South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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Contrary to the World Health Organization's internationally recommended medical certificate of cause of death, the South African (SA) death notification form (DNF) does not allow for the reporting of the manner of death to permit accurate coding of external causes of injury deaths. ⋯ The official cause-of-death data for injuries in SA in 2017 differed substantially from findings from the NCoDV 2017/18 study and IMS 2017. Accurate data sources would ensure that public health interventions are designed to reduce the high injury burden. Inclusion of the manner of death on the DNF, as is recommended internationally, is critically important to enable more accurate, reliable and valid reporting of the injury profile.
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Acute coronary syndrome is a public health burden both worldwide and in South Africa (SA). Guidelines recommend thrombolysis within 1 hour of symptom onset and 30 minutes of hospital arrival for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in order to prevent morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of data pertaining to the time between onset of chest pain and thrombolysis in STEMI patients in SA. ⋯ Prehospital and hospital-related factors played a significant role in delays to thrombolysis that led to increased morbidity and mortality of patients with STEMI.
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Critical care transfers (CCTs) are necessitated by the growing prevalence of high-acuity patients who require upgrade of care to multidisciplinary teams from less-equipped referring facilities. Owing to the high acuity of the critical care patient, specialised teams with advanced training and equipment are called upon to undertake these transfers. The inherent understanding of the potential effects, and therefore the needs of the critical care patient during transfer, are affected owing to the paucity of international, but more specifically, local data relating to CCTs. ⋯ This study provides insight into the demographics, most prevalent diagnoses and interfacility transfer monitoring needs of patients being transported in SA by two private dedicated CCRS. The results of this study may be used to inform future specialised critical care transport courses and qualifications, equipment procurement and scopes of practice for providers undertaking critical care transfers.