Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Emergency Room Burden

Abstract

Introduction: It is seen that there are changes in the number and profile of patients who applied to the emergency services during the pandemic period. This study was carried out to examine the patient burden who applied to the emergency department before and during the pandemic, and to determine the demographic characteristics of the patients and their complaints. Materials and Methods: Patient applications to the Emergency Department between April 1, 2019 and April 30, 2019 and between April 1 and April 30, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics of the patients and complaints of admission to the emergency department were evaluated. Results: While the number of patients admitted to the emergency department was 36617 in the pre-pandemic period, it was 10907 during the pandemic period. When the pandemic period and the pre-pandemic period are compared; It was determined that there was a significant decrease in the number of patients followed in the green area, trauma patients, total inpatients, inpatients in the cardiology service, inpatients in the neurology service, inpatients in the chest diseases service, and patients admitted to the emergency service by ambulance during the pandemic period. Conclusion: During the pandemic period, compared to the pre- pandemic period, the total number of patients in the emergency room and the number of patients receiving it (green, yellow) decreased significantly. This may lead to increased mortality and morbidity. For this reason, it is very important to inform the public in detail about emergency diseases that require hospitalization.