Impact of COVID-19 on nationwide pediatric otolaryngology: Otitis media and myringotomy tube trends.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The pandemic related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to a decrease in communicable diseases due to social distancing and mask-wearing. How have the prevalence of otitis media (OM) and its associated procedures changed during the pandemic?

Study design

Retrospective Cohort Study.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Health Information System® (PHIS) database, which consists of 48 children's hospitals. Regions were defined according to PHIS rules. We compared proportion of OM to total diagnoses codes, and collected mastoiditis, and MT placements from all encounters through January 1, 2019-June 31, 2021.

Results

In April 2020, there was a decrease in mean proportion of OM cases per 100 hospital visits (7 v. 2, p < 0.

SUBMITTER: Allen DZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8748207 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature