Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Paediatric Appendicitis at a Tertiary Care Paediatric Hospital in New Delhi-A Retrospective Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Across the globe the healthcare system was severely affected by Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Measures taken to curtail the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus have severely affected the paediatric patients presenting with Acute Appendicitis (AA). Aim: To assess the impact of COVID-19 on paediatric Acute Appendicities patients at tertiary care center in New Delhi. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of patient demographics, symptomatology including delay in presentation to hospital, haematological, intraoperative findings and complications of all paediatric AA patients who underwent appendectomy from 23rd March 2020 to 22nd July 2020 (Pandemic Group- PG group) were performed. Patients presenting in corresponding time period in the year 2019 were also compared (Non Pandemic Group (NPG) group). Group comparisons for continuously distributed data were made using Independent sample t-test. For non normally distributed data, non parametric tests in the form of Wilcoxon test were used. Chi-squared test was used for group comparisons for categorical data. Results: A total of 72 patients were included with 39 in NPG and 33 in PG group respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age (p-value=0.759) and sex distribution (p-value=0.93). Patients in PG group had higher leukocyte counts as compared to NPG group (16748.48 +/- 7744.08 vs 12510.26 +/- 7736.58, p-value <0.007). There was no significant difference in delay in presentation, symptomatology, duration of hospital stay and postoperative complications rate between the two groups. Conclusion: There has been no significant change in the number of patients presenting with AA and the symptomatology during COVID-19 pandemic.