The impact of COVID-19 on hospital admissions and emergency department visits: A population-based study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As a result of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there have been widespread changes in healthcare access. We conducted a retrospective population-based study in Alberta, Canada (population 4.4 million), where there have been approximately 1550 hospital admissions for COVID-19, to determine the impact of COVID-19 on hospital admissions and emergency department (ED visits), following initiation of a public health emergency act on March 15, 2020.

Methods

We used multivariable negative binomial regression models to compare daily numbers of medical/surgical hospital admissions via the ED between March 16-September 23, 2019 (pre COVID-19) and March 16-September 23, 2020 (post COVID-19 public health measures). We compared the most frequent diagnoses for hosp

SUBMITTER: Rennert-May E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8168854 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature