Neurodevelopmental Diagnoses Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns impacted children's learning, development, and healthcare access.
• Understanding the pandemic's effect on neurodevelopmental diagnoses is crucial for pediatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate changes in the rates and trends of new neurodevelopmental diagnoses in children before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada.
• To assess the pandemic's impact on the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders in children aged 6 years or younger.

Main Methods:

• A population-based retrospective cohort study utilized administrative data from ICES.
• The study analyzed new neurodevelopmental diagnoses for 291,896 children aged 6 years or younger in Ontario from March 14, 2015, to December 31, 2024.
• Interrupted time series analysis was employed to compare diagnosis rates across prepandemic, pandemic, and postpandemic periods.

Main Results:

• While diagnosis rates initially decreased at the onset of the pandemic, they recovered and stabilized.
• No statistically significant differences in the rate trends of new neurodevelopmental diagnoses were observed between the prepandemic, pandemic, and postpandemic periods.
• A total of 130,418 diagnoses were recorded in the prepandemic, 86,383 during the pandemic, and 75,095 in the postpandemic period.

Conclusions:

• This study found no significant long-term changes in the rates of new neurodevelopmental diagnoses among young children due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The widespread adoption of virtual care may have mitigated disruptions in healthcare access, ensuring continued diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Findings suggest the healthcare system adapted effectively to maintain essential diagnostic services for children during the pandemic.