Corona-Independent Excess Mortality Due to Reduced Use of Emergency Medical Care in the Corona Pandemic: A Population-Based Observational Study

摘要: Abstract Background A significant decrease in the number of cases emergency medical care during first phase Corona pandemic has been reported from various regions world. Due to lack or delayed use assistance, particularly case time-critical clinical pictures (myocardial infarction, stroke), a corona collateral damage syndrome is postulated regarding possible health consequences. The present study investigates changes preclinical and effects on overall mortality rural area. Methods patients department at Klinikum Hochrhein ambulance service were retrospectively aggregated analyzed total selected tracer diagnoses alarm keywords. investigation period was 9th 22nd calendar week 2020 compared identical previous year. In addition, death rates district collected directly registries related care. Results Overall, declined significantly period. This concerned particular inpatient treatment with exacerbations complications severe chronic diseases. At same time, excess occurred April 2020, which still highly even after excluding deaths COVID-19. Discussion Only about 55 % can be attributed COVID-19 associated decline treatment, especially chronically ill patients. Since drift other providers unlikely, we assume that fears infection overburdened hospitals, one-sided public communication reporting, extent contact restrictions have contributed numbers (collateral damage). Conclusion For similar situations future, it strongly recommended make crisis media coverage more balanced so as not prevent people acute problems receiving assistance. Contact should critically reviewed limited objectively necessary minimum.