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Patient Management in the Emergency Department during a COVID-19 Pandemic
Marlena Robakowska1, Anna Tyrańska-Fobke1, Katarzyna Pogorzelczyk2
1Department of Public Health and Social Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic altered emergency department use in Poland. Older patients with COVID-19 (U07.1) showed higher rates of mental illness, while men experienced longer hospital stays.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted global health systems.
- International efforts focused on disease containment and prevention.
- Understanding shifts in healthcare utilization is crucial for system adaptation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department (ED) utilization in Poland.
- To identify demographic and clinical factors influencing ED visits during the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of emergency department data.
- Statistical evaluation of patient demographics, diagnoses, and hospitalization patterns.
- Comparison of pre-pandemic and pandemic utilization trends.
Main Results:
- Significant changes observed in the volume and characteristics of ED patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Age was a key factor for mental illness occurrence in COVID-19 positive patients (U07.1), with older individuals more frequently diagnosed.
- Men diagnosed with U07.1 had longer stays in long-term care, while younger patients (under 29) had shorter hospitalizations.
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped emergency department utilization patterns in Poland.
- Healthcare systems must balance SARS-CoV-2 treatment with continued access for non-COVID-19 conditions like cardiovascular and mental health issues.
- Demographic factors like age and gender influence patient outcomes and resource allocation within EDs during health crises.
Abstract:
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, international action has been taken to prevent the spread of the disease. The aim of this study is to establish the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department utilization patterns in Poland. It was established that age (among COVID-19 positive patients) has a large influence on the occurrence of a mental illness or disorder. It has been proven that the older the person (patients diagnosed with U07.1), the more often mental diseases/disorders are diagnosed (p = 0.009-0.044). Gender decides the course of hospitalization to the disadvantage of men (p = 0.022). Men diagnosed with U07.1 stay much longer in specialized long-term care units. Lower-aged patients have a shorter hospitalization time (up to the age of 29; p = 0.017). The COVID-19 pandemic has placed healthcare systems, their staff, and their patients in an unprecedented situation. Our study showed changes in the number and characteristics of patients visiting the ED during COVID-19. Despite the shift in the center of gravity of health system functioning to the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, care must be taken to ensure that uninfected patients have access to treatment for cardiovascular, mental health, oncological, and other diseases.
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