Utility of prehospital call center ambulance dispatch data for COVID‐19 cluster surveillance: A retrospective analysis. (14th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Janagama, Srinivasa Rao; Strehlow, Matthew C.; Rao, Ramana G. V.; Kohn, Michael A.; Newberry, Jennifer A.
• Is Part Of: Academic emergency medicine. Volume 29:Number 12(2022)
• Page Start: 1447
• Page End: 1452
• Publication Date: 2022-11-14
• Subjects: cluster -- hotspot -- outbreak surveillance -- surveillance; Emergency medicine -- Periodicals; 616.02505
• DOI: 10.1111/acem.14612
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1069-6563

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Cluster surveillance, identification, and containment are primary outbreak management techniques; however, adapting these for low‐ and middle‐income countries is an ongoing challenge. We aimed to evaluate the utility of prehospital call center ambulance dispatch (CCAD) data for surveillance by examining the correlation between influenza‐like illness (ILI)‐related dispatch calls and COVID‐19 cases. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of state‐level CCAD and COVID‐19 data recorded between January 1 and April 30, 2020, in Telangana, India. The primary outcome was a time series correlation between ILI calls in CCAD and COVID‐19 case counts. Secondarily, we looked for a year‐to‐year correlation of ILI calls in the same period over 2018, 2019, and 2020. Results: On average, ILI calls comprised 12.9% (95% CI 11.7%–14.1%) of total daily calls in 2020, compared to 7.8% (95% CI 7.6%–8.0%) in 2018, and 7.7% (95% CI 7.5%–7.7%) in 2019. ILI call counts from 2018, 2019, and 2020 aligned closely until March 19, when 2020 ILI calls increased, representing 16% of all calls by March 23 and 27.5% by April 7. In contrast to the significant correlation observed between 2020 and previous years' January–February calls (2020 and 2019—Durbin‐Watson test statistic [DW] = 0.749, p < 0.001; 2020 and 2018—DW = 1.232, p < 0.001), no correlation was observed for March–April calls (2020 and 2019—DW = 2.012, p = 0.476; 2020 and 2018—DW = 1.820, p = 0.208). In March–April 2020, the daily reported COVID‐19 cases by time series significantly correlated with the ILI calls (DW = 0.977, p < 0.001). The ILI calls on a specific day significantly correlated with the COVID‐19 cases reported 6 days prior and up to 14 days after (cross‐correlation > 0.251, the 95% upper confidence limit). Conclusions: The statistically significant time series correlation between ILI calls and COVID‐19 cases suggests prehospital CCAD can be part of early warning systems aiding outbreak cluster surveillance, identification, and containment.