TRENDS IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CALLS BEFORE AND AFTER COVID-19 IN KAZAKHSTAN.

Abstract

This study analyzes Emergency Medical Services (EMS) call trends and demographic changes from 2020 to 2024. During this period, a total of 2,469,283 EMS calls were registered, with sharp increases in 2021 and subsequent stabilization in later years. The number of daily calls rose by 52% in 2021 compared to 2020, with smaller growth in 2022 and 2023. A notable decline of 12.7% was observed in the first half of 2024. Response times also lengthened across the study period, increasing from 15.05 minutes in 2020 to 16.56 minutes in 2024. Time spent from request to completion decreased initially in 2021 but increased again in 2023 and 2024, with the longest average time of 1:16:46 in 2024. The study also found that call patterns fluctuated by day of the week, with Mondays consistently showing the highest call volumes and Fridays the lowest. Gender analysis revealed that both the male and female populations grew, with men increasing by 80.6% and women by 61.1% between 2020 and 2023. Although women initially outnumbered men, the gender gap narrowed over time. The 7-18 age group saw the most significant growth, especially in 2021-2022. The findings highlight a significant strain on EMS services due to increasing demand and worsening response times, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. These insights can guide resource allocation and service improvements to meet the growing healthcare demands.