Analysis of Body Temperature in Patients with Trauma Visiting a Local Emergency Medical Center during the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak

Background: The study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of body temperature monitoring as a screening tool for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in an emergency department from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. A total of 5,502 out of 9,205 patients with trauma during the pre-pandemic period and 3703 out of 9205 during the pandemic period (age ≧ 18 years old) were enrolled in the study. Data collected included sex, age, time of visit, initial and follow-up BT, Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) score, disposition results, time of disposition, time of the first imaging study, and SARS-CoV-2 test results. Patients were divided into two groups based on their body temperature. Results: During the pandemic period, three out of 832 patients with a body temperature below 37.5°C tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via polymerase chain reaction, while none of the 342 patients with a body temperature above 37.5°C tested positive negative. However, this was statistically insignificant. Patients with a body temperature over 37.5°C had to wait significantly longer to see a doctor, undergo imaging studies, and receive disposition, especially in non-major trauma cases. Follow-up body temperatures were significantly lower except in KTAS 1- and ICU-admitted patients. The usefulness of body temperature as a screening tool for trauma patients in the emergency department during the pandemic period is limited and could have detrimental effects on emergency department crowding.