Descriptive Analysis of Trauma Admission Trends before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mariusz Jojczuk; Katarzyna Naylor; Adrianna Serwin; Iwona Dolliver; Dariusz Głuchowski; Jakub Gajewski; Robert Karpiński; Przemysław Krakowski; Kamil Torres; Adam Nogalski; Ahmed M Al-Wathinani; Krzysztof Goniewicz

doi:10.3390/jcm13010259

Descriptive Analysis of Trauma Admission Trends before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

J Clin Med. 2024 Jan 2;13(1):259. doi: 10.3390/jcm13010259.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Trauma Surgery and Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland.
² Independent Unit of Emergency Medical Services and Specialist Emergency, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 7, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
³ Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 4/6, 20-081 Lublin, Poland.
⁴ Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38A, 20-618 Lublin, Poland.
⁵ Department of Machine Design and Mechatronics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 36, 20-618 Lublin, Poland.
⁶ Orthopedics and Sports Traumatology Department, Carolina Medical Center, Pory 78, 02-757 Warsaw, Poland.
⁷ Department of Didactics and Medical Simulation, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 7, 20-093 Lubln, Poland.
⁸ Department of Emergency Medical Services, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz College for Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
⁹ Department of Security, Polish Air Force University, 08-521 Deblin, Poland.

Abstract

Introduction: Traumatic injuries are a significant global health concern, with profound medical and socioeconomic impacts. This study explores the patterns of trauma-related hospitalizations in the Lublin Province of Poland, with a particular focus on the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim of the study: The primary aim of this research was to assess the trends in trauma admissions, the average length of hospital stays, and mortality rates associated with different types of injuries, comparing urban and rural settings over two distinct time periods: 2018-2019 and 2020-2021.

Methods: This descriptive study analyzed trauma admission data from 35 hospitals in the Lublin Province, as recorded in the National General Hospital Morbidity Study (NGHMS). Patients were classified based on the International Classification of Diseases Revision 10 (ICD-10) codes. The data were compared for two periods: an 11-week span during the initial COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and the equivalent period in 2019.

Results: The study found a decrease in overall trauma admissions during the pandemic years (11,394 in 2020-2021 compared to 17,773 in 2018-2019). Notably, the average length of hospitalization increased during the pandemic, especially in rural areas (from 3.5 days in 2018-2019 to 5.5 days in 2020-2021 for head injuries). Male patients predominantly suffered from trauma, with a notable rise in female admissions for abdominal injuries during the pandemic. The maximal hospitalization days were higher in rural areas for head and neck injuries during the pandemic.

Conclusions: The study highlights significant disparities in trauma care between urban and rural areas and between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. It underscores the need for healthcare systems to adapt to changing circumstances, particularly in rural settings, and calls for targeted strategies to address the specific challenges faced in trauma care during public health crises.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; ICD-10 classification; gender disparities in trauma; healthcare systems resilience; hospitalization; public health crises; rural and urban healthcare disparities; traumatic injuries.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.