COVID-19 related reduction in pediatric emergency healthcare utilization - a concerning trend.
Adolescent
Betacoronavirus
COVID-19
Child
Child, Preschool
Coronavirus Infections
/ prevention & control
Emergency Service, Hospital
/ trends
Facilities and Services Utilization
/ trends
Female
Germany
Health Services Accessibility
/ trends
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Pandemics
/ prevention & control
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
/ psychology
Pneumonia, Viral
/ prevention & control
Retrospective Studies
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
children
emergency care
emergency department
healthcare utilization
pandemic
pediatric
Journal
BMC pediatrics
ISSN: 1471-2431
Titre abrégé: BMC Pediatr
Pays: England
ID NLM: 100967804
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
07 09 2020
07 09 2020
Historique:
received:
17
05
2020
accepted:
19
08
2020
entrez:
7
9
2020
pubmed:
8
9
2020
medline:
18
9
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems worldwide. In addition to the direct impact of the virus on patient morbidity and mortality, the effect of lockdown strategies on health and healthcare utilization have become apparent. Little is known on the effect of the pandemic on pediatric and adolescent medicine. We examined the impact of the pandemic on pediatric emergency healthcare utilization. We conducted a monocentric, retrospective analysis of n = 5,424 pediatric emergency department visits between January 1st and April 19th of 2019 and 2020, and compared healthcare utilization during the pandemic in 2020 to the same period in 2019. In the four weeks after lockdown in Germany began, we observed a massive drop of 63.8% in pediatric emergency healthcare utilization (mean daily visits 26.8 ± SEM 1.5 in 2019 vs. 9.7 ± SEM 1 in 2020, p < 0.005). This drop in cases occurred for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. A larger proportion of patients under one year old (daily mean of 16.6% ±SEM 1.4 in 2019 vs. 23.1% ±SEM 1.7 in 2020, p < 0.01) and of cases requiring hospitalisation (mean of 13.9% ±SEM 1.6 in 2019 vs. 26.6% ±SEM 3.3 in 2020, p < 0.001) occurred during the pandemic. During the analysed time periods, few intensive care admissions and no fatalities occurred. Our data illustrate a significant decrease in pediatric emergency department visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public outreach is needed to encourage parents and guardians to seek medical attention for pediatric emergencies in spite of the pandemic.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems worldwide. In addition to the direct impact of the virus on patient morbidity and mortality, the effect of lockdown strategies on health and healthcare utilization have become apparent. Little is known on the effect of the pandemic on pediatric and adolescent medicine. We examined the impact of the pandemic on pediatric emergency healthcare utilization.
METHODS
We conducted a monocentric, retrospective analysis of n = 5,424 pediatric emergency department visits between January 1st and April 19th of 2019 and 2020, and compared healthcare utilization during the pandemic in 2020 to the same period in 2019.
RESULTS
In the four weeks after lockdown in Germany began, we observed a massive drop of 63.8% in pediatric emergency healthcare utilization (mean daily visits 26.8 ± SEM 1.5 in 2019 vs. 9.7 ± SEM 1 in 2020, p < 0.005). This drop in cases occurred for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. A larger proportion of patients under one year old (daily mean of 16.6% ±SEM 1.4 in 2019 vs. 23.1% ±SEM 1.7 in 2020, p < 0.01) and of cases requiring hospitalisation (mean of 13.9% ±SEM 1.6 in 2019 vs. 26.6% ±SEM 3.3 in 2020, p < 0.001) occurred during the pandemic. During the analysed time periods, few intensive care admissions and no fatalities occurred.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data illustrate a significant decrease in pediatric emergency department visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public outreach is needed to encourage parents and guardians to seek medical attention for pediatric emergencies in spite of the pandemic.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32894080
doi: 10.1186/s12887-020-02303-6
pii: 10.1186/s12887-020-02303-6
pmc: PMC7475725
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Observational Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
427Références
Nature. 2020 Mar;579(7798):270-273
pubmed: 32015507
Patient Educ Couns. 2020 May;103(5):873-876
pubmed: 32336348
Eur J Emerg Med. 2020 Jun;27(3):161-162
pubmed: 32224710
Anaesthesist. 2020 Apr;69(4):225-235
pubmed: 32189015
Eur J Emerg Med. 2020 Aug;27(4):305-306
pubmed: 32345851
Eur J Emerg Med. 2020 Aug;27(4):233-234
pubmed: 32345850
N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 23;382(17):1663-1665
pubmed: 32187458
Anaesthesia. 2020 Jul;75(7):928-934
pubmed: 32246838
Lancet. 2020 Mar 21;395(10228):922
pubmed: 32199474
Lancet. 2020 Mar 14;395(10227):e49-e50
pubmed: 32119824
Ann Emerg Med. 1996 Mar;27(3):305-8
pubmed: 8599488
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020 Aug;34(8):e350-e351
pubmed: 32339340
Eur Heart J. 2020 May 14;41(19):1852-1853
pubmed: 32297932
Epidemiol Health. 2020;42:e2020013
pubmed: 32192278
Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2020 May;4(5):e10-e11
pubmed: 32278365
Crit Care Resusc. 2020 Apr 01;22(2):91-94
pubmed: 32227819
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020 Jun;8(6):1791-1794
pubmed: 32304834
Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2020 Apr 22;:
pubmed: 32319131
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2020 Apr;13(4):e006631
pubmed: 32182131