Epidemiological characteristics and disease spectrum analysis of outpatients in the dermatology department of a hospital in Wuhan during the COVID-19 epidemic.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate epidemiological characteristics of outpatients and disease spectrum in the dermatology department during the COVID-19 epidemic Methods: A retrospective comparison of outpatient visits, gender, age and disease types in the dermatology department of Wuhan No.1 Hospital was performed between COVID-19 epidemic period (from 23th January 2020 to 15th April 2020) and the same period in 2019. Enumeration data were analyzed by Pearson's chi-square test. Result(s) During the COVID-19 epidemic, the number of outpatient visits to the dermatology department of the hospital decreased markedly, and the average daily number of outpatient visits (236 visits/day) was only 8.81% of that during the same period in 2019 (2 678 visits/day) ;the ratio of male to female patients was reversed from 11.37 in 2019 to 1.161 in 2020;the proportions of patients aged 0-6, 7-12, 13-17 and 18-45 years significantly decreased compared with those in 2019 (all P < 0.001), and the proportions of patients aged 46-69 and > 69 years significantly increased (both P < 0.001). During the COVID-19 epidemic, there were 171 types of skin diseases in the dermatology outpatient department, and the number of disease categories decreased compared with that during the same period in 2019 (442 types) ;the number of patient visits for allergic skin diseases, erythematous papulosquamous skin diseases, viral infectious skin diseases and bacterial infectious skin diseases significantly increased compared with that during the same period in 2019 (all P < 0.001), while the number of patient visits for sebaceous and sweat gland disorders, pigmented skin diseases and physical skin diseases significantly decreased (all P < 0.001). Conclusion(s) Compared with the same period in 2019, the number of outpatient visits, patient sex ratio, age distribution and disease types in the dermatology department have undergone marked changes during the COVID-19 epidemic, and this study provides a reference for healthcare workers in dermatology department to respond to various epidemics and natural disasters in the future.Copyright © 2021 by the Chinese Medical Association.