Mobile emergency care service: A time-course assessment and characterization of demand.

INTRODUCTION: Prehospital care is defined as any medical attention provided outside the hospital environment. This study aims to study the operation of a regional SAMU by assessing electronic records of cases managed and to evaluate demand patterns over time.

METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted through an analysis of emergency calls handled between the years of 2009 and 2013 by the SAMU Metropolitan 2 Region mobile emergency care service, located in Niterói, Brazil. Nonparametric tests were used to evaluate differences in the variables of interest between the two halves of the 5-year period of analysis and annually.

RESULTS: The total call volume during the period of analysis was 590,902 (monthly mean [SD], 9848 [3764]; 95%CI = 8875 to 10,820). Analysis of calls over time revealed a significant decline in call volume (p = 0.008), mainly between the year 2009 and subsequent years (p < 0.001). The vast majority of patients were adults with clinical conditions (average = 2311). Predominantly, calls were made to request prehospital assistance at the patient's home, and the most prevalent age range was 41-50 years.

CONCLUSION: The SAMU Metropolitan 2 regional emergency medical service predominantly attended to middle-aged women at their homes. Total call volume has been decreasing, perhaps reflecting a multifactorial phenomenon and improvements in the primary health care network.