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THE EFFECT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON FORENSIC CASES OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

Year 2021, Volume: 54 Issue: 3, 465 - 470, 01.01.2022
https://doi.org/10.20492/aeahtd.1009150

Abstract

Aim
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on forensic cases treated by Emergency Medical Services compared to the pre-pandemic periods.
Material and Methods
The study was designed to evaluate the Emergency Medical Services cases retrospectively. We included forensic cases data covering pandemic period (period A - from March 11, 2020 to March 10, 2021) and pre-pandemic period (period B - from March 11 and period C - 2019 to March 10, 2020) in Ankara, Turkey.
Results
We included a total of 117,753 patients. The most common type of forensic case in all periods was traffic accidents (62.9%). This was followed by assaults (14.1%) and suicides (8.2%). The number of traffic accidents was found to be lower during the pandemic period (60.3%) than in other periods (p<0.001). In addition, suicides (9.2%), injuries with sharp/blunt objects (7.5%) were also higher in the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic periods (p<0.001). Most of the cases had yellow triage code (48.6%). Considering the triage codes, during the pandemic period, the green-coded cases decreased and black-coded cases increased compared to pre-pandemic.
Conclusion
The number of forensic cases in the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly lower than in the pre-pandemic periods. In addition, suicide cases and sharp/blunt object injuries were more frequent in the pandemic period than in the pre-pandemic periods. Traffic accidents were still the most frequent despite the lockdowns during the pandemic period.

Supporting Institution

None

References

  • 1. Türkmen N, Akgöz S, Çoltu A, Ergin N. Uludağ Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Acil Servisine Başvuran Adli Olguların Değerlendirilmesi. Uludağ Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Derg. 2005;31:25e29.
  • 2. Karadayı B, Kolusayın MÖ, Kaya A, Karadayı S. Collection and transfer of biological materials from forensic cases in emergency units [Article in Turkish] Marmara Med J. 2013;26:111e117
  • 3. Ilçe A, Yıldız D, Baysal G, Ozdoğan F, Taş F. Acil servislerde çalışan sağlık bakım personelinin adli olgularda delillerin korunması ve saklanmasına yönelik bilgi ve uygulamalarının incelenmesi [Analysis of the knowledge and practices of health care workers in Emergency Departments regarding the protection and preservation of evidence in forensic cases]. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2010 Nov;16(6):546-51.
  • 4. Asci O, Hazar G, Sercan I. The approach of prehospital health care personnel working at emergency stations towards forensic cases. Turk J Emerg Med. 2015 Nov 17;15(3):131-5.
  • 5. World Health Organization. Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) - Situation report – 1, 21 Jan 2020. [cited 2020 Sep 16]. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200121-sitrep-1-2019-ncov.pdf?sfvrsn=20a99c10_4
  • 6. Backer JA, Klinkenberg D, Wallinga J. Incubation period of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infections among travellers from Wuhan, China, 20-28 January 2020. Euro Surveill. 2020 Feb;25(5).
  • 7. Dey A, Majumdar P, Saha A, Sahu S. COVID-19 pandemic lockdown-induced altered sleep/wake circadian rhythm, health complaints and stress among traffic police personnel in India. Chronobiol Int. 2021 Jan;38(1):140-148.
  • 8. Şan İ, Usul E, Bekgöz B, Korkut S. Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Medical Services. Int J Clin Pract. 2021 May;75(5):e13885
  • 9. Venter A, Lewis CM, Saffy P, Chadinha LP. Locked down: Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on trauma presentations to the emergency department. S Afr Med J. 2020 Dec 4;111(1):52-56.
  • 10. Sher L. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates. QJM. 2020 Oct 1;113(10):707-712.
  • 11. Kamine TH, Rembisz A, Barron RJ, Baldwin C, Kromer M. Decrease in Trauma Admissions with COVID-19 Pandemic. West J Emerg Med. 2020 May 22;21(4):819-822.
  • 12. Keays G, Friedman D, Gagnon I. Injuries in the time of COVID-19. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2020 Dec 9;40(11-12):336-341.
  • 13. Nomura S, Kawashima T, Yoneoka D, et al. Trends in suicide in Japan by gender during the COVID-19 pandemic, up to September 2020. Psychiatry Res. 2021 Jan;295:113622.
  • 14. Sakamoto H, Ishikane M, Ghaznavi C, Ueda P. Assessment of Suicide in Japan During the COVID-19 Pandemic vs Previous Years. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Feb 1;4(2):e2037378.
  • 15. Hossain MM, Tasnim S, Sultana A, et al. Epidemiology of mental health problems in COVID-19: a review. F1000Res. 2020 Jun 23;9:636.
  • 16. Olding J, Zisman S, Olding C, Fan K. Penetrating trauma during a global pandemic: Changing patterns in interpersonal violence, self-harm and domestic violence in the Covid-19 outbreak. Surgeon. 2021 Feb;19(1):e9-e13.
  • 17. Navsaria PH, Nicol AJ, Parry CDH, Matzopoulos R, Maqungo S, Gaudin R. The effect of lockdown on intentional and nonintentional injury during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cape Town, South Africa: A preliminary report. S Afr Med J. 2020 Dec 14;111(2):110-113.
  • 18. Türkçüer, İ, Gözlükaya, A, Serinken, M, Özen, M, Aydın, B. (2010). Adli olguların acil servise başvuru zamanları. Akademik Acil Tıp Dergisi, 2, 89-92.

