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.
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.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
596
Mitchells Plain Hospital of Hope Covid-19 Field Hospital, Lentegeur Hospital
Cape Town, Western Province, South Africa
Patient Demographics
Patient age (in numbers)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Patient Demographics
Patient sex (male or female)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Patient Clinical Condition
Patient medical comorbidities on admission (categorical)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Patient Clinical Condition
If patient diabetic, type of diabetic treatment received in hospital (oral vs insulin therapy)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Patient Clinical Condition
If patient diabetic, glycated haemoglobin (HBA1C) level during admission (in numbers)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Patient Clinical Condition
Patient clinical complications during hospital admission (categorical)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Patient Clinical Condition
If patient received antibiotic treatment during admission, name of infection treated (categorical)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Patient Clinical condition
Patient ICU priority triage score on admission (in numbers)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Hospital Human Resources Utilized
Number of patients who utilized palliative care services (in numbers)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Hospital Human Resources Utilized
Number of patients who utilized dietician services (in numbers)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Hospital Human Resources Utilized
Number of patients who utilized physiotherapy services (in numbers)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Hospital Physical Resources Utilized
Number of patients requiring oxygen therapy during admission (in numbers)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Hospital Physical Resources Utilized
Type of oxygen therapy utilized by each patient (Categorical: nasal prong oxygen; face mask oxygen; or high flow oxygen)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Hospital Physical Resources Utilized
Duration of oxygen therapy for each patient (in days)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Hospital Physical Resources Utilized
Number of patients requiring antibiotic treatment (in numbers)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Hospital Physical Resources Utilized
If patient required antibiotic therapy, name of antibiotic given (categorical)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Hospital Physical resources Utilized
Patient duration of hospital stay (in days)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Health System Dynamics
Daily number of patients admitted to hospital (in numbers/day)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Health System Dynamics
Daily number of inpatients at hospital (in numbers/day)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Health System Dynamics
Daily number of patients discharged from hospital (in numbers/day)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Health System Dynamics
Daily number of patient deaths (in numbers/day)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Health System Dynamics
Daily number of patients transferred out of hospital to another medical facility (in numbers/day)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Health System Dynamics
Daily hospital bed capacity (in numbers/day)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Health System Dynamics
Daily hospital oxygen consumption (in kg/day)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Health System Dynamics
Name of hospital from which each patient was referred from (categorical)
Time frame: January 1st to February 29th 2021
Local Incidence rates of COVID-19 infections
South African National COVID-19 incidence rates per week (in numbers/week)
Time frame: December 1st 2020 to February 29th 2021
Local Incidence rates of COVID-19 infections
Western Cape Provincial COVID-19 incidence rates per week (in numbers/week)
Time frame: December 1st 2020 to February 29th 2021
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