Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic at a major Danish trauma center in 2020 compared with 2018-2019: A retrospective cohort study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The COVID-19 pandemic demanded changes in societal behavior and health care worldwide. Previous studies have compared trauma patient admissions in COVID-19-related lockdowns to prior years. This study describes the COVID-19 impact on trauma patient admissions during entire 2020 at a major trauma center in Denmark.

METHODS:

We retrospectively analyzed trauma patients received by a trauma team and admitted at Aarhus University Hospital in 2020 compared with 2018-2019. The incidence of injuries, mechanism of injury, 30-day mortality, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) were investigated.

RESULTS:

The incidence of minor injuries (ISS 1-15) increased by 24% in 2020 compared with 2018-2019 (incidence rate ratio 1.24 [95% CI: 1.11-1.39]). The incidence of severe injuries (ISS >15) in 2020 did not change compared with 2018-2019 (incidence rate ratio 0.97 [95% CI: 0.80-1.17]). The 30-day mortality was similar in 2020 compared with 2018-2019. Comparing 2020 with 2018-2019, the risk ratio of traffic injuries decreased (0.90 [95% CI: 0.82-0.99]), risk ratio for fall injuries was 1.13 (95% CI: 0.97-1.30), for violence 1.13 (95% CI: 0.51-2.50), and for self-harm 1.94 (95% CI: 0.95-3.94). During the first lockdown of 2020, trauma team activations declined from 49.5 to 42 and the risk ratio for traffic injuries was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.50-1.10) compared with the same period in 2018-2019.

CONCLUSION:

The incidence of minor injuries increased, but the incidence of severe injuries was similar in 2020 compared with 2018-2019. Societal restrictions might alter the mechanism of injuries. The first lockdown indicated an association with reduced traffic injuries.

• Authors: Frederik Trier, Jesper Fjølner, Nikolaj Raaber, Anders H Sørensen, Hans Kirkegaard
• Journal: Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica (Acta Anaesthesiol Scand) Vol. 66 Issue 2 Pg. 265-272 (02 2022) ISSN: 1399-6576 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34748218 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2021 Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation.

Topics

• COVID-19
• Communicable Disease Control
• Denmark (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Pandemics
• Retrospective Studies
• SARS-CoV-2
• Trauma Centers