What can we learn from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Patients with injuries caused by accidents or violence are more likely to survive than previously, but they experience an abrupt change in their situation. No standard patient pathway is available for serious injuries. The health system fails to sufficiently follow up the patients, and long-term health problems as well as use and abuse of strong analgesics is an increasing problem. Despite good intentions we have no overview of long-term consequences and costs to society.
Despite good intentions we have no overview of long-term consequences and costs to society
In the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, a preparedness registry for COVID-19 was quickly established. In addition, the Norwegian Intensive Care Registry was quickly adapted to record intensive care of COVID-19 patients (10, 11). The Norwegian Institute of Public Health continuously monitors research that describes the potential long-term consequences of a COVID-19 infection (12, 13). In June 2021, the Coronavirus Commission submitted a report that evaluated the authorities' management of the pandemic (13). In this report, the costs of the pandemic, measured in terms of loss of value creation, were estimated at more than NOK 330 billion for the years 2020–2023 (13).
To prevent injuries from violence and accidents from being forgotten, increased effort and involvement by professionals, researchers and politicians are required. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that this is possible. We suggest that all information on injuries that is not included in the Norwegian National Trauma Registry be coordinated in a national injury registry devised for research as part of a new national strategy for prevention of injuries.