS monitoring website. The evolution of emergency services from March to September 2020 was forecasted based on historical data from January 2014 to February 2020. Information for March 2020 was forecasted globally, by the Regional Health Administration (RHA) and Manchester Triage System (MTS). Results: Compared with forecasted values, there was a 48% reduction in the number of emergency episodes in March 2020. In the analysis by the RHA, Alentejo had the smallest decrease in the number of episodes; interestingly, Alentejo is also the area with fewer COVID- 19 cases in mainland Portugal. In the analysis by the MTS, the episodes classified as yellow showed the highest reduction (50%). For episodes classified as urgent, there is a difference of about 144,000 episodes during March 2020. Discussion: The results of this preliminary study are aligned with the evidence produced for previous pandemics. Data about the use of emergency services, demographic and clinical characteristics of the episodes would be relevant to analyze this reduction. Conclusion: There was a significant drop in the number of emergency service use in March 2020, and although the causes of this reduction are not determined, the association between the beginning of the pandemic and the reduction of demand is evident. Understanding this phenomenon is crucial to plan interventions to avoid unnecessary morbidities or deaths, caused by a delayed visit to the emergency department. |
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The demand for Hospital Emergency Services: trends during the first month of Covid-19 responseA procura de serviços de urgência hospitalar: tendências durante o primeiro mês de resposta à Covid-19Emergency careCOVID-19PortugalUrgência hospitalarABSTRACT - Introduction: Since December 2019, more than 925,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide, 8,251 cases in Portugal by the end of March. Previous studies related to the SARS pandemic showed a decrease up to 80% in the emergency care episodes. Hence, the objective of this study is to analyze the use of emergency services during the first pandemic month, compared to historical records. Methods: Data from emergency episodes in mainland Portugal, from January 2014 to March 2020, were downloaded from the National Health Service (NHS) Transparency Portal and the NHS monitoring website. The evolution of emergency services from March to September 2020 was forecasted based on historical data from January 2014 to February 2020. Information for March 2020 was forecasted globally, by the Regional Health Administration (RHA) and Manchester Triage System (MTS). Results: Compared with forecasted values, there was a 48% reduction in the number of emergency episodes in March 2020. In the analysis by the RHA, Alentejo had the smallest decrease in the number of episodes; interestingly, Alentejo is also the area with fewer COVID- 19 cases in mainland Portugal. In the analysis by the MTS, the episodes classified as yellow showed the highest reduction (50%). For episodes classified as urgent, there is a difference of about 144,000 episodes during March 2020. Discussion: The results of this preliminary study are aligned with the evidence produced for previous pandemics. Data about the use of emergency services, demographic and clinical characteristics of the episodes would be relevant to analyze this reduction. Conclusion: There was a significant drop in the number of emergency service use in March 2020, and although the causes of this reduction are not determined, the association between the beginning of the pandemic and the reduction of demand is evident. Understanding this phenomenon is crucial to plan interventions to avoid unnecessary morbidities or deaths, caused by a delayed visit to the emergency department.RESUMO - Introdução: Desde dezembro 2019 foram reportados mais de 925,000 casos de COVID-19 no mundo, 8,251 dos quais em Portugal até final de março. Estudos anteriores relacionados com a pandemia SARS mostraram uma redução de 80% nos episódios de urgência. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo é analisar a utilização dos serviços de urgência durante o primeiro mês de pandemia, comparando com registos históricos. Métodos: Dados de episódios de urgência de Portugal continental, de janeiro 2014 a março 2020, foram extraídos do Portal da Transparência do SNS e do website de monitorização do SNS. A evolução do número de urgências de março a setembro 2020 foi estimada considerando os dados históricos de janeiro 2014 a fevereiro 2020. A informação de março 2020 foi estimada globalmente, por Administração Regional de Saúde (ARS) e pelo Sistema de Triagem de Manchester (STM). Resultados: Comparando com valores previstos, verificou-se uma redução de 48% no número de episódios de urgência em março 2020. Analisando por ARS, Alentejo registou a menor redução neste número, e curiosamente o Alentejo é também a área com menos casos de COVID-19 em Portugal continental. Na análise por STM, os episódios amarelos registaram a maior redução (50%). Nos episódios urgentes registou-se uma diferença de cerca de 144,000 episódios em março 2020. Discussão: Os resultados deste estudo preliminar estão alinhados à evidencia produzida em estudos de pandemias anteriores. Informação sobre a utilização da urgência e sobre características demográficas e clínicas dos episódios seriam relevantes para analisar esta redução. Conclusão: Verificouse um decréscimo significativo no número de urgências em março 2020, e apesar das causas desta redução não estarem ainda identificadas, é evidente a ligação entre o início da pandemia e a diminuição da procura. Entender este fenómeno é crítico para planear intervenções que evitem morbilidade ou mortes desnecessárias, causadas pelo atraso na ida à urgência.Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Escola Nacional de Saúde PúblicaRUNSantana, RuiSousa, Joana SantosSoares, PatríciaLopes, SílviaBoto, PauloRocha, João Victor2021-03-10T16:03:25Z2020-012020-01-01T00:00:00Zinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10362/113611engSantana, Rui; Sousa, Joana Santos; Soares, Patrícia; Lopes, Sílvia; Boto, Paulo; Rocha, João Victor - The demand for Hospital Emergency Services: trends during the first month of Covid-19 response = A procura de serviços de urgência hospitalar: tendências durante o primeiro mês de resposta à Covid-19. Portuguese Journal of Public Health. ISSN 2504-3137. Vol. 38, Nº 1 (Janeiro/Abril 2020), p. 30-362504-313710.1159/000507764info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessreponame:Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)instname:Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informaçãoinstacron:RCAAP2024-03-11T04:56:33Zoai:run.unl.pt:10362/113611Portal AgregadorONGhttps://www.rcaap.pt/oai/openaireopendoar:71602024-03-20T03:42:21.051896Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) - Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informaçãofalse |
