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Unforeseen changes in seasonality of pediatric respiratory illnesses during the first COVID-19 pandemic year

Moria Be'er1, Israel Amirav1, Michal Cahal1

  • 1Pediatric Pulmonology Unit, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|March 21, 2022
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns significantly reduced pediatric respiratory illnesses, but caused a new asthma peak after lockdowns lifted, altering traditional seasonality patterns.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to unprecedented public health interventions, including nationwide lockdowns.
  • The impact of these measures on the seasonality of pediatric respiratory illnesses remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on the seasonal patterns of pediatric respiratory healthcare utilization in Israel.
  • To compare respiratory emergency department visits and hospitalizations during the first COVID-19 year with pre-pandemic data.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of pediatric emergency department visits and hospitalizations for respiratory diagnoses.
  • Comparison of data from the first full COVID-19 year with the preceding six years.
  • Utilized electronic health records via the MDClone platform.

Main Results:

  • A significant decline of 40% in respiratory emergency department visits and 54%-73% in hospitalizations was observed during the first COVID-19 year.
  • A notable peak in asthma-related emergency department visits occurred in June 2020, following the lifting of the first lockdown.
  • This post-lockdown peak mimicked the 'back-to-school' asthma phenomenon typically seen in September.

Conclusions:

  • Nationwide COVID-19 lockdowns significantly altered the seasonality of pediatric respiratory illnesses.
  • A novel 'back-from-lockdown' asthma peak emerged, suggesting potential long-term shifts in pediatric pulmonary pathologies.
  • These findings highlight the collateral damage of the pandemic on children's respiratory health and necessitate further investigation into altered seasonality.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19asthmabronchiolitischildrenhealthcare utilizationlockdownpneumoniarespiratory illness

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