COVID-19 PANDEMİSİNİN HASTANE ÖNCESİ ACİL SAĞLIK HİZMETLERİNDEKİ ADLİ VAKALARA ETKİSİ

Year 2021, Volume: 54 Issue: 3, 465 - 470, 01.01.2022
https://doi.org/10.20492/aeahtd.1009150

Abstract

Amaç
Bu çalışmanın amacı, COVID-19 pandemisinin, pandemi öncesi döneme göre Hastane Öncesi Acil Sağlık Hizmetleri ile müdahale edilen adli vakalardaki etkisini araştırmaktır.
Gereç ve Yöntem
Çalışma Hastane Öncesi Acil Sağlık Hizmetlerinde retrospektif olarak planlandı. Çalışmamıza Ankara’daki pandemi dönemi (Periyot A: 11 Mart 2020 - 10 Mart 2021) ve pandemi öncesi dönemi (Periyot B: 11 Mart 2019 - 10 Mart 2020 ve periyot C: 11 Mart - 11 Mart 2020) kapsayan adli vaka verilerini dahil ettik.
Bulgular
Çalışmaya toplam 117.753 hastayı dahil edildi. Tüm dönemlerde en sık görülen adli vaka türü trafik kazalarıydı (%62,9). Bunu darp (%14,1) ve intiharlar (%8,2) izliyordu. Pandemi döneminde trafik kazası sayısı (%60,3) diğer dönemlere göre daha düşük bulundu (p<0,001). Ayrıca pandemi döneminde intiharlar (%9,2), kesici/künt cisim yaralanmaları (%7,5) pandemi öncesi döneme göre daha yüksekti (p<0,001). Olguların çoğunda sarı triyaj kodu vardı (%48.6). Triyaj kodlarına bakıldığında pandemi döneminde pandemi öncesine göre yeşil kodlu vakalar azaldı, siyah kodlu vakalar artmıştı.
Sonuç
COVID-19 pandemisindeki adli vaka sayısı, pandemi öncesi döneme göre önemli ölçüde düşüktü. Ayrıca pandemi döneminde intihar vakaları ve kesici/künt cisim yaralanmaları pandemi öncesi döneme göre daha sıktı. Pandemi döneminde sokağa çıkma kısıtlamalarına rağmen trafik kazaları en sık adli vaka nedeni olmaya devam etti.

References

  • 1. Türkmen N, Akgöz S, Çoltu A, Ergin N. Uludağ Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Acil Servisine Başvuran Adli Olguların Değerlendirilmesi. Uludağ Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Derg. 2005;31:25e29.
  • 2. Karadayı B, Kolusayın MÖ, Kaya A, Karadayı S. Collection and transfer of biological materials from forensic cases in emergency units [Article in Turkish] Marmara Med J. 2013;26:111e117
  • 3. Ilçe A, Yıldız D, Baysal G, Ozdoğan F, Taş F. Acil servislerde çalışan sağlık bakım personelinin adli olgularda delillerin korunması ve saklanmasına yönelik bilgi ve uygulamalarının incelenmesi [Analysis of the knowledge and practices of health care workers in Emergency Departments regarding the protection and preservation of evidence in forensic cases]. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2010 Nov;16(6):546-51.
  • 4. Asci O, Hazar G, Sercan I. The approach of prehospital health care personnel working at emergency stations towards forensic cases. Turk J Emerg Med. 2015 Nov 17;15(3):131-5.
  • 5. World Health Organization. Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) - Situation report – 1, 21 Jan 2020. [cited 2020 Sep 16]. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200121-sitrep-1-2019-ncov.pdf?sfvrsn=20a99c10_4
  • 6. Backer JA, Klinkenberg D, Wallinga J. Incubation period of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infections among travellers from Wuhan, China, 20-28 January 2020. Euro Surveill. 2020 Feb;25(5).
  • 7. Dey A, Majumdar P, Saha A, Sahu S. COVID-19 pandemic lockdown-induced altered sleep/wake circadian rhythm, health complaints and stress among traffic police personnel in India. Chronobiol Int. 2021 Jan;38(1):140-148.
  • 8. Şan İ, Usul E, Bekgöz B, Korkut S. Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Medical Services. Int J Clin Pract. 2021 May;75(5):e13885
  • 9. Venter A, Lewis CM, Saffy P, Chadinha LP. Locked down: Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on trauma presentations to the emergency department. S Afr Med J. 2020 Dec 4;111(1):52-56.
  • 10. Sher L. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates. QJM. 2020 Oct 1;113(10):707-712.
  • 11. Kamine TH, Rembisz A, Barron RJ, Baldwin C, Kromer M. Decrease in Trauma Admissions with COVID-19 Pandemic. West J Emerg Med. 2020 May 22;21(4):819-822.
  • 12. Keays G, Friedman D, Gagnon I. Injuries in the time of COVID-19. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2020 Dec 9;40(11-12):336-341.
  • 13. Nomura S, Kawashima T, Yoneoka D, et al. Trends in suicide in Japan by gender during the COVID-19 pandemic, up to September 2020. Psychiatry Res. 2021 Jan;295:113622.
  • 14. Sakamoto H, Ishikane M, Ghaznavi C, Ueda P. Assessment of Suicide in Japan During the COVID-19 Pandemic vs Previous Years. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Feb 1;4(2):e2037378.
  • 15. Hossain MM, Tasnim S, Sultana A, et al. Epidemiology of mental health problems in COVID-19: a review. F1000Res. 2020 Jun 23;9:636.
  • 16. Olding J, Zisman S, Olding C, Fan K. Penetrating trauma during a global pandemic: Changing patterns in interpersonal violence, self-harm and domestic violence in the Covid-19 outbreak. Surgeon. 2021 Feb;19(1):e9-e13.
  • 17. Navsaria PH, Nicol AJ, Parry CDH, Matzopoulos R, Maqungo S, Gaudin R. The effect of lockdown on intentional and nonintentional injury during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cape Town, South Africa: A preliminary report. S Afr Med J. 2020 Dec 14;111(2):110-113.
  • 18. Türkçüer, İ, Gözlükaya, A, Serinken, M, Özen, M, Aydın, B. (2010). Adli olguların acil servise başvuru zamanları. Akademik Acil Tıp Dergisi, 2, 89-92.
There are 18 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Clinical Sciences
Journal Section Original research article
Authors

Burak Bekgöz 0000-0002-4183-9633

İshak Şan 0000-0002-9658-9010

Publication Date January 1, 2022
Submission Date October 13, 2021
Published in Issue Year 2021 Volume: 54 Issue: 3

Cite

AMA Bekgöz B, Şan İ. THE EFFECT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON FORENSIC CASES OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. Ankara Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Tıp Dergisi. January 2022;54(3):465-470. doi:10.20492/aeahtd.1009150