Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmic surgery at a tertiary hospital in South Africa
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted the provision of ophthalmic care. Aim: This study aimed to quantify the pandemic on the number of ophthalmic surgeries. Setting: The study was conducted at a South African tertiary academic hospital. Methods: A retrospective co...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2023-12-01
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| Series: | African Vision and Eye Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/860 |
| _version_ | 1797386229282504704 |
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| author | Ismail Makda Aubrey Makgotloe Naseer Ally |
| author_facet | Ismail Makda Aubrey Makgotloe Naseer Ally |
| author_sort | Ismail Makda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted the provision of ophthalmic care.
Aim: This study aimed to quantify the pandemic on the number of ophthalmic surgeries.
Setting: The study was conducted at a South African tertiary academic hospital.
Methods: A retrospective comparative analysis of eye surgeries 1 year pre- and post- onset of the COVID-19 lockdown (27 March 2019 to 26 March 2021) was conducted. Theatre surgical records were analysed 1-year pre- and post-lockdown. All surgical procedures were recorded and subcategorised into cataract, cornea, glaucoma, oncologic, orbital, oculoplastic, strabismus, trauma, vitreoretinal, and other. Trauma surgeries in the post-pandemic year were sub-analysed based on the level alcohol restriction level.
Results: Total surgeries decreased from 3521 to 1551 (P 0.001). Using multivariate analysis, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for all surgeries during the pandemic was 0.47 (P 0.001) with a significantly reduced IRR during the first wave of 0.427 (P = 0.003) and a non-significant change during wave two; IRR 1.25 (P = 0.36). All surgical subgroups decreased significantly except oncology, insignificant decrease from 211 to 180 (P = 0.12). Trauma significantly decreased during periods of total alcohol bans; IRR of 0.50 (P 0.001). An insignificant decrease was found during periods of partial ban with an IRR of 0.83 (P = 0.06) compared with periods without alcohol restrictions.
Conclusion: Post lockdown, the total number of surgeries decreased in all subgroups except oncology. Alcohol bans significantly decreased trauma surgeries.
Contribution: This article provides valuable insight, which may inform public health policy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:07:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-30763b18baf2490cb330e0b2e3ec9d53 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2413-3183 2410-1516 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:07:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Vision and Eye Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-30763b18baf2490cb330e0b2e3ec9d532023-12-19T08:28:45ZengAOSISAfrican Vision and Eye Health2413-31832410-15162023-12-01821e1e710.4102/aveh.v82i1.860564Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmic surgery at a tertiary hospital in South AfricaIsmail Makda0Aubrey Makgotloe1Naseer Ally2Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgDepartment of Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgDepartment of Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgBackground: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted the provision of ophthalmic care. Aim: This study aimed to quantify the pandemic on the number of ophthalmic surgeries. Setting: The study was conducted at a South African tertiary academic hospital. Methods: A retrospective comparative analysis of eye surgeries 1 year pre- and post- onset of the COVID-19 lockdown (27 March 2019 to 26 March 2021) was conducted. Theatre surgical records were analysed 1-year pre- and post-lockdown. All surgical procedures were recorded and subcategorised into cataract, cornea, glaucoma, oncologic, orbital, oculoplastic, strabismus, trauma, vitreoretinal, and other. Trauma surgeries in the post-pandemic year were sub-analysed based on the level alcohol restriction level. Results: Total surgeries decreased from 3521 to 1551 (P 0.001). Using multivariate analysis, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for all surgeries during the pandemic was 0.47 (P 0.001) with a significantly reduced IRR during the first wave of 0.427 (P = 0.003) and a non-significant change during wave two; IRR 1.25 (P = 0.36). All surgical subgroups decreased significantly except oncology, insignificant decrease from 211 to 180 (P = 0.12). Trauma significantly decreased during periods of total alcohol bans; IRR of 0.50 (P 0.001). An insignificant decrease was found during periods of partial ban with an IRR of 0.83 (P = 0.06) compared with periods without alcohol restrictions. Conclusion: Post lockdown, the total number of surgeries decreased in all subgroups except oncology. Alcohol bans significantly decreased trauma surgeries. Contribution: This article provides valuable insight, which may inform public health policy.https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/860covid-19coronavirussurgical proceduresophthalmologypublic health. |
| spellingShingle | Ismail Makda Aubrey Makgotloe Naseer Ally Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmic surgery at a tertiary hospital in South Africa African Vision and Eye Health covid-19 coronavirus surgical procedures ophthalmology public health. |
| title | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmic surgery at a tertiary hospital in South Africa |
| title_full | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmic surgery at a tertiary hospital in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmic surgery at a tertiary hospital in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmic surgery at a tertiary hospital in South Africa |
| title_short | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmic surgery at a tertiary hospital in South Africa |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 pandemic on ophthalmic surgery at a tertiary hospital in south africa |
| topic | covid-19 coronavirus surgical procedures ophthalmology public health. |
| url | https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/860 |
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