Maya Handberry1, Lara Bull-Otterson1,2, Mengtao Dai3, Clay N Mann3, Eric Chaney4, Jeff Ratto5, Kalanthe Horiuchi6, Charlene Siza6, Aniket Kulkarni6, Adi V Gundlapalli2,7, Tegan K Boehmer2,7,8. 1. Division of Health Informatics and Surveillance, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services. 2. Data, Analytics, and Visualization Task Force, CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response. 3. NEMSIS Technical Assistant Center, University of Utah School of Medicine. 4. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 5. Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. 6. Health System and Worker Safety Task Force, CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response. 7. Public Health Informatics Office, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services. 8. United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: As a result of the continuing surge of COVID-19, many patients have delayed or missed routine screening and preventive services. Medical conditions, such as coronary heart disease, mental health issues, and substance use disorder, may be identified later, leading to increases in patient morbidity and mortality. METHODS: The National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) data were used to assess 911 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) activations during 2018-2020. For specific activation types, the percentage of total activations was calculated per week and joinpoint analysis was used to identify changes over time. RESULTS: Since March 2020, the number of 911 emergency medical services (EMS) activations has decreased, while the percentages of on-scene death, cardiac arrest, and opioid use/overdose EMS activations were higher than pre-pandemic levels. During the early pandemic period, percentages of total EMS activations increased for on-scene death (from 1.3% to 2.4% during weeks 11-15), cardiac arrest (from 1.3% to 2.2% during weeks 11-15), and opioid use/overdose (from 0.6% to 1.1% during weeks 8-18); the percentages then declined, but remained above pre-pandemic levels through calendar week 52. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has indirect consequences, such as relative increases in EMS activations for cardiac events and opioid use/overdose, possibly linked to disruptions is healthcare access and health-seeking behaviors. Increasing telehealth visits or other opportunities for patient-provider touch points for chronic disease and substance use disorders that emphasize counseling, preventive care, and expanded access to medications can disrupt delayed care-seeking during the pandemic and potentially prevent premature death. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2021.
BACKGROUND: As a result of the continuing surge of COVID-19, many patients have delayed or missed routine screening and preventive services. Medical conditions, such as coronary heart disease, mental health issues, and substance use disorder, may be identified later, leading to increases in patient morbidity and mortality. METHODS: The National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) data were used to assess 911 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) activations during 2018-2020. For specific activation types, the percentage of total activations was calculated per week and joinpoint analysis was used to identify changes over time. RESULTS: Since March 2020, the number of 911 emergency medical services (EMS) activations has decreased, while the percentages of on-scene death, cardiac arrest, and opioid use/overdose EMS activations were higher than pre-pandemic levels. During the early pandemic period, percentages of total EMS activations increased for on-scene death (from 1.3% to 2.4% during weeks 11-15), cardiac arrest (from 1.3% to 2.2% during weeks 11-15), and opioid use/overdose (from 0.6% to 1.1% during weeks 8-18); the percentages then declined, but remained above pre-pandemic levels through calendar week 52. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has indirect consequences, such as relative increases in EMS activations for cardiac events and opioid use/overdose, possibly linked to disruptions is healthcare access and health-seeking behaviors. Increasing telehealth visits or other opportunities for patient-provider touch points for chronic disease and substance use disorders that emphasize counseling, preventive care, and expanded access to medications can disrupt delayed care-seeking during the pandemic and potentially prevent premature death. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2021.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; Cardiac Events; Emergency Medical Service; Opioid Use Disorder; Risk Perception
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