Interrupted time-series analysis showed unintended consequences of non-pharmaceutical interventions on pediatric hospital admissions.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

COVID-19-associated non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) have disrupted respiratory viral transmission. We quantified the changes in pediatric hospital admissions in 2020 from five different NPI phases in Western Australia for acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in children in the context of all-cause admissions.

Study design and setting

We assessed anonymised hospitalization data from Perth Children's Hospital (Jan 2015-Dec 2020) for all-cause admissions, ALRI, febrile illnesses and trauma (negative control) in those <17 years. We evaluated absolute changes in admissions and the weekly change estimated from interrupted time-series models.

Results

The absolute number of admissions was comparable in 2020 (15,678) vs. 2015 to 2019 average (15,310). Fol

SUBMITTER: Moore HC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8600916 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature