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By November 2022, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had caused more than 635 million cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and more than 6.6 million deaths around the world; in Australia, there had been more than 10.5 million cases and 15 000 deaths, with marked differences in case numbers between states. Multiple waves of infection have affected Australia since early 2020: the first from mid-March to mid-April 2020, the second in June 2020, and the third (Delta variant) wave in June 2021. In November 2021, the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant initiated a fourth wave that persisted into 2022.

Australians critically unwell with COVID-19 were transferred between hospitals at different stages of the pandemic, typically to provide access to higher level care, because clinical demand was unevenly distributed, or particular hospitals were under strain. The impact of inter-hospital transfer on clinical outcomes for people with COVID-19 has been examined overseas; in France, for example, inter-hospital transfer was associated with a lower risk-adjusted probability of dying in hospital. Investigating its impact in Australia is particularly important, given the critical role played by inter-hospital transfers in the health care system.

This MJA research shares more.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain key components of the research
2. List main findings
3. Recognise the importance of the nature of underlying pathophysiology and the clinical indications to achieve better health outcomes for patients.

Details

Author: Courtney Cini, Ary S Neto, Aidan Burrell and Andrew Udy, the SPRINT‐SARI Australia investigators

Article Type: Research