Effect of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Management of Medical Emergencies at the Yaounde Emergency Centre
Kouanfack Charles
Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon and Head of Department Day Hospital, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Cameroon.
Tchatchouang Mabou Gabriel *
Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon and Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC), Cameroon.
Djam Chefor Alain
Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Solange Whegang Youdom
Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Ngo Yamben Marie Ange
National Centre for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (CNRPH), Cameroon.
Kwawa Ines
Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC), Cameroon.
Ateudjieu Jérôme
Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon and Meilleur Accès aux Soins de Santé (M.A SANTE), Cameroon.
Atemkeng Tsatedem Faustin
Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Siméon Pierre Choukem
Faculty of Medecine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The current coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has put the world into an unprecedented global crisis. Health systems have been faced with an enormous challenge to provide the necessary care for this vast burden of patients. As a result, emergency and scheduled care for non-COVID patients has been affected. This study evaluates the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of medical emergencies at the Yaoundé Emergency Centre.
Methodology: This was an analytical cross-sectional study with an exhaustive sampling, from patients from March to September 2019 and 2020. The analysis was done in Epi-info version 7.2.2.6 and Microsoft Excel 2016.
Results: Data were collected from 5496 patients in medical emergencies. COVID-19 pandemic has eventually decrease medical emergencies [aOR=0.91, 95%CI=0.76-0.91, P=<0,0001] but didn’t impact significantly the rate of mortality [aOR=1.06, 95%CI =0.71-1.57, P=0,79]. Cardiovascular Diseases were the first cause of morbidity.
Conclusion: It emerges from this study that the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased the attendance in medical emergencies but didn’t affect significantly the rate of mortality.
Keywords: Medical emergencies, COVID-19, YEC, Yaoundé