Presentations of children to emergency departments across Europe and the COVID-19 pandemic: A multinational observational study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

During the initial phase of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, reduced numbers of acutely ill or injured children presented to emergency departments (EDs). Concerns were raised about the potential for delayed and more severe presentations and an increase in diagnoses such as diabetic ketoacidosis and mental health issues. This multinational observational study aimed to study the number of children presenting to EDs across Europe during the early COVID-19 pandemic and factors influencing this and to investigate changes in severity of illness and diagnoses.

Methods and findings

Routine health data were extracted retrospectively from electronic patient records of children aged 18 years and under, presenting to 38 EDs in 16 European countries for the pe

SUBMITTER: Nijman RG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9467376 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature