Investigating the Prevalence of Accidents in the Elderly in Eastern Iran before and after the Covid-۱۹ Pandemic

Background: The Covid-۱۹ widespread has caused genuine challenges for the elderly around the world. On the other hand, the passing rate due to activity mishaps is tall among the elderly. Considers appears that ۲۰% of elderly individuals have activity mishaps in cities once a year. Subsequently, the reason for this ponder is to explore the predominance of mishaps among the elderly in eastern Iran some time recently and after covid-۱۹Material and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with a census of ۱۰,۲۶۴ elderly people who contacted the pre-hospital emergency room of Torbat Heydarieh University of Medical Sciences between March ۲۰۱۸ and March ۲۰۲۱. The intended tool for data collection was a checklist made related to epidemiological indicators in the elderly. Statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS ۲۵ software using descriptive statistics and independent t, Chi-square and Fisher statistical tests.Results: During the study period, ۳۳,۸۴۷ calls were made to Torbat Heydarieh EMS, and about ۳۰% (۱۰,۲۶۴) of these calls were related to the elderly. The main reason for contacting EMS in the elderly before the Covid-۱۹ pandemic with cardiovascular complaints and during the peaks of the Covid-۱۹ pandemic with complaints of reduced level of consciousness due to trauma, part of which is related to traffic accidents. This difference was statistically significant (P<۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: The findings of this study showed the high level of calls related to the elderly with EMS, that complaints such as trauma, impaired consciousness, and respiratory and cardiovascular problems, some of which were due to traffic accidents, were the main reason for EMS missions. Considering the movement of Iranian society towards old age, it is necessary to make new decisions and policies regarding the level of care for the elderly.

Keywords:

The elderly , Covid-۱۹ , Emergency medical services , traffic accidents.