TY - JOUR
T1 - Trends in Pediatric Ophthalmic Emergency Department Visits during the COVID-19 Pandemic
AU - Levy, Issac
AU - Dollberg, Dolev
AU - Berant, Ron
AU - Friling, Ronit
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Israel Medical Association. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/5/1
Y1 - 2022/5/1
N2 - Background: Data on how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected consultations in ophthalmic departments are sparse. Objectives: To examine the epidemiology of ophthalmic consultations in a large pediatric emergency medicine department (PED) during the first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in Israel. Methods: The database of a tertiary pediatric medical center was retrospectively reviewed for patients aged < 18 years who attended the PED from 17 March to 30 April 2020 (first COVID-19 lockdown) and the corresponding period in 2019. Background, clinical, and disease-related data were collected from the medical charts and compared between groups. Results: The study included 757 PED visits. There were no significant differences in demographics between the groups. The 2020 period was characterized by a decrease in PED visits (by 52%), increase in arrivals during late afternoon and evening (P = 0.013), decrease in visits of older children (age 5-10 year), and proportional increase in younger children (age 1 -5 years) (P = 0.011). The most common diagnoses overall and during each period was trauma followed by conjunctivitis and eyelid inflammation. The mechanisms of trauma differed (P = 0.002), with an increase in sharp trauma and decrease in blunt trauma in 2020 (P < 0.001 for both). In 2020, 95% of traumatic events occurred in the home compared to 54% in 2019 (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Parents need to learn appropriate preventive and treatment measures to prevent serious and long-term ophthalmic injury while minimizing their exposure to the COVID-19. PEDs and ophthalmic pediatric clinics should consider increasing use of telemedicine and the availability of more senior physicians as consultants during such times.
AB - Background: Data on how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected consultations in ophthalmic departments are sparse. Objectives: To examine the epidemiology of ophthalmic consultations in a large pediatric emergency medicine department (PED) during the first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown in Israel. Methods: The database of a tertiary pediatric medical center was retrospectively reviewed for patients aged < 18 years who attended the PED from 17 March to 30 April 2020 (first COVID-19 lockdown) and the corresponding period in 2019. Background, clinical, and disease-related data were collected from the medical charts and compared between groups. Results: The study included 757 PED visits. There were no significant differences in demographics between the groups. The 2020 period was characterized by a decrease in PED visits (by 52%), increase in arrivals during late afternoon and evening (P = 0.013), decrease in visits of older children (age 5-10 year), and proportional increase in younger children (age 1 -5 years) (P = 0.011). The most common diagnoses overall and during each period was trauma followed by conjunctivitis and eyelid inflammation. The mechanisms of trauma differed (P = 0.002), with an increase in sharp trauma and decrease in blunt trauma in 2020 (P < 0.001 for both). In 2020, 95% of traumatic events occurred in the home compared to 54% in 2019 (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Parents need to learn appropriate preventive and treatment measures to prevent serious and long-term ophthalmic injury while minimizing their exposure to the COVID-19. PEDs and ophthalmic pediatric clinics should consider increasing use of telemedicine and the availability of more senior physicians as consultants during such times.
KW - coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
KW - ophthalmic emergency department
KW - ophthalmic trauma
KW - pandemic
KW - pediatrics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130863230&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.article???
C2 - 35598051
AN - SCOPUS:85130863230
SN - 1565-1088
VL - 24
SP - 289
EP - 292
JO - Israel Medical Association Journal
JF - Israel Medical Association Journal
IS - 5
ER -