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Increases in Ambulance Call Volume Are an Early Warning Sign of Major COVID-19 Surges in Children

Author

Listed:
  • Calvin Lukas Kienbacher

    (Division of Emergency Medical Services, Department of Emergency Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, 55 Claverick Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
    Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Joshua Ray Tanzer

    (Lifespan Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) Core, 130 Plain Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA)

  • Guixing Wei

    (Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences (S4), Population Studies and Training Center (PSTC), Brown University, 68 Waterman Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA)

  • Jason M. Rhodes

    (Center for Emergency Medical Services, Rhode Island Department of Health, 3 Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02908, USA)

  • Dominik Roth

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Kenneth Alan Williams

    (Division of Emergency Medical Services, Department of Emergency Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, 55 Claverick Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
    Center for Emergency Medical Services, Rhode Island Department of Health, 3 Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02908, USA)

Abstract

Background: Infectious diseases, including COVID-19, have a severe impact on child health globally. We investigated whether emergency medical service (EMS) calls are a bellwether for future COVID-19 caseloads. We elaborated on geographical hotspots and socioeconomic risk factors. Methods: All EMS calls for suspected infectious disease in the pediatric population (under 18 years of age) in Rhode Island between 1 March 2018 and 28 February 2022 were included in this quasi-experimental ecological study. The first of March 2020 was the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used the 2020 census tract and the most recent COVID-19 data. We investigated associations between pediatric EMS calls and positive COVID-19 tests with time series analysis and identified geographical clusters using local indicators of spatial association. Economic risk factors were examined using Poisson regression. Results: We included 980 pediatric ambulance calls. Calls during the omicron wave were significantly associated with increases in positive COVID-19 tests one week later ( p < 0.001). Lower median household income (IRR 0.99, 95% CI [0.99, 0.99]; p < 0.001) and a higher child poverty rate (IRR 1.02, 95% CI [1.02, 1.02]; p < 0.001) were associated with increased EMS calls. Neighborhood hotspots changed over time. Conclusion: Ambulance calls might be a predictor for major surges of COVID-19 in children.

Suggested Citation

  • Calvin Lukas Kienbacher & Joshua Ray Tanzer & Guixing Wei & Jason M. Rhodes & Dominik Roth & Kenneth Alan Williams, 2022. "Increases in Ambulance Call Volume Are an Early Warning Sign of Major COVID-19 Surges in Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:23:p:16152-:d:991754
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Xinhua Yu, 2020. "Risk Interactions of Coronavirus Infection across Age Groups after the Peak of COVID-19 Epidemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-14, July.
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