Hospitalizations surge due to cold weather.

During these early days of intense cold, the number of children and elderly patients admitted to hospitals has surged due to respiratory illnesses, diarrhea, musculoskeletal disorders, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, and more. With hospitals overloaded, what advice and solutions are experts and the healthcare sector offering to address this problem?

Refer patients to lower-level facilities to reduce the burden.

Observations at Vietnam-Cuba Hospital, Thanh Nhan Hospital, Dong Da Hospital, Saint Paul Hospital... (Hanoi) on January 3rd showed a continuous increase in the number of patients admitted for examination and treatment. The majority were suffering from influenza, colds, and respiratory infections.

At the Neurology Department of Bach Mai Hospital, no fewer than 30 patients are admitted daily in comatose states, with myocardial infarction, stroke, hemiplegia, etc. The National Institute of Geriatrics, where the number of elderly patients seeking examination and treatment has increased by 30%, mostly in the cardiovascular, hypertension, and musculoskeletal disease groups, sees many patients admitted in comatose states, with myocardial infarction, stroke, and cerebral hemorrhage.

The number of patients hospitalized has surged due to respiratory illnesses.
Diarrhea, musculoskeletal disorders, blood pressure problems, cardiovascular issues, asthma...

Image:Hoang Long

According to Dr. Nguyen Trung Anh, Head of the Outpatient Department at the National Institute of Geriatrics, many people are admitted to the hospital with symptoms such as headaches, tinnitus, dizziness, and nausea, without realizing that these are signs of hypertension. Therefore, the risk of stroke is very high.

To reduce the burden on the hospital, doctors here have to examine and treat patients until they are out of critical condition, then transfer them to lower-level facilities for further treatment.

Regarding this issue, Dr. Dong Van Thanh from the Outpatient Department of Bach Mai Hospital noted that hypertensive patients need to be careful during cold weather because there is a risk of blood pressure spikes, leading to strokes. Of concern is the increasing number of hypertensive patients under 40 years old, accounting for approximately 10-15% of all examinations.

Dr. Nguyen Lan Viet, Director of the National Cardiovascular Institute - Bach Mai Hospital, said that over the past 10 days, the number of hypertensive patients admitted with complications has been very high. In particular, aortic aneurysm – a serious complication in hypertensive patients that was previously rare – has been seen with daily admissions during this year's cold season, and the hospital currently has several critically ill patients due to aortic aneurysms.

According to Dr. Lan Viet, sudden spikes in blood pressure are the most likely time for complications. Therefore, to avoid unfortunate complications, those with a history of hypertension must calmly manage their condition and avoid lowering blood pressure too quickly. Those with severe hypertension require emergency treatment and medication. Medication should not be stopped abruptly. Hypertensive patients should eat a low-protein, low-fat diet. They should avoid exercising in the morning, especially in cold weather. They should avoid any quick, strenuous movements in the early morning and take their medication regularly, monitoring their blood pressure frequently.

A "record" of 200 pediatric patients for 40 hospital beds.

It's not just young people and the elderly whose health deteriorates due to the cold; children are also among those who require more hospitalizations.

Dr. Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the National Children's Hospital, announced that for more than a week, the hospital's Outpatient Department has been receiving 1,500-2,000 cases daily, an increase of over 30% compared to normal days. The majority are children under 5 months old suffering from bronchopneumonia. Many children are admitted with difficulty breathing, chest retraction, and pale faces due to severe pneumonia and respiratory failure, requiring emergency treatment and mechanical ventilation. The Respiratory Department has over 200 children in 40 beds. On January 3rd, 2012 alone, the department admitted over 40 children under 3 years old with severe bronchopneumonia, bronchiolitis, lung abscesses, etc.

The majority of the pediatric patients came from Hanoi, Hung Yen, Thanh Hoa, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh... The Pediatric Examination Department of Saint Paul Hospital was in a similar situation. Most children who came for examination usually had high fever, vomiting, coughing, difficulty breathing, and diarrhea... An emergency room staff member said that on the morning of January 3rd alone, the department had provided airway management for more than 30 children.

At the Pediatrics Department of Bach Mai Hospital, over 90 children are currently being treated in its 60-bed ward. Most children admitted present with symptoms such as cough, high fever, and sore throat. Many also exhibit seizures and delirium. Notably, the number of children hospitalized due to diarrhea caused by Rotavirus is increasing. On January 3rd, nearly 10 children were examined, treated, and given intravenous fluids to replenish fluids and electrolytes. Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung, Head of the Pediatrics Department, stated that the number of hospitalized children has increased by 30% compared to normal days during these cold spells, and he predicts that the disease will remain at a high level until Tet (Lunar New Year).

Ensure protection against the cold for patients coming to the hospital.

According to forecasts, the northern region will continue to experience severe cold spells in the coming days, with temperatures dropping very low at night and in the morning. Therefore, maintaining people's health is essential, especially for the elderly and children. A crucial factor is ensuring adequate nutrition to boost the body's immune system.

To minimize the harm caused by the weather, the Ministry of Health recently requested units within the sector to strengthen measures to protect patients from the cold. Accordingly, the Departments of Health and Directors of hospitals in provinces and cities need to direct medical facilities to ensure protection against the cold for patients during examinations and treatments. Waiting areas, examination rooms, and treatment rooms must be well-ventilated, have sufficient warm blankets, heaters, and other means to ensure patients are kept warm while receiving medical care at the hospital.

Healthcare facilities need to ensure sufficient emergency medications, hospital beds, and emergency equipment are readily available to promptly handle common emergencies caused by cold weather or sudden weather changes, such as cardiovascular diseases; hypertension; stroke; acute respiratory infections; acute respiratory infections caused by respiratory viruses due to severe cold weather and inadequate care, isolation, and nutrition. At the same time, people should be warned about accidents during heating, such as carbon dioxide poisoning from heating with charcoal in enclosed spaces, burns from fire, and burns from heating pads.

According to daidoanket.vn