Abstract
Children’s and adolescents’ lives drastically changed during COVID lockdowns worldwide. To compare accident- and injury-related admissions to pediatric intensive care units (PICU) during the first German COVID lockdown with previous years, we conducted a retrospective multicenter study among 37 PICUs (21.5% of German PICU capacities). A total of 1444 admissions after accidents or injuries during the first lockdown period and matched periods of 2017–2019 were reported and standardized morbidity ratios (SMR) were calculated. Total PICU admissions due to accidents/injuries declined from an average of 366 to 346 (SMR 0.95 (CI 0.85–1.05)). Admissions with trauma increased from 196 to 212 (1.07 (0.93–1.23). Traffic accidents and school/kindergarten accidents decreased (0.77 (0.57–1.02 and 0.26 (0.05–0.75)), whereas household and leisure accidents increased (1.33 (1.06–1.66) and 1.34 (1.06–1.67)). Less neurosurgeries and more visceral surgeries were performed (0.69 (0.38–1.16) and 2.09 (1.19–3.39)). Non-accidental non-suicidal injuries declined (0.73 (0.42–1.17)). Suicide attempts increased in adolescent boys (1.38 (0.51–3.02)), but decreased in adolescent girls (0.56 (0.32–0.79)). In summary, changed trauma mechanisms entailed different surgeries compared to previous years. We found no evidence for an increase in child abuse cases requiring intensive care. The increase in suicide attempts among boys demands investigation.
Highlights
By the beginning of March 2020, the spread of the new corona virus SARS-CoV had reached most parts of Europe, including Germany
Of 801 PICU beds listed in the DIVI registry, the participating centers accounted for 172, thereby comprising 21.5% of the German pediatric intensive care capacities
Thirty-one cases did not fulfill the inclusion criteria, and eight cases with T diagnoses were excluded from analysis since they were not accidents or injuries
Summary
By the beginning of March 2020, the spread of the new corona virus SARS-CoV had reached most parts of Europe, including Germany. To prevent an uncontrolled transmission of the virus, the German state and federal governments announced drastic restrictions to public and private life. The lockdown came into effect on 16 March and restrained many of children’s daily activities. This first lockdown to control the pandemic lasted until the end of May 2020, when restrictions were gradually relaxed. Several authors have reported drastic declines in pediatric emergency department visits, which were mainly driven by declines in infectious diseases [1–3]. In the Netherlands and New Zealand, less children presented to emergency departments with trauma [4,5]. The lockdown with restrictions to public and private life posed completely new and unknown challenges for families in Germany. High rates of clinical anxiety and depression among parents have been reported from the United States during this time [1]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
