Comparative Analysis of Acute Appendicitis Cases During and Prior to the Pandemic

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics, morbidity, and diagnostic accuracy of imaging modalities in acute appendicitis cases during the COVID-19 pandemic and the pre-pandemic period. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 898 patients who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis between April 2019 and April 2021. The study population was divided into two groups: pre-pandemic (n=508; April 2019 to April 2020) and pandemic (n=390; April 2020 to April 2021). We compared the socio-demographic characteristics, clinical features, morbidity rates, and the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography (USG) and computed tomography (CT) between the two periods. Results: The prevalence of complicated cases was significantly higher during the pre-pandemic period (29.3%) compared to the pandemic period (15.6%). The morbidity rate was also significantly higher in the pre-pandemic period. ( p= 0,004) The sensitivity of USG in diagnosing appendicitis decreased during the pandemic period, while CT scans remained more sensitive than USG in both periods. (sensitivity = 0.93, specificity = 0,67) The prevalence of chronic diseases was significantly higher during the pandemic period. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the prevalence of complicated appendicitis cases was significantly higher during the pre-pandemic period compared to the pandemic period. Additionally, the sensitivity of ultrasonography in diagnosing appendicitis decreased during the pandemic, while CT scans maintained their sensitivity across both periods. Based on our findings, we can confidently conclude that the pandemic does not exacerbate the severity of acute appendicitis cases.