Decreased patient visits for ankle sprain during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea: A nationwide retrospective study.

ABSTRACT: Social distancing measures including school closure and the cancelation of sports activity were enforced during the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to reduce the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in South Korea. To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nationwide burden of musculoskeletal injury in 2020, we analyzed data on the number of patient visits for ankle sprain in South Korea. We collected national reimbursement data on the number of patient visits for ankle sprain between August 2010 and July 2020. To quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of reductions in patient visits for ankle sprain, we developed a regression model adjusting for the annual cycle of the patient visit during 2016/17-2018/19.

SUBMITTER: Hwang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8830827 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature