Admission Patterns in the Children’s Emergency Room of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Ndu I. K. *
Department of Paediatrics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, College of Medicine, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Asinobi I. N.
Department of Paediatrics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, College of Medicine, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Nduagubam O. C.
Department of Paediatrics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, College of Medicine, Enugu State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: This study aimed to compare the difference in admission rates and severity of illness in 2019 and during the peak time period of the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic of 2020 in children presenting at the Children’s emergency room (CHER) of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu.
Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Children’s emergency room (CHER) of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, from June 1 to August 31, 2019 and 2020 were reviewed, respectively.
Methodology: The admission records of all the children that were admitted into CHER of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Enugu, over a three-month period from June 1 to August 31, 2019 and 2020 respectively were reviewed.
Results: A total of 310 and 184 patients were seen during the study period for 2019 and 2020, respectively (40.6% decrease). A significant number of patients spent two days on admission in the children’s emergency room in 2020 than in 2019 (P < .001). Emergency admissions were 3 times more in year 2020 than in year 2019 (OR = 2.624, 95% C.I = 1.797 – 3.833, P < .001).
Conclusion: Although this study reported decreased emergency room admissions, there was an increase in the mortality rate and emergency presentations.
Keywords: Admission, children’s emergency room, COVID-19, pandemic