More major injuries in NZ during the pandemic - despite the effect of lockdowns

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-05-06 00:01

New Zealand

Traumatic injuries from car crashes, sport and assaults are “largely immune” to COVID-19, according to an NZMJ editorial that reflects on a new study comparing lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. The study found at first there were fewer physical injuries, but since the latter half of 2020 injury rates rose, and then exceeded pre-pandemic rates. The study authors say “lockdown fatigue” may have contributed to Auckland’s lower lockdown compliance in 2021, with a rise in activities that can cause trauma. They say hospitals need to be properly resourced to manage trauma during any future lockdowns.

Media release

From: New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA)

Editorial: Trauma, COVID-19 and healthcare investment

Summary
Physical injury is significant part of the demand on healthcare delivery in NZ. Initially COVID-19 restrictions reduced this demand but in the latter half of 2020 and beyond it has become clear that physical injury has increased back to, and beyond pre-COVID levels. Investment in healthcare can't just be for COVID-19 but must also for the other healthcare demands, such as those necessary for treating physical injury which has increased despite COVID restrictions.

Study: Lockdown Level 4 V2.0: different trauma patterns in Auckland in 2021?

Summary
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in public health restrictions known as lockdowns in New Zealand to reduce spread of the disease. Only Auckland had a comparable time frame of lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Of note, in the 2021 lockdown, there were increased reports of reduced compliance to the restrictions. In our study, we report increased trauma-related activity in the 2021 lockdown compared with the 2020 lockdown. This resulted in more trauma hospital admissions with major injuries and more road-related injuries. Lockdown fatigue may have contributed to reduced compliance in Auckland in the 2021 lockdown, with subsequent increase in trauma activity. If future lockdowns are implemented, it may be less effective, therefore, hospitals need to be adequately resourced to manage trauma activity during lockdowns.

Journal/
conference: The NZMJ

Organisation/s: Auckland District Health Board, NZ

Funder: N/A

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