Overdose-Related Cardiac Arrests Observed by Emergency Medical Services During the US COVID-19 Epidemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic took grip of the US 2 decades into an accelerating overdose crisis that caused more than 70 000 deaths in 2019 alone.¹ Front-line health care professionals and officials have sounded the alarm that the social and economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic may impede efforts to flatten the overdose curve.^1,2 However, the state databases tracking overdose mortality often have long lags that stymie timely analysis and response.³ Emergency medical services (EMS) data provide a novel source of near-real-time information to track epidemiological trends during the COVID-19 pandemic.^4,5 We leverage a large, national EMS database to characterize emergent trends in overdose mortality fueled by the pandemic.

We conducted a retrospective observational analysis using the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS), a large registry of more than 10 000 EMS agencies in 47 states, which contribute data in near real time and represent more than 80% of EMS activations nationally in 2020.⁵ We calculated weekly overdose-related cardiac arrests (determined on-site) and overdose-related EMS activations (determined by dispatch). In line with prior studies using NEMSIS data, we measured outcomes per EMS activations to adjust for call volume increases as new agencies join the system.⁵ We compared 2020 values with a baseline, defined as the weekly average of 2018 and 2019 values. Excess values for 2020 were compared temporally with a cell phone–based mobility score—a measure of social distancing.⁶ To account for potential pandemic-related decreases in call volume (the outcome denominator), we separately assessed trends using the average call volume for weeks 1 to 10 of 2020 (eMethods in the Supplement). This study was deemed exempt from review and informed consent by the UCLA Institutional Review Board.

The 2020 NEMSIS database represents 25.9 million EMS activations, 50.5% from female patients and 50.2% from patients 61 years or older (Table). Overdose-related cardiac arrests rose sharply during April 2020, reaching 74.1 per 100 000 EMS activations (123.4% above baseline) by May 4 (Figure). Overdose-related cardiac arrests subsequently decreased but remained elevated, reaching 48.7 per 100 000 EMS activations (53.7% above baseline) by July 27. Overall, through August 1, overdose-related cardiac arrests in 2020 totaled 49.5 per 100 000 EMS activations (48.5% above baseline). These trends corresponded temporally with a sharp drop in mobility beginning March 16, reaching a minimum of −51.8% of baseline by April 13 and slowly increasing to −24.3% by July 27. Weekly rates of overdose-related EMS activations were elevated in 2020; however, values were largely similar before and during reductions in mobility, with 1635.2 per 100 000 EMS activations before March 16 and 1760.7 per 100 000 EMS activations after March 16 (18.5% and 16.7%, respectively, relative to baseline).

We describe a large-magnitude, national surge in overdose-related cardiac arrest during the initial months of the COVID-19 epidemic in the US. Peak rates in May 2020 were more than double the baseline from 2018 and 2019, and overall 2020 values were elevated by approximately 50%. The temporal similarities to decreased mobility suggest that the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic—perhaps especially social isolation—is sharply accelerating fatal overdose trends. The lack of a commensurate sharp increase in total (fatal and nonfatal) overdose incidents could indicate a rising overdose case fatality rate in a context of more stable, albeit elevated, overdose rates. Many of the trends predicted by public health experts at the outset of the pandemic, such as an increased proportion of individuals using substances alone, increased toxification of the drug supply, and reduced access to treatment, could increase the lethality of each overdose incident.²

These findings are limited, as they reflect a large cohort of EMS agencies for which geographic identifiers below census division are not available that may not capture all nuances of recent epidemiological trends in the US.⁵ Additionally, shifts in the proportion of overdoses observed nationally by EMS could bias our results up or down. Confirmatory results should be sought as detailed vital registration data become available. Nevertheless, shifts observed here suggest that measures to address the pandemic have largely failed to mitigate overdose risk. These trends implicate investments in substance use treatment, harm reduction, and structural drivers of overdose as core elements of COVID-19 response.

Accepted for Publication: November 12, 2020.

Published Online: December 3, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.4218

Corresponding Author: Joseph Friedman, MPH, Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, Los Angeles, B7-435, UCLA Semel Institute, PO Box 951759, Los Angeles, CA 90095 (josephfriedman@mednet.ucla.edu).

Author Contributions: Mr Friedman had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Study concept and design: Friedman, Schriger.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors.

Drafting of the manuscript: Friedman, Beletsky.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.

Statistical analysis: Friedman, Schriger.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Friedman.

Study supervision: All authors.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Funding/Support: Mr Friedman received support from the UCLA Medical Scientist Training Program (National Institute of General Medical Sciences training grant GM008042).

Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funder had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.