Premium
Epidemiology and clinical features of emergency department patients with suspected COVID ‐19: Initial results from the COVID‐19 Emergency Department Quality Improvement Project ( COVED ‐1)
Author(s) -
O'Reilly Gerard M,
Mitchell Rob D,
Rajiv Prithi,
Wu Jamin,
Brennecke Helen,
Brichko Lisa,
Noonan Michael P,
Hiller Ryan,
Mitra Biswadev,
Luckhoff Carl,
Paton Andrew,
Smit De Villiers,
Santamaria Mark J,
Cameron Peter A
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
emergency medicine australasia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.602
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1742-6723
pISSN - 1742-6731
DOI - 10.1111/1742-6723.13540
Subject(s) - medicine , emergency department , prospective cohort study , emergency medicine , epidemiology , covid-19 , mechanical ventilation , incidence (geometry) , pediatrics , disease , physics , psychiatry , infectious disease (medical specialty) , optics
Objective The COVID‐19 Emergency Department (COVED) Quality Improvement Project aims to provide regular and real‐time clinical information to ED clinicians caring for patients with suspected and confirmed COVID‐19. The present study summarises data from the first 2 weeks of the study. Methods COVED is an ongoing prospective cohort study that commenced on 1 April 2020. It includes all adult patients presenting to a participating ED who undergo testing for SARS‐CoV‐2. Data are collected prospectively and entered into a bespoke registry. Outcomes include a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 polymerase chain reaction test result and requirement for intensive respiratory support. Results In the period 1–14 April 2020, 240 (16%) of 1508 patients presenting to The Alfred Emergency and Trauma Centre met inclusion criteria. Of these, 11 (5%) tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. The mean age of patients was 60 years and the commonest symptoms were acute shortness of breath ( n = 122 [67%]), cough ( n = 108 [56%]) or fever ( n = 98 [51%]). Overseas travel or known contact with a confirmed case was reported by 24 (14%) and 16 (10%) patients, respectively. Fever or hypoxia was recorded in 23 (10%) and 11 (5%) patients, respectively. Eleven (5%) patients received mechanical ventilation in the ED, of whom none tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. Conclusions Among patients presenting to a tertiary ED with suspected COVID‐19, only a small proportion tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. Although the low incidence of positive cases currently precludes the development of predictive tools, the COVED Project demonstrates that the rapid establishment of an agile clinical registry for emergency care is feasible.