Changes in Respiratory Care Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Pediatric Long-Term Care Facility

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare
• Infectious disease epidemiology
• Respiratory medicine

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted care delivery in pediatric long-term care facilities (pLTCFs).
• Understanding the pandemic's impact on respiratory health management in these vulnerable populations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of COVID-19 infection control policies on the respiratory health of residents in pLTCFs.
• To analyze trends in respiratory treatment utilization before and during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study analyzing de-identified billing data and chart reviews for 76 residents.
• Data encompassed oxygen, albuterol, hypertonic saline (HTS), and pulmonary hygiene treatment use from January 2019 to December 2022.
• Statistical analysis compared pre-pandemic trends with utilization during the pandemic period.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant increase in the rate of oxygen use was observed among residents (P < 0.001).
• The rate of oxygen use, however, increased at a slower pace than the pre-pandemic trend predicted.
• Hypertonic saline (HTS) use significantly decreased during the study period (P = 0.007), deviating from prior trends.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 infection control policies were associated with significant changes in respiratory treatment patterns in pLTCFs.
• Oxygen and HTS utilization shifted during the pandemic, highlighting adaptive changes in resident care.
• Further research is needed to understand the long-term respiratory implications for this population.