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Introduction:Since December 2019, emergency services and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) systems have been at the forefront of the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic world-wide.Objective:The objective of this study was to examine the reasons and the necessity of transportation to the emergency department (ED) by ambulance and the outcomes of these cases with the admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic period and during the same period in 2019.Methods:A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in which patients transported to the ED by ambulance in April 2019 and April 2020 were compared. The primary outcomes were the changes in the number and diagnoses of patients who were transferred to the ED by ambulance during the COVID-19 period. The secondary outcome was the need for patients to be transferred to the hospital by ambulance.Results:A total of 4,466 patients were included in the study. During the COVID-19 period, there was a 41.6% decrease in ED visits and a 31.5% decrease in ambulance calls. The number of critically ill patients transported by ambulance (with diagnoses such as decompensated heart failure [P Conclusions:Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting EMS use is important for evaluating the current state of emergency health care and planning to manage possible future outbreaks.

SummaryIn this review, we analyse original research articles in English and Spanish in which fear of falling (FoF) as a long-term syndrome defines the participants, or is the main outcome, or in cases where FoF is a secondary outcome, falls or activity are the main outcomes.FoF is difficult to measure. Attempts are made to do so by use of single questions or scales. Restriction in activity due to FoF is a secondary outcome and can be an important influence on a person's quality of life. There are also various methods of measuring it by use of single questions or scales, and general questions in basic or instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) indices are frequently used. Other scales or questionnaires about quality of life (such as the SF-36) or activity (such as the Survey of Activity and Fear of Falling Scales (SAFE), or the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale (GARS)) are also used. The varying objectives of the analysed articles explain some of the variations in measures used. Further work is required to reach a consensus on definition and standardized measurement of FoF and its effect on quality of life and activity.

ObjectivesBipolar I (B-I) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. While B-I has been extensively studied in the past, the contemporary data for impact of B-I on cost of hospitalization are largely lacking.MethodsWe queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) dataset between 1998–2011 using the ICD-9 codes. Severity of comorbid conditions was defined by Deyo modification of Charlson comorbidity index. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcome was total charges for hospitalization. Using SAS 9.2, Chi2 test, t-test and Cochran-Armitage test were used to test significance.ResultsA total of 1,80,681 were analyzed; 56.29% were female and 43.71% were male (P < 0.0001); 70.63% were white, 17.14% black and 12.23% of other race (P < 0.0001). Rate of hospitalization increased from 7469.65/million to 9375.27/million from 1998–2011. Overall mortality was 0.12% and mean cost of hospitalization was 19,821.50$. The in-hospital mortality increased from 0.13% to 0.16% (P < 0.0001) and mean cost of hospitalization increased from 12,091.31$ to 29,292.97$. Total yearly spending on B-I related admissions increased from $0.72 million/year to $2.16 billion/year.ConclusionsWhile mortality has slightly increased from 1998 to 2011, the cost has significantly increased from $0.72 million/year to $2.16 billion/year, which leads to an estimated $1.46 billion/year additional burden to US health care system. In the era of cost conscious care, preventing B-I related Hospitalization could save billions of dollars every year. Focused efforts are needed to establish preventive measures for B-I related hospitalization.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

ObjectivesSchizoaffective disorder (SD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. While SD has been extensively studied in the past, the contemporary data for impact of SD on cost of hospitalization are largely lacking.MethodsWe queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) dataset between 1998–2011 using the ICD-9 codes. Severity of comorbid conditions was defined by Deyo modification of Charlson comorbidity index. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcome was total charges for hospitalization. Using SAS 9.2, Chi2 test, t-test and Cochran-Armitage test were used to test significance.ResultsA total of 4,66,800 patients were analyzed; 50.90% were female and 49.10% male (P < 0.0001); 61.15% were white, 25.97% black and 12.88% of other race (P < 0.0001). Rate of hospitalization increased from 13,035.05/million to 26,703.21/million from 1998–2011. Overall mortality was 0.50% and mean cost of hospitalization was 20,995.19$. The in-hospital mortality increased from 0.46% to 0.50% (P < 0.0001) and mean cost of hospitalization increased from 11,504.94$ to 31,460.67$. Total spending on SD related admissions increased from $1.2 billion/year to $6.6 billion/year.ConclusionsWhile mortality has slightly increased from 1998 to 2011, the cost has significantly increased from $1.2 billion/year to $6.6 billion/year which leads to an estimated $5.4 billion/year additional burden to US health care system. In the era of cost conscious care, preventing SD related hospitalization could save billions of dollars every year. Focused efforts are needed to establish preventive measures for SD related hospitalization.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

ObjectivesAnorexia Nervosa (AN) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. While AN has been extensively studied in the past, the contemporary data for impact of AN on cost of hospitalization are largely lacking.MethodsWe queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) dataset between 1998-2011 using the ICD-9 codes for AN. Severity of co-morbid conditions was defined by Deyo modification of Charlson co-morbidity index. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcome was total charges for hospitalization. Using SAS 9.2, chi-square test, t-test and Cochran-Armitage test were used to test significance.Results28,150 patients were analyzed. 93.94% were female and 6.06% were male (P < 0.0001). 88.67% were white, 2.93% were black and 8.4% were of other race (P < 0.0001). Rate of hospitalization decreased from 1530/million to 1349.5/million from 1998-2011. Overall mortality was 0.78% and mean cost of hospitalization was 25,829.82$. The in-hospital mortality reduced from 0.95% to 0.44% (P < 0.0001) and mean cost of hospitalization increased from 11,956.55$ to 39,831.51$. Total yearly spending on AN related admissions increased from $145.33 million/year to $420.61 million/year.ConclusionsWhile mortality has slightly decreased from 1998 to 2011, the cost has significantly increased from $145.33 million/year to $420.61 million/year, which leads to an estimated $275.28 million additional burden to the US health care system. In the era of cost conscious care, preventing AN related Hospitalization could save billions of dollars every year. Focused efforts are needed to establish preventive measures for AN related hospitalization.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

ObjectivesSchizophreniform disorder (SD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. While SD has been extensively studied in the past, the contemporary data for impact of SD on cost of hospitalization are largely lacking.MethodsWe queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) dataset between 1998–2011 using the ICD-9 codes. Severity of comorbid conditions was defined by Deyo modification of Charlson comorbidity index. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcome was total charges for hospitalization. Using SAS 9.2, Chi2 test, t-test and Cochran-Armitage test were used to test significance.ResultsA total of 8645 patients were analyzed; 36.21% were female and 63.79% were male (P < 0.0001); 49.04% were white, 39.06% black and 19.9% of other race (P < 0.0001). Rate of hospitalization decreased from 599.22/million to 394.47/million from 1998–2011. Overall mortality was 0.23% and mean cost of hospitalization was 17930.23. The in-hospital mortality reduced from 0.21% to 0.15% (P < 0.0001) and mean cost of hospitalization increased from 9662.88$ to 27,749.68$ from 1998–2011. Total spending on SD related admissions have increased from $47.59 million/year to $853.83 million/year.ConclusionsWhile mortality has slightly decreased from 1998 to 2011, the cost has significantly increased from $47.59 million/year to $853.83 million/year, which leads to an estimated $806.24 million/year additional burden to US health care system from 1998 to 2011. In the era of cost conscious care, preventing SD related hospitalization could save billions of dollars every year. Focused efforts are needed to establish preventive measures for SD related hospitalization.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

ObjectivesSchizophrenia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. While schizophrenia has been extensively studied in the past, the contemporary data for impact of schizophrenia on cost of hospitalization are largely lacking.MethodsWe queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) dataset between 1998–2011 using the ICD-9 codes. Severity of comorbid conditions was defined by Deyo modification of Charlson comorbidity index. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcome was total charges for hospitalization. Using SAS 9.2, Chi2 test, t-test and Cochran-Armitage test were used to test significance.ResultsA total of 443,659 patients were analyzed; 38.78% were female and 61.22% were male (P < 0.0001); 48.19% were white, 35.30% black and 16.51% of other race (P < 0.0001). Rate of hospitalization increased from 56,768.47/million to 79,44466/million from 1998–2011. Overall mortality was 0.70% and mean cost of hospitalization was 23,568.47$. The in-hospital mortality decreased from 0.75% to 0.73% (P < 0.0001) and mean cost of hospitalization increased from 12,775.64$ to 36,768.58$. Total spending on schizophrenia related admissions have increased from $1.75 billion/year $6.23 billion/year.ConclusionsWhile mortality has slightly decreased from 1998 to 2011, the cost has significantly increased from $1.75 billion/year to $6.23 billion/year which leads to an estimated $4.48 billion/year additional burden to US health care system. In the era of cost conscious care, preventing schizophrenia related hospitalization could save billions of dollars every year. Focused efforts are needed to establish preventive measures for schizophrenia related hospitalization.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

