COVID-19 Pandemic, Field Hospitals, Global Health, Health Resources, Health Systems, Low-Income Population
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this study is to describe the patient clinical profile, resource requirements, and health system dynamics in a field hospital during the second wave of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, leading to the outbreak of viral severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2 virus), in South Africa. By describing the field hospital in this unique setting, the investigators hope to provide an efficient guide to similar settings across low- and middle-income countries. This was a retrospective, single-center study. A total of 596 patients with confirmed COVID-19 were admitted to Mitchells Plain Hospital of Hope (MPHOH), Cape Town, South Africa, between January 1st and February 28th, 2021. Patient clinical characteristics, outcome, and resource allocation was collected. Daily hospital dynamics, including admissions, discharges, deaths and oxygen use was analyzed and compared to the local and national COVID-19 incidence rates.
Detailed description
The aim of the study is to amplify what is known about field hospitals in resource-constrained setting, so as to guide meaningfully the future COVID-19 public health response. Understanding not only the patient profile, but clinical resource requirements, and health system dynamic in a South African field hospital during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic can help in preparation for a future infection surge. This will shed light on the extent and timing of excess demand for intermediate care facilities for COVID-19 during peak infection periods in this region. Furthermore, lessons learnt here can guide efforts in similar settings across low-and middle-income countries. Data was collected on all patients admitted to MPHOH between January 1st and February 28th 2021 using notes from patient folders' and an electronic hospital records systems. Patient demographics, clinical profile, resource utilization; as well as the hospital dynamics were collected. COVID-19 incidence rates were collected from the National Institute for Infectious Diseases, South Africa A descriptive data analysis was performed to report the number, mean, median, and range of all relevant values. Hospital level data were summarized into weekly intervals, described and compared to COVID-19 incidence rates. Statistical data analysis was performed using R Statistical Computing program and Microsoft Excel.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
University of Cape Town
Study design
Observational model
CASE_ONLY
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* All patients admitted to the Mitchells Plain Hospital of Hope COVID-19 field hospital between 1st January 2021 and 29th February 2021. Patients admitted to the hospital must have been: over 18years of age, diagnosed with COVID-19 via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, transferred from a referring facility.
Exclusion criteria
* No patients were excluded.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital Human Resources Utilized | January 1st to February 29th 2021 | Number of patients who utilized palliative care services (in numbers) |
| Hospital Physical Resources Utilized | January 1st to February 29th 2021 | Number of patients requiring oxygen therapy during admission (in numbers) |
| Patient Demographics | January 1st to February 29th 2021 | Patient age (in numbers) |
| Patient Clinical Condition | January 1st to February 29th 2021 | Patient medical comorbidities on admission (categorical) |
| Patient Clinical condition | January 1st to February 29th 2021 | Patient ICU priority triage score on admission (in numbers) |
| Hospital Physical resources Utilized | January 1st to February 29th 2021 | Patient duration of hospital stay (in days) |
| Health System Dynamics | January 1st to February 29th 2021 | Daily number of patients admitted to hospital (in numbers/day) |
| Local Incidence rates of COVID-19 infections | December 1st 2020 to February 29th 2021 | South African National COVID-19 incidence rates per week (in numbers/week) |
Countries
South Africa
Outcome results
None listed