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The impact of lockdown on pediatric ED visits and hospital admissions during the COVID19 pandemic: a multicenter analysis and review of the literature.
Kruizinga, Matthijs D; Peeters, Daphne; van Veen, Mirjam; van Houten, Marlies; Wieringa, Jantien; Noordzij, Jeroen G; Bekhof, Jolita; Tramper-Stranders, Gerdien; Vet, Nienke J; Driessen, Gertjan J A.
  • Kruizinga MD; Juliana Children's Hospital (Haga Teaching hospital), Els Borst-Eilersplein 275, 2545 AA, The Hague, the Netherlands. m.kruizinga@hagaziekenhuis.nl.
  • Peeters D; Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, the Netherlands. m.kruizinga@hagaziekenhuis.nl.
  • van Veen M; Juliana Children's Hospital (Haga Teaching hospital), Els Borst-Eilersplein 275, 2545 AA, The Hague, the Netherlands.
  • van Houten M; Department of Pediatrics, Groene Hart Ziekenhuis, Gouda, the Netherlands.
  • Wieringa J; Department of Pediatrics, Spaarne Gasthuis, Hoofddorp/Haarlem, the Netherlands.
  • Noordzij JG; Department of Pediatrics, Haaglanden Medical Centre, The Hague, the Netherlands.
  • Bekhof J; Department of Pediatrics, Reinier de Graaf Ziekenhuis, Delft, the Netherlands.
  • Tramper-Stranders G; Department of Pediatrics, Isala, Zwolle, the Netherlands.
  • Vet NJ; Department of Pediatrics, Franciscus Gasthuis& Vlietland, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
  • Driessen GJA; Department of Pediatrics, St Antonius Ziekenhuis, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands.
Eur J Pediatr ; 180(7): 2271-2279, 2021 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1135160
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has enormous impact on society and healthcare. Countries imposed lockdowns, which were followed by a reduction in care utilization. The aims of this study were to quantify the effects of lockdown on pediatric care in the Netherlands, to elucidate the cause of the observed reduction in pediatric emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions, and to summarize the literature regarding the effects of lockdown on pediatric care worldwide. ED visits and hospital admission data of 8 general hospitals in the Netherlands between January 2016 and June 2020 were summarized per diagnosis group (communicable infections, noncommunicable infections, (probable) infection-related, and noninfectious). The effects of lockdown were quantified with a linear mixed effects model. A literature review regarding the effect of lockdowns on pediatric clinical care was performed. In total, 126,198 ED visits and 47,648 admissions were registered in the study period. The estimated reduction in general pediatric care was 59% and 56% for ED visits and admissions, respectively. The largest reduction was observed for communicable infections (ED visits 76%; admissions 77%), whereas the reduction in noninfectious diagnoses was smaller (ED visits 36%; admissions 37%). Similar reductions were reported worldwide, with decreases of 30-89% for ED visits and 19-73% for admissions.

Conclusion:

Pediatric ED utilization and hospitalization during lockdown were decreased in the Netherlands and other countries, which can largely be attributed to a decrease in communicable infectious diseases. Care utilization for other conditions was decreased as well, which may indicate that care avoidance during a pandemic is significant. What is Known • The COVID-19 pandemic had enormous impact on society. • Countries imposed lockdowns to curb transmission rates, which were followed by a reduction in care utilization worldwide. What is New • The Dutch lockdown caused a significant decrease in pediatric ED utilization and hospitalization, especially in ED visits and hospital admissions because of infections that were not caused by SARS-CoV-2. • Care utilization for noninfectious diagnoses was decreased as well, which may indicate that pediatric care avoidance during a pandemic is significant.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials / Reviews Limits: Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Eur J Pediatr Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S00431-021-04015-0

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials / Reviews Limits: Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Eur J Pediatr Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S00431-021-04015-0