2 research outputs found
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Profile of Patients in SAMU-Asturias EMS (Spain): A Two-Year Retrospective Analysis of Advanced Life Support Unit Data
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Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had important
consequences on the health system. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were a key element
in the response and were forced to modify their daily procedures. The main objective of this
study was to find out if there were differences in response times and in the profile of patients
treated by the Advanced Life Support (ALS) units of Servicio de Asistencia Médica Urgente
(SAMU)-Asturias, the EMS of the Principality of Asturias, between the pre-pandemic
period and the pandemic period.
Methodology: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, observational, and retrospective study
that included all patients treated by SAMU-Asturias ALS from January 1, 2019 through
December 31, 2020.
Results: The pandemic has had an impact on daily activity of SAMU-Asturias, with a 9.2%
decrease in daily ALS services during the pandemic, longer prehospital times during the
pandemic period (mean = 54’35”; SD= 0’48”; P = 0.00) mainly due to an increase in scene
time (mean = 28’01”; SD= 12’57”; P = 0.00), and a slight increase in the average age of
patients during the pandemic in relation to the pre-pandemic period. No differences were
found between the types of incidents for ALS or between the resolution of the patients.
Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic mainly affects prehospital times in an emergency
service, with no differences being observed in types of incidents; in EMS future pandemic
planning, this should be taken into consideration.Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA
