Proctologic emergency consultation during COVID-19: Comparative cross-sectional cohort study

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Proctologic conditions are a common reason for emergency department (ED) visits.
• The SARS-COV-2 pandemic significantly altered healthcare-seeking behaviors and ED utilization patterns globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic on the demand for proctologic consultations in the ED.
• To compare proctologic consultation trends during the pandemic with pre-pandemic levels.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, descriptive, comparative study of patients presenting to the ED with proctologic complaints.
• Data collected from March to April 2019 and 2020, comparing demographic variables, comorbidities, diagnoses, and treatments.
• Analysis stratified by pandemic-related limitations and lockdown periods.

Main Results:

• A 56% reduction in daily proctologic consultations was observed in 2020 compared to 2019 (0.95 vs. 2.18 patients/day).
• The rate of perianal abscesses doubled in 2020 (22.4% vs. 11.3%), and the need for surgery increased significantly (31% vs. 15%).
• No significant difference was found in outpatient management post-emergency surgery or in readmission rates.

Conclusions:

• The pandemic led to a substantial decrease in proctologic emergency consultations.
• Despite reduced overall visits, the proportion of patients requiring surgery for proctologic issues significantly increased.
• Further reflection on the appropriate use of emergency services for proctologic conditions is warranted.