A Clinico-epidemiological study of respiratory emergencies treated at the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary care center in Karnataka.

The COVID 19 pandemic has caused a shift in the normal paradigm and has instilled a fear in the world with its increasing mortality rate. While the signs and symptoms are predominantly respiratory in nature (fever, dyspnea, non-productive cough, sore throat); atypical presentations such as malaise, diarrhea and ST segment elevations have also been noted. Due to this fact that the symptomatology is largely non -specific and variable we may have COVID positive cases in treatment zones not allocated for them, but most importantly we will be able to assess the burden of respiratory emergencies due to any cause on a healthcare system which is allocating and redirecting resources to treat COVID-19 positive patients, which remains a challenging administrative decision. While outbreaks cannot be predicted for their timing, rates of increase or decrease and potential number at any given time, we will be able to assess the maximum availability and the use, on average, for patients who are not infected with COVID-19.

Epidemiology assesses risks that cannot be randomized and therefore such a study would be crucial in understanding the burden of such illnesses. It would help detect trends in conditions that would otherwise go under recognized, especially during the COVID – 19 pandemic. Furthermore, the fact this study would be conducted in the summer and monsoon period would serve as a model for further development of surveillance strategies and possible countermeasures.