Impact of COVID-19 on paediatric emergency department attendances at four English hospitals

Abstract

Paediatric emergency department (PED) attendances reduced worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) but anecdotally babies under 30 days (BUD) appeared less affected. We collated monthly PED attendances (16 years and under) across four hospitals (three district general hospitals and a tertiary specialist PED) in England, UK from January 2017 to December 2020. Gross PED attendances dropped by 34% in 2020 (n=98 256) compared to 2019 (n=148 640). However, cumulative BUD attendances dropped by only 6% in 2020 (n=3922) compared to 2019 (n=4162). Monthly site-specific attendances showed marginal variation. PED attendances broadly decreased in 2020 with less of an impact on BUD.

The Frequency of Infant-Feeding Presentations at English Emergency Departments During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Nation-Wide Electronic Health Records Study

“…A recent study found that neonatal visits to an ED in a tertiary center in Italy, for minor conditions including feeding issues, increased slightly in March and April 2020 compared to 2019 [ 23 ]. Single, multi-site and regional studies from England have also indicated increases in infant presentations to ED during 2020 [ 6 , 7 , 24 ]. These observations are not isolated to Europe, with a recent Australian single center study showing a substantial increase in infant feeding-related admissions in 2020.…”

Recurrent or unusual infections in children – when to worry about inborn errors of immunity

“…However, one study of four PEDs in England showed that in 2020 attendance was reduced by 34% when compared with the preceding 3 years. 31 This reduction was significantly less marked in infants less than 30 days old, however, where the difference in attendance ranged from 12% reduction to 14% increase. 31 Reduction in ED attendance was most marked journals.sagepub.com/home/tai TherapeuTic advances in infectious disease for minor injuries and illnesses, but less so for severe disease.…”

“…31 This reduction was significantly less marked in infants less than 30 days old, however, where the difference in attendance ranged from 12% reduction to 14% increase. 31 Reduction in ED attendance was most marked journals.sagepub.com/home/tai TherapeuTic advances in infectious disease for minor injuries and illnesses, but less so for severe disease. 32 Comparing the diagnoses made in two UK PEDs in 2020 with those in previous years showed a PED attendance rate reduction to 56.8% of the preceding 4 years, and a reduced inpatient admission rate to 59.4% of the preceding 4 years.…”