Recently, the number of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases has increased remarkably in South Korea, so the triage clinics and emergency departments (ED) are expected to be overcrowded with patients with presumed infection. As of March 21st, there was a total of 8,799 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 102 related deaths in South Korea that was one of the top countries with high incidence rates [
1
]. This sharp increase in infection is associated with 1) outbreaks in individual provinces, 2) deployment of rapid and aggressive screening tests, 3) dedicated healthcare staffs for virus screening tests, 4) quarantine inspection data transparency and accurate data reporting, and 5) public health lessons from previous Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreaks. This commentary introduces innovative screening tests that are currently used in South Korea for COVID-19, e.g., Drive-Through and Walk-Through tests, and compare the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.
Diffusion-weighted imaging allows reliable prediction of poor neurologic outcome in comatose patients treated with target temperature management after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Further prospective validation study will be required to generalize this result.
Aim:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, including floor characteristics and factors, related to severe injury from outdoor falls in older adults.Methods: Patients were divided into two groups based on injury severity: the severe group and non-severe group. The clinical and general characteristics were compared between the two groups, and factors associated with severe injury were investigated.Results: Approximately 5% (364/7635) of older people involved in outdoor falls were classified into severe injury. The proportion of men and the rate of alcohol ingestion were higher in the severe group compared with that in the nonsevere group. Falling from stairs was a more frequent mechanism of fall in the severe group compared with that in the non-severe group. Non-slippery floor condition had a higher proportion in the severe group than that in the nonsevere group. Head and neck were the predominantly injured regions in both groups. Discharge was the most common result of emergency department treatment in the non-severe group, whereas admission to intensive care unit was the main result in the severe group. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that male sex and falls from stairs rather than slipping down on the same level were associated with severe injury.Conclusions: Floor characteristics did not influence injury severity; however, the risk of severe injury from outdoor falls in older adults was high in men and those who fell from stairs. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; ••: ••-••.
BackgroundFalls from low-height can cause severe injuries in the elderly population. This study was conducted to determine characteristics of injuries from low-height falls.MethodsWe retrospectively review surveillance data on injured patients who presented to six emergency departments from January 2011 to December 2015. Study subjects were divided into severe group and non-severe group based on severity of injury. The general and clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups and analyzed factors related with severe injuries.ResultsOf 1,190 elderly patients, severe group comprised 82 patients (7%). The severe group was 2 years younger than the non-severe group. In the severe group, 61% was men and 34% in the non-severe group. In the non-severe, the injuries more commonly occurred at residential facilities and indoors than those in the severe group. Paid work during injury occurrence was 15%, and the more patients presented with non-alert consciousness in the severe group. The most common regions of major injury were head and neck in the severe group.ConclusionPaid work, non-alert consciousness, and major injury to head and neck are relating factors to severe injuries in the elderly population.
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