Trends in Respiratory Viral Testing in Pediatric Emergency Departments Following the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Study objective

To evaluate for increases in the use and costs of respiratory viral testing in pediatric emergency departments (EDs) because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study using the pediatric health information system. Eligible subjects were children (90 days to 18 years) who were discharged from a pediatric ED and included in the pediatric health information system from October 2016 through March 2024. To evaluate for changes in the frequency and costs of respiratory viral testing, we performed an interrupted time series analysis across 3 study periods: prepandemic (October 1, 2016 to March 14, 2020), early pandemic (March 15, 2020 to December 31, 2023), and late pandemic (January 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024).

Results

We included

SUBMITTER: Ramgopal S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12930421 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature