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Did the severity of appendicitis increase during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Yao-Jen Chang1,2, Li-Ju Chen3,4, Yun-Jau Chang5,6

  • 1Department of Surgery, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

Plos One
|February 10, 2022
PubMed

Insights

During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients delayed seeking care for appendicitis, leading to increased severity. This highlights potential risks of seeking medical attention during public health crises.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Research
  • Public Health
  • Surgical Outcomes

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced patient behavior regarding seeking medical care for conditions like appendicitis.
  • Delayed treatment seeking can potentially exacerbate appendicitis severity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the severity of appendicitis cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • To compare appendicitis severity between pandemic and pre-pandemic periods.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of appendicitis patients at Taipei City Hospital.
  • Comparison between a COVID-19 pandemic group (Jan-Jun 2020) and a control group (Jan-Jul 2019).
  • Multivariate logistic regression used to assess appendicitis severity changes.

Main Results:

  • 307 patients with appendicitis were identified; no significant demographic or surgical differences between groups.
  • A decrease in appendicitis cases during peak COVID-19 periods was observed.
  • An increase in complicated appendicitis cases was noted in the pandemic group compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

  • Appendicitis severity may have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Patient hesitation to seek medical help for mild symptoms likely contributed to increased severity.
Abstract

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