Changes in Pediatric Emergency Department Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Community mitigation measures were implemented to decrease the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. In this study, we aimed to evaluate changes in pediatric emergency department (ED) visits, secondary to acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) and trauma, before and during the pandemic. We hypothesized that the numbers of ED visits and ARIs would decrease, whereas the proportion of trauma visits would increase.

A retrospective study from 2018 to 2020 was performed on children 18 years and younger presenting to the ED either for ARI or trauma at a high-volume comprehensive pediatric hospital between March and May each year. International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification admission diagnosis codes were used to identify ARI, trauma, and injury mechanisms. Pearson's χ² test was used to compare proportions between categorical variables.

Overall, 6393 total ED visits occurred in 2020, compared with 11 758 and 12 138 in 2018 and 2019, respectively. In 2020, the total ARI number declined by 58%, and ARI frequency decreased significantly, whereas the total trauma number declined by 34%, and the proportion of trauma visits significantly increased. In addition, the number and proportion of recreational vehicle crashes increased, whereas the number and proportion decreased for all intentional and animal-related traumas.

The total number of pediatric ED visits dropped precipitously in 2020, but the proportion of trauma visits increased significantly in 2020, accounting for greater than one-quarter of all ED visits. Injury mechanism varied significantly compared to previous years. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings and evaluate the benefits of community mitigation to decrease ARIs and strategies directed to reduce mechanism-specific trauma.