Impact of COVID‑19 infection on emergency obstetric and gynecological transport&nbsp;

Tsuzuki,Tamami; Minami,Marina; Nagai,Ryuhei; Miyata,Hina; Nishiyama,Kingo; Suganuma,Narufumi; Maeda,Nagamasa

doi:10.3892/wasj.2024.250

Impact of COVID‑19 infection on emergency obstetric and gynecological transport

Authors:
- Tamami Tsuzuki
- Marina Minami
- Ryuhei Nagai
- Hina Miyata
- Kingo Nishiyama
- Narufumi Suganuma
- Nagamasa Maeda
View Affiliations

Affiliations: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan, Department of Environmental Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan, Medical Course, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan, Department of Disaster and Emergency Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
Published online on: June 4, 2024 https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2024.250
Article Number: 35
Copyright : © Tsuzuki et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY 4.0].

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Metrics: Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Cited By (CrossRef): 0 citations Loading Articles...

Abstract

The spread of COVID‑19 affected emergency medical care worldwide. Studies have observed various impacts of COVID‑19, depending on the intensity of infection control measures, the number of medical facilities and the demographic composition of the region. However, reports on the impact on emergency medicine in rural cities or in the field of obstetrics and gynecology are limited. Therefore, the present study examined the impact of COVID‑19 infection on the emergency transfer of patients with obstetric and gynecological diseases, where medical resources are limited. A cross‑sectional study was conducted using a publicly available database. From 2019 to 2021, there were 635 obstetrics and gynecology transfers, which were divided into obstetric and gynecological diseases. The year 2019 was defined as the pre‑pandemic period, while the other 2 years were labeled as the post‑pandemic period. The number of transports, post‑transportation outcomes and the percentage of transfers and the time required for transport were examined. The number of transfers did not change significantly during the post‑pandemic period. In obstetric diseases, the number of transported patients who did not require hospitalization increased, and transfers from primary facilities decreased during the post‑pandemic period. There was no change in severity or transport type for gynecological diseases, nor in the time required for transport for both obstetric and gynecological cases. The impact of infectious diseases on emergency transfers for obstetric and gynecological cases was considered low. Whether the increase in COVID‑19 cases not requiring hospitalization and the decrease in transfers in obstetrics cases were due to the impact of infectious diseases remains unclear; thus, further studies are required.

