The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the refusal of elderly patients and chronic diseases patients to visit the emergency department in the Makkah region

Nihad Ahmed ELnashar; Sarah Bader Alotaibi; Shatha Mesfer Alwagdani; Joharah Naif Alotaibi; Amaal Ahmed Alzahrani; Maram Mohammed Alosaimi; Maha Fayez Albogami; Raghad Mohammed Althomali

doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1635796618

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Original Article
Online Published: 23 Dec 2021

IJMDC. 2022; 6(1): 110-116

doi: 10.24911/IJMDC.51-1635796618

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the refusal of elderly patients and chronic diseases patients to visit the emergency department in the Makkah region

Nihad Ahmed Elnashar, Sarah Bader Alotaibi, Shatha Mesfer Alwagdani, Joharah Naif Alotaibi, Amaal Ahmed Alzahrani, Maram Mohammed Alosaimi, Maha Fayez Albogami, Raghad Mohammed Althomali.

Abstract
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic restricted people's daily activities, including seeking medical care whenever it is must. This study aimed to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on elderly patients and chronic diseases patients' refusal to visit the emergency department.(ED)
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Makkah region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a predesigned questionnaire distributed through social media. A total of 92 participants took part in this survey and were included in the statistical analysis. Information obtained from the participants included demographic data, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient's refusal to visit the ED, and the exacerbation of their medical conditions because of that refusal.
Results: Unlike the expected, there was approximately a 10% increase in the number of emergency visits than the pre-pandemic period. However, among those who did not attend the ED despite having an emergency condition, the leading cause (70%) was the fear of catching COVID-19 infection. Diabetes patients displayed a significantly higher percentage of those who were worried about visiting the ED during the COVID-19 pandemic (p £ 0.05). Fortunately, a higher percentage did not state any further health consequences as a result of that refusal.
Conclusion: ED visits were found to be increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the fear of being infected by COVID-19 was the main stated reason by respondents who refused emergency visits.

Key words: COVID-19, refusal, elderly, chronic, emergency, Makkah

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Pubmed Style

Elnashar NA, Alotaibi SB, Alwagdani SM, Alotaibi JN, Alzahrani AA, Alosaimi MM, Albogami MF, Althomali RM. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the refusal of elderly patients and chronic diseases patients to visit the emergency department in the Makkah region. IJMDC. 2022; 6(1): 110-116. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1635796618

Web Style

Elnashar NA, Alotaibi SB, Alwagdani SM, Alotaibi JN, Alzahrani AA, Alosaimi MM, Albogami MF, Althomali RM. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the refusal of elderly patients and chronic diseases patients to visit the emergency department in the Makkah region. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=137326 [Access: October 14, 2025]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1635796618

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Elnashar NA, Alotaibi SB, Alwagdani SM, Alotaibi JN, Alzahrani AA, Alosaimi MM, Albogami MF, Althomali RM. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the refusal of elderly patients and chronic diseases patients to visit the emergency department in the Makkah region. IJMDC. 2022; 6(1): 110-116. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1635796618

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Elnashar NA, Alotaibi SB, Alwagdani SM, Alotaibi JN, Alzahrani AA, Alosaimi MM, Albogami MF, Althomali RM. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the refusal of elderly patients and chronic diseases patients to visit the emergency department in the Makkah region. IJMDC. (2022), [cited October 14, 2025]; 6(1): 110-116. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1635796618

Harvard Style

Elnashar, N. A., Alotaibi, . S. B., Alwagdani, . S. M., Alotaibi, . J. N., Alzahrani, . A. A., Alosaimi, . M. M., Albogami, . M. F. & Althomali, . R. M. (2022) The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the refusal of elderly patients and chronic diseases patients to visit the emergency department in the Makkah region. IJMDC, 6 (1), 110-116. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1635796618

Turabian Style

Elnashar, Nihad Ahmed, Sarah Bader Alotaibi, Shatha Mesfer Alwagdani, Joharah Naif Alotaibi, Amaal Ahmed Alzahrani, Maram Mohammed Alosaimi, Maha Fayez Albogami, and Raghad Mohammed Althomali. 2022. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the refusal of elderly patients and chronic diseases patients to visit the emergency department in the Makkah region. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 6 (1), 110-116. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1635796618

Chicago Style

Elnashar, Nihad Ahmed, Sarah Bader Alotaibi, Shatha Mesfer Alwagdani, Joharah Naif Alotaibi, Amaal Ahmed Alzahrani, Maram Mohammed Alosaimi, Maha Fayez Albogami, and Raghad Mohammed Althomali. "The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the refusal of elderly patients and chronic diseases patients to visit the emergency department in the Makkah region." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 6 (2022), 110-116. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1635796618

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Elnashar, Nihad Ahmed, Sarah Bader Alotaibi, Shatha Mesfer Alwagdani, Joharah Naif Alotaibi, Amaal Ahmed Alzahrani, Maram Mohammed Alosaimi, Maha Fayez Albogami, and Raghad Mohammed Althomali. "The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the refusal of elderly patients and chronic diseases patients to visit the emergency department in the Makkah region." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 6.1 (2022), 110-116. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1635796618

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Elnashar, N. A., Alotaibi, . S. B., Alwagdani, . S. M., Alotaibi, . J. N., Alzahrani, . A. A., Alosaimi, . M. M., Albogami, . M. F. & Althomali, . R. M. (2022) The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the refusal of elderly patients and chronic diseases patients to visit the emergency department in the Makkah region. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 6 (1), 110-116. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1635796618

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