The Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on the Disease Pattern of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Inpatients: A Comparative Study

ABSTRACT

Background: Due to the inclusion of respiratory tract and aerosol-generating procedures, oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) is regarded one of the high-risk specialty. COVID19's impact on inpatient illness patterns and operations in OMFS, on the other hand, has yet to be investigated. Aim: To look at the effect of COVID-19 on disease patterns in OMFS inpatients, as well as to identify context-relevant important services in the OMFS field for future policy and resource distribution considerations. Methods and Materials A total of 149 patients were included in the study after obtaining written informed consent from the relatives of patients. RT-PCR tests were carried out for all the study participants included in the study. Further there was collection of data regarding the stay in hospitals, administration of antifungal drugs like injection amphotericin, pocasonazole and tablet pocasonazole. Then there was tabulation of data regarding various surgical interventions carried out. There was comparison of these data between the COVID and non COVID patients. Results: When there analysis of study participants in which administration of oxygen was carried out then it was found that 49.23% of study participants getting oxygen were NON COVID patients while 50.77% of such study participants were COVID patients. The difference was not significant statistically. When there analysis of study participants in which administration of steroids was carried out then it was found that 45.56% of study participants getting steroids were NON COVID patients while 54.54% of such study participants were COVID patients. The difference was significant statistically. When there analysis of study participants who got discharged from hospital then it was found that 60.42% of study participants getting normal were NON COVID patients while 39.58% of such study participants were COVID patients. The difference was significant statistically Conclusion: In a comparative investigation, we first provided epidemiological findings on the effect of COVID19 on oral and maxillofacial surgery illness pattern. During the pandemic, the shift in illness pattern and burden will have a long-term influence on OMFS patient care, education, and training. Our research provides data for health policymakers to think about relocating medical resources and improving medical education and services.