Effect of widespread restrictions on the use of hospital services during an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Restrictions on the nonurgent use of hospital services were imposed in March 2003 to control an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Toronto, Ont. We describe the impact of these restrictions on health care utilization and suggest lessons for future epidemics.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective population-based study of the Greater Toronto Area (hereafter referred to as Toronto) and unaffected comparison regions (Ottawa and London, Ont.) before, during and after the SARS outbreak (April 2001-March 2004). We determined the adjusted rates of hospital admissions, emergency department and outpatient visits, diagnostic testing and drug prescribing.


RESULTS
During the early and late SARS restriction periods, the rate of overall and medical admissions decreased by 10%-12% in Toronto; there was no change in the comparison regions. The rate of elective surgery in Toronto fell by 22% and 15% during the early and late restriction periods respectively and by 8% in the comparison regions. The admission rates for urgent surgery remained unchanged in all regions; those for some acute serious medical conditions decreased by 15%-21%. The rates of elective cardiac procedures declined by up to 66% in Toronto and by 71% in the comparison regions; the rates of urgent and semi-urgent procedures declined little or increased. High-acuity visits to emergency departments fell by 37% in Toronto, and inter-hospital patient transfers fell by 44% in the circum-Toronto area. Drug prescribing and primary care visits were unchanged in all regions.


CONCLUSIONS
The restrictions achieved modest reductions in overall hospital admissions and substantial reductions in the use of elective services. Brief reductions occurred in admissions for some acute serious conditions, high-acuity visits to emergency departments and inter-hospital patient transfers suggesting that access to care for some potentially seriously ill patients was affected.
Schull
Michael J
MJ
Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ont. mjs@ices.on.ca
Stukel
Thérèse A
TA
Vermeulen
Marian J
MJ
Zwarenstein
Merrick
M
Alter
David A
DA
Manuel
Douglas G
DG
Guttmann
Astrid
A
Laupacis
Andreas
A
Schwartz
Brian
B
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004630:Emergencies / Q000145:classification; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*