Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on endoscopy access of symptomatic uppergastrointestinal bleeds (UGIB)

ABSTRACT

Aims To compare time-to-endoscopy in admissions with UGIB during COVID restrictions (March-June 2020) with those inPre-COVID-times (March-June 2019).To assess outcomes in patients admitted with UGIB in non-COVID-19 and COVID-19times. Methods Retrospective HIPE coding from an academic teaching hospital over 12 months 2019-20 was used. All patientsadmitted with codes hematemesis, UGIB etc. were included, with data obtained from their electronic health records. Results Admissions with UGIB March-June 2019 were compared with those of March-June 2020 21 patients (12-female)underwent gastroscopy in first arm compared to 25 patients (12-female) in the second arm. Average time to endoscopyduring March-June 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic restrictions) was improved at 19.9 h versus 45.57 h during March-June 2019(p-value 0.003). Average GBS score at 6.9 was higher but not significant in admissions during COVID restrictions comparedwith 4.9 in admissions pre-COVID (p-value 0.31). Conclusions Our study reveals no negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on access to endoscopy in a cohort ofsymptomatic upper GI bleed with higher GBS;rather, we demonstrated improved times. This study further validates the useof GBS in clinical setting.