Invasive pneumococcal disease, pneumococcal pneumonia and all-cause pneumonia in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the preceding 5 years: a retrospective observational study
BMJ Open
; 11(10), 2021.
Article
in English
| ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-1842890
ABSTRACT
ObjectivesTo compare the incidence and severity of invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPDs), pneumococcal pneumonia and all-cause pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic period with universal masking and social distancing with that of previous 5 years.DesignRetrospective observational study on incidence of IPDs, pneumococcal pneumonia and all-cause pneumonia between January 2015–December 2019 and March 2020–March 2021. January–February 2020 was excluded from analysis as it was treated as a transitional period between normal time and pandemic.SettingEpisode-based data by retrieval of hospitalisation records from the Hospital Authority’s territory-wide electronic medical record database in Hong Kong.ParticipantsHospitalised patients with IPD (n=742), pneumococcal pneumonia (n=2163) and all-cause pneumonia (including COVID-19 pneumonia, n=453 999) aged 18 years or above. Control diagnoses were included to assess confounding from health-seeking behaviours.Primary and secondary outcomesPrimary outcome is the incidence of diseases between two periods. Secondary outcomes include disease severity surrogated by length of stay and mortality.ResultsMonthly average number of IPD, pneumococcal pneumonia and all-cause pneumonia hospitalisation significantly decreased by 88.9% (95% CI 79.8% to 98.0%, p<0.0005), 72.5% (95% CI 65.9% to 79.1%, p<0.0005) and 17.5% (95% CI 16.8% to 18.2%, p<0.0005), respectively. Changes in trend from January 2015–December 2019 to March 2020–March 2021 were −70% (95% CI −87% to −35%, p=0.0025), –43% (95% CI −59% to −19%, p=0.0014) and −11% (95% CI −13% to −10%, p<0.0005), respectively. Length of stay for IPD and pneumococcal pneumonia episodes were insignificantly different in the two periods. No reductions in hospitalisations for control diagnoses were observed.ConclusionsIncidence of IPD, pneumococcal pneumonia and all-cause pneumonia decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was observed with universal masking and social distancing. We postulated this is related to reduced transmission of respiratory viruses and bacteria.
Medical Sciences; COVID-19; respiratory infections; thoracic medicine; epidemiology; public health; Social distancing; COVID-19 vaccines; Pneumonia; Health risks; Age; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Disease; Mortality; Intervention; Pandemics; Health risk assessment; Influenza; Hospitals; Air pollution; Codes; Outdoor air quality; Streptococcus infections; Coronaviruses; Nitrogen dioxide; Hospitalization; Peritonitis; Statistical analysis; Hong Kong
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Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
ProQuest Central
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
BMJ Open
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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