Department of Surgery, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Department of Paediatrics, Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB), Christchurch, New Zealand.
J Paediatr Child Health. 2021 Jun;57(6):877-882. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15347. Epub 2021 Jan 15.
To describe the variation in volumes and types of paediatric presentations to a tertiary emergency department in New Zealand during the national level 4 lockdown for COVID-19.
A retrospective, comparative cohort study in Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department, New Zealand.
There was a 37% reduction in all emergency presentations during the 33-day lockdown period. Paediatric presentations reduced significantly more than non-paediatric presentations (53% paediatric vs. 34% non-paediatric, P < 0.00001). The decrease in both overall and paediatric presentations was significantly different than similar periods in 2019 and 2018 (P < 0.00001). The proportion of New Zealand European paediatric presentations during lockdown increased by 6.09% (P = 0.01), while Pacific peoples decreased by 3.36% (P = 0.005). The proportion of <1-year-old presentations increased by 5.56% (P = 0.001), while 11-15 years decreased by 7.91% (P = 0.0001). Respiratory-related paediatric presentations decreased by 30% and proportional decreased by 4.92% (P = 0.001).
This study has identified a significant reduction in paediatric presentations to a tertiary emergency department in New Zealand during the national Alert Level 4 Lockdown for COVID-19. The proportional increase in the <1-year-old group may suggest a greater need for community-based child health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health support services may also need to adapt and expand to provide adequate psychological support for children during this crisis. Recognising the needs of these vulnerable groups will be critical during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in addition to informing response plans for similar events in the future.
描述新西兰全国 COVID-19 四级警戒封锁期间，三级急诊室儿科就诊量和类型的变化。
这是新西兰克赖斯特彻奇医院急诊科的一项回顾性、对照队列研究。
在 33 天的封锁期间，所有急诊就诊量减少了 37%。儿科就诊量的降幅明显大于非儿科就诊量（53% vs. 34%，P<0.00001）。无论是整体就诊量还是儿科就诊量的降幅，与 2019 年和 2018 年同期相比均有显著差异（P<0.00001）。封锁期间，新西兰欧洲裔儿科就诊量增加了 6.09%（P=0.01），而太平洋岛裔就诊量减少了 3.36%（P=0.005）。1 岁以下儿童就诊量增加了 5.56%（P=0.001），而 11-15 岁儿童就诊量减少了 7.91%（P=0.0001）。呼吸道相关儿科就诊量减少了 30%，降幅比例为 4.92%（P=0.001）。
本研究表明，新西兰全国 COVID-19 四级警戒封锁期间，三级急诊室儿科就诊量显著减少。1 岁以下儿童就诊量比例增加，可能表明在 COVID-19 大流行期间，对社区儿童保健服务的需求更大。心理健康支持服务也可能需要适应和扩大，以便在这场危机中为儿童提供充分的心理支持。在持续的 COVID-19 大流行期间，认识到这些弱势群体的需求至关重要，同时也为未来类似事件的应对计划提供信息。
