As the nation’s health care system focused on treating COVID-19 patients, emergency department visits dropped for heart attacks, strokes and other health problems, a new study found.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found a 23% drop in visits for heart attacks, 20% for strokes and 10% for crises caused by high blood sugar, the American Hospital Association reported.
"Persons experiencing chest pain, loss of motor function, altered mental status or other life-threatening issues should seek immediate emergency care, regardless of the pandemic," the study said.
The numbers were for the first 10 weeks after the COVID-19 public health emergency was declared in March.
The study compared emergency department visits from Jan. 5 to March 14 to those from March 15 to May 23.
“The study’s authors said public health and health care professionals must publicly reinforce the importance of timely care for medical emergencies and give assurance that emergency departments are implementing infection prevention and control guidelines,” the story said.
Read the CDC study here.
