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Effects of Relaxed Lockdown on Pediatric ER Visits during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Luigi Matera

    (Department of Maternal, Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Raffaella Nenna

    (Department of Maternal, Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Francesca Ardenti Morini

    (Pediatric Unit, Sant’Eugenio Hospital, 00144 Rome, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Banderali

    (Department of Clinical Paediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, 20142 Milan, Italy)

  • Mauro Calvani

    (Operative Unit of Pediatrics, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, 00151 Rome, Italy)

  • Matteo Calvi

    (Pediatric Emergency Department, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, 24127 Bergamo, Italy)

  • Giorgio Cozzi

    (Institute for Maternal and Child Health Burlo Garofalo, 34137 Trieste, Italy)

  • Raffaele Falsaperla

    (General Pediatrics and Pediatric Acute and Emergency Unit, Vittorio Emanuele University Hospital, 95121 Catania, Italy)

  • Roberto Guidi

    (Department of Pediatric Emergency, G. Salesi Hospital, 60123 Ancona, Italy)

  • Ahmad Kantar

    (Pediatric Unit, Istituti Ospedalieri Bergamaschi, Gruppo Ospedaliero San Donato, 24059 Ponte San Pietro, Italy)

  • Marcello Lanari

    (Pediatric Emergency Unit, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare, Sant’Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy)

  • Riccardo Lubrano

    (Pediatric Unit, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Santa Maria Goretti Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy)

  • Beatrice Messini

    (Pediatric Unit, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, 06034 Foligno, Italy)

  • Antonio Augusto Niccoli

    (Pediatric Unit, Fabrizio Spaziani Hospital, 03100 Frosinone, Italy)

  • Vincenzo Tipo

    (Pediatric Emergency Department, Santobono-Pausilipon Hospital, 06049 Napoli, Italy)

  • Fabio Midulla

    (Department of Maternal, Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • on behalf of the CICERO Group

    (Membership of CICERO Group is Provided in the Acknowledgments.)

Abstract

Previously, we demonstrated an 81% reduction in pediatric Emergency Room (ER) visits in Italy during the strict lockdown due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Since May 2020, lockdown measures were relaxed until 6 November 2020, when a strict lockdown was patchily reintroduced. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of the relaxed lockdown on pediatric ER visits in Italy. We performed a retrospective multicenter study involving 14 Italian pediatric ERs. We compared total ER visits from 24 September 2020 to 6 November 2020 with those during the corresponding timeframe in 2019. We evaluated 17 ER specific diagnoses grouped in air communicable and non-air communicable diseases. We recognized four different triage categories: white, green, yellow and red. In 2020 total ER visits were reduced by 51% compared to 2019 (16,088 vs. 32,568, respectively). The decrease in air communicable diseases was significantly higher if compared to non-air communicable diseases (−64% vs. −42%, respectively). ER visits in each triage category decreased in 2020 compared to 2019, but in percentage, white and red codes remained stable, while yellow codes slightly increased and green codes slightly decreased. Our results suggest that preventive measures drastically reduced the circulation of air communicable diseases even during the reopening of social activities but to a lesser extent with regard to the strict lockdown period (March–May 2020).

Suggested Citation

  • Luigi Matera & Raffaella Nenna & Francesca Ardenti Morini & Giuseppe Banderali & Mauro Calvani & Matteo Calvi & Giorgio Cozzi & Raffaele Falsaperla & Roberto Guidi & Ahmad Kantar & Marcello Lanari & R, 2021. "Effects of Relaxed Lockdown on Pediatric ER Visits during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9547-:d:632840
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Enrique Casalino & Christophe Choquet & Donia Bouzid & Olivier Peyrony & Sonja Curac & Eric Revue & Jean-Paul Fontaine & Patrick Plaisance & Anthony Chauvin & Daniel Aiham Ghazali, 2020. "Analysis of Emergency Department Visits and Hospital Activity during Influenza Season, COVID-19 Epidemic, and Lockdown Periods in View of Managing a Future Disaster Risk: A Multicenter Observational S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-15, November.
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    5. Luigi Matera & Raffaella Nenna & Valentina Rizzo & Francesca Ardenti Morini & Giuseppe Banderali & Mauro Calvani & Matteo Calvi & Giorgio Cozzi & Elisabetta Fabiani & Raffaele Falsaperla & Ahmad Kanta, 2020. "SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic Impact on Pediatric Emergency Rooms: A Multicenter Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-12, November.
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