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv |
The demand for Hospital Emergency Services: trends during the first month of Covid-19 response A procura de serviços de urgência hospitalar: tendências durante o primeiro mês de resposta à Covid-19 |
title |
The demand for Hospital Emergency Services: trends during the first month of Covid-19 response |
spellingShingle |
The demand for Hospital Emergency Services: trends during the first month of Covid-19 response Santana, Rui Emergency care COVID-19 Portugal Urgência hospitalar |
title_short |
The demand for Hospital Emergency Services: trends during the first month of Covid-19 response |
title_full |
The demand for Hospital Emergency Services: trends during the first month of Covid-19 response |
title_fullStr |
The demand for Hospital Emergency Services: trends during the first month of Covid-19 response |
title_full_unstemmed |
The demand for Hospital Emergency Services: trends during the first month of Covid-19 response |
title_sort |
The demand for Hospital Emergency Services: trends during the first month of Covid-19 response |
author |
Santana, Rui |
author_facet |
Santana, Rui Sousa, Joana Santos Soares, Patrícia Lopes, Sílvia Boto, Paulo Rocha, João Victor |
author_role |
author |
author2 |
Sousa, Joana Santos Soares, Patrícia Lopes, Sílvia Boto, Paulo Rocha, João Victor |
author2_role |
author author author author author |
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv |
RUN |
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv |
Santana, Rui Sousa, Joana Santos Soares, Patrícia Lopes, Sílvia Boto, Paulo Rocha, João Victor |
dc.subject.por.fl_str_mv |
Emergency care COVID-19 Portugal Urgência hospitalar |
topic |
Emergency care COVID-19 Portugal Urgência hospitalar |
description |
ABSTRACT - Introduction: Since December 2019, more than 925,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide, 8,251 cases in Portugal by the end of March. Previous studies related to the SARS pandemic showed a decrease up to 80% in the emergency care episodes. Hence, the objective of this study is to analyze the use of emergency services during the first pandemic month, compared to historical records. Methods: Data from emergency episodes in mainland Portugal, from January 2014 to March 2020, were downloaded from the National Health Service (NHS) Transparency Portal and the NHS monitoring website. The evolution of emergency services from March to September 2020 was forecasted based on historical data from January 2014 to February 2020. Information for March 2020 was forecasted globally, by the Regional Health Administration (RHA) and Manchester Triage System (MTS). Results: Compared with forecasted values, there was a 48% reduction in the number of emergency episodes in March 2020. In the analysis by the RHA, Alentejo had the smallest decrease in the number of episodes; interestingly, Alentejo is also the area with fewer COVID- 19 cases in mainland Portugal. In the analysis by the MTS, the episodes classified as yellow showed the highest reduction (50%). For episodes classified as urgent, there is a difference of about 144,000 episodes during March 2020. Discussion: The results of this preliminary study are aligned with the evidence produced for previous pandemics. Data about the use of emergency services, demographic and clinical characteristics of the episodes would be relevant to analyze this reduction. Conclusion: There was a significant drop in the number of emergency service use in March 2020, and although the causes of this reduction are not determined, the association between the beginning of the pandemic and the reduction of demand is evident. Understanding this phenomenon is crucial to plan interventions to avoid unnecessary morbidities or deaths, caused by a delayed visit to the emergency department. |
publishDate |
2020 |
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv |
2020-01 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z 2021-03-10T16:03:25Z |
dc.type.status.fl_str_mv |
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion |
dc.type.driver.fl_str_mv |
info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
format |
article |
status_str |
publishedVersion |
dc.identifier.uri.fl_str_mv |
http://hdl.handle.net/10362/113611 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10362/113611 |
dc.language.iso.fl_str_mv |
eng |
language |
eng |
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv |
Santana, Rui; Sousa, Joana Santos; Soares, Patrícia; Lopes, Sílvia; Boto, Paulo; Rocha, João Victor - The demand for Hospital Emergency Services: trends during the first month of Covid-19 response = A procura de serviços de urgência hospitalar: tendências durante o primeiro mês de resposta à Covid-19. Portuguese Journal of Public Health. ISSN 2504-3137. Vol. 38, Nº 1 (Janeiro/Abril 2020), p. 30-36 2504-3137 10.1159/000507764 |
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info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
eu_rights_str_mv |
openAccess |
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv |
application/pdf |
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv |
Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública |
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Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública |
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Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informação |
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Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) |
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Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) - Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informação |
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