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Pediatric Emergency Department Utilization and Coronavirus Disease in Daegu, Korea

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Author(s)
Kyung Mi JangJi Young AhnHee Joung ChoiSukhee LeeDongsub KimDong Won LeeJae Young Choe
Keimyung Author(s)
Choi, Hee Joung
Department
Dept. of Pediatrics (소아청소년학)
Journal Title
J Korean Med Sci
Issued Date
2021
Volume
36
Issue
1
Keyword
COVID-19Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2ChildrenEmergency Department
Abstract
Background:
Limited data exist on children's utilization of the emergency department (ED) in the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Thus, we aimed to examine ED utilization among pediatric patients and the impact of COVID-19 in one large city affected by the outbreak.

Methods:
This retrospective study included data from six EDs in Daegu, Korea. We compared the demographic and clinical data of patients presenting to the ED during the COVID-19 pandemic (February 1st–June 30th 2020) with those of patients who visited the ED in this period during 2018 and 2019.

Results:
Fewer patients, particularly children visited the EDs during the study period in 2020 than those in the previous (2018/2019) year period: the number of adult patient decreased by 46.4% and children by 76.9%. Although the number of patients increased from the lowest point of the decrease in March 2020, the number of pediatric patients visiting the ED remained less than half (45.2%) in June 2020 compared with that of previous years. The proportion of patients with severe conditions increased in adults, infants, and school-aged children, and consequently resulted in increased ambulance use and higher hospitalization rates. Fewer infants and young children but more school-aged children visited the ED with febrile illnesses in 2020 than in 2018/2019.

Conclusion:
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a substantial decrease in pediatric ED utilization. These findings can help reallocate human and material resources in the EDs during infectious disease outbreaks.
Keimyung Author(s)(Kor)
최희정
Publisher
School of Medicine (의과대학)
Citation
Kyung Mi Jang et al. (2021). Pediatric Emergency Department Utilization and Coronavirus Disease in Daegu, Korea. J Korean Med Sci, 36(1), e11. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e11
Type
Article
ISSN
1598-6357
Source
https://jkms.org/DOIx.php?id=10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e11
DOI
10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e11
URI
https://kumel.medlib.dsmc.or.kr/handle/2015.oak/43622
Appears in Collections:
1. School of Medicine (의과대학) > Dept. of Pediatrics (소아청소년학)
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