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The Uppsala region has reached a positive milestone.
For the first time since Sept. 28, the county’s intensive care units are free of COVID-19 patients.
– Mortality in intensive care has been reduced by almost half compared to spring, says Rafael Kawati, chief physician and section manager of the intensive care unit of the Academic Hospital.
The Uppsala region was ahead of much of the country on its way to the second crown wave this fall. This may be one of the reasons why it now appears to be one of the first major regions to emerge from the crisis.
– We achieved a rapid increase already in early October, in the rest of the country cases increased, especially in early December. That may explain why we are now recovering faster. So the restrictions and measures may have contributed, but it’s difficult to say how much, says Rafael Kawati, manager of the IVA section at the University Hospital.
Combine the good news on Wednesday with a drop in the spread of the infection.
– What we are seeing right now is a consequence of the rapid reduction in infection that took place in January. Fewer patients are admitted, while our inpatients have had time to recover and reach a lower level of care.
Get better care
In addition, the University Hospital, like other hospitals in the country, has become better in caring for patients with covid-19.
The time of attention in VAT is several days shorter per patient compared to the spring. According to an article published in Läkartidningen in December, the average time per patient in IVA had gone from 16 days to 9, according to figures from the Swedish Public Health Agency.
Furthermore, mortality is clearly lower.
– In March, April, we treated patients with a disease of which we had little idea. We now have much better knowledge and we know that patients are at high risk of developing thrombosis, that is, a blockage in the body.
– We know that cortisone makes a difference in mortality and we insert it in all people who need respirator treatment. And we have better overall care and we are better organized compared to this spring, says Rafael Kawati.
Photo: Stina Stjernkvist / TT
Staff in a corridor of Uppsala University Hospital.
A raise to wait
According to the region’s own figures, it hasn’t been without COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit since Sept. 28, but today’s respiratory pause may be short-lived.
– The worrying thing is that there is an increase in the mobile incidence of 100,000 cases throughout the country. It can be seen in central Sweden and also in Uppsala. The increase is small, but we will see the effect in a few weeks, it may be that now we are only in a window, says Rafael Kawati.
At the same time, it is very difficult to give prognoses, since vaccination, restrictions and the development of the spread of infection come into play when it comes to the need for care.
– All the tipsters have been wrong this fall, even the best of the best, but there will definitely be an increase.
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