Changes in pediatric seizure-related emergency department attendances during COVID-19 – A territory-wide observational study
A territory-wide retrospective observational study was conducted in Hong Kong between January 23 to April 22, 2020 to demonstrate changes in pediatric seizure-related accident and emergency department (A&E) visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parallel periods from 2015 to 2019 were used as cont...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of the Formosan Medical Association |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664620305544 |
| _version_ | 1819146202080346112 |
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| author | Ting Gee Annie Chiu William C.Y. Leung Qiqi Zhang Eric H.Y. Lau Ryan Wui-hang Ho Hoi-Shan Sophelia Chan Richard Shek-kwan Chang |
| author_facet | Ting Gee Annie Chiu William C.Y. Leung Qiqi Zhang Eric H.Y. Lau Ryan Wui-hang Ho Hoi-Shan Sophelia Chan Richard Shek-kwan Chang |
| author_sort | Ting Gee Annie Chiu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A territory-wide retrospective observational study was conducted in Hong Kong between January 23 to April 22, 2020 to demonstrate changes in pediatric seizure-related accident and emergency department (A&E) visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parallel periods from 2015 to 2019 were used as control.All-cause A&E attendances in all paediatric age groups decreased significantly during the study period. Seizure-related attendances decreased across all pediatric age-groups in 2020 (RR 0.379, 95% CI 0.245–0.588), with a disproportionately large decrease in the 0–6 years age group (RR 0.303, 95% CI 0.174–0.526) compared with the 7–18 years age group (RR 0.534, 95% CI 0.393–0.719). Decrease in RTI-related A&E attendances was also more drastic in the 0–6 age group. The two time trends are congruent in the 0–6 years but not the 7–18 years age group. Such a trend is suggestive of the usefulness of infection control measures in seizure prevention, especially amongst young children. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T13:10:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b42eed0337ba471da07b60b53f61dfdf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0929-6646 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T13:10:10Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the Formosan Medical Association |
| spelling | doaj.art-b42eed0337ba471da07b60b53f61dfdf2022-12-21T18:24:47ZengElsevierJournal of the Formosan Medical Association0929-66462021-08-01120816471651Changes in pediatric seizure-related emergency department attendances during COVID-19 – A territory-wide observational studyTing Gee Annie Chiu0William C.Y. Leung1Qiqi Zhang2Eric H.Y. Lau3Ryan Wui-hang Ho4Hoi-Shan Sophelia Chan5Richard Shek-kwan Chang6Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong KongDivision of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong KongSchool of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong KongSchool of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong KongDepartment of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong KongDepartment of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong KongDivision of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Corresponding author. 4/F, Professorial Block, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. Fax: +852 22555322.A territory-wide retrospective observational study was conducted in Hong Kong between January 23 to April 22, 2020 to demonstrate changes in pediatric seizure-related accident and emergency department (A&E) visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parallel periods from 2015 to 2019 were used as control.All-cause A&E attendances in all paediatric age groups decreased significantly during the study period. Seizure-related attendances decreased across all pediatric age-groups in 2020 (RR 0.379, 95% CI 0.245–0.588), with a disproportionately large decrease in the 0–6 years age group (RR 0.303, 95% CI 0.174–0.526) compared with the 7–18 years age group (RR 0.534, 95% CI 0.393–0.719). Decrease in RTI-related A&E attendances was also more drastic in the 0–6 age group. The two time trends are congruent in the 0–6 years but not the 7–18 years age group. Such a trend is suggestive of the usefulness of infection control measures in seizure prevention, especially amongst young children.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664620305544COVID19EpilepsyRespiratory tract infectionsMedical help seek-behaviourFebrile seizures |
| spellingShingle | Ting Gee Annie Chiu William C.Y. Leung Qiqi Zhang Eric H.Y. Lau Ryan Wui-hang Ho Hoi-Shan Sophelia Chan Richard Shek-kwan Chang Changes in pediatric seizure-related emergency department attendances during COVID-19 – A territory-wide observational study Journal of the Formosan Medical Association COVID19 Epilepsy Respiratory tract infections Medical help seek-behaviour Febrile seizures |
| title | Changes in pediatric seizure-related emergency department attendances during COVID-19 – A territory-wide observational study |
| title_full | Changes in pediatric seizure-related emergency department attendances during COVID-19 – A territory-wide observational study |
| title_fullStr | Changes in pediatric seizure-related emergency department attendances during COVID-19 – A territory-wide observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in pediatric seizure-related emergency department attendances during COVID-19 – A territory-wide observational study |
| title_short | Changes in pediatric seizure-related emergency department attendances during COVID-19 – A territory-wide observational study |
| title_sort | changes in pediatric seizure related emergency department attendances during covid 19 a territory wide observational study |
| topic | COVID19 Epilepsy Respiratory tract infections Medical help seek-behaviour Febrile seizures |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664620305544 |
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