ObjectivesBipolar I most recent episode-manic (BP-I-M) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. While BP-I-M has been extensively studied in the past, the contemporary data for impact of BP-I-M on cost of hospitalization are largely lacking.MethodsWe queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) dataset between 1998–2011 using the ICD-9 codes. Severity of comorbid conditions was defined by Deyo modification of Charlson comorbidity index. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcome was total charges for hospitalization. Using SAS 9.2, Chi2 test, t-test and Cochran-Armitage test were used to test significance.ResultsA total of 10,875 patients were analyzed; 57.13% were female and 42.87% were male (P < 0.0001); 74.78% were white, 14.51% black and 10.71% of other race (P < 0.0001). Rate of hospitalization increased from 528.71/million to 588.76/million from 1998–2011. Overall mortality was 0.42% and mean cost of hospitalization was 22,215.77$. The in-hospital mortality increased from 0.37% to 0.82% (P < 0.0001) and mean cost of hospitalization increased from 10,580.54$ to 40,737.65$. Total spending on BP-I-M related admissions have increased from $44.24 million/year to $187.00 million/year.ConclusionsWhile mortality has slightly decreased from 1998 to 2011, the cost has significantly increased from $44.24 million/year to $187.00 million/year, which leads to an estimated $ 142.76 million/year additional burden to US health care system from. In the era of cost conscious care, preventing BP-I-M related hospitalization could save billions of dollars every year. Focused efforts are needed to establish preventive measures for BP-I-M related hospitalization.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

ObjectivesBipolar unspecified (BP-U) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. While BP-U has been extensively studied in the past, the contemporary data for impact of BP-U on cost of hospitalization are largely lacking.MethodsWe queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) dataset between 1998–2011 using the ICD-9 codes. Severity of comorbid conditions was defined by Deyo modification of Charlson comorbidity index. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcome was total charges for hospitalization. Using SAS 9.2, Chi2 test, t-test and Cochran-Armitage test were used to test significance.ResultsA total of 711,147 patients were analyzed; 61.33% were female and 38.67% were male (P < 0.0001); 77.63% were white, 13.17% black and 9.2% of other race (P < 0.0001). Rate of hospitalization increased from 2,310.28/million to 74,908.88/million from 1998–2011. Overall mortality was 0.81% and mean cost of hospitalization was $25,152.02. The in-hospital mortality reduced from 1.24% to 0.97% (P < 0.0001) and mean cost of hospitalization increased from 11,308.05$ to 32,211.67$. Total yearly spending on BP-U related admissions have increased from $207 million/year to $19.15 billion/year.ConclusionsWhile mortality has slightly decreased from 1998 to 2011, the cost has significantly increased from $0.21 billion/year $19.15 billion/year, which leads to an estimated $18.94 billion/year additional burden to US health care system. In the era of cost conscious care, preventing BP-U related hospitalization could save billions of dollars every year. Focused efforts are needed to establish preventive measures for BP-U related hospitalization.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Objective:To assess the benefit and harm of exercise training in adults with clinical depression.Method:The DEMO trial is a randomized pragmatic trial for patients with unipolar depression. Patients with unipolar depression (n=165) were allocated to supervised strength, aerobic, or relaxation training during a four-month period. The primary outcome was the Hamilton depression scale and the secondary outcome was percentage of absence from work.Result:At 4 months, the strength increased in the strength group and the maximal oxygen uptake increased in the aerobic group vs. the relaxation group. At 4 months the change in HAM-D17 was -1.3 (-3.7 to 1.2; p =.3) and 0.4 (-2.0 to 2.9; p= .3) for the strength and aerobic vs. the relaxation group. At twelve months, the differences were -0.2 (-2.7 to 2.3; p = .8) and 0.6 (-1.9 to 3.1; p = .6). At twelve months, the differences in absence from work was -12.1% (-21.1 to -3.1; p = .009) and -2.7% (-11.7 to 6.2; p = .5) for the strength and aerobic vs. the relaxation group.Conclusion:These findings do not suggest a biologically mediated effect of exercise on symptom severity in depressed patients, but support a beneficial effect of strength training on work capacity.