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Characterizing pediatric emergency department visits during the COVID-19 pandemic

Jesse M Pines1, Mark S Zocchi2, Bernard S Black3

  • 1US Acute Care Solutions, Canton, OH, United States of America; Department of Emergency Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|December 1, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric emergency department (ED) visits decreased significantly more than adult visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend persisted, particularly for younger children, and affected serious conditions, indicating potential avoidance of necessary care.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted healthcare utilization across various medical settings.
  • Understanding changes in pediatric emergency department (ED) visits is crucial for assessing the pandemic's broader health effects on children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the changes in pediatric emergency department (ED) visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • To compare pediatric ED visit trends with adult ED visit trends.
  • To analyze pediatric ED visit patterns by age, disposition, and diagnosis during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of non-COVID-19 emergency department (ED) visits from January to June 2020.
  • Comparison of weekly visit data with the corresponding period in 2019.
  • Calculation of 2020-2019 visit ratios for adults and children (≤18 years) by age group.

Main Results:

  • Pediatric ED visits declined more sharply than adult visits, with peak declines of 74% for children <10 years and 67% for 14-17 year olds.
  • By June 2020, pediatric visits recovered to 72% of 2019 levels for older children but only 50% for younger children (<10 years).
  • Significant declines were observed across all diagnoses, including a 22% decrease in common serious pediatric conditions like appendicitis.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric emergency department (ED) visits experienced a more pronounced decline compared to adult visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The persistent decrease in visits, especially for younger children and for serious conditions, suggests a potential parental hesitancy to seek necessary medical care.
  • These findings highlight the need for targeted public health messaging to ensure children receive timely medical attention.
Abstract

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