Where are our patients? Retrospective cohort study of acute medical unit admissions during and prior to the COVID‐19 pandemic

Admissions to hospital have declined markedly during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Australia. This may be due to patients not presenting with acute illness or managing their chronic illness at home. We reviewed a cohort admitted to the Acute Medical Unit of the Royal Melbourne Hospital during and before...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Internal medicine journal 2020-09, Vol.50 (9), p.1132-1134
Main Authors: Lange, Peter W., Gazzard, Meg, Walker, Samantha, Hilton, Joshua J., Haycock, Shasha, Wagstaff, Jessica F. R., Ward, Grantley A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
APACHE
Australia - epidemiology
Betacoronavirus
Brief Communications
Chronic illnesses
Cohort analysis
Comorbidity
Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology
COVID-19
Female
Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pandemics
Patients
Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology
Public health
Residence Characteristics
Retrospective Studies
SARS-CoV-2
Sex Factors
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Summary:Admissions to hospital have declined markedly during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Australia. This may be due to patients not presenting with acute illness or managing their chronic illness at home. We reviewed a cohort admitted to the Acute Medical Unit of the Royal Melbourne Hospital during and before the pandemic and found admissions were more acutely unwell and more comorbid. This may lead to worse outcomes for those not presenting, as well as those presenting late. We recommend a public health campaign to encourage Australians to present to hospital if unwell.
ISSN:1444-0903
1445-5994
DOI:10.1111/imj.14983