Articles: pandemics.
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After the COVID-19 pandemic started, critical care resources were expanded in Finland to manage a possible surge in patients requiring intensive care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of overall ICU admissions, patient diagnoses, characteristics, and length of stay during the pandemic. ⋯ According to the findings of this study, the incidence of all-cause ICU admissions decreased after the lockdown was implemented in 2020. Furthermore, the percentage of patients requiring intensive care due to COVID-19 in Finland was only 3% in 2020 and 2021. These findings may serve to help in the planning and allocating of ICU resources during future pandemics.
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Neuromusculoskeletal injuries (NMSKI) are very common in the military, which contribute to short- and long-term disability. ⋯ Body region, sex, age, rank, and branch were the salient factors for NMSKI. The significant protective effect during the pandemic was likely a function of reduced physical exposure and limited access to nonurgent care. Geographically accessible specialized care, aligned with communities with the greatest risk, is needed for timely NMSKI prevention, assessment, and treatment.
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The abrupt change in care delivery caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic may have left some patients, particularly those with chronic conditions, unable to receive timely and appropriate routine care. Understanding the effect of the pandemic and the switch to virtual care for patients with chronic conditions requires in-depth qualitative feedback from providers who care for these patients. ⋯ For many patients with chronic conditions, virtual care is a promising approach to provide ongoing management in primary care. However, more tailored strategies may be needed to care for sicker, more vulnerable patients.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of Mental Health Visits at a Military Treatment Facility Emergency Department Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic.
There is a paucity of quantitative research regarding the effect of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) on Emergency Department (ED) visits in the United States, and specifically mental health-related ED visits. The small existing body of research describes an overall decline in ED visits worldwide; however, there are anecdotal reports that psychiatric complaints to the ED have increased during the pandemic. The primary objective of this study was to describe the volume of mental health ED visits at a single ED during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous years. ⋯ There was a significant decline in ED visits for patients over the age of 60 but a significant increase in visits for active-duty patients. Fewer patients were admitted compared to previous years. There was a significant increase in patients diagnosed with suicidal ideation and intentional self-inflicted injury in 2020 compared to previous years. Alarmingly, this study shows increased rates of self-harm and suicidal ideation. Further study is needed to determine why these effects were seen and if there is a higher risk for suicide attempt or completion in these populations. These results indicate that military leadership and the military health system is failing to adequately support and protect service members and their families during these uniquely stressful times. High-level attention to this issue by military leadership is required; the readiness and safety of the nation's fighting force is at stake.
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Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) preparations, used for the treatment of antibody deficiencies, provide a glimpse of the general population's antibody profile as each preparation is generated from a pool of thousands of donors. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, and a vaccine for the prevention of Covid-19 was authorized for emergency use in December 2020. We completed a longitudinal analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in commercial IVIG preparations. ⋯ SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in IVIG mirror case prevalence, and vaccination resulted in a far more rapid rate of rise in antibody levels. IVIG preparations or serum repositories can provide an accessible way to model a population's evolving novel pathogen exposure, immunity, and vaccine response.