scholarly journals (A86) Emergency Department Patient Presentations during the 2009 Heatwave in Adelaide

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s24-s25 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Mayner ◽  
P. Arbon

BackgroundRecordings of heatwaves date back to the early 1900s and usually are associated with high mortality. In Australia, heatwaves have been the major cause of natural hazard-related deaths. Heatwaves usually do not carry the global media coverage associated with other disasters, and frequently, are referred to as silent disasters. The main impact of heatwaves is on health and human life.ObjectivesPreliminary results are presented for the 2009 heatwave, investigating the emergency department patient presentations from three public hospitals in Adelaide, a city in the central southern area of Australia.MethodsDemographic and syndromic data were obtained from emergency department records. Ethics permission was obtained prior to data collection. Heatwave conditions occurred from 26 January–07 February 2009. Two non-heatwave periods were day-matched approximately two weeks before and after the heatwave. Data were analyzed by age groups, gender, and ICD codes for chronic conditions.ResultsThe two largest groups of people presenting were between 15 and 64 years of age and > 75 years of age during the heatwave and non-heatwave periods. During the heatwave period, both groups had significant increases in patient presentation related to renal problems (ICD 10: N000-N3999) and dehydration and hyperthermia (ICD10: E86, T67). The latter syndrome was far more accentuated during the heatwave, with emergency department patient presentations rising from 2 (non heatwave) to 62 presentations for the 15 and 64 years cohort and from 4 (non heatwave) to 91 for the > 75 years cohort. Cardiovascular- and respiratory-related presentations showed slight increases during the heatwave, while mental health had high presentations for the 15–64 year cohort throughout heatwave and non heatwave periods.ConclusionsBoth young and older people were affected by heatwave, and precautionary warning should be used throughout the community to alert people of the dangers underlying extreme heat conditions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Baraniecki ◽  
Puru Panchal ◽  
Danya Deepsee Malhotra ◽  
Alexandra Aliferis ◽  
Zaka Zia

Abstract Background On October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Act decriminalized the recreational use of cannabis in Canada. This study seeks to determine how legalization of cannabis has impacted emergency department (ED) visits for acute cannabis intoxication. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review at an academic ED in Hamilton, Ontario. We assessed all visits with a cannabis-related ICD-10 discharge code 6 months before and after legalization (October 17, 2018) to determine cases of acute cannabis intoxication. The primary outcome was the rate of ED visits. Secondary outcomes included number of visits distributed by age, length of stay, co-ingestions, and clinical course in the emergency department (investigations and treatment). Results There was no difference in the overall rate of ED visits following legalization (2.44 vs. 2.94 visits/1000, p = 0.27). However, we noted a 56% increase in visits among adults aged 18–29 (p = 0.03). Following legalization, a larger portion of patients required observation without interventions (25% vs 48%, p < 0.05). Bloodwork and imaging studies decreased (53% vs. 12%, p < 0.05; 29% vs. 2%, p < 0.05); however, treatment with benzodiazepines increased (24% vs. 51%, p < 0.05). Conclusions Legalization was not associated with a change in the rate of cannabis-related ED visits in our study. More research is needed regarding changing methods of cannabis ingestion and trends among specific age groups.


2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Anne Wilkins ◽  
Chevis N. Shannon ◽  
Steven T. Brown ◽  
E. Haley Vance ◽  
Drew Ferguson ◽  
...  

Object Recent legislation and media coverage have heightened awareness of concussion in youth sports. Previous work by the authors' group defined significant variation of care in management of children with concussion. To address this variation, a multidisciplinary concussion program was established based on a uniform management protocol, with emphasis on community outreach via traditional media sources and the Internet. This retrospective study evaluates the impact of standardization of concussion care and resource utilization before and after standardization in a large regional pediatric hospital center. Methods This retrospective study included all patients younger than 18 years of age evaluated for sports-related concussion between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2011. Emergency department, sports medicine, and neurosurgery records were reviewed. Data collected included demographics, injury details, clinical course, Sports Concussion Assessment Tool-2 (SCAT2) scores, imaging, discharge instructions, and referral for specialty care. The cohort was analyzed comparing patients evaluated before and after standardization of care. Results Five hundred eighty-nine patients were identified, including 270 before standardization (2007–2011) and 319 after standardization (2011–2012). Statistically significant differences (p < 0.0001) were observed between the 2 groups for multiple variables: there were more girls, more first-time concussions, fewer initial presentations to the emergency department, more consistent administration of the SCAT2, and more consistent supervision of return to play and return to think after adoption of the protocol. Conclusions A combination of increased public awareness and legislation has led to a 5-fold increase in the number of youth athletes presenting for concussion evaluation at the authors' center. Establishment of a multidisciplinary clinic with a standardized protocol resulted in significantly decreased institutional resource utilization and more consistent concussion care for this growing patient population.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacopo Cerri ◽  
Emiliano Mori ◽  
Leonardo Ancillotto ◽  
Danilo Russo ◽  
Sandro Bertolino

Following coronavirus COVID-19 epidemic, global media and the Internet started mentioning bats as key actors in the spillover. This depiction often misinterprets scientific evidence about the relationship between bats and SARS-CoV-2, and may contribute to increase bat persecution worldwide if not accompanied by sufficiently clear explanations. Moreover, it is unclear whether people adjusted their information-searching behavior following this coverage.We analyzed Google and Wikipedia searches on bats and coronavirus across 20 countries in 8 languages, in January 2016 - April 2020. We i) inspected bat-related searches on Google before and after January 2020, ii) checked whether Google and Wikipedia searches on bats and coronavirus increased during the pandemic and iii) carried out causal impact analysis to assess how much the pandemic increased daily visit rates to Wikipedia pages on bats.Before 2020, searches about bats included neither viruses nor zoonoses, China, and bat consumption as a food. All these topics have become dominant since January 2020. Likewise, the number of searches about bats and coronavirus increased since January. Causal impact analysis indicated a mean 175% increase in the daily number of visits to the Wikipedia pages about bats, following the announcement of the first COVID-19 victim the 11th January 2020.Increased media coverage of COVID-19 and the potential role of bats as SARS-CoV-2 origin and spillover source seem to have massively amplified people interest towards this mammal group worldwide. Whether this might result in a stable attitude change towards bats, or affect emotions associated with their presence is unknown, yet research about this is urgently needed, as such dynamics are likely to have major implications for bat conservation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2724-2725
Author(s):  
Javaid Munir ◽  
Zulfiqar Ali Buzdar ◽  
Zia ul Haq ◽  
Muhammad Anwar Sibtain Fazli ◽  
Fakhar uz Zaman

Background: Human life from conception till death needs some sources of energy or heating mechanism to advance from a day to another in the process of livelihood. From innocent infants falling victims to fires, toddlers to scalds, youth to vitriolage and elders to enmity of a variety of sources or to their own debilitation bring them close to the fire source let them fell a prey to burns. Aim: To observe the age and gender predilections amongst the victims of burns Methods: The study was carried out among 250 victims of burns presented from December 2017 to August 2018 and reported in the Accident and Emergency Department of Mayo Hospital Lahore and filtered in Medicolegal Clinic of King Edward Medical University Lahore. Results: The study revealed maximum involvement of pediatric and geriatric age groups falling victim to burn incidents. In an analysis as a whole almost 84% victims were belonging to these two extremes of ages. Gender disparity showed a slight difference of just 10% showing female preponderance being exposed to burns. Keywords: Burns, Age, Gender, Variation, Disparity


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
G N Noel ◽  
A M Maghoo ◽  
F F Franke ◽  
G V Viudes ◽  
P M Minodier

Abstract Background Cannabis is illegal in France but, as in many countries, legalization is under debate. In the United States, an increase of emergency department (ED) visits related to cannabis exposure (CE) in infants and adults was reported. In France, a retrospective observational study also suggested an increase of CE in children under 6 years old. This study only included toddlers and the data sources used did not allow repeated analysis for monitoring. Methods Our study aimed to evaluate the trend in visits for CE in ED in patients younger than 27 years old in Southern France. A cross-sectional study using the Electronic Emergency Department Abstracts (EEDA) included in the national Syndromic Surveillance System. CE visits were defined using International Classification of Disease (ICD-10). Results From 2009 to 2014, 16 EDs consistently reported EEDA with <5% missing diagnosis code. Seven hundred and ninety seven patients were admitted for CE including 49 (4.1%) children under 8 years old. From 2009–11 to 2012–14, the rate of CE visits increased significantly across all age groups. The highest increase was in the 8–14 years old (+144%; 1.85–4.51, P < 0.001) and was also significant in children under 8 (0.53–1.06; P = 0.02). Among children under 8, hospitalization rate (75.5% vs. 16.8%; P < 0.001) and intensive care unit admissions (4.1% vs. 0.1%; P < 0.001) were higher compared with patients older than 8 years. Conclusion These trends occurred despite cannabis remaining illegal. EEDA could be useful for monitoring CE in EDs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-100
Author(s):  
Daniel Hermawan

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the structure of human life globally, starting from the social, economic, political, health aspects, and so on. This study attempts to map the impact of changes in Generation Z consumer behavior in the period before and after the COVID-19 pandemic took place with the black box model in 3 stages, namely stimuli, transformers, and responses. The study was conducted on 186 undergraduate students with an age range of 17-24 years in measuring changes in 3 aspects, namely consumption patterns, entertainment, and basic necessities. The research model uses mixed methods with concurrent models, through the type of concurrent triangulation strategy. The results showed that there was a significant change in consumption and entertainment patterns in terms of the selection of purchasing methods and processes. Surprisingly, the pattern of shopping for basic necessities tends to not experience significant changes and contrasts with the media coverage of panic buying.


CJEM ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (04) ◽  
pp. 303-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Francis ◽  
Tom Rich ◽  
Tyler Williamson ◽  
Daniel Peterson

ABSTRACTObjective:We sought to evaluate the time to antibiotics for emergency department (ED) patients meeting criteria for severe sepsis before and after the implementation of an ED sepsis protocol. Compliance with published guidelines for time to antibiotics and initial empiric therapy in sepsis was also assessed.Methods:A retrospective chart review was conducted. Emergency department patient encounters with International Classification of Diseases codes related to severe infections were screened during a 3-month period before and after the implementation of a sepsis protocol. Encounters meeting criteria for severe sepsis were further assessed. The time to initiation of antibiotics was determined as well as the initial choice of antimicrobial therapy based on the presumed source of infection.Results:We reviewed 213 unique ED patient encounters meeting criteria for severe sepsis. Analysis of the period before implementation showed a median time from the time criteria for severe sepsis were met to delivery of antibiotics of 163 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI] 124 to 210 min). Analysis of the period after implementation of the protocol revealed a median time of 79 minutes (95% CI 64 to 94 min), representing an overall reduction of 84 minutes (95% CI 42 to 126 min). Before the implementation of the protocol, 47% of patients received correct antibiotic coverage for the presumed source of infection in compliance with locally published guidelines. After the initiation of the protocol, 73% received appropriate initial antibiotics, for an overall improvement of 26%.Conclusion:A guideline-based ED sepsis protocol for the evaluation and treatment of the septic patient appears to improve the time to administration of antibiotics as well as the appropriateness of initial antibiotic therapy in patients with severe sepsis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (S1) ◽  
pp. i75-i78
Author(s):  
Briana L Moreland ◽  
Elizabeth R Burns ◽  
Yara K Haddad

BackgroundThis study describes rates of non-fatal fall-injury emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalisations before and after the US 2015 transition from the 9th to 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM).MethodsED visit and hospitalisation data for adults aged 65+ years were obtained from the 2010–2016 Healthcare Cost and Utilisation Project. Differences in fall injury rates between 2010 and 2014 (before transition), and 2014 and 2016 (before and after transition) were analysed using t-tests.ResultsFor ED visits, rates did not differ significantly between 2014 and 2016 (4288 vs 4318 per 100 000, respectively). Hospitalisation rates were lower in 2014 (1232 per 100 000) compared with 2016 (1281 per 100 000).ConclusionIncreased rates of fall-related hospitalisations could be an artefact of the transition or may reflect an increase in the rate of fall-related hospitalisations. Analyses of fall-related hospitalisations across the transition should be interpreted cautiously.


2004 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy H Lee ◽  
Lynn B Meuleners ◽  
Yuejen Zhao ◽  
Methinee Intrapanya ◽  
Didier Palmer ◽  
...  

Andy H Lee is associate professor, School of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology; Lynn B Meuleners is research fellow, Injury Research Centre, University of Western Australia; Yuejen Zhao is an epidemiologist in the Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services;Methinee Intrapanya is a registered nurse, Didier Palmer is director of the Emergency Department, Royal Darwin Hospital and Elizabeth Mowatt is director of Emergency Department, Alice Springs Hospital.This study investigates demographic patterns of emergency presentations to Northern Territory (NT) public hospitalsover the past five years with respect to population changes, Aboriginality and age of patients. Retrospective analysis was undertaken on the 1996-2001 data extracted from the NT Module of Caresys and the Hospital Morbidity Data System. There was a 4.6% decrease in total presentations to the five public hospitals but a 9.4% growth in the population during the study period. Substantial differences in emergency presentation patterns were found between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients. There were more Aboriginal presentations than non-Aboriginal presentations for all age groups except for 5 to 19 years and 70 to 74 years. Analysis based on the national triage scale showed the higher needs of older adults with the 60 or over age group accounting for the majority of presentations, and Aboriginal presentation rates exceeded the non-Aboriginal presentation rates in most triage categories. Re-attendance within seven days at the emergency departments occurred predominantly among Aboriginal patients regardless of age group. The analysis has highlighted several emerging demographic patterns. The issue of non-urgent visits by Aboriginal patients occupying a large portion of the emergency department utilisation also needs to be addressed.


Author(s):  
Selena Aureli ◽  
Renato Medei ◽  
Enrico Supino ◽  
Claudio Travaglini

This research investigates what happens to sustainability disclosure in the light of an industrial disaster. Drawing from legitimacy theory, the disaster is treated as a moment of crisis, in which the relationship of trust between the company and its stakeholders suffers and has to be reconstructed to legitimise the company's operations once more. While past studies revealed an increase in corporate disclosure after a disaster, the authors' results highlight a different behaviour. The analysis focuses on six companies involved in industrial disasters with a global media coverage, before and after the event. The sample includes, among others, Tepco for the leakage of nuclear material from the Fukushima power plant and Carnival Cruise Corporation in relation to the sinking of the Costa Concordia. Findings obtained using text mining techniques suggest that there is a tendency to reduce the quantity of information provided in the year of the disaster, which represents a precise managerial strategy aiming to avoid further drops in corporate legitimacy.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document