Impact of COVID-19 on a paediatric emergency service

Abstract

COVID-19 has significantly affected the use of health care worldwide and, consequently, admissions to hospital emergency services. The aim of this study is to describe the change of the activity of a Paediatric Emergency Service (PES) of a tertiary hospital during the pandemic. A retrospective cohort study with analysis of visits to the PES from March 30 to June 30, 2020, and comparison with homologous periods in the previous 3 years (2017–2019).A total of 53,883 episodes were analysed, with a median age of 5.8 years, and 53% were boys. In 2020, there was a 60% reduction in the number of admissions (p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in referral by the public medical advice phone line of the National Health Service (NHS) (18.5% vs 5.4%) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (5.1% vs 4.2%). Urgent patients decreased (31.2% vs 38.3%), and non-urgent patients increased (7.5% vs 1.7%). There was a significant reduction in school (0.4% vs 7.1%) and sports accidents (0.1% vs 1.2%) and an increase in other accidents (falls, wounds, burns, and dog bites) (12.2% vs 6.3%). Hospitalisation rate was higher (5.7% vs 3.1%, p < 0.001). The infection rate for SARS-CoV-2 was 1.1%, all with mild illness or asymptomatic. Conclusion: The pandemic brought a marked reduction in emergency admissions and a decrease in urgent situations but an increase in accidents, such as falls, wounds, burns, and dog bites. Despite the low infection rate for SARS-CoV-2, there were increased referrals by the phone line of NHS and EMS and a higher admission in the ward.What is Known: • The number of admissions to emergency services significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the paediatric population, whom has a milder disease than adults. • Diseases that justify urgent/emergent hospital admission continue to exist and the eventual delay in seeking health care might lead to a worse prognosis.What is New: • Despite the low rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children, there was an increase in referrals by the phone line of the National Health Service and Emergency Medical Services. • The global admission rate to the ward increased but there were no admissions to intensive care or deaths.