Journal of Trauma and Injury

The Korean Society of Traumatology (대한외상학회)
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Effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic on Outcomes among Patients with Polytrauma at a Single Regional Trauma Center in South Korea

  • Kim, Sun Hyun (Department of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Regional Trauma Center, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Ryu, Dongyeon (Department of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Regional Trauma Center, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Hohyun (Department of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Regional Trauma Center, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Kangho (Department of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Regional Trauma Center, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Jeon, Chang Ho (Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The Catholic University of Korea Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital) ;
  • Choi, Hyuk Jin (Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Jang, Jae Hoon (Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Jae Hun (Department of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Regional Trauma Center, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Yeom, Seok Ran (Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital)
  • Received : 2020.10.20
  • Accepted : 2020.12.05
  • Published : 2021.09.30
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Abstract

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated a redistribution of resources to meet hospitals' service needs. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on a regional trauma center in South Korea. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed cases of polytrauma at a single regional trauma center in South Korea between January 20 and September 30, 2020 (the COVID-19 period) and compared them to cases reported during the same time frame (January 20 to September 30) between 2016 and 2019 (the pre-COVID-19 period). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes included the number of daily admissions, hospital length of stay (LOS), and intensive care unit (ICU) LOS. Results: The mean number of daily admissions decreased by 15% during the COVID-19 period (4.0±2.0 vs. 4.7±2.2, p=0.010). There was no difference in mechanisms of injury between the two periods. For patients admitted during the COVID-19 period, the hospital LOS was significantly shorter (10 days [interquartile range (IQR) 4-19 days] vs. 16 days [IQR 8-28 days], p<0.001); however, no significant differences in ICU LOS and mortality were found. Conclusions: The observations at Regional Trauma Center, Pusan National University Hospital corroborate anecdotal reports that there has been a decline in the number of patients admitted to hospitals during the COVID-19 period. In addition, patients admitted during the COVID-19 pandemic had a significantly shorter hospital LOS than those admitted before the COVID-19 pandemic. These preliminary data warrant validation in larger, multi-center studies.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by a clinical research grant from Pusan National University Hospital in 2020.

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