Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

May 7, 2021

Emergency Department Visits for Emergent Conditions Among Older  Adults During the COVID -19 Pandemic

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  • A retrospective cohort study of non-COVID related emergency department visits among US adults  found that visits for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, and sepsis declined precipitously  during the early pandemic period and remained lower than pre-pandemic levels through the  summer and fall, particularly among adults age ≥75. In contrast, visits for hip fractures and falls did  not significantly change between January 2019 and November 2020. The authors suggest this  difference may be attributable to vague or atypical symptoms in AMI or stroke that were not  recognized by older adults, coupled with isolation from family and friends who may have otherwise  recognized changes in health status and assisted with accessing medical care. The authors note that  these changes in care seeking may be one cause of excess non-COVID-19 mortality in older adults  during the pandemic. 

Janke et al. (May 6, 2021). Emergency Department Visits for Emergent Conditions Among Older  Adults During the COVID -19 Pandemic. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.  https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.17227