Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic related changes in pediatric patient numbers in Tokushima, Japan

Area of Science:

• Pediatric healthcare utilization
• Epidemiology of infectious diseases
• Public health policy impact

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected global healthcare systems.
• Understanding its impact on pediatric care is crucial for public health planning.
• Previous studies indicate varied effects on healthcare access and utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric inpatient and outpatient visits.
• To analyze changes in healthcare utilization among children under 15 in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.
• To compare pre-pandemic (FY2019) and pandemic (FY2020) healthcare-seeking behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of medical claims data for children (<15 years) insured by National Health Insurance in Tokushima.
• Calculation of mean monthly inpatient and outpatient visits per 1,000 children for FY2019 and FY2020.
• Use of multivariable negative binomial regression to determine incident rate ratios (IRRs).

Main Results:

• A significant decrease in pediatric inpatient visits was observed during FY2020 (IRR=0.58, p<0.05).
• Pediatric outpatient visits showed a non-significant decrease during FY2020 (IRR=0.79, p>0.05).
• The reduction in inpatient visits was more pronounced than that for outpatient visits.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic led to a notable decline in pediatric healthcare utilization, particularly for inpatient services.
• Findings suggest altered healthcare-seeking behaviors and reduced medical service use among children during the pandemic.
• Further research is needed to understand long-term effects and inform pediatric healthcare strategies.