Traumatic Brain Injury during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemics in Slovenia: A Single Center Study.
Kevin LauferKarina PetekSofia RakusaMatej RakusaMartin RakušaAndrej CretnikPublished in: Journal of clinical medicine (2022)
(1) Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had a significant impact on the management of traumatic brain injury (TBI). We aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of TBI patients before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.; (2) Methods: We analyzed depicted data from existing medical records on sex, age, mechanism of injury, clinical performance at admission and discharge, neuroimaging, laboratory values at admission, mortality, duration of hospitalization, and referrals after discharge from the traumatology department for all adult patients during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and a year before. Variables were compared using the Chi-square or t-test between both groups.; (3) Results: Most patients had mild (n = 477), followed by moderate (11) and severe (11) TBI. Mild TBI was less frequent during the SARS-CoV-2 period (n = 174 vs. n = 303). The incidence of high falls increased during the SARS-CoV-2 period (14.5% vs. 24.7%; p < 0.05) in the group with mild TBI. Patients had similar mean Glasgow Coma Scales (GCS), Glasgow Outcome Scales-Extended (GOSE), and glucose levels at admission before and during the pandemic. Serum ethanol levels were significantly lower during the SARS-CoV-2 period (1.3 ± 0.7 mmol/L vs. 0.7 ± 1.2 mmol/L; p < 0.001). At discharge, the mean GCS was significantly lower (14.7 ± 1.8 vs. 14.1 ± 0.5; p < 0.05) for patients treated during the SARS-CoV-2 period than before the SARS-CoV-2 period. There were no differences in GOSE; (4) Conclusions: our results demonstrated a significant impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the frequency, mechanism, and consequences of TBI, and may help improve care for our patients.
Keyphrases
- sars cov
- traumatic brain injury
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- end stage renal disease
- ejection fraction
- chronic kidney disease
- newly diagnosed
- coronavirus disease
- prognostic factors
- severe traumatic brain injury
- machine learning
- type diabetes
- risk factors
- palliative care
- adipose tissue
- metabolic syndrome
- mild traumatic brain injury
- artificial intelligence
- electronic health record
- weight loss
- chronic pain
- skeletal muscle
- high intensity
- data analysis
- affordable care act