Pediatric Injury Trends in Rhode Island During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jeffrey R Savarino1, Holly R Hanson2, Wendy J Pomerantz2

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI.

Insights

During COVID-19, pediatric emergency visits for injuries in Rhode Island decreased overall but increased proportionally. Key demographic and injury shifts occurred, indicating a need for targeted interventions for high-risk pediatric groups.

Area of Science:

  • Emergency Medicine
  • Pediatric Health
  • Public Health

Background:

  • National data showed decreased Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a rise in the proportion of injury-related visits.
  • Limited data existed on these trends specifically within Rhode Island (RI).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze trends in pediatric injury-related visits to PEDs in Rhode Island before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • To identify demographic, injury type, severity, and mechanism shifts in pediatric patients presenting with injuries.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of pediatric (<18 years) injury-related visits to 40 PEDs in RI from January 2019 to December 2020.
  • Comparison of pre-COVID-19 (March-December 2019) and COVID-19 (March-December 2020) periods, analyzing patient demographics, injury characteristics, and mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Total injury-related PED visits decreased by 31.4% from 2019 to 2020, but the proportion of these visits increased by 8.1%.
  • The mean patient age decreased, with a higher proportion of female, privately insured, and non-Hispanic White children presenting in 2020.
  • Significant increases were observed in trauma activations, admissions, and injuries due to intentional self-harm in 2020.

Conclusions:

  • Rhode Island experienced a decrease in total injury-related PED visits but an increase in their proportion during the pandemic, mirroring national trends.
  • Significant shifts in patient demographics, injury mechanisms, and intent were identified.
  • These findings highlight crucial epidemiologic changes and identify high-risk pediatric populations requiring targeted educational programs and interventions.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation01:17

Pulmonary Cycle: Exhalation

In terms of human respiration, the act of expelling air, known as exhalation (or expiration), operates on the principle of pressure gradients. During expiration, the pressure within the lungs exceeds that of the surrounding atmosphere. Under normal conditions, quiet breathing involves passive exhalation and is free of muscular contractions. This is because the exhalation process is driven by the natural elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, both of which have an inherent tendency to...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios01:26

Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios

Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...