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Pediatric Emergency Department Visits at US Children's Hospitals During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Source :
-
Pediatrics [Pediatrics] 2021 Apr; Vol. 147 (4). Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Dec 23. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Background and Objectives: The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on pediatric emergency department (ED) visits is not well characterized. We aimed to describe the epidemiology of pediatric ED visits and resource use during the pandemic.<br />Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using the Pediatric Health Information System for ED visits to 27 US children's hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic period (March 15, 2020, to August 31, 2020) and a 3-year comparator period (March 15 to August 31, 2017-2019). ED visit rates, patient and visit characteristics, resource use, and ED charges were compared between the time periods. We specifically evaluated changes in low-resource-intensity visits, defined as ED visits that did not result in hospitalization or medication administration and for which no laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging, or procedures were performed.<br />Results: ED visit rates decreased by 45.7% (average 911 026 ED visits over 2017-2019 vs 495 052 visits in 2020) during the pandemic. The largest decrease occurred among visits for respiratory disorders (70.0%). The pandemic was associated with a relative increase in the proportion of visits for children with a chronic condition from 23.7% to 27.8% ( P < .001). The proportion of low-resource-intensity visits decreased by 7.0 percentage points, and total charges decreased by 20.0% during the pandemic period.<br />Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a marked decrease in pediatric ED visits across a broad range of conditions; however, the proportional decline of poisoning and mental health visits was less pronounced. The impact of decreased visits on patient outcomes warrants further research.<br />Competing Interests: POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Time Factors
United States
Young Adult
COVID-19
Emergency Service, Hospital statistics & numerical data
Facilities and Services Utilization statistics & numerical data
Health Resources statistics & numerical data
Pediatrics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1098-4275
- Volume :
- 147
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Pediatrics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33361360
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-039628