Epidemiologic and syndromic surveillance metrics traditionally used by public health departments can be enhanced to better predict hospitalization for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In Montgomery County, Maryland, measurements of oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) by pulse oximetry obtained by the emergency medical service (EMS) were added to these traditional metrics to enhance the public health picture for decision makers. During a 78-day period, the rolling 7-day average of the percentage of EMS patients with SpO 2 <94% had a stronger correlation with next-day hospital bed occupancy (Spearman ρ=0.58, 95% CI 0.40-0.71) than either the rolling 7-day average of the percentage of positive tests (ρ=0.55, 95% CI: 0.37-0.69) or the rolling 7-day average of the percentage of emergency department visits for COVID-19–like illness (ρ=0.49, 95% CI: 0.30-0.64). Health departments should consider adding EMS data to augment COVID-19 surveillance and thus improve resource allocation.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, public health, SARS-CoV-2, pulse oximetry, prediction, Testing, Surveillance, emergency medical service, EMS, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, Hospitalization, hospital, oxygen saturation, Patient, correlation, resource, predict, health department, Metrics, 95% CI, average, Positive test, Spearman, ENhance, IMPROVE, added, 【제목키워드】 Emergency, service, Public,