[Patient volume, diagnosis and injury mechanisms in a level 1 trauma center at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison to the mean of the 3 previous years : A retrospective, epidemiological evaluation of 4967 patients].

BACKGROUND

As part of the COVID-19 pandemic, political decisions were made to reduce social interaction and to reduce the number of infections. The aim was to create capacities for the in-hospital care of the patients.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to check whether a reduction in the number of trauma patients compared to the mean of the previous 3 years could be observed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed all patients who presented in the emergency admission from 1 March to 15 April 2020 with the mean of the patients from the previous 3 years 2017-2019. The age of the patients, time of presentation, diagnoses, whereabouts of the patients, inpatient or outpatient, number and duration of the operative care and required capacity on the normal ward and intensive care units (ICU) were recorded. The injury mechanism was also examined.

RESULTS

A total of 4967 patients between 1 March and 15 April were included. On average over the 3 previous years, a total of 1348 patients, i.e. 29.3 patients per day were counted in our emergency room. In 2020 a total of 923, i.e. 20 patients per day (p < 0.01) were counted. On average 227 (24.6%) were admitted to hospital compared to 311.5 (23.1%) in 2020. On average 143 operations were performed compared to 136 in 2020. The days on the ward were reduced from 2442 on average for the previous years, in 2020 to 1172 days by 52.1% (p < 0.01). The number of days on the ICU was 450 days on average in previous years and 303 days in 2020 (-32.7%, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The number of patients in the emergency admission was significantly reduced in the observation period in 2020 compared to the mean of the previous 3 years. This directly made resources available for the care of COVID-19 patients.