Relationship between GPS-based community mobility data and orthopedic trauma admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria: a multicenter analysis

The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between mobility patterns during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and orthopedic trauma patients in Austria. Utilizing global positioning system (GPS)-based mobility data, the attempt was to assess both the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on reducing orthopedic trauma patients and the degree of compliance to the imposed movement restrictions.

This retrospective analysis included all patients (283,501) treated at 3 major level I trauma centers in Austria. Analyzed time periods were 1 January 2019 to 8 February 2021. Freely available GPS-based mobility data from Google and Apple Inc. was gathered.

A moderate to strong correlation between the cumulative average outpatients and the assessed mobility index was observed for all cities (Google: r = 0.70 p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.67–0.73; Apple: r = 0.64 p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.61–0.67). A significant linear regression equation was found for Vienna (adjusted r² = 0.48; F(1, 350) = 328,05; p < 0.01). During the first lockdown there was a drastic decline in mobility (up to −75.36%) and in numbers of orthopedic trauma outpatients (up to −64%, from 153 patients/day 2019 to 55 patients/day 2020) in comparison to the prepandemic era. The decline diminished as time passed.

Analyses of GPS-based mobility patterns show a correlation with trauma patient numbers. These findings can be used to develop prediction models, leading to better resource planning and public health policy, enhancing patient care and cost-effectiveness, especially in the event of future pandemics. Furthermore, the results suggest that compliance to mobility restrictions decreased over time during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in increased mobility and trauma patients.