Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mortality Associated With Surgical Interventions in the Gheorgheni Municipal Hospital (TRANSYLVANIA) in the Period Between 2019-2022

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the research is to reveal how the mortality related to surgical intervention and due to other causes changed in Gheorgheni Municipal Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2019-2022.

METHODS: A retrospective research was conducted at the Gheorgheni Municipal Hospital (Romania, Transylvania), between 01.01.2019 and 31.12.2022. We analyzed the mortality rate, main causes of death and number of nursing days. Our analysis includes descriptive statistical analysis, distribution ratios, and intensity ratios.

RESULTS: One percent of those operating in 2019 (18 people), 1.8% (21 people) in 2020, 14.6% (36 people) in 2021 and 10.32% in 2022 died (25 people). In the examined years, the gender distribution was similar, with the proportion of men between 4-9% and the proportion of women between 2-4%. The average age of the patients in the four years examined was over 70, ranging from 71.5 to 75.1 years. The most common death in each year examined was lung disease, which caused 157 (63%) deaths in 2021 and 63 (50%) deaths in 2022. In 2021 and 2022, the number of deaths due to acute abdomen increased significantly from 10% (2019) to 14% (2020, 2021, 2022). The number of deaths from cardiovascular causes increased in 2022 compared to previous years, while the number of deaths from brain diseases decreased. The average number of nursing days was 7.23 in 2019. 7.36 in 2020, 7.21 in 2021, and 7.43 in 2022.

CONCLUSIONS: Mortality from surgical complications and cardiovascular disease increased significantly during the pandemic. The patients consulted a doctor late, and most of the time they were taken to the emergency room in a life-threatening condition. Many refused the referral, fearing that they would become infected during their hospital stay.