Analysis of calls to emergency medical care by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in St. Petersburg during the period from 2015 to 2023

The purpose of the study . Вased on the results of a retrospective analysis of data on 48.406 emergency medical services (EMS) visits to 25.735 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in St. Petersburg (SPb) during the period from 2015 to 2023, to obtain a medical and social characteristic of this group of patients. Objectives of the study. Тo give an overall assessment of the effectiveness of the EMS provided to this group of patients at site, to study the level of interhospital mortality among patients with COPD who were admitted to the city hospitals. The results of the study . The average age of patients with COPD who applied for EMS was 63.0±17.92. There were no significant differences in the sex and age in this group of patients. The number of EMS visits to patients with COPD and the absolute number of patients treated decreased significantly during the COVID‑19 pandemic and began to recover again after its completion. A positive result of treatment by the EMS brigades at the site was achieved only in 38.6% of cases. 21.737 (37%) patients were evacuated to the hospital from their apartments. The intrahospital mortality rate in this group of patients was 39.2%. Conclusion . Providing EMS to patients with COPD exacerbation is a complex medical and social task that is currently not fully solved in SPb. Efforts are required to overcome the existing difficulties.