Did Hospital Admissions Caused by Respiratory Infections and Asthma Decrease During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric medicine
• Infectious diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated stringent public health measures, including isolation, impacting healthcare utilization.
• Changes in pediatric admissions for respiratory illnesses and asthma were observed during the pandemic.
• Understanding these shifts is crucial for managing pediatric respiratory health during public health crises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively analyze changes in the frequency of pediatric respiratory infections and asthma admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To compare admission rates for specific conditions (influenza, URTI, LRTI, bronchiolitis, asthma) before and during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of electronic medical records for pediatric patients admitted to emergency departments, outpatient/inpatient clinics, and PICU.
• Data collected over a two-year period: one year pre-COVID and the first year of the pandemic.
• Included admissions for influenza, upper and lower respiratory tract infections (URTI, LRTI), acute bronchiolitis, and asthma.

Main Results:

• Overall pediatric admissions decreased significantly: ED (-73%), outpatient (-70%), hospitalizations (-41.5%), PICU (-42%).
• Admissions for influenza and URTI decreased markedly (p<0.0001).
• Admissions for LRTI, acute bronchiolitis, and asthma increased proportionally (p<0.0001 for LRTI and asthma, p=0.027 for bronchiolitis).

Conclusions:

• Reduced circulation of viruses causing acute bronchiolitis and asthma attacks contributed to fewer admissions for these conditions.
• Parents' reluctance to seek emergency care during the pandemic may have led to more severe lower respiratory tract infections.
• The pandemic altered pediatric respiratory illness admission patterns, highlighting the need for adaptive healthcare strategies.