Did the Covid-19 Pandemic Restrict Access to Emergency Urological Services
Assessment of Reorganisation Effectiveness for Hospital Treatment
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15468110 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Krystian Kaczmarek (0000-0002-4898-960X, Pomeranian Medical University, corresponding author), Jakub Kalembkiewicz (0000-0001-5917-3211, Pomeranian Medical University), Marta Jankowska (0000-0002-1881-530X, Pomeranian Medical University), Karolina Kalembkiewicz (Pomeranian Medical University), Jakub Narożnicki (Pomeranian Medical University), Artur Lemiński (0000-0003-1446-2970, Pomeranian Medical University), Marcin Słojewski (0000-0003-3679-7325, Pomeranian Medical University) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 3735-3735 |
| Publication date | 2023-02-20 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph20043735 |
| PMID | 36834430 |
| OpenAlex | W4321377848 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 2 |
Urolithiasis derived renal colic is a common urological condition. If treated properly, the disease resolves without complications; if not treated, it causes infection and renal failure. The COVID-19 restrictions impacted hospitalised treatment of diseases. We analysed the impact of COVID-19 on renal colic treatment at a hospital in Poland. Clinical and demographic data of patients treated during the COVID-19 era were compared with those treated before this pandemic. During the COVID-19 restrictions, renal colic patient hospital admissions fell significantly. However, more patients presented with chronic renal colic symptoms and urinary tract infections. Nevertheless, the degree of hydronephrosis and the number and location of stones did not differ between the two groups. No marked changes were observed in the chosen treatment options. The observed decrease in emergency admissions of patients with acute renal colic with a simultaneous increase in the rate of infectious stones might indicate that some patients requiring urgent medical help did not report to the emergency department or came later than they would before the pandemic, reporting more serious symptoms. One plausible explanation for this may be that the reorganisation of the healthcare system restricted access to urological care. Moreover, some patients may have delayed their visit to the hospital due to the fear of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus
Alternative medicine · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Emergency department · Hydronephrosis · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Intensive care medicine · Pandemic · Pathology · Renal colic · Urinary system · Global Health Care Issues · Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life · Healthcare cost, quality, practices · Medicine · Nursing · Emergency Medicine · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |