Abstract
Trend in Otolaryngology Emergency Department Visits during the COVID-19 Pandemic at Atertiary University Hospital
Highlights
The year 2019 concluded on a memorable note, with the emergence of a very deadly pandemic orchestrated by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID- 19)
Among all the patients who presented to the E.D. as a whole, the proportion of otolaryngology E.D. visits in 2020 (2.6%) was significantly lower than that in 2019 (3.2%, p=0.003) giving a 43.2% reduction rate during the pandemic.While the proportion of traumatic presentations minimally decreased in 2020 (26.0% to 35.4%, p= 0.009), there was a greater decrease in non-traumatic non-urgent presentations (26.9% to 15.9%, p=0.001)
To focus on the otolaryngology E.D., a total of 710 patients presented in both periods and their medical files were reviewed, with 17 (2.4%) being excluded due to incomplete information, leaving a total of 251 patientsin 2020 and 442 patients in 2019, the majority being patients presenting with otology related symptoms in both years
Summary
The year 2019 concluded on a memorable note, with the emergence of a very deadly pandemic orchestrated by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID- 19). Due to the nature of the disease, it rapidly spreads via contact with aerosols of infected patients. As of September 22, 2020, over twenty one million individuals in more than eighty countries have been infected, with worldwide mortality of 761,779 individuals. Amongst many measures put in place by the World Health Organization (W.H.O) to prevent its spread, home isolation and social distancing have been obligatory [2]. These recommendations go a long way, affecting both social and economic ramifications, as well as health care delivery. Medical associations and academies worldwide brought forth recommendations and guidelines for the delivery of medical care to prevent transmission of COVID-19, protecting the patients but the medical personnel as well.
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