Study finds reduction in pediatric, hospital emergency visits during the pandemic

Among COVID-19 pandemics, children’s hospitals across the United States have seen a significant reduction in the number of children receiving treatment for common pediatric illnesses such as asthma and seizures, according to a new multi-center study led by Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital. at Vanderbilt.

Researchers at the Children’s Hospital found that 42% fewer children were seen and hospitalized at 44 children’s hospitals across the U.S. for both respiratory and non-respiratory illnesses, with the largest decrease seen in children under age 12. Hospitals saw a 62% reduction in the number of children seen or hospitalized for respiratory illness, while there was a 38% reduction for non-respiratory illnesses.

This trend, they believe, seems to be linked to public health measures put in place at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic – shelter, social distance and hand washing – as well as school and social activity. out of school among children and teenagers.

The study, “Pandemic COVID-19 and Changes in Healthcare Practice for Respiratory and Non-Respiratory Diseases in the United States,” published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

We found large reductions in health care settings for respiratory and non-respiratory diseases at pediatric hospitals across the U.S. The declines were greater for respiratory diseases than non-respiratory illnesses. ”

James Antoon, MD, PhD, Principal Research Author, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Hospital Medicine Program

“This tends to reflect a smaller spread of common respiratory pathogens as a result of pandemic response measures. For example, we found dramatic reductions in ED and hospital visits for common pediatric illnesses such as asthma, asthma and asthma Respiratory illnesses are the most common cause of ED and hospital visits in children, “said Antoon.

The large multicenter study evaluated visits to emergency departments and hospitals for respiratory and non-respiratory illness at 44 U.S. pediatric hospitals during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Using data reported to the Pediatric Health Information System database maintained by the Children’s Hospital Association, researchers looked at children aged 2 months to 18 years who were discharged from an ED setting or a patient with non-surgical diagnosis between January 1 and September. 30, compares meeting volumes in 2020 with average volumes for 2017-19.

During the study period when COVID was widespread (May-September), researchers found the overall reductions for ED / hospital visits for all respiratory illnesses across all age groups varied by type: asthma-related meetings fell 76%; seizures fell by 81%; croup with 84%; flu by 87%; and bronchiolitis with 91%.

When comparing age groups, the study found that teenagers had a smaller reduction in respiratory and non-respiratory illnesses compared to younger children.

“The changes in health care cycles varied with age,” Antoon said. “Teenagers had a smaller reduction in respiratory and non-respiratory illnesses compared to younger children, and their rates of respiratory illnesses increased at the end of the study period. demonstrate that the number of teenagers is an important target for community – based prevention efforts to limit the future spread of respiratory illnesses. “

Researchers say more research is needed to continue to understand the reasons why fewer children went to the ED or had to be hospitalized and assess whether families were seek treatment in other care settings such as telehealth visits.