View Figures

View References

1	Chams N, Chams S, Badran R, Shams A, Araji A, Raad M, Mukhopadhyay S, Stroberg E, Duval EJ, Barton LM and Hussein IJ: COVID-19: A multidisciplinary review. Front Public Health. 8(383)2020.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
2	Imai N, Gaythorpe KAM, Bhatia S, Mangal TD, Cuomo-Dannenburg G, Unwin HJT, Jauneikaite E and Ferguson NM: COVID-19 in Japan, January-March 2020: Insights from the first three months of the epidemic. BMC Infect Dis. 22(493)2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
3	Yumiko M: Impact of new coronavirus infections on clinic management. Japan Medical Association Research Institute, 2021 (In Japanese). https://www.jmari.med.or.jp/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/RE106.pdf. Accessed April 30, 2024.
4	Igarashi Y, Yabuki M, Norii T, Yokobori S and Yokota H: Quantitative analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on the emergency medical services system in Tokyo. Acute Med Surg. 8(e709)2021.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
5	Tai HCH, Kao YH, Lai YW, Chen JH, Chen WL and Chung JY: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical-seeking behavior in older adults by comparing the presenting complaints of the emergency department visits. BMC Emerg Med. 23(63)2023.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
6	Hegenberg K, Althammer A, Gehring C, Prueckner S and Trentzsch H: Pre-hospital emergency medical services utilization amid COVID-19 in 2020: Descriptive study based on routinely collected dispatch data in Bavaria, Germany. Healthcare (Basel). 11(1983)2023.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
7	Ryu MY, Park HA, Han S, Park HJ and Lee CA: Emergency transport refusal during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 19(8444)2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
8	Kochi Prefecture: Chapter 2: Current Situation and Future Projections for the Elderly, etc. (In Japanese). https://www.pref.kochi.lg.jp/doc/2018022700035/file_contents/file_20212184113656_1.pdf. Accessed April 30, 2024.
9	Japan Medical Association: Japan medical analysis platform. Regional Statistics: Kochi (In Japanese). https://jmap.jp/cities/detail/pref/39. Accessed April 30, 2024.
10	Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Fire and Disaster Management Agency: The State of Emergency and Rescue Services, 2022 edition (In Japanese). https://www.fdma.go.jp/publication/rescue/post-4.html. Accessed April 30, 2024.
11	Fullman N, Yearwood J, Abay SM, Abbafati C, Abd-Allah F, Abdela J, Abdelalim A, Abebe Z, Abebo TA, Aboyans V, et al: Measuring performance on the healthcare access and quality index for 195 countries and territories and selected subnational locations: A systematic analysis from the global burden of disease study 2016. Lancet. 391:2236–2271. 2018.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
12	Ota K, Nishioka D, Katayama Y, Kitamura T, Masui J, Ota K, Nitta M, Matsuoka T and Takasu A: Influence of the COVID-19 outbreak on transportation of pregnant women in an emergency medical service system: Population-based, ORION registry. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 157:366–374. 2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
13	El-Shabasy RM, Nayel MA, Taher MM, Abdelmonem R, Shoueir KR and Kenawy ER: Three waves changes, new variant strains, and vaccination effect against COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Biol Macromol. 204:161–168. 2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
14	Kumar R, Yeni CM, Utami NA, Masand R, Asrani RK, Patel SK, Kumar A, Yatoo MI, Tiwari R, Natesan S, et al: SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions: Concerns, challenges, management and mitigation strategies-a narrative review. J Infect Public Health. 14:863–875. 2021.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
15	Japanese Society for Reproductive Medicine: Statement from the Japanese Society for Reproductive Medicine on new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), 2020 (In Japanese). http://www.jsrm.or.jp/announce/187.pdf. Accessed April 30, 2024.
16	Japan Surgical Society: Recommendations for surgical procedures for patients with positive or suspected new coronavirus, 2020 (In Japanese). https://jp.jssoc.or.jp/modules/aboutus/index.php?content_id=53. Accessed April 30, 2024.
17	Komatsu H, Banno K, Yanaihara N and Kimura T: Board Members of Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Prevention and practice during the COVID-19 emergency declaration period in Japanese obstetrical/gynecological facilities. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 46:2237–2241. 2020.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
18	Nakagawa K, Umazume T, Mayama M, Chiba K, Saito Y, Kawaguchi S, Morikawa M, Yoshino M and Watari H: Feasibility and safety of urgently initiated maternal telemedicine in response to the spread of COVID-19: A 1-month report. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 46:1967–1971. 2020.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
19	Mallampati DP, Talati AN, Fitzhugh C, Enayet N, Vladutiu CJ and Menard MK: Statewide assessment of telehealth use for obstetrical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 5(100941)2023.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
20	Li W, Dong Y, Liu W, Tang Z, Sun C, Lowe S, Chen S, Bentley R, Zhou Q, Xu C, et al: A deep belief network-based clinical decision system for patients with osteosarcoma. Front Immunol. 13(1003347)2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
21	Li W, Zhou Q, Liu W, Xu C, Tang ZR, Dong S, Wang H, Li W, Zhang K, Li R, et al: A machine learning-based predictive model for predicting lymph node metastasis in patients with Ewing's Sarcoma. Front Med (Lausanne). 9(832108)2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
22	Chmielewska B, Barratt I, Townsend R, Kalafat E, van der Meulen J, Gurol-Urganci I, O'Brien P, Morris E, Draycott T, Thangaratinam S, et al: Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and perinatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 9:e759–e772. 2021.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
23	Molina RL, Tsai TC, Dai D, Soto M, Rosenthal N, Orav EJ and Figueroa JF: Comparison of pregnancy and birth outcomes before vs during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Netw Open. 5(e2226531)2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
24	Homma C, Hasegawa J, Nishimura Y, Furuya N, Nakamura M and Suzuki N: Declaration of emergency state due to COVID-19 spread in Japan reduced maternal transports without reduction in preterm delivery. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 161:854–860. 2023.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar
25	Watanabe T, Katata C, Matsushima S, Sagara Y and Maeda N: Perinatal care preparedness in Kochi prefecture for when a Nankai Trough earthquake occurs: Action plans and disaster liaisons for pediatrics and perinatal medicine. Tohoku J Exp Med. 257:77–84. 2022.PubMed/NCBI View Article : Google